Tastes

A different style of Irish for me. Still, I like this youthful spirit. The nose is very fruity, but shifts to caramel toffee and vanilla on the palate. It is peppery in the mouth too , but seems a bit rough or has some alcohol taste too. The finish is drying, and some more red fruit come back too. Overall very tasty but a bit off balance. (3.5 stars)

Ardbeg has a great nose. Pouring this fills the room with smoke, peat, and a slight floral note. My wife said "It is like laying down happily in a bog". The taste brings up the volume though! Big peat with notes of campfire, creosote, with a bit of bite. There is still sweet notes, but more from cereal or honey. At first this is coating and feels a bit oily, however it finished dry. The finish is long and let's you taste the wood while breathing a bit of smoke. Overall if you enjoy peated Scotch, this is a must try.

A surprise, this rye was very drinkable for the money. Gentle, with a sweet, light nose with only a hint of fruit. The palate is coating, mild rye spice, and honey. The finish is short, a little dry, and hints of citrus or pith. For 100% rye this lacks flavour, spice, and finish. However, it was not offensive and could serve as a warm up whisky or a mixer nicely

Wonderful Rye. Lots of spice up front and in the finish. There is good sweetness too, soft fruit, some say banana, but I pick up almost cherry. Oak comes through in the dry finish. Surprisingly smooth Rye, but not tamed like some other Canadian Rye. If you like bold and layered Rye, pick this up (3.5 stars)

This is an excellent blended whiskey. It is fairly light and smooth, but the fruits from sherry aging come through and make this dangerously drinkable!

I will need to repost here when I have spent time with this bottle. For now, I have opened this up and it's a beauty. Amazing balance of sweet and butter with some spice and oak notes. The finish is lasting and memorable.

I just bumped this score to 4 stars. Trying this again I find a more mature Scotch. The sherry notes of dark fruits are balanced with oak spice. I can pick up a bit of chocolate too. While this tends to be over priced, if you can get a good deal, this is worth picking up.

Full and inviting nose rich with dark fruits. The palate is less fruity with a bit of spice and vanilla coming in. Finish is medium with lots of oak and the fruit notes come back in. Coating in the mouth, but drying on the end. This is a great Sherry aged Scotch!

A nice pour. This is fairly light and simple, but it has a strong oak finish. Maybe from the 3 years in virgin French Oak.

The nose of this expression is interesting, very fruity with young or almost green fruits, and quite sweet too. First taste in the mouth is pronounced alcohol with some bitter wood. There is a little creamy or coating feel though and if I take very small sips I can catch the sweetness again, with vanilla and honey. The finish is short and leaves more of that bitter wood. I actually still like this, but would recommend you try a pour first before a bottle.