I can’t imagine a better way to enjoy finishing a round…..Once the score has been tallied up and the lies have  all been told, a proper drink is in order.  Our single malt will settle the nerves and your companions will forgive your minor outburst when you dunked your tee shot in the pond.  I found a subtle sweetness on my initial sip and noted the complete lack of any smoke.  The floral nose was quite pleasant and the mouthfeel was soft and mellow. This is not a terribly complex malt but if that’s your thing, jump right in.  At  only 80 proof you could probable enjoy one on the back nine with your overcooked hotdog. I found the finish contained a batch of honey and was of medium length, pretty darn good …..So the next time you hear a loud “ fore” , duck and protect your drink !  Is it a coincidence that the game and the spirit came from the same country ?????  I think not.  Rated a one over par bogey , drinkable but less than exciting.

Laphroaig 16-  If I were a betting man, I’d wager a princely sum on this vintage bottle. When you have a pile of coin, that’s the only sensible route.  Our Islay beauty was bottled in ’03 after being artfully distilled in 1987….How is it possible that it sat for all those years?  None the less, we have a rare opportunity to savor a dusty labeled smoothy !  It’s become “ a thing” to seek forgotten bottles in retail stores, but my bet is these never get set aside……The nose on this pale amber malt is gigantic smoky citrus.  I found a warming brine with chocolate notes mid taste and the finish was epic.  There is some creamy honey deep in the mix with a bit of pepper in the distance.  The aging was all in ex-bourbon barrels which created the mellow mix of flavors.  Sooner or later you need to cash in your chips and go for the jackpot.  Score one whenever you get the chance.  This jackpot is a solid 9 on the snob scale.

Murray McDavid 14-  This Speyside single malt is tough to find but easy to sip.  The distillery sits on the coast overlooking  the Moray Firth.  The 14 years in that grassy coastal region has created a luscious and herbal whisky with a unique woody flavor.  All aging here was in ex-bourbon barrels which imparted a complex and punchy 92 proof beauty. The north sea air no doubt added the subtle brine and honey sweetness……The nose is a spicy surprise and helps explain the long and warming mouthfeel. Its pale amber color and caramel taste marks it as a classic malt.  Fun fact: much of their product goes into blends, so the lucky few get to taste the “real deal “malt, and it’s worth the effort.  If you dig a bit deeper into this family of whiskies, the portfolio is vast and varied. Seek and destroy is a military objective, seek and enjoy is our mission here.  Start your new year with character and ’24 is sure to be memorable.  Rated a solid 7 on the snob scale.  Slàinte  

Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate 15-  I am wrapping this gift for your holiday enjoyment.  The malt spent a full 15 years in ex-bourbon barrels which created a creamy rich whisky. The name comes from Cadboll estate grown barley, we’re told its ultra exclusive.   I found graham crackers and banana fruit in the flavor with mystery spices a plenty….The spirit is thicker than taffy, and very delicious indeed.  The nose is far better than any Glenmorangie bottle I ever experienced, festive very luxe. Your season will sparkle just a little brighter with this dram so get shopping.  Santa might need a hint so point her to this review and hope for the best.  Even those pesky tree lights will be cooperative if you are sipping while decorating, ask me how I know !  My sincere season’s greetings to you and yours.  Rated 8 by all the elves on the Snob team…..Slainte.

Cameronbridge 27- Please open your hymnals to page 27.   In today’s” rush the product to market” mindset, 27 years is an eternity.  The fine people at the Cameronbridge distillery broke the rules and we are the beneficiaries.  Grab you slippers and get the fireplace lit, this requires a proper experience.   Our single grain wonder has a distinctive fruity nose with some killer spices.  I found chocolate and cherries in the palate and at 102 proof, a nice wack of alcohol……The cost of entry here is a bit steep but easily worth it.  As a fall appropriate whisky, I taste a  unique woody & leafy  goodness. The finish was medium in length with a zesty blast of pepper and notes of apple cider. I rate this beauty a solid 8 , and send apologies to David E. Davis for cribbing his famous line.

Oban 18-In today’s society, everything new and wacky seems to be in vogue. Well this highland smoothy is just the opposite.  For 200 years the Stevenson family has painstakingly crafted their malt in the same building, no rushing to expand or modernize ever.  I found toffee and subtle chocolate along with ripe banana notes in the flavors (yup really) .  The peat is mellow and warming and you will find zero gimmicky nuances. It’s curiously dense and complicated, and smooth as a pond at sunrise.  The price is a tad high but, 18 years in the barrel is a long time to mature. The wood makes its presence known and the finish is nearly forever.  Tradition is not a dirty word, so break out your wool jacket, and maybe a bow tie.  Delicious, classic, and proud of it, rated a 9 on the snob scale…..enjoy.

Highland Park Valknut-  These Barbarians hail from the northernmost region in Scotland and their ancestors are Vikings !  I guess we are in for a wild ride here, so forget the subtlety…..First noted is a lack of an age statement, so I prepare for a young ( edgy)  bite but it is smoother than expected.  The nose is peaty and toasty, with a solid wiff of alcohol.  At near 47% this is a punchy dram and a tad thin…..I found dried fruit and some sherry-like sweetness, a remnant from the selected aging barrels.  The Orkney benchmark is local barley with peat roasting and we have a good amount in the palate. We have a nice mix of caramel and vanilla with a spicy fruit added in for good measure. I loved the lingering finish and the maltiness that the distillers built in.  This whisky is complex and enjoyable but might be slightly overpriced , it’s not HP’s best effort.  The 3 triangle graphic is a link from warrior to the afterlife , designed by an Orkney native with lineage to the first Earl of the region, a remarkable history.  So the Viking spirt lives on in this malt, rough and tough, strong as hell, and worth the effort. I rate it a thundering 7 , now hide the women and children and run for cover.