Highland Park Dark Origins Single Malt Scotch Whisky
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, crystal clear. The Sherry casks are quite evident supported by notes of dried berries, roasted hazelnut, earth, orange zest, banana bread, and charred oak. Dark fruit and cocoa nibs take the lead with pretty smoke and meaty notes, with treacle, baked apples, and stewed berries all enveloped in sweet Sherry. Bold and assertive but ideally balanced with a silky texture and peppery finish offering great length. $79.99 – 4.5 Stars
Talisker 10 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are wonderfully smoky with waves of toasted malt, dried fruits, brown baking spices, treacle, sea salt, smoke, and hints of wood. The palate reveals an avalanche of flavors and textures being amazingly vibrant while sweet as well. It begins with sweet and complex toasted malt notes with layers of fruit, spice, sea air, and smoke. Perfectly balanced and near perfect being both youthful and remarkably mature for a 10 year old. $60 – 5 Stars
Talisker Storm Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose offers more assertive peat, smoke, and pepper notes and fewer fruit notes as compared to the iconic Talisker 10 with hints of roasted nuts and red fruits. The palate confirms the nose as the Storm lives up to its name on the palate hitting with power bursts of pepper, smoke, and earth from the entry to the finish. Medium to full-bodied with assertive spice and smoky embers that linger for minutes. $66 – 4 Stars
Port Dundas 12 Years Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is subtle and seductive with scents of wild flowers, honey, blanched almonds, sandalwood, and a sweet Amontillado Sherry note (despite there being no Sherry casks used). The palate echoes the nose delivering a a pretty marriage of subtle orchard fruits with floral and honey notes leading to a spicy finish. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with soft trailing finish. $49.99 – 4 Stars
Port Dundas 18 Years Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is beautiful with vibrant notes of wild flowers, butterscotch, toasted grains, nutmeg, and vanilla bean with hints of dried apple. The palate echoes the nose with a generous grain and caramel core that becomes drier and peppery with a spirity note on the finish. Medium-bodied with a nice marriage of grain Whisky, wood, and spice with a bit of a hot note on the finish. $99.99 – 4 Stars
Glenfiddich The Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. At the first nosing your nose will confirm your eyes as the cask influence plays second fiddle to the bright floral and toasted grain notes with hints of hay, green apple, roasted almonds, coconut, and then a burst of sweet Sherry. The palate perfectly echoes the nose delivering a vibrant and pleasing core of grain and fruit mingling with more floral and citrus notes as it trails toward a subtle and dry finish. Medium-bodied to light with nuance being prized over heft while presenting a perfectly balanced dram. $99.99 – 4 Stars
Glenfarclas 17 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. Rich and complex aromas of dried apricots, figs, roasted nuts, butterscotch, and a generous dose of Sherry rise from the glass. The palate is in full accord with the nose revealing further dimensions of marzipan, sweet black fruits, allspice, and hints of clove. The flavors mingle perfectly and linger for minutes after swallowing. Perfectly proportioned with hedonistic pleasure and style. It is assertive while being delicate and that is no small feat. $93.99 – 5 Stars
Oban 14 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. A wonderfully complex nose showing sweet malt notes supported by hints of earth, peach, orange marmalade, and sea air. The rich malted barley notes that dominate the aromatics are on full display with rich notes of caramel, and baked apple, with hints of cigar box, shortbread, ginger tea, and sea salt. This rich malt has such a lush texture on entry with enough viscosity to suspend the flavors throughout. While big and chewy it is never cloying or flabby with a bright dose of acidity to keep it fresh. $74 – 5 Stars
Oban Little Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. A beautifully complex nose showing sweet malt notes supported by hints of herbs (peppermint), peach, orange zest, burnt sugar, brown baking spices, and sea air. The palate continues with rich malt and fruit in the lead with firm spice and charred cask notes that actually outpace the sea air and classic shortbread notes found in other bottlings of Oban. This rich malt is nearly as lush as the iconic 10 year old with a prominent spice note and lingering notes of oak and sea. $75 – 4.5 Stars
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015 Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose offers quite a conundrum as it offers bright berry and apple fruit but once you shift your attention to to the rich, salty, peat notes with its iodine and pepper accents the fruit becomes just a cherished memory. The palate fully concurs with the nose again offering a glimpse at fruit before the earthy peat and spice notes roll in like tidal wave with hints of anise, clove, allspice, seaweed, and campfire. It's Laphroaig so it's not going to be shy but it does have a delicate note albeit buried with a mass of beautiful peat and smoke. $74.99 – 5 Stars
