MrWizard's Ramblings

Compass Box 5th & Harrison II, K&L Limited edition, 53.2%
A blend of Compass Box malts from Bowmore, Glendullan, and Caol Ila, this is the second release they’ve done for K&L Wines to commemorate one of their milestones — in this case, the opening of a new location. I’ll skip the minutiae; you’re welcome to look up the details online. I will note that this is a preview for a bottle I also have stashed away for later, so I’m hoping it’s good. Nose: Strong fresh pine needles, smoke, and dried citrus peels. Palate: Lively and feels stronger than the proof. The pine notes continue prominently — very reminiscent of fresh pine resin on the tongue. Smoke, citrus, and a light peppermint note are also present. The bourbon casks that make up most of the blend balance things out with reasonable sweetness and a bit of spice. Aftertaste: Did I mention pine sap yet? Mostly sweet, peppery, and somewhat smoky. There’s a savoury-sweet note that makes the finish mouthwatering rather than drying. Overall: A very competent peated blend that feels like something of its own — I don’t recall encountering this exact sweet, smoky, pine-forward profile before. Fans of that style will likely enjoy it. It’s good, and I wish I could rate it higher, but it simply doesn’t stand out enough. Value: Priced around $169 if I recall correctly, which feels like a solid price given the age of the components.
Score: B+

Compass Box Transatlanticism, 51.1%
A Compass Box + t8ke venture, a blend of Spice Tree with Clynelish and Linkwood (and Miltonduff) — more or less everything I like. Let’s dig in. The nose is excellently balanced: subtle yet potent spice notes lead, with candied orange peel and malt following behind. The palate brings a mix of fruity, sherried Speyside flavors—dried, stewed fruit dipped in sweet sherry — backed by that familiar Spice Tree spice. It’s a really nice marriage of spice, fruit, and candied sweetness. The finish lingers for quite a while, carrying more of that fruit-spice-sugar profile. No need for water here; at 51% ABV, the intensity feels just right. Overall: very much a “what you see is what you get” result. I suspect t8ke advocated for a more intensity for the ‘American palate’ while Compass Box delivered the classic Scotch profile. A competent, very enjoyable, and easy-to-understand “spicy Speyside” (plus a bit more) blend. Value: Eeeeeeeh… at $199 MSRP, that’s… spicy (HA!) — unless you’re specifically collecting Compass Box releases. Best approached at a discount.
Score: B+ (Spicy Speyside)

Glenallachie 10, Spanish Virgin Oak, 48%
Thanks to my friend Jeffrey for a generous “sample”! This is Billy Walker’s Glenallachie 10, first aged in American ex-bourbon and then finished in Spanish virgin oak—part of their Virgin Oak series, which is exactly as it sounds. The nose is distinctly oaky, with darker wood notes. Not quite juniper wood, but approaching that territory— more of a neutral, dry, wood than juniper overall. The palate is spicy, woody, and sweet without tipping into bitterness, with vanilla-forward notes that come together as an integrated whole. The finish is long and lingering, carrying that woody profile with a touch of bitterness. Oddly, it leans almost bourbon-like on the aftertaste, or what I wish more bourbons would deliver. Overall: a competent bottle that showcases the finishing cask, backed by quality spirit and a skilled blender’s hand (Billy Walker is a living legend for a reason). This is something I’d happily drink on a random day. Value: N/A (gift). MSRP is $115… which feels just a touch too high.
Score: B+

Kilnaughton (Ardbeg) 8, Cooper’s Choice SP, Tempranillo Cask, 56.5%
Kilnaughton—a bit of internet sleuthing suggests it’s almost certainly Ardbeg—aged 8 years in a Spanish Tempranillo red wine cask and bottled in 2020. Time to dig in. The nose is fantastic: smoked, salty dried fish alongside sweet fig jam and slightly tannic wood. With time, the wood and fruit largely displace the smoke in the glass, and it becomes quite cologne-y. The palate opens with spicy-sweet, heavily toasted oak—think burnt almonds, cloves, nutmeg, and a peppery spice to a nearly overwhelming degree—then the smoke arrives to rein it in a bit. The charred bitterness lingers into the finish—thankfully never overwhelming—and ends up tying everything together rather than distracting. A bit of water relieves some of the wood intensity, but also amplifies the wine and definitely heightens the spice. Overall: definitely a weird one. I don’t love it, I don’t hate it. The cask shows quality, but the intensity is borderline too much—an overall flavor bomb that’s both off the beaten path and somehow familiar compared to other good bottlings from this distillery. I don’t mind that it’s only 8 years old; the flavor stands up well to bottles nearly twice its age. Value: MSRP was around $80; I’ve seen ~67€ online too. Very solid.
Score: B- (w/ water)

Craigellachie 11, Thompson Bros SP, 50%
We’ve got Craigellachie 11 here, distilled in 2012 and bottled by Thompson Brothers in 2023. I’ll note the label has a drawing of pineapple and worms, which my wife hates, though I digress. Let’s try it. The color is very pale. The nose brings malt and dried tropical fruits—dried candied orange and, well… dried pineapple. There may be a theme here. The palate starts gentle and slightly sweet, but before long there’s an avalanche of peppery spice rolling in like a wave. The Sichuan comparison is strong—it’s almost numbing in its intensity. The reasonably short finish acts as a sweet, gentle relief from the spice flood of the mid-palate. Interestingly, the more I sip it, the sweeter and less aggressive the spice becomes as my palate adjusts, but that first sip is quite a shock for 50% ABV. Overall: an inoffensive sweet-and-spicy sipper that feels like a near-pure demonstration of distillery character, with a Sichuan-like backbone that drinks better with repeated sips as your palate adjusts. Good for repeated pours. The more I sip, the better it gets—but that’s not ideal in a lineup where it’s a one-and-done situation. Value: I paid $80, which feels quite decent for the age.
Score: B

Aultmore 13, Total Wine Sp, A.D. Rattray #9000259, 63.3%
An Aultmore, distilled in 2008 and bottled by A.D. Rattray, aged in a sherry butt. A Speyside scotch—let’s go. The nose brings dark raisins and stewed figs—definitely sherry-forward. The palate balances spice and sweetness well, with cherry and oak. Those fruits evolve into a chili dark chocolate note on the finish, which lingers pleasantly. Overall: a well-executed sherried Aultmore that doesn’t quite stand out from a pack of other well-executed bottles. There’s not much else to say. It runs slightly hot, so it benefits from a few drops of water, though that also amps up the wood notes. Value: priced at $135 at Total Wine, it feels at or slightly above average—especially for a less well-known distillery, though the quality is there. I’ll leave it at “average” value.
Score: B+

—
Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

After dry January, some flu and a vacation break. Here are some more reviews!

Glencadam 11, SMWS #82.48 “The Big Yellow”, 62.8%
First fill ex-bourbon-aged bottling from a new-to-me distillery. The nose is big and bold, with citrus oils dominating, followed by lovely perfume notes of lavender and sweet vanilla. The palate is big, punchy and quite hot, a vanilla bomb that remains enjoyable, spicy, vanilla-forward and slightly oaky on the finish. A few drops of water help cut through the proof, though too much and it falls apart. Overall: A competent ex-bourbon cask showing a rare-for-USA distillery that doesn’t disappoint but doesn’t quite wow either, feeling a touch young and slightly too high proof to be truly interesting. Value: Probably somewhat overpriced as is the norm with SMWS bottles, but since this was a gift, N/A.
Score: B

Waterford Irish Malt, Dunbell Edition 1.1, 50%
A bottle from the — sadly now defunct — Irish malt producer Waterford, a distillery that proudly leaned into terroir, documenting soil composition and other gloriously geeky details about each farm supplying its grain. Bottled without coloring or chill filtration, so bonus points there.The nose opens with dry malted grains, minerality, citrus peel, and sugar candy sweetness. The texture is pleasantly oily — somewhat surprising for an NAS bottling. The palate carries forward the mineral and candy notes, joined by a faintly meaty, almost saline undertone that balances the cask sweetness nicely. A noticeable oak char emerges mid-palate and lingers into a fairly short, drying finish of vanilla, sugar cookies, gentle oak spice, and pepper. Overall: An unusual and interesting Irish malt that stands well apart from the regional norm. I can’t say I dislike it, though the pronounced char feels slightly compensatory — as if masking youthful spirit underneath. Still, this works exceptionally well as a blend fixer: an ex-bourbon component that adds structure and flavor without disappearing, punching well above its apparent age even if subtlety isn’t its strongest suit. Value: Picked up for $40–50 at Binny’s clearance — absolute score. At the ~$100 original MSRP, considerably harder to justify.
Score: B

Dailuaine 15 K&L SP, Old Particular, 57%
A Dailuaine bottled by Old Particular for K&L Wines, distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2024 from sherry butt DL17719. Color is about what you’d expect for the age and cask type — nothing unusual there. The nose brings plenty of spice along with stewed, sugared dark fruits and a clear sherry influence. The palate starts in the same direction: brown sugar, baking spices, and rich fruit sweetness. Then comes a surprise. Mid-palate shifts hard into spicy tobacco notes, followed by coffee and dried fruits that carry into the finish. A few drops of water smooth the transition a bit, though it doesn’t really need it. Overall: A slightly weird one. It begins like a fairly typical modern sherried malt, then turns into something quite different halfway through. Not bad at all — just a bit disconnected between the front and back halves. Starts like fruit leather, finishes more like licking a cigar. Value: Listed at $99 at K&L, which feels like reasonable value for the age and a single sherry cask.
Score: B

Highland Park 10, K&L SP # 5434, 66.1%
A Highland Park single cask, distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2022 for K&L Wines. This was aged in first fill European oak sherry butt. Honestly, I’m going to be brief here. This is a sherry bomb that is typical Highland Park single cask, with an impressive proof. It actually drinks a touch below its proof and isn’t super peat-forward. Value: Priced at 119 it may not be best deal on paper for each year but solid price for the quality.
Score: B+

Glenlivet 17, Signatory Vintage, 62.2%
I actually have another bottle of this, so yay — early preview. Glenlivet 17, bottled in 2023 by Signatory from 1st fill Oloroso sherry butt #900810. Nose opens with slightly sulfuric sherry and sweet vanilla extract. The palate is meaty, sweet, and gently spiced — very modern sherry in style. That light sulfur note plays nicely with the savory meatiness and settles into more of a supporting role behind the sherry. Am I getting oily, salty-sweet roasted almonds? The finish turns drying, woody, and leathery, with a faint minty edge, medium-long in length. Overall: I’m really enjoying this. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but it drinks well at proof, and the progression from nose to finish feels coherent and steady. Definitely falls into that “funky-but-good” quality malt category. Value: Listed at $149 at K&L — honestly, a pretty solid deal.
Score: A-
—
Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Few final samples for the end of the year.

What — Notes — Score

Grosperrin FD Truau 1996, Bas Armagnac, 55.5% — Sweet stewed fruits in vanilla sugar. Almost no wood tannins. Later sips bring spirit note and wood spice, but still nearly zero bitterness. Toasted sugar, vanilla, fruit cake. Perhaps too sweet to be balanced — Score: Yay-
High West, Midwinter’s Night Dram, Encore Act 1 Scene 1, 50.8% — MGP & High West Rye, aged in white port. Dilly but in a good way, lots of sugar vanilla and wood. Not too deep but definitely sweet, balanced and desert-like. Probably better one of recent releases. — Score: Meh+
Laird’s Apple Brandy 5.7 years, Single Cask, 60.5 — Ummmm… Pretty tasty apple brandy? Apple, chili, vanilla, good balance without leaning too much into something odd. Think boozy apple sangria with some solid amounts of mulled spice, sans cinnamon. — Score: Meh+
Old Pulteney 16, 2006, K&L SP, Cask #2061, 53% — (Tiny sample). Clean, subtle, ex-bourbon cask. Citrus and stone fruit, some minerality. Utterly beautiful and clean in its style. — Score: Yay+
High West, Light Whiskey 14, Batch 3, 46% — Corn whiskey, aged in 2nd fill casks. Gentle Vanilla in the name here with an odd - yet warming - spiciness upfront. I’m voting this a Canadian well-aged corn vodka. — Score: Meh+
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye 7 (2014), 49.5% — This is possibly MGP. Woody… soap? — Score: YUCK!

Tomatin 27, Carn Mor, 46.3%
Distilled in 1987 and bottled in 2014, this Tomatin was aged in a sherry hogshead (#495) and opens with an impressively expressive nose for the proof: roasted vanilla, brown sugar, and sun-dried apricots. The palate leans into black tea with toasted honeycomb or dark honey, and the finish continues that black-tea-and-honey thread with touches of vanilla and malt. The sweetness lingers as clean sugars without becoming heavy or cloying, and notably without drifting into figgy richness or overt spice the way PX or Oloroso often do. Overall: this feels very much like a Palo Cortado sherry cask — and a very good one at that — landing squarely in my preferred lane thanks to those tea and honey notes. Value: N/A; acquired opened on the secondary market.
Score: A-

Ledaig/Tobermory 27, Redacted (Thompson) Bros, K&L SP, 47.4%
This is a 27-year-old Tobermory distillation run with fermentation and cut points identical to Ledaig, but made with unpeated barley — effectively unpeated Ledaig aged in oak rather than a typical Tobermory malt. My suspicion is that this was an in-between “clean-out” run, meant to flush residual peat from the stills and condensers after Ledaig before returning to Tobermory production. Interestingly, the cask was split, with the EU release bottled at 26 years. The color is striking — olive oil. The nose is intensely malty, loaded with orchard fruit, waxy yellow apple and pear skins front and center. The palate is multilayered: it opens with soft sugars and malt, then spins outward into a wild, tropical-fruit-laden compote with spices, chili, and ginger. It reminds me of an unusually balanced, very boozy white sangria — but far more interesting — where the flavors aren’t coming from fruit directly, but from high-quality oak, age, and malt. The different distillation cuts (when condensation starts and stops) seem to contribute both lighter, front-loaded notes and heavier, almost savory layers on the back end. Those savory elements linger into the finish alongside sweet spice, ginger, and just the faintest wisp of smoke. Overall: a super-interesting, highly unusual, and genuinely unique bottling — very much a likely once-in-a-lifetime experience born from a near-magical combination of circumstances. The real question, though: do I love-love it? Grudgingly, yes — but it’s one I had to think my way into appreciating, and that thinking didn’t come easily. Value: I paid $200, which was an excellent deal at the time a few years ago; today, this would likely land closer to $300.
Score: A+

Happy 2026. What a way to end the year!

—
Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Catching up on rums, both samples and open bottles.

Rums!

What — Notes — Score

Rhum Clement 2002, Martinique, 17 years single cask, 55.2% — Aged agricole… very old-aged agricole. Tons of cask influence, utterly insane flavors. Somewhat drying vanilla and wood bomb. Weird and interesting. — Score: Yay
Alambique Serrano, Oaxacan/Mexican Unaged Rum, 68.7% — Some sort of unaged single cask of Mexican rum. Drinks like a mix between agricole and ‘regular’ rum. Clean, sweet, slightly grassy. I dig it. Not super exciting but I dig it. — Score: Yay
Fiji 2004, 17 years, Holmes Cay SP #57, 58% — Fijian rum from Holmes Cay!? Sign me up! Rather hot but all that vanilla forward with a touch of funk. It’s delish! Perhaps not outstanding, this leans towards a delicious mix of foursquare profile and somewhat funky agricole/jamaican/guyana profile — Score: Yay
Samaroli Caribbean Rum, 48% — Light base with white-tropical fruits galore and complex secondary flavors that stay mostly subtle — mango, pineapple, a hint of coconut. Sugars, spice, a touch of tobacco, lots of nice touches throughout. Just minutely too light to be truly outstanding. — Score: Yay+
Jamaica 1994-2020 (26), Plantation, 53.6% — This is plantation after all so likely finished in cognac cask. Holy cow this is great stuff. Slightly funky but not too much. Great balance of wood to rum funkyness. Some of the best stuff for me! — Score: Yay+
Foursquare 12, Total Wine Master Series #2, 62% — Ex-bourbon and Ex-sherry. It’s Foursquare… What am I expected to say here? — Score: Yay
Foursquare 14, Total Wine Master Series #4, 62% — Ex-bourbon and Ex-madeira. It’s Foursquare… More wine influence vs sherry sweetness. Gentle spice burn that lingers for a while. Different balance from above but still delicious. — Score: Yay

Malts!

Mars, The Y.A. #1, 52%
Mars The Y.A. #1 is the first release in Mars’ “Yakushima Aging” (Y.A.) series—a limited, NAS blended malt meant to showcase the effects of aging on humid, subtropical Yakushima. It’s fairly wood-forward, with vanilla, light honey, and white-tropical fruits. The palate is somewhat creamy, carrying more tropical notes—leaning pineapple-orange—backed by a near-bitter oak presence rather than char. Supposedly there’s a touch of peat here, but if it exists, it’s buried under the wood. The aftertaste is medium-length and enjoyable, carrying through the palate’s better elements while, thankfully, dropping most of the bitter note. Overall: Young, punchy, and drinkable, though the assertive, somewhat bitter oak keeps it from being more than an occasional or situational sip. Value: N/A; internet pricing around ~$120 sits higher than I’d recommend and that was in 2022.
Score: B

Benriach 15, G&M SP, 59.6%
A 2005 Benriach from refill American hogshead #118. The nose opens with lemonade, minerality, and cereal notes—initially sharp but settling down nicely. The palate is creamy and sweet, with pineapples and sweet orange oil supported by vanilla creaminess and more cereal character. Secondary notes bring chili spice, black pepper, and sweet-heat chilies that carry into a medium-long finish of malty sweetness and a touch of drying pencil shavings. Water pulls the more disjointed layers together, softening transitions and creating a more cohesive experience. Overall: With prominent cereal and citrus notes, this shows a level of flavor impact that exceeds expectations. It’s multilayered, though not fully integrated at full proof, offering complementary yet distinct layers that could interest a connoisseur (HA! Coincidentally, this is a bottle under G&M’s “Connoisseurs’ Choice” brand). A touch of water brings those layers together. However, as is often the case, too much softens its overall impact. Value: N/A, though likely around ~$150 in today’s market—placing it squarely at a solid midpoint on the value bell curve.
Score: B+ (w/ water)

—
Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

A local group I’m part of is doing a Christmas Calendar of blind samples 2025 holidays. There are 13 samples with 13 guesses and 13 blind reviews. This is organized by friend Chris, thus the title. The bottles are supposed to be $80+. I’m usually fairly wrong on my guesses but it’s fun to try. I’ll be updating this as I go! Previous year’s events are here:
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry241206-234357
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry231203-180411
https://www.aerin.or … y:entry221204-210258

Name — Brief Notes — Guess: — Like/Dislike — Reveal:

1. KK — Nutty, not very high proof. Rich in vanilla and oak tannins. Low proof helps here. Higher would be dangerously bitter. — Guess: Jack. Heritage Barrel of some sorts — Score: Yay — Reveal: Knob Creek 15 (2001), Batch 1, 50%
2. V1 — Proofy… Sharp roasted nuts note, doesn’t overwhelm. Lots of wood. Lots of vanilla too. Quite sweet. Coats the palate and sticks around for a while. — Guess: Heaven Hill. Larceny BP or Wheated Grain-to-Glass — Score: Yay — Reveal: Russell’s Reserve QBB/NDA “Parabola” 2021, 55%
3. JLazz — Full proof something. Lots of chili, cinnamon that linger around. Good dollop of wood as usual here. A bourbon I’m fairly sure. While still sweet, there’s a touch of a sour note in this for me, though it makes it more mouth-watering. — Guess: Old Forester SBBP — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Woodinville, SFWBSS SP, Bourbon Butcher, 59.17%
4. IT — It’s Ian! This tastes… Rye-forward, though still I think it’s a bourbon… Or a very soft rye. Pine, eucalyptus, dill. Sweet notes stick around for quite a bit. Lots of wood, leaning bitter on repeated sips rather than sweet. Probably decent amount of time in cask or some sort of double-dip. — Guess: Heaven Hill ~15, the 8.5% malted barley mash. — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Bardstown Rye. West Virginia Barrell Company Toasted Cherry Oak Casks, 55%
5. YN — That’s me. Fiery, off-profile Macallan that needs a ton of water to be coherent. Not too bad, just not great without water. — Guess: N/A — Score: Meh+ — Reveal: 2009 Secret Speyside (Macallan) 15 Year Old “Signatory” K&L Exclusive DRU17 A197 #5, 65.2%
6. JL — Bubble gum and flowers! Oh my! And a miniscule touch of coffee? This could be a malt finished in a something else or just a super interesting malt by its nature. Fairly thin palate suggests younger age. Lots of flavor though. The aftertaste is short and sweet with some funk. I wish the aftertaste lasted longer and was a touch cleaner for better enjoyment. — Guess: Milk & Honey. Westward ? — Score: Meh+ — Reveal: Lost Lantern Gentle Giant (3yo Balcones), 57.6%
7. ML — A peated scotch almost certainly, but which one?! Sweet & smoky nose, quite intense on proof, but not too much. Lots of woody, smoky notes on the palate and aftertaste. Almost no salinity that’s indicative of Islas. Some fruits. Doesn’t feel sherried… Lingers for a while. I like it! — Guess: Ardmore. Peated Arran. Benriach. Orkney/Highland Park. — Score: Yay — Reveal: Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 2 (released 2019), 60.9%
8. KJF — Sweet, funky, cinnamon, vanilla wood. Light nuttiness. Aftertaste that lingers. Bourbon. This is familiar stuff. — Guess: MGP-sourced something. Too many things to list of off as possibilities. — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Penelope 4 (MGP) Toasted Barrel Shoppe SP, 57%
9. KM — Very sweet and fragrant. A bourbon again I think. Lots of fruits rather than typical bourbony things, yet still leather, baking spices, and burnt vanilla. I’d be shocked if it’s not something finished. — Guess: Old Elk. Finally something from Heaven Hill? — Score: Yay — Reveal: Hirsch (Willett) Double Oak, 9 years. California Food Mart SP, 56.2%
10. MBA — Nuts. Lots of roasted… Pecans? High proof, somewhat spicy, but not quite enough to be a rye. Just a spicy bourbon I am thinking. Lots of wood here too. Cinnamon lingers but leans more woody and more baking spices. — Guess: (Beam) Baker’s 13? — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Bookers, 2020-2 “Boston Batch”, 63.25%
11. V2 — Finally a rye, I think! Maybe? Quite gentle for a rye. Lots and lots of wood. The usual dill, mint, eucalyptus are heavily restrained and hiding behind a wood mesh, balancing each other. — Guess: Redwood Empire Rye? Sagamore? Angel’s Envy SiB. Something off the beaten path — Score: Yay+ — Reveal: Found North Double Barrel, New Char & Tawny Port 13 & 14, Bitters & Bottles SP, 56.8%
12. CB — Now it’s definitely a rye! Dill pickles, yet still sweet! Lots of wood, vanilla, spices. Maple syrup. Chili in the aftertaste. This is quite high proof compared to most samples this year. — Guess: I don’t really know ryes! Willet? — Score: Meh+ — Reveal: Short Barrel Straight Rye, G1-005 “Barrels United Pick”, 63.5%
13. MH — Another rye. Slightly bitter-wooded, but that may be my palate right now. Lots of toasted oak and char flavor notes. Sichuan peppers and baking spices in the aftertaste bring interesting numbing sensation. Middle of the road proof — Guess: EH Taylor Rye — Score: Yay- — Reveal: Parker’s Heritage Bourbon finished in Curacao Barrels, 55%

—

Happy Holidays!