Tastes

This may be the best bourbon I've tasted by a mile... when taking into account the value. The nose lets you know the proof, while being layered, but I feel the flavor is kaleidoscopic. There are definitely dark red fruits in the taste. The savory peanut butter note shows up in the mid-range for me...I'm probably made of 60% peanut butter if you subscribe to the "you are what you eat philosophy." With a little water, this peanut butter note turns into a mild banana-nut bread. The finish fades out into a black tea and bitterness, enticing me to drink more. It is very easy to drink more despite the high proof, making it a dangerous but sexy pour. New staple for the cabinet. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Sophisticated and fun...This is another stunner from Amrut. Smells like a sherry bomb, and finishes with an impressive bouquet of spices. It as if every sip starts out red-vine licorice and travels into old-fashioned black licorice. This bottle will be hard too reach past, and I’m glad there seems to be adequate supply out there in my area. If looking at the experience profile of this on a chart, I would expect to see a "bow-tie." This is a thrilling whisky with dramatic swings. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Shoulder Pour 2 weeks open: I was lucky enough to find this at a good price. I know these Classic Cuts can get pretty pricey for a NAS scotch, but I'd say this brings the value, even at a MSRP. It's what I'd expect from a typical "sherry bomb" not too complex, very chocolaty and everything is turned up to 11. This is like the '80s hair-metal rock of Speyside. If all Macallan expressions lived in a neighborhood, this would be the house with the lime-green car in the driveway. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Thoughts: This is a good whiskey with excellent marketing and cult like following, which should make it a sought-after whisky for years to come. This tastes like if the Uigeadail and the Corryvrekan had a baby. In fact that might be a good experiment which may yield twice the amount of liquid for $10 more. There is more of a plum note weaved into the ash as it lingers for a few minutes. To be honest, and a miser, if this were cheaper the score would increase. I'm not buying a back-up since I don't prefer this whisky to other core expressions in Ardbeg; Though it might make good business sense to do so. I'm glad I bought it, I'm happy its good. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Shoulder Pour N - sugar sweet, peat, little nail polish T - smoke, citrus, vanilla F - ash, but very short for the high ABV Thoughts: Bought this on sale in early Jan of '20. Sold by the price the peat and the Port...Ellen. This is the palest whiskey in my cabinet, not the end of the world, but this has to be a young whiskey. This was only worth the money and value was not jumping out of the bottle. There is a reason the bottle didn't sell for 3 subsequent Christmas seasons at original price. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Shoulder pour N: sweetness, pepper, nail polish T: Honey, Powdered Sugar, black pepper. F: vanilla, oak Thoughts: Disappointing, because I'm a Tucson, AZ native and I initially didn't like this very much - I was upset that I bought this...even on sale. But coming back to it, this has improved a full-point. I don't anticipate pushing this to a 3, as I continue to reluctantly drink this - I have over 10 other whiskies open which will easily allow me to reach past this. I hear the distillery is good, especially with their smoked barley offerings. Hope the next one I try redeems my hometown. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

N: sea water, butterscotch, plum T: light peat, char, honey, ("mouth feel" is the best thing about this dram) F: honey and black pepper Value: this got bumped up 1/4 point for the low cost, pretty good, could jump $10 for a much better whisky experience if desired. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

bottle half-full, 43% version N: honey, heather, salt, apples T: salt, pear, grass and caramel F: medium length, brine Value: Hard to find a better value. Tastes really good, and somewhat complex but the low price pops it up a good half-point. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Bottle 1/4 full N: peat, brine and peanut T: viscous, vanilla, peat, powdered sugar (in that order) F: roasted vegetables in rib-eye juice, paleolithic moss Value: This is the whiskey that got me into whiskey; slightly biased. I was blown away and had peat flashbacks throughout the week, after tasting it the previous weekend. Best Value that I know of, for peat lovers. True blue unadulterated Islay. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Bottle 1/3 full Nose: smoke, orange peel, earthy peat Taste: Peat, vanilla, lemon Finish: long: phenolic, vanilla, peat Value: This is a good whiskey, that cant extend to the price I’m finding it. The cult of Ron Swanson has probably increased the demand driving it to triple digit prices. The 16, in my opinion, when looking at value doesn’t hold up to 8 or 12 year expressions, and the added coloring is a disappointment. That being said, this is a cornerstone whiskey, and I encourage everyone to try it, so as to calibrate your preferences adequately. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.