Tastes

color: old gold nose: rich, sweet, floral, citrus, polished wood, caramel, candied (cherried? rum-like), cinnamon palate: vanilla, spice, apple, pear finish: short with a puff of smoke, intense, tobacco

color: dark color nose: sherry, pencil shavings, sulfur, orange, sweet peat, apple skins, floral, honeyed, maritime palate: spicy, rich, smoky, tea-like, chamomile, coffee on the back finish: medium, sharp, coffee roast This was one of my first single malt scotch whiskeys, over six years ago. I initially found it very polarizing: "burnt tires" was one of my first descriptions. This time around, I found it MUCH more subdued, which could be due to a change in preferences/perspective, a revamping up their formula (or both). If anything, it was a bit underwhelming! Still, it's one of the few bottles that doesn't break the $60 mark, and has a little of everything. No serious drinker can afford to overlook this iconic malt

color: I call it amber nose: there is a clay or waxiness, wine notes, nuttiness, clove, cinnamon/nutmeg, bubblegum fruitiness palate: slightly sulfuric, fruity, oily, apples finish: short, drying This had been on my list for a while, and I finally pulled the trigger. Despite being 46% abv and double distilled (much like Scotch single malts), there's a certain something that sets it apart... it also has that "smoothness" that Irish whiskies are famous for. Not a bad way to introduce neophytes to single malts, or something beyond your standard Jameson!

color: medium gold nose: fruity, sweet, tropical, creamy, floral, honey, rich, leather, potpourri palate: chocolate, coffee, vanilla bean, oak finish: espresso, peppery, long lasting, nutty water brings out more tropical, citrus notes, polished wood, cinnamon, peaches, on the nose, oak on the palate, and heat on the finish despite being 50% abv and quite young, its surprisingly "smooth". somewhat reminiscent of springbank 10. this had been on my list for some time, but unlike with so many other wish list purchases, this didn't disappoint, nor go above and beyond, but was exactly in line with my expectations, which is rare. overall, I'm happy!

color: deep gold nose: floral, green apples/pears, honey, slightly briny/funky, disinfectant, bitter chocolate, citrus, bright, vanilla, stewed fruits, sweet. with water and a few minutes in the glass, a decadent, dessert-like quality emerges palate: musty oak, fruity, sour green apples, spiciness finish: tobacco roast, malty crunch

appearance: honey gold; a few well spaced out legs that fall relatively fast nose: crisp green apples! a yeasty funkiness (similar to an cnoc 12), nuttiness, sunflower seeds? lemon? slightly bourbon-esque. water brings out honey, old sawdust, vanilla palate: sweet, fruity, vanilla frosting, exotic fruit (peach? pineapple?), cinnamon. "crunchy" malt with water finish: short and sweet its been some years since I've first had this, but my initial reactions are similar. originally preferred the glenlivet 12, but I think the "'crispness" and nuttiness have won me over. definitely don't mind paying a little extra, and there's a reason its the #1 selling single malt

appearance: somewhere between tawny and auburn nose: sweet, rich, woody, spicy, citrus, nuttiness, vanilla, rum/molasses, floral palate: cinnamon, black cherries, tannic/dry, winey, tobacco finish: somewhat hot SO much more enjoyable than the glenfarclas 105, at least for me, though more "muted" (even though higher ABV)

appearance: VERY light, like a young riesling. many quick moving legs nose: pepper, menthol, smoke (burning tires), marshmallow/vanilla, nutmeg? something floral. with a bit of water, pine resin emerges palate: brine, oily, some sweetness, milk chocolate and herbaciousness with water finish: short, coffee notes, meaty more pungent yet at the same time more refined than the wee beastie