Tamnavulin Double Cask-  As a diversion from the storms of winter & world madness, let’s enjoy an earthy pleasure.  As we all know, the scalawags in whisky marketing are masters at creating cool looking labels and names.  I was hooked by the former, and the sunset like color !

The real story here is Speyside terroir that brings its character to the bottle.  The valley soils in that region grow remarkable barley that morphs into our subject malt .  The twist here is after the once filled bourbon barrel aging, the  liquid gold is given a sherry barrel vacation which brings out cherry notes and sweet cake flavors. It’s a common technique, but seldom seen at this bargain price point.   Ultimately, this golden beauty gives us an entire fruit salad in a glass. At a mild  80 proof, you definitely need to enjoy this neat…..The finish was a tad speedy but this tasty malt earned my respect.  It overachieved in character and earned a solid 7 rating.  Cheers to the entire team……

Torabhaig , Shaped by Skye-  A hearty and happy Hogmanay to you !  Let’s begin 2025 with a positive outlook and a new whisky to savor….. This young punk is from the Island of Skye where once only Talisker was distilled.  While I always appreciated the later, it’s time to recognize a fresh talent has landed.  As if to say, “look at me” , the new kid has a unique bottle shape and a split label , I like ‘em both. The dram itself is straw colored and briny with some fruit and vanilla cream.  There is a welcome peaty nose and flavor and at 92 proof , a strong whiff of alcohol. The spirt was probably in oak barrels for only 4 or so years , and therefore has a significant bite, edgy but not unpleasant.  The finish was zippy, with some added char and sweetness, not un-expected and quite punchy.  Now be honest, did you immediately look up Hogmanay?  Well if not cheers to you Gaelic knowledge.  Also, the pronunciation is  “Tora-Vaig”.  So as far as your resolutions this year, please add a few comments for your favorite whisky blogger, I enjoy the feedback.  Rated a solid 6.5 , just barely recommended , but new and promising , much like 2025. Cheers !

J.P. Wiser’s Canadian-

J.P.Wiser’s Canadian-  Diversity is a hot topic these days, right ? So I’m doing my part. We are enjoying peak fall color right now, so I poured a generous dram of autumn in my glass. Our fine neighbors to the north do many things exceptionally well and distilling whisky is right up there…..On a side note, they even spell it properly !  Before you even smell this classic, the fancy decanter gets your immediate attention. I found a massive amount of pepper and delicate caramel in the nose.  The palate was earthy but sophisticated, and no , that’s not a contradiction smarty pants……The mouthfeel was creamy and quite complex, right up my alley.  You will taste the toasty grain and rich rye notes which have a gentle bite, no doubt mellowed by the 18 long years in oak barrels.  The color reminded me of thick and delicious canadian maple syrup, my all time favorite on buckwheat pancakes.   I love the heritage involved too, they have been at this since 1857 !  The finish is a tad quick but the experience is long lasting.  To quote their original mantra, “ Horses should hurry, but whisky must take its time”.  You don’t need your passport to grab a bottle either, it’s widely available.  Fall in a glass is the order of the day, now get busy.  Rated an inclusive 8 on the leafy scale. 

Laphroaig Cairdeas-  In the world of Islay whiskies, none rate higher than this family of great depth and variety.  The term itself means friendship in Scottish Gaelic and it is a special release annually . There is a festival on the island each spring called Feis IIe and the special bottles are the center of attention.  Our featured malt has no age statement and usually that suggests a bit of harshness , but not here. The Islay profile is fully present with huge peat smoldering on the nose , absolutely wonderful.  The mouthfeel is dominated by sweet fruits and spices from the Port and Madeira cask aging.  My guess is several months in each and the spirit picked up some added golden color in the process.  At 104 proof , it’s a muscular dram sure to please the educated palate.  There is a brininess in the taste which is enhanced by the oak barreling where all the magic started.  And the seaside location no doubt has its influence too.   I found that adding a few drops of water, not my usual method, improved the experience noticeably.  There are not many opportunities to get a bottle of this quality so get crackin’ ……….I rate this an 8.5 on the snob-o-meter, make sure to share it with your best friends, remember the naming concept?

Balvenie Portwood 21- Skip the mortgage payment, max out the Amex…….Our subject is an elegant dandy from the copper stills nestled in the bucolic Speyside region.  The nose on this richly textured malt is sweet with candied fruit and a heady whiff of warm alcohol.   After 20 years in quality oak barrels, the wizards of Spey finished their jewel in Port Wine casks. The final months made all the difference. We frequently mention smoothness in refined single malts but this dude takes it to a new level.  The flavors are creamy vanilla with cinnamon and toasted raisins.  I found an oaky dimension with subtle chocolate notes and layers of honey.  Do you think a spirit can be elegant?  Can a whisky be graceful?  My answer is a definite yes sir !  At 86 proof, there is just enough power for most, but adding water killed the golden goose…….The finish was medium in length and just a tad melancholy, that means the glass is empty.  Savor this premier pour and share it with your friends, life is short and you can make 2 payments next month.  Did I mention it’s a tad pricy?  Rated a 9 on the ultra snob scale, this is one special drink. 

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.