Tastes

Cloyingly sweet. Aftertaste of artificial sweetener. Grateful to Pranay for the sample but sadly it confirmed my suspicion that it would be too sweet for my taste.

Take some time to coax out the aromas of toasted grains drizzled with a delicate floral honey. First impressions on the palate are disappointingly thin, but it rallies to a creamy, nutty finish with commendable staying power. At $70 for a Duty Free liter, it's hard to complain.

Lovely lemon and straw scents on the nose. A delicate fruity palate -- think melon and pear -- that quickly cedes the spotlight to zesty wood and spice. The finish is long, with a sweet kick at the end. This is a complex whiskey that I would never have identified as Irish tasted blind. In the same class as the bottle of Yellow Spot I turn to when I'm in the mood for something different. Count me as another grateful beneficiary of the Pranay Whisky Wealth Redistribution Fund.

I bought a sample of a South African whisky for the first time because it was highly rated by Whisky Magazine and reasonably priced. Glad I did as it was an interesting discovery. Nose: Delicate heather at first. After some time in the glass I detected a creamy berry note akin to some long lost soda from my childhood, or perhaps Cherry Coke. Delightful! (2/3). Mouth: Very smooth, with a rich melting honey texture. (2/3). Finish: Short - a little disappointing that the honey doesn't stick around longer (1.5/3). Bonus: 0.5/1 for value. Overall: 6/10. A very nice whisky with broad appeal, good for newbies and connoisseurs alike. Not the most challenging of drams, just a good all round easy drinker. I'd be happy to own a bottle. (Master of Malt sample 2/18/17)

Nose: Old leather, followed by my wife's pear and almond tart, complete with her signature orange zest. (3/3) Mouth: Explodes magnificently with more oranges, of the preserved kind. Gets richer and sweeter with time in the glass , if you have the patience (2.5/3). Finish: Long, very drying (2.5/3). Bonus point: 1/1 for audacity. Total: 9/10. Master of Malt sample 2/17/17.

Very interesting to compare this to last year's Laphroaig Cairdeas. While the Madeira notes on that came through as a sweet finish, the Glenmorangie is a more integrated dram, with butterscotch notes that harmonize with rather than dominate the spirit.

There's a meaty, umami quality to this that brings to mind a thick steak rubbed with salt and marinated in soy sauce. It's mouthcoating, perhaps permanently given that its drying embers are still humming away even though I've been nosing an empty glass for 30 minutes. Dive in, as the ABV is easily tolerated. Thanks to Pranay for the sample.

Inbetween the barbecued fruit of the recent 15 and the brute expression of the 18 lies this surprisingly smooth Laphroaig. A silky dram that is more typical of the distillery than the 15 but less challenging than the 10 or 18. Even for those of us who relish the challenge, it's a delight to see Laphroaig's more seductive side. Tasted at Chami Bar in Davos.