Sweet cloves and buttery toffee through the nose. Spicy rye, vanilla bean & leather; slightly harsh. Astringent finish -83

Smells like pure Canadian maple syrup. Very oily, with dark chocolate, brown sugar & intense spice. Oaky sweet & dry finish -95

Light lemon scents with sweet peat. Oily mouthfeel, with creamy notes of peat, light orange & a hint of mint. Short finish - 86

Amazing brown sugar aromas, light woodsy notes. Tons of toffee, vanilla bean & light white pepper taste. An excellent rye -93

Powerful sherry  and sweet chocolate nose. Dry palate with hints of black cherry and heavy oak. Tad metallic -84

Huge citrus nose with grainy tones. Light palate, slight vanilla, honey and stone fruit. A sweet, oaky & short finish -86

Malt, toffee & light smoke aromas. Medium body, slightly oily with notes of gingerbread, sherry & cocoa. Nice aftertaste -89

Amazing combo of sweet honey & light peat aromas. Light vanilla, citrus & smokey notes intermingle with cream. Amazing -95

Ah, The Dalmore. How I hardly know ya. Similar to Jura, I’ve only had a few experiences among the many variants. The 12 Year Old is an excellent introduction to the brand, and a personal favorite within my current single malt repertoire. Throughout the time it took me to sample all of the products in this review, I was actually thinking to myself why had not broaden beyond the 12. My previous opinion was that it was more of a connoisseur brand, fetching astronomical prices for its older products [which is true].

However, The Dalmore does have an excellent range of core products. Its characteristic flavors of rich spice, sweet sherry and dark chocolate give it that distinguishable Highland profile [that I love]. I’m not one to bloviate, but I was truly impressed. Since I spent the last couple weeks going back-and-forth between the various samples, I actually ended up purchasing a bottle of the 15 Year Old and Mackenzie. I think that speaks volumes.

Dalmore Gran Reserva

Intense oak aromas. Citrus and chocolate notes amalgamate with sharp all-spice and light tobacco. Nice round finish -86

Dalmore 15 

Lush fruit nose. Light ginger and molasses layers amazingly with dark cocoa notes and smooth sherry. Excellent, smooth and warming finish -91

Dalmore 18 

Hugh sherry notes through the nose. Lots of caramel, rich marmalade with light cinnamon complexity. Oily sherry  finish -87

Dalmore Mackenzie

Big oaky toffee aromas. Lots of berry fruit, intermingled with vanilla and soft honey notes. Creamy velvet finish [excellent with a cigar] -92

Dalmore 1263 King Alexander III

Awesome nose - sweet toffee. Cocoa and berry with powdered sugar is intense and delicious. Light citrus fruit and almond on the finish -93

Whether you are a fan, hater, or dipping your toes for the first time, I’d recommend giving it another go.

Sweet pastry & pear aromas. Silky fruit, raisin, toffee & slight anise. Dry oak finish, long & smooth -86

Mild vanilla, almonds & oak aromas. Rich sweetness upfront, thick & warming spice on the back tongue. Short finish. 1 ice cube -86

Massive campfire & band-aid through the nose.  Velvety iodine with salted butter notes. An earthy sweet finish is classic -91

I really love when I have the opportunity to taste a full line of whisky in one sitting. First, it affords me the prospect to drink a bit more than I characteristically do on Wednesday night, but most importantly, it really cements my thoughts and opinions on a brand. I can fully recognize the ‘house style’, and get a sense of general aromas and notes through the assorted variants.

My experience with the Isle of Jura in the past has been, well, a tad limited from one bad experience with the 10 year old which left a dreadful metallic aftertaste. I was completely turned off and really never dipped my feet in the waters again [which I admit is wrong. I always give whisky 3 chances]. When the opportunity to sample the core expressions of Jura came up recently, I took it as an opportunity to slowly immerse myself – tasting a few times to really understand the products.

Jura 10

Oaky nose with some lush citrus notes coming through. Slight toffee and smoky palate – cereal and light licorice round out the back. Long finish, slight copper qualities -85

Jura 16

Lots of honey, with floral aromas. Rich grape qualities on the tongue, with light orange and honey. A little star anise lingers through the finish -91

Jura Superstition

Light peat and mellow oak through the nose. Full maltiness and spice bring the peat to the forefront. The finish rounds-out with light honey -88

Jura Prophecy

Full peat smoke with layers of vanilla through the nose. Zesty and oily mouthfeel, abundant peat, with sweet fruit hints. Light spice with a dry finish -93

As you can tell, the Jura brand has grown on me a bit. If you’re a fan of the island qualities of spice, sweetness and smoke – I’d recommend any of the above.

Slight smoke & toffee through the nose. A sharp palate, lots of nutmeg and nice fruit flavors [pear]. Dry finish -87

Pungent rubber & meaty nose. Lots of peat, pork rinds [yes!] slight vanilla and fresh citrus. Salty, light finish -90