Tastes

Longrow Peated is one of the few Springbank bottlings that is readily available, but it is also the only one without an age statement. Is it any good? Youthful, earthy and slightly peppery, the nose opens up with coal smoke, pears and canned peaches, and I get hints of pinewood, spent matches and lemon peel. A dirty peat blast kicks off the palate, followed by tropical fruits, nutmeg and a touch of sea salt. Menthol, grapefruit and waves of oak spices fade in the sooty finish. It offers a different take on peated whisky, but I would not pay through the nose for it. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Probably the least sought-after of the three Springbank brands, Hazelburn still outshines most Scottish single malts. Rich notes of blackberry jam, chocolate cookies and pipe tobacco ascent from the glass, rounded off by plums, mild pepper and cloves. Intense and spicy in the arrival, the palate mellows with stewed fruits, spearmint and a touch of salt. Mineral, earthy and citric notes creep in. Measured oak, roasted coffee and blood oranges migrate into the lasting and slightly dry aftertaste. A beautiful sherry bomb from Scotland's most iconic distillery. RATING: 4.2/5.0 stars ≙ 89 pts → FIRST-CLASS [+]

Named after one of Campbeltown's lost distilleries, Hazelburn is often described as delicate, light and virtually unpeated. On the nose, I get pineapple cubes, beeswax and citrus notes before it transitions towards gooseberries, subtle wood spices and a touch of salt. 'Clean and inviting' nails it. Tropical fruits, lemon drops and toffee unfold on the palate, this is lovely. It turns floral, gingery and slightly earthy. The medium-length finish lingers with green apples, salted licorice and hints of menthol. There is an awful lot of quality in this bottle, if you can get it. RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 87 pts → FIRST-CLASS

Some call it the poor man's Springbank, a blended malt of young, subpar or leftover casks. Well, let's find out! Citric, funky and youthful, the nose starts off with spiced oranges, mild pepper and whiffs of peat smoke. Engine oil, brine and raisins appear. The firm arrival is accompanied by marmalade, lemon drops and slightly earthy notes before it shifts towards baking spices, pears and melon. Lime, black tea and emerging peatiness carry over into the zesty, fresh and mildly dry finish. It is not more than the sum of its parts, but it gives me a Campbeltown fix. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Uninspiring, sanitized and anemic - many whisky drinkers have given up on Auchentoshan, which is a shame. The nose of this triple distilled Lowlander is light, floral and almost Irish in style, featuring mild citrus fruits, porridge and hazelnuts. After the gentle and slightly thin arrival, the palate evolves with some sherry notes, lemongrass and soft tannins. It has no edges but everything is dialed down and lacks flavor. Cereals, mint and fading caramel mark the clean, fresh and semidry finish. I don't want to be too harsh, but there is a lot of wasted potential. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 79 pts → AVERAGE

Why stop halfway? Non-chill filtered but obviously colored, Glen Garioch 12 is giving mixed messages. A bit prickly at first, the nose interweaves apricots, banana and ripe mango with heather, ginger and a dusty cereal note. On the palate, red apples, tangerines and baking spices give way to grapes, black tea and salted caramel, and I could swear that there is a tiny hint of peat smoke in the back. Orange zest, honey and some vegetal notes characterize the earthy and cask-dominated finish. A decent core range release, the elevated ABV works in its favor. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Highly esteemed by the blenders, most of Linkwood's production disappears into the Johnnie Walker range, which is a shame. The nose is clean and citrus-forward, emphasizing lemon peel, guava and spearmint. With water, hints of cantaloupe, mango and peppercorn unfold. Rich and mouth-coating in the arrival, the palate bursts with ripe tropical fruits, heather honey and ginger before turning slightly dry in the development. Grapefruit zest, eucalyptus and emerging tannins fade in the medium finish. A great summer dram, punchy and refreshing. RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 87 pts → FIRST-CLASS

Benromach has the potential to become the Springbank of Speyside, but regrettably some minor flaws remain. Complex and balanced, the nose interweaves delicate bonfire smoke, orange peel and green apples with polished wood, leather and gentle spices. The peppery arrival is dominated by tangerines, eucalyptus and a blanket of leafy peatiness before it turns mineral, briny and slightly dry mid-palate. Savory, citric and mildly bitter notes drift into the long finish. Gordon & MacPhail needs to tackle the low bottling strength, and let this whisky shine! RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

The first-ever peated single malt from the Faroe Islands features the raven, a bird deeply embedded in Norse mythology. Notes of butterscotch, lemon peel and digestives reach my nose, complemented by nettles, sea salt and puffs of mineral peat smoke. Citrus fruits, peppermint and eucalyptus hit the palate before zesty, resinous and mildly peaty flavors start to intensify. It is very charismatic despite its youth. Grapefruit, tannins and a touch of brine push into the lasting finish. This Einar's captures the landscape and distinct climate of this remote location. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Stocks of older single grains are dwindling rapidly, and real bargains are hard to find. The Good Spirits Company picked one of these gems, and it's pretty affordable, too. On the nose, custard, almonds and sweet popcorn mingle with sawdust, ginger and hints of chamomile. Coconut cream, vanilla and honey are prominent on the palate, while peppery spices intensify. Water is recommended to tame the initial heat. Icing sugar, lemon peel and green tea fade in the fresh and oak-driven finish. For a mid-aged grain whisky, this Invergordon ticks all the boxes! RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]