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
Laphroaig 15 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite beautiful and if one could ever call Laphroaig understated this one could carry that moniker. Scents of citrus, apples, fresh green herbs, and subtle cigar notes mingle with the peat and sea. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering vibrant fruit core with generous supporting spice, oak, sea salt, smoky peat, and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance and vibrant flavors that are both generous and sprite. $79.99 – 4.5 Stars
Laphroaig 32 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly decadent with rich, old Sherry in the lead with loads of brown baking spices (clove, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg among others), brown butter, dark chocolate, baked apples, and a generous dose of the classic Laphroaig smoke and sea notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and silky core that ideally marries fruit with spice, chocolate, Sherry, peat, oak, and sea salt. Full-bodied with rich and lingering flavors that carry on for minutes. Despite its heft it is never heavy and always balanced on the palate. $1200 – 5 Stars
Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are a bit heady at first but this is calmed considerably by adding a splash of water. It's bold and spicy with black pepper and clove while at its core its pure Glenfarclas with scents of baked orchard fruits, toffee, and rich Sherry. The palate echoes the nose with waves of fruit, brown baking spices, roasted nuts, Sherry, and oak with a trailing smoky note that lingers for minutes. This is a big and bold Whisky with incredible warming powers while never being awkward or out of balance. $89.99 – 4.5 Stars
Mortlach Rare Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is classic Mortlach with loads of fruit ranging from dried red and black berries to baked peach and apple with hints of toasted nuts, brown baking spices, and butterscotch. The palate is in full agreement with the nose focused on fruit with a rising spicy note that veers from black pepper to candied ginger with a sweet, oak-centric finish. Medium-bodied with a round, fruity core and a generous spice notes with ideal balance. $129.99 – 4 Stars
Lagavulin 16 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully complex offering beautiful scents of Lapsang Souchong tea, rich Sherry, peat, iodine, toasted malted barley, and sea breezes with a touch of salt, vanilla, and caramel. The palate is the multidimensional expression of the nose as it delivers layers of peat-drenched malt and caramel with loads of spice, peat smoke, and decadent wood notes that linger on for an eternity. Full-bodied and majestically assertive, this is the bull in the china shop if the bull were impossibly nimble and wearing ballet shoes. $98 – 5 Stars
