Tastes

Nose Raisin, green apple, sweet and sour, cider Taste Thin mouthfeel, I don’t add water. Apples and spices very obvious, medium sweet, no peat. Bottle says pears but I’m not finding them. It’s in sherry casks for 6-9 moths so only a little comes through, but I’m not really a sherry guy, so that’s preferred to me. Finish Bright bourbon depth, sour apples, orange rind, finishes dry. Short/medium linger. Overall This is a thin easy to drink low cost daily drinker for someone who likes bourbon/sherry casks. It’s good, but not so good you feel bad about drinking two.

Nose Raisins, dark fruit, sweet molasses, tar Taste Smooth, leathery, dark fruit, mint chocolate Finish Mint chocolate, strawberry, mild sweetness, lingers. I think a lot of distillers would use sherry casks to make this, but the port casks gives it much more depth and is a win in my book.

This is one of my top three scotches. Nose Cereal, vanilla, butter, apple, light smoke Taste Small sips on this one as it’s delicate with lots of flavor and complexity. A dash of water is recommended. Has notes of flowers, buttered apple pie, rich, oily, and tame sweetness throughout. The peat enhances the other flavors rather than overpower it like some other heavily peated drams. A really nice combinations of flavors. Finish A pleasant dryness that clears the palate and moves to sourdough bread and oaky wood. The tame oaky sweetness lingers for a long time. Don’t need to take it fast on this one. Slow down and enjoy it!

Nose Apple and caramel Taste Apricots first, thin and a little watered down no need to add water, slight burn, light peat, oaky. Finish For me the worst part, soured apples, dry tangy wood taste from green walnuts or the wood from pecans, very short finish, slight burn. Overall too thin with a subpar finish. It’s missing something to make it standout. However it’s a decent light citrus oaky choice.

Nose Light, Raisins, toffee, and bananas. Taste Both dry and sweet at the same time which makes it very interesting. The peat is perfectly blended into this one and is not overpowering but instead empowers it. It has a very pleasing taste that echoes of a dry white wine, some fruit, vanilla, and a little salt. Finish Dry aftertaste with a long and enjoyable finish of oak, white raisins, vanilla, and sugary lemons.

Nose: sweet, sherry, plastic, apples, and sugar. Taste: layers of flavor that comes right back to the nose at the end, I love that it returns to the beginning, I’ve never had that experience before. Clean at first, then sweet citrus, orange zest, spice, and then honey. Finish: stays for what seems like ages, don’t even want to take another sip yet. Super long. Cider, apples, vanilla, and smooth. A scotch that feels like it’s meant for a celebration, not everyday. It’s like scotch wine. Price is much cheaper than what I would expect it to be. 40 per 750ml and absolutely worth more.

Nose: Tame for an Ardbeg, it’s not slapping me in the face like the Ardbeg 10. Molasses, medical, citrus, vanilla, and wood. Taste: It hits like a punch, but lands like a butterfly. It’s not for the faint of heart and why it should be? This demands to be heard. This is what I think Sartre would have drank. Strong dark fruit, peaty but not overpowering, heat, pepper, toffee, and coffee. Finish: a little underwhelming at first, but then builds. Spice and heat. Dry, long, and ashy

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, honey, tar. Taste: Three distinct layers of flavors that comes in waves. This has a lot of character that changes as time goes by. Complex. Apricot, wood, honey, spice, peaty, and semi sweet dried fruit. Finish: Satisfying smooth heat that calms then warms with a delicate smokey and floral combination. I’ve tried a lot of scotch and this one has something special. It the one I pull when I have both a fantastic and a difficult day. It’s complex, subtle, and calming. Highly recommended.

Nose: Motor oil, peach, and dark fruit Taste: Earthy, woody, semi sweet plum, toffee, and subdued smoke. Finish: The best part! Fruit cake with brandy. Long, semi sweet, relaxing, and dry. Reminds me of an old maroon leather book.

I loved it, but honestly I couldn’t tell as much of a difference between it and mid range whiskeys as I normally do with other higher end options. It’s just not worth the price imo. However I enjoyed it and would drink it again if offered by a friend, I just won’t be purchasing again.