1 | Spirits, Scotland | Page 2

"The nosing passes find layers of aromas of honey, heather, pine needle, thyme and salty single malt Scotch whisky. Entry is thick, gently sweet but balanced by a fierce herbal quality; midpalate focuses on the whisky while the various herbs, spices and honey make merry around their whisky core. One of the best liqueurs available." 96-100 pts.

"Golden color. Raw honey with phenolic peat, iodine, and burnt sugar aromas. A round entry leads to a sweetish medium-bodied palate with sweet creamy caramel, peat, heather, herbs, and peppery spice flavors. Finishes with a long iodine and toffee fade. Wild and raw Islay flavors meshed with mellow sweetness."

A hit at WhiskyFest Chicago, finished in specially manufactered, traditional small casks.

"Deep golden amber color. Buttery caramel and golden raisin aromas. A soft entry leads to a dryish light-to-medium of honeyed grain and bread dough flavors with a delicate peppery slate accented fade."

A new addition to the permanent Balvenie range. Lovely bright gold color. Layers of sweetness (the characteristic Balvenie honey, along with vanilla fudge, nougat and rich toffee) peppered with dried spice and a hint of tropical fruit (papaya, guava, tangerine). Great viscosity with good grip on the finish. I really like the balance in this whisky—nice complexity too! A very solid effort and the price is right.

In 2009, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible named Ardbeg Uigeadail ‘World Whisky of the Year’ – in praise of its “utter silky brilliance” and “complexity on a level only a handful of distilleries in the world can even dream of reaching.” Ardbeg Uigeadail (pronounced ‘Oog-a-dal’) is a special vatting that marries Ardbeg’s traditional deep, smoky notes with luscious, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks. It's non chill-filtered at high strength, which retains maximum flavour and gives more body and added depth.

"Rich, amber color. Malty, caramel aromas have a sour cream pastry edge. A round, rich entry leads to an off-dry medium-to full-bodied palate with sweet toffee, brown spices, leather, and robust exotic peppercorns. Finishes with a long sherried fade of caramel, pepper, and salty roasted nuts."

"Stately aroma reminds me of butter- cream candies; further air contact reveals deeper scents of melon, white raisins, dried yellow plums and fudge. Entry is honey-sweet, ripe and fruity (dried yellow fruits, banana, pineapple, pear); midpalate is long, satiny, honeyed, eggy, fruity and balanced. Concludes on notes of Sherry, apricot, white raisins and light toffee." 90-95 pts.

"Clear. Polished aromas of fresh citrus, herbal juniper, flower petal and cucumber follow through on bright, silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with violet, lavender, and pink peppercorn notes resonating brightly. Finishes with a delicate sweet citrus custard pastry, spice, potpourri, and mineral fade all in fine balance. A delightfully fruity, floral nouveau gin for artisan cocktails."