Colour: White wine.
Nose: Initially lots of peat smoke on the nose with BBQ notes, some bacon and ash. In addition, vanilla as well as spicy hints of cloves and allspice. In the background, yellow fruits like green pear and grilled apricot become noticeable.
Palate: Surprisingly sweet on the palate with caramel and vanilla. Then warming peat smoke with some pepper, allspice and ash, followed by fruity notes of grilled apricot towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is medium long and warming with smoke, dry ash, some bitumen and peat. Becomes dry in the mouth with time.
With water: Smokier on the nose with subtle vanilla after adding a little water. The sweetness and fruit notes are pushed into the background. A light caramel sweetness on the palate with some vanilla, plus slightly warming peat smoke, ash and allspice. Overall, the peat smoke is clearly tamed. The finish is somewhat shorter and dry with ash, allspice and spicy oak.
Comments: A clearly peaty and smoky but pleasantly sweet single malt from the Isle of Islay. Not particularly complex, but the flavours are well integrated and unfold wonderfully on the nose and especially on the palate. An uncomplicated all-day dram that doesn't overwhelm you.

 

I thank whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Fruity on the nose with fruit cake, ripe banana, pear and orange. Sweetness of brown sugar and toffee, accompanied by some cinnamon and Christmas spices.
Palate: Sweet, fruity and at the same time creamy on the palate with notes of honey, sultanas and barley sugar. This is accompanied by oak spice, white pepper and a little cinnamon. Pleasantly warming.
Finish: The finish is medium long and creamy with toasted bread, orange peel and some dry oak.
With water: After adding a few drops of water, it becomes more spicy on the nose with dark caramel, brown sugar and toast. On the palate a little less sweetness, a little honey, but dry notes of toasted bread, oak spice and overall slightly warming. The finish is still of medium length and drier with oak and bitter orange peel.

Comments: A sweet single malt from Speyside with a complex, difficult to describe, yet very delicate fruit, and wintery spices as a successful counterpart. Pleasantly warming with a slightly dry finish. An all-day dram for the coming winter evenings!

 

I thank The Whisky Cellar for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Intense scent of matured sherry, mixed with ripe oranges and figs. Notes of herbal lemonade, followed by cinnamon and other exotic spices, with tobacco leaves and leathery notes in the back.
Palate: Bold and rich on the palate. Sweet with raisins, figs, old sherry and juicy oranges. The oak clearly emerges, accompanied by cinnamon and warming spices as well as some herbal lemonade. Towards the finish, dry notes of tobacco, wood and leather emerge.
Finish: The finish is long-lasting, wonderfully warming and still mouthfilling. Becomes drier towards the end with oak, espresso notes and tobacco leaves.
With water: After adding a splash of water, the Speysider becomes more lively and prickling on the nose with more herbal lemonade, lots of sherry and sweet dried fruit. On the palate milder, but less sweet and much drier with oak, espresso and tobacco notes. The finish shows a medium length with again dry notes of oak and tobacco leaves.
Comments: A voluminous, wonderfully sherry cask matured single malt from the Speyside, which shows the full repertoire of fruit, spice and tobacco notes when talking about an intense sherry influence. Although bottled at high 64.1% abv, this unknown dram is wonderfully drinkable neat, yet comfortably warming, intense, sweet and fruity. With water, the dry aromas of oak, tobacco and espresso are clearly revealed. One can fully endorse the slogan of Whic: The best comes last!

 

I thank whic (Whiskycircle) for the complimentary sample and the image!

Colour: Straw.
Nose: The nose is fresh and rich with creamy vanilla and citrus. Fruity flavours of baked banana and ripe peach arrive, followed by gentle spiced oak, subtle smoke and a whiff of sea air.

Palate: Sweet and fruity start at first with vanilla and peaches, accompanied by a warming mix of spices - ginger, oak and white pepper. Salted caramel, lemon peel and subtle smoke linger towards the finish.

Finish: The finish is medium long and warm with gentle spiced honey, nutmeg, dark chocolate and dry oak on the tail.
With water: There's almost no change on the nose when a few drops of water are added. Still sweet and fruity with subtle peat smoke. On the palate, the warmth is tamed significantly leading more sweetness and vanilla to the fore. The finish shows medium length with vanilla, caramel and subtle oak spice.
Comments: A fruity, sweet single malt from Orkney with warming spices and a slightly smoky note. Fine, complex and very balanced. The long maturation time in a single refill hogshead explains the multi-layered flavours. A very fine dram indeed!

 

I thank Douglas Laing for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Very dark amber, close to mahogany.
Nose: The nose starts off with old sherry flavours, mixed with ripe dark fruits, dates, rum soaked raisins and brown sugar. Then dark chocolate arrives, followed by subtle spice of cinnamon and oak. Notes of tobacco leaves and cardamom with a hint of fresh mint in the back. A gorgeous dram which you can nose for hours!

Palate: Rich and bold on the palate with a deliciously sweet start. Sherry flavours, lovely mixed with ripe dark fruits and zesty oranges. This is complemented by notes of tobacco leaves, walnuts, cinnamon and a whiff of nutmeg. Very mouth-filling with a warming spiciness of oak and espresso towards the finish.

Finish: The finish is pretty long and creamy with fruit compote, old sherry and barley sugar. A touch of walnuts pleasantly mingles with notes of dark bitter chocolate and treacle toffee on the tail. Slightly dry and still very complex.
With water: Water brings more sherry flavours to the fore with dominating dried dark fruits. Lively and vibrant on the nose. Less sweet on the palate with more dry notes of sherry, tobacco leaves and Seville oranges. Dry with oak and nutmeg. The finish is still long and warming with dry notes of oak, walnuts, cinnamon and espresso.
Comments: A rich, complex and satisfying old single malt from this unknown Speyside distillery. Despite having spent five decades in an oak cask it is not at all overpowered by it. On the contrary, the spicy oak notes remain discreetly in the background and thus offer plenty of room for the old school sherry aromas. Great variety of flavours with a lot of harmony and balance. Water can be added, but isn't necessary. An absolutely impressive old dram, which fits perfectly after a great dinner. Very attractive indeed!

 

I thank Douglas Laing for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: White wine to pale gold.
Nose: The nose starts off with lots of vanilla, followed by delicious plum jam and a touch of toffee. Lingering citric notes arrive, nicely mixed with a hint of oak spice in the back. The alcohol is noticeable but not pungent at all.
Palate: Bold and intense on the palate due to the high alcohol content. Then sweet vanilla, nicely mixed with some oranges, lemons and a whiff of coconut flavour. Fairly spicy on the mid palate with pepper, oak and ginger. Notes of creamy vanilla return towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, warm and creamy with vanilla and slightly bitter orange peel. Becomes drier on the tail with oak and a touch of black pepper.
With water: There's more oaky notes coming through on the nose when a splash of water is added. Still sweet with vanilla, followed by fresh notes of citrus in the back. Very sweet and fruity on the palate with vanilla and plum compote, accompanied with white pepper, oak spice and a hint of bitter oranges. Less warming. The finish is a bit shorter but still creamy with vanilla mixed with blood oranges. Becomes dry with oak, tannins and pepper.
Comments: This young Secret Speyside single malt is fairly strong as one can expect due to the high alcohol content. However, the first-fill Bourbon barrel provides a beautiful creamy vanilla sweetness, which complements nicely with the fruity notes of plums and  oranges. Together with a delicate spiciness of oak, pepper and ginger, this is a harmonious dram. When diluted, the alcoholic bites vanishes bringing more sweetness and fruitiness to the fore. A young, partly impetuous but already balanced whisky bursting with vanilla.

 

I thank The Barreliers for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Peat smoke on the nose, nicely mixed with roasted ham, crisp barley and a touch of coal ash. Slightly medicinal character with bandages, followed by sweet sherry notes and delicate spices in the back.
Palate: Deliciously sweet start on the palate with barley sugar, cereals, vanilla and subtle sherry. Then quite warming with lots of spices - white pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves and dry oak. BBQ notes with bonfire smoke. Qily with a touch of orange peel and salted caramel towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, warm, sweet and dry. Smoky, peaty with a touch of lemon and crisp cereals, mixed with coal ash on the tail.
With water: Significantly spicier on the nose when a few drops of water are added. Roasted bread mixed with peat and bonfire smoke. The warming spiciness is noticeably tamed while more sweetness and coal ash are coming through. The finish is long, slightly warm and very dry with oak, peat smoke, oyster-like flavours and hints of seaweed.
Comments: An impressive single malt, considering that it is only 6 years old. A delicate sweetness paired with a warming and complex mix of spices: multi-layered and full-bodied. Luscious, smoky, maritime and wonderfully palatable. This dram doesn't need any water! Which distillery? No idea, as Dunyvaig Castle is located on the shore of Lagavulin Bay!

Colour: Chestnut.
Nose: Delicious infusion of creamy and fruity notes of grapes, apricots, peaches and a whiff of quince. This is accompanied by sweet vanilla, caramel and subtle wine flavours. A touch of oak lingers with a hint of hazelnut in the back. Inebriant and very appealing.
Palate: That sweetness is evident early on the palate with grapes, apricot jam and caramel. This is immediately followed by a warming spiciness of oak, white pepper and a hint of nutmeg. Creamy mouthfeel. The warming spiciness noticeably increases with a second sip.
Finish: The finish is medium long and warm with sticky fruit jam and caramel. Slightly bitter notes of grape seeds along with oak and a touch of hazelnut on the tail.
With water: On the nose, a few drops of water bring more fruit to the fore with a delicate potpourri of apricots, peaches, quince and yellow plums. Honey and tender vanilla in the back. The sweet and creamy flavours are slightly enhanced on the palate while the warming spiciness is significantly tamed. The finish is a bit shorter with creamy vanilla, caramel, grapes and a whiff of delicate hazelnuts.
Comments: This first, own finishing experiment is really successful (of course it has to be). The three-month finish in an oak barrel previously seasoned with Malaga wine adds creamy fruit and caramel, while the spicy notes of oak and pepper offer a nice balance. The nose is extremely appealing and seductive. The spicy flavours are clearly tamed with water and more creamy fruit notes emerge.

Colour: Bright amber.
Nose: The nose starts off with pleasant sherry notes. Not big sherry with raisins and dry fruits but more subtle and creamy. Lingering notes of ripe walnuts emerge, nicely mixed with Bourbon cask-derived flavours, such as caramel and vanilla. There's also fruity elements coming through with brandy soaked cherries and red apples. Hints of dark chocolate and oak in the background. The alcohol is very well integrated and not pungent at all.
Palate: Bold and intense, however, on the palate, along with sweet notes of cherries, plums and sherry. Fruity and creamy, accompanied by a fairly warming mix of spices - black pepper, ginger and oak in particular. Sweet with vanilla, caramel and malted barley, followed by hints of acacia honey and dark chocolate towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, warm and subtle sweet. This is followed by a lingering nuttiness mixed with dark chocolate, even espresso, and a whiff of dry oak on the tail.
With water: More fruits on the nose when a few drops of water are added. There's also more sherry derived flavours as well as lingering walnut notes while the spiciness and oaky tones are significantly tamed. The warming spiciness on the palate is noticeably tamed, too, while the sherry notes, caramel and barley sweetness as well as the nutty tones remain stable. The finish is slightly shorter and dry with walnuts, oak and espresso notes.
Comments: A successful own cask project. The Bourbon cask matured Speyside whisky harmonizes very well with the oloroso finish. Additional sherry aromas appear, accompanied by spices, dark chocolate and a very tasty nutty flavour. A pleasant nose, not overpowered by the sherry, with a strong impression on the palate and a long and not too dry finish. Here you can easily add water to tame the spiciness a little bit and to elicit the more filigree (fruit) notes from the whisky.

 

I thank Nils Felske for the complimentary sample and the photograph!

Colour: Amber.
Nose: Peat smoke, pleasantly mixed with floral notes and vanilla. Sherry arrives with dark fruits - cherries, dates and raisins. Pleasantly sweet with toffee and subtle malted barley, with a hint of antiseptic notes in the back.
Palate: Bold and intense on the palate with a lovely balance of smoke and sweet sherry flavours. Dark fruits with raisins and cherries, immediately followed by a warming spiciness of pepper, nutmeg and allspice.
Finish: The finish is medium-long and warm with subtle peat smoke, creamy honey and vanilla. Dry oak and lingering nutty flavours on the tail.
With water: There's almost no change on the nose when a few drops of water are added. Maybe the flowery notes become more intense while the sweetness is tamed a bit. Significantly more smoke on the palate with slightly enhanced oak spices while the lingering sweetness remains. The finish shows medium length with a pleasant mix of sweet honey, warm oak spice and smoke.
Comments: A beautifully composed islander. Lovely balance of sherry derived fruitiness, with a delicate sweetness and peaty smokiness. A fruity, peppery and lively expression as a digestif.

 

I thank Kirsch Whisky - The House of Whiskies for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Fresh on the nose with an unobstrusive marine and phenolic character. Tender smoke and peat embers are nicely mixed with malted barley, cereals and delicate citric fruits. Seaweed with a briny and medicinal kick in the back.
Palate: Rich, bold and intense on the palate. The medicinal influence continues with peat fire, seaweed and smoked ham, while sweet and creamy tones of barley malt, vanilla and cereals appear almost at the same time. This is supported by lingering lemon notes and a warming spiciness of black pepper, cloves and oak.
Finish: The finish is long, dry and warming with lingering peat, cold smoke, and prickling oak with a lovely delicate fruity aftertaste.
With water: Water tames the sweetness and fruity notes on the nose while bringing more peaty, dry, medicinal, and seaside flavours to the fore. Less intense and warming on the palate, although still peppery. There's more peat and dry oak present while the sweet and fruity elements are significantly tamed. The finish is shorter and dry with oak, cold smoke, peat and a touch of barley sweetness on the tail.
Comments: An already well composed and beautifully balanced islander. Pleasant interplay of marine Islay aromatic with a malty sweet and lemony heart. An enticing seaside experience at a very attractive price. Definitely one for the hip flask for a brief seaside walk at Port Askaig Bay watching the ferry to Isle of Jura.

 

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Sweet white wine.
Nose: Fruity on the nose with cherries and peaches. The alcohol is very present, but not pungent. Behind that caramel and honey emerge, followed by ripe yellow melons, chocolate and a whiff of oak in the back. Fragrant and mellow. Needs time to develop its full flavour profile.
Palate: Strong on the palate with the alcohol being very present. Quite spicy with oak and pepper. Once this warming spiciness fades, lovely fruity notes of cherries, peaches and melons arrive, nicely mixed with caramel, butterscotch and a slightly bitter touch of grape peel and dark chocolate towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, quite warm and sweet with sticky fruit, creamy honey and a touch of dark chocolate. Becomes dry on the tail with gentle spiced oak and a whiff of bitter notes.
With water: Water significantly tames the alcoholic bite bringing the lovely fruitiness of cherries, peaches and melons to the fore. Vanilla, toffee and butterscotch in the back. Very delicate. Stays spicy on the palate with oak, pepper and slightly bitter grape peel. The alcohol is tamed but the nice fruitiness is also less present. The finish is long, creamy and sticky sweet with lovely fruits and a whiff of bitter oak and dark chocolate on the tail.
Comments: A tasty and delicate single malt from an unknown Speyside distillery. Filigree fruitiness restrained by the high alcoholic strength. With time, however, mouth-watering fruitiness and sweetness dominate making this dram a very candy and palatable one. Well chosen cask by Marco Bonn from the Brühler Whiskyhaus.

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Fresh on the nose with peat and a slight hint of smoke. Delicate citric notes emerge, lovely mixed with malted barley and cereals. Some coastal aromas with smoked ham and dried apricots. Tender oak spice, black pepper and a whiff of cloves in the back. Subtle briny and minerally.
Palate: Bold and intense on the palate with sweet barley sugar, cereals and subtle apricot jam. This is complemented by a rather strong spiciness of pepper, even chilli, and oak. Quite warming with a slightly cracking peat fire and lingering smoke. Once the peaty warmth fades, lingering notes of citric fruit and ginger appear followed by a vegetal touch towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, warm and spicy with black pepper, cloves and ginger. Becomes slightly dry on the tail with oak, dark chocolate and lingering peat smoke.
With water: Significantly tamed on the nose with a splash of water. Water brings more citric fruit and cereal notes to the fore while the peaty flavours are tamed. Still warming spiciness on the palate, however, a bit tamed. Sweet maltiness, cereals and black pepper, lovely mixed with oak, cloves and lingering peat. The finish is long and becomes very dry with oak, and espresso, followed by delicate dried fruits of apricot and peach on the tail.
Comments: A clean, lingering sweet, peaty, and significantly spicy Islay single malt at cask strength. Lovely fruity texture, well balanced by a nice peat fire and an intensly warming spiciness. Quite quaffable both neat or diluted with a few drops of water. Although the distillery is not mentioned on the label I would assume it's Caol Ila. Good value for money, too.

 

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Straw.
Nose: Fresh with a lovely coastal nose - brine and minerals. Peat and subtle smoke, pleasantly mixed with a fine citric note behind. Cereals and malted barley arrive, followed by a touch of green apples and smoked bacon in the back. Classic briny with a kick of antiseptic note.
Palate: A lovely mix of barley sweetness with peat and a touch of smoke. Oily with a warming spiciness of pepper, oak, cloves and camphor. Becomes quite intense with the second sip. Behind that peaty and spicy warmth, a lingering fruitiness of lemons and grapefruit emerges, followed by gentle medicinal notes and dry wood smoke.
Finish: The finish is long, sweet and warming with lingering peat, medicinal notes, subtle smoke, cloves and dry oak on the tail.
With water: By adding a few drops of water, significantly more smoke and spiced oak are coming through pushing the malty and fruity flavours in the background. Creamy, soft and sweet on the palate with acacia honey, grapefruit and subtle peat. Less warming spiciness which also increases with a second sip. The finish is still long and warming. Oily but less sweet and significantly dry on the tail with oak, cloves and a hint of pepper.
Comments: A classic, peaty, slightly smoky, medicinal and dry Islay single malt. Clean and oily with a sweet and subtle fruity texture, pleasantly balanced by a nice and warming spiciness. Lovely stuff. The ideal outside companion in a hip flask on a rainy day.

 

I thank Kirsch Whisky Import for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Mahogany.
Nose: The nose starts off with a full potpourri of sweet sherry derived flavours, just like the dark colour suggests. There's lots of dried dark fruits, dates, figs, rum soaked raisins and a whiff of old furniture polish. Sweet and intense, with lingering nutty notes and fine oak in the back. Very appealing!
Palate: Rich and powerful on the palate. Again lots of sherry, but this time the sweetness is a bit dry on the tongue with cherries and raisins, followed by a warming spiciness of crisp oak, cinnamon, marzipan and dark chocolate. Very mouth-coating.
Finish: The finish is warming and shows good length. Pleasant notes of fruitcake nicely linger with walnuts and tender cocoa flavours towards a drying end.
With water: There's more sherry sweetness coming through on the nose by adding a few drops of water. However, this is overshadowed by a slightly unpleasant whiff of sulphur. The opposite on the palate: less sweetness, tamed fruitiness, but more dry and bitter notes, complemented by a touch of sulphur. The finish is medium long and dry with walnuts and oak on the tail.
Comments: A flavourful, rich and intense sherried whisky from an unknown Speyside distillery. Demonstrates a good balance of sweet fruitiness and warming spiciness with a certain level of complexity. Although it's almost 64% abv water should be avoided as it kills the lovely sweet and fruity sherry derived flavours on the palate inducing an annoying level of sulphurous notes.

 

I thank Dailydram.de for the sample and the photograph!

Colour: Straw.
Nose: An immediate fruity start on the nose with lots of apricots, melons, peaches, and a touch of banana. Lingering notes of vanilla and toffee emerge, accompanied by subtle pepper spice, ginger and a whiff of oak. Tender notes of icing sugar in the back.
Palate: Bold, rich and spicy on the palate with waves of apricots and peaches, alternating with an intensive and warming spiciness of pepper, oak and crystallised ginger. Slightly bitter notes of lemon peel linger with fine vanilla and a touch of beeswax towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, slightly bitter and dry at first but releases sweet and spicy flavours of peach jam, sticky honey with time. Mellow and meaty on the tail.
With water: Water brings out more fruit on the nose while the spiciness is tamed significantly. Still bold and rich with an increasing spiciness on the palate. Hot and dry flavours of pepper, cloves and oak, followed by vanilla and tender yellow fruit towards the finish. The finish is long and warm at first, becomes fruity and creamy with sticky sweet honey and apricot jam on the tail.
Comments: This is by no means just an old Speyside fellow. This is a rich, well-balanced and assertive dram. Fascinating waves of an attractive sweetness alternate with an intensive bourbon cask derived spiciness and dry fruitiness. A lovely mature malt which skilfully blends maturity and complexity. A good whisky which needs some time in the glass to breathe.

 

I thank Whisky-Doris (Versandhandel Doris Debbeler) for sample and photograph!

Colour: Very dark amber, almost mahogany.
Nose: The nose starts off with classic sherry flavours of ripe red fruit, dates, raisins and demerara sugar. Liquorice with gentle marzipan and chocolate cake. Tender spicy with black pepper and oak, nicely mixed with notes of tobacco leaves and cardamom in the back. A gorgeous nose!
Palate: A muscular, rich and firm start on the palate with less sweetness than expected from the nose. Sherry flavours, lovely mixed with ripe fruit, rum soaked raisins and marzipan, complemented by a strong and warming spiciness of oak, cracked black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Bitter notes of orange peel, dark chocolate, tobacco leaves, and espresso linger with lots of herbal black tea towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is pretty long, magnificently oaky, warm and spicy. Lovely nutty flavours pleasantly mingle with notes of espresso, tobacco leaves, dark bitter chocolate and herbal black tea on the tail. Slightly dry and astringent.
With water: Water slightly tames the spiciness bringing more fruity flavours to the fore. There's also a slight increase of sweetness on the palate with water, while the massive load of spicy flavours seems to be significantly tamed. Subtle tingling with oak and green walnuts on the tongue. The finish is long, sweet and creamy with tender herbal notes of strong black tea.
Comments: A subtle sweet, assertive, rich and satisfying old malt from this unknown Speyside distillery. Quite spicy neat, while a dash of water sweetens the palate. In good shape for it's age and still not loo long in cask. An impressive afterdinner drop. Highly attractive!

 

I thank Whisky-Doris (Versandhandel Doris Debbeler) for sample and photograph!

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Fresh and intense on the nose. There's bold peat smoke at first, phenolic, with lingering notes of vanilla, toffee and fruity elements of lemon and orange peel behind. A bold medicinal character of seaweed and bandages, with subtle cereal notes in the back. Very appealing and refreshing.
Palate: Oily palate. Significantly strong with a peaty punch at first, followed by an intense and warming spiciness of pepper, oak, cloves and allspice. Once the warmth fades, delicate sweet and fruity notes of green apples, lemon zest and honey arrive, lingering nicely with crisp cereal and oatmeal towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long, warm and lovely sweet. Slightly austere, with gentle peat, toffee, malted barley and subtle wood smoke on the tail.
With water: Very fresh and clean on the nose with a few drops of water. Smoke and peat become the dominant flavours here. On the palate, however, these pungency is significantly tamed with a lovely balance of warming spiciness and barley sweetness. The finish is long, toffee sweet, and warm, in which the flavours are lovely wrapped in gentle peat smoke.
Comments: A significantly intense, complex and flavourful whisky, with an instant punch of peat. A harmonious balance of peat, smoke, spices and delicate flavours of a first-fill bourbon barrel, with a warm heart. Vibrant and full of character. Best neat.

 

I thank Thomas Ide from The Whisky Chamber for sample and photograph!

Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: The nose starts off with peat, smoke, and crisp barley, complemented by clean citrus notes and green banana. A bit of tar and burnt heather arrive along with a touch of ash and bitumen. Very clean and fresh with a lingering sweetness of barley sugar and a gentle maritime edge.
Palate: Quite sweet on the palate with delicate barley sugar, lemons and gentle orange peel, complemented by subtle peat and smoke. Suddenly, a massive load of warm even hot spice takes over with lots of pepper, subtle chilli and bitumen. Quite intense indeed!
Finish: The finish is long and warm with lingering citrus fruits and delicate malted barley on the tail. This is all gently covered by a whiff of peat smoke.
With water: Water slightly increases the freshness on the nose with peat smoke, maritime notes and malted barley, complemented by subtle citrus notes. On the palate, there's more sweetness coming through with lingering malt and orange fruit, accompanied by peat smoke and gentle oak spice. The finish is still long and subtle warm with more peat smoke and tar on the tail.
Comments: This is a superb Islay malt. Quite impressive on the nose and palate with lots of delicate sweetness, gentle fruitiness and a nice maritime character. The port cask influence is slightly present with a delicate sweetness and lingering citrus and orange fruitiness. Well balanced, very harmonious and tasty, with an ever-present and lingering peat smoke.

 

I thank Dailydram.de for sample and photograph!

Colour: Rich gold.
Nose: The nose starts off with lots of passion fruit, yellow ripe fruit, banana and especially mirabelle is coming through, complemented by delicate honey and lingering vanilla. The fruitiness increases with time with an additional touch of pleasant exotic spice and a whiff of marzipan. Very complex nose!
Palate: Fine-textured and sweet. Rich honey flavours and exotic fruits are immediately present along with pleasant vanilla. This delicate mouthfeel is completed by a lingering spiciness of oak, white pepper and a hint of cinnamon and marzipan. Bold, intense and quite oily on the palate with a slightly dry aftertaste.
Finish: Medium-long, sweet and smooth with a little dried fruit. Nicely warming oak spice, pepper and lingering cinnamon on the tail.
With water: There's almost no change on the nose while the fruitiness decreases on the palate with more spice - pepper and chilli - coming to the fore. The finish is a bit shortened but still warming and delicate.
Comments: This is a very sophisticated malt with an impressive complexity and charm. The honeyed richness of the malt combines beautifully with the exotic fruitiness and lingering spiciness of the bourbon cask. A perfect composed dessert dram.

 

I thank Whisky-Doris (Versandhandel Doris Debbeler) for sample and photograph!

Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Freshly ground malt and grain, followed by lovely aromas of succulent ripe sweet red apples. Hints of sherry and raisins. Very lively and prickling.
Palate: Soft and full with plenty of sweet fruit. Summer grain and sweet ripe apples with a hint of banana. Topped with prickled spice right in the middle of the tongue.
Finish: Long and lingering sweet. Warm with some oak spices to give a dry finish.
With water: Turns into green and grassy notes with less sweetness and more spice.
Comments: Beautifully mature and elegant. Juicy, soft, round and sweet. Very pleasant on the taste, no water needed. A sensitive dram, however, nothing for the sherry aficionados.

 

I thank the German independent bottler Best Dram for sample and photo.

Colour: Deep gold.
Nose: Starts quite fresh with toffee and dry sherry. A touch of buttery vanilla lies beneath, followed by hints of butterscotch and syrup coated melon with time.
Palate: Oh yes! Now there is creamy and fruity sweetness with yellow melon and vanilla. Intense sherry flavours on the middle with the oak showing a mouth-watering spicy character. Optimally integrated alcohol and pleasingly drinkable.
Finish: Mouth-filling, warm and long with lingering fruity sweetness and dried oak.
With water: The spiciness now dominates as the sweetness almost completely disappears. Finish with lingering yellow dried fruits.
Comments: This Speyside dram is a real mystery. Quite reserved on the nose it requires definitely time to develop its full character. Then there is an exciting explosion of sweetness, fruit, vanilla and spice on the palate. Complex, full of character with less strong sherry influence. A superbly balanced whisky with no need for dilution.

 

I thank the German independent bottler Best Dram for sample and photo.