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welcome to the fifty best spirits of 2004 |
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 Presents
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Page 4 - SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
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Ardbeg Uigeadail Islay
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cask Strength
(Scotland; Brown-Forman, Louisville, KY)
54.2% abv, $75.  
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The early-on aroma is concentrated, smoky/peaty and amazingly nutty; more time and a splash of spring water unleash multiple layers of fragrance from oloroso Sherry to almonds sautéed in butter to vanilla fudge to toffee pudding. A cutting-edge and luscious Islay aroma. Palate entry is large, sweetly smoky and succulent; midpalate displays plenty of oak presence, along with vanilla wafer, pears in brandy, road tar, cigar smoke and iodine; finishes bittersweet, chewy and smoky. A tour de force and a classic in the making.
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Bowmore “Darkest”
Sherry Casked Islay
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland; White Rock Distilleries, Lewiston, ME)
43% abv, $65.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The opening inhalation offers deep aromas of nutmeg, oloroso Sherry, dark toffee and black pepper; further aeration stirs up thrilling scents of chocolate- covered cherries, tobacco smoke, sea brine, paraffin, praline and cedar box—a textbook Islay/sherry perfume. Palate entry is winey, concentrated and stunningly Sherry-like; at midpalate the taste profile expands to include dark honey, butterscotch, old oak, vanilla extract and cocoa bean. Concludes delicately and as sweet as honey. If you want a hint of what the legendary but no longer available Black Bowmore 1964 was like, pick up a bottle of Darkest.
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Glenrothes 1974
Speyside
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland; Skyy Spirits LLC, New York, NY)
43% abv, $95.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
Only 3,000 bottles allotted for the USA. Bouquet is comprised of deep, moderately smoky, and robust aromas of old oak, black pepper, road tar, maple, dark-roasted malt and brown sugar. Palate entry is sweet, honey-like and very dark caramel-like; at midpalate, the taste profile highlights caramel and honey and a velvety texture. Aftertaste features a peppery, cocoa-like and Sherry sweet taste. The finest malt whisky that Glenrothes has ever released. Buy two.
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Macallan
Fine Oak 15-Year-Old Speyside
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland; Remy Amerique, New York, NY)
43% abv, $65.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
An initial bouquet of the dried yellow fruit found in muesli; later on, added scents of unsweetened coconut, honey, and light toffee beautifully complement the dried fruit aroma. The palate entry is chewy and honeyed; at midpalate the dried fruit, clover, and honey flavors meld delightfully with the oily, creamy texture. Concludes sensuously and regally.
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Scott’s Selection Highland Park 1985
Orkney Islands
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland; International Brands, Duxbury, MA)
53.5% abv, $200.
CLASSIC / Highest Recommendation
The first inhalations find peat reek, seaweed, sawdust and malt; aeration adds scents of almond butter, smoked salmon, damp moss and green tea. The surprising palate entry is long, honey- sweet, biscuity and moderately oily; at midpalate the taste profile further develops to include sea breeze, cigar tobacco, kippers, and sherry. Ends delicately Sherried, creamy and sublime.
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The Glenlivet 1964
“Cellar Collection” Speyside
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland; Pernod Ricard USA, White Plains, NY)
44.8% abv, $2,000.
CLASSIC (96-100)/Highest Recommendation
The initial aroma emits luscious notes of light toffee, milk chocolate and cocoa bean; following aeration a bouquet of dried red fruit, candied walnut, nougat and faint vanilla bean evolves. Palate entry is smooth and smolderingly warm; at midpalate tastes of mature oaky spirit underpin surface flavors of cedar, resin, caramel and a dash of plum eau-de-vie. Finishes warm and velvety.
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Bruichladdich “Legacy” II”
37-Year-Old Islay
Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland; Winebow, Inc., New York, NY)
41.8% abv, $470.  
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
Aroma offers ripe, fruity notes of guava, light caramel, peach, banana, spice and maple; a totally integrated bouquet. Palate entry displays a honeyed richness that coats the tongue; at the oily midpalate, semisweet tastes of pipe tobacco, marzipan, cocoa and lanolin delight the taste buds. Concludes a touch smoky and semisweet.
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The Dalmore 1973 Vintage Gonzalez Byass
30-Year-Old Sherry Cask Finish
Northern Highland Single Malt Whisky
(Scotland; Jim Beam Brands, Deerfield, IL)
43% abv, $250.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
Opening bouquet of confectioner’s sugar, lemon drops and seaweed; aeration unleashes atypical scents of gum, banana extract, bread yeast, pineapple and roasted grain. Palate entry is tart, doughy and a tad prickly; by midpalate a citrusy/yeasty flavor is elegantly underpinned by tastes of oak resin, malt and vanilla. Finishes oily, deep and sensuous.
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Dewar’s
Signature Blended Whisky
Bottle #56
(Scotland; Bacardi/John Dewar & Sons, Miami, FL)
43% abv, $200.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
Biscuity, almost doughy in the initial sniffings; later sniffings uncover elegant aromas of lightly toasted bread, almond paste and sweet malt, with traces of peat and cigar smoke. Palate entry is dry, grainy and lightly smoked; the midpalate is sap-like, alluringly sweet, woodsy and honeyed. Finishes medium-long and toasty. Core malt hails from the Central Highlands distillery, Aberfeldy. Terrific job of blending magic.
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Johnnie Walker
Green Label 15 Year Old
Pure Malt Whisky
(Scotland; Diageo, Stamford, CT)
43% abv, $55.
SUPERB / Highly Recommended
The preliminary aromas are an interesting mix of paraffin, toasted cereal and dried tobacco leaf; more minutes resting in the copita stimulate fragrances of summer grass, vegetable oil, light toffee and oak. Palate entry is off-dry and a touch toffee/nougat-like; at midpalate the oiliness/oakiness noted in the latter stages of nosing come to the fore as tastes of sweet butter, oleo margarine and black pepper vie for flavor dominance. Finishes chewy and a tad honeyed.
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