Tastes

Expensive, but a nice dram. Sherry smacks you in the face, in a nice way, from the PX/Oloroso. The nose brings oranges, plums, tobacco, honey nut cherrios and chocolate. The palate is outstanding on its own without water. White pepper, brown sugar, raspberries, cashews and dates. The finish is long and brings out more peppers, darker chocolate, and slight oak. This one needs a sweet and complex song for its theme. I'll pick "My Ashes" by Porcupine Tree. 4.75! Thanks for the pour @Generously_Paul!

At first nose, it reminded me a little of a Ben Nevis 10. A little funkiness going on, but not as intense. Peaches, nectarines, sulfur, leather, and oak. The palate is quite good with nutmeg, vanilla, rhubarb, white pepper, and light cherries. A very exquisite medium and thick mouth coat, with a medium length oily, yet cashew, toffee, and walnut finish. Thankfully, a solid independent offering for under a 100 bucks. The theme to the dram should be funky and bright too. "Last Child" by Aerosmith will work nicely. 3.75 from me!

On the nose, I got red roses, watermelon, peaches, very faint tobacco, and some oak properties. This one needs just a couple drops of water being cask strength. The palate brought out white grapes, light cherries, pears, slight green beans, and a touch of pineapple. A very odd mix, but it does work. A little dry on the finish, but it does stay with you with a nice heavy mouth coat. It's a tough one to "turn down". As @PBMichiganWolverine might say, it's a hot chick that's there, ready to go, in the sack, but you know she's a little cray-cray. LOL... Anyway, to my thing.. the theme of the dram shall be something great, but a little "off"... 3.5! I am thinking "Sex and Candy" by Marcy Playground. Cheers!

A little funk on the nose, right off, but don’t let that fool you. That’s just that nice Marsala cask saying “hello!” Almonds up front, with vanilla, a slight green apple/tea, and tobacco note on the nose. The palate brings marzipan, cream, vanilla, truffles, a little smoke, and white pepper. Mmmmm good! The oily medium mouth coat brings a well rounded long finish of smoked fish, capers, and faint ash. This is a very nice change to Bunny’s typical line. It will make you want to try more expanded offerings they have. 4.0. The theme for this dram should be “Si Maritau Rosa” by Gian Campione since @LeeEvolved scoffed at my last Italian favorite. I am just sticking with the region of the cask, maaaaaaaan. :)

Since “Oh Lord!!” are the first two words that come to mind doing the nose of this, the theme of the dram is definitely “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin. Anyway, the nose brought sauerkraut, of all things, along with some rotten pears, unripened apples, and sawdust. Not a good way to start. Even at a mere 46% ABV, it’s a hot mess, and suffers from just feeling rushed. Thin mouthfeel, subtle lemony pledge finish, but I guess it’s thankfully dry. Just a “no go” from start to finish. The only saving grace is that it’s not waxy as well. 1.75.

Hah! @LeeEvolved paid it forward with this dram, and it was better than expected! On the nose you get some faint red apples, cinnamon, and a touch of smoke. It’s a similar palate, goes down smooth as silk. I am sure it’s from help of the 40% ABV. Anyway, faint short finish, but still tasty. With the price point, you can’t go wrong either. 3.0. The theme of this dram has to be a 70s disco number. I am thinking “Heart of Glass” by Blondie.

I'll echo @Soba45 on the needed water, sorry @LeeEvolved. (He's going to give me @#$% now, I know, for sure). Anyway, this is a 57.9% ABV, so it can hold a few drops, trust me. Neat at first though, always, I went for the nose and got a nice bit of pear, vanilla, straw/hay, woody oak, faint cinnamon, and some nice leather. Of course, it's still a Springbank type after all. Next, on the palate, the barolo cask comes through (north italian wine), and I can see why it's adored. It really goes well with the oak/vanilla, minty cream, and brings out even more spice. The finish is medium length, with a medium mouth coat. The song for this dram is "Maridem" by Paroplapi. 3.75!

Excited to get in this glass! Springbank is in my top three favorite distilleries, but this is only my second time trying a Maltman. The nose makes me think high end Japanese whisky already. Cherries, strawberries, powdered sugar, marshmallows, faint peat smoke and celery. The palate brought out the same fruit with candy gumdrops, light brown sugar, faint tobacco. The leathery trademark comes through on the medium finish, along the sweet mouth coat keeps the flavor with caramel chews, mocha, and Heath toffee. @PBMichiganWolverine you find the best bottles, my friend! Thanks SO much for the opportunity to taste this glorious dram. 4.75. This is liquid gold, so the theme of this dram is "Gold Dust Woman" by Fleetwood Mac.

I think Caol Ila might want to stick to doing the peated offerings, but I'll give it a chance. The nose had the malty barley, ginger, wood, lemongrass, and honeysuckle. Everything is pretty subtle so far, along with vanilla and smoke. The palate brings a strong olive taste, along with salty, briny, ginger. The medium finish is chalky and filled with sea shells. This is not my cup of tea, but I can see two things to do with this bottle. First, it would pair extremely well with sushi, or other food that does well with very dry beer. Second, this would do well with a blend with a PX/Oloroso sherry/other flavored cask like port, manzanilla, amontillado, etc. Great price for a 17 year at $117, but I think I got lucky. Not bad, but just not for me flavor wise since there isn't sweetness, fruit, or more smoke. The theme of this dram is going to be "Fear of Salt" by Buckethead. 2.75.

The first note on the nose I got was smoked bacon, so I am definitely "all-in". I don't know their recipe at all, but I suspect Caol Ila because of the nice smoke, but also just a tough of some Ardbeg because of the earthy properties. Clynelish most likely brings the nice mouth coat and floral/citrus properties of lavender. Subtle distant lemons, mangoes, and oranges. It has a pleasant heavy mouth coat, a little hot because it's cask strength, but a great combo of all those flavors on the taste. I'd love to have one of those goofy hats that hold bottles so I could have two straws from two 1.75 liter bottles. =D LOL ... I don't typically do blends, but Compass Box earns respect, and I am again met with an outstanding glass. Thanks for the try @LeeEvolved ! 4.0 and I am looking forward to trying more of their bottles. The theme to this dram should be a little chunky and chewy. How about the "Cowboys from Hell" by Pantera.