The nose offers antiseptics, Band-Aids, caramel, lemon peel, grassy smoke, and aniseed balls. As it unfurls, the smoke combines with notes of rich chocolate brownie and earthy peat. Honeyed, with sweet smoke on the palate, juicy citrus notes, sherbet, vanilla, ice cream wafers, clementine, and a bright finish of tangy citrus and sherbet. Dangerously drinkable, and one you’ll want to keep within easy reach for a second pour. (6,000 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

The nose starts with pleasant floral and lemon peel overtones as well as an herbal note, leading to aromas of macaroons and confectionery powder. Sweet notes of lemon cookie, sugared almonds, and cinnamon ride across the palate, with water coaxing out spice and bitter chocolate. Fresh vanilla cookies punctuate the finish, with an integrated array of baking spice, tiramisu, chocolate babka, cinnamon bun, and lemon. Balanced, complex sweetness melding with citrus and spice.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2021)

A beautiful blush-toned whisky with red currant, cranberry, and light toffee; the delicate spices beautifully integrated with the soft fruits on the nose. Flavors of dried apricots, honey, and vanilla sugar offer a sweet smooth creaminess with hints of butterscotch, cherry syrup, and lingering fine-ground pepper. Adding this latest port finish to its range, Dewar’s bolsters the resurgence of the 8 year old age statement in scotch whisky. (Best Value)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

Distiller Dariusz Plazewski’s policy of small-batch and single-cask releases has built a loyal following for Bimber. This one has lush caramel and dried banana on waffles, faint milk chocolate notes, red chile, and toasted oak, though the aromas are ring-fenced by peppery spices and strong alcohol. On the palate, the initial dark plum fruits are joined by pepper, caramelized sugar, and Smucker’s Magic Shell chocolate topping. (253 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

A whisky to settle down with for the night, with its lavish nose of chocolate, cappuccino, cocoa powder, dried cherry, and toasted spices. Rich and fruity, with initial chocolate and cocoa flavors, the high alcohol is mouth drawing and purses the lips. At cask strength, there are flavors of apple, a spike of clove and pepper, and a finish of plain dark chocolate, but dilute to accentuate the fruity elements. (480 bottles for Whiskey Neat, TX)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

Orchard fruit, applesauce, barley sugar, macadamia nut, white pepper, and light spicy aromas, with toasted brioche bringing a touch of sweetness. The palate is fruity with apple and sultanas draped in honey and caramel, peppery spice, with orange and lemon peel and late baked citrus on the finish. A pleasing dram, though if you’re drawn to Flóki looking for unconventional flavors and idiosyncratic methods, this is a more traditional whisky.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

Iceland’s first single malt is 3 years old and finished in American oak casks originally used for Flóki Young Malt (not sold in the U.S.). The nose is pleasant and light, with sweet malt, lemon-butter biscuits, orange zest, and mellow wood spices. Light-bodied with red apple peelings and a slow build of spices, honey, toasted waffle cone, baking chocolate, dark vanilla, and crumbled Oreos.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

There’s nice dimension to the nose, with aromas of dried herbs, orange oil, walnuts, black tea, and a honeyed sweetness alongside candied orange peel. The well-developed palate offers zesty grapefruit and lemon, and darker flavors underneath: root beer, plums, chocolate, and blueberries. The interplay between crisp citrus and deeper, earthier flavors creates intrigue. The finish unfolds further with bitter chocolate and oak. A lot is happening here, with most of it in unison.

Reviewed by: Ted Simmons (Spring 2021)

An 11 year old blend containing 16 and 11 year old whiskeys whose profile is inspired by gose-style beers. The nose offers sweet notes of bubble gum, cherries, blueberry pie, candied orange, caramel corn, and cinnamon bread, tempered by hints of eucalyptus and herbs. The palate is herbal and spiced, with flavors of bitter chocolate, pear tart, and cinnamon. A mellow finish of dark fruit is dusted with cinnamon powder, herbal notes, and oak.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2021)

Distilled predominantly from floor-malted locally grown rye, the first impression is one of spiciness, with peppercorn, clove, cardamom, dark rye bread, dried apple rings, cinnamon bark, and pear. It’s like a country kitchen in the fall. The taste is initially light and creamy, like malted milk, though the body fattens up with red apple, cranberry, clove, and pepper, ending with Bramley apples and a pleasant spiciness.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

Fruit-led on the nose, with cherry cola, damson, plum, aromatic spices, and coriander seed, plus hints of currant and mixed peel. The texture is light, with flavors of toffee, date, brown sugar, chocolate, cocoa, and malty drinks. (U.S. exclusive; 1,272 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

The sequel to Redemption Rye’s rum cask-finished expression, following 2020’s release of Batch 1. Candied raspberries and cherries on a lightly sweet nose, which also offers notes of herbal tea and subtle earthiness. Bitter cherry and toasted almond on the palate, as well as dark chocolate, licorice, orange, roasted nuts, tobacco, and white pepper. More tobacco notes, licorice, and drying oak tannins on a finish that’s spicy and powerful.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2021)

Taking inspiration from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic issued during the Easter Rising of 1916, the nose has toasted granola, blended honey, sliced pear, hay bales, cracker bread, wood shavings, and gently roasted spices. Light to medium-bodied, it’s a likable easy sipper with flavors of oat crisp, cinnamon, heather honey, and the rounded fruitiness of banana, apple, and pear with sweet vanilla.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

Candied strawberries, dried flowers, and light nuttiness on the nose. The palate features semi-sweet chocolate, espresso beans, spice cake, cantaloupe slices, coffee ice cream, and a malty note. The finish offers good length and exudes notes of dried red berries, spice, bitter chocolate, cocoa powder, and light influences of roasted grain, oak, and tobacco leaf. The latter notes meld with the sweetness and spice, creating a complex, alluring balance.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2021)

Made from 80% malted barley and 20% malted rye and aged in a stainless-steel cask with toasted mizunara oak staves and heads. Divisive among tasters, with mint chocolate chip ice cream on the nose, with saltwater taffy, dried apple rings, and seaweed. The palate diverts from the striking nose with dried tobacco, stroopwafel, and caramel M&Ms. The finish is bitter but bright, with lemon and new oak. A highlight of the inventiveness among America’s craft distillers.  

Reviewed by: Ted Simmons (Spring 2021)

A mashbill of 100% soft white wheat imparts sweet pastry notes throughout, which dominate despite the mizunara-cask finish. Almond danish with drizzled icing, lemon curd, coconut flakes, vanilla, and baby powder on the light, sweet nose. The palate has more of the same: white frosting on pound cake, lemon-lime soda, vanilla ice cream, and honeyed almonds. It finishes sweet and simple, but satisfying. Not a whiskey you need to think about—just enjoy it.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2021)

Finished in French oak Islay casks originally filled with New Zealand pinot noir (think Ardbeg Blaaack), the nose has honey, lemon zest, Golden Delicious apple, pear, salty peat smoke, crumbly compost, aromatic spices, and hints of gooseberry and grapefruit. Light-bodied and toothsomely sweet, it skims the tongue with flavors of nougat, lemon, melted vanilla ice cream, clove, and sherbet, with a brief reappearance of peat smoke late into the finish. Kr 700

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2021)

A blend of bourbon and rye matured on a barge in the Mississippi River. A light fruitiness on the nose turns candied at times, with raspberry-peach iced tea, strawberry hard candies, and grape soda. That quality carries over to the palate, where cherry cough syrup and orange peel meet lemon and dry oak. The finish is quick, with more fruitiness in the form of cherry skins. It’s light-bodied for the proof, but with full flavor. (10,300 bottles)

Reviewed by: Ted Simmons (Spring 2021)