Tastes

Older, independently bottled Glen Grants can be of exceptional quality after having slept in oak barrels for a few decades. This 10-year-old expression, however, is a very simple and undemanding Speyside single malt. The aroma is understated, sweet and fruity with hints of pears, nuts and fresh hay. Spicy, young and spirity in the arrival, there are notes of lemon juice, red currants and honey before dry refill cask bitterness takes over. Wood tannins and faint vanilla characterize the rather short finish. A cheap beginners whisky without any complexity. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 79 pts → AVERAGE

I never quite understood why Cardhu is so popular in Spain. Maybe it's the warm climate that goes well together with the light and fruity style of this single malt? On the nose, you get juniper berries, sticky honey sweetness and hints of almonds - that's it. Not unpleasant, but fairly simple. The taste is a plain continuation of the aroma with some mild spices, fresh spearmint and dark chocolate in the second row. Be careful with water, as this malt disintegrates quickly. With its swift and undemanding finish, Cardhu 12 is an easy sipper for long summer evenings. RATING: 2.9/5.0 stars ≙ 78 pts → AVERAGE [-]

There are many associations when it comes to Macallan, the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of single malts. Natural color and quality sherry casks. Golf clubs and tumblers. Outrageous prices and pioneer of NAS expressions. You get it, I have mixed feelings. Creamy cherry yogurt, chocolaty raisins and mild spices (cloves) compose an elegant but fairly simple nose. On the palate, you get orange marmalade, barley sugar and dried fruits with prominent, zesty wood tannins in the aftertaste. The quality of this 12-year-old classic is still there - but it's diluted and stretched thin. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Douglas Hyde, the 1st President of Ireland, serves as namesake of this independently bottled single malt from Cooley distillery - and he'd be proud! Hibernia Distillers presents Hyde 10 as unmistakably Irish whiskey that delivers an intense nose of ripe peaches, creamy vanilla and grassy/floral notes. The sherry finish adds chocolate and hints of spices. Fresh and substantial in the arrival, the taste develops fruity, honeyed and bittersweet before finishing with well-measured oak influence. What's missing? Well, a more affordable price tag and real character. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

What happens when a 'blend filler' distillery starts to bottle single malts? Right, they get a problem with the caliber of their casks (mainly refill ex-bourbon). Luckily, Tomintoul 16 is more sherry-influenced than its 10-year-old brother. On the nose, you get dark fruits with hints of walnuts and marzipan, heather honey and very distant peatiness. The taste is light and sweet with grainy citrus, cornflakes and some crisp oak. Vanilla, spices and mild tannins accompany the modest finish. An easy sipper that appears younger than the age statement suggests. RATING: 3.2/5.0 stars ≙ 81 pts → AVERAGE [+]

Eimverk distillery named their young malt after Flóki Vilgerðarson, the first Norseman settler who came to Iceland. Too young to be called 'whisky', this spirit spent about 1-2 years in virgin American oak casks, which are then used to mature their older stock. The aroma is minty-fresh with hints of juniper, vanilla and newly assembled furniture (IKEA). Young, crisp and oily on the palate, there is a delightful herbal freshness that migrates into the mineral and resin-bitter finish. Flóki is definitely an unusual dram that unfortunately comes with a hefty price tag. RATING: 2.9/5.0 stars ≙ 78 pts → AVERAGE [-]

As workhorse of the blend industry, Tomintoul is one of the lesser-known Speyside distilleries. The nose of this 10-year-old expression is simple, muted and primarily fruity. Grapes, banana and hints of refined sugar intermingle with distant floral notes. Tasting thin, fragile and almost watery, this dram behaves like a blended Scotch. Mildly bitter spices, fudge and grainy citrus give way to a modest, nutty and refill cask-dominated finish that is still the best part of the experience. Not quite sure what to make of it. Was this whisky meant to be sold as a single malt? RATING: 2.7/5.0 stars ≙ 76 pts → SUBPAR [+]

Islay's youngest distillery (ESTḌ 2005) presents its 'Machir Bay' NAS expression with 46% ABV, natural color and non-chill filtered. Fairly simple on the nose, you get earthy, dusty peat smoke with lime juice and honey. The arrival is fresh, slightly spirity but well-composed with sweet spices, dry peatiness and some salted peanuts. Tasting briny, peppery and aromatic in the development, the finish is clean with slowly fading notes of dark chocolate and smoked ham. Kilchoman is definitely getting there, though rather expensive for such a young whisky. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

Why do you bottle a rather expensive 18-year-old single malt at thin 40% ABV, add E150a colorant and chill-filter it? Big question mark! Light but subtle in the aroma, there is a dominating note of overripe apples with some cinnamon, vanilla cream and hints of Oloroso casks in the background. Orange zest and a touch of cider characterize the aromatic arrival, followed by restrained fruitiness and a medium-length finish with mildly bitter wood spices. Altogether somewhat boring and without big complexity, Glenfiddich's 15yo Solera Vat is a better value. RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]

The Classic Laddie comes in a stylish turquoise bottle with strong 50% ABV, natural color and no chill-filtration. That's a good start. On the nose, you get rich barley sugar, toasted bread and baked apple intermingled with heather honey, candy floss and floral notes. After a minty-fresh, astringent and zesty arrival, the taste develops bland and one-dimensional. Young, spirity and lacking body, Bruichladdich's NAS expression disappoints with a swift, aromatic and unpleasantly bitter finish. It's not a bad Islay whisky, but where are age and substance? RATING: 3.2/5.0 stars ≙ 81 pts → AVERAGE [+]