Tastes

Tasting this was a really memorable experience. An amazing nose that is floral, sherried, oaky and richly spiced with perhaps a touch of peat and earth. The palate is not quite as epic as the nose, but fantastic all the same - plums come to mind, mixed with cooking spice and wood. The combination of the same flavors on the nose form a totally unique whole. Needs a drop of water and at least 10 minutes to blossom. Same for the body, which burns without a drop of water and some time. I wish this wasn't so difficult to find and expensive, but such is life.

This has a lighter sherry influence than I expected based on the Oloroso and PX casks involved here. The sherry influence is surprisingly restrained - this is certainly heavily sherried but not a sherry bomb. Instead, there are notes of vanilla and, with a drop or two of water, some creaminess. I think a tiny amount of water helps remove any traces of alcohol burn from this dram and improves the vanilla and cream. This is a very enjoyable scotch at a good price. I'd like a little more oomph or complexity to give an even higher rating, but this is a good buy.

I've finally gotten around to this one! I've been missing out. My only prior experience with heavily sherried whiskeys has been Macallan, which I admire but do not love (except the 18, which is wonderful but ridiculously overpriced). This cask strength Aberlour has so much intense red fruit (black cherries and raspberries), spice and oak - it smells wonderful, it tastes wonderful. I just love it. With a pretty decent amount of water it just becomes so approachable and the nose and the palate become sweeter and friendlier. I haven't been this excited about a scotch in a while. This is Batch 62 by the way. One other note - I've seen a lot of complaints about a massive price increase. Thankfully, that isn't the case in Northern California ($67) and this is still a screaming deal given that you are essentially getting 1.5 bottles for the price. Love this, and may stock up in case they bump the price up here as well.

A small amount of smoke, butterscotch, rich, dates, toffee and caramel - delicious! Like Johnnie Walker Green but richer, more decadent, a little more bitterness, and a relatively short finish. A tiny amount of water enhances sweetness. This is a deal for an 18 year old scotch and you can share it with people that aren't scotch fanatics given the 40% ABV. Is it designed for peat heads or cask proof seekers? No. But it's really, really good.

A lot going on here. Nose is tingly alcohol, with lemon, light peat and vanilla. Taste is similar, with citrus, fruit, and a rush of a slightly salty, waxy flavor that lingers through the finish that I associate with Clynelish. To me, this tastes like a mix between Oban 14 and Clynelish 14.

I'm really enjoying this because it includes so many Scotch styles in one well balanced dram. It is lightly peated, it has some sherry, golden raisins and tropical fruit on the nose, which is outstanding. The palate is sweet, woody, malty and spicy. The finish is mostly spice/pepper and is probably the weakest part, but when the rest of the dram is so great in an entry level bottle - wow! Really great.

Nose - dried fruit, sherry, apples and cinnamon. Palate is spice and fruit as well, but deeper. Finish is drying. Just drop of water brings out some vanilla and smooths out the palate. Very nice - but other 18s I've had (that are admittedly more expensive) have been more impressive.

To sum it up as succinctly as possible - this tastes like Japanese bourbon. Perhaps a bit overhyped, but it is good and I don't regret purchasing a bottle.

Delicious - sherry, oily and fruity. I feel it needs a little water to smooth it out, but really wonderful. Well-priced, too.

Peat, seaweed and bandaids pretty much sums it up, plus a bit of citrus, vanilla and fruit. A staple and and a benchmark dram to try.