Auchentoshan
Limited Edition 17-Year-Old
Bordeaux Wine Cask Finished
Lowlands
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland)
51% abv, $120.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The wonderful, multilayered bouquet offers scents of pine needles and moss and deeper aromas of black tea, sawdust and coffee grounds. The palate entry is initially sharply spirity before turning sweet and cocoa-like; at midpalate a remarkable caramel-like and honeyed sweetness take charge. The finish is like fresh honey, cream and cocoa butter.

Duncan Taylor
Glenugie 1981
23-Year-Old Sherry Cask
Rarest of the Rare Series
Eastern Highlands
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland)
58% abv, $228.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The nose is malty, dry and woody; the addition of mineral water introduces linseed oil and beeswax scents. The palate entry is chewy, spirity, caramel- and toffee-like; the delicious midpalate includes maple-like tastes of chocolate-covered banana, Raisinettes and fudge. The aftertaste is honey sweet and lush. Bravo.

Highland Park
30-Year-Old Orkneys
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland)
48.1% abv, $350.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The nose offers subtle aromas of unsweetened coconut, bacon fat, and dark toffee with additional toasty scents of apple crisp, dates and oak. The palate entry is rich and fresh; the midpalate features flavors of bacon fat, dark honey, fudge, and bittersweet chocolate: a tour de force in the mouth. The finish is graceful and toffee-like.

Longrow
10-Year-Old Tokaji Wood Expression
Campbeltown
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
(Scotland)
55.6% abv, $112.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
An amazing bouquet that oozes with scents of pears, banana bread, figs and toasty malt. The palate entry is rich, salty and dense; the midpalate features succulent flavors of dates, grapes, sautéed bananas, sweet malt, sea breeze, sweet oak and honey. Ends up sweet, compelling, and idiosyncratic. Worth every cent and more.

Talisker
Distiller's Edition 1992
Double Matured/Amoroso Sherry Cask Finished
Isle of Skye
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
(Scotland)
45.8% abv, $65.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The wonderful bouquet includes scents of seaweed, smoke, peat, iodine, kippers and pipe tobacco. The palate entry is briny and intense; the midpalate is oily with traces of anise, butterscotch and linseed oil. Finishes vibrantly with tastes of salted butter, oil and brine. Highly idiosyncratic: for lovers of robust, seaside malts. Best Buy.

The Arran
Malt Port Cask Finished
Single Cask Limited Edition
Isle of Arran
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
(Scotland)
58.5% abv, $79.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
There is no stopping this aroma which includes scents of grapes, oranges, cotton, tar, wood shavings, fruitcake, chocolate covered cherries and candied almond. The palate entry is fruity and ripe; the midpalate highlights honey, sherry, baked apple and ruby Port. Finishes warm, sweet, ripe, and jammy. Add mineral water before tasting. A landmark achievement for this still-young distillery. Best Buy.

The Balvenie
1971 Single Cask
Speyside Cask
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland)
47.1% abv, $599.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The elegant bouquet includes fragrances of pear, tangerine and nectarine with foundational aromas of oak, soft cheese, honey and leather. The palate entry finds tastes of vanilla-like oak and sautéed butter; at midpalate the toffee-caramel-honeyed tastes make for exquisite sipping. The aftertaste is warm and spicy-sweet. (Barrel #8935/Bottle #29 of 219 total bottles.)