Tastes

Very nicely balanced whisky. More like a Speysider to my taste. Shortbread adds an interesting note. Very good, but ultimately not what I reach for.

Moderate lemon and vanilla nose. Sweet rum on arrival relaxing into rich barley, vanilla, toffee, nuts and brown sugar. Gentle, sweet and long finish becoming a bit peppery at the very end. A little water softens the edges. Yummy.

All the usual suspects in a high quality bourbon, but so much sweet corn! The rye content is the best part. A decent amount of complexity, but I'll stick with scotch.

With a teaspoon of water, I get honey and heather on the nose. Arrives with green apples and rich barley. A slight taste of cardboard in the middle, but mostly pleasant vegetal barley. A nice heat with cola and maybe a little licorice in the finish. A 3 star at this point, but may change. Will soon contrast with the 15 yo. Revisiting again in 2021. Enjoying much more 2nd time around. More over-ripe plantain, lemon, pear and apple on the nose, less on the palate. Still sweet and full. Buttery mouth feel. Water a + and enjoy the heat. 3.75.

Nose of Grand Marnier. Honey, salt, citrus, butter and a bit of wonderful swirling peat smoke. Nice mouth feel and lots of full flavors, but probably not a permanent addition to my limited cabinet. I will enjoy creating the space.

Nose is bracing lemon, barley, floral and some sea spray. Quick hit of citrus them immediately a big hit of honeyed cereal. Tapers slowly into the finish with waves of lemon, vanilla, barley, sea and a little cinnamon. Very fresh and clean. At 50% ABV, water helps tame the heat and bring out floral notes.

Bitter chocolate, vanilla, dried fruit and sherry on the nose. A big, rich & syrupy arrival. Big burnt toffee flavors. Pleasant waves of chocolate continue through a fairly long, dry finish. Reminds me of Dalmore 12, but maybe a little more intense and complex. Time for a side-by-side.

Not an Islay, but a good peaty character playing nicely with fruit, grass and lemon. Even at 46%, best neat or just a drop of water. Good, but not great. With limited shelf space, will not re-stock this one any time soon.