Tomatin, 12yo, 2018

Rating26/40
OriginScotland, Northern Highlands
DistilleryTomatin
OwnerTaKaRa Holdings via Takara Shuzo
StyleSingle Malt Whisky
CasksBourbon, Sherry
Bottled2018
Strength43% (86 proof)
Price$25-80

Nose: Slightly sour and otherwise there is simply not much there. (5/10)

Palate: Nice! After the largely absent nose the rich and butter flavors comes as a pleasant surprise. (8/10)

Finish: This one lingers pleasantly but ultimately fades out into astringent wood notes. (7/10)

Balance: Overall not shabby but I really wish the nose was living up to the rest of the whisky. (6/10)

Bunnahbhain Pedro Ximénez Finish Ltd. Release, 14yo, 2003/2017

Bunnahabhain PX Finish Ltd. Release, 2003/2017, 14yo., close-up
Rating32/40
OriginScotland, Islay, North Shore
DistilleryBunnahabhain
OwnerDistell Group
DistilledMarch 24th, 2003
StyleSmall Batch Single Malt Whisky
Cask2nd fill Sherry casks followed by 3 years in Pedro Ximénez casks
BottledJune 21st, 2017
Bottles6768
Strength54.3% (108.6 proof)
Price$100-200

Nose: A little funky. Some unripe fruit and perhaps blue cheese? (7/10)

Palate: More fruit. (8/10)

Finish: The fruit them continues but with fruit gums. (9/10)

Balance: Odd stuff, this one, but nice. (8/10)

Aultmore Sovereign K&L Excl., 9yo, 2008/2017

Aultmore Sovereign K&L Excl., 2008/2017, 9yo., close-up
Rating31/40
OriginScotland, Central Speyside
DistilleryAultmore
OwnerBacardi via John Dewar & Sons
DistilledJune 2008
BottlerHunter Laing & Co.
SeriesSovereign
StyleSingle Barrel Single Malt Whisky
CaskSherry Butt #HL13138
BottledAugust 2017
Bottles631
Strength59,8% (119.6 proof)
RetailerK&L Wine Merchants

Nose: The mummified corpses of licorice candies melted under the Saharan sun and shriveled up to a state of utterly desiccated, dark tightness. (8/10)

Palate: Beastly and rough but full of beauty and power in its hot, raging magnificence. (9/10)

Finish: Bitter, medicinal flavors slowly build and layer in the back. (9/10)

Balance: And what rough beast dram, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem my mouth to be born drunk. (9/10)

Bowmore Old Particular K&L Excl., 20yo, 1997/2017

Bowmore Old Particular K&L Excl., 1997/2017, 20yo., close-up

Rating31/40
OriginScotland, Islay, Loch Indaal
DistilleryBowmore
OwnerSuntory Holdings via Beam Suntory via Morrison Bowmore Distillers
DistilledMarch 1997
BottlerDouglas Laing & Co.
SeriesOld Particular
StyleSingle Barrel Single Malt
PeatedYes
CaskRefill Hogshead #DL11677
Bottled April 2017
Bottles281
Strength55.7% (111.4 proof)
RetailerK&L Wine Merchants

Nose: When first opening the bottle there is peat smoked paprika rubbed on grilled sardines that had been washed with lavender soap. Once aired out the very Bowmore lavender component disappears. Very nice! (9/10)

Palate: Damn. The Bowmore floweriness comes through on the first hit with hot lavender flavored muratic acid. Really brightens the old grout between your teeth. A field of lavender. On fire. (7/10)

Finish: The initial wave of fire breaks in the back and floods the throat with wood and heat. This one gets rougher and dirtier with water. Some dry dark chocolate emerges. (7/10)

Balance: Not my favorite perhaps but nice and interesting enough. (8/10)

Talisker Distillers Edition, 11yo, 2002/2013

Talisker Distillers Edition, 2002/2013, 11yo., close-up
Rating32/40
OriginScotland, Islands, Skye
DistilleryTalisker
OwnerDiageo
Distilled2002
SeriesDistillers Edition
StyleSingle Malt Whisky
PeatedYes
CaskAmoroso Sherry Double Maturation
Bottled2013
Strength45.8% (91.6 proof)
Price$55-80

Nose: A bunch of grapes are having a smoke. (8/10)

Palate: A dusty bar of chocolate on which someone wrote “Peat!” with white chalk. (8/10)

Finish: Hangs around up top at first but eventually relaxes and lowers itself into the chest cavity layer by layer (8/10)

Balance: Well done! (8/10)

Macallan Classic Cut 2017 Ltd. Ed.

Rating35/40
OriginScotland, Central Speyside
DistilleryMacallan
OwnerWilliam Grant & Sons via Edrington Group
SeriesClassic Cut
StyleSingle Malt Whisky
CaskSherry Seasoned Oak Casks from Jerez
BottledApril 2017
Bottles90,000
Strength58.4% (116.8 proof)
Price$75-140

Nose: Deliciously deep! (9/10)

Palate: (8/10)

Finish: Leaves a lovely warm glow with some residual smokiness. (9/10)

Balance: Oddly thin in the very middle. (9/10)

Springbank Bourbon Wood, 14yo, 2002/2017

Springbank Bourbon Cask, 2002/2017, 14yo., close-up
Rating34/40
OriginScotland, Campeltown
DistillerySpringbank
DistilledNovember 2002
StyleSmall Batch Single Malt Whisky
CaskFresh and Refill Bourbon Barrels
BottledAugust 2017
Bottles9000
Strength55.8% (111.6 proof)
Price$115-150

Nose: Plums and peaches. (9/10)

Palate: Delicious alcohol-soaked peach slices served on a wooden cutting board. (9/10)

Finish: One is first left with just a few acerbic notes but then, eventually, fruity echoes rise followed by a deep warmth. This takes serious time to develop though. (9/10)

Balance: I’m dinging it on the balance because the finish sure takes some time to sort itself out. But, hoo boy, is it awesome when it finally does! (7/10)

GlenDronach Revival, 15yo, 2019

Glendronach Revival 15yo
Rating29/40
OriginScotland, Speyside, Deveron
DistilleryGlenDronach
OwnerBrown Forman via BenRiach Distillery Co. Ltd.
StyleSingle Malt Whisky
CasksPedro Ximénez, Oloroso Sherry
BottledAugust 1st, 2019
Strength46% (92 Proof)
WhiskybaseWhiskybase
Wine SearcherWine Searcher

Nose: Grapes and blood oranges. Grassy notes hit fresh out of the bottle and then fade away to make room for the Sherry to stick its head out. (7/10)

Palate: Rich but, oddly, also slightly thin and somewhat dry. (7/10)

Finish: Truly the best part! (8/10)

Balance: (7/10)

Bruichladdich Infinity [3] Edition_3.10, 2011

Bruichladdich Infinity [3] Edition_3.10 close-up
Rating88/100
OriginScotland, Islay, Loch Indaal
DistilleryBruichladdich
OwnerRémy Cointreau
SeriesInfinity
Edition3_10
StyleSmall Batch Single Malt Whisky
PeatedYes
CaskAmerican Oak Bourbon, Syrah
BottledAugust 16th, 2011
Strength50% (100 Proof)
WhiskybaseWhiskybase
Wine SearcherWine Searcher

Nose: That Bruichladdich raw vanilla dough and peat. (90/100)

Palate: Rich and full. (90/100)

Finish: Could be a tad better. (80/100)

Balance: Lovely stuff! (90/100)