2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 24

Friday! Day 24 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... and it happens to be my birthday too (: Had a good time tasting all the Whisk(e)y, and will start hunting down new and interesting bottles for next year. I'm finishing out this year with Bruichladdich Octomore 11.1, "Super-Heavily Peated" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Aged 5 Years, 59.4% ABV, 139.6 PPM (a peat measurement). I had heard many good things about Octomore, so when I saw this on the shelf, I went ahead and picked it up. 

On the nose, this is smokey, ash, sweet butterscotch, honey and a touch of citrus. The taste, I get a spicy heat, butterscotch, smoke, and ash - this is quite different than an earthy Ardbeg. The finish is smoke, bbq meat sweetness, spicy pepper heat that lingers, drifts off into ash.

With water, I get a touch of brine on the nose along with sweet bbq. Maybe sweeter on the taste too, and the finish has more of a spicy tingle, but less everything else. It is good both ways, but I probably prefer it neat. 

Overall, this is amazingly good. My brain could be playing tricks on me a bit, and I'd like to sometime try this without knowing what I was trying to see if I still thought it was still in the 'amazing' territory. Best of the year, and I'll be on the hunt for 12.1 or other releases. Rated 4.75 / 5.0 - cheers all!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 23

Thursday evening - Day 23 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - tonight I'm drinking the Committee Release version of Ardbeg Scorch Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 51.7% ABV. I tried the non-Committee Release version on Day 19, which is 46% ABV. Let's see how this version is and if it's much different.

On the nose, I get campfire, ash, brine, cut grass and a floral perfume like note. The taste is sweet up front, followed by charred fruit, charred wood, some mint, an unspecific spicy hot pepper in the back. The heat carries to the finish, brine, charred oak, and a fresh mint tingle in the way back that lingers for some time.

With water, I get more floral on the nose, and a bbq sweetness. The taste is sweet turning quickly to heat along with the mint freshness, and the finish is char and that mint zing and it lingers a long time.

This is better than the non-Committee release, the finish is longer and it seems better balanced. Overall it's quite good - but I do probably like the Uigeadail and Corryvreckan better. Rated 4.0 / 5.0 - cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 22

Hump Day!!! Start of 4 Day Weekend Day!!!! Day 22 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Tonight, I'm having The BenRiach, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Peated Cask Strength Batch 2, 60% ABV (!!!). This one checks a lot of my boxes ... let's see how it is.

On the nose, I get campfire, bbq, earthy peat, with some fruit and in the back some faint vanilla. The nose is really quite good. The taste is smoke, peat, toffee sweetness, chocolate and some citrus. The finish is smoke, cocoa, fruit and some wood. This does not drink anywhere near the proof that it is - I would guess this was low 50s. This is no age statement - but it doesn't drink young. 

With water, the nose is similar, still very nice, maybe a bit more sweet vanilla. The taste - I'm now finding a touch of cinnamon, and the cinnamon carries over to the finish, along with everything else. This might be a bit better with some water - but it's not needed.

This is really good - well balanced, nice taste, nice proof... really no faults. I will certainly keep my eye out for Batch 3, and I might have to track down some other releases from The BenRiach. Rated 4.5 / 5.0 - best of the year for me.

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 21

Tuesday! Day 21 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... tonight I'm drinking Game of Thrones Six Kingdoms, Mortlach 15 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV. This is the final release from Diageo for their Game of Thrones Collection - only the 2nd age statement, and the oldest.

On the nose, I get apple, some grain, along with orange zest and floral notes. The taste, I get toffee, apple, orange, fig, there is some zip to this too - not sure if it's just alcohol burn, or something else - and some strong sherry notes as well. The finish is warming and sweet, and lingers for quite a bit. 

With water, on the nose I get a hint of bread with everything else, the taste is more sherry and sweet - easier to drink for sure. The finish is similar, but does seem a bit more hot with a little more tingle at the end, good either way, maybe a touch better with a splash of water.

This is well balanced, and if I had a guest over that liked Scotch, but didn't like peat or cask strength - this would be in their wheelhouse. It's not really for me - as I do like peat and I do like cask strength ... still, very enjoyable. Rated 3.5 / 5.0 - cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 20

Made it through another Monday ... Day 20 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Tonight I'm having Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea Voyage 22 Single Barrel Special Wheated Mashbill Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45% ABV. They take this bourbon and toss it on a ship and go around at sea for a while so it sloshes around the barrel - does it make any difference or is it just a gimmick? 

On the nose, I get caramel, cherry, salt and some mint. The taste is brown sugar, caramel and cherry. The finish in caramel and mint - it lingers for some time. With water, the nose gets some hay/grass along with the other things, pretty similar. The taste brings some salt for me, while the finish is almost the same but I am getting a bit more wood now. I could drink this either way.

Overall, this is pretty good, I haven't had the standard Jefferson's bourbon to compare it to, and I don't know if this wheated mash bill is much different than other Ocean Aged At Sea releases. It does run around $80 - and at that price range there are many things that are superior, so I can't see buying this again. Better than the budget bourbons - not as good as the cask strength bourbons I enjoy - will rate it 3.5 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 19

Sunday! (Sunday!) (sunday) ... Day 19 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Tonight, I'm trying Ardbeg Scorch, Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, "Limited Edition Fiercely Charred Casks", 46% ABV. This was the standard yearly release for Ardbeg Day. They can be hard to track down, but as a fan of Ardbeg, I've been on the hunt for these the last few years with limited success. Let's see how this one is.

On the nose, I get campfire smoke, ash, some brine and a touch of orange. The taste is charred wood, charred fruit, minty freshness, and a touch of sweet. The finish, some smoke and charred wood, with some brine that lingers. 

Adding water, the orange on the nose turns floral and takes over, the taste is mint and floral up front, then char and some heat in the back. More heat on the finish as well - I probably prefer this neat, but it's probably worth trying both ways as it does seem to be significantly different. 

While this is pretty good overall, it's not as good as any of the standard Ardbeg releases, including the 5 Year Wee Beastie which is less than 1/2 the price and can be found fairly easily. Ardbeg Scorch does have more char - which seems like the intention. Rated 3.5 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 18

Saturday - woot! Day 18 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y! Trying Son of a Peat Batch 3 "The Redeemer" Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Cask Strength (53.8% ABV) from Flaviar. My preferences for Scotch leans towards peaty, smokey varieties, so when I saw this on Flaviar, I figured I'd give it a try.

On the nose, this has a meaty smoke, peat, and is slightly medicinal. The taste I get smoke, peat, touch of spice, some almonds maybe, a bit of oak, and some sherry notes as well. The finish I get smoke and ash, peat, chocolate, spice tingle, dry wood. The finish lingers for some time and has nice warmth. 

Adding water, the nose seems more campfireish and more BBQ, the medicinal note seems to have vanished or is buried. The taste has more spice and the finish more tingle, seems hotter. I prefer this on neat. 

This one is really quite good. I tried another blended peaty Scotch, Compass Box Peat Monster, against this and the Son of Peat was much better. It probably is in Ardbeg Uigeadail or Corryvreckan territory - sometime I'll have to have it blind vs one of those and possibly some others. Rated 4.25 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 17

Friday!!! Down to the home stretch of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... Day 17! Today, we have from Bruichladdich, 10 Year Port Charlotte Heavy Peated Islay Single Malt, coming in at 50% ABV. I'm looking forward to some of the whisk(e)ys I have coming up - let's see how this one is.

On the nose, I get smoke, peat, fresh cut grass, cinnamon, mint and some floral notes. The taste, I find caramel, sweet orange, earth, smoke, chocolate, and some wood. The finish is candy sweet, wood, savory tail end... and lingers for quite some time.

With water - nose has a little more peat, sweeter on the taste, more spicy tingle on the finish. This one is really good. Same ball park as Ardbeg Uigeadail, but maybe not quite as flavorful overall - certainly worth keeping around. Rated 4.25 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 16

Day 16 of the 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - tonight I'm trying out Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey, 46% ABV. There are not many peated Irish Whiskeys... let's see how this one is.

On the nose, I get toffee, bbq smoke, orange, sweet honey. The taste I get dry wood, sweet honey, touch of fruit, and a bit of peat way in the back. The finish is sweetness, wood, touch of spice, touch of smoke.

Adding water, I get a little more fruit on the nose and the nose is softer. The taste I do get a little smoke now, along with more wood, and the finish is more woody - I probably prefer this neat. Connemara, another peated Irish Whiskey that I have currently (though the cask strength version) seems to have more peat on the taste and finish, and I probably like a bit more (I should get another bottle of Connemara 12 sometime, haven't had that in ages). Overall, I had higher hopes for this one, and this was a bit of a letdown. Still, it's not bad - rated 3.25 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 15

Hump Day!!!! Whisk(e)y Wednesday, Day 15 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... today I'm having Ry3, Private Reserve, 61.82% ABV. Is it a Rye? Is it a Bourbon? Who knows... let's try this (:

Ry3 is a bit limited on information, it says it a blend of 3 mashbills - but then doesn't say what or who or where the mashbills are from, so it could be more or less anything. On the nose, I get some initial alcohol burn, after that I get vanilla, chocolate, dark fruit, toffee, spice.. and way way way in the back some dill. 

The taste - it's a bit hot, but this is over 60% ABV, so it is to be expected. Does have some hot petter spice, rye, also get the sweetness, along with some oak in the back. The finish is spicy, hot dry wood, hangs around and eventually turns into more wood. Occasionally on the finish I get some coffee - but not always. 

With water, the nose is similar, maybe more sweet. The taste is very spicy, sweet in the back, touch of wood too. The finish is more wood and seems to drift off quickly - I think this is better neat. Overall, this is very flavorful, there is a lot going on. Comparing to my highest rated rye - Willett 4 Year - this doesn't quite get there, but it's also much different. Biggest surprise of the year, rated 3.75 / 5.0.

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 14

Treat Tuesday - and today is day 14 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. We're having 10 Year Ledaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky, coming in at 46.3% ABV. Let's see how it is...

On the nose I get brine, sweet honey, touch of citrus, faint smoke. Coming back to the nose after a bit, I do find a touch of peat too and maybe some rubber cement. The taste is toffee sweetness, black pepper, spicy pepper, light smoke and peat. The finish is sweet and earthy, brine, oak, pepper lingers, along with a touch of that rubber cement. 

With water, the nose has a little more smoke, along with everything else, and the taste has more brine along with more pepper in the finish. Overall, this is good - not great, but good. It could be a good gateway to more peaty Scotches. It reminds me somewhat of the Balvenie Week of Peat 14 Year - which can be hard to find. I'd say the Balvenie is better, but the Ledaig isn't far behind. Will rate this 3.5 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 13

Made it through another Monday, time for Day 13 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Tonight I'm having Wild Turkey Rare Breed Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 56.1% ABV. I like the standard Wild Turkey Rye - will I like the barrel proof big brother?

On the nose, I get caramel, citrus, apple, some baking spice, and a touch of dill in the back, especially if I let it set for a bit. The taste I get caramel toffee, black pepper, touch of rye spice, and some mint. The finish I get some rye spice, hot cinnamon and it lingers for some time.

With water, the nose has more citrus for me, while I get some wood on the taste and finish, but otherwise pretty similar, good either way. Overall, I probably like the Willett 4 Year Rye I have better, but this holds its own versus other higher proof, rated 3.75 / 5.0, cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 12

Day 12 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. I drank this and took notes last night, but then was busy and didn't get a chance to write up the review.

Trying another Bull Run offering, this time a 7 Year Single Malt Whiskey, then finished in Cognac casks for 13 months, 59.98% ABV. This one does say 'Distilled by...' on the back, the 13 Year did not, meaning it was most likely sourced.

On the nose I get mint, a black tea note that's a bit funky (similar to other Oregon Single Malts), cherry, and some sweet fruit. The taste, I get the malt, tea, some spice and a low level sweetness. The finish I get that funk coming back. With water things are very similar. for nearly 60% ABV this doesn't really drink that hot, but the water does tame it down a bit.

Overall this is good and fairly unique, but I do think the 13 Year I had the other day was better. Rated 3.25 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 11

Saturday! Rainy windy day in Portland, good day to hunker down with a cask strength Whisk(e)y! Today, I'm having Balcones Peated Texas Single Malt Whisky, 2020 Edition, Aged 3 years, with a 62.9% ABV. While I've not loved every Balcones I've tried, they have been unique and interesting, and I really love the nose on the Balcones Brimstone - so when I saw this one I picked it up.

On the nose I am getting smoke, ash, burnt wood, and sweet BBQ. On the taste, I find smoke, wood, cherry (but not a sweet cherry), hot pepper spice - overall not too sweet. The finish it hot with spicy tingle, lingers - with char on the backend. 

Adding water, there is less smoke on the nose and there is more BBQ sweet - almost Teriyaki. The taste is not much different, but the finish is hotter, spicier, and has more heat. I could take this either way.

Overall, this is quite good, and I'll be looking for the 2021 edition. I'd say it's similar (but different) to higher proof Ardbegs or such, same wheelhouse anyway. I'd rate this 4.0 / 5.0 - would buy again, cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 10

Friday! Woot Woot! Day 10 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, tonight we have Bull Run Distilling American Whiskey Aged 13 Years then finished in Cabernet Casks for 6 more months. Cask Strength at 62.47% ABV. This is a barrel pick from Westmoreland Liquor not too far from my house I picked up on clearance at $41 - is it worth it?

On the nose I first get the alcohol -125 proof is hard to ignore, but then I get sweetness, molasses, caramel, vanilla and fruit. The taste is fruit, cherry syrup, but with a proof kick too. The finish is sweet, wood, cherry and lingers. 

With water, this does get tamed down a bit. Still sweet on the nose with brown sugar, similar on the taste, and more woody on the finish. Overall this is really interesting. Doesn't drink as hot as the proof is, but isn't boring by any means either. The best value so far for the year, that's for sure. Rated 3.5 / 5.0 - cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 9

Thursday! Day 9 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, today, we have Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond, 50% ABV, 100 Proof, aged at least 4 years (rumored to be around 7 years). I bought this one about a year ago and it's getting really hard to find anymore - is it any good?

On the nose, I get caramel, corn, spice and a hint of dill. On the taste I get butterscotch, cinnamon, spice, wood and apple. The finish I get vanilla, some wood, spice, and it lingers for some time. With water the nose is more wood and spicy, while the taste is sweeter overall. 

This in nothing fancy, but it's really well balanced and the sum is better than the parts. It's from Buffalo Trace, but comparing either Buffalo Trace or Eagle Rare to this is just not fair - this is significantly better overall. If you can find this at retail, it's an instant purchase - but good luck. I have not seen this in a store since I picked it up. Rated 3.5 / 5.0 - better than all budget bourbons, not quite in the barrel proof bourbon category. 

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 8

Hump Day, aka Whisk(e)y Wednesday aka Day 8 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Tonight I'm trying Wolfburn 3 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV.

Originally I thought this was Wolfburn Northland, but after further investigation, it looks like Northland is more or less the same as this, but aged 4 years instead of 3. From the reviews I've seen, people think it's quite similar, so I won't sweat it too much.

On the nose I get malt, salt, touch of light peat/smoke, fruit (grapes?) and some grassy notes. On the taste, I get vanilla, smoke, pepper and some dried fruit. The finish has malt, chocolate, some spice, it is fairly light and short. With water, the nose has a bit more brine/salt, the taste is a bit more smooth with more chocolate and vanilla. Might be better with a dash a water, but it probably will depend on my mood.

This does seem young, but is overall fairly interesting. My memory is that it reminds me of Kilchoman, but I don't have any of that currently to compare to. The peat/smoke is gentle, and nice overall. Rated 3.25 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 7

Day 7 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y ... today, Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof, coming in at 58.4% ABV. While no age statement is on this whiskey, it's believed to be a blend of 6, 8 and 12 year. Wild Turkey 101 is probably my favorite budget bourbon, so I've been wanting to review the barrel proof Rare Breed.

On the nose, there is some barrel proof sharpness, along with caramel, vanilla, citrus, some oak and when I came back to it, some tobacco. The taste I get sweet up front, then spicy pepper coming in after that, along with maple sugar, and tobacco. The finish I get maple and caramel, with spice in the background, then tobacco and wood trailing off. 

With water, the nose is more floral and baking spice. More sweet on the taste, but with a spicy/hotter finish. It's good either way. I don't have many high proof bourbons to compare this to currently. Comparing it to Old Forester 1920 (57.5% ABV), the Old Forester is just completely different with a lot of cherry on the flavor. Comparing it to Old Granddad 114 (57% ABV) - that one just is a lot lower end with nowhere near the finish. 

Overall this is pretty good, I give it a 3.75 / 5.0, but I would like to compare it to some other higher proof bourbons, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, or Russel Reserve for example.

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 6

Made it through another Monday - sooner or later, I'll be done with Mondays (: Anyway... day 6 of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y, today we have 1792 Bottled in Bond, Single Barrel Select Barrel #5918, Store Pick from Baseline Liquor, 50% ABV. How is the pick? Let's find out...

On the nose I get hints of rye spice, some caramel, vanilla, and a touch of dill - in the background, for a lack of a better term, I get dirt. The taste, lots of wood, spicy, peppery, hints of nut/peanut in the back, damp cut grass and earth. The finish I get wood and pepper, and it hangs around quite a bit.

This has an odd taste and finish that is hard to describe. I don't particularly like it, and I went back to it later in the evening to see if it's still there. It triggers a memory of my youth of line trimming dry weeds with a line trimmer - which isn't necessarily what I'm looking for in my whiskey. I'll give it another try down the road, but for now this is just too 'earthy' for me.

Overall, this is quite woody, and I'd like to try a non-store pick to see if the flavor profile is much different. Rated 3.0 / 5.0 - mostly because I feel that if I'm in the right mood, this could hit some good notes for me, otherwise it would be lower. 

On edit - over time, this got even worse ... I was never in the mood for it. 2.0/5.0 ... barely drinkable - even in mixed drinks.

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 5

Sunday=Funday ... and the 5th Day of 24 Days of Whisk(e)y. Today we have from Lagavulin, 11 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Guinness Casks coming in at 46% ABV, aka "The Offerman Edition". Who doesn't like Lagavulin and/or Offerman ... marketing GENIUS!!! I tried the first round of this back in 2019 (on day 5 as well) - and I thought that one was pretty good. They upped the game this time with the finish in Guinness Casks... let's see what I think of this one. 

On the nose, this has the Lagavulin smoke, along with meaty bbq, and some mint and vanilla in the back. The taste there is initially some sweet caramel, but then hot pepper comes in and takes over. The finish is a spicy pepper tingle that lingers for quite some time. I would have guessed this was higher than 46% ABV - not that it burns, the finish just is trying to trick my brain. I get a touch of brine in the back along with something I can't quite place - maybe it has to do with the Guinness Cask finish. 

Adding water, I get a little more sweetness on the nose. The taste flips for me - with the spicy pepper front and center, but with the sweetness and a touch of chocolate in the back. The finish is similar - I could drink this one either way depending on my mood. 

Overall this is quite enjoyable. It does run around $80 - $90, so not something to go through too fast (: I do have a sample of the 2019 Offereman Edition, and tasting that one, it just doesn't have the spicy pepper notes for me. As this is my first time drinking the latest version, it could just be my mood tonight that is making it spicy, and I'll give it another try down to road. Even so, the spicy pepper is not enough for me to not enjoy it - I still rate it a 3.75 / 5.0 - best of the year so far, but not as good as the 2019 version. Cheers!

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 4

Saturday! Was a pretty nice day here in the PWN - certainly can't complain seeing that it's December and we're in the rainy season (: Anyway, today we have the 3rd of the Heaven's Door Trilogy Pack ... Double Barrel Whiskey, coming in an 50% ABV. It seems like they do not say exactly what is in this ... only that they combine 'them' then finish 'it' in new toasted oak for a year. 

On the nose, I find vanilla, wood, and butterscotch in the back, it's a bit sharp, I would have guessed a higher proof. The taste, it's quite spicy and hot, but not a cinnamon hot... and quite a bit of wood. I would have guessed this was a rye on the taste. The finish I get shortbread, wood that lingers.

With water, the nose is less sharp and it's quite nice - the taste is mostly the same. Overall, I can't put my finger on exactly why - but I like this one quite a bit. It is a bit punchy - drinks hotter than 50 proof, but that's not necessarily a bad thing in my book. I tasted a Blanton's that is similar in price and proof (when you can find it) - and the Double Barrel compared well to that. I'll rate this 3.5 / 5.0, and at $45-ish ... the best value of the three I'd say.

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 3

Friday! Day 3, woot woot! Today we have Heaven's Door Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Vosges (French) Oak Barrels, 46% ABV, NAS - but at least 4 years and reportedly between 7 and 8 years. How is it? Let's find out...

On the nose, I get vanilla, fruit, floral, clove, mint and after sitting awhile some toffee. The tast I get vanilla, wood, pepper, with toffee in the back. The finish I get cloves, wood, mint and pepper. With water, the nose is more floral, with a woody and peppery taste, I will probably prefer this 

neat, overall it's more interesting and has more depth. 

Really good overall. Hard to compare this to other ryes though. This comes in around $75 a bottle, and in the same ball park Willett Family Estate 4 Year has more licorice and tea on the taste and is more interesting overall, while Crown Royal 16 Year has similar notes, but is more smooth overall. It's worth trying, not sure if it's worth buying. Rated 3.5 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 2

Day 2 - today we are trying out Heaven's Door Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45% ABV, aged a minimum of 6 years. Does Bob Dylan know bourbon? Or does he at least know someone that knows bourbon? (:

I picked up a 3 pack of 200ml bottles of Heaven's Door offerings and will be trying them all over the next few days. 200ml is enough to get a good feel for a whisk(e)y before buying a full bottle - I wish more distilleries would do 200ml bottles.

On the nose, I get sweet caramel, bread, dried fruit and corn. The taste I find cinnamon up front and strong, baking spice, oak in the back with some vanilla. The finish is warm cinnamon that lingers. With water it's more floral on the nose, and on the taste it brings out more oak, I prefer this one neat.

Overall, this is pretty good. It reminds me of Wild Turkey 101, but with more cinnamon and a longer finish. Bottles go for $45 or so - I could see picking up a bottle of this but do want to try the other two first. Rated 3.25 / 5.0

2021 24 Days of Whisk(e)y - Day 1

Back for another round! No better way to send out 2021 than to drink some good whiskies. Tonight, we're starting with Deanston Virgin Oak - NAS (said to be between 6 and 8 years), Highland Single Malt, 46.3% ABV. These days most of my Scotch drinking is peaty Islay, but it's nice to mix it up every once in a while. How will this one fare?

On the nose I get floral/herbal ... almost like potpourri, along with a hint of fruit and some spice - quite pleasant. The taste has oak, smooth honey notes, some spice. The finish I get some sweetness that drifts off clean and some spice tingle and the very end. Water seems to dull things overall, I prefer this one neat. 

All right overall - solid, and at about $37 a bottle, not a bad deal. Reminds me of Compass Box Artist Blend - which about the same price, though I think I prefer the Compass Box a little more overall as it's a little more interesting. I give this a 3.0 / 5.0. Cheers!