Hi Scotchit! After posting my 1st review last January I kinda just stopped, bourbon got in the way and life in general. But as I see my bottle collection grow and deplete and interacted with some of great human beings on this subreddit, I think I owe it to myself and the community to give back. So here’s my review of some of the usual suspects that have been in my cabinet for some time. I figured I’d review and finish them all before moving on and opening some other bottles. Also took time to experiment with a “softbox” app on my iPad and bust out my camera. So anyway, tastings were April 2013 as reference. Talisker 10 45.8% abv Opened around November 2012, around 3/4s full of a 1L bottle. In a Glencairn glass 10 minutes. 60$ Nose - malt and barley steeped in some smoke and peat at the forefront, old wood submerged in water too long, leaves a lot of cooking spices at the tail end of the alcohol whiff, like smelling pepper powder near (without the sneezing side effect.) Palate - some very vague light honey sweetness that quickly evolves and turns into a prickly spicy attack on the palate that’s reminiscent of a younger dram but this one handles it well, white pepper, salted ham, and a salty kick towards the end. Finish - long and assertive, the spicy pepper like note dances in the mouth for a while until it fades into light charred wood to an almost dry end. The vegetal steep wood flavor stays even after a few sips of water. 87/100 Laphroaig Quarter Cask 48% abv Opened around June 2012, around 20% full of a 1L bottle. Glencairn glass 5 minutes. 60$ Nose - I remember when I first opened this, there was a pop and some smoke/gas and the room smelled of peat right away. Now, it doesn’t but i still get a whiffs of smoke with the glass near. Initial wave of iodine and wet ash and grass, then vanilla and brown sugar, and then the sweetness becomes more pronounced as I get hints of burnt sugar and toffee. Palate - Smoke and peat, then there’s this enveloping wonderful creamy interplay of sweetness and saltiness in the middle. (Sweet n’ savory!) Delightful. Drying white wine followed with smokey BBQ. Finish - Long and unrestrained, embers of a ship set on fire sinking into seawater. Well, it does lack a bit of that first initial punch in the mouth (but make no mistake it still packs a hefty hook), but the with the oxygen calming it down it offers a few nuances that might have been hidden during the initial taste. I rarely make Islays/Smokey scotches my daily drams but if I were to, it would probably be this. This is just beautiful, there’s no age statement but its smooth on the tongue, its rich and complex and it even stands up to the test of oxidation. First 90-ish review. 90/100 Glenmorangie 10 40%abv (I really should check abvs before I buy) Opened March 2013, around 90% full of a 1L bottle. 26$. Glencairn glass 10 mins. Appearance: very light and pale. fast, thin legs.

Nose: right away astringent scent of alcohol will hit in the wrong way, but give it time to breath or add a few drops of water and it becomes delightful. Creamy, floral and citrusy at the same time. Melon and mangoes. The tail end still receives a slight alcohol and a very delicate wood smell.

Palate: thin but has a great oilyness that develops mid palate. Vanilla, honey and gives way to the malty spirit. Very gentle and smooth, delicate. After that gives way to some fresh oak. Amazingly none of the astringent alcohol burn from the nose shows up.

Finish: sweet and short but with a nice heat. slight spice with an effervescent nutty honey sweetness. like a fleeting memory. The nose holds such a great potential but sullied under the unpleasant alcohol burn, but you can really see the greatness and potential of the Glenmorangie spirit working here in the palate. (Which is why i cannot wait to acquire a bottle of the Ealanta 19) Absolutely wonderful as a daily sipper and summer dram. This was my gateway malt to single malts and I’m still in love with the quality, value and balance this being the 2nd 1L bottle I’ve bought. I’m not sure how 2 years could help improve this but the nose just needs a little help. 86/100 72% dark chocolate Experience: awesome!) Highland Park 12 40%abv (d’oh! ignorance yet again) Opened October 2012, 70% full of a 700ml bottle. 48$, Glencairn glass 10 mins. Ahhh HP12, very popular. Truthfully I struggled with this guy as it has a schizophrenic attitude. One tasting it was peaty, close to Islay. The other one it was light and fruity, then a few days after it tasted somewhere in between. Let’s see what this tasting tonight yields? Nose: Peat and smoke hit first, but then it quickly switches to rich red fruits, unmistakably sherry. Subsequent nosing stays with the sherry cask dominated notes mingled with smoke. Palate: a quick honeyed entry and instant peat and smoke tides followed by a wave of sherry sweetness. Complete opposite of the nose. Another sip and it’s reversed, waves of sherry sweetness followed by tide of smoke. Finish: Impressive interplay of sweetness with the smoke clawing its way after. As this tasting reveals, there is a good balance between smoke and sweetness, and the spirit’s ability to play with them. No wonder this is often one of the most recommended malts to begginers who want to explore peat and smoke. This is a very complex malt and I could understand the obsession and praise for it. I like it a lot! But I am a bit unimpressed considering all the hype. 87/100 72% Dark Chocolate Experience: average. Cragganmore 12, 40% abv Opened March 2012, which officially makes this 1 year+ old, 65% of a 1L bottle. 15 mins in a glencairn. Nose: I went to get something and when I came back the room smelled awfully nice, a certain floral and honey, sometimes a scotch would just kill the entire room with overbearing “whisky” air and make the ladies go out and blech. This is the opposite. Light oak, maple and brown sugar, chamomile tea with honey. Almonds and trail mix nuts. Then you can smell the nice backbone of a good spirit coming at the end. Palate: Semi oily entry, maple and honey, nice nuttiness on the far end, caramelized brown sugar, a touch of gentle smoke nudges the tongue. I get a lot of floral tea notes, jasmine, chrysanthemum and chamomile. Finish: A little short, the subtle woody smoke creeps in along with the fading honey and floral tea notes. Makes me want to lean on a chair staring at the yard on a summer day. I think this whisky is a bit underrated, it’s not light...it’s delicate. But I get that when you’re used to big flavors this will fall flat. There is a lot of nuisance to be had here, it’s gentle and welcoming that you can pass it by without noticing much, but with a little attention this will reward you with complexities you might be looking for. Higher aged and higher proof versions of this must be mind blowing. 88/100 72% Dark Chocolate Experience: Good