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Laphroaig 30 Year The Ian Hunter Story Book 1
Distiller Score 93
The nose starts with a teriyaki glazed roast, with honey and meatiness, alongside creamsicle, lemon zest, heather and seawater. More of Laphroaig's typical peat smoke, charcoal and salt come out to play on the palate, all working alongside sweet vanillins of toffee and fudge. A long lasting finish is minty, peppery and herbal, with oak and pine, ash, and canned peaches.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg!
Distiller Score 90
The color of the dram is a pale gold and the aroma from the glass exhibits peat smoke, sweet malt, grassy and mossy notes, along with a sea spray and lemon zest. It's an inviting nose for sure. The whisky is somewhat plush and slightly oily on the palate and there's a peppery bite from the alcohol. But the sweet malt comes through and tames the spicy bite a bit. There's a touch of vanilla and chocolate notes along with some oak. The rye flavor comes through on further sips, but it's just a secondary note. With water it comes through a bit more but the barley nuttiness and the peat influences are still front and center. Overall it's another fun release from Ardbeg.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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MacKinlay's Shackleton: The Journey 2nd Edition
Distiller Score 92
The whisky is pale yellow and very fluid in the glass. The nose is pleasant and slightly buttery with touches of sand. The body opens with a touch of cedar and gentle notes of allspice. It is slightly briny and rich with malt. The finish is peppery and filled with dried Lapsang Suchong tea and aged cigars.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Highland Park 30 Year
Distiller Score 97
It is wise to take your time with a dram of this nature. Honey dotted with salt crystals, raspberries and cream, ethereal wisps of peat smoke, these are a few images that come to mind by simply inhaling the whisky. As you taste, you'll find a lively whisky with more chocolate and barrels spices than juicy fruits with the continued haze of smoke on your palate.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Oban 21 Year Cask Strength
Distiller Score 97
As this is cask strength, it strikes me a bit hot on the nose, but that quickly subsides to some lovely salt air and a bit of peppered caramel. The mouth-feel is soft but assertive, salty and crisp with a bit of cucumber. Once the vegetation subsides a very bold nuttiness ensues with rich roasted chestnuts. If the bar you are in has this, please don’t let it sit on the shelf, drink it!
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Highland Park Loki
Distiller Score 91
The peat aroma is certainly more intense than you might expect from Highland Park. On the palate there's a close race between the sweet maple notes and the spiced ones that ends with the latter winning in a photo finish. Fruit appears in the form of orange peels and dried cherries. The malty quality to the whisky isn't covered by the fruit. The finish is on the sweet-smoky-meaty side.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Highland Park 40 Year
Distiller Score 96
The classic gentle peat smoke profile is a mark throughout the dram. Honey covered almonds, soft and chewy nougat, and oak spice are present on your palate for an extraordinary length of time. The whisky is lively and the wood tannins are woven throughout the whisky beautifully as a supporting rather than a featured role.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Glen Scotia 25 Year
Distiller Score 90
A delicious nose boasts earthy/smoky notes, sea breeze, and a full array of spices ranging from cinnamon to ginger and cloves. The palate is light, fruity and sweet delivering notes of herbal honey, maple syrup, toasted bread, marzipan, nuts and citrus. An elegant complexity and a gentle smoky profile, not overpowering the more subtle aromas. The finish is lingering with spices and tropical fruits.
Reviewed by Anne-Sophie Bigot
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Laphroaig 18 Year
Distiller Score 90
If you're looking for the peat, the whole peat, and nothing but the peat, you're in for a disappointment. That element comes at you like a gentle kitten rather than a feral tomcat. Age has a way of reducing the amount of peat phenols in the whisky and that has happened here. Floral, heathery notes are found with stone fruits and a lingering syrup sweetness to finish the dram.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Port Charlotte PC11 Eòrna Na h-Alba
Distiller Score 92
Quite a multi-layered expression with a lot to offer. Of course, the signature Port Charlotte peat shows but leaves some space to the sweetier notes coming from the sherry casks. The finish is long, warm and delicously sweet.
Reviewed by Anne-Sophie Bigot
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Bowmore 25 Year
Distiller Score 93
Strong sherry aroma on the nose with figs and orange peel standing out. Gentle peat follows with lots of almond aromas as well. The sherried, oxidized notes are dialed back just a bit on the palate, but you'll find a pleasant mix of sweet vanilla and malt along with peat smoke. The long finish is dry and spicy with a smoke ring surrounding it all.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Port Askaig 18 Year Single Cask (US Exclusive)
Distiller Score 90
The nose is a mix of earthy peat, menthol, and tar. The smoke factor is of moderate intensity, but there's still sweet barley to be found along with a hint of lemon peel. On the palate, the whisky is of average body and at this proof, the whisky is crisp and spicy (think cinnamon sticks). There's an oaky finish of decent length. Splash of water brings out more herbal and mossy aromatics and naturally softens the dram just a bit. Give both experiences a try.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno