Exhibit A for never judging a whisky by its color: This straw-pale malt shows depth and complexity many sherry-dark whiskies would envy. The nose is briny and smoky, with a seaweed character; lemon poppyseed muffin and almond cake are present without water. Add a few drops, however, and fresh orchard fruit emerges, sweet and clean, and carries into the rounded, silky palate where it mingles with salt water, black pepper, a squeeze of lemon, and smoky peat. Good length on the finish, which has oak, nuts, and cigar wrapper. A paragon of balance. (240 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

Thick with sherry fruit on the nose: cooked dark berries, raisins, and dried figs, though the fruit becomes more jammy when water is added. There’s also dark chocolate, hazelnuts, and leather. The palate is equally thick and chewy, offering figs, raisins, dark chocolate, coffee bean, and raspberry cake filling, as well as green apple and guava candy showing this whisky’s maturity. It finishes with coffee, chocolate, dark berries, white pepper, orange pith, and oak that verges on bitterness, but never tips over the edge. Stately and dignified. (405 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

Powerfully tropical on the nose, with guava, jackfruit, mango, and papaya in spades; hibiscus, blueberry-pomegranate juice, almond, and a hint of caramel drizzle as well. The palate delivers on that aromatic promise, bursting with guava and papaya, as well as mouth-puckering citrus and almond pastry. The lengthy finish is still fruity but leans into dryness, with almond and clean cereal notes and, at the last, a wisp of cigar. Don’t be afraid to add water if you wish to reduce the alcohol; the intense flavors remain. (251 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

Let this whisky glide into your glass without hesitation: aromas of poached pear, hazelnuts, honey, marmalade, and ginger jam turn bright and fresh with water. The oleaginous palate is waxy in both texture and flavor, slick with candied citrus and subtle spice that builds into a resonant crescendo. That spice wave meets with savory hazelnut, tobacco, and leathery oak on the finish, lasting for minutes without slackening. (300 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

Spirit, not cask, drives this whisky’s character, with bright notes of lemon and lime, green apple candy, guava, vanilla, and ginger nut cookies creating an inviting and zesty nose. More lemon and lime, plus tangerine, on the palate, along with lively spices—ginger, white pepper, and cinnamon—toasted almonds, baking chocolate, and leather. With water, the profile flips as spices turn savory and chocolate and nuts take on a sweeter tone; the transformation is unexpected, but lovely. Tobacco, coffee bean, and leathery oak on the finish. (144 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

The nose is aromatic, with peach blossom, apple skins, sugared strawberries, strands of cotton candy, biscuity malt, blanched almonds, and green tea leaves. Rounded and soft on the palate, there are flavors of apricots, peaches, and bright red cherries, firmly supported by malt; with water, the fruit is more pronounced and uplifted by a bracing tide of nuts, milk chocolate, oak, and tea leaves. The finish retains fruitiness but is focused on nuts, tobacco, and leathery oak. (92 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

On the nose, intense fruit underlaid with smoke: a grilled half-peach. Hints of cinnamon and milk chocolate; blackberry jam; brisket. With water, the peat turns slightly rubbery and mineral, and that minerality carries into the palate, balanced by juicy berries, Raisinets, and almonds. Curling wisps of pipe smoke wrap around smoked almonds and sea salt-sprinkled dark chocolate on the finish. Though hefty, it’s pretty easy to drink at full strength; add a bit of water and you’ll soften the alcohol without diminishing any of the flavor. (607 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

The nose is rich but not heavy, showing applesauce, poached pears, grape jelly, raisin scones, nutty dark chocolate, and a hint of orange. Zingy with citrus oil, especially lemon, on the palate, though that’s tempered by oak, raisins, toasted nuts, dark chocolate, and leather. It finishes with more nuts, coffee bean, pipe tobacco, and persistent lemon oil; a final note of poached pear recalls the nose. Elegant. (246 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

The nose has expressive peat with mineral and herbal, rather than smoky, characteristics; there’s also orange oil, fresh ginger, and chalk. Water brings out blueberries and blackberries. Nutty and roasted flavors dominate the palate, with mouthwatering oak, black pepper, and coffee bean, sprinkled with orange oil, shoulder to shoulder with the peat. It finishes with savory ashy char: a whisky for the great outdoors. (216 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

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)

Perfumy in both aroma and flavor: rose potpourri, peach blossom, lemon drops, strawberry shortcake, talcum powder, and clean cereal notes on the nose. Candied rose petal on the palate, as well as dried fruit (especially with water), rich and well-integrated spice, cacao nibs, and dry oak. It’s distinctive and well-balanced, even when the oak seems a touch bitter. The finish is dry and leathery, with pipe tobacco, cinnamon, and, still, that rose note. (172 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

Fruit and grain drive this solid sipper, with aromas of banana, cantaloupe, almond paste, and lemon-ginger tea to start. In the mouth, it’s rounded and full, showing zingy lemon, biscuity malt, cooked bananas, and milk chocolate. Water brings out brighter fruit flavors: strawberry, lemon, and green apple hard candies. The finish comes full circle, with bananas, lemon, almonds, and vanilla. (216 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

At first whiff, the nose is classic Islay peat: kelp and kippers, with the rubbery pop of new vinyl couch cushions. Add a little water, and fresh lemon and grapefruit burst from the glass: a welcome surprise. The oily palate highlights both—abundant saline peat and zippy citrus—with a tingle of white pepper that lingers in the nose well into the finish, which also has roasted walnuts, nori, ash, and oak. (192 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

Dried peel and lemon oils meet the brisk arrival of earthy peat smoke aromas, pepper, and ground ginger. The smoke builds over roasted apricot, ripe gooseberry, and maritime notes of the tideline. The high strength is undeniable on the palate, with a wave of intense pepper sweeping away the initial dominant vanilla, golden syrup, and lemon flavors, finishing with barbecued stone fruit, ashy smoke, and dried fruit. A great pick. (U.S. exclusive; 612 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2021)

A whole lotta beach: oyster shells, brine, vanilla saltwater taffy, and bonfire, plus fresh coconut shavings, jasmine, and freesia. Oily in the mouth, it’s drying without water, highlighting salinity, smoke, cigar wrapper, lemon oil, and Jordan almonds. With water, lemon, vanilla taffy, and mouth-puckering saline; the smoke is less overt. It finishes clean, sweet, and simple, with grilled lemon and lingering smoke. (298 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

The vapors deliver vibrant bright citrus notes to the olfactory senses, replete with zested lime, mandarin, floral and grassy notes, pressed linen, and grapefruit, developing into aromas of white peach. The palate revolves around a honeyed-citrus theme, plus sugared almonds, pepper, and ginger, and becomes creamy in time. Decent, if familiar territory for this Highland distillery. (U.S. exclusive; 296 botttles)    

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Fall 2021)

A bit reticent on the nose, with light aromas of jasmine, freesia, coconut, vanilla, and hints of kiwi, pineapple, and strawberry. The palate is oily and highlights more coconut, pineapple, vanilla, and strawberry, plus lemon, sandalwood, and mingled spices. On the finish, crushed nuts top a chocolate and vanilla malted milkshake, and lengthy oak caps things off. (156 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)

Intensely fruity and floral on the nose, like a rosebush-lined berry patch; there’s also shortcake with lemon drizzle, almonds, and orange peel. With water, the fruit character deepens and takes on an edge of marzipan. The palate fizzes with citrus and soap flavors, tempered by milk chocolate, tobacco, and bitter leather. Without water, it’s intensely drying, though with it, the character turns cloying: Tread carefully. (134 bottles; U.S. exclusive)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Summer 2020)