Dram Review: Hellyers Road Original Single Cask Release Aged 14 Years (Cask No. 2087/08)

[67.4%・14 Years Old・Bottled in 2018・Official Bottling・Cask No. 2087/08・Single Cask Release] Nose: Honey and cereal and of course rather alcoholic, metallic with barley husk, quite unrefined and raw. Palate & Finish: Sweet oily honey with a very naked showing of the barley infused with wood.  Faring quite green with some olive oil and more spirit-y spices…

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Dram Review: Hellyers Road Peated Single Cask Release Aged 13 Years (Cask No. 4032.14)

[65.5%・13 Years Old・Bottled in 2018・Official Bottling・Cask No. 4032.14・Single Cask Release] Nose: The dram is very peated indeed, smoked bacon, smoked haddock and Dettol, super robust with sea salt hitting the malt and iodine bursting out, a fishy note develops in time. Palate & Finish: A deceivingly smooth dose of mild sweetness at first before the…

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Dram Review: Lagavulin Aged 25 Years (200th Anniversary)

[51.7%・Bottled In 2016・25 Years Old・Original Bottling・Limited Release of 8000 Bottles] Nose: The nose paints a picture of a misty winter morning on Islay, cold water hitting the sand, bringing about some seaweed. There is this distant bonfire that is somewhat memory triggering, soothing and soft as traces of plastic, muscat grapes, ginger and menthol, chalk…

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Dram Review: Lagavulin Aged 12 Years Natural Cask Strength Bottled in 2017

[56.5%・12 Years Old・Bottled in 2017・Official Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: Tiger balm and spices, the sweet peat fares a touch dirtier this year, sooty and ashy. A hint of smoked oyster in there. Palate & Finish: Leads with vanilla first with lemon and pepper but it is then overcome by the powerful peat, a dirty oomph of masculinity…

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Dram Review: Glenfarclas Distilled 1974

[43.0%・25 Years Old・Distilled in 1974・Bottled in 2000・Official Bottling・Limited Release of 2732 Bottles] Nose: A rater introverted nose, lemony with some freshly shaved oak.  Fresh strawberries sprinkled with icing sugar to set a rather refreshing vibe. Palate & Finish: Strawberry jam and air dried strawberries with a hint of malt as the dram grows more acidic,…

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Dram Review: Michter’s 20 Years Old (Barrel No. L16956)

[57.1%・20 Years Old・Official Bottling・Barrel L16956・Single Barrel Release of 588 Bottles] Nose: Praise be! Heavenly mahogany with smooth vanilla and leather interwinding seamlessly, well aged cigar leaves, stately yet endearing.  Wood smoked bacon in time with some thick toffee creaminess and buttery treats surfacing. Palate & Finish: Wow, honey soaked raisins and dried muscats, the sweetness…

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Dram Review: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Years Old (Bottled Circa 2014)

[45.2%・20 Years Old・Bottled in 2014・Buffalo Trace Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: A complex nose, an intensely rich dose of brown sugar drenched walnuts with an orange zing.  Hearty doses of cinnamon spices, leather and smoked sandalwood with some vanilla, thick toffee, dark chocolate and raisins.  The char is sweet and mesmerizing.. Palate & Finish: Big charred oak…

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Dram Review: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (Fall 2009 Release)

[69.5%・7 Years Old・Distilled in 2002・Bottled in 2009・Buffalo Trace Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: Big peppery nose at first, then cinnamon, Chinese hawthorn, charred oak, orange and tanned leather.  Eye watering pungent spices. Palate & Finish: A thick maple sweetness first appeared on the palate, a couple of lemon twists to lift the body as the caramel and…

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Dram Review: Bowmore Aged 25 Years Distilled in 1969

[43.0%・Distilled in 1969・Bottled Circa 1994・Official Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: Such immaculate fragrances on the nose, stately and graceful aromas with the velvet-esque waxiness well integrated into the oak.  The cask led sweetness is expressive, from a bouquet of soft ripe fruits to a floral status with the malt gradually developing.  Such balance with the dram releasing…

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Dram Review: George T. Stagg (2007 Release)

[72.4%・15 Years Old・Distilled in 1992・Bottled in 2007・Buffalo Trace Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: The nose comprises of sticky walnuts, cinnamon, brown sugar and burnt toast. Homey but heavy. Palate & Finish: Condensed brown sugar sweetness on the palate with the spices being rather overwhelming.  Such power displayed from the grain and oak. The spiciness stays on for…

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