An intense and enthralling whisky on the nose, with honey, brown sugar, and caramel, then molasses, cooked fruit, vanilla, shredded orange peel, chocolate, and baking spices, yet it still retains a barley freshness. This elegantly carries its potent ABV with aplomb, producing a palate of baked orange, dried pineapple, malt, milk chocolate, and a cascade of spice, sugar, caramelized fruits, and toasted oak. Simply incredible. (900 bottles, 300 for U.S.) Collectible

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2020)

Lush, rich, and deep from the start, with blackberry, cherry, spiced plum, cinnamon, mint, and maple syrup aromas. Even more density on the palate, which has deep flavors of cocoa powder, Raisinets, roasted walnuts, cinnamon, mint, maple syrup, and chewy oak. Extraordinary length on the finish, which carries the chocolate, dark fruit, spice, mint, and rich oak notes for minutes. A phenomenal follow-up to its 13 year old antecedent, our 2019 Whisky of the Year.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

Complex from the start, with a nose of roasted nuts and dark fruit—blueberry pie, grape jelly—along with bundled herbs, fresh-brewed iced tea, and weathered barn boards. Mint, cinnamon, pepper, concord grape jelly, peanuts, and black tea swirl on the palate, which is full and robust thanks to the absence of chill-filtration. Without water it finishes hot, but the oak, roasted nut, and tiramisu flavors help retain balance. Editors' Choice

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B517 was our Whisky of the Year in 2017, and this latest release continues the tradition. The nose exudes spice, rich chocolate, and caramel, followed by a palate that’s loaded with spice, herbs, vanilla, and more chocolate. Water enhances the spice, and also brings out an espresso note. A spice-filled finish is rich and chocolaty. Water enhances it all, but even without, it’s superbly balanced and rich.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2020)

After marrying in sauternes casks for many years, this bourbon-matured 1991 distillate has become epic stuff. Aromas of dried apricot, cooked apple, roasted aromatic spices, red grape, candied peel, dried fig, smoked butter, and singed fruitcake. The palate purrs like a contented cat. It’s dark and syrupy, with treacle, cooked plum, a touch of peppery spice, and a medicinal finish of cough drops and aniseed. (4,000 bottles) €500

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2020)

The nose opens with coal-fire smoke and musty orchard fruits, which freshen in time. Peaches and mandarins, a hint of brine, and lit cigar. Remarkably vivid orange notes on the palate, with coal, sea salt, and black tea. Black pepper, tar, and persistent tangy orange notes in the long finish. Price is for entire Prima & Ultima Collection, of which this whisky is a part. (436 bottles) £20,000

Reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2020)

Rich sherried fruit aromas, machine oil, camphor, coal dust, marzipan, and freshly polished oak. Full and sweet on the early palate, then drying, with black coffee, licorice, and the distinctive flavor of coal. A long finish, with dark chocolate and cherry liqueur. No negative oakiness despite its age. Superb! Price is for entire Prima & Ultima Collection, of which this whisky is a part. (352 bottles) £20,000

Reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2020)

Sweet, smoky, meaty peat aromas mingle with vanilla saltwater taffy, blueberry, dried ginger, and bright bubble gum. The palate is consistent, juxtaposing fruity spirit—orange, lemon, strawberry, blueberry—with savory peat smoke. Vanilla, nuts, black pepper, cinnamon, and well-integrated oak are also at play. The finish lingers with the sweet-savory pleasure of a cigar, nutty oak, spice, and peat. Does well with water, showing excellent development. (208 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

A very intriguing nose suggests brewed sweet tea, caramel, and eclectic fruits that span blackberry, cherry, and bruised apples, with flickers of baking spice and toasted almond. The palate is somewhat jammy, as sweet cooked fruit—damsons and currants—come sprinkled among more spice. Really beguiling and moreish with its dark fruit, perfect burnt sugar edge, and tea-like tannin on the finish. (2,474 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Fall 2020)

Oak always leads the character of well-aged bourbon, sometimes dominating it, but here the balance is just right. The nose gives an impression of sweet syrupy fruit, like candied orange peel and cherries jubilee; there’s also creamy flan, dusty spice, cocoa powder, and leather bookbindings. Richly oaked and dense with flavor, the palate has dark chocolate, roasted walnuts, cola, black currant jam, and peppermint. It finishes generously with mint-flavored dark chocolate, blackberry jam, and coffee bean. Skip the water. (14,400 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

A basket of berries—blue, black, and rasp—plus brown sugar, dark chocolate, iced tea, and walnuts in syrup on the nose. The berries carry through to the palate, though it’s more chocolate-oriented, with cocoa powder, coffee bean, and peanut butter-swirled brownies. It’s full and deep, and remarkably smooth without water, though a drop or two doesn’t go amiss. The finish is full and lengthy, with chocolate, roasted walnuts, rich oak, and a hint of spice. Outstanding. (8,340 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

A sweet and enticing nose of marzipan, crème anglaise, blueberry compote, cooked cherry, brown sugar, baking spice, and vanilla bean. The palate showcases rich chocolate, with heaps of dark and cooked fruit: blackberry and blueberry preserves, Luxardo cherries, as well as cinnamon, dried ginger, allspice, and roasted walnuts—everything seamlessly interwoven. Lengthy on the finish, with mocha, dark chocolate, polished oak, and white pepper.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

Brownie batter, toasted almonds, maple syrup, orange peel, ginger, raspberries, and strawberries on the nose, with a touch of iced tea. The palate is oily and rich with fruit, especially after water is added; orange marmalade and cherry soda mingle with semi-sweet chocolate and chicory coffee. Chicory, mocha, polished oak, and cocoa powder on the finish. Add water for more prominent fruit notes without losing the rich character or stellar balance.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

The sweet vanilla, almond, and coconut aromas don’t prepare you for the chocolaty richness of the palate, but don’t stress; just enjoy the journey. It starts with Almond Joy, crème brûlée with fresh blackberries, nougat, and marzipan, then progresses to cacao nibs, dried cranberries and cherries, and a striking amaretto flavor. Everything wraps up neatly—and lengthily—with cocoa powder, black pepper, mocha, and roasted walnuts. Don’t be shy about watering generously; this can quite a bit.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

One sniff is like opening a box of chocolates—plenty of different aromas, from raspberry filling to pecans to spice, but all suffused with cacao, an impression borne out by the rich, full palate. Think dark chocolate torte, cocoa-dusted truffles, bits of semi-sweet baker’s chocolate broken off the bar and snuck into the mouth. More cocoa powder, toasted nuts, and polished oak on the finish, which is shot through with cinnamon and pepper.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

A blend of straight bourbons from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana, aged 9 to 15 years. Wild herbs, dried apricots, and red fruits punctuate the nose, while the palate is smooth but complex, offering spice and refined sweetness, along with notes of tobacco leaf, graphite, semi-sweet chocolate, and dried red fruit. The finish is lengthy, led by dark berry flavors and followed by undernotes of chocolate, toasted almonds, and baking spice.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2020)

The nose is fruity and deep, with cherry cough drop, grape candy, strawberry jam, buttered pecans, iced tea, dusty baking spice, and a hint of tobacco barn; water brings out fresher fruit, plus toasted grain and brown sugar. Mouth-filling and chewy, the palate has dimension and more berries and cherries, sweet with syrup; water focuses the profile on nuts and chocolate. The finish has peppery oak, chocolate-covered coffee bean, and nuts, with quickly fading dark fruit.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Fall 2020)

The latest addition to Glenmorangie’s Bond House No. 1 collection is 23 years old. The nose is sweet and inviting, with honey, ginger, vanilla fudge, milk chocolate, and nectarines. Very smooth on the palate: peaches in cream, more milk chocolate, caramel, then spicy apricots. Long in the finish, with orange rind and a hint of chile.

Reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2020)