Sandy's Impression of the 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar

Tasting this on the 23rd Nose: Caramel, Pear, Apple, a hint of vanilla, the alcohol expresses as smooth almond -  very smooth for a 52.9% abv whisky Colour: Rich gold, just a touch of haze Palate: Smooth fruit, caramel, a touch of pepper on the finish This is very smooth and well integrated. It might be just a touch sweet for me. I really like it though. What does it do with a tbsp of water? Nose: Caramel, rich pear,  a nice hint of musk and ketones, stillatouch ofsmoothalmond Palate: Sweet pear, caramel, toffee, pepper and almond on the finish The 25 years this great highland wiskyhas been aging really shows. This is super well integrated and really very tasty. Where does it rate in the top 5 - I think it makes it. I have to double check my previous reviews: 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-20 Creative Whisky Company Exclusive Malts Cameronbridge 25 yo Single Grain 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirit

Tasting this on the 21st - behind again! Nose: wow - this is a 60% abv  5yo whisky - and the nose is smooth and well integrated-apple, pear, gentle peat and smoke, yummy musk Colour: Light gold, touch of bronze Palate: Effervescent, peppery, apple, pear, nicely balanced peat and smoke, nice smooth woody finish Frankly - very impressed!A tbsp of water and test it again! Nose: Caramel and fruit come forward, but still nice smokey peat as well Palate: Smoke and peat come to the front, still has pepper, which moves to the middle, smokey peaty woody finish This definitely has a ew rough edges. You can tell it is young. I was tempted to slot this in at #5 - but decided against it. I would love to test this back to back with some of the top 5 - I might change my mind. SO - top 5 remain unchanged: 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-15 Wemyss Malts Pe

Nose: Very mild, well integrated, green grass, apple, a touch of bitter almond (55.6% abv - but not as much bite as you would expect at that strength), a touch of strawberry, a few ketones Colour: Medium gold with just the slightest touch of haze Palate: Fruit forward, followed by a good belt from the high alcohol, a touch of toffee, a slight bit of wood on the finish and a bit of peppery bitterness Very nice, well integrated, I expect the tbsp of water to open this up nicely: Nose: Green grass comes way forward,  apple, strawberry,  caramel Palate: Caramel, toffee, apple, finish with a touch of bitter almond, and a hint of a woody note I like this a lot. It is my new number 5. 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-15 Wemyss Malts Peat Chimney Batch Strength 2017-12-18 Secret Spirits Glenrothes 19 yo Single Malt This is just a great example of

Nose: Nice sharp something - I do not have a good word - mint is wrong - but like that, grape, caramel, roasted nuts Colour:Light gold, with a touch of bronze Palate: smooth caramel, grapes, apple,light wood, a bitter almond alcohol bite on the finish - surprising -this is only 43% abv - but a nice bite on the finish This is very well integrated. I like this a lot. What happens with a tbsp of water? Nose: that interesting "sharp something"  is gone, still fruits and roasted nuts, green grass Palate: Much sweeter on the palate, apple, caramel, toasted nuts and a touch of wood on the finish. This is another really good whisky I really like it. But - my top 5 remains unchanged: 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-15 Wemyss Malts Peat Chimney Batch Strength 2017-12-06 Samaroli Glenallachie 8yo Single Malt I am starting to regret

Running a day late again - tasting this on the 17th Nose: Grape, Green Grass, well integrated, very smooth, no alcohol bite Colour:  yellow - light gold Palate: Caramel, grapes, a touch of smoky wood on the finish This is very nice. But - unless it really changes with a splash of water -it is not quite going to make the top 5. It is only 43.0% abv - so I am not expecting the water to make a big change. Nose: Smooths it out, stays integrated, now I get just a touch of smoke and wood that I did not get before Palate: Smooth fruit, caramel, still a nice touch of smoky wood on the finish; As I continue to sip, you get a smooth peaty taste -very understated - very nice. I like this a lot and would be glad to drink it again - but it does not make the top 5. This is a tough call - because this is very good whisky. So - the top 5 are unchanged: 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Ca

Nose:Peat, Smoke, Caramel, Bitter almond (alcohol), apple, wow - this is 57.0% abv - I would not have guessed from the nose - which is well integrated and smooth Colour: Medium gold Palate: sweet apple, caramel, distinct peat finish - but not a stupid peat monster - just a nice peatty smoky finish I like this a lot. Let's see what a tbsp of water does. Very nice - this makes the top 5 - but where? 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-15 Wemyss Malts Peat Chimney Batch Strength 2017-12-06 Samaroli Glenallachie 8yo Single Malt I thought I would slot it in higher - and that is sort of what I want to do -  because this is very good - but so are the others! Links Wemyss Malts The Singlemalting Review

Running a day behind again - testing this on the 15th Nose: Apple, Grapes, Bitter almond,  green grass,a touch of caramel,even though this is 52.9% abv - not much alcohol bite - very smooth and well integrated - this seems like a classic great speyside - and I look forward to the palate Colour: Gold - like apple juice Palate: Sweet Fruit, almost like a bit of fresh-picked spearmint, well aged wood note on the finish, very well integrated and complex - this is a great whisky Hit it with a tbsp of water Nose: much the same - more fruit forward - less of that almond bitter, the touch ofwood on the end is really nice Palate: Raisins, apple, fresh-picked spearmint, caramel, nice woody finish This is a really great whisky.This is maybe the first truly great whisky. Very smooth, very well integrated. I like the whiskies with a bit more nip to them than this - but this is a great speyside- complex and smooth. My new number 1: 2017-12-14 A. D. Rattray  Glen Elgin 21 yo Single Malt

Yippie -I am caught up - doing the 13th on the 13th! Nose: Wow- for 46% abv -very strong alcohol - but not overpowering - then - wood and gentle smoke,a touch of peat, followed by green grass and a touch of bitterness, something like red grapes, a few almonds Colour: Clear, light gold Palate: Starts with subtle fruit, then you get some musky wood and smoke notes, a bit of orange peel on the finish, with a smooth woody finish the tapers off nicely to a sweet note Very nice. I like this alot. What happens with a tbsp of water: Nose: Green grass, Smoke, Peat,grape Palate: A touch of caramel, the fruit and sweet fruit, a bit of smoke and peat (just a touch of salt/kelp), still get that touch of citrus, and a smooth woody finish. Gosh, this is tough. I really like this whisky - but the one I have listed so far as also all really good. Where do we end up? 2017-12-11 Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Malt 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-06 Samaroli

Still one day behind, so tasting this on the 13th Nose: Apple, green grass, a tiny bit of caramel, some Ketones, for 63.4% abv whisky, the alcohol bite is not bad, some woody notes, a well integrated complex nose Colour: Light gold, almost like apple juice Palate: Apple, Caramel, a touch of well integrated bitterness, smooth finish where the apple lingers, a very slight touch of wood I like this. Smooth and complex. I think the tbsp of water will do well with this whisky Nose: Not much change really - still  apple, green grass, caramel, a touch of ketones, mild woody notes, and remains well integrated Palate:  The fruit comes forward, the bitterness changes to a tart acidic yummy middle note, with that bit of apple that lingers on your tongue, a touch of sweetness on the finish that was not there until the water was added. This is really nice. I think it needs to into the top 5. The question is where - this is a well integrated whisky which shows the beginning of the full co

Catching up! Today is the 12th, so still one day behind. Nose: Smoke, peat, oak, toasted nuts, a touch of liquorice, smooth,complex Palate: Smoke, peat,effervescence, liquorice,complex,smooth I forgot to note the colour.The alcohol is 43% -but the tbsp of water gets tried Nose: some of the ketones come forward in the nose, sweet apple, smoke, peat Palate:  rich smoky peat, oak, blended sweet fruit including apple, smooth woody finish. This is my favourite so far. Very rich and complex. I am torn - I almost want to go to a top 6 - but - I am going to stay with 5 - at the end of 25 days - let's get a list of what I think is the top 20% 2017-12-11Samaroli - Samaroli Islay Blended Mal 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-06 Samaroli Glenallachie 8yo Single Malt 2012-12-10 The Lost Distillery Jerico Archivist Blended Malt 2017-12-07 Ainneamh The Malt 12 yo Blended Malt Links Samaroli The Singlemalting review

Still running two days behind!Actually tasting this on the 12th. Nose: Nice - caramel, toasted nuts, Green grass, bit of strawberry Colour: Dark gold, crystal clear Palate: Fruit forward, caramel, very smooth I like this quite a bit. At 46% abv, not sure what a tbsp of water will do. Let's find out Nose: Smooths out the caramel, still get the toasted nuts, and some sweet fruit - nice - just a touch of  smoke Palate: Brings the caramel forward, fruit in the middle, a touch of bitter wood on the finish - very nice I like this alot. It seems complex, yet stays smooth.The fruit, nuts and caramel on the nose are very nice; and the palate is smooth and complex. This needs to get slotted in to the top 4. Darn - this is when it gets tough, I think this is open to debate. I would say it was: 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-06 Samaroli Glenallachie 8yo Single Malt 2012-12-10 The Lost Distillery Jerico Archivist Blended Malt 2017-12-07 Ainneamh T

I did not get to this until the 11th - but better late than never! Nose: Green Grass, Plum, the 54.5% abv adds a strong alcohol note, but the sweet plum comes through nicely, a bit of musk Colour: Clear, golden tone Palate: Yikes - the first attempt at a sip was a fail - the high alcohol made me cough! O second try, the touch of musk from the nose, the plum is clear, a bit of a bitter bite on the finish - I think this is the high alcohol A tbsp of water Nose: After sipping at full strength,my nose seems a bit dead, I still get a touch of plum, with nice musk on the finish, but that is about it. After waiting a minute of two, nose comes back - and the plum and musk is what I get Palate:Much smoother, needed to cut that alcohol, a bit of plum, some musk Frankly, I am not a fan. Lets see what happens in a few minutes. Ok, as I continue to smooth out from the initial overdose, I get a touch of honey, and this generally smoothes out. But - I am still not a fan. My top 4 remain:

Nose: Apple, the 54% abv gives it an alcohol bite, a touch of pepper, green grass, almost a touch of mint Colour: Very clear, medium gold Palate:  Sweet apple, pear,  A tbsp of water Nose: backs of the alcohol, apple, a touch of flowers, a hint of woody smoke Palate: Apple, A bit of oak on the finish,  This whisky is just fine. But - frankly - it does not impress me. I just get mostly sweetish apple - nothing much complex about this. I will be happy to finish it - it is fairly tasty. But - my top 4 from yesterday remains unchanged: 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-06 Samaroli Glenallachie 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-07 Ainneamh The Malt 12 yo Blended Malt 2017-12-04 The Lost Distillery Dalaruan Classic Blended Malt Scotch Whisky As I continue sipping while I write this review, my impression of the whisky continues to improve. It has a very nice finish and I start to pick up some complex caramels. Very nice. Links A. D. Rattray

Nose: A touch of smoke/peat, cherry, green grass, a bit of lemon Colour: A nice rich gold, with just a touch of haze -no chill filter or colour - so very natural Palate: the cherry is more like apple, nice bit of peat and smoke in the middle, a touch of wood on the finish So far, I like this. The alcohol is 40% abv. Lets see what a tbsp of water does Nose: Sweet fruit forward, smoke, peat, wood Palate: Very smooth, apple and cherry, peat on the finish I like this very much. It  behaves like a nice blended malt whisky should. As I keep sipping and nosing, I start to get a bit more complexity than I did initially. Before today, the top three were: 2017-12-05 Secret Spirits Caol Ila 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-06 Samaroli Glenallachie 8yo Single Malt 2017-12-04 The Lost Distillery Dalaruan Classic Blended Malt Scotch Whisky It is tough to rate exactly when not back to back (back to back presents another set of problems - depending on the number of whiskies). This has good co

Nose: Apple, a touch of caramel, a bit of vanilla,  a bit of woody oak,  maybe a slight touch of citrus, as soon as you smell this, it really feels like Speyside, Colour: very clear, just a touch of a golden tone Palate: Caramel, almonds, vanilla, sweet apple, woody finish with a touch of pepper This is another really nice whisky. At 43.0% abv, I am tempted to not add the spoonful of water. But - to support the same method for all - here comes the water: Nose:  Much the same, a bit more fruit, glad I added the water - this opened it up Palate: Interesting - much sweeter, apple, more vanilla, still some caranel, a tart bit of pepper with the finishing wood. If I was to drink this again, I am not sure I would add the water. However, as I keep sipping on this as I write the review, the complexity of this grows on me - and it is only 8 years old. This whisky it seems to me has nothing but upside. I am not sure - maybe the splash of water was just the right thing to do This

Nose: A perfect Islay noise - just the right amount of smoke and peat, a touch of salt and kelp - wow 59.8% abc - but no alcohol bite to the nose Palate: Caramel, Green Grass, a bit of fruit - to my surprise - not much of the smoke or peat, but a bit of the salt/kelp Splash of Water Nose: brings the fruit out, green grass, light smoke and peat, light kelp and salt Palate: Wow- really brought the sweetness to the front, fruit forward,still a touch of smoke and peat This is a young version of the Cali Ila that I have drunk before (Thank You Laurance for turning me on to this fantastic Islay). The colour is light - and so is the flavour. This is a fantastic whisky which I know from first hand experience gets better with age! Darn - just checked - the bottle I had is gone - it would have been fun to do a back to back. This is most definitely the best whisky so far.  So 5- then 4 are the best - with 2, 3, 1 well back. Really enjoying this Links Secret Spirits Caol Ila T

This was my favourite so far. Unfortunately, this review will not be as complete as I would like. My buddy Tony came over to join me for cigars and drinks, and I am thus writing this several hours later, after a couple of other drinks. So, I will do my best. Nose: The 43% abv works well to give this a smooth initial nose. Then, like all whiskys, it still opens up nice with a spoon of water. The nose is a classic blended scotch  - a bit flowery, a touch of wood, and a hint of smoke. Very Nice. Palate: Again - classic blended scotch. Very smooth, caramel, vanilla, a bit of fruit/flower, and just the right amount of wood and smoke. The alcohol is just right - not to sharp. Really Enjoyed this. The 1st one to really impress me. Current ranking is thus 4, 2, 3, 1. This is the first one that really impressed me. I really enjoyed it. Very Very Nice! Links The Lost Distillery The review from Singlemalting  (Really liked this review - we are on the same page - make sure to r

Yikes, this one is 58% abv. Nose: Eye watering alcohol, vanilla, lemon, pear Palate: Caramel, bitter, pear, A bit of colour - but fairly clear as you would expect from a young whisky Splash of water Nose: Vanilla, lemon, a touch of mushroom, lots and lots of pear, the splash of water and being open for a few minutes got rid of the eye watering alcohol Palate: The pear comes forward, the bitter fades. BTW - the bitter is nice - not nasty. Caramel is still there. This really reacts well to the splash of water. It opens out and smooths out very nicely. I would drink this again - but still nothing special. So far, I would rate these 2, 3, 1 Like #2, this whisky grows on you, as I continue to sip, it smooths out, and the nose gets more appealing. I start to pick up some green grass I missed initially. On the palate, it remains smooth and fruit forward. Also - these have all been Speysides. Looking forward to trying something else. Links A. D. Rattray The review

Nose: A touch of smoke /peat, cherry Palate: Effervescent, tingle on the tongue,  caramel, apple, strong alcohol Add a tablespoon of water Nose: More fruit, almost pineapple, still a touch of smoke, Palate: Smoke, a bit of wood, After a few more sips, the fruit comes back - more like apple - very nice Interesting - I know it is a Speyside - but you almost get a bit of that islay kelp smoke in it. Very nice. I would drink this again. I like this more than #1 Links Wemyss Malts

I got my Christmas gift from Kim Early this year! Over the period of Dec-01 through Dec-25 - I will get to taste 25 different whiskys. Pretty cool huh?

Tried this yesterday. Company arrived, so did not get around to writing the review until today. This is not ideal, but will do my best. The first impression from the nose is caramel, then a bit of green grass. The palate is caramel, vanilla, and high alcohol. Yikes - turns out to be 50% abv. A splash of water (1 tpsp) did the trick. This opened up the nose, as well as the palate, which remained focus on caramel and vanilla. The colour is very clear, with just a touch of hazy-this is no doubt because it is not Very  nice, but nothing exceptional. I would happily drink it again, but would not spend a lot of time looking for it. Links Tamdhu Scotch The Old Malt Cask The Review at Singlemalting