Tastes

I'd drink this over water 9 times put of 10 if I could. Salty, salty, salty! One of the saltiest malts out there. Nice malty flavors. Would be fantastic with pretzels. It's fantastic on it's own, so maybe I should say that it would be fantasticer with pretzels. I can hear seagulls and fog horns, waves, and creaking boats when I drink this - it takes me to the see and makes me wish that I were on a boat!

A bit of caramel on the nose. Nice and malty, creamy on the palate. A whiff of smoke, but not particularly smokey. Sweet, nutty malt that evolves into caramel. Very salty, in the best possible way, the maritime character is readily apparent. I don't know how I missed this gem for all these years, this has quickly become one of my all time favorites, and it's a bargain too!! This will always have a place on my shelf. You will struggle to find a better scotch in this price range. You might even struggle to find a better scotch for under $75.

Wonderful nose, smells like a blend of sherry and port, port in the front, sherry in the background. I can taste the port, but it is balanced by smoke. Quite spicy with a fairly long finish - smoke, black pepper, port, with a bit of dry wood hiding in the back. Lemon zest pops up along the way. A little bit of tannin, but it's surrounded and smoothed over with so many other flavors. Just a faint hint of green apple at the end.

Drinking along side the 12 year. This is sweeter and creamier - some vanilla and cream, doesn't seem quite as oily, but has a better overall flavor. A bit of honey. Finish doesn't seem as woody or tannic. Doesn't have quite the same alcohol burn. For my money, I think that this is better than the 12 year. The nose here has noticeable sherry - raisins, wine, sweet.

Some sherry on the nose, but not as pronounced as the double cask. Moderately woody. Definitely richly flavored and with sherry notes. Modest smoke, could stand more. Long woody finish, some tannins here, a bit too much, green wood and bitter herbs. Not overly sweet. Unexpected alcohol burn in the finish. Pleasant, but could have a bit more going on. Drinking along the double cask, and I think that I prefer the double cask. Worth drinking, but I've had better at the same price point.

Strong vanilla on the nose, reminds me of ice cream or creme brulee. Moderate sweetness with a hint of brown sugar, cream, one of the more robust vanilla flavors I've tasted in bourbon - like vanilla ice cream, but not as sweet. Oily and creamy. A bit of rye spiciness folded into the rich dessert flavors. Really coats the palate. Excellent! Hope to always have a bottle on hand!

Rye spiciness, vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, a little word and some alcohol burn. Pleasant, but nicely priced.

Peat, smoke, brine on the nose possibly some fruit. Sherry elements- salted caramel, but not overly sweet. Some nutty notes. Nice and oily with some decent salt. Medicinal, briny bite at the end, but not at Laphroaig levels. A great coastal malt with pleasant sherry elements.

Definitely add water, it opens it up dramatically. Strong alcohol burn, even with water. Sweet sherry, oily rich flavor with smoke weaving throughout. Vanilla notes with some caramel which wrestles with the smoke. Wood is there, but it's toward the back. Toffee with some salt. Creamy. Burnt brown sugar. Hint of raisins. Not my favorite style, but this is truly excellent!

Sweet malt, pear and honey, light peat/smoke. Quite pleasant. been years since I last had this. It's nice tasting scotch - not overly complex, but it's tasty and very drinkable. Sort of a reliable anytime scotch when I don't feel like breaking out the good stuff.