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    Reviews by: ColoradoDram

    Cragganmore 1991 Distillers Edition

    Cragganmore 1991 Distillers Edition Dec 13th 2011

    83
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Light orange-tinged gold.
    Nose
    Sweet malt, rose, honey bourbon.
    Body
    Medium-light body, medium oily.
    Palate
    Floral sugar, malty brew after a bit of swishing.
    Finish
    Light, unassuming, short, no drastic change or revelation.

    It’s interesting – I like nosing this one more than the standard Cragganmore 12, and it definitely adds a more winey-floral sweet flavor, making it a good dessert choice. However, for overall breadth of malt flavor, I prefer the standard 12.

    Glenfarclas 25 Years Old

    Glenfarclas 25 Years Old Dec 13th 2011

    86
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Slightly burnt-orange lamp oil.
    Nose
    Pound cake, light vanilla, honeysuckle, toasted graham crackers.
    Body
    Medium bodied, not overly oily or luxurious. Cool to the tongue.
    Palate
    Roasted cereals dance around candied cake. Glenfarclas always seems to center the malt no matter what age or expression.
    Finish
    Confirms the nose and palate very well, obviously smooth and very long. Nothing earth-shaking, just very smooth and easy. Good balance of sweet sherry and oak polish off the death.

    This is a very fine scotch, though not worth the heftier price tag. I’d just as soon pick the Glenfarclas 17 and forgo the uber-smooth palate and finish and save some $. This just doesn’t introduce anything new to the table. This is something I envision hoity-toity members enjoying after a pricey dinner at an exclusive club - not for me.

    Jack Daniel's Single Barrel

    Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Aug 9th 2010

    86
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Amber.
    Nose
    Charred oak, sage, honey, wet leather, rye, a wee bit of attack.
    Body
    Medium weight and oily. Soft at the outset, but starts to grind and pry as you swish it around.
    Palate
    Sweet dark sugar to start, then subtle grains of what appear to be rye and corn.
    Finish
    The sugary sweet gives way to a dry rye that muscles in and wipes away any notion that this is anything but a bourbon - never mind the purist definitions! Very long lasting and warm.

    This one oscillates me between JB Black Label with it's excellent rye delivery and Buffalo Trace with its marvelous balance. And so it is that my score teeters between the two. This is a very good whiskey, if even a bit sharp on the nose (and a forgiveable sin at that, given the higher ABV of 47% my barrel #9-1991 bottled on 6-16-2009 provided). Don't dare mix this with anything but a bit of water to open things up.

    Ballantine's Finest

    Ballantine's Finest Feb 9th 2010

    78
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Gold.
    Nose
    Sour apples, grassy lowlands.
    Body
    Medium bodied, balancing oil and astringency.
    Palate
    Swish this around for awhile...you get a good balance of flowers (lavendar and violet), leather, wet hay, some butter/toffee.
    Finish
    Finally, some malt hits...youthful but lasting quite long for what I gather to be some younger spirits in there, a bit sharp on the edges.

    This is a really nice offering at an unbelievable price. I got a 750mL for under $15 USD, expecting nothing but a mixer. I was wrong. This isn't quite up to JW Black, but it blows away JW Red. I'd put it against most spirits served neat at twice the price. Poor on the nose, mediocre on the finish, but a great swisher!

    Highland Park 12 Years Old

    Highland Park 12 Years Old Jan 14th 2010

    88
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Gold/Light amber.
    Nose
    Toffee, butterscotch, heather, gentle smoke.
    Body
    Medium bodied, medium gritty, medium oily, consistent.
    Palate
    Honey, toffee, smoke - confirms the nose.
    Finish
    Short, fresh, satisfying, sufficiently dry. Conistency appreciated.

    There are three scotches I consider apropos for aperitif or dessert: Glenlivet 18, Glenmorangie Nectar D'or, and this one. It's a can't miss, and a great value...

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask Jan 10th 2010

    90
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Gold/Light Amber.
    Nose
    Familiar cooked fruit, smoke is more subtle than other Laphroaigs, leaning more toward ashy charcoal.
    Body
    Medium-full bodied, medium oily on the tongue.
    Palate
    Saliva-inducing fruit and smoke, though a bit weighted towards the smoke, high ABV prickle and outright numbing if you roll it around too long.
    Finish
    Youthful attack, quite long for what seems to be 8 to 9 years smooth, old bitter oak comes through later with a dry afterbreath.

    A Laphroaig with attitude to satisfy Murray's cast of everything-Ardbeg. What was always a live campfire promised by Laphroaig has moved to an ashy afterburn. Excellent indeed, but the balance promised by the nose fails to overcome the smoky dominance, leaving this just short of classic.

    Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon

    Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon Dec 29th 2009

    79
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Deep copper/amber.
    Nose
    Sterile band-aids, then ginger-laced honey and oak bourbon. Distance your nose from the lip of the glass due to the high ABV (107 proof).
    Body
    Gritty, tongue-gripping/wrestling, medium bodied.
    Palate
    Prickly oak, honey, pencil shavings.
    Finish
    Hot, lasting, and quite smooth. Confirms the palate on all fronts. My only complaint is a slightly too-bitter wood taste surfaces after the cedar pencil shavings.

    I bought my Van Winkle Handmade in 2009, and it says (and tastes every bit) 107 proof. I could not find any of the typically 45% bourbon aforementioned, and I'm glad. This is bourbon's answer to some of Scotland's 10 year cask-strengths, and it's pretty well done. Not the most complex, but pleasing enough on the tongue.

    Glen Garioch 15 Year Old

    Glen Garioch 15 Year Old Dec 29th 2009

    74
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Brown amber.
    Nose
    Youthful, fresh-cut grass, a little sour apple.
    Body
    Light-medium, astringent.
    Palate
    Brown-sugar, some bitter flowers.
    Finish
    A wee bit attack for a 15, and a dash of water doesn't ease things - in fact, it turns it more astringent, though it is long and warming. This is where the lavendar and oak sap take sail, and they sail on and on...

    This is a scotch of some misdirection - nose of grass and sour apples, palate of sugar and bitter flowers, and a finish of distinct oak and lavendar. Worth a taste, but much better Highland values abound.

    Benriach Curiositas Peated 10 Years Old

    Benriach Curiositas Peated 10 Years Old Dec 23rd 2009

    82
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Very light straw.
    Nose
    Light honey floral grassiness (the wet, molding kind of grass), peaty earth.
    Body
    Light.
    Palate
    Prickle and bitter and peat, oh my! This one makes no pretensions about where it's going.
    Finish
    Hot and long (even watered), especially so for a 10 year. Water improves the experience, adding length and a bit of cinnamon spice. Peat smoke dominates.

    Peat and re-peat with a little bit of overly-masked sweet. I'm not so sure I enjoy a heavily peated Speyside - the smoky earth tends to dominate the floral sweetness promised by the nose. If you like the idea of a Glenlivet and Laphroaig double malt, then this is your dram.

    Talisker 175th Anniversary Edition

    Talisker 175th Anniversary Edition Dec 23rd 2009

    88
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Nut brown gold.
    Nose
    Youthfully grassy, lemony wood polish, lightly-smoked tree sap.
    Body
    Sharp, thin, and gripping on the tongue, though the legs on the glass led me to believe it might be softer and silkier.
    Palate
    Interesting...the familiar prickly pepper with vanilla undertones from the 10, some light fruit from the 18, some oaky tree sap from an elder (25?) and a gate-crashing punk-rocking youthful smoker.
    Finish
    Ditto of the palate...smooth and peppery, warm and long, and a loud pronouncement of smoky intentions.

    Talisker 8, 10, 18, and 25 all at once? This is definitely one of those 'old' and 'new' blendings - confounding at times, nose all over the map. However, I have never met a Talisker I didn't like, and this is no exception. It's just like their description states...a velvet hand in an iron glove...this is drinking scotch, not one for character analysis.

    Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Dec 15th 2009

    88
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Deep amber.
    Nose
    Carmelized honey and sugar - kind of like roasted marshmallow on graham cracker. Bitter limeskin oil on lightly sapped oak wood. Very pleasant to nose.
    Body
    Medium-full bodied, less oily on the tongue than the legs on the glass indicate.
    Palate
    Confirms the nose. Balanced - I can't tell a prevalence of rye, barley, or corn (unlike some Bourbons...including Buffalo Trace's very own 10 year Eagle Rare single barrel).
    Finish
    Confirms the nose and palate but inverted (first comes the bitter limeskin oak sap, then follows the charred honeycomb). Very smooth and forgiving, much like a blended scotch. Medium burn, long-lasting.

    This is an excellent bourbon - great nose, fantastic sipping, nice finish, and a great value. Every cabinet has certain distilled spirits that always seem to find their way onto the shelf. I think I have found my bourbon in Buffalo Trace - it's exceptional.

    Jim Beam Black Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    Jim Beam Black Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Dec 11th 2009

    82
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Amber.
    Nose
    Corn, almost-cooked caramel.
    Body
    Thin on the tongue, gritty on the teeth. Water improves texture.
    Palate
    More corn and charcoal, oak.
    Finish
    A little rough at the outset, followed by a warm corn-syrupy finish lasting pretty long. Be patient and wait for the rye to come through, especially when you smack your tongue against your palate. A dash of water brings out fermented peppery-banana, reduces rough edges, and certainly balances it even more.

    I originally rated this lower than it deserved, not having had enough experience elucidating rye. Having been around the bourbon block a bit more now, I realize in revisiting that it's really well balanced grain (especially the way the rye comes through at finish), fruit, and spices. My vote is still for a dash of water to improve all facets of the experience, but don't dare ice or mix this one or you will miss out on the subtleties.

    Laphroaig 30 Year Old

    Laphroaig 30 Year Old Nov 11th 2009

    95
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Amber.
    Nose
    Inviting - you can dig your nose as deep in the glencairn as you want without attack, aged tree sap, melted/carmelized fruit, breadth of scents as the forest floor during spring runoff.
    Body
    Unbreaking, tight, bifurcative, and indistinguishably close legs. Warm and buttery mouthfeel.
    Palate
    Time not forgotten then bottled up, the familiar smokey fruit of Laphroaig, cracked pistachios and caramel drizzled over graham cracker crust.
    Finish
    Long, deep, warm (not hot), lasting, smooth, peaceful, soothing.

    I am regretting I did not buy more than one bottle of this when it was available...it is now out of production in favor of the Cairdeas 30 year, and it is out of availability. Try it if you are lucky enough to get a chance.

    Glenfarclas 17 Year Old

    Glenfarclas 17 Year Old Nov 11th 2009

    87
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Amber orange.
    Nose
    Gentle citrus and floral malt. Water distinguishes the floral scent as lavender.
    Body
    Medium-light body/thickness, decent oily slickness though - legs confirm.
    Palate
    Delicious flat malt with confirming floral sweetness from the nose.
    Finish
    Quite long and prickly, fresh grassy attack (water balances this), lasting dryness with sweet afterbreath (again, water enhances this as well).

    Water this scotch with 4-8 drops...it benefits at nosing, on palate, and during finish. I love that Glenfarclas centers the malt and accents it with scent and flavors, and not the other way around. This is another great example from this distillery how to do it.

    The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old

    The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old Nov 8th 2009

    81
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Golden orange, amber.
    Nose
    Floral (roses), sherry, dry nuts (if you can smell dry...).
    Body
    Thin, astringent.
    Palate
    Flowers, red wine, minty oak.
    Finish
    Very dry, medium length, oaky afterbreath.

    This is a nice value and consistent floral 12 year, but rather simple. I still prefer the 15 year single barrel, which is only $10 U.S. more - spring for it.

    Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Years Old

    Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 Years Old Sep 29th 2009

    84
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Orangy gold.
    Nose
    Honey, mild citrus, licorice, faint smoke.
    Body
    Very oily and creamy, tingly, full-bodied.
    Palate
    Candy, toffee, caramel, roasted marshmallow smoke.
    Finish
    Some fruity pepper comes through, complementing the candied palate. Super smooth, but rather short for 18 years.

    Nothing wrong with this blend except the price. To get a good intro to blends, buy the JW four-pack of 200mL's, and nurse those for 4 months. Then watch and wait for the Blue to go on sale and pony up. The Gold will be a nice, but fleeting memory.

    Bulleit Burbon Frontier Whiskey

    Bulleit Burbon Frontier Whiskey Sep 22nd 2009

    77
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Amber.
    Nose
    Vanilla, toasted rye bread.
    Body
    Medium bodied with medium grit.
    Palate
    Lamp oil, charred/burned oak, vanilla, wood/shoe polish, roasted corn, acetone.
    Finish
    A nice enough burn in length, heat, and smoothness, but the vanilla shoe polish breath owns much of the afterburn, lending it a sour finish.

    I find myself wanting to eat some chips and roasted corn and jalapeno salsa with this while drinking a cherry coke. I'm kind of a single malt scotch snob, but this is definitely a worthy value for the price.

    Superstition

    Superstition Sep 22nd 2009

    85
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Tobacco amber.
    Nose
    Tobacco, wet hay/grass, toffee.
    Body
    Medium bodied. Water makes more silky/oily and chewy.
    Palate
    Tobacco, minty-camphor. wet leather, ever-so-slight sherried-toffee-grass.
    Finish
    A beautifully dry sip of tobacco oil without the cough. Water adds some peppercorn spice and heat and length without any increase in acidity. More youthful attack when tasted neat. What a great mix of contrasts - how much is young and how much is mature?

    I'm on my second bottle of this confoundingly unique and great 'old' and 'new' expression from an island distillery. I suggest 4 drops of water to the dram from the outset and then nose and taste (and chew?) your way through this one with a good cigar or a nearby lighted chimney.

    The Glenlivet 18 Years Old

    The Glenlivet 18 Years Old Sep 16th 2009

    79
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Amber.
    Nose
    Floral, phenolic honey perfume.
    Body
    Medium bodied, smack in the middle of astringent and oily.
    Palate
    Sweet honey flowers, bitter aged oak.
    Finish
    Nice finish, surprisingly dry - this could serve as aperitif or digestif. Long enough, but a relatively light burn. A few drops of water adds a nice malty wake-up call and lengthens and heats it up, though it does contribute to increased bitter!

    Not terribly complex, but it's hard to find many scotches that serve nicely before and after dinner. This one does.

    Glenmorangie 10 Years Old

    Glenmorangie 10 Years Old Sep 9th 2009

    83
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Very light honey/gold.
    Nose
    Navel orange, phenolic.
    Body
    Medium.
    Palate
    Neat = sharp, attacking orange. Paired with H2O = silkier, spicier (like ginger/cloves), grassy.
    Finish
    Neat is acidy and rough. With water and aeration this becomes an excellent, medium-length citrusy peppery grassy finish.

    First, mix with water - even the Glenmorangie 18 benefits from a couple drops. Next, pair with some spice cake, ginger snaps, carrot cake, orange chocolate or the like, and patiently enjoy this after dinner. It's good Highlands and uniquely Glenmorangie.

    Ardbeg 10 Years Old

    Ardbeg 10 Years Old Sep 9th 2009

    84
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Light gold, chardonay.
    Nose
    Gentle citrus, mesquite grill. Water releases nice floral with stronger citrus.
    Body
    Pretty thick and oily.
    Palate
    Tingly, prickly peat and smoke. Some bitter salty.
    Finish
    Deep, warm burn. Finish is better neat - H2O introduces a more bitter unwarranted attack. Then comes the dry...

    On par with the Laphroaig 10 on many fronts - bitter, warm, oily, smokey. This has a bit more attack with or without water. I suggest neat with a lot of aeration.

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sep 9th 2009

    86
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Honey gold.
    Nose
    Canned pear syrup, a bit of smoke and sea.
    Body
    Very viscous oily bath, full-bodied.
    Palate
    Faint fruit on the front and middle of the tongue, massive smoke and charred mesquite wood everywhere.
    Finish
    Yet more massive peat smoke - as smokey as it gets! Quite smooth for a youthful expression. Dry salty afterbreath.

    No need to light a campfire - just drink this scotch. I appreciate the simple Islay beauty this purveys, but it's one-dimensional beauty.

    Old Pulteney 21 Year Old

    Old Pulteney 21 Year Old Sep 2nd 2009

    78
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Orangey amber.
    Nose
    Fruity, citrus, vanilla, a bit phenolic on the nose - some water centers this.
    Body
    Oily, yet sharp on the tongue for a 21. Water helps.
    Palate
    Buttery oxidizing metal, bitter orange peel, flat malt.
    Finish
    Very long and warming - worthy of the age. Again, 4 drops of water to the dram relaxes it nicely. A malty afterbreath.

    Not worthy of the heftier price for the aging...I so liked the taste and price of the 12 year...stick with that one for best Old Pulteney Highlands value.

    Johnnie Walker Blue Label

    Johnnie Walker Blue Label Sep 2nd 2009

    91
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Thick orange amber.
    Nose
    Candied citrus peel, purple flower bushes (the kind bees like), dripping honey, wet oak wood.
    Body
    Luxurious on the tongue, though indistinct.
    Palate
    Old oak at the fore, a bevy of other flavors swish elsewhere. Mild all over - no attack whatsoever.
    Finish
    Verrrry long and warm, indicating some serious age blended in there. Smoother than a baby's bottom.

    This is really good rich man's candy - smooth, varied, and an excellent mature finish - there may not be a finer blend on planet Earth for mere mortals to imbibe.

    Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Years Old

    Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Years Old Aug 22nd 2009

    80
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Toffee caramel.
    Nose
    Fruity (pears), almondy, peppery.
    Body
    Medium body.
    Palate
    Peppery vanilla (the Talisker), sweet and fruity menthol (the Cragganmore), flowery violet (the Linkwood), smokey (the Caol Ila).
    Finish
    Consistent with 15 years, smooth.

    This is a very good blend, but with little surprise - smooth, silky, and tasty, but not as good a value as the 12 year Black Label.

    Johnnie Walker Red Label

    Johnnie Walker Red Label Aug 22nd 2009

    59
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Light amber.
    Nose
    Nondescript distilled youthful alcohol.
    Body
    A bit oily, but disappears quickly when mixed with saliva.
    Palate
    Some floral and sweet background.
    Finish
    None, then bitter aftertaste.

    Somewhere there is Coke begging for the honor to be mixed with this blended scotch and ice. If you want an everyday 'drinking man's' blend, then shoot for Pig's Nose.

    Chivas Regal 18 Year Old

    Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Aug 22nd 2009

    78
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Orange/amber gold.
    Nose
    Sour apples, wet soil, heather, slight butter.
    Body
    Astringent and gritty.
    Palate
    A decent blend with seeming emphasis in the Highland and Lowland area, grassy and dry, a bit of that uber-distilled copper taste.
    Finish
    Smooth and warm, honoring its age, though not much memorable/special beyond a little toffee kick at the very tail end.

    This is a good value if you want to get a taste of elder scotch characteristics (mostly the smooth finish). More gritty and less refined than JW Gold, but a good taste. This is one you can let your guests put an ice cube in, if necessary.

    Red Breast 12 Year Old

    Red Breast 12 Year Old Aug 22nd 2009

    89
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Full gold with orange.
    Nose
    Wet red clay, cooked vanilla pudding, orange/tangerine peel.
    Body
    Oily, medium bodied.
    Palate
    Bread pudding with cinnamon and milk.
    Finish
    Medium warm, so smooth and mellow for a 12 year, dry at the tail end, lasts quite long.

    Dessert in a bottle! Wow...I'm serving this after a Christmas dinner of spiced ham with cloves to celebrate Irish catholics the world over. I've had three different Bushmills expressions, and I'd choose this one in a second over any of them. A better dessert whiskey than most Scottish 12 years...

    Talisker 25 Year Old

    Talisker 25 Year Old Aug 5th 2009

    91
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    A slightly orangey Talisker 10.
    Nose
    Elder oak wood sweetened with rock sugar, cooked vanilla pudding (versus the instant kind), nothing menacing.
    Body
    Surprisingly thin, if silky, over the tongue.
    Palate
    Tree sap to the max (this is my first scotch over 21 years), indistinguishable sweet fruit, some floral.
    Finish
    Long, long, long. Smooth and very warm. One sip can last 15 minutes...so be sure to plan an hour for a pour. Best to have a fire lit nearby to complement this finish.

    A bottle of this should last 3 years, pouring only on special ocassions with the significant other. It's not as peppery and wild as the 10 year, but more inviting and complex than the 18 year. If you are going to cross the 21 year rubicon, this is a safe dollar (pound) value.

    Ardbeg Uigeadail

    Ardbeg Uigeadail Aug 5th 2009

    92
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Gold.
    Nose
    Buttered popcorn, charred flowers, some mild cooked fruit.
    Body
    Very oily and silky. Rolls nicely on the tongue.
    Palate
    Roasted marshmallows over mesquite wood, numbing (as one would expect at this abv), quite smokey, like thistle, pine cones, and grass in a chimney.
    Finish
    Amazingly smooth at this abv - indicates some aging behind this. Long and warm - don't reduce with water! Just have a glass on the side to pair with.

    This is an excellent buttery, lamp-oily, smokey, Islay time anytime your tongue has been built up to the task. The best I've tasted from Ardbeg to date.

    Glengoyne 17 Years Old

    Glengoyne 17 Years Old Jun 9th 2009

    86
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Golden orange amber.
    Nose
    A nice sweet fruity citrus peel.
    Body
    Medium-full bodied.
    Palate
    Slightly bitter orange/tangerine peel, dark chocolate.
    Finish
    A very long ride to the end - a dram of this can last an hour. Peppery minty hot spice adds to the citrus. Slight attack for a 17, but not unpleasant.

    This is an advanced Highlands dessert whisky - enjoy with dark and/or bitter chocolate or mint. Don't add water as it only introduces a bad acid attack. Surprisingly different each time, but always with good character.

    Springbank 10 Year Old

    Springbank 10 Year Old May 26th 2009

    84
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Pale gold.
    Nose
    Complex...wet earth/moss, sweet fruity flowers, light sea salt and a touch of that camphor/band-aid phenol.
    Body
    Light, thin.
    Palate
    Confirms the nose, complex.
    Finish
    Perhaps one of the 'freshest' finishes. Short, medium warm, but a nice malty gingery pepper caboose adds more to the already complex taste.

    A little something for everyone - sweet fruity earthy peat with salty mist, gingery oak wood, and a nice lightly peppery finish.

    Glenkinchie 10 Years Old

    Glenkinchie 10 Years Old May 26th 2009

    78
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Pale gold.
    Nose
    Fermenting grass clippings in the sun, light honeysuckle flowers.
    Body
    Thin, light, consistent from front to back of the tongue. Gets more oily with water.
    Palate
    Wheaty barley like a reduced wheat beer, residual copper metal, slight licorice.
    Finish
    Pretty warm but short and rather unremarkable. Little complexity of taste revealed.

    Agreed this should always be served as an aperitif. It's best with some sort of salty/spicy cheese (pepper jack) on a whole wheat cracker. It's worth tasting this Lowland, though a bit simple for a lover of complex scents/flavors.

    Bowmore Dawn

    Bowmore Dawn Apr 7th 2009

    81
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Red amber.
    Nose
    Unfortunately, some sulphur masks the winey, smokey sardines/kippers, and leathery nutmeg spice. Water introduces violet/lavender.
    Body
    Full and oily (legs confirm). I am tempted to light a bit on fire since it sits like lamp oil on the tongue.
    Palate
    Confirms the nose and adds that famous Bowmore salty iodine that I love (but some don't).
    Finish
    Very long and hot, but smooth and forgiving (even at 51.5% ABV). Dry and a little bitter.

    This used to be my favorite of the Bowmore wine cask finishes, but I'm not so sure now - I've really had to downgrade it on periodic revisitation. I can detect a bit of sulphur, which masks all the other things I love that the regular Bowmore 12 delivers.

    Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish

    Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish Apr 7th 2009

    81
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium amber.
    Nose
    Grassy citrus, sweet oaky red grapes. Capers. A bit of sulphur (it took me a couple years to finally be able to detect this scent).
    Body
    Medium-light.
    Palate
    Very winey, whistle-wetting (this really draws out the saliva on the back of the tongue!). Not complex.
    Finish
    Short and cool malt on the tongue, but a very long and rather hot dry wine down the throat persists. Really a nice finish - you can milk this one for quite awhile..

    This is the jumping-on point I would recommend for a nice dry wine finish. Not complex but a really good finishing scotch. The sulphur on the nose can be combatted with a dash of water.

    Glenmorangie 15 Years Old Sauternes Wood Finish

    Glenmorangie 15 Years Old Sauternes Wood Finish Apr 7th 2009

    91
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium amber.
    Nose
    Sweet and warm vanilla, ripe citrus peel, honeysuckle bubble bath, mashed yellow grapes, buttery bourbon. Truly astounding and varying depending on the depth of your nose in the glass.
    Body
    Medium bodied, thin on the tongue, though oily.
    Palate
    Confirms the nose with predominantly sweet vanilla malt. Hot and numbing on the tongue if not reduced.
    Finish
    Medium heat. Nice and smooth for its age. Peppery kick persists, giving it a nice long finish, more so with a couple drops of water. A nice dry grape (Pinot Gris?) afterbreath.

    Quite a deviation from the other three Glenmorangies I've tried, this is much more of a dry white wine finish versus the more typical citrus Highland expressions. This is one of the few scotches that works really well as an aperitif or a dessert. Excellent, and worthy of the heftier price.

    Aberlour a'bunadh

    Aberlour A'bunadh Mar 31st 2009

    88
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Dark dark amber.
    Nose
    Sherry, sherry, lamp oil/citronella candle, spicy ginger.
    Body
    Super-oily, ethereal, immediate numbing if not reduced.
    Palate
    Burned/toasted raisins, hot Thai ginger dish, sherry throughout.
    Finish
    Burning hot, but amazingly smooth. Obviously long at 59.6 ABV. Even reduced down to 48% this dram lasts an hour.

    Batch 16 (sorry I hadn't seen the separate Batch 16 listing before reviewing here). I suggest a neat nosing. Then reduce this one to 48-50% ABV (if your tongue is not up to the task) to enjoy a nutty grape time that doesn't sacrifice all malt. Not as complex as Glenfarclas 105, but a nudge above overall, IMHO.

    Cragganmore 12 Years Old

    Cragganmore 12 Years Old Mar 31st 2009

    84
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Yellow gold.
    Nose
    Sweet flowers and fruit, Scapa 14-like. Honey.
    Body
    Thin, light, silky smooth.
    Palate
    Very sweet fruit salad in whipped cream with a vase of flowers nearby, a pleasant honey and malty ale with a hint of licorice too.
    Finish
    Relatively cool and medium short, but a nice intro of prickly pepper after the fruit and flower salad gives this a nice flavor-faceted finish.

    It may be best to try this one, and then judge it a year later to appreciate the complexity of the taste and finish. Reminds me of JW Gold blend - a thin, very silky, sweet, floral good Speyside time.

    The Macallan 12 Years Old

    The Macallan 12 Years Old Mar 23rd 2009

    89
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Deep dark copper.
    Nose
    Rich, dry, sherry wine.
    Body
    Medium-light bodied - not overly gripping on the tongue, if even the legs betray this.
    Palate
    Candied roses dipped in thick wine, then baked with a topping of white pepper flakes and served on dark rock sugar.
    Finish
    Short and lacks a lot of depth, but the peppery dry warmth (especially with a dash of water) invites sip after delicious sip.

    Definitely a dessert scotch, this is a can't-miss introduction to all your friends who drink wine. Dry, sweet, and inviting, try this one with some dark and/or orange chocolate to discover a world of Speyside sherry bliss.

    Longmorn 15 Year Old

    Longmorn 15 Year Old Mar 23rd 2009

    87
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Light orange amber.
    Nose
    Floral (violet), fruit (apple cider), better so with water. Not complex.
    Body
    Medium-light, but a good oily grab. Beautifully tight legs on the glass.
    Palate
    Sweet fruit and flowers, grassy peppery barley.
    Finish
    Tingly hot, and quite a long finish (not surprising at 45% ABV). The peppery crescendo bids adieu with a gorgeous cinnamon-ginger kick. The best finish of 30+ Speysides I've tasted.

    Drop in 4 drops of water to the dram, and patiently nose and taste your way through this excellently variant scotch. It's like a more mature Balvenie Doublewood with a cinnamon pepper kick.

    Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15 Years Old

    Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15 Years Old Mar 23rd 2009

    76
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Golden amber.
    Nose
    Shoe polish/nail polish remover, cooked raisins, a fine mature bourbon.
    Body
    Thin, astringent, though silky.
    Palate
    A fresh sweet, fruity, grassy, sherry attack at the outset. A bitter barley backswish.
    Finish
    Short for a 15, though nicely warming and smooth. A (too) bitter end combines with an overripe banana afterbreath.

    A nice sweet, fruity-bitter Speyside representation, and a good value scotch, but spring for the 18 Ancient Reserve. It's more flexible, complex, distinctive, tasty, and has a much better finish.

    Highland Park 15 Years Old

    Highland Park 15 Years Old Mar 18th 2009

    85
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Golden amber.
    Nose
    The familiar HP new leather boots, honey, toffee, with gentle smoke.
    Body
    Medium body and oil on the tongue, though I was expecting more body since it had such thick legs on the glass.
    Palate
    Delicious sweet carmelized honey that has been slow smoked. A little dry grass.
    Finish
    So smooth it almost gets lost. It loses the fresh charm of the 12 and doesn't quite capture the depth of the 18.

    This is very 'safe' excellence with balanced flavor and maturity, but it's pricey for the results, and definitely doesn't introduce anything new from HP. For my $, I'm going to stick with the 12 for normal course and spring for the 18 for special events (which is only $10 US more when on sale).

    The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old

    The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old Mar 18th 2009

    87
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Old gold/tarnished brass.
    Nose
    Pears, vanilla, oaky bourbon.
    Body
    Medium bodied, nothing notable.
    Palate
    A delicious tingly, vanilla-pepper oak with light fruit and honey. Confirms the nose.
    Finish
    Very warm with peppery aggressiveness but not acidy. Kind of shallow down the pipes but it does last medium long.

    My favorite of the Balvenie front four, this is the one I offer guests who think they are essentially Islay-only types. One sip quickly persuades them to rethink with this delicious dessert Speyside with some peppery grit. A Speyside for Talisker 10 lovers.

    Talisker 18 Year Old

    Talisker 18 Year Old Mar 13th 2009

    90
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium gold amber.
    Nose
    Fruity vanilla, sweetly floral.
    Body
    Thick, oily, buttery, almost insulating on the tounge.
    Palate
    Sweet fruit and flowers, peppery (but less than the 10 year), faintly metallic. The vanilla from the nosing is lost on the palate. The smoke is distant.
    Finish
    Very tingly, medium hot, very long. Definite mellowing of time.

    Talisker served with velvet gloves. Though this is excellent and provides a longer, more complex finish, I think I prefer the 10 year on all other counts.

    Lagavulin 1990 Distiller's Edition

    Lagavulin 1990 Distiller's Edition Mar 13th 2009

    89
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Reddish copper amber.
    Nose
    Sweet wine slightly overpowers the distant sea mist and medicine I love in the regular 16 year.
    Body
    Oily with a thick grip - full bodied to say the least. This is a complete dessert on the tongue.
    Palate
    Sweet slightly overshadows the salty/smokey/mediciney/barley taste, but those make their way through the crowd eventually.
    Finish
    Medium hot, very long, very dry, very smooth. The time for the standards of Lagavulin to step forth.

    Drink neat and be very patient between sips, as the finish is when the sweet steps aside to make way for the Lagavulin that stands in a class of its own for those that love mediciney smokey peat. This is still a great expression, but I think I'd choose a different scotch altogether for a total dessert experience.

    Caol Ila 12 Year Old

    Caol Ila 12 Year Old Mar 13th 2009

    85
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Light chardonnay.
    Nose
    Light smoke, honey, wet refined sugar, slightly floral.
    Body
    Light bodied, crisp and tight. Definitely a deviation from some the oily/creamy Islays.
    Palate
    Bitter smoke, peppery sweet. An exercise in contrasts. Evens out with a touch of water and also gains some complexity.
    Finish
    Medium length, medium hot. Flavor-wise a nice spicy peppery tingle permeates the mouth and a dry licorice/anise breath follows. The finish is this scotch's place to shine.

    If you like smokey Islays like I do, this a good reminder why. A few drops of water and some patience provide a more balanced (and complex) taste and more peppery finish while not squelching the nice licorice afterbreath.

    Talisker Distiller's Edition

    Talisker Distiller's Edition Mar 10th 2009

    94
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Dark amber gold.
    Nose
    Sweet sherry with crushed nuts (almonds?) followed by subtle flowers (honeysuckle) with vanilla and sweet honey. Aerate and nose this one at different depths and moments in time to achieve full complexity.
    Body
    Medium-full bodied, more silky than the 10 year (which is no slouch).
    Palate
    Very sweet caramelized sugar at the outset (almost too sweet that it dominates the nutty wood promised by the nosing), then it delivers the tingly pepper malt kick typical of Talisker. Be patient on this dram.
    Finish
    Though stated as three years the elder of the 10 year, this one has a nice youthful spirited (though not acidy) attack and fresher, saltier, drier, more balanced, less smoky finish.

    This one manages to merge the best of youthful Islay (salty, fresh, peat smoke), Speyside sherries (dessert-like, oily, nutty, dry finish), and Orkney (balanced floral expression), while maintaining its unique peppery character. An absolute marvel and worthy of the significantly heftier price. Drink neat, infrequently so as to discover its complexity each time, and aerate and nose a single dram over a long period for maximum effect.

    Talisker 10 Year Old

    Talisker 10 Year Old Mar 10th 2009

    91
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Shiny golden amber.
    Nose
    Vanilla, honey, fermenting apple. Not the plume of volcanic peat I would expect given what I know is coming.
    Body
    Thin oil - this is possibly where it most shows its youth.
    Palate
    Prickly pepper, especially on the back of the tongue when you roll it around. A fine balance of salty sweet too.
    Finish
    This is where its peat smoke shines - in a wonderfully smooth, very warm, medium-length prickly pepper with sweet afterbreath finish.

    This might just be the best 10 year on the planet - worthy to sit side-by-side with much older scotches. It takes water well if you want to reduce the ABV, and it's priced right. It may not be terribly complex, but it's dangerously tasty (so be careful out there!)

    Bowmore 17 Year Old

    Bowmore 17 Year Old Mar 3rd 2009

    86
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Orangy amber.
    Nose
    Lavender/violet flowers above all else, a little salty wet wood.
    Body
    Medium bodied.
    Palate
    Violet flowers everywhere. I can't taste the iodine/seaweed typical of Bowmore.
    Finish
    A very smooth, dry, salty, lightly-iodined and seaweed of medium length and heat finally emerges from the flowers. My favorite Bowmore finish of five tasted to date.

    I swear this is the closest you can get to being a bee sucking nectar from a lavender bloom. When I'm in the mood, there is no better scotch to deliver the floral goods. It's very different from the wine cask finishes (Dusk, Dawn, Darkest), and lacks the freshness of the 12, but it is uniquely delicious and smooth.

    Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Old

    Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Old Mar 1st 2009

    84
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium-light amber.
    Nose
    Oxidizing metal (like a handful of old coins), nondescript flowers, fruit, and smoke.
    Body
    Very oily and creamy grab on the tongue. Medium-full bodied.
    Palate
    Tasty balance of fruit, flowers, pepper, and light smoke. The malt is almost lost here.
    Finish
    Peppery, medium length, medium warmth. Balances smooth and dry well.

    This is a really good and consistent blend. If you just don't know what you're in the mood for (and you're not seeking to discern any complexities in a single-malt 'tasting'), then happily pour the mix of 40 that the malt masters at JW picked to bring the kitchen sink of fruit, flowers, smoke, nuts, oak, dry, creamy, smooth-finishing scotch called Black Label. I've tasted some my parents opened 20 years ago and it's as consistent as a 2008 bottle at my house.

    Auchentoshan Select

    Auchentoshan Select Mar 1st 2009

    74
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Pale gold.
    Nose
    Fresh metal shavings, heather, over-ripe bananas, nail polish remover.
    Body
    The legs indicated thin viscosity, but a surprisingly creamy mouthfeel emerges from a light body.
    Palate
    Definitely a metallic taste (maybe the triple distillation?), but a fine-enough flowery and fruity malt adjoins. Surprised not to taste much grass typical of lowlands.
    Finish
    Peppery, dry, medium hot but very shallow. Pretty smooth for what I'm guessing is ~8 years old.

    Worth a taste, and a good value scotch, but a little 'too' distilled flavor for my palate. Maybe the more mature Three Wood would balance better.

    Springbank 100 Proof

    Springbank 100 Proof Feb 26th 2009

    86
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Very light caramel.
    Nose
    Buttery shoe polish, yellow raisins, aging flowers in water, wet leather. Very nice!
    Body
    Thin and light.
    Palate
    A sweet honey and flower bouquet, opens the salivary glands with a peppery honey combination. Peaty, but without so much campfire smoke.
    Finish
    Very warm (though not burning hot), very long, peppery, inviting. Amazingly little youth attack for a 10 year that is essentially cask strength.

    This is a notch above the regular 10 year, even if a little less grassy and fresh. An excellent reason to dive into Campbeltown.

    The Macallan Cask Strength

    The Macallan Cask Strength Feb 26th 2009

    78
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Dark amber, burnt copper.
    Nose
    Sherry galore, lamp oil, bites back! so don't nose too deep in your Glencairn.
    Body
    Full bodied, very oily mouthfeel.
    Palate
    Bitter wood, sherry, currants.
    Finish
    Hotter than hot (even reduced a plenty), medium-short length - indicating youthful age.

    This is my least favorite of the three cask strength Speyside sherry monsters. A good dessert dram for sure, but a bit linear and simple compared to the Glenfarclas 105 and Aberlour A'bunadh.

    Lagavulin 16 Year Old

    Lagavulin 16 Year Old Feb 22nd 2009

    93
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium-dark amber, some orange.
    Nose
    Balanced fruit and floral spray, ocean mist, a milder vanilla-Listerine, a slightly burnt cinammon bagel in the toaster.
    Body
    A gorgeous silky bath of oil, full bodied.
    Palate
    Iodine, sweet cough syrup, peat smoke, peppery wam kick, buttery toffee later in the dram.
    Finish
    Very smooth - no attack if you drink this neat. Medium warm but pretty long, a nice peppery end and salty dry aftertaste.

    This is a complex flavor-rich Islay if ever there was one. The medicine and peat smoke build and build, but enough sweet and salt persist to keep balance. I love it.

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Feb 22nd 2009

    89
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Amber, slightly darker than Laphroaig 15.
    Nose
    Fruity, smoky.
    Body
    Full-bodied, thick with quite a grip on the tongue.
    Palate
    Buttery, oily, peaty, smoky, hot and tingly, with just enough fruit.
    Finish
    Long, very hot and dry, but amazingly not harsh or acidy.

    Amazingly no need to cut with water (even at 55.7 abv!), this is another great Laphroaig, maybe the best value of them all. If you prefer the smoky Islay taste over a more balanced sweet one, choose this.

    Laphroaig 15 Year Old

    Laphroaig 15 Year Old Feb 22nd 2009

    92
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Amber.
    Nose
    Dry and fruity - like very ripe pears dried in the sun a bit. Water releases floral highlights.
    Body
    Medium-full, with a luxurious oil on the tongue.
    Palate
    A peaty fine time! Fruit and salty seaweed provide excellent sweet-salty balance.
    Finish
    Smooth and mellow, medium long and medium warm. A distant campfire's smoky invitation to another sip...

    This is probably the best dram you could enjoy with a grilled steak. Less smoky than the 10 year, but the mellow of time provides better fruity assets to complement the smoky peat. A great scotch!

    Glenkinchie Distillers Edition

    Glenkinchie Distillers Edition Feb 14th 2009

    87
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Orangy amber.
    Nose
    Wet hay/grass, a fermenting sour apple...but kind of sweet.
    Body
    Very oily and syrupy, meaty for a Lowland.
    Palate
    Confirms the nose, hay with floral fruit.
    Finish
    Medium heat, rather long, very smooth and excellently dry, A classic and memorable one.

    If the standard Glenkinchie is an aperitif, this is the after dinner dessert (no need to pair with any food - this dram provides enough chewy mouthfeel on its own). A unique and great Lowland expression!

    The Balvenie Portwood 21 Year Old

    The Balvenie Portwood 21 Year Old Feb 14th 2009

    83
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium amber.
    Nose
    Flowery over all else. Water opens up vanilla , nuttiness, and winey oak.
    Body
    Full bodied, very oily.
    Palate
    Sweet raisins, heather, dry wine.
    Finish
    Very warm, very long, and extremely dry.

    Best served neat (like most Balvenies). This is mature, refined, and consistent, but I'll take the inconsistencies of the 15 year Single Barrel on depth of character alone. Thank goodness I bought this in taster size, because there are much better values out there for dry wine finishes.

    Glenfiddich Ancient Reserve 18 Years Old

    Glenfiddich Ancient Reserve 18 Years Old Feb 14th 2009

    85
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium caramel orange.
    Nose
    Sweet barley, cooked yellow raisins and cloves, a little of that hospital smell, sour green apple skins, and very slight vanilla.
    Body
    Medium body for its age, though honors its maturity enough on the tongue, gets more oily with water.
    Palate
    Heavy camphor/band-aid latex up front, sour apples and sweet flowers (strange combo), spicy cinnamon/ginger.
    Finish
    Long finish, medium warm, fresh ginger and aged pepper, smoothing of time shows. Much favored over the 15 Solera.

    This is an excellent value for a mature and reasonably complex Speyside, especially if you like the phenolic/camphor nose and taste as I do. I was almost expecting disappointment given what "purists" had told me about Glenfiddich. I'm glad I didn't listen to them...

    Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength

    Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Feb 13th 2009

    85
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Burnt copper, as dark as it gets.
    Nose
    Fermented grapes, nutmeg, cardamom, orange peel. The best nose of the three Speyside sherry cask strengths I've tried - this one's not just in-your-face sherry at nosing.
    Body
    Full bodied, oily.
    Palate
    Sherry at the front, sherry in the middle, a very dry cereal malt at the tail end.
    Finish
    Very hot, very long, and very deep (all the way down). An excellent balanced finish when diluted to 44-48% ABV.

    Nose this one neat to appreciate the complexity before cutting with water. Then dilute at tasting to reveal the nice layers of sherry followed by the gently-bitter cereal that Glenfarclas imparts to remind us this stuff is made from barley.

    Dalwhinnie 15 Years Old

    Dalwhinnie 15 Years Old Feb 13th 2009

    77
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Gold, like a flat pilsener beer
    Nose
    Sweet fruit, grassy soil, more so with a few drops of water (also aerate this one a fair bit to reduce the phenolic attack on the nose).
    Body
    Light bodied, thin feel on the tongue even though the legs on the glass were pretty viscous. Again, a few drops of water improves the buttery feel on the tongue.
    Palate
    Confirms the nose, fruity malt, a grassy salad with fresh ground white pepper at the tail end.
    Finish
    Medium warm but quite long. A little more attack than other 15's I've tried.

    This is a nice representation of the Highlands - fruity malt and grassy, with a light pepper finish. I suggest water drops and patience aerating this one for best results. On final tastings of this malt, I dropped it a couple points due to some unwarranted/undesired phenolic attack.

    Oban 14 Year Old

    Oban 14 Year Old Jan 28th 2009

    82
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Orangy amber
    Nose
    Citrus, grassy, wet soil, subtle flowers
    Body
    Balanced on the tongue and in the glass (legs were amazingly uniform)
    Palate
    Sweet carnations, fruit and grass mash, a hearty kick of barley
    Finish
    Medium warm, rather long, and nothing displeasing. Adding water imparts some gentle pepper authority with no added acidity.

    A good Highland for certain, but a bit pricey for the results. It is better with a dash of water if you wish to up the silky/fruity factor and increase the finish length. On final review while polishing this bottle off after some years, I'm dropping the score from an original review of 85 with some more experience under my belt.

    Scapa 14 Year Old

    Scapa 14 Year Old Jan 28th 2009

    77
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium-dark gold
    Nose
    Honey heather, sugar cane (like a fine aged rum), fruity pears
    Body
    Thin viscosity, though a deceivingly cool and creamy feeling on the tongue
    Palate
    Bitter rubber tires, sweet Orkney heather, followed by a lingering cereal sugar cane
    Finish
    Short, but medium warmth, with just a bit more petrol afterbreath than my liking

    I give them props for this expression. It delivers the good character one expects from Orkney - but it just lacks a little refinement. I agree with other reviewers that this is best enjoyed neat.

    Bowmore Dusk

    Bowmore Dusk Jan 27th 2009

    85
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Dark copper/amber
    Nose
    Dry grapes, salty kippers, iodine, amazingly little bite for 50% ABV
    Body
    Medium-full bodied, very oily mouthfeel
    Palate
    Very dry wine, salty iodine typical of other Bowmores, seawater
    Finish
    Whoa long! Whoa hot! Whoa dry at the tail end! One sip lasts for minutes, but all sips remain smooth to the last drop in the dram. Finishes like a 14-17 year, accepting dilution without increase of acidity if you desire.

    This is an excellent Islay if you welcome a dry, winey, dram as an aperitif to a seafood dinner. Update: On polishing this bottle off, I dropped it from an 87 to an 85 based only on the relative experience as measured against other reviewed scotches.

    Highland Park 18 Years Old

    Highland Park 18 Years Old Jan 27th 2009

    93
    Reviewer
    ColoradoDram
    Color
    Medium dark amber
    Nose
    Complex, honey, tar, heather, a gentle metallic smoke
    Body
    Oily, full-bodied, quite cool on the tongue
    Palate
    Gently smoked honeycomb, subtle Cuban tobacco, flowers and leather bring up the rear, incredibly complex - like an elder blend. Adding 2 drops of water introduces toffee, licorice, and gentle pepper.
    Finish
    Unbelievably smooth, medium warm, upper-medium length - add a couple drops of water if you desire to increase warmth and length without introducing any acidity (though you do sacrifice some creamy/oily mouthfeel).

    The most balanced and flavor-rich single malt I've had (of over 70 tasted to date). I cannot find a flaw in this scotch.