Cardhu 15 Year

Color: rosy caramel Nose: warm, spiced malt, stewed raisin, toffee, candied orange peels, little bit of tropical notes like banana and a hint of pineapple Palate: medium bodied, sweet malt, honey, mineral grape skin, mango, sultanas and toffee again Finish: really long, fragrant lingering spice, a whisper of peat smoke, little hints of banana, malty backbone Impression: picked this up in Europe for 46 euros, a steal compared to US prices. Really nice scotch and a big step up in complexity from the 12. Very enjoyable and not overly thin or light, has a nice meaty body while keeping the smoke/peat subtle.

Aromas of dark fruits like raisins, plums, blackberries, with some spicy notes and new leather. Palate is medium sweet, with some astringency. Orange, toffee, white chocolate are present but not overly powerful. Hints of cocoa towards the end. Finish is medium length, leaving a tingly pungency and subtle chocolate notes. Perfectly decent, just perhaps lacking in character for my tastes.

A weaker offering than the 12. There are notes of dark chocolate, almonds and dried fruits that are almost reminiscent of sherry, all great things, but none of them work well together. The oak aroma is particularly cruel on this expression, with a finish that is off-putting.

Nose: vanilla, and fruits (plum) first, later on more floral and citrus. Some sulfury notes. Palate: spices, sweetness, fruits. (Like honey on banana) Finish: not long, not massive. Slightly pungent (ginger), light bitterness (like almond), tobacco.

Nose of honey and some vanilla, fruits even. Palate is rich, honey with even a wisp of smoke and some wood comes through. Finish is smooth and medium length. Leaves you wanting another mouthful. Nice whisky and want another!

Pleasant to drink. Very smooth. Has a chocolatey taste with a little smoke. Covers the pallet well, but not strong enough to cut through a cigar