Spirits Reviews

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

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

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

See the Full BevX Featured Review
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose opens with pretty green apple and citrus scents leading to wet grains, honeycomb, dried flowers, wax, and hints of vanilla bean. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a fruit and honey-driven core that is sweeter than the nose suggests giving a mild viscosity that offers dimension to the soft and subtle flavors. Medium-bodied with with generous fruit tones and waves of floral and spice notes with a touch of citrus to give balance. $21.99 – 3.5 Stars

See the Full BevX Featured Review
Brilliant, crystal clear. Scents of toffee, toasted grain, honey, and citrus dominate with supporting brown spice accents. The palate echoes the nose with a spicy grain-driven core that shows more peppery spice than shown on the nose. Medium-bodied with bright citrus and spice to keep it fresh and clean. $19.99 – 3 Stars

See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the Week
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is very seductive and complex offering scents of honey, white peach, apricot, toasted grain, butterscotch, citrus zest, lavender, and nutmeg. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a lush, fruity core with waves of fresh herbs, honeycomb, and orange with subtle cask notes on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with a rich, silky palate that while generous with fruit and grain never seems heavy as it's ideally balanced with bright, clean acidity. $55 – 5 Stars

Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is vibrant and rich with an essence of spicy grain Whisky with accents of caramel, vanilla, maple, and cinnamon biscuits. The palate echoes the nose delivering a spicy grain core with soft, delicate flavors of butterscotch, toasted almonds, candied ginger, treacle, and maple fudge. Ideally balanced with soft, trailing flavors that finish with a touch of spice and sweet wood. $28.99 – 4 Stars

Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is simply beautiful, perfectly weaving scents of peach and plum with wild flowers, honey, toffee, orange peel, and Sherry with hints of cocoa nibs, smoke, and tropical fruits. The palate is in full support of the nose offering further dimension and texture to the rich and decadent fruit and spice flavors with a long, trailing finish that is dominated by caramel and brown baking spices with a touch of pepper. Full-bodied with incredible length and complexity, perfectly marrying sweet and savory flavors. $75 – 5 Stars

Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is rich while being sweet and spicy as well. Notes of caramel-soaked toasted grains leap from the glass supported by dark chocolate, orange peel, lavender, and baked apple with hints of pine cone. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering lush and round core that ideally marries fruit, honey, spice, and oak with accents of cocoa nibs. Medium to full-bodied having more weight than the De Luxe while still maintaining a clever balance. $50 – 4.5 Stars

Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite alluring with sweet malted barley and grains drenched in ripe fruits with baked apples, buckwheat honey, roasted walnuts, toffee, vanilla, and clove. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush fruit core with silky baked fruits layered with caramel and loads of brown baking spices with black pepper and oak notes emerging on the finish. (It really needs a splash of water to come alive.) Despite its obvious strength (100 proof) it is really quite approachable and delicate while being incredibly generous with fruit, caramel, toffee, and spice notes. $29.99 – 4.5 Stars
