DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

1. Cragganmore 12 - (Speyside) $50

Nose: Floral elements, hint of pineapple, easy vanilla, fruity, wood. Palate: Controlled wood, cedar, creamy, orange peel, dark fruit, dried fruit, citrus, hint of vanilla, toffee, cinnamon, cloves, some spice, hot orange, smoked pepper, floral, sherry, rich mouthfeel, well-balanced, very smooth, refined, easy to drink, very nice, excellent. Finish: Clean, smooth, dried fruit, oaky almond, creamy, sherry, spicy, lingering.

Double Gold Medal

2. Laphroaig 10 - (Islay) $50

Nose: Peat, oak, nuts, orange. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, pear, off-lemon, cashews, toast, peaty, smoky, charcoal, woody, oak, leather, hint of sweetness, spicy, pepper, nice. Finish: Smooth, pepper, buttery, light treacle, smoky, nice, kind, even, long.

Double Gold Medal

3. Three-Way Tie - Dalmore 12 - (Highlands) $50

Nose: Medium oak, citrus, caramel, light charred wood, dried berries, orange, earthy. Palate: Rich, caramel, trace of oak, sherry, vanilla, almond, Fourth of July pepper, tangerine, fruity, floral character, creamy, honey sweetness, hint of cinnamon, leathery, salty, slightly smoky, smooth, well-balanced, classic. Finish: Coffee, ginger, smooth, short, great, long.

Double Gold Medal

Glenfarclas 12 - (Speyside) $50

Nose: Spicy, dried fruit, cherry. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, creamy, butter, toffee, almond, orange, sweet, some spice, herbs, woody, oak, smooth, beautiful, exceptional. Finish: Great, brilliant, balanced.

Double Gold Medal

Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength
Batch 003 - (Islay) $72

Nose: Smoke, spearmint, caramel, butterscotch, bourbon, orange peel, spice, nutty, floral. Palate: Peaty, dark wood, coal, ash, woody, honey, cherry, spicy vanilla, dried fruit, ginger notes, peppermint, cinnamon, some spice, nutty, oily, full bodied, cask strength, tangy, chewy mouthfeel, opens with water, well rounded, smooth, aged, mellow. Finish: Strong, spicy, nice, long.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

Tomintoul 12 Limited Edition
Oloroso Cask Finish - (Speyside) $70



Nose: Citrus into orange, butterscotch, honey, caramel, spice, pepper. Palate: Sweet, spicy, subtle, savory, sherry, molasses, brown sugar, burnt honey, caramel, toffee, oaky, nutty, salty, caraway, clove, orange peel, dark fruits, rustic, musky, oily, medicinal. Finish: Chocolate cake, salty, spicy, rum cask, nice, even, smooth, balanced.

Gold Medal

Glenkinchie 12 - (Lowland) $50

Nose: Light smoke, citrus, honey. Palate: Peppery, spicy, oak, smoky almond, salty, hint of peat, malty, herbaceous, grassy, floral, cereal, clove, ginger, dried fruit, honey, caramel, treacle, toffee, raisin, lemon, citrus, sweet, oily, silky, smooth, elegant mouthfeel, well balanced. Finish: Nice, with honey and dark fruits.

Gold Medal

Aberfeldy 12 - (Highlands) $45

Nose: Light, vanilla, fruity, caramel. Palate: Peaty, nutty, baked cloves, rich layers, some spice, nutmeg, acorn, honey, vanilla, caramel, sweet to semi-sweet, fruity, orange notes, citrus oil, oak, light cedar, oily, light on smoke, well-balanced, very good, very smooth, excellent. Light bodied. Finish: Woody, nutty, toffee, pepper, medium.

Gold Medal

Benromach 10- (Speyside) $45

Nose: Orange, caramel, oak. Palate: Peaty, chocolate, charcoal, caramel, vanilla, smoke, smoky oak with spice, woody, leather, salty, bacon, dark roasted coffee bean, cereal, malty, hints of berries, dark fruits, apricot, orange peel, smooth, medium bodied, interesting. Finish: Spicy, pure, velvety, medium-to-long.

Gold Medal

Old Pulteney 12- (Highlands) $40

Nose: Vanilla, orange, citrus, almond, creamy, malty. Palate: Woody, peppery, smoky, creamy, vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, hint of toffee, orange peel, dried fruit, cinnamon, apples, fruity, almond cedar, sweet, spicy, salty, floral, mossy, tannic, smooth, delicious. Light bodied. Mild heat. Finish: Even with leather, toffee, notes of citrus and some spice.

Gold Medal

Arran 10 - (Isle of Arran) $50

Nose: Smoke, spearmint, caramel, butterscotch, bourbon, orange peel, spice, nutty, floral. Palate: Fruity, tannic, spiced, husky melon into chocolate, right amount of peat, hint of smoke, woody, nutty, toffee, caramel, dark fruits, citrus, floral notes, creamy, light, smooth, pleasant. Light bodied. Finish: Lovely almond, ginger, vanilla.

Gold Medal

The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood - (Speyside) $52

Nose: Mild, robust, orange peel, brown sugar, butterscotch. Palate: Caramel, citrus, mandarin orange, orange, dried fruit, nuts, almond, peppermint, creamy, buttery, vanilla, honey, sweet, salty, spice, some smoke, woody, touch of peat, balanced, smooth, elegant, classic. Finish: Soft, long, complex, spicy, nutty.

Gold Medal

Ardbeg 10 - (Islay) $57

Nose: Sweet, toasty oats, caramel, almond, woody, moss, peaty. Palate: Peaty, smoky, sweet, mild spice, smooth, creamy body, citrus tones, honey, vanilla, butter, pepper, leather, charcoal, medicinal, cedar, light bodied, balanced, water releases floral notes, toasty notes and wood (oak) on back of palate. Finish: Complex, sweet, lingering, with a hint of cloves.

Gold Medal

Tomatin 12- (Highlands) $36

Nose: Peaty, floral, vanilla, brandied cherries. Palate: Citrus, lemon/orange, creamy, vanilla, caramel, burnt sugar, toffee, coffee beans, fruity, almond, ginger, sweet, rich, spicy, pepper, tannic, peaty, oak, cedar, medium smoke, hint of sherry, medicinal, smooth. Finish: Great, smooth, coffee, toffee, pleasant bite.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:

Talisker 10 - (Isle of Skye) $60

Nose: Rich, light oak, fruity, citrus, vague vanilla, caramel, raisin. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, light smoke, tanic, slight oak, cereal, toasty, toffee, dried fruit, cinnamon, mild citrus, floral, fruity, sherry, sweet, spicy, pepper, musky, oily. Full mouthfeel. Medium bodied. Finish: Smooth, slightly spicy, peppery, coffee, lingering.

Silver Medal

Speyburn 10 - (Highlands) $27

Nose: Lemon, cedar, lightly sweet, fruity, flowery, rosebuds. Palate: Smoky, woody character, toffee, vanilla, butter, caramel, clove, almond, coconut, tropical notes, raisins, ginger, floral, sweet, nutty, oak, hints of pepper, some spice, sherry, creamy, smooth. Finish: Nice, smooth, light pepper, hint of lime, strong.

Silver Medal

Jura 10 - (Isle of Jura) $42

Nose: Herbal, vegetal, floral, light oak, cedar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon. Palate: Herbal, vegetal, floral, heather, oak, butter, vanilla, caramel, orange, mango, citrus fruit, tropical fruit, fruity, raisin, light chocolate, sweet, surprising pepper, slightly peaty, leather, smoke, oily. Finish: Long, spicy, malt, hot, nice bite.

Silver Medal

Glengoyne 10- (Highlands) $45

Nose: Salty, maritime, light citrus, burnt caramel, lightly floral. Palate: Strong pepper start, herbaceous, grassy, floral, woody, oak heat, cereal, toast, saltines, dark chocolate, vanilla, sweet, spicy, smoky, musty, tangy. Finish: Complex, sweet, oak, espresso, strong, harsh, short.

Silver Medal

Caol Ila 12 - (Islay) $60

Nose: Smoky, peaty, butter, vanilla, citrus. Palate: Heavy peat, toasty, bread, mild smoke, cedar, iodine, oaky, peppery, fruity, nutty, salty, briny, oily, charcoal, citrus, tropical flowers, tulip, honey, toffee, vanilla, mediocre, disappointing. Finish: Weak, smooth, creamy, smoky, ashy, rough.

Silver Medal