Review #050 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: aged 10 years, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry, 2023 bottling Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Musty and sweet are the two words that best describe this. Juicy apples, kiwis, and lemon citrus lead, but it also immediately reminds me of my grandfather’s workshop. Hay, old wooden planks, buckets of nails, chain saw bar oil, and the faint electrical smell of a power tool that’s been running for a long time. Palate: 35/40 Very enjoyable and oily texture. Primarily I get grain cereal, but also some charcoal, a mild saltiness, olive oil, and a hint of tropical fruits like pineapple and nectarine. It definitely imparts an overwhelmingly earthy flavor profile, though I can’t really point to why that is. Finish: 33/40 Medium finish. Kicks off with some burnt toast, closer to the back of the throat very interesting, but that departs as quickly as it arrived. Those tropical citrus notes turn sweeter, more akin to honey now, while in the background I get the first gentle whiffs of sweet smoke. It ends on a mildly bitter note, like one would find in dark chocolate, but without any of the chocolate flavor, just the bitterness. It’s not unpleasant, and if anything makes me want another sip to quench my thirst. With Water: A couple drops of water does wonders, it really opens up the palate to some of that sweetness I was picking up in the nose. Apples, brown sugar, and cherries are evident now, and they meld nicely with the other flavors. The sweetness also carries into the finish which now has some white pepper notes added on the back half. Total: 85/100 Final thoughts: There’s so much complexity in this dram, it truly is a great spirit. My only complaint is lack of availability. It’s too bad Springbank isn’t available in my home control state, so I try to snipe the occasional bottles when I see them sub $100 in my work travels. Price: $99 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.