Tastes

Distillery only bottlings can be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair. However, this 2005 Auchentoshan (aged for 12 years in PX cask 135, bottled at 59.8% ABV) is a real belter of a single malt! Maple syrup, raspberries and candy floss enchant the nose, and there are notes of raisins, creamy toffee and freshly cut flowers. Strong, intense and sweet in the arrival, the palate is greeted by fresh herbs, peppermint and dark chocolate before wood spices and waves of berry sweetness march off into the distance. All in all, a fantastic whisky with a great presentation! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]

At most parties, there is at least one character behaving a bit peculiar, as if not belonging to the group. That's the one. In a blind tasting, I would have taken this 1996 Caol Ila from Hunter Laing for a Laphroaig. The nose features musty, earthy peat smoke, briny seaweed, pears and loads of white pepper. At first sip, your palate is hit by a pyroclastic flow of dusty peatiness followed by coal ash, subtle vanilla and lemon zest. Over-brewed tea and wood spices dominate the medium finish. With that being said, I'm somewhat disgusted but weirdly fascinated. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Japan's iconic equivalent to the likes of Brora, Rosebank and Port Ellen is the 2001 closed Karuizawa distillery. Bottled in 2012, Asama is a vatting of the final vintages. Heavy sherry aroma, cedarwood and hints of curcuma inebriate the nose, enriched by complex notes of dried fruits, gunpowder and strawberries. At first sipping, spicy and tangy flavors overwhelm the palate before Mon Chéri, walnuts and fruity sourness start to emerge. The finish is lingering, peppery and semidry. A great young single malt that makes your fat wallet a lot thinner! RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 88 pts → FIRST-CLASS

Alright, it's bourbon time! Marker's Mark Red Wax is another classic bottling with a good portion of wheat in its mash bill. As expected, the nose is soft and intensely sweet with vanilla, fudge and a touch of sawdust. Simple but actually 'pleasant'. On the palate, the youthfulness of the spirit becomes more obvious. Corn syrup, honey and mild pepper are followed by alcohol and dry wood spices. Hints of popcorn and bitter almonds characterize the short and uneventful finish. An easy Kentucky straight bourbon which doesn't kill you if tried neat. RATING: 2.5/5.0 stars ≙ 74 pts → SUBPAR

As one of the few NAS whiskies I really like, Aberlour A'bunadh rarely disappoints. This Speysider needs water and a bit of experience to be fully enjoyed. It's a sherry monster with an intense aroma of prunes, dried fruits and crème brûlée. Tasting strong, with a nice interplay of sweet and dry notes, the well-balanced Spanish oak contributes to a rich mouthfeel. The finish is long and warming with mixed spices, cloves and traces of cayenne pepper. A great bang for your buck single malt which is often considered the sherried equivalent to Ardbeg Uigeadail. RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 88 pts → FIRST-CLASS

Let's face it, Johnnie Walker isn't overly popular among single malt drinkers. With that being said, Green Label has always been the exception to the rule. Fresh fruits, notably green apples and mango, dominate the nose while the peat is more suggested than imposed. The taste is measured and well-composed with a potpourri of sweet, aromatic and mildly peaty flavors. English breakfast tea, bitter honey and a dash of salt and pepper migrate into the moderate finish. A solid 15-year-old blended malt and arguably the best expression of the entire JW range. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Bottled exclusively for the Scandinavian market, Highland Park Cask Strength Edition (57.1% ABV) is raising expectations. Youthful and almost reminiscent of a bourbon, the aroma offers vanilla, honey and wood polish. With water, you get hints of vegetation, moss and sour berries. Tasting rough and fairly immature, bitter herbs dominate the taste before distant peatiness starts to emerge. The finish is swift, mineral and a bit metallic. Did HP really believe that thirsty Norsemen wouldn't notice the lack of depth and complexity? Well, most certainly don't... RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 79 pts → AVERAGE

We are back in Japan, to witness the grace, elaboration and refinement of a tea ceremony translated into the art of whisky blending. The aroma of Hibiki 17 is elegant, complex and floral with exotic spices, green plums and notes of old wood and leather. Distant charcoal, honeycomb and hints of tobacco round off the nose. Bold, intense oak flavors dominate the taste, taking turns with plum sourness, sweet nectarines and fresh mint. Although a little weak in its savory-dry 'matcha green tea finish', it still is a skillfully blended, adorable Japanese dram. RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 87 pts → FIRST-CLASS

If you define harmony as 'pleasing combination of parts in a whole', then Suntory has found the perfect name for this Japanese NAS blend. On the nose, Hibiki combines sandalwood, fresh fruits and coconut candies with floral vanilla, burned toast and hints of sawdust. Tastewise, it's not easy to spot individual notes. Honey sweetness, orange zest and perhaps some bitter green tea? The finish is subtle, creamy and with a spicy touch of Mizunara oak. Quite harmonious and enjoyable indeed - but also an expensive reminder that harmony is not very exciting. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 83 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Here we have another workhorse of the blend industry, since most of Aberfeldy's production ends up as key component of Dewar's. The nose of this 12-year-old Highlander is unimposing, grainy and slightly acidic with apple cider, heather honey and hints of vinegar. On the palate, it arrives silky, light and malty sweet before turning aromatic and indistinctly sour in the development. A surprisingly milky aftertaste with almonds, muesli and a touch of oak rounds off the experience. It's probably not a very memorable single malt, but nice enough to give it a try. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 80 pts → AVERAGE