As The Spirit Moves Me

  First, apologies for the terrible picture. I guess I was just overwhelmed by how amazing this was? Nose: Roasted nuts, marzipan, peanuts, red plums, dark chocolate, leather. Just a hint of something like old mint. Palate: Caramel, black pepper, sour cherry, cacao nibs, dark chocolate. Currants, sultanas, ginger and figs. Toffee, clotted cream. Finish: Really long. Spicy pepper, then sweet. Caramel, burnt sugar, chocolate covered cherries, a hint of oak. Fading into pipe tobacco and leather. Good lord, this is a delicious whisky. Would I buy this: Yes. Under $200 USD, yes. Would I order this in a bar:  Absolutely. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Thank you, may I have another if it's not too dear? Verdict: Delicious. Big thumbs up.

From Santa Pent0x, blind.  Nose: Baking spices. Clove, cinnamon, allspice. Vanilla. A little fruit, like plums. Is it armagnac, maybe? The nose is a little more subtle than I expected given the colour.  Palate: Woody, fruity, delicious. Prunes, nutmeg, vanilla, a little oak.  Finish: Slow and round. Sweet vanilla, raisin, allspice, black currants.  This is super well balanced, fruit and wood really amazingly integrated. Not super complex in flavours, but the depth in the few things it has is there, and very very well done.  I'm guessing Armagnac, 40%, 10 to 15 years old. And tasty, tasty, tasty.  Would I buy this: Depending on price, most definitely. Would I order this in a bar: I would, and I would think it was a classy joint for having it. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Oh yes, very yes. Verdict: Thumbs up. Thanks Santa!

  Nose - Sour cherries, raspberries, almonds, slightly metallic, figs, Virginia pipe tobacco Palate - Raisin, toffee, honey, sage, almond, nougat, nutmeg, bitter lemon,  Finish - Black pepper, honey, sharp and a bit thin.  It seems a bit hot and brash for what it is, even with a bit of water. There's a lot going on that just doesn't quite gel. Would I buy this: If it were under 60 a bottle, and I doubt it was even then, maybe. Would I order this in a bar: Probably not. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: I would! It's not a bad scotch. It's just not my jam.  Final notes: For me the K&L exclusives are very hit or miss. They're always super interesting and tend to have a lot going on, they're just not always to my taste. Such is the case here. Verdict: Thumbs Down. Not for me.

Nose: Candied orange peel, sultanas, plums, cocoa, figs. Palate: Raw barley, plum, citron, sloes, allspice. A hint of chocolate. Finish: Long. Baking spices, milk chocolate, oak. Verdict: Not quite as complex as the 18 Allardice, but still damned good. I'd love a bottle of this. Quite nice. Would I buy this: I would! I wonder if the newer releases are this good. Would I order this in a bar: Definitely, if I wanted a nice sherried dram. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Please, and thank you! Rating: ★★★★

Nose: Figs and dates. Bovril. Hazelnuts. Cocoa. Light molasses. Palate: Christmas cake. Rum. Milk chocolate. Allspice. Finish: Medium in length. Blackcurrants. Clotted Cream. Resinous wood. Black tea. Cocoa powder. Verdict: Pretty complex. All the sherry notes are there, but it's balanced by wood and the malt as well. A fantastic dram. I wish it had just a little something more going on. Would I buy this: I would! I wish it were a bit cheaper here in the US, though. Would I order this in a bar: Definitely, if I wanted a nice sherried dram. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Please, and thank you! Rating: ★★★★

This dram was a mystery included in my 2018 Secret Santa swap. It was tasted and reviewed blind. Nose: Stewed plums, cocoa, toasted nuts, clove, Virginia pipe tobacco, honey, vanilla, raspberries. Palate: Sweet red berries, vanilla, oak, rich cocoa, figs, dark cherries, caramel, black pepper, honey. Finish: Finish is long. Dry and tannic, but with a little caramel and clove at the tail. Verdict: Definitely some heat. Like 100-110 proof, maybe? It's very rich. I think it's port finished, based on what I'm tasting. Would I buy this: Depending on price, I would. Given it's from Astor, maybe not. But it's awfully good. Would I order this in a bar: I would, definitely. Delicious dram. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Oh, yes please! Rating: ★★★★

Nose: Bruised apple, overripe grapes, vanilla, old wood, violets Palate: Thin on flavor. Sweet windfall fruit, underripe pear, maple syrup, white cardamom, ethanol. The mouthfeel is amazing, thick and viscous, like gelatin in water. Finish: Tart cherries, bilberries, vanilla, black grape, oak, black tea. Dry on the finish. Short. Verdict: The mouthfeel is amazing. There's enough going on to make this a decent introduction to armagnac. For the price I'm exceedingly happy with it. Would I buy this: I would! Would I order this in a bar: If I wanted armagnac, absolutely. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Most definitely. Rating: ★★★

Nose : Smoke, seaweed, caramel, iodine, oily roasted nuts, old fermenting fruit, cocoa,  taffy. Palate : Malt, smoke, toffee, dirty ash, peat, seaweed, custard, butterscotch, lemon curd. Finish : Yesterday's fire, allspice, lingering caramel, bready malt, grilled plums. Verdict : Just plain fantastic. Seriously the best Cairdeas I've had. The balance is superb, the smoke and sweetness and complexity are all so nicely put together. The proof is perfect. I have one more bottle of this, and it's staying on the shelf for a bit. Delicious. Would I buy this: Yes. Would I order this in a bar: Absolutely, yes. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Yes, yes, yes! Rating: ★★★★★

Armagnac! I love a nice armagnac. I know some people don't love brandies, but I especially have a real interest in armagnac. Nose : Dark fruit, plums, fallen apples and warm sultanas and allspice. Palate : Red berries and caramel. Bright tart cherries. Caramel vanilla poached pears with cinnamon. Finish : Long. Warm wildflower honey. Sweet and sour mingled. Caramel and spices. Earthy. Hints of bay leaves or cedar at the tail end. Verdict : This is simply delicious. Really an outstanding armagnac. Great balance of fruit, earth, and spice with enough odd things in little hints to keep it interesting. Would I buy this: Yes! I'm so sad I didn't get a bottle. Would I order this in a bar: Absolutely. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: For sure, and I would look upon them favorably. Rating : ★★★★