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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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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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Glenlivet 25 Year
Distiller Score 92
The nose is quite aromatic with candied orange, vanilla, and wood spices. Sweetness takes over the palate with caramel, more vanilla, and sweet malt cereal. The sherry influence comes through on the finish with dried fruit and almonds.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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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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Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish
Distiller Score 90
There's a very complex nose to this one, a swirl of crème brûlée, peppery spice, chocolate, and cherries all floating on top a whiff of salty sea air. In the mouth, it's a thick, well-balanced combination of oaky spice, red fruit, raisins, sea salt, and caramel. It's a warm, lingering finish full of dark fruit, oak, and cream.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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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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Girvan Patent Still Single Grain 30 Year
Distiller Score 93
To compare this to its 25 year sibling, the additional five years in oak really intensifies the aroma and taste of dried fruits, in particular apricots and orchard fruits. With a bourbon-like mash bill in a whisky using aged, not new American oak barrels (and aging in Scotland) this doesn't have that intense spice driven and tannic profile that a bourbon of this age would have. It is not especially chewy or overly sweet, but refined and dare I say feminine. Spiced toffee and vanilla are the lingering notes on your palate.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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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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Benromach Vintage 1976
Distiller Score 96
The aroma is full of tropical golden fruits with a fairly decent intensity. Toasted coconut and sweet curry spices join in the fun. The palate shows much of the same with a nice balance between malt and fruit with the sherry casks heightening and not overwhelming the whisky. A trace of char smoke and salt is present, but only just. The finish is lovely and lasting.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Auchentoshan 21 Year
Distiller Score 90
There is a rich milk chocolate note coupled with vanilla that is immediately apparent. Holiday spices are present, but don't bully their way to be noticed. Creamy and full, the aroma follows through on the palate with a side order of dried apricots and ginger.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Aultmore 21 Year
Distiller Score 90
Fragrant notes of floral honey and malt notes hit your senses before you even put the glass to your nose. As you dig a little deeper you get some lemony sweet tea, vanilla, and mint. The palate isn't very rich, but has more honey notes, this time more dark amber. The finish shows some milk chocolate and gentle wood spices. This would be a great gateway dram for a bourbon drinker who doesn't think they like Scotch.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno