5 | Spirits | Single Malt, Scotland, $100 and up

The recreation of the single malt whisky that Ernest Shackleton carried with him on his Nimrod Expedition to Antarctica has finally arrived!

"Nose: Much more assertive sherry character. Body: Full, round. Palate: more complexity and fullness of flavour, with flowering currant and Calvados-like notes. Finish: Slow at first, then oaky, sappy, and powerful."

"Opening aromas are of sea breeze, cigar smoke, oak and malted barley; air contact releases light caramel, fudge, cocoa bean, burnt candle wick and heather. Entry is the most complex of any whisky; midpalate soars on oak, spirit and grain tastes. The greatest distilled spirit of this generation. Buy whatever you can find." Best Buy. 96-100 pts.

"...complex aromas of malted barley and oak..."

"Aromas of honeysuckle, saddle soap, dried cherries, pine cone, oily nuts, sandalwood, and peppery spices follow through on a round, supple entry to a rich medium-full body with sea salt, buttery praline, and tilled earth notes. Finishes with a long, rich honeyed oatmeal, nutmeg, and cola nut fade with a wisp of dried plantain and limestone. Interesting and decadent." Gold Medal.

19 Years Old Glenmorangie, fully matured in virgin American white oak casks with a provenance that stretches all the way to the mountains of Missouri and the Mark Twain National Forest. "On nosing, Glenmorangie Ealanta has a soft toffee and butterscotch aroma, then vanilla and a curious strong hint of stewed fruits with a hallmark Glenmorangie top note of menthol. On the palate, candied orange peel, sugar coated almonds and sweet vanilla are to the fore, wrapped in an unusual nuttiness reminiscent of Brazil nuts in toffee. The finish is very long with virgin oak derived spices such as clove, ginger and a hint of aniseed. Bottled at a strength of 46%, and non chill-filtered for extra texture and mouth feel."

"The luscious Speyside bouquet offers layers of aromas that include smoke, wood, touches of palm oil, browned butter, vanilla bean and pork rind. The palate entry is rich, bittersweet, caramel-like and creamy; at the wonderful midpalate the taste turns sweeter, nuttier and more fudge-like. Finishes elegantly, yet very focused, and integrated. Delicious." 96-100 pts.

The long awaited US release of a European mainstay from the Glenfiddich stable, finished in casks from a famous Caribbean rum producing nation.