371 | Spirits | Scotch | Page 5

"Amber color. Dried sour cherry, oiled suede, honey and delicate spice aromas follow through on a supple entry to a dry medium body with prominent leather, nutskin, and cola nut notes. Finishes with a long, spice and chalk accented fade." Silver Medal.

"The wonderful bouquet includes scents of bacon fat, honey, orange rind with deeper smells of black pepper, cinnamon, vanilla bean and pipe tobacco. Entry is silky smooth, semisweet, concentrated and honeyed; the midpalate offers grainy sweet, yet spicy, tangy, fruity, nutty and floral tastes. The oak element really emerges in the aftertaste, ideally completing this sensational blended Scotch. One of the finest blended Scotches in the world." 96-100 pts.

"Brilliant amber color. Round and delicate aromas of caramelized pecans and hazelnuts, heathery peat and spice cake follow through on a soft, silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with buttercream, floral honey, and sea salt notes. Finishes with a long, evolving fade of spice, nuts, and earth. Excellent." Gold Medal.

"First nosing exposes dry scents of walnuts, grass and dark toffee. Entry is malty and vanilla—extract bittersweet; midpalate is silky, creamy, Sherry sweet, pruny and black raisin-like. Ends on a dark chocolate note that’s chewy, medium-sweet and satisfying." Best Buy. 90-95 pts.

"Rich amber color. Warm caramel on toast aromas with a nice layer of chocolate nuts and leather follow through to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body with rich caramelized nut, chocolate covered cherry, and brown spice accents. Finishes with a sensual, and vivacious fade with an notes of clay-like earth and hay. A well styled sipper."

"The initial aroma is large, biscuity and grainy sweet; the aroma then becomes more sugar biscuit-like and a touch salty. Palate entry finds generous and malty-sweet flavors; by midpalate distinctive notes of black pepper, seaweed, oaky vanilla, honey and dark caramel are added. Finishes elegantly, sweetly and malty, with just a barely discernable influence of the sea. Best Buy." 90-95 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."

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.

"Nose: Pungent, smoke-accented, rounded. Body: Full, slightly syrupy. Palate: Smoky, malty-sweet, with sourness and a very big pepperiness developing. Finish: Very peppery, huge, long."