Review #076 Type: single malt scotch whisky Proof: 46% Comments: aged 14 years, cask types not disclosed 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 Sweet here, but also mellow. Honey mostly, with some stone fruit in the form of apricots and cherries as well. And there’s a subtle aroma of a fermented grapes, but I can’t quite pinpoint the wine type. All rounded out with hints of fresh baked bread and butter. Palate: 33/40 I never get tired of the waxy impression this imparts on the first sip. It’s more subtly sweet here as compared as the nose. Instead it’s pasty forward, like buttered and lightly salted fruit scones. Tart crisp apples accompany this with a little savory caramel and a dash of cinnamon. Finish: 32/40 Medium finish. It starts on a savory and salty note, then shifts back towards highlighting more more of those bread flavors. The sweetness is gone though, now it’s more of a hearty wheat loaf, maybe salted crackers too, before ending on a leafy and earthy tobacco flavor. Then oddly enough I had a small burp after finishing my second sip, and the flavor that came to mind was canned peaches. With Water: The tart and crisp apples I was tasting on the palate are now very evident on the nose, and there’s some vanilla that I’m noticing now which I don’t remember smelling before. It’s also a totally different animal on the palate - still sweet and pastry forward but bolder now, and a bit hotter. And that tobacco note that ended the finish is a bit smokier now, like I just took a drag on a cigar. Total: 82/100 Final thoughts: This bottle is a favorite of mine to begin tastings with. It’s a downright good whisky and easy sipper on its own, but is also very dynamic and foundational. I’ve found that it lends itself well towards supporting a number of different flavor profiles. It’s starting to get a bit expensive up my way, but is still a bottle I that I try to keep a spare of on hand. Price: $68 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.