Ardbeg Heavy Vapours 2023 Committee Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $160

- 100.4 proof

- NAS

- Islay

Fair warning, this is probably a very biased review.  As of late, Ardbeg has been able to do no wrong in my book.  I have loved release after release from them, and I assure you this Heavy Vapours release is no exception.  Well, perhaps it is a bit of an exception, as explained below.

Nonetheless, this was one of the more expensive committee releases, and that price tag is a lot to ask given there's no age statement. But, again, I'm a sucker for everything Ardbeg, and like a sucker, I ponied up the money to make sure I had the newest committee release at the time.  But, that first pour took away any doubt, what little I may have had.

On the nose I get breakfast pastry with caramel.  It was like a traditional Danish, but rather than top it with fruit or cheese, it was topped with caramel.  And smoked caramel at that! It also had this sweet yeasty or bready note that gave it that pastry quality. The smoke, interestingly, didn't contract but rather complemented all of these notes, making for a smoky, slightly sweet dessert-like note.

The flavor, on the first sip, was amazing. Right up front I got this blend of smoke, salted caramel and dark chocolate that was rich, sweet (but not overly sweet) and absolutely amazing. It also had a strong malt backbone that provided a lightly sweet bready note, or, perhaps even better, a waffle batter note that I absolutely loved.

The smoke was a sweet and salty smoke, somewhat like a campfire smoke with more earthy tones. But that smoke seemed to work perfectly with those caramel and dark chocolate notes, adding an incredible additional layer, kind of like what makes s'mores so good when the marshmallow is roasted over a fire.  In fact, s'mores is not too far off here as far as tasting notes go.

The finish, despite the not-too-high proof, lingered for a long time. This whisky had a viscosity that I don't usually get around 100 proof, and it coated my mouth with a rich smoky salted caramel that I never wanted to go away.

I'm unapologetically an Ardbeg stan, and I've loved every committee release. But, this one stands above all the rest for me. I thought this was an absolutely amazing pour, and is one of my favorite whiskies ever.  I held onto the last pour in my bottle for far too long, only because I didn't want it to go away, and now I may find myself on a mission to track another one down.

Grade: A+

Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2012 9 year Highland Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $60

- 116.8 Proof

- 9 Years

- Cask No. 521

- Highlands

I have to admit that I didn't have much experience with Glenglassaugh prior to buying this bottle. This was just one of those where a friend of mine told me this was delicious, and the price tag told me that, for a cask strength bottling, I'd be a fool not to at least try it.

This particular single cask was matured in American Wine Hogshead (that could be anything, right??) for 9 years, though given its distillation date of May 9, 2012, and bottling date of sometime in 2022, it had to be pushing those double digits. This barrel was hand selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie, whom I was already familiar with from her work with Brown-Forman and specifically Benriach. Pretty much everything about this bottle, including my buddy who had already purchased one, told me I needed to get one.

The nose was soft and pillowy (I know, kind of a weird way to describe the way something smells, but that's what it was).  It was definitely fruit forward, indicating that it was a sweeter American wine cask that was used for maturation.  But, the fruit was more like baked fruit with cinnamon and other spices.  I got baked pear and plum, along with a bit of a brown sugar sweetness and a malty backbone that gave off serious fruit pie vibes.

As to flavor, while similar, it was a bit different in that it led with more of a spiced or mulled wine note. It was sweet, but also had notes of cinnamon and anise, coupled with dark fruit notes like plum and cherry. There was also a sweet tobacco leaf note that added to those dark, rich notes, but added a sort of sweet earthy quality to it.

The malt backbone was certainly making itself known as well, as I got a significant wheat bread note that seemed as though it were sweetened by butterscotch.  It was almost like a good, hearty bread with butterscotch drizzled over top. It was incredibly delicious, particularly paired with the baked fruit notes.

On the finish, it was all fruit pie! I got the baked pear and plum, and even a bit of that cherry, all of which was sweetened by a brown sugar note and even a hint of that butterscotch. And, of course, the crackery pie crust was there as well.

If there are "dessert" whiskeys, this is without question one of them. It was never over the top sweet, but it definitely found those various flavors that all complemented each other so well it ended up being almost one cohesive fruit pie note with all the individual notes that entails. This was a gem of a whiskey, and I'm so glad my buddy told me to grab one.

Grade: A

Ardbeg Hypernova 2022 Committee Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $190

- 102 Proof

- NAS

- Islay

I'm not gonna lie--I was not happy at all with the price on this bottle. This seemed to be the peak of pricing for the Ardbeg Committee Releases.  While previous releases had been somewhat price, they weren't pushing the $200 range, particularly on a non-age stated whisky.  This seems especially egregious given that the most recent Committee Release came in at a relatively modest $85. 

And yet this bottle still found its way onto this sucker's shelf. I really just can't help myself when it comes to Ardbeg. Time and time again it has proven to be my favorite Islay distillery.  While not every bottle has been an absolute home run, they have released so many bottlings that I have absolutely loved that I just could never quit them!  And when they describe it as their "Possibly the smokiest dram in the world," well, I just had to find out for myself.

And yet, when I popped the cork, my first thought was, "Not nearly as smoky as I expected." The smoke was there on the nose, it just wasn't slap-me-in-the face smoke.  It was balanced out by sweeter notes of bright orange and honey. There was a sweet malty backbone, almost like graham crackers, and even a bit of a honey butter note. All these great notes may have pushed that smoke note back a bit.

On the palate, again that smoke just wasn't the heavy amount of soot or creosote that takes you back. Don't get my wrong, this was still very true to Islay and true to Ardbeg.  That soot note, even a char note, was definitely there.  There was no questioning that this was an Ardbeg.

But, what I've always loved about Ardbeg is their ability to make other notes absolutely shine alongside that heavy peat. Here, those crackery and bready notes along with those bright citrus notes all seemed to really come through and work well with that peat.  I got a sweet wheat bread note, along with citrus notes of lemon and orange. 

There was a grassy or herbal note as well that, at times, reminded me of lemongrass.  And on the bac end I got a spicy black pepper note that again seemed to complement everything else going on.  All of this was sweetened up by a bright honey note, and those smoke, citrus, wheat bread and honey notes all were incredibly well-balanced.  So much so that I wasn't really made that this did not come across as the "smokiest dram" in the world.  In fact, I was glad it wasn't, because it might have thrown off the balance.

Do I think this was a bit overpriced, yes. Do I think this was a fantastic pour and I wish I had more of it? Also yes!!  All in all, this was an absolutely great pour, and I couldn't help but keep dipping back into this bottle until it was gone.

Grade: A-

Kirkland Signature Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $28

- 92 Proof

- NAS

- Lowlands

I'm a sucker for a good deal, and so far it's been my experience that some of the best deals out there are the Kirkland bottlings at Costco. They released a line of 1792 bourbons that have all been excellent. They keep releasing well-age stated Scotches that have all been fantastic. And they've released a sort of non-age-stated series that appears to highlight different regions, including an Islay release that's quite impressive.

So, finding this Lowland single malt finished in Sherry casks was a pleasant surprise. While it doesn't come with an age statement, it certainly comes with a great price tag of less than $30!!  And, I honestly don't get a whole lot of Lowlands Scotches, so it seemed a great opportunity to add one to my shelf.

The nose gave off great aromas of orchard fruits. Specifically, I got a great mix of fresh pear and fresh green apple (as opposed to that over-ripe apple note I tend to get in underaged whiskies).  There was a slight malty backbone, but those fruity notes really took center stage. On later pours the sherry seemed to come through, providing a bit of a raspberry note, but it seemed that pear apple combination continued to dominate.

And that pear note continued right through the palate. That fresh pear note was the first flavor that hit my tongue when I took a sip. That was immediately followed, though, by a sweet crackery note and a honey note, kind of like a graham cracker but lighter, if that makes sense.  Maybe a bit like Honeycombs cereal?

Interestingly, it developed a slight spiciness, but not like a pepper or cinnamon spice. Rather, it was more of a ginger spice. I'm not sure where that came from, but it did work really well with the pear and honey notes, making for a pretty cohesive and interesting pour.

On the finish, I did get a bit of a black pepper spice that lingered in the back of my throat. Those pear and honey notes seemed to evaporate a bit as well, leaving me with a crackery, malty note as well. This was where this whisky did fall flat a bit. While it was tasty and interesting up front, it left a bit to be desired on the finish. 

Nonetheless, this was, without a doubt, a great value, as it was a delicious whisky at an even more delicious price!

Grade: B

Longrow Red 15 Year Pinot Noir Cask Matured Peated Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $180

- 102.8 Proof

- 15 Years

- 2022 Release

- Campbeltown

For those that know me, they know that I love my peated Scotches.  I love them even more when they're matured in wine casks.  And, I tend to love them even more when they hail from Campbeltown.  Release it as part of the Longrow Red series and I'm pretty much guaranteed to have a bottle I know I'll absolutely love. 

So, a 15 year Pinot Noir cask matured bottling from the Longrow Red series is certainly far from a reach for me. Even at the hefty price tag, I really didn't give it a second thought. That said, I certainly recognize that this is at the high end of bottlings at that age, and I'm not suggesting it's a value in any way. I'm just saying that I knew going in that this would be my jam, so the value was there for me.

The nose was full of spiced berries, kind of like a mulled wine that was very cherry and blackberry forward.  There was even a bit of currant in there as well. The Pinot Noir casks definitely made an impression here.  I also got a slight anise note, as well as a light smokey note. All in all it was this sort of sweet barbecue note and it absolutely had me salivating.

As to flavor, although Pinot Noir isn't a sweet wine, the maturation certainly imparted some sweet characteristics. This was most noticeable in the peat, as the smokey notes I was getting were sweet, almost like when you overbake a pie.  That sweet smokey note mixed perfectly with what was a very distinct spiced cherry note that I couldn't get enough of.

And while the smoke was on the sweeter end, that's a bit relative. This was not an overly sweet whisky at all. It wasn't like an over-sherried Scotch. Rather, it was balanced, allowing the sweet notes to come from the peat and the malt rather than from the barrel. 

In addition to the cherry and sweet smoke, I also got notes of plum and, every now and then, a bright honey note. On the finish I found a great dark chocolate note, which worked incredibly well with the sweet smoke and spiced cherry notes. I simply couldn't wait for the next sip.

Once again, Longrow Red has done it for me.  I just can't get enough of these!

Grade: A

Lagavulin The Distiller's Edition Double Matured Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey - 2020

VITALS:

- $120

- 86 Proof

- 15 Years

- Batch No. 4/509

- Islay

I do love sweet and peat! And by that I mean that I love peated Scotches finished in wine casks, especially fortified wine casks like sherry or port. That sweet and peat is a combination that I just can't get enough of. So, I find that I grab just about anything Lagavulin that has spent time in such casks, and this bottle was no exception.

This bottling consists of a small number of casks that were double-matured in "specially crafted Pedro Ximenez Cask-Wood."  I wish I could tell you what that means. The wording seems very careful -- "cask-wood."  I don't know what, exactly, that is. Perhaps re-purposes PX casks?  How was the "cask-wood" "specially crafted"?  I thought about doing some independent research into the backstory here, but instead I just cracked the bottle open to see if this "cask-wood" maturation, whatever that is, made for good whisky.

The smoke that I'd expect from a Lagavulin was fairly light on the nose. I don't know if that's due to the 15 years of maturation or the low proof or both.. But this was not significantly smoky smelling. That's not a terrible thing, however, as it allowed other notes to really shine, like a bright and sweet raspberry note, accompanied by honey and something herbal, like dill or sage. Though not "peaty," it still had a lot of good stuff going on.

As to flavor, this was definitely more on the fruity end of the spectrum. It was kind of like a burst of strawberry followed immediately by a black pepper spice and peat smoke. It did have a bit of a iodine lean to it, particularly as the other flavors subsided a bit. But, it certainly remained fruit-forward, with the notes of strawberry and raspberry taking center stage.

The herbal note really came through as well, which was a bit unexpected.  Those dill and sage notes added an interesting quality. I chose the word "interesting" deliberately, because even after getting through the whole bottle, I'm still not sure how much I enjoyed it. At times it was good, adding another layer, almost like seasoning. Other times it came across as mossy or incense-like, and was a bit of a turnoff. It may have just depended on my mood that day. 

That herbal note carried over to the finish, as did the bright raspberry note, and when that all collided on the finish along with the peat, it reminded me a bit of raspberry bitters. Again, I wasn't sure how much I liked it, though it was interesting.

All in all, I really wanted to like this bottle.  By and large it was great, but I kept finding those weird little nuances that just seemed to keep giving me moments of pause, trying to figure out what I was tasting and whether or not it was something I enjoyed or not. 

Grade: B

Talisker The Distiller's Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 2023

VITALS:

- $90

- 91.6 Proof

- NAS

- Isle of Skye

Though not an Islay distillery, I've still come to love the great, peaty notes I get out of Talisker Scotches. Granted, I've only had the pleasure of trying a few bottlings, but what I've had I've certainly loved.  So, with the demand for these releases apparently dying down to the point that they are just shelfies now, I couldn't help but grab this bottle when I came across it.

This particular bottling was matured in Amoroso Seasoned American Oak. I think the use of the word "seasoned" gave me a second pause, as I wasn't really certain what that meant. As best I can tell, they re-charred an American Oak barrel, filled it with sherry, dumped it, then put the matured whiskey in the barrel for finishing. I could be way off here, so take that with a grain of salt.

The nose certainly comes across as fruity, and slightly citrusy. I got notes of orange and cranberry, kind of like a wintery potpourri.  There were more earthy notes as well, however, as I got some leather and oak as well. There was a light crackery, malty note also, along with a light sandalwood note, kind of like wood shavings.

I loved that the orange I got on the nose also came through on the palate. That paired nicely with a rich amaretto note. This combination alone made for an absolutely delicious, and somewhat unique pour.  There were some richer notes as well, with some brown sugar and cocoa notes coming through.

There was definitely a spice to it, but unlike other Talisker's I've had where the spice came across as peppery, this came across as more of a cloves spice, and maybe even a bit of a chili spice.  The peat smoke wasn't prominent, but was always there, lingering in the background, ready to make its appearance when called upon.

In fact, it was on the finish that the smoke was most noticeable, along with a sweet chocolate malt note. I also got a very tasty peach tea note that I wish had been present throughout.  That chili spice also added a bit of a tickle at the back of my throat, causing me to dive in pretty quickly for that next sip.  

I thought this was a delicious pour, and it was one of those bottles that once I opened it, it didn't last very long on my shelf.  I think I need to drink more Talisker.

Grade: B+

Ardbeg Fermutation Special Committee Edition 13 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $200

- 98.8 Proof

- 13 Years

- Islay

Ardbeg's committee releases are incredibly consistently good, so much so that I rarely think twice about buying one when I get the chance. This, however, was one of the first that I was eager to get my hands on when I first heard of its release. As it is, Ardbeg puts out some fairly funky stuff, and certainly lands on the higher end of peated Scotches. 

However, this release promised to be one of its funkiest ever.  Ardbeg touted it as their longest fermentation ever, hence the name, "Fermutation." Based on their press releases, this particular bottling was fermented for over three weeks (much more than the few days that are typical) before being distilled. So, whether or not it would be better than other Ardbegs was a complete crap shoot.  But, I was confident that it was certainly going to be different than other Ardbeg releases.

The nose immediately exposed the funkiness of this Scotch. It smelled like a smokey hayride on a damp fall day.  That sounds incredibly pretentious and a bit dramatic, but I did get notes of hay mixed with the peat, and there was a damp, musty wood note to it as well. However, there were also great notes of unsweetened vanilla and even stewed pears. Behind the hayride was a kind of a brandy note that really complemented those smoky notes. 

The flavor mostly followed suit. I got those hay notes, but they were what I described as "pillowy," like a soft and delicious saison beer. Of course, it being Ardbeg, the peat smoke was front and center, but there was a soft yeast note or bready note to it as well. What really stood out, however, was a bright lemongrass note that really kept everything from getting too "heavy."

Other sweeter notes came through as well, including a nice and bright honey note as well as a graham cracker note. There was something nutty up front as well, but I couldn't quite put my thumb on it. It was earthy and somewhat sweet.  And of course that peat smoke carried throughout.

The finish, though, was where I really fell in love with this bottle. All of that funk remained, with lemongrass and hay notes leading the way. But the honey notes kept it sweet.  It was very viscous, and I was finally able to place my thumb on the nutty note, which was kind of like a walnut oil flavor. The peat really hit harder on the finish as well, and it combined with a distinct cooling, almost minty sensation on the finish that was not only completely unexpected but was pretty awesome. 

This was not your typical Ardbeg, that's for sure. While it had the peat, it didn't have those typical brighter, lighter notes that I get behind the peat in other Ardbeg offerings. But, this was a lot of fun, certainly scratched that itch when I was in the mood for something funky, and it had one of the most memorable finishes I can recall.  

Grade: A

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch No. 4 Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $100

- 117.2 Proof

- NAS

- Batch No. 4

- Campbeltown

I certainly have an affinity for just about anything coming out of Campbeltown (and based on their prices lately, I'm apparently not alone in this). A couple years ago one of the stores by me got in a bunch of bottles from the Kilkerran line, and I decided at that time to grab the Heavily Peated. 

It was something I had never tried, and it was a bit different from the usual Campbeltown stuff I've enjoyed, which tends to be a bit on the lighter side of peated.  I figured perhaps it might find some great middle ground between a Campbeltown and an Islay, or at worst a decent version of one or the other.

The nose was certainly smoky, but the peat did not dominant. Rather, it was more like a mezcal, providing that smokey flavor but without all the phenols. It even had a bit of an agave sweetness and a bright honeydew note to it.  The only thing that kept it from smelling just like a mezcal was the sweet butter and brown sugar notes that also came through. That said, this combination apparently worked, because I couldn't get my nose out of the glass.

This is a bottle that I sat on for a while, and as a result I almost had two different experiences with it. When I first opened it, it had those bright, citrus notes that I was getting off the nose. It absolutely had some honeydew or cantaloupe notes to it, which actually paired pretty well with the sweet smoky note.  But, it wasn't what I was expecting to get out of a heavily peated Campbeltown.  

It did have some darker cherry notes as well, which, along with the smoke, gave it a sort of barbecue sauce note.  But it was a citrusy or even a mango barbecue sauce. This was a bit odd and a bit out of place with the bright melon notes.

However, months, even years down the road, as I got toward the bottom of this bottle, the flavor really seemed to shift on me. It got away from those fruity notes almost entirely. By the end, I got none of those bright melon notes, but rather rich brown butter notes, with honey and brown sugar. There was a sweet graham cracker note, and all of this was tempered by the ever-present smoky notes, and even a little bit of black pepper spice.

Had I graded this bottle on the last half only, I would have given this an A, maybe even an A+.  It was that good.  I just wasn't sure what to make of it at first. It wasn't bad by any stretch. In fact it was quite good.  But, it was just . . . unexpected, I guess.  Either way, I will certainly be grabbing future releases.

Grade: B+ 

Longrow Red Cabernet Franc Matured 11 Year Peated Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $150

- 111.8 Proof

- 11 years

- Campbeltown

The Longrow Red series has long been my favorite "series" or annual release, probably in all of whiskey/whisky. In fact, it was the Pinot Noir Cask that I had back in 2017 that turned me on to wine finished, peated scotches, and my insatiable love for sweet and peat!! Ever since then I've made it a point to get my hands on and try anything fruity and peaty that I can find.

While most of those are matured in either sherry or port (port tends to be my favorite), this one was matured in Cabernet Franc barrels. I'm certainly no wine guy, so I have no opinion on or experience with cabernet franc. But, given that I absolutely loved the Malbec Longrow Red, and I know that I don't particularly like Malbecs, I figured I couldn't go wrong with this one either. 

Right up front on the nose I got those rich fruit notes I've come to expect from these bottlings. It was full of bright raspberry and black currant. There was a light smokiness to it as well, along with some black pepper spice on the back end. It had a bit of a sweet barbecue note and I could not wait to dive into it.

The flavor was full of rich, fruity notes, but not quite as bright as on the nose. It leaned more dark fruits like blackberry and plum. It was sweetened, however, by a great honey note. That was all underscored by a malty backbone that came across like a honey wheat bread, but a good one, like the kind you'd buy from a bakery.

The peat smoke was there but not pervasive. Like most Campbeltown Scotches, it doesn't slap you in the face the way an Islay might. But it was still there to provide that great balance and "meatiness" to accompany the sweet and fruity notes. There was also a white peppercorn type spice, particularly on the back end. 

The finish reminded me a lot of sangria. It had the rich wine flavors, with dark fruit notes and a bit of tannins to counter the sweetness, which came from a bright orange note that seemed to appear out of nowhere. The finish wasn't particularly long, but the flavors were absolutely delicious!

Unsurprisingly, I loved this bottle, and I can't wait to work my way through the rest of the lineup sitting on my shelf.

Grade: A

Kilkerran Port Cask Matured 8 Year Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $180

- 115.8 Proof

- 8 Years

- Campbeltown

I can't help myself when it comes to those peated and fruited Scotches. I love that combination of smokey deliciousness paired with the flavor that comes from maturation in wine barrels, especially fortified wines like port or sherry. In fact, I've come to learn that I tend to favor a port cask maturation over all others.

So when I first learned of these Kilkerran releases, including not only this port cask finish, but also a sherry cask finish, I knew I had to try to track one down somehow. I honestly figured it wouldn't happen, but then I wandered into Warehouse Liquors in Chicago and there it was on the shelf, just begging me to buy it and give it a good home. Of course, I couldn't help myself, despite the hefty price tag. 

The one constant with this single malt is that it is jammy!!  the nose was full of notes of stewed plum and bread pudding.  I got notes of spiced or mulled wine, as well as rich dark chocolate. There was a fairly heavy raisin note as well. But, all of that was layered on top of a jammy blackberry note that really took center stage.

The flavor followed suit, as right up front and through the finish my palate was inundated with sweet blackberry and fig notes. It was rich and sweet ad delicious!! Of course I got a light smokiness from the peat, but it was a bit minimized by the heavy dark fruit character.

There were other notes going on, though, beyond the fruit and smoke. There was a layer of dark chocolate that was also constant from the front and through the finish, adding a bit more richness and complexity, and helping pull back from the sweet fruit notes. I got a bit of black pepper spice, particularly on the finish, as well as a bit of salinity that, quite frankly, really worked here, mixing well with the blackberry and campfire notes. 

If there's a criticism here, it's that this is VERY jammy (yes, I'm using that word a lot, but here it fits). There's no question the port dominates here.  But, I nonetheless found myself not only loving every sip, but actually getting cravings for a pour. For what it is, it was absolutely delicious!

Grade: A-

Springbank 10 Year Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $100

- 92 Proof

- 10 Years

- Campbeltown

I certainly do love my Campbeltown single malts. They've always been tempered a bit on the peat notes, while having a touch of the salinity that you get from your typical Islay single malt. They also seem to always have something more, something I've heard described as a "Campbeltown funk," kind of in the same way I've heard of a "Wild Turkey funk."  Yet I absolutely love that "funk," which to me seems to come across as a mix of apricot and damp ocean notes.

And yet, with all the various Campbeltown offerings I've had and enjoyed over the years, for one reason or another I've never purchased a bottle of its sort of flagship offering, the Springbank 10 Year. So, when given the chance recently, particularly at a time when there wasn't much else being released to catch my eye, I finally grabbed a bottle to enjoy, to finish and to eventually review.

The nose provided that light smoke and salinity I'd expect from a Campbeltown Scotch. It also had some sweet tobacco leaf as well as some sweet and rich butterscotch mixed in, which made for a great combination. There was also something bright and crisp, kind of like a citrusy mix between orange and lemon peel.

The flavor wasn't completely in line with the nose, which was just fine. Right up front I got raisin and apricot, a nice fruity mix of rich and bright notes that seemed to play really well together. There was the expected light smoky note, that seemed to be balanced out by a delicious honey sweetness.

On the finish I got a lot of that raisin and some brown sugar, taking it away from the light honey and apricot sweetness, and more into that rich, molasses-type sweetness.  The raisin note was more of a drunken raisin note, kind of like raisins soaked in amaretto. The shift on the finish was strange, but delicious!

I'm so glad I finally grabbed a bottle.  I've had pours before, but I've never had the opportunity to really get to know this whisky, and it's one that I may be inclined to just keep a bottle as a mainstay on my shelf, even with its price and availability!

Grade: B+

Benromach Binny's Hand Selected 10 Year Single Cask First Fill Sherry Hogshead Speyside Single Malt

VITALS:

- $90

- 121.2 Proof

- 10 Years

- Cask No. 719

- Speyside

I certainly have a professed love for sweet and peat, or, in other words, peated Scotch aged in ex-wine barrels. Fortified wine barrels, particularly, always seem to add that sweet, fruity, jammy note to the smoky notes from the peat that just make my mouth water.

So, when Binny's got a couple Benromach picks in, one of which was aged in a first fill sherry hogshead, the manager at my local store, knowing my love of sweet and peat, made it a point to let me know. Not only did she let me know it had come in, but she had tried it and declared it to be an incredible pour. At that point there was no way I was going home without a bottle.

When I popped the cork, I was immediately hit with those jammy notes I fully expected. I got great aromas of strawberry and cranberry, along with a bit of a bread note, almost like a pie crust. There was a bit of spice on the nose as well, kind of a clove spice, that seemed to tag along with the smoky note. It was like a spicy, smoky strawberry pie, and my mouth watered each time I took a good whiff.

As to flavor, I'll describe the over all experience like this: it was like a smoked raspberry strudel (something I may have to search out a recipe for, as it sounds delicious as I type it) on top of a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream. This was absolutely a dessert whiskey, and it was delicious!

The creamy vanilla persisted and seemed to blend perfectly with the ever-present smoke. The bright raspberry notes were front and center, and they seemed to be sweetened up a bit by a honey note. It even had a solid malt backbone to give it that crumbly strudel flavor.

While the spice from the nose didn't seem as present, everything else was so good together I didn't seem to miss it.  The high proof provided a great viscosity and completely coated my mouth and throat and made for an incredibly long finish of raspberry and barbecue, with that same undercurrent of vanilla.

I could not get enough of this single cask! This is one of my favorite pours that I've had in quite some time.  I have no idea if there are any more of these sitting on the shelves anywhere. I'd be surprised if there were. But, if I happen to come across another, it's going straight into my cart.

Grade: A+

Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $120

- 127.8 Proof

- NAS

- Orkney

As I've grown to love the wonderful combination of sweet and peat--peated Scotches matured in wine barrels--I've received various recommendations from my whiskey buddies over the years.  This was one such recommendation. A good friend of mine is a big fan of Highland Park, and after trying their 12-year, he insisted that I needed to have a run at their cask strength.

So, despite the somewhat hefty price tag, I relented and grabbed a bottle off the shelf. While I'm not sure what the combination of barrels were that went into this product, I was assured that a portion of the whiskey was matured in sherry casks, which would give me that sweet and peat that I love, but with a whole lot of kick with it coming in at 127.8 proof.

The nose was full of aromas to the point that I felt I was going overboard with my notes. I got an interesting blend of citrus and cinnamon right up front. That had a sweet wheat bread backing, as well as a bit of a graham cracker note. I also got a sweet tea note that I loved, and most surprising was a strawberry shortcake note, but heavier on the cake notes. I'm guessing that's where the sherry cask influence came in.

In the flavor I did get some of those fruit notes. Notably, I got some sweet raspberry and a bright plum note, some of the flavors I've come to expect from a sherry finish. However, those fruit notes weren't nearly as prominent as I would have liked.

I also got more earthy notes, including a distinct oak note, but without any bitter tannins.  I also got a sweet tobacco note that I really enjoyed, as it added a sort of richness to it without being in any way dessert-like.  The smoky note from the peat was certainly there, though on the lighter end, which allowed room for a nice cinnamon spice note, which was particularly noticeable on later pours.

Given the proof, it was no surprise that this carried a decent amount of heat with it. It also provided for a very oily texture and an exceptionally long finish. Those cinnamon, oak and just a bit of the raspberry notes seemed to coat the mouth, and I found myself taking time between each sip to just enjoy.

While I personally would have dialed up the sherry influence, I still really enjoyed this bottle, which seemed to get better and better with each pour, and I still can't get over how much I loved that finish!

Grade: B+

Kilkerran 16 Year Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $140

- 92 Proof

- 16 Years

- Campbeltown

While I feel like I've been grabbing many Islay and other peated Scotches lately, particularly some of the more limited releases from Ardbeg and Laphroaig, I still have a big soft spot in my heart for Campbeltown single malts. They, of course, have that peat that I so desire. But, there's just something else to them that has always drawn them in.

What it is exactly, I haven't yet been able to quite put my thumb on. There's just a certain "dusty" quality, a kind of funk that I don't get out of other peated whiskeys. Perhaps it's all in my head, and in my mind I've built up Campbeltown Scotches to be more unique than they are. But, the fact of the matter is I continue to love everything that comes out of that region. So, I was thrilled when I was finally able to grab one of these 16 year Kilkerran's off the shelf. 

On the nose, that peated smoky noted was present, but certainly not overpowering. It was a bit subtle and allowed other notes to come through. The nose beyond the smoke was lemony and malty. It had a certain graham cracker and honey note to it, even bready at times. It also had some brighter, almost tropical notes, including apricot and a sweet orange marmalade note. 

Much like the nose, the peat wasn't overpowering. It was there, to be sure. But it didn't try to overtake the other flavors that were happening, and seemed to act as more of a complement to the malt itself, including allowing its sweetness to come through. It was a natural sweetness, kind of like honey, but lighter and crisper, if that makes any sense at all. 

The graham cracker from the nose certainly came through on the palate, along with a brown sugar note and some notes of vanilla. In fact, as I worked through my bottle, that vanilla note seemed to come more and more forward with each new pour. The malt notes seemed to shine a bit as well, with the flavor of a fresh, crisp pilsner.

Behind all of that was a brighter, citrus-like note, much like I was getting off the nose. It wasn't as jammy and sweet as marmalade, but it certainly came across as a bright, fresh orange note. In fact, that flavor seemed to stick around for the finish, along with the malt notes and even just a bit of peat, leaving quite a yummy taste in my mouth after each sip.

The price is a bit steep, as it tends to be on just about any Campbeltown offering these days, but I thought this single malt was absolutely delicious, full of flavor and yet subtle all at once.

Grade: B+

Laphroaig Cairdeas Islay Single Malt Scotch Finished in Pedro Ximenez Casks

VITALS:

- $90

- 117.8 Proof

- NAS

- 2021 Edition

- Islay

I have really grown to love the Cairdeas releases from Laphroaig. Quite frankly it started with the 2020 release finished in port & wine casks. I absolutely fell in love with that bottle, and since then I've not only grabbed each subsequent release, but I've also grabbed older releases whenever I've happened across them.

This one, however, was the one that got me the most excited. I absolutely love that combination of sweet and peat, so any Islay single malts matured in any kind of sherry or port casks immediately pique my interest.  Throw in that it's cask strength and I knew this was going to be really good before ever tasting a drop.

On the nose the peat smoke is very up front and in your face, like a dying campfire. I also got a great big fat note of rich dark fruit, like blackberry and currant. Even the aroma on this whisky was jammy. It also had a black pepper spice to it that kind of tickled my nostrils as I inhaled.

Of course, the flavor was much the same. This was a big and bold whisky.  The peat smoke was big and bold, kind of like a campfire barbecue in a glass.  The rich, dark fruit notes were also big and bold. It was as though I took a big swallow of black raspberry and black currant jelly, swished it around in my mouth, and then took a sip of a heavily peated scotch. 

While the peat took a strong hold up front, this whisky finished sweet and peppery and funky (in a good way).  I'm not sure how to describe that funk, other than that it added a dusty and cheesy note at the end.

While at first the peat seemed to take center stage, in the last few pours the sherry notes really seemed to come forward, making it more sweet than smoky. In fact, once I got to about four pours left, this became my after-dinner dessert with regularity until it was gone.  This bottle was absolutely everything I wanted it to be!

Grade: A

Ardbeg Uigeadail Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $80

- 108.4 Proof

- NAS

- 2020

- Islay

I've kept no secret about the fact that I love the mix of peat and wine, particularly when that peated scotch is aged in sherry or port casks. Something about that smoky flavor mixed with the rich berry notes I get from those fortified wines just hits right.

So, it was a must that I try Ardbeg's Uigeadail. Not only is it known for its heavy smoke notes, but also the prominent sherry cask notes. It has a reputation as big and strong and bold, but also as being absolutely delicious. This was one I knew I had to try for myself, even if I had no clue how to pronounce it (and still don't). 

The nose was an absolute smoke bomb on this. The peat absolutely dominated over just about every other note. With some effort, though, I was able to get some other aromas, including a yeasty wheat bread note. There was a certain mustiness or even a mossiness to it, like a damp forest. I also got something bright on the nose, however, like a rich blackberry note.

Of course, the peat smoke was front and center on the flavor.  No question about it, and it was very campfire-like.  However, immediately behind that was a strong and bright raspberry note from the sherry cask. It was such a sharp but inviting contrast to that smoky flavor.

The sherry added more depth than that, though, also providing notes of plum and currant.  Along with that I did get that sort of musty note, but musty night not be the right word. It reminded me of the way the air tastes when the sun comes out after a rain. That sounds very hippie-ish, I know, but that's what I was getting. There was also a touch of salinity to it, as though it was sea air I was tasting.

The finish was phenomenal, giving off this bright and jammy raspberry sweetness that lingered forever. There was also a bit of maltiness to it, giving off a note of sweet crackers with raspberry jam. I absolutely loved it! Of course the peat smoke carried through here as well, though it seemed a bit more subdued by the time it got to the finish.

I think what I loved the most about this was that it wasn't that normal barbecue sauce type flavor I often get with that mix of peat and wine. Rather, it had those two distinct notes of peat and bright raspberry, which each held their own but completed each other incredibly. This is an incredible whisky!

Grade: A

Kirkland 24 Year Sherry Cask Finish Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $68

- 92 Proof

- 24 Years

- Speyside

On its face, this bottle is apparently a steal of a deal! I had heard murmurs about Costco selling a 24 year sherry finished Speyside Scotch, and I know in the past they've had some other very well-aged Scotches. But, when I wandered through the liquor aisle at Costco, which I do every time I'm there, I couldn't help but immediately grabbing one of these upon seeing it.

I mean, less than $70 for a 24 year old Scotch?!?!?  Throw in that it's matured in Sherry casks?!?!? That is a phenomenal value, without even taking a sip of the whiskey. Nowhere else are you going to find such age on a label and get it for less than $100, let alone only $70. In fact, I regret not buying a few more at that price, even if just to have them for gifts. But, I only grabbed the one, but I was very happy to have gotten the one I did.

The nose was all bright fruit.  I got a wave of raspberry and pomegranate, sweet and fragrant and bright. There was a light pepper spice on the nose as well, balancing perfectly with those bright raspberry notes. There was also a sweet crackery note on the nose, kind of like a graham cracker note.

Not unexpectedly, those bright fruits dominated right up front. After all, this whiskey spent 24 years getting to know those Sherry casks, so I knew this would be a fruit bomb. That raspberry dominated, but I also got a sweet and lightly tart cranberry note. Luckily, any tartness was balanced out by the sweet fruit notes as well as a natural honey sweetness.

Behind those Sherry notes I got a sweet tobacco leaf, providing a bit of earthiness while not diminishing its character. There was also a fleeting dried apricot note that I kind of wished were a bit more prevalent, and there was an underlying bread note, kind of like a hearty wheat bread.

The finish provided some much needed spice, with a mix of chili pepper and black pepper on the back end, lingering in my throat. But, make no mistake, that bright raspberry note continued to dominate throughout. 

While this was on the sweeter side for me, and while that raspberry note seemed at times to make this a one-trick pony, this was still absolutely delicious, and I frequently reached for this bottle when I wanted to scratch a particular itch. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out in that liquor aisle at Costco for any more of these well-aged releases at incredible prices!

Grade: B

Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur's Choice Glen Scotia 25 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $200

- 110 Proof

- 25 Years

- Batch 18/015

- Campbeltown

This is certainly not something that I went out actively looking for.  But, when I saw this sitting behind the glass at Woodman's, I was immediately intrigued. This checks all sorts of great boxes. It's 25 years old.  It's bottled at cask strength. It's aged in a first-fill bourbon barrel.  It's a very limited bottling at only 157 bottles. And most importantly, it's a Campbeltown single malt!  

Of course, it's pricey, but that kind of comes with the territory of such well-aged whiskey, and with all of those boxes checked, it's just the kind of whisky that will loosen up those purse strings.  Plus, it's one of those bottles that even the most avid of whisky drinkers will not have had a chance to try.  So, onto my shelf, and eventually into my belly, it went.

The nose was bright and light, with notes of strawberry and hay. It had a light smokiness to it as well, along with a touch of salinity. There was a natural sweetness to it, kind of like a honey note, as well as a light cracker note, all of which came across almost like Honeycombs cereal.

The flavor was incredible. While this wasn't aged in wine barrels, it was still bright fruit-forward, with a delicious raspberry note coming in strong up front. I also got a sweet and spicy cinnamon note to go with. There was also a sort of a funky, musty note. I know that sounds bad, but it had that kind of Saisson flavor to it, which actually balanced really well with the raspberry.

The finish is where this whisky really stood out!  It had a lingering spicy finish, with a nice mix of cinnamon and black pepper spices. There was also a bit of that salinity I got from the nose, and the bright fruit notes that I got up front seemed to reappear even stronger. I got great flavors of raspberry and currant, and behind that was a great, smooth butterscotch flavor that coated the back of my throat. I found myself just enjoying that butterscotch note for as long as I could.

As I mentioned, this was pricey, but I certainly don't feel as if it weren't worth the price. This was incredibly complex and, most of all, delicious!

Grade: A

Springbank Madeira Cask Matured 17 Year Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $250

- 95.6 Proof

- 17 Years

- Campbeltown

This was absolutely a splurge bottle. I bought it a couple years back, and it was one of those bottles that I ordinarily wouldn't drop that kind of coin on, but at the time I had just gotten my bonus at work and was looking for a "splurge" bottle to celebrate, and this had just landed at my store. Even then, I certainly gave it a second thought. At that time the tariffs on Scotch imports were still in place, and even with that additional tax, the price seemed a bit exorbitant.

However, my love for Springbank and my intrigue over the Madeira cask finish got the best of me (as well as the availability of some expendable funds), and I pulled the trigger. I don't know that I'll ever spend that kind of money on a 17 year Scotch again, but I will say that in this case, I don't regret it and I don't have buyer's remorse, as this was truly delicious!

On the nose I got great notes of strawberry and dark chocolate. Chocolate covered strawberries was one of my mom's favorite treats, so we had them around my house frequently, and this took me right back to then. There was also a light smoke to it as well.  It's certainly not heavily peated, but just a touch of char added to the mix.

The flavor was full of rich, dark fruit notes. I got bright and deep blackberry, blueberry and currant notes. It also had that bright and fresh strawberry note that I was getting on the nose. That was all accompanied by the notes of dark chocolate, with even a touch of balancing bitterness.

It was certainly on the sweeter end of the spectrum, with that sweetness not only coming from those bright fruit-forward notes, but also notes of honey and even burnt sugar. It was more of a natural sweetness, in that sense, accompanied by a light char or smoke note.

On the finish, that all came together to kind of provide a sweet and tangy barbecue note that just kind of stuck around in my cheeks. There was a light pepper note as well as a bit of that smoke note that also seemed to linger a bit, but those sweet and tangy notes really stuck around forever, making me want more and more.

Again, this was a very pricey bottle, but it was also incredibly tasty and I'm so glad I got my hands on one. I tried to do a slow-burn, enjoying it periodically, but by the time I got to the bottom third of my bottle, the rest just seemed to magically disappear! Not sure how that happened!

Grade: A