Tastes

Color: Singed tawny. Nose: Pure sherry with fresh black garden soil and dark berries. Chocolate syrup with roasted notes. Palate: Black liquorice and dried fruit, with sea salt and a concentrated treacle sweetness. The barest hint of vegetative peat. Finish: Pleasant bitterness with espresso beans and savory bacon grease. Good body and very smooth. Diluted: Sweeter fruits, including strawberries and cherries, on the nose. Palate doesn't lose any of its savory saltiness, but adds a dollop of honey. If there's any drawback, it's the finish, which is noticeably shorter/weaker.

Color: Dusky gold. Nose: Grassy and grainy, with barley malt predominating and rich vanilla peaking through the floral meadow character. Palate: Silken honey and chewy grains, with a little funk hanging over everything. Delicate citrus notes accent the earthy sweetness, along with a wonderful mouthfeel. Finish: Very light caramel character with a mildewy dampness, like wet leaves after a rain. Diluted: Ripe pears and mossy forest undergrowth on the nose. Palate erupts with increased sweetness; e.g., vanilla fudge and treacle. Finish remains soft, smooth, and funky.

Color: Caramel corn. Nose: Blackberries, currants, rose bushes, and a light medicinal smoke. Fruit-forward, peat understated. Palate: Chocolate and espresso at the fore, with dried fruits as you go. Some meatiness, as you find bacon with maybe a little maple. Once again, sweet sherry notes balance (i.e., mellow) the peat. Exactly my style, but just a little less oomph than I want. Finish: A bit more Islay smoke here. Sooty and savory, if not overly developed. This is where it most resembles the standard Laphroaig 10 Year. Diluted: Water actually seems to help you find more of the peat on the nose, with a nice marine character. Same to an extent on the palate, but it also plays up the berry sweetness in particular. Finish is a little more caramelly, and just a touch too juicy for my taste.

Color: Sunny dandelion. Nose: Creamy banana meets a surprising level of salt and seawater. Some classic Lagavulin campfire smoke but a sweeter and more marine nose than I'm used to. Palate: Rich and meaty and saturated with charcoal. Still, however, vegetative sweetness persists - redolent of butternut squash or grilled plantains. Finish: Smoke gets dialed up on the way out, almost to a point of ashiness. Pungent plumes from a tailpipe. Diluted: Graham cracker smores erupt from the nose, with more layered bourbon notes on the palate. Palate retains its smoke, almost in its entirety.

Color: Bright amber. Nose: Tart berries, lavender, and apple blossoms. Also reminiscent of freshly stained wood with a pleasantly dry spice. Palate: I know they say it's not peated, but I could swear... Almost a lighter, more delicate highland smoke. Otherwise, the sherry notes are pleasantly subtle, with a fruited dryness and cinnamon. Finish: More of the sweet notes, with some brown sugar and toffee. The malt character is really clean and clear, and shines most here. Diluted: Opens up more of the sherry, with raisins and roasted nuts on the nose and candied dates on the palate. Finish is mellow and rich, but just a little shorter with water.

Nose: Pale wheat. Nose: Gasoline and a nose full of seawater. Pungent kelp drying on the beach. Drenched chacoal. Palate: Dynamic combination of banana, honey, and vanilla with velvety peat smoke. But rich and malty at core. Finish: Overcooked popcorn with plenty of salt. Lingering wisps of peat smoke. Diluted: Nose is richer and sweeter, palate is crispy burnt ends and pork fat. The finish is sublime, with horseradish and manuka honey in equal measure.

Color: Light maple. Palate: Intense cherry, cinnamon, roasted almonds. Sweet sherry notes predominate with honeysuckle blooms. Palate: Not quite a sherry bomb, but heavy on the dry Oloroso notes. Light and delicate Glenlivet character, with honey and orchard fruits, balanaces it well. Finish: Spicy cloves, cocoa powder, and ginger shavings. Rich and short and a little hot. Diluted: Nose is all hot apple pie, and the palate is even more! Fruit, cinnamon, and spice. Finish still a little short, showing the youth.

Color: Light marigold. Nose: Black pepper, chilis, sweet red berries, and a hint of vanilla. Can smell both the ex-bourbon and red wine casks. Palate: Very classic Talisker. Soft smoke, brine, and peppery bite. A little light fudge and candied apples as well. Finish: Prickly and rich. Strong barrel character with round, meaty, savory notes. Smoked pork fat comes to mind. Diluted: Gentle peat marries with wildflowers on the nose. Palate and finish see more of the bourbon barrels' sweeter notes, with just a little salty oyster brine.

Color: Soft brass. Nose: Vanilla, agave syrup, and candied almonds. Allspice and rye bread add warm baking notes. Palate: Sherry notes lead the way, with a thick waxy mouthfeel. Pleasant light fruit notes join an almost earthy vegetative character. Finish: Rich baked goods carry a gentle spice, with apples and orchard fruits peeking through. Diluted: Warm notes of mulled cider and buttered toast on the nose, with a sweeter, softer palate. Finish further emphasizes the bourbon notes present beneath the sherry.

Color: Dusky syrup. Nose: Frosted cake, meadow flowers, and a hint of cocoa. Sweet strawberry preserves waft up as well. Palate: Peanut butter, right up front. Bananas foster drizzled with caramel meets vanilla pudding and a little cherry. Finish: A little lingering spice, like cinnamon snickerdoodles. Gentle and warm and pleasantly confectionary. Diluted: More fruit and floral notes on the nose and palate, but also a softer sweetness, like warm butter. Less spice, more fresh vanilla orchids.