Scottish Spirits

Expert Review 

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Soy sauce, olive brine, peat, honey, oloroso Sherry, brewer's yeast, bread dough, barley malt and cigar smoke in the bouquet. The flavor that magically includes the innate intense peatiness of Islay malts and the masterly employment of oak barrels phase defines "classy Islay.? Concludes sweetly, without sacrificing the tangy, astringent peatiness that is inherent. Gorgeous.

Enjoy reading this review of Laguvulin 16 year old written by Margarett Waterbury - TheWhiskeyWash.com

Tasting Notes:

Lagavulin 16-Year-Old is satisfying in a way that many other things are not. You might not like it, but if you enjoy whisky, it is essential for you to buy a bottle of Lagavulin 16, and drink it. It might take you the rest of your life, but it’s important.

Appearance:  A deep, dusky amber.

Nose:  Oh, geez. There’s peat, first of all, a big, pungent whack of it, laced with smoked fish and driftwood and salty rocks. But underneath that, there’s a great big ocean of sweet, caramelized malt, all baked apples and cobbler crust. Plenty of industrial character, too—soot, rubber, hot electrical equipment, and that magical, grimy petrichor of a dirty urban sidewalk after a summer’s rain.

Palate:  You know that saying “turns to ashes in your mouth?” This is like the opposite. At first, it’s like a mouthful of recently extinguished ashes—charred, powdery, astringent—but then a lush, maritime garden quickly comes into Technicolor focus. Basically, Lagavulin 16 tastes just like a real boat: varnish, diesel, salty nets, ocean spray, and the sticky lanolin-rich smell of a thick wool sweater a hardworking man has been wearing one too many days in a row. Over several minutes in the glass, ghosts of fruit emerge—orange and red cherry, mostly—but never seem to break through the low-hanging haze. That’s alright – a suggestion is enough.

When people talk about Scotch whisky, maritime imagery comes up a lot. So let’s start with a beach metaphor.

Wonderful Glenmorangie is like visiting a beach in San Diego. It’s great! It’s 85 degrees, it’s sunny, the water is warm, and everybody’s having a fantastic time. Lagavulin is like a visit to the Oregon Coast. Describe the experience objectively—it’s cold, it’s grey, it’s rainy, there’s not much to do and certainly no place to swim without a dry suit or a death wish—and some might wonder why bother going at all. To others, there’s nowhere else in the world they’d rather be.

Sunny beaches are terrific. But sometimes you need an experience with a little more grit, something that reflects the grimy, complex, trying, sometimes objectively bad experience of real life. For times like that, there’s Lagavulin. It’s peaty, medicinal, pungent, smoky, a Band-aid factory in the throes of catastrophic meltdown, and when you really need it, nothing else will do.

Expert Review

90-95 points: Wine Enthusiast | Off-dry malted barley and light toffee smells greet the olfactory sense along with flowery fragrances of heather, rose petal and pine. Entry features sweet grain and candied apricot tastes; the midpalate is mellow, malty, fruity (white raisins, apricots) and sophisticated. Ends on a buttery note. Remains the Speyside benchmark.

Producer Description 

Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old is a light, heathery single malt with notes of sweet peat smoke, strawberry and beeswax on the nose. The palate is round and smoky, with flavors of honey, mustard, and a hint of citrus fruit. 

Producer Description 

Blending premium whisky isn’t just something we do, it has been the foundation of our craft since 1800. We bring together the finest ingredients to create a natural spirit before the passing of time imparts the wonderful flavour from our handcrafted casks. Add to this the fusion of skilled craftsmen and a tenacious obsession with quality and you arrive at our Famous, rich, sweet, well-rounded whisky. 

Producer Description 

The first sniffings find toasty notes of charcoal and minerals more than botanicals; later inhalations following aeration stir glimpses of fabric, hemp and butter. The palate entry is firm, moderately sweet and nearly plump; at midpalate the taste profile turns a bit drier, if a touch fruity. Ends up uncomplicated and grainy sweet.

Almost 250 years ago, Alexander Gordon started his distillery in London and set about creating the recipe for a brilliant tasting gin. Gordon's high quality and distinctive juniper flavour has come to define the taste of the classic G&T.

Gordon's today is a gin that's enjoyed, not dissected. It's the perfect gin to start a Friday evening, or a Tuesday night catch up with friends, where we share a moment and have a laugh with people we love.

Producer Description 

The Balvenie DoubleWood is a 12 year old Single Malt which gains its Distinctive Character from being matured in two woods. During its period of maturation The Balvenie DoubleWood is transferred from a Traditional Oak whisky cask to a First Fill Spanish Oak Sherry cask. Each stage lends different qualities to the resulting single malt- the traditional casks, having previously held Bourbon, soften and add character, whilst the Sherry Wood brings depth and fullness of flavour. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Bright topaz in the glass, this 12-year-old blend of over 40 whiskies has a pleasant fresh apple and vanilla scent. Polished, versatile and flavorful, look for creamy caramel and vanilla accented by dried orange peel and honeysuckle. - K.N. 

Producer Description 

Johnnie Walker has the luxury of having exclusive access to Scotland's very best whiskies, ranging from the powerful west coast malts all the way to the more subtle east coast flavors. Black Label draws upon all these aromas to create a unique blend with a smooth, deep and 
complex character.

Black Label retains the authenticity of its creator and currently outsells every other deluxe blended Scotch whisky around the globe. That it's stood the test of time is a testament to the pioneering spirit and the skills of the House of Walker. 

 Producer Description 

Mahogany. Full, slightly sweet; toffee, ginger and dried fruits accompanied by sherry and cloves. Rich in both dried fruit and sherry, with a subtle toffee sweetness and pleasant touch of spice flavour with a touch of sherry sweetness and wood. Medium long. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Look for a rich butterscotch scent and a hint of fresh apricot. On the palate, this Sherry-matured single malt layers on concentrated caramel, butterscotch and custard, finishing long and spiced on a hint of orange peel. 

Producer Description 

The Glenfiddich 12 Year is distinctively fresh and fruity with a hint of pear on the nose. The palate for this single malt is characteristically sweet, with undertones of butterscotch, cream, malt and a hint of oak. It finishes long, smooth and mellow. See for yourself why this is one of the world's most popular single malts.

Producer Description 

Johnnie Walker Red Label is currently the world's best-selling Scotch Whisky. It's known for its bold and characterful taste, that's shines through even when mixed. It's a flavour the Walker family has never compromised on.

The Walker family have used their knowledge of Scotland's Malts to create a blend that has universal appeal. This has played a pivotal role in Red Label becoming one of the world's favourite Scotch whisky's. It's developed for an export market that has a taste for long, refreshing drinks. Red Label can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or combined with a favourite mixer.

Producer Description 

Discover the distinct flavors of the islands of Scotland with Oban 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This whisky holds a delicate balance of dried figs and honey-sweet spices followed by a long, smooth-sweet finish. The best of the Highlands and coastal influences, centuries of local distilling tradition are what make our whisky so exquisite. This spirit is best served neat in a tumbler, perhaps with a splash of cool spring water.

Expert Review

The Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | Look for pleasant sweetness and spice up front, as the nose offers a complex mix of oak, maple sugar, fresh apple, clove, black pepper and cinnamon. 91 Points 

Producer Description 

After 14 years maturing in casks that previously held Bourbon, malt master Brian Kinsman finishes this Scotch Whisky in deep charred new American oak barrels from Kentucky for a rich, sweet and vibrant malt.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Aged 14 years in former Bourbon barrels, this is an amber-colored whisky that s scented with vanilla and peach. The palate is also peachy, highlighted by hints of almond, oak and sandalwood. The finish is drying and lightly spiced.

Producer Description 

GlenDronach 12-Year-Old epitomizes our unyielding dedication to the mastery of our craft. Matured in fine Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía in Spain, this richly sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky presents smooth vanilla, soft fruits and a memorably long, nutty finish, for which it has become renowned. This smooth scotch is bottled at 43%, non-chill filtered and natural in colour.

Producer Description 

Imagining the ultimate single malt whisky for mixing, we worked with top bartenders to craft a sweeter and richer Glenmorangie, perfect for enjoying in all manner of drinks.

To achieve our whisky’s wondrous cascade of taste, we draw on our epic array of casks. And so our freewheeling single malt comes to life, with swirling aromas of pear and vanilla setting the stage for rich orange sherbet and fudge. X by Glenmorangie is wonderful mixed with any flavour you choose (and as you’d expect, it is also delicious neat.

Expert Review

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | Elegant, light and pretty. This amber spirit has a light, briny vanilla scent and a silky feel. A veil of smoke rises through the Scotch (but fades out fast), leaving behind a sweet nutty, vanilla finish.

Producer Description 

Regularly celebrated in spirits competitions and recommended by whisky reviewers for its uncompromising quality and exquisite balance, Highland Park 12 Year Old is for any occasion that calls for a bottle of great whisky in hand. Vivid aromas of creme brulee, tangerine, charred peach, and smoked kindling. Flavors of heather honey, dried fruit, warm spice and salty sea smoke. A sultry finish of brown sugar and toasted nuts, with a hint of smoke. Producer Description. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | The name of this whisky is a nod to how it s matured in three different casks: American Bourbon, Spanish oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry. It s robust, with a deep amber hue and rich caramel scent. The flavor profile shows toffee, campfire smoke and a mouthwatering butterscotch note on the exhale. It almost reads like a peated Bourbon.

Producer Description 

Master of Malt writes:  This was first created over a century ago by the Dewars master blender. White Label contains around 40 different whiskies in the blend, with Aberfeldy at its heart.

Nose:  Honey, peach, apple and wood.  Cut hay.

Palate:  Medium, vanilla fudge, smoke, toffee, heather honey, oak.

Finish:  Good length, cut herbs, honeyed sweetness.

Producer Description 

A blend of our rarest malts and most superior grains, matured to their peak, Johnnie Walker Blue Label represents our highest achievement. Blue Label recreated the flavors of the Walkers' early whiskies, in a bottle that also takes its design from the 19th century.

Every single component of the exceptional blend has been handpicked from exclusive distilleries, some of which are no longer in existence. We draw these components from extradordinary casks, usually one in every two million. As soon as they're discovered, they're set aside for Blue Label and matured until their absolute peak - however long that may take.

Grants Triple Wood Blended Scotch Whisky aged in three distinct woods for a smoother taste. Virgin Oak cask provides spicy robustness, American Oak lends subtle vanilla smoothness and Bourbon refill offers brown sugar sweetness, resulting in a smoother, richer, mellower taste.

Best enjoyed on the rocks or in cocktail that amplifies and enhances the flavor of the unique Grants Whisky. William Grant, the founding father of one of the worlds most loved Scotch brands opened his first distillery in 1887. Five generations of Grants have stood together through thick and thin to hold the title of Scotlands oldest continuously family-run, blended whisky makers.

Grants Triple Wood Whisky stays true to William Grants original, closely guarded recipe. It just goes to show that when the right people stand together, great things happen. The five generations of the Grants family have supported the tradition of responsible drinking and we want you to continue enjoying Grants Whisky in the same way. Grant's Whisky is patiently crafted for you to enjoy responsibly. Producer Notes.

Producer Description 

Quinta Ruban 14 year has spent 10 years maturing in American white oak casks, before being transferred into specially selected ruby port pipes from the Quintas or wine estates of Portugal.

Expert Review

Whisky Advocate 92 Points | This Quinta Ruban succeeds the 12 year old version, adding two additional years of finishing in port casks, while maintaining the same bargain price. The result is a symphony of understated opulence. Marzipan, fresh apple and pear, milk chocolate, red berries, candied ginger, and praline on the nose build slowly, leading into a fruity, spiced palate. Flavors of soft gingerbread, molasses cake, cherry pie, spiced plums, almond nougat, and dark chocolate intermingle with faint strains of pipe tobacco. It sings on the finish, with a parting crescendo of hazelnut, spice, cigar wrapper, and lengthy oak.

Producer Description 

Caribbean Cask has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, and then ‘finished’ in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. To create the ideal finish, Malt Master David Stewart filled American oak casks with his own blend of select West Indian rums. When he judged the casks to be ready, the rum was replaced with the 14 year old spirit and the wood was put to work adding the final touches.

The result is an exceptional single malt whisky with the traditional smooth, honeyed character of The Balvenie, married with notes of toffee and a hint of fruit, with a warm, lingering finish. Rich, sweet and creamy toffee on the nose combines with fresh fruit notes. Rounded with vanilla and sweet oak notes, with a fruity character that develops with time. Soft and lingering.

Expert Review 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | After regular maturation, this Scotch is extra matured in former rum casks. The end result layers rich, mouth-coating dried apricot, honey and Sherry notes on top of Balvenie s usual caramel and light peat profile. It finishes flavorful, though with a distinct burst of alcohol warmth. 

Producer Description 

Producer Description 

Our 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky was the beginning of our Bunnahabhain core range, launched to fanfare and praise alike. Non-chill filtered and natural colour, taste the origins of Bunnahabhain with an alluring balance of sweet fruit, nuts, vanilla and a delicate coastal influence.

Producer Description 

Spicy, mellow smoke with honeyed sweet maltiness and hints of pepper on the nose. The first taste is rich & sweetly mellow followed by a spicy heat with elegant balance of sweet, smoke & salt, and a clean, warm finish. 2020 SIP Awards Platinum winner.

Producer Description 

Exemplifying our family’s tradition of innovation, our 15 Year Old expression is created using a technique pioneered by our Malt Master and its warm, spicy flavours are transformed with the alchemy of the Solera Vat.

Aged in European oak sherry casks and new oak casks, the whisky is mellowed in our unique Solera Vat, a large oak tun inspired by the sherry bodegas of Spain and Portugal. Never emptied, and kept half full of whiskies since 1998, our Solera Vat is the culmination of curious minds and the pioneering spirit of our family. It’s also the secret behind this whisky becoming the first 15 year old expression to enter the top ten best selling single malts. 

Producer Description

Produced in small, individually numbered batches, Glenfiddich 18 Year Old combines a touch of fruity sweetness from the Spanish Oloroso wood and an oakiness from the traditional American casks.

After being married in wooden tuns for at least three months, its rich, mellow flavors come together, creating an exceptionally smooth and remarkably deep single malt Scotch whisky with notes of baked apple, spice and robust oak. Each batch is unique and is of an extraordinary quality.

Remarkably rich aroma with ripe orchard fruit, spiced apple and a robust oakiness. Richly delivers luxurious dried fruit, candy peel and dates overlaid with elegant oak notes. Warming. Rewarding. Distinguished.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 96 points | Luxe and easy-sipping. Look for enticing notes of butterscotch, baked pear, cinnamon and clove on the nose and palate, swathed in just the right amount of smokiness.

Producer Description

Dark gold. Intense and vanilla sweet. Floral, hints of banana, figs, rich toffee, new leather and oak. The palate is initially soft, then brisk, vibrant and drying, peppery, a touch of smoke, oak, lime, ginger and spices. The finish is very long, warming, dry and spicy. 

Expert Reviews

97 Points Wine Enthusiast | Finished in rum casks, the honey and orange zest aromas suggest a cocktail, not a straight pour of Scotch. These flavors are echoed on the silky palate, opening with cocoa and leather and evolving into a luscious, fudge-like finish, with hints of orange peel and cinnamon. Enjoy with a big rock of ice and a piece of orange peel, it needs no other adornment.

93 Points Whisky Advocate | Rich, sweet, and fruity with baked apples drizzled in honey, crisp white pear, honeysuckle, dried banana, vanilla fudge, and pecan pie. This works so well with the nascent Glenfiddich spirit; lime zest, vanilla, foamy meringue, honey blossom sweetness, and pepper transitioning to lime shred marmalade, soft oak, and a dry spicy finish. Vibrant, stimulating, sophisticated, and so well balanced that it never risks becoming overly sweet.

Dark gold. Intense and vanilla sweet. Floral, hints of banana, figs, rich toffee, new leather and oak. The palate is initially soft, then brisk, vibrant and drying, peppery, a touch of smoke, oak, lime, ginger and spices. The finish is very long, warming, dry and spicy. Producer Description. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | No shrinking violet, this copper penny-hued Scotch hits the nose and palate with a robust but harmonious mix of toffee and peat smoke, in equal measures, finishing dry and spicy. Darkest is an apt description for a whiskey partly matured in former oloroso Sherry casks, which adds deep, raisiny tones.

Each time you sip J&B Rare, 42 different whiskies pass you lips. They are carefully blended together to create a subtle, smpoth and complex flavour. The delicate balance is what gives J&B Rare its distinctive character. If we took even one whisky away you would taste the difference. 

The heart of J&B Rare is formed by Speyside Malt Whiskies. They provide the fruity,fresh quality you can taste, and give J&B its light colour. Speyside is recognised as the superior area in Scotland for making malts.