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Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak Cask
Distiller Score 90
They've brought us some figgy pudding, indeed. Rich dried fruits like figs and dates, some toasted nuts and and a scent of freshly peeled oranges are what you'll find with this whisky. These flavors stay with you for quite some time and eventually turn bitter with some charred smoke from the barrels.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Macallan Fine Oak 25 Year
Distiller Score 93
A robust aroma of peach, blood orange and coconut greet you as you take bring the glass to your nose. There are wood spices found, but become integrated on the palate. The retro-nasal flavor profile is fruit, floral, and fresh despite the 25 years of age. A slight smoke lingers on your palate on the finish.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Dalmore 18 Year
Distiller Score 92
The color is dark amber and full of nuts on the nose and almost, maybe soy sauce. The whisky is quite chewy and, in fact, tastes of the Nestlé candy Chunky which is milk chocolate, raisins, and peanuts. The fruit that stands out is orange and the finish is very nutty and slightly bitter.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Glenfarclas 40 Year
Distiller Score 94
Dark honey, roasted cereal, dark molasses, baked pears, cinnamon, maybe some walnut; these are some of the aromas found in this whisky. Going back for more you'll find orange peel, black tea, tobacco; this is something you'll want to drink by the fireplace. The finish is slightly bitter, but is lengthy.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Bruichladdich Black Art 1990 04.1 Edition 23 Year
Distiller Score 95
An unusual bouquet, with hints of sherry, Bordeaux wine, and perhaps even Sauternes wine blended with fresh lemon peel, honey and the slightest hint of salt air. On the palate, this whisky is exotic and exhibits lots of fruit notes. Fresh papaya abounds, with coconut, chocolate, mango and star anise notes before finishing with nice oak, a bit of cereal grains, and peach crisp. While Black Art may have mysterious origins, the final result is simply sublime. This is a complex and nuanced whisky that is exceptionally well-made.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Macallan The Harmony Collection Rich Cacao
Distiller Score 89
True to its name, the nose offers gooey dark chocolate brownies, fudge, and carob, all intermeshed with prunes, raw honey, and trail mix. The palate showcases cocoa powder, raspberry syrup, cinnamon, and malted milk balls. A rich and indulgent finish brings chocolate in the form of lava cake, covered raisins, and pudding, along with dates, orange zest, and wood spice.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Dewar's Signature
Distiller Score 93
If anything is Dewar's signature, it's honey. This bottling has it in spades. The texture is chewy and also includes berries, vanilla cream, and chocolate. Kudos to their former Master Blender, Tom Aitken for creating this blend.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Glenmorangie Signet
Distiller Score 93
Freshly zested orange peels, dark malt, and winter spices take over your senses on the nose. The whisky is sweet and chocolatey and continues on the sweet side with dried fruits. The finish ends dry and not cloying. Skip the espresso; this is the whisky you want at the end of your meal.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Glenfiddich 21 Year Reserva Rum Cask Finish
Distiller Score 90
As you might imagine with a whisky finished in rum, there are lots of sugary aromas and flavors--molasses, toffee, and brown sugar to name a few. As you dig deeper, you also discover espresso, leather, and banana. Despite all the sweets, the finish is dry, but lengthy.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Compass Box Hedonism The Muse
Distiller Score 94
Creamy vanilla pudding pulls you in on the nose, with peaches and cream, vanilla-covered pretzels, and tropical fruits. The palate is luscious and richly sweet, with butterscotch, trail mix with sugary dried fruits, candied apples, and plenty of vanillas. The finish is short and sweet, with quick hits of citrus, spice, and oak rounded out by that creamy vanilla sweetness encouraging you to sip again. A supreme example of blended grain whisky.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Dalmore King Alexander III
Distiller Score 88
With all of those wine finishes, you'd expect the nose to be fruit filled, but it is also floral. Each one of the wines themselves are so expressive, providing red fruit, nuts, winter spices, and chocolate. The dark malty character is still there underneath it all.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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The Glenrothes 1985 2nd Edition
Distiller Score 93
Rich, sweet, and fruity on the nose, full of caramel, malt, buttery cinnamon toast, pears, and cream. The taste sticks with what the nose suggests then adds oak, chocolate, and orange zest to the mix. The long finish drifts dreamily from oak spice and chocolate-orange sweetness.
Reviewed by Keith Allison