MrWizard's Ramblings

Inchgower 15, James Eadie #367835, 58.3%
A James Eadie (IB) bottling of Inchgower 15 from 2009, finished in a first-fill Amontillado sherry hogshead. Nose is quite nutty with hazelnuts, caramel, honey, and some dried fruit. A touch of coffee and sweet malt in the background. Taste is creamy and rich with roasted nuts, caramel, milk chocolate, raisins, and some earthy notes. Oak spice comes through along with a bit of heat, perhaps a touch hotter than I’d like. Finish is fairly long with lingering chocolate, nuts, sweet malt, and some spice. Overall: A very enjoyable and somewhat unusual Inchgower with a distinct nutty profile. Nicely balanced between sweetness and spice, with just a little too much heat holding it back. Value: From a bottle split. IIRC, I paid about $50 for half the bottle, which is quite reasonable.
Score: A-

Glen Spey 10, James Eadie #363341, 57.1%
A James Eadie (IB) bottling of Glen Spey 10 from 2012, finished for 10 months in a first-fill PX sherry hogshead. Nose is quite fruity and sweet with berry jam, honey, and some ripe orchard fruit. A touch of vanilla and malt in the background. Taste is rich and creamy with plums, red berries, honey, and some caramel. A bit of tartness balances the sweetness, along with some cinnamon and oak spice. Finish is fairly long and fruity with lingering peaches, vanilla, and sweet malt. Overall, this is fairly simple but enjoyable young Glen Spey with a fruity profile. The PX finish adds plenty of sweetness without completely overwhelming the underlying spirit. Nothing particularly exciting, but quite pleasant nonetheless. Nice, yet forgettable. Value: I paid about $45 for a bottle split, which is somewhat reasonable here, though my cheap soul would have preferred to pay less.
Score: B

Bruichladdich 18, K&L SP, Old Particular, 57.6%
A Douglas Laing Old Particular (IB) bottling of Bruichladdich 18, distilled in 2007 and matured in a refill hogshead. A K&L exclusive single cask DL19621. Nose is quite malty and fresh with lemons, honey, vanilla, and some orchard fruit. A touch of buttery biscuits in the background. Taste is rich and malty with citrus, caramel, vanilla, and some dried fruit. A pleasant balance of sweetness and malt, with a bit of ginger and oak spice coming through. Finish is fairly long with lingering citrus, sweet malt, and some spice. Overall: A nicely matured Bruichladdich with a rather traditional, spirit-forward profile. The refill hogshead lets the distillery character shine through without overwhelming it with oak influence. Value: At $225 retail, certainly not cheap, though older independent Bruichladdich bottlings are increasingly expensive.
Score: B+

Orkney’s Finest 14, K&L SP, Old Particular, 51.7%
A Douglas Laing Old Particular (IB) bottling of Orkney’s Finest 14, distilled in June 2008 and matured in a refill hogshead #DL16590. A K&L exclusive single cask, likely Highland Park. Nose is quite clean and fresh with sweet malt, lemon peel, honey, and some light baking spices. A touch of vanilla and orchard fruit in the background. Taste is surprisingly rich and oily with vanilla custard, sweet barley, citrus, and a bit of savory character. Some gentle oak spice balances the sweetness. Finish is fairly long with lingering vanilla, malt, and light spices. Overall: A rather enjoyable, essentially unpeated Orkney malt with plenty of sweetness and a surprisingly substantial mouthfeel. The refill hogshead lets the underlying spirit shine through without much cask interference. Value: At $80 retail, this was an excellent deal for a 14-year-old independent bottling at cask strength. I rather wish I’d picked up a few bottles.
Score: B+

Glentauchers 16, Cadenhead’s, Chairman’s Stock, 59.6%
A Cadenhead’s Chairman’s Stock (IB) bottling of Glentauchers 16, distilled in 2008 and matured in a refill sherry butt. Bottled at 59.6% ABV in 2024. Nose is rich and sweet with caramel, ripe peaches, almonds, and some vanilla. A touch of baking spice in the background. Taste is full-bodied and fruity with cherries, strawberry jam, cola, and sweet malt. Some nuttiness and oak spice balance the sweetness. Finish is long and warming with lingering citrus, almonds, ginger, and a bit of drying oak. Overall: A rather enjoyable Glentauchers with a rich, fruity profile and a nice balance of sweetness and spice. The refill sherry butt adds character without overwhelming the underlying spirit. Value: N/A, and frankly immeasurable, as this bottle was a gift from a friend. For an actual price reference, I found it listed at $99.99 at Hi Proof, which is a pretty good deal for a 16-year-old single cask at nearly 60% ABV.
Score: A-

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

Dailuaine 12, Old Malt Cask, 56.7%
A 2006 Dailuaine, bottled by Old Malt Cask in 2018 from finishing sherry butt #HL15044. This was bought from K&L. Toffee, some mint and milk chocolate on the nose; lively with alcohol. The palate got pepperiness, red berries, vanilla sponge. Medium length aftertaste with lingering wood and pepper spices. Overall: A surprisingly competent bottle from 2018-era of IB excellence. Reasonably straightforward and unexpectedly complex due to that ex-bourbon-into-sherry finish while the casks were still excellent. A touch too hot, it takes water well and doesn’t leave much to complain about here. Value: That was $50 in 2018, a screaming deal by any account.
Score: B+

Glenallachie 11, Signatory Vintage, 68.5%
A 2012 Glenallachie, bottled by Signatory Vintage (SigVin) in 2024 for K&L Wines, from a 1st fill oloroso butt #900077. Free-forming this one. Let’s get it out of the way it’s so fiery that I struggle to drink it without dilution. It’s intense, it’s sherry bomb in about as concentrated way as it gets. It’s unapologetic and it’s intense. After enough water is added it becomes… a chili peppers & dark chocolate situation with Glenallachie core malt notes. Something comparable to a better batches of their batch proof bottlings - the ones that were sherry only - after copious water was added. Value: Priced at $79 at K&L Wines… it’s a solid value… if one really really likes that fiery proof or figuring out how much water needs to be added here.
Score: B+ (w/ Water)

Glen Spey 12, SMWS 80.63, “Cheery Cherry Chocolate Party”, 59.9%
Glen Spey from 2012, aged in ex-bourbon cask and finished in a 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead. Courtesy of my friend Mike, thank you! Very cherry nose indeed, rather fitting to the title. Chocolate and cherries here, plus good amount of alcohol. Strongly peppered palate, with more cherry and chocolate in the secondaries, though the pepper dominates here. Lingering aftertaste of a medium-long duration with more of the same from the palate with somewhat savoury note showing up eventually. Overall: A touch too much chili and lacking balance, the cherry chocolate notes are welcome here and do manage to somewhat redeem this bottle. Value: N/A a poured sample from 375ml bottle.
Score: B-

Springbank 5, 57%
General release from Springbank at 5 years old. Ex-bourbon casks by the color and description. Smoked butter on the nose initially, then cleanly leans into meyor lemons and yuzu. Medium-thick mouthfeel, creme soda, drying smoke, alcohol and somewhat straightforward ex-bourbon cask - it is rather young. The palate lingers around, with more lemon and yuzu, barrel spices, drying oak and robust peat smokiness. Overall: Young but not unpleasant, this is surprisingly well rounded for the age and what it is. Definitely for the fans of the distillery and compares well with other peated offerings. Value: Prices around $99… this is an expensive, yet fair, pricing on springbank based on quality alone, not by age; considering that 10 year old is priced slightly more and is of much lower proof.
Score: B

Knockdhu 9, Single Cask Nation, 58.4%
A 2014 Knockdhu 9, bottled in 2024 by Single Cask Nation, finished for 3 years in Spanish Oak Ex-Oloroso cask #170350. The sample is courtesy friend Jeff - thank you! Right off the bat, the color is quite chestnutty, so I’m looking forward to this. Potent alcohol on the nose, balanced by rich stewed fruits, candied fruit, and chocolate. Mouth-coating palate brings rich dried dark fruit notes, warm baking spice, dark cacao. Medium long aftertaste with subtle spice, soft charred oak and more of those dark dried fruit lingers around pleasantly. Overall: This really reminds of almost a mulled wine in a whiskey form. There’s that weird ‘hug’ feeling from inside the mouth and it’s rather pleasant. Value: Found it was priced online at $119… which seems somewhat inline with the pricing they set- considering the usual SCN extra 15% on the real value
Score: A-

Glentauchers 16, Cadenhead’s, 59.6%
A 2008 Glentauchers 16 bottled in 2024 by Cadenhead from a refill butt. Sample courtesy of friend Charu. Thanks Charu! Alcohol and walnuts covered toasted honey on the nose. Dense palate, sweet and tart, cherry and dark chocolates, some fine peppery barrel spices. Cocoa, raisins and figs in the aftertaste. Overall: I really like this, one. It is darn good and right up my alley. Maybe a touch too woody but that’s a minor nit. Value: Found a sold out entry for it in Hi Proof at $110… That’s legit good deal.
Score: A-

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

Glenturret 28, Old Particular, K&L SP, 49.7%
Distilled in 1987, casked by Old Particular in refill hogshead #DL11511, and bottled for K&L in 2016, this old school stuff. The nose is clean and fresh, honey and apple skins. Lightly spiced and peppered, orange peel and more - this time dried - sweet apples on the palate, covered in white chocolate. Spices and light pepperiness lingers from the palate into lingering aftertaste with vanilla, milk chocolate and toffee notes. Overall: This is a great example of they don’t make them like they used. Just… superbly fantastic for what this is. Value: Bought circa 2017, these don’t exist anymore… I think I paid $99 at the time. It will be no less than $300 now… Hindsight 20/20 on pricing here.
Score: A

Orkney’s Finest 14, Old Particular, K&L SP, 51.7%
Distilled in 2008, casked by Old Particular in refill hogshead #DL16590, and bottled for K&L in 2022. Thanks friend Mark for generously giving me half a bottle. This is mostly likely Highland Park. The nose is remarkably clean with sweet barley, lemon/citrus peel, and light baker’s spices. The palate is surprisingly heavy, oily, and thick. It moves into vanilla custard, bright coastal brine, and a distinctively sweet and savory notes. The peat finally comes out towards the end in the aftertaste but it’s super muted and near non-existent as the aftertaste lingers with the same notes from the palate. Overall: This is remarcably near-unpeated Highland Park, which is a true rarity. This allows a rare peek at the naked distillate and what a glorious peek it is. Value: Listed in K&L at $80, I’m kicking myself for not picking up a bunch of these. Wow.
Score: A

Bruichladdich 16, Feis Ile 2023, Rock’ndaal 02.1, 50%
The Bruichladdich 16 Year Old Rock’ndaal 02.1 is a single malt Scotch whisky bottled for the celebration of the Fèis Ìle 2023 festival and the distillery’s Rock’ndaal (Rock’n'Roll) music event. This is a limited edition that’s been matured in bourbon and sauternes casks. The nose is bright, fruity and somewhat floral, with honey, vanilla, ripe peaches, apricots and good amount of citrus zest. Some underlying Bruichladdich salinity and minerality keeps Sauternes sweetness from taking over. The palate is rich and oily, with honeyed peaches, melon, apricots and sweet citrus up front, followed by vanilla, pepper and increasingly dry oak. Really nice sweet and salty interplay here, with wine casks bringing plenty of fruit without burying the malt. Medium-long aftertaste, initially sweet and fruity with lingering citrus and honey, gradually becoming drier and nuttier with oak, pepper and light baking spices. Overall: Darn this is incredibly enjoyable festival bottling. It starts sweet and descends into oak and spices. Its only real downside is how straightforward it is from tag to what’s in the glass. What you see is what you get. Value: N/A; A gift from friend Mark - thank you! Originally priced at about EU-125ish… it’s a pretty solid middle of the road value here, well worth it for distillery fans.
Score: A-

Linkwood 15, Club Qing 53.4%
This is a Linkwood 15, bottled by Club Qing as part of their Bottled Realities #4 series in 2025 from a virgin oak hogshead #302986. Bright fresh virgin oak spices on the nose, baked red apples, perhaps a melon fruit. Spicy palate with nutmeg, chilis and cloves, it gives an impression of somewhat carbonated tingling. This is followed by a distinct vanilla creaminess, and some toasted honey, pink grapefruit. In the aftertaste, the tingling spices with a touch of cigar smoke somehow return and linger for quite a while. Overall: A bit too wild and touch too untamed, yet it’s an unusual and interesting bottling at the same time. One of the spiciest malts - for the proof - that i’ve ever encountered, the virgin oak is most likely to be the MVP to call out here for its flavor contribution. Thankfully, Linkwood malt is heavy enough to take this challenge on. Value: Got it for $150… arguably worth it, for the uniqueness with a warning as virgin oak here is dominant and would likely be polarizing.
Score: B

Linkwood 8, The Single Cask, 57.7%
An eight year old Linkwood, bottled in 2020 from a - almost certainly - ex-bourbon hogstead #304196 by The Single Cask Company. Nose has got that classical Linkwood note, apples, sweet vanilla and brown sugar. Somewhat bitter and drying refill cask oak on the palate, balanced by inherent malt sweetness, light citrus zest and white pears, a kick of ginger. The palate brings in more candied ginger, light vanilla and mouth-coating barley maltiness. Overall: A classic Linkwood through and through, unbelievably vibrant and flavorful at 8 years old. Actually, blindly I’d call it easily a 12 year old. Very, very good one. Value: I saw one MSRPed at 119… that seems.. . pricey. This was a gift, yet again, thanks Friend Mark!
Score: B+

Caol Ila 14, Dramfool’s Middle Cut, 59.4%
A fourteen year old aged Caol Ila from 2008, bottled in 2023, aged in ex-bourbon and finished in Bordeaux red wine barrique #313321. The nose is quite smoky though notes of berries and some vanilla sweetness are also present. Very strong, very smoky, very rich on flavor, more of the same from the nose, some berry sweetness, touch of salt, vanilla, creme soda. Lingering sticky smoke alongside some wine tannins that sticks around forever. Overall: Very smoky cask, way more than a typical Caol Ila. The wine cask here is a pleasant addition that’s nearly non-existent. I wonder if that was used to try and soften up the original cask as it’s a full on flavor bomb. I don’t mind this but it’s beyond my comfort zone on smoke amounts for more than an occasional small sip. Value: Listed originally for $139 it was cleared out eventually at ~$100 which is very fair price for the specs.
Score: C+

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

Glen Moray 14, Warehouse 1, Sauternes Cask, 59.6%
Distilled and bottled in 2006, this new expression is exclusive to the UK market. At the very least this has sauternes cask finish. The nose is full-bodied and punchy with dark fruits and sweet, light caramel sugars. Perhaps fruity tarte tatin. The palate is rich, woody, spicy, and mouth-clinging. Dark chocolate, chili peppers, sticky dark toffee, coffee notes. Sweet chocolate and vanilla extract dominate the lingering aftertaste, finishing with some warming spices. Water is recommended here, making it slightly less punchy but a lot more manageable on the palate instead of being a full on tongue-punch. Overall: Enjoyable cask finish on a solid malt base, but somewhat unbalanced at the same time and doesn’t quite know which way it wants to be. Too much finishing cask without some water. Still not too bad for what it is. Value: Priced at $80 to me, great deal. MSRP is slightly higher.
Score: B+

Glen Moray 15, Warehouse 1, Tokaji Cask Finish, 53.6%
Distilled in October 2005 and finished in oak casks that once held Tokaji Aszú wine, this is cask proof batched bottling. The nose is very flavorful and surprisingly strong here, sugared oranges and ginger, sweet vanilla extract. Velvety palate, surprisingly gentle, maple syrup on pancakes, moist angel cake sponge, sugar and chilies. Medium-length aftertaste, brings some more lingering chili spice and pronounced almond nuttiness. Overall: Sweet, balanced and perfectly proofed, I really like this! It’s definitely very cake-like to me. Value: I’ve paid $80 for it… A solid deal.
Score: A-

Glen Moray 30, Binny’s SP, Single Cask Nation, 57.8%
A Single Cask Nation bottling, exclusively for Binny’s in Chicagoland. This was aged for 30 years in new toasted oak hogshead. Fruit-forward and flowery oak on the nose, strong vanilla undercurrent. Rich, earthy, slightly nutty, quite okay palate now that it settled… Originally this was a lot like drinking perfume, with some oxidation this is rather… nice and oakiness balances out the fruitiness. Lingering aftertaste with more or less everything from the palate, sweet dried fruits and flowers balanced out by some oak tannic bitterness. Overall: Not quite like just about everything in the scottish malt world, this is very flowery, fruity, rich, and intense. I wasn’t a huge fan of this originally, but it’s sure growing on me with some time and oxidation in the bottle. Value: Between $250 and $300 - depending on sale and shipping - this is certainly… not cheap, but a good cask and high age… I’ll give this one a pass on value.
Score: B+ (maybe A-)

Glencadam 13, Single Cask Nation, 60.2%
A 2011 Glencadam, aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrel, then finished for 3 years in 1st fill str sherry barrique - cask #18050. Bottled by Single Cask Nation in 2024. On the nose, it’s very boozy eastern european dried fruit compote bordering on paint-thinner intensity - still smells rather nice. The palate is incredibly intense, yes there’s plenty of wood and fruity flavors but the underlying alcohol is also so intense it’s nearly overwhelming any positives and sending my palate in to state of shock… Floral, sweet and rich palate… with cloves, apples, plums, peaches all mixed up together. Aftertaste lingers with slightly bitter woodiness. Overall, while it’s not the hazmat proofed but it’s some other sort of unbalanced intensity that doesn’t quite mash with me. This feels like a mismatch or a mis-proof of a cask… Not sure if they were fixing the ex-bourbon… or messed it up with the sherry str… but something isn’t particularly yummy for me here. Blended with something more neutral this becomes a lot more palatable - but I’m not rating blendability here. Value: Paid 125 for it so with shipping, not too bad… for any other bottle from that source and age. It’s hard to argue value - and stay unbiased - when not liking the flavors.
Score: C

Clynelish 12, Single Cask Nation, 61.1%
A twelve year old Clynelish in 1st fils bourbon cask bottled by Single Cask Nation, cask #180387. It came in a bundle with Glencadam above. Classic honeycomb and waxy clynelish with a slight funk on the nose - unsurprisingly alcohol is front and center, but still balanced enough. Palate waxy sweet classical clynelish, no surprises here. The aftertaste is classical sweet vanilla clynelish… Overall: This doesn’t break the formula, nor does it refine it… It’s kinda more of the same… but when the same is this good… it’s okay to have more of the same. Value: IIRC this was another 125, similarly to the bottle above… A touch over where I was happy to pay it but still not in the area where I’m unhappy to pay this, so let’s call it ‘reasonable’.
Score: B+

Wolves 5, American Single Malt 48%
Wolves 5 Year American Single Malt Whiskey begins under the intense Arizona heat, where the whiskey matures for five full years in seasoned California wine barrels. Then spirit barrels are hand-selected, blended, and given a final resting period in aged Cognac casks. On the nose, it’s a little wine-forward in a touch of way that doesn’t mesh well with ASM… Bit of a sharp yeast-sour note. The palate - on the other hand - is surprisingly nice, with dried fruits, toasted nuts - in as so much that un-sherried malt can be nutty - and some noticeable chili and nutmeg spices. Lingering aftertaste with more of the same from the palate. Overall: Drinkable, and if not for that nose this would be quite enjoyable as a casual pour… The nose spoils the entire experience for me. Closing my nose while drinking it seriously improves its approachability. Value: This was in Trader Joes at $20, which is phenomenal price… MSRP is circa $80 iirc… which is somewhat okayish… but people just not going to buy a quirky ASM for MSRP.
Score: C+

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

Courage & Conviction 7, SFWBSS Pick “Maple Train”, 60.5%
We’ve got Courage & Conviction American Single Malt, aged for 7 years in a cuvee (Wine) STR cask #2572. This one was picked by our good friends from SFWBSS group. The nose is quite impactful - dark red fruits, wood lacquer, good quality old furniture, port wine! I kept on trying to figure out the nose but it’s port… that red wine and alcohol… Not super dark port but nicely aged, spicy, strong and vanilla-forward one. The palate is a mix of dried orchard fruits, very generously spiced with chili and baking spices, and drowned in pure alcohol and sweet brown sugar. It’s very strong and unapologetic with the proof, but the alcohol itself isn’t abrasive, instead it’s velvety and welcoming. The palate is nice, lingering, like a sweet tea that’s been spiced with mulling spices (sans cinnamon). Overall: this is enjoyable but doesn’t quite reach amazing territory in my book. It blends really well with an under flavored malt for quite a terrific combination. Value: This was $65 or so, an extremely solid price considering nice packaging it comes in.
Score: B

GlenFabulous (Glenfarclas) 13, K&L/Faultline Sp, 55.1%
We’ve got Glenfarclas independently bottled by K&L Wines, distilled in 2010, and aged in for 13 years in a single hogshead (ex-bourbon) cask. Glenfarclas really dislikes their name on anything independent thus the ‘GlenFabulous’ naming. It’s should be noted that this is another one of the 6 Faultline malt bottles released by K&L in 2025, alongside with Glentauchers, Ardbeg, Balvenie and 3 others. Back to this… Classic speyside ex-bourbon nose, green apples and white grapes - that’s new. Very classic speyside malt palate… honestly more of the same from the nose. Lingering long aftertaste with a spike of spices towards the end that enhances the experience and makes you want more, baking spices and a touch of tobacco in the very end that lingers. Overall: Excellent, fabulous and all that… I got some stuff in backlog where I truly want to say ‘this is what ex-bourbon should be’ but this is very much what a *young* ex-bourbon malt should be! Value: Listed at $59… this is fantastic (fabulous) value.
Score: A-

Tomintoul 14, Cadenhead Small Batch, 46%
Tomintoul-Glenlivet - as Cadenhead calls all Speysiders - is a 14 year old single malt aged in bourbon casks and bottled at 46%. The nose is buttery speyside malt, nothing spectacular here, more or less what you’d expect. Vanilla, some light fruits, but rather mute nose overall. The palate is actually quite lively, starts fruity and slightly sweet, but quickly evolves in rather impactful ex-bourbon profile with chili spice and something tropical in the mix. Chili spices and surprisingly present alcohol linger around in a medium-length drying aftertaste that finishes with a mineral note towards the end. Overall: This is punching above what I have expected from this bottle. Honestly, what you see is what you get. Solid 14 year old speyside malt. Nothing much to sing praises here, but also nothing to complain above either. The aftertaste isn’t bad by any means but not having it lean towards sweetness is a bit of a letdown. Value: I paid $25 for this so yay me. About 60-80 is what i’d expect to this in a store.
Score: B

Islay Mystery (Ardbeg) 26, Faultline (K&L) SP, 54%
Another bottle from the recent batch of faultline bottlings by K&L wines. This is an Islay Mystery - Ardbeg - distilled in 1997 and aged for 26 years in ex-bourbon hogshead. A nose is spectacular with old heavy peat, salty and clinging - almost musty. Powerful smoke on the palate, vanilla sweetness, complex herbaly and earthy flavors, candied lemons somewhere in the secondaries. Lingering, sweet and smoky aftertaste that just lasts and lasts eventually ending with some lingering mint notes that linger into forever. Overall: “They don’t make them like they used to” is appropriate here. Powerful - and old - high quality malt that integrated to near perfection along the distillery’s profile. This is the one that definitely makes you sit back in your chair and just zone out while enjoy it. Value: Listed at $300 on the website, it’s not quite a bargain bin discount savings level but for pedigree, age, and quality it’s almost worth it.
Score: A

Fettercairn 16, First Editions, 56.9%
Fettercairn 16 - distilled in 2008 - bottled by First Editions by Hunter Laing. This was aged in oloroso butt HL21245. The nose is light sulfur and dark chocolate. The palate is bitter dark chocolate, light sulfur and chili spices. The lingering aftertaste is chili spice, dark chocolate, vanilla and everything nice. Overall: very consistent start-to-finish malt that is both a sherry bomb - and - executed well. Value: Priced at $99 at K&L Wines I’d count a bottle of this as a solid buy.
Score: A-

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