Usquaebach Highland Whiskies 15 Years Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully complex offering scents of stewed fruits along with fresh pear, pineapple, and red apple supported by waves of brown baking spices (allspice and nutmeg are prominent), caramel, black pepper, wood, and toffee. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush and silky fruit driven core with accents of baking spice, toasted grains, wood, Sherry, and dry black pepper notes on the finish. This is an intense and multilayered blended malt that changes constantly in the glass as it aerates, revealing new layers of flavors. $80 – 4.5 Stars
The Macallan Rare Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is rich with the scents of toasted grains equaled by notes of dense sherry with supporting notes of cocoa, green grass, orange zest, dried fruits, vanilla bean, and loads of brown baking spices. The palate echoes the nose as the sherry envelopes the spicy grain core that now exhibits more black pepper than is found in the aromatics. It finishes with a rich, sweet dried fruit focus with accents of brown spices. It's a full-bodied Whisky for sure but not as brooding as many heavily Sherry influenced drams and it has a long, lingering finish. $300 – 3.5 Stars
Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal CLEAR. The aromas are simply beautiful with scents of butterscotch, fresh and baked apples, Calvados, pine needles, black pepper, shaved oak, and tropical fruits including raw coconut. The palate fully confirms the nose while being a bit more firm with a grip of cold, green tea tannins and a further pronounced black pepper note that flanks the lush fruit core. This is definitely a lighter styled whisky but it's far from faint. It's wonderfully complex with a great balance and a good bit of length. $70 – 3.5 Stars
Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Beautiful amber color. A complex nose of toasted malt, dates and figs with a prominent sweet Sherry quality. The palate is soft and semi-lush with sherry sweetness, nutmeg, allspice, and dried fruits. Medium-bodied with nice balance and long lingering flavors. $65 – 3.5 Stars
