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Lark Single Malt Single Cask
Distiller Score 95
Of the three standard offerings from Lark, this is by far the most fruit forward of the bunch. Think school-lunch fruit salad from the can. Barrel spices and smoke are minor characters in this play. Oak comes through on the back end and is just a touch on the bitter side. The price is a bit steep so this may not be your everyday dram, but the quality and taste will not make you regret your purchase.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Amrut Intermediate Sherry
Distiller Score 91
A layered nose of spiced Christmas fruit cake and toffee with figs and jam. The bourbon casks detonate to contain what could have been a sherry bomb. Loads of vanilla and arid oak offer a counterpoint to the juicy sherry. The finish is stretched allowing the spicy hit to dwindle into the natural caramels compliments of the ex-bourbon casks. An impressive single malt.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
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Nikka Miyagikyo 12 Year
Distiller Score 87
There is a quiet nature about this whisky. Afternoon tea time comes to mind with vanilla sweet cakes and honeyed tea. The cereal notes are mild yet pleasant with the finish dry and wood spice filled.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Kavalan Ex-Bourbon Oak Single Malt
Distiller Score 86
Initially, you will experience barrel notes such as menthol, coconut, and vanilla. The palate continues with these flavors and adds toasted cereal to the mix. The whisky is tangy and finishes relatively smooth with wood spices relatively mild.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Sullivans Cove Double Cask
Distiller Score 88
This expression is probably the easiest drinking of the three expressions. Ripe orange zest and vanilla in the nose and fore palate lend to an interesting spiciness similar to candied ginger. The mid-palate lends more to the French port cask and becomes zestfully sweet in a hazelnut and bitter chocolate finish.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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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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Lock Stock & Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 13 Year
Distiller Score 94
Pecan shells, wood spices, vanilla, and leather are found on the nose along with a touch of dill. A caramel aroma is present, but don't be fooled; this is not a sweet whiskey. The palate is full, but not creamy and sticky. There is a peppery aspect to the whiskey and the 100% rye content provides a robust and dry finish to the whiskey.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013
Distiller Score 94
The stellar influence of sherry gives way to raisins, plums, figs, dates, and Maraschino cherries all dipped in dark, bitter chocolate. The aforementioned notes only intensify on the palate, now joined by cinnamon and pepper. The finish is long, as a battle between sweet, bitter, and sour notes ensues.
Reviewed by George Koutsakis
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Nikka Taketsuru 17 Year Pure Malt
Distiller Score 92
A lovely sweet spice hits your nose that is very inviting. There's a smoky aroma, but it has more of a sweet char rather than a vegetal peat quality to it. Gentle peat comes through on the palate, but is intermixed with creamy vanilla and pear fruit. Though the finish could be longer, it is pleasurable.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Sullivans Cove American Oak Bourbon Cask
Distiller Score 89
Knowing that it uses new American Oak casks and that the whisky tasted for review was aged exactly 13 years to the day, you might expect that this whisky would be a little more full-bodied. It has a pretty high vanilla character all the way through, with Asian pear and Gala apples reigning throughout the first sip. Soon after, the character develops and takes an almost 180 degree turn to Tellicherry black peppercorns with the whisky finishing on the slightly smoky side.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Hakushu Heavily Peated (2013 Release)
Distiller Score 94
Nose: Rubber and Iodine, Peat and Pepper, Hay. Tongue: Peat, Ham and Pepper, Grass, Plum and Honeycomb, Cedar and Cinnamon Cream, Bell Pepper. Notes: Wow. These guys know what they’re doing. Reminding me of Bruichladdich, in the best possible way.
Reviewed by Pedro Shanahan
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Lock Stock & Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey 16 Year
Distiller Score 94
The nose weaves between rye spice and black pepper, and brown sugar and vanilla. Dry oak and pine - both wood and needles - enter on the palate, along with a hefty dose of spice, medicinal notes, and leather. There's an underlying rich sweetness too, as well as baking spices such as cloves and nutmeg to match the rye spice. The finish bursts open, briefly hot but very long lasting, with molasses, mint, licorice, oak, more medicinal notes, and pepper. Open it up with some water, and the palate and finish showcase an even heartier layer of licorice, medicinal and minty notes.
Reviewed by Jake Emen