Brett – 83

A very grassy nose; young and musty, but with a definite maltiness that sets it off. There is also caramel, and a butterscotch sweetness, as well as hints of old leather. The 10 year old can be a bit bitey on the palate, but also has a surprisingly medium/thick body, as well as a verrrry long, lingering finish. Big and strong, the finish contains a whole “forest full” of oak, with varying degrees of smoke, black tea, and more caramel. This is a big, everyday type of whisky that can be enjoyed year-round.

Glen – 72

A very sharp, spirity dram that comes off much to young. Filled with oak and grass and lacks that sweetness you’d expect from a Speyside. Water improved the nose slightly but ruined the body and finish. Not very smooth.

Nose: Very sharp, young and malty, grassy, spirity, musty, leather, honey and caramel
Body: Medium to thick, sharp
Sharp, a big burst and lingering, oak, some subtle smoke

Maybe over ice?

Brett – 81

The 16 year old has a nose that we could only describe as “spirity”. Full of old grasses and aldehyde, there are also hints of heather, sherry, and Tomintoul’s trademark caramel. (Water really opens up the nose, exposing beautiful dried fruits and cinnamon.) A medium/light body segues into a finish that is both smoother and shorter than the 10 year old expression, with honey, toasted almonds, quinine, bitters, soft leather, and just the faintest, tiniest bit of peat (if at all). Though good, I wonder what a few more years in the cask would do to this dram. 

Glen – 79

This is a dram that improves immensely with water. I liked this whisky even though it still seemed a tad immature. Much smoother then the 10 year old and had a light wistful character. 

Nose: Grassy, young, heather, caramel and honey
Body: Medium
Finish: Medium length, bitters, oak, has a leathery aftertaste 

Pleasant with water.

Brett – 87

Wow, what a nose! It is almost perfumed. Honestly. And though I’m not usually one for that sort of thing (preferring more of a “meaty” nose), this aroma is, pardon the obvious pun, intoxicating. Crisp and clean, the nose is also full of overripe pears and apples, as well as honey, light oak, and of course caramel. The very light body morphs into a short, sweet finish full of peaches, grapefruits, honey, vanilla, and light coffee. Very mellow. Though with different flavors, this dram reminded us of delicate bourbon, somehow. Truly the gentlest of the “gentle drams”.

Glen – 86

Fruit salad anyone. Filled with overripe fruit with pears and apples in the nose and peaches in the finish. A unique perfumed nose. A fellow taster referred to it as a ‘Bourbon light’. A very nice flavorful after dinner dram that was much better neat. Water removes the perfume and deadens the dram. 

Nose: Perfumed, tons of overripe fruit (mostly pears and crushed apples), caramel, oak
Body: Very light
Medium: Short, lots of peach, vanilla, honey, very sweet

To borrow a quote from the Wiggles; ‘fruit salad, yummy, yummy’ (sorry I couldn’t resist)