Tastes

Irish whiskey and peat - do these two go together? Connemara's peatiness has its own style, which is distinctly different from Islay's peat bombs: it is more herbal, restrained and well-integrated. Light and floral on the nose, there is a mix of heather honey, citrus and whiffs of smoke. On the palate, the clean and peppery arrival is followed by an aromatic kick of lemon zest, bitter tea and hints of salt. The peat smoke returns in the finish, lingering on the tongue. Although slightly uneventful and simple, this malt offers a nice variation from the 'Irish theme'. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 80 pts → AVERAGE

This 12-year-old Speysider appears to be the tamed version of the excellent Aberlour A'bunadh, even though it is a vatting of both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry matured whisky. Fresh, citrusy and a little bit shy at first nosing, the aroma unfolds with tropical fruits, cloves and hints of marzipan. Despite its low ABV, the taste is surprisingly strong and fruity-spicy with lots of blueberries, plums and ginger. The finish is of medium length with notes of milk chocolate, baked apple and wood tannins. An easily accessible and quite affordable single malt with character. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 83 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Buffalo Trace is for bourbon what Glenfiddich 12 is for Scotch: it's reliable, widely available and does the job. On the nose, you get the usual suspects - vanilla, honey and some toffee. It's quite floral and sweet with hints of apple juice and wood glue. The taste is spicier and more peppery with vanilla cream, treacle and slightly bitter oak. Shall we say 'smooth and mellow'? Distant notes of almonds, mint and refined sugar remain in the aftertaste. This benchmark bourbon will certainly not blow your socks off, but it's both enjoyable and great value for money. RATING: 3.2/5.0 stars ≙ 81 pts → AVERAGE [+]

What did you do in 1973? Watergate, oil crisis and the first cell phone call - four decades of history in a glass. Samaroli bottled this 40-year-old Glen Grant from sherry cask #6588 (180 bottles, 45% ABV). The nose is a true delight: fragrant notes of mocha, fermented fruits and old furniture intermingle with hints of cinnamon, laurels and polished wood. On the palate, complex spices, walnuts and juicy berries take over, and the oak influence is just perfect. Dark chocolate, oranges and caramel remain in the restrained but elegant finish. An adorable single malt! RATING: 4.5/5.0 stars ≙ 92 pts → SUPERB

For some whiskies, it can be hard to write down a lot of tasting notes because there simply is not much happening. Imagine the exact opposite of a peated Islay malt - that's Kilbeggan. Light, sweet and indistinctly floral, the aroma disintegrates into hints of cereals, vanilla and peach. Tasting thin, bland but less spirity than expected, there are notes of caramel candies, bitter honey and distant oak. There is no real finish, it just fades away. A harmless, mass-produced Irish blend which is light on every aspect, so do not feel guilty to put this into Irish coffee. RATING: 2.5/5.0 stars ≙ 72 pts → SUBPAR

As one of Scotland's invisible distilleries without a big reputation, Speyburn offers this 10-year-old single malt at a very affordable price. Obviously young, light and typical Speyside, the nose features honey, tinned fruits and mild spices with discreet floral notes in the background. Green apples, malty sweetness and hints of ginger please the palate, interrupted by refill cask bitterness and a little bit of heat in the development. The aromatic and rather short finish is easy and forgettable. Although not overly complex or inspiring, this malt still beats most blends. RATING: 2.9/5.0 stars ≙ 78 pts → AVERAGE [-]

Ardbeg - and the hype goes on! Named after a whirlpool north of Jura, Corryvreckan is a NAS core range expression with cracking 57.1% ABV. With its combination of candy floss, orange zest and delicate BBQ peat smoke, the nose starts out promising. On the palate, the dry and spicy arrival is entirely dominated by French oak, followed by a blast of briny peatiness. Unpleasantly bitter herbs and grapefruit creep in, culminating in a peppery-dry finish which is medium at best. Not a complete disaster, but a bit disappointing given the whisky's reputation. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Non-traditional world whiskies are becoming increasingly popular, and Sweden's Mackmyra is among the pioneers. Interestingly, Svensk Rök uses a combination of local peat and juniper twigs to kiln the barley. Bonfire ashes, dried herbs and a variety of green fruits characterize the nose, which almost reminds me of a young Caol Ila. Dry and pungent in the arrival, the taste develops with aromatic peat smoke, wood sap and fruity sweetness before the long and briny finish kicks in. More ash, smoked ham and spices are following. This malt is certainly worth a try! RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Inspired by Robert Burns' poem 'To a Mouse', Timorous Beastie is a Highland blended malt of Blair Athol, Glengoyne, Dalmore and Glen Garioch. A bit off-putting at first, the nose unfolds with butterscotch and intense floral notes before heather honey, citrus fruits and juniper start to emerge. The taste is surprisingly spicy and gingery, featuring mashed berries, creamy vanilla and a touch of eucalyptus. This little fellow is not shy at all! Fading with milky cereals, licorice and hints of sweet malt, the finish turns slightly dry and nutty. Not bad, I would say. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 83 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Winter solstice in Norway: the perfect time to pop the cork of this 16-year-old Highland Park, distilled in 2001 and matured in sherry butt #651 (58.8% ABV, 588 bottles). What a marvelous color! Is this the blood of Odin? Dried fruits, roasted coffee and whiffs of peat smoke reach the nose, and there are hints of cloves, Jamón serrano and leather. The taste is intense, sweet and mildly peaty with dark chocolate, mint and a dash of salt. Cocoa, licorice and oak spices migrate into the warming and substantial finish. A great single malt for long and cold nights! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]