Even amid the deeper complexity of the sherry cask influence, the tropicality comes through—lemon grove and Spanish melon, set against a backdrop of dried leaves, forest floor, and pine wood. Elegant and honeyed on the palate, with the sherry cask influence showing a winey note, banana flan, apricot, milk chocolate, orange tart, and vanilla cream. A long smooth finish brings forth baking spice, sugared lemon, banana, honeysuckle, caramel, and savory oak. Impressive.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Produced in Northern India from six-row barley and matured in bourbon, sherry, and wine casks; aromas of boxed dates, white pepper, stewed apple, raisin, antique oak, blackcurrant, and hints of licorice emerge. A fruity whisky with flavors of strawberry, raspberry syrup, sugary dark honey, stewed fruits, and discarded peels in empty cocktail glasses. Lebkuchen hearts, brown sugar, pepper, blackberry, and black cherry follow, before melting deliciously into chocolate brownie. (6,720 bottles for the U.S.)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2021)

Dickel’s now-annual return to bottled in bond, this one following the release of an 11 year old last year and a 13 year old in 2019, which became our Whisky of the Year. Roasted peanuts, marzipan, sweet corn, and bakery shop, with water unlocking cherries, jelly donut, raspberry jam, blueberry pie, fresh grains, and melted caramel. Mouth-coating overall, with a delicate finish that ends with a savory back note of wild herbs.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Talisker’s oldest whisky bottled to date, topping a 41 year old manzanilla cask finish released two years ago. Fragrant notes of sandalwood, lavender, and lemon spritz, sweetening to lemon meringue pie and warm peach tart. Vanilla, ginger, melon, and persimmon mark the palate, artfully accented by scents of old candle wax. The subtle Talisker peat has become even gentler with age, and the finish offers spice, old leather, and graceful oak. (1,830 bottles)

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Bold, flavorsome smoke exudes from the glass of this new blend, mingled with a zesty citrus sweetness, vanilla, and an extra blast of peppery smoke when you delve deeper. It’s mouth-drawing on the palate, with caramel, marmalade, and vanilla sponge cake, getting tangier as the spices kick in, before a conclusion of spice, smoke, chocolate, burnt butter, and stewed fruits. Perfect for outdoor drinking in the colder months.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2021)

With a well-matured sherry cask character, this whiskey works beautifully paired with Belgian chocolates after a fine dinner. Rich dried fruits, molasses, prunes, black cherry, aromatic spice rubs, walnut oil, and savory juices on the nose. Luxuriant palate of raisin, stewed fruits, black coffee, treacle, pepper, and clove, with a slight savory return. It rounds off with toffee apple, Brazil nut, and a long finish of peppercorn. Another excellent barrel this year. (600 bottles for the U.S.)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2021)

This year’s edition of the Port Charlotte Cask Exploration Series was aged in French oak red wine casks from Bordeaux’s Pauillac region. Sweet peat on the nose, honey, sugared banana slices, vanilla flan, barley sugar, green apple, and fresh-cut grass. The palate offers charcoal, bonfire, and pepper spice, with water taming the peat and drawing out candied lemon, orange, apricot, sweet tea, and cinnamon spice. A fiery but serenely refined peat profile.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

From UK independent bottler Speciality Drinks.Scents of a perfume counter, vanilla shortbread, star anise, and grapefruit skin, followed by an evolving lush citrus note and sliced Golden Delicious apple make this a nose to return to again and again. The palate presents flavors of apple, toffee, and hazelnut, mingling with chocolate, peppery spice, praline, and stewed fruits, then ending with mocha coffee. This is very impressive. (U.S. exclusive; 242 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2021)

Citrus and herbs on the nose—lemon custard, licorice, dried herbs—plus pine boughs and vanilla frosting. Water brings out ripe banana. The palate is chock full of peanuts and spiced on the front, with notes of caramel, chocolate syrup, raspberry tart, and with water, coffee cake and cracked pepper. The finish reveals more red fruit. Nuanced and mature, this is dry and fruity with great depth and length.

Reviewed by: Ted Simmons (Fall 2021)

Bottle 3 of the Spectra series was finished in double-charred casks. Light notes of lemon sorbet, fresh pineapple, and strawberry shortcake on the nose, set against gentle oak. A honeyed palate has soft flavors of apple tart, cooked pears, dark chocolate, baking spice, and back notes of black currant. Superbly balanced, lightly spiced, with hints of green banana and lemon peel. A smooth, delicate finish offers honeysuckle, melon, vanilla wafers, almond, and lemon cake.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

The second Spectra expression in the trio was finished in peated casks. Fragrant whiffs of woodsmoke, fresh meadow, and pleasant waxiness, then lemon cake, ripe mango, green apple slices, green grapes, and manuka honey. It’s delicate and only lightly smoked, with layers of blackberry jam, chocolate, blueberry pie, vanilla cream, poppy seeds, and baking spice. A gentle finish of lemon, green apple, and vanilla. Engaging, with intriguingly subtle peat.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Plenty of intrigue on the nose, with floral top notes, light vanilla fudge, the juiciness of blood orange, pomegranate, and a sprinkling of whole pepper. Syrupy texture with flavors dominated by pears, slowly overcome by the long buildup of spice—pepper, clove, and cinnamon—with a final act of black cherry, black currant jelly, and praline. Dilution provides a shortcut to those fleshy dark fruits. Quite delicious and heartily recommended.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2021)

Red berry and cherry hard candy aromas are anchored by oak and earthy smells of the rickhouse. Water unlocks a vanilla sweetness that lingers, plus distinct notes of orange peel and mint. The palate is spiced and smooth, with more orange and red berry, as well as bitter chocolate and pepper spice. Musty oak balanced by raisins, figs, cinnamon, and allspice on a finish that shows maturity and a solid structure.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Part of a series of ryes finished in wine barriques from regions of Bordeaux. On this one, the nose offers vanilla frosting and a hint of bitter chocolate. Spice and sweetness meet happily on the palate, bringing chocolate-covered raspberries, brown sugar, baking spice, and lemon meringue pie. Water unlocks more spice, along with cocoa powder and dark chocolate. A creamy finish offers dried berries, bitter chocolate, and vanilla cream.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Pleasant grapey and oak-influenced berry aromas on the nose. Sizzling and spicy on the palate, but water ushers in a rich array of flavors—raspberries, chocolate, bitter espresso, walnut, and pepper spice. Heat and lots of spice reemerge on the finish, with the berry and chocolate notes lingering. Hot and powerful, but it’s worth braving the heat for this one. A bit of water turns a sledgehammer into a flavorful, friendly whiskey.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Lightly floral tropical aromas dance with notes of vanilla wafers, lemonade, jasmine tea, green banana, cut grass, and old library. A soft subtle palate offers lemon iced tea, caramel, dark chocolate, roasted peanuts, and toasted oak, with pain grillé and lightly sweet maltiness. Vanilla flan on the finish, with great texture and length—accompanied by grilled pineapple, blueberry, a hint of coffee, and rich integrated oak. Like a great single malt scotch.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Fall 2021)

Maturity meets verve with aromas of leather, dark berry fruit, and damp earth, lifted by lively spices—clove and cinnamon—along with vivid citrus and licorice nibs. The palate also sits in a sweet spot of maturity, as bright flavors of clove-studded orange and Creamsicle give way to bold peppery spice, before a finish of drying leather with fine oak tannins.

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Fall 2021)

An appealing array of honeysuckle, lilies, lemon zest, sanded oak, vanilla sweetness, honey, fresh linen, and sliced apple draws in a crowd. This is a very fine dram for its age, with flavors of lemon sherbet, toffee, vanilla sponge cake, and orange zest, plateauing toward marmalade, espresso foam, and chocolate. Matured entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels, this is an easy drinking crowd pleaser. (Oklahoma and Illinois)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2021)