Tastes

On the nose it's honeysuckle, and vanilla. The palate is clean and smooth with more fruits. The finish is a light peat and light smoke, this is an enjoyable easy going dram. In my opinion is HP12 is better than the HP Viking Honour because of the slight smokiness.

On the nose it's light fruit, the palate is full and chewy with vine-ripened peach, apricots, and some cinnamon and raisins. It finishes with a light warmth and maltiness. If you're looking for smoke, peat, or the briny sea you will not find it in this Texas single malt. It's overpriced in my opinion and at $60 I would rather have a Springbank 10 or Talisker 10.

The nose is unmistakable, campfire, medicinal and the briny sea. The palate is peat and smoke and the finish is smoked meats and oak. This 10 year old is edgy and finishes with a warmth that is only upstaged by its 10 year old Cask Strength brother. In my opinion, this 10 y/o Laphroaig is less refined than the Ardbeg 10 or the Lagavulin 8; nonetheless it's a solid representation of Islay and has a great price point.

On the nose is tangy and sour subtle fruits. On the palate is a smooth, light floral and honied dates flavor and baking spices. It finishes with dry oak and lingering warmth. Another great blend from Compass Box that would go great with a crisp Spring day or hot Summer day.

Actually this is a review for the Battle hill eight-year-old Craigellachie Cask Strength 58.0 ABV 1/1,200 bottles. On the nose it is honey, vanilla, butter and boiled apricots. On the palate it's slightly oily, peated, plums and pears, and pink peppercorns. On the finish there is more fruit, and an oak dryness with a lingering heat. This dram dramatically smooths out with a little bit of water added, the fruit flavors are more present and the oiliness shifts towards a more creamy palate, the lingering warmth still remains. This Battle Hill (Duncan Taylor) independent bottling is a steal at $48

Soft sweet tropical fruit on the nose but don't be fooled. On the palate it's peaty, beef jerky, oak and smoke. It finishes warm and dry with an earthy peatiness. At 57.2 ABV it's just right for neat but does open up more with a teaspoon of water.

Let this sit for about 10-15 minutes and the sherry really comes out. The nose is buttered pecans and toffee, the palate is full and sweet fruits, the finish is tart with spices and a lasting warmth. Adding a little bit of water opens this sherry bomb up greatly and helps cool it down just a bit.

On the nose is sweet fruits and floral notes, the palate is smooth with a light peatiness. The finish is sweet with a warmth that doesn't last long, this dram is a solid dram for all.

On the nose it's honey, toffee, and the briny sea. On the palate is white pepper, peat, fruit, and smoke. It's oily and finishes with a good warmth. NCF, NAS, a blend of four single malts from Arran, Jura, Islay and Orkney. This is not a monster from Islay but there's still enough smoke and peat to overwhelm a beginner.

On the nose you get smoke, tar, brininess and light fruit scent. On the palate it is smooth, peaty and full with smoke. The finish is ash and smoke with a lingering warmth. The extra years of maturing definitely takes the heat out of this dram compared to the Lagavulin 8. A definite rebuy and an Islay that won't scare off your friends.