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"The nosing finds dry grainy notes with background scents of dried flowers and parchment, and deeper fragrances of light toffee, almond paste and yellow fruit. Entry is oily, buttery and semisweet; the whisky dazzles at midpalate with layered flavors of brown butter, cooking oil, barley malt and oatmeal cookie underpinned by the single malt foundation. Concludes smoky, satiny and ultra-sophisticated." 90-95 pts.

"Bright golden amber color. Aromas of buttery caramel corn kernels, honeyed date bread, and Provence bath soap follow through on a supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with oil texture and floral honey and delicate spice fade. A pleasant sipper." Silver Medal.

"Opening aroma is intensely grainy and cracker-like, with background notes of flowers and pine; aeration brings out the grain spirit in uncomplicated scents of pine, flax and beeswax. Entry is pleasantly sweet like caramel (but not too sweet); the midpalate adds sweet flavors of honey, pipe tobacco and tar. Ends nicely sweet and grainy." Best Buy. 85-89 pts.

"Toffeed nuts, peat, spice, and creamy vanilla aromas. a round supple entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body of honeyed toast, golden raisins, anise and other brown spices. Finishes with a sweet caramel and nut toast fade with a streak of iodine and peat."

"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." 90-95 pts.

"Brilliant golden amber color. Roasted nut, caramel, dried heather, and delicate sherried oak aromas follow through to a very round, smooth and dry medium body of dry caramel, delicate peat, and nut shell flavors. Finishes with nicely warming toffee and mellow white pepper fade with a touch of river stones. A very solid and mild blended Scotch."

"A seductive brininess and waves of oily peat-reek greet the olfactory sense. The palate entry finds a surprisingly buttery-creamy leaning along with the peat-reek; at midpalate the flavor becomes concentrated, oily, malty sweet, and only moderately peaty. Ends on a sweet malty note. Builds from stage to stage, each phase being better than the last. Best Buy." 90-95 pts.

"Medium amber color. Floral aromas of toffee, peppery spice, and lightly smoky peat. A round entry leads to a dryish full-bodied palate with heather, iodine, toffee, and spice flavors. Finishes with a long peat and toffee fade. Excellent complexity and depth of flavor. Superb!"

"Nose: Intense and spirity to begin. Delicious sweet sherry burst follows, plateaus with undertones of apple, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup with just a hint of smoky heather throughout. Taste: Sweet and sugary start with an oaky edge. Develops in the mouth with a bite of citrus and dark chocolate. Long lingering dry aftertaste with warming alcohol finish which keeps the mouth alive for several seconds afterwards."

"Deep golden amber color. Honeyed nuts, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and peat aromas are intriguing. A supple entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body exotic dried fruit, melted chocolate, caramel, candied ginger, and pink peppercorns. Finishes with a spicy sweet fade with roasted grain and wet slate accents. A gutsy and peppery single malt to experiment with in cocktails."