December 15, 2023 - The new 40% bottling is terrible. Entry is OK but just fades away with watery palate and finish and no discernible features. Very little to praise, I didn’t even finish my glass. The old 43% version was OK, but this is very (in)different 86pts.
October 1, 2021 - Acacia honey, white dead nettle flowers, bread, dry desert path, puppie snout, citrus and remote eucalyptus on the nose. On the palate powder sugar, acacia honey, lemon rind, nicotine, a mild pepper bite mid-palate and finishing with rust. Excellent, long, pretty complex and still very pleasant and approachable. Was a pretty affordable 18 year old (got it for 48,90 € 5 years ago), but prices are inflating lately.
March 29, 2021 - A miniature of the 43% version. The age brings real complexity to this. Depth on the nose, malt rather than their signature fruits. Hints of bracken. Long and complex but a bitterness from the wood shows on the finish. Not to my taste but others will appreciate this more.
April 19, 2020 - Quite attractive and balanced, a little less flamboyant than the similarly priced Glenfiddich 18, which is more sherry-driven but this is perhaps more elegant. Solid for the price.
January 23, 2019 - Drank with the legendary "Uncle" Bill Pattana.
Thin, bland, and a poor excuse of a whisky at 18 years old. No wonder it's so inexpensive.
October 27, 2018 - Beautiful scotch
March 31, 2018 - NOSE: very oaky and cedar, rye bread, slight orange/sherry. PALETTE: orange peel! Fermented plum and old oak, sharp citrus and pine tree, a little peat. FINISH: oak summer beach sand. Not enough of something. Very very woody but not as much smoky or sweet or savory 4.5/10
January 19, 2018 - Powerful one, not really my type, not very interesting aroma
August 25, 2017 - Justina Visits! (Russell Lea): Sweet raisin, berry purity, juicy sweet. clean, juicy, long lingering berries.
August 26, 2016 - Soft, dry and flowery with clear sherry influence. Creamy caramel and honey in the nose and some clear sherry sweetness. On the palate again the creaminess comes through with some fresh fruitiness (apples, pears) as well as dried fruits (apricot, apple again, raisins) and some drier toasty cereal notes, cookies and some oak. The finish is medium-long with sherry, malt and some nuts. Rich, sweet and gentle.