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Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon (2014)
Distiller Score 98
Baking spices smacks the olfactory receptors as you waft this over-proof spirit. Next, ripe red and stone fruits follow with cacao and mild tobacco notes coming next. The palate is full of chocolate and caramel with a rich oily mouthfeel. The finish is less spicy than anticipated, with a medium-long length. The bottling tasted was from warehouse HW, the Barrel No. was 47-2J.
Reviewed by Dennis Gobis
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Edradour Straight From The Cask Port Wood Finish 12 Year
Distiller Score 95
At cask strength it is slow to open but rounds out beautifully after about 10 minutes. Take time to savor the quality and richness of this distillation. A robust aroma of marzipan and baked dark fruits leads to a rich and oily palate with a touch of cocoa and coffee. The fruity finish is lengthy with just a touch of pepper.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Glengoyne 21 Year
Distiller Score 90
The initial impressions are those of a classic sherry-cask-aged whisky, with plenty of fruits, like red dried plums in this instance, and toasted barley. As it reaches your palate, it feels very smooth and has no prickly, burning effect. The aromas are very well integrated, leaving an overall seamless experience. This Glengoyne is mostly fruity, floral and gently spicy. The finish could have been longer, but at the end of the day, this is a very successful whisky.
Reviewed by Julien Le Doaré
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Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Four Wood Bourbon
Distiller Score 96
The nose on this bourbon couldn't be more complex. Vanilla, caramel, red wine, freshly chopped firewood, candied citrus, the list goes on. The first sip is like taking a drag off a slightly harsh cigar, and then instantly mellows. The palate then explodes and coats the mouth with sweet citrus, well integrated wood, cool smoke, and a non-cloying sweet, lingering finish. Gorgeous, meticulously complex, yet still approachable.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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Springbank Rum Wood Finish 16 Year
Distiller Score 91
A sniff brings lots of vanilla, honey, and tropical fruits like papaya and a bit of coconut. The taste is an exquisite balance of rum and whisky characteristics. This is a rich and sweet whisky with cocoa, apricots, and more papaya; the palate also shows bitter dark chocolate, oak, and salted caramel. A few drops of water really brings the fruit forward, accompanied by a floral burst and more salt.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Brandy Cask Finish
Distiller Score 91
This long awaited whiskey starts off with a very breakfasty aroma: maple-covered granola with dried fruits, nuts, and a bit of milk chocolate. It has a certain rich smoothness that is almost silky along with more toasted nuts, caramel, and lovely baking spices. An all around solid whiskey to enjoy neat so you don't miss the raisin notes brought about by two years in brandy casks.
Reviewed by Nicole Gilbert
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Glenmorangie 18 Year
Distiller Score 93
Desserts galore come to mind with this whisky. The aroma is bursting of fresh lemon hand pies with the taste profile moving towards cherry pie with a rich, buttery crust. As you continue down the dessert list, crème brûlée with its just torched sugar crust is paired with a cinnamon honey and citrus hot toddy. Even with all of these sweet, heavy descriptors, there is a zing to this whisky that keeps it fresh and alive.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Heaven's Door Redbreast Master Blenders' Edition
Distiller Score 92
The nose offers a combination of vanilla beans and toffee, with prunes, walnuts, and honey roasted peanuts atop an oaky undertone. The palate is full and rich, with salted caramel and pumpernickel bread, as well as fresh plums and berries alongside sugary dried fruits. A big finish offers brown sugar and cinnamon, along with candied ginger, leather, and dark chocolate.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Tyrconnell 16 Year Oloroso & Moscatel Cask Finish
Distiller Score 92
This Irish single malt emerges slowly from the glass with a summer-like blend of fruit, herbs, and flowers. On the palate, its off-to-the-races with loads of dried fruit, powdered sugar, light chili spice and even a salty note to close out the finish. An even hand with the Oloroso & Moscatel cask finishing makes this an exciting whiskey to explore.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Kavalan Solist Ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength
Distiller Score 88
Very sweet and somewhat forceful on the nose, this whisky is chock full of vanilla, Ceylon cinnamon, and creamy tropical fruit. The palate is deeply layered, with flavors both exotic and familiar: mango lassi, wintergreen, candied pineapple, licorice root and sweet toffee cookie. Adding water tames the heat somewhat, but also mutes some of the flamboyant tropical flavors and brings out a more conventional cereal background note.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts
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Compass Box Hedonism
Distiller Score 97
Having aged in only 1st fill ex-Bourbon barrels, the whisky definitely shows aromas from the wood such as coconut cream and vanilla, but there are more layers to explore. The creaminess of the whisky is very sensual and as it sits in your mouth baking spices are revealed. The name "Hedonism" suits this whisky just fine.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Bushmills 21 Year Single Malt
Distiller Score 97
As Veruca Salt would say, "I want it now!" With the intensity of the sweet fruit and chocolate notes on the nose, could you blame her? The trail mix filled dram also has deep malt flavors with the texture creamy, not cloying. Towards the finish, the whiskey becomes dry and spicy. A comparable Scotch whisky would be almost double the price so snatch up what you can
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno