"Opening nose hints of pine tar, dark caramel and maple syrup with subtle notes of brown sugar and honey. Palate entry has a silk texture; at midpalate there’s a minor explosion of dried fruit and chocolate cherry flavor. Concludes quiet and mild. Best Buy." 85-89 pts.

"The bouquet offers potent spirity notes atop more subtle marshmallow and toffee scents. The palate entry is robust, nutty, semisweet and honeyed; by the midpalate stage the taste profile is nougaty, mildly cocoa-like, Sherried and marzipan-like. Concludes with flavors of dried red fruits, Sherry and dark caramel. A guilty pleasure of a sweetfest." 90-95 pts.

"The bouquet offers rich, pastry scents with deeper fragrances of old oak, figs, dates and prunes. The palate entry is creamy, engagingly nutty, acidic and fresh; the midpalate offers long, expansive tastes of oak resin, paraffin, nougat and walnut paste. Concludes elegantly, sinewy and off-dry. This whisky has it all." 96-100 pts.