Tastes

The low ABV means this tastes a little watery compared to many of the premium ryes on the market, but there are still some enjoyable spice notes on this, such as ginger. I don’t have much in the way of notes from my tasting at FIne & Rare in New York, but it’s an easy drinker with a nice spicy finish.

Very smokey on the nose but smooth in the mouth, this is a solid if straightforward peated pour. The finish starts sweet before taking a turn towards the umami spectrum.

A Balvenie with balls was what I was hoping for when this was announced, and it doesn't disappoint. As much as I enjoy a smooth honeyed Balvenie, it's not the most challenging of Scotches. But add a dash of peat and you get a slightly dangerous twist, a Speyside take on emo Peter Parker*. There's honey and spice on the nose, and it's there too on the palette. The peat isn't Ardbegian, rather it's a dash of pepper in a fresh, creamy, smooth mouthful. The finish is long and peppery, with hints of orange and caramel. A real treat amid the gallons of NASty Duty Free swill. (* You all get this reference, right?)

We return to the Campbeltown Chronicles with this minature picked up at the Cadenhead store in London. It has a lovely nose of pine and mint, almost a rye bouquet. Hints of Vicks inhaler - you can clear your sinuses with this one. Sweet and oily in the mouth. The tangy finish is reminiscent of tom yum soup with a hint of dark chocolate -- is there a Thai dessert that captures that combination? Water brings out more mint on the palate, but it doesn't stand up well to too much dilution. Let's score this: nose 2.5/3, mouth 2/3, finish 1.5/3, bonus point 0.5/1 for balance. So 6.5/10, just a tad below four stars.

Masterful blend of Balvenie's characteristic honey notes and the sherry barrel influence, with the flavors of both intermingling rather than fighting each other for dominance. Very long finish that fades into brown sugar and a touch of cream. Well done, if not particularly challenging and a touch on the sweet side.

I tasted this at a whisky show last week and immediately made plans to acquire a bottle. The flavors on the palette change in waves, a phenomanon I've only encountered previously with Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix. I can't do full justice to its complexity without further tastings, which will follow as soon as I open my bottle, but wanted to encourage the fine members of this community to grab one if you can.

Did somebody splash Lagavulin in my Kilkerran 12? That's one way to think of this whisky, which I ordered a sample of on the strength of the reviews here. The pale straw liquid introduces itself with lucious smoky aromas and a dash of pencil eraser. The flavors are citrus, sweet and oily, with the lemon notes accentuated by a drop of water. The finish is just a tad dry and pleasantly bitter. Friends, please welcome another member to the Big Bang for the Buck club.

Tastes exactly like a watery version of the Committee edition, as it should, but it's still a good dram. That wasn't true of last year's Dark Cove, which was splendid in its Committee clothing but uninspiring in its weaker rendition. Flavors of smoked fish abound.

An unassuming weak tea color in the glass belies the delights that await. It's like a more sophisticated version of the Laphroaig PX, with a darker finish of dried figs. Really opens up with a few drops of water to reveal seaweed, dark chocolate Kit Kats and Ricola herb drops. A 4.6/5, but we'll round it up to five on the starometer. Best of the Feis Ile bunch, which was a surprise given that I've always ignored this distillery.

A toffee-nosed drink, in a good way. Goes down easy despite the strength. The peat is front and center, but it's sweet and perfectly integrated. Score it 4.5, for joint second place among my 2017 Feis Ile samples.