Bowmore 18 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) (Elsewhere $155) 94 $129.99 View
94 points Whisky Advocate
This 18 year old is aged in a mix of bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry casks. The nose is redolent of a damped-down bonfire, with stewed fruit, wood spice, and pipe tobacco. There are red berries, subtle peat, a hint of iodine, and soft oak on the complex palate. The finish yields more tobacco, oak, rich peat, and spicy dark chocolate. (GS, Spring 2020) 
94 points Wine Enthusiast
Complex and contemplative. The enticing scent mixes iodine, sea breeze and salted caramel, while the light, soft palate shows smoke, cocoa and dried fig notes, drying to clove and black pepper sparks. Water softens the overall impression to mocha and spice, with a mild blanket of campfire smoke on the exit. (KN) (12/2017)
K&L Notes
Bowmore 18 Years Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky was voted the “Best in Show Whisky” at the 2018 San Francisco Spirits Competition, one of the foremost drinks competitions in the world. It was also awarded a Double Gold medal. Twenty-four top judges, from across the American drinks industry, blind-tasted all the Scotch whiskies, from the youngest to the oldest, but conclusively agreed that Bowmore 18 Years Old, from the small Hebridean Island of Islay, was ‘simply the best’. The Competition’s Executive Director Anthony Dias Blue said, “A brilliant, perfect, remarkably delicious expression by Bowmore; another in a series of winners that span the entire history of the San Francisco Spirits Competition.”
Glengoyne 21 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $229.99 View
Whisky Advocate
While younger Glengoyne whiskies are enjoyable but often fairly straight-forward in flavor, the older expressions develop nicely in depth. Regardless of age, there’s always a creamy maltiness as the foundation of the whisky. For this expression, notes of honey, cookie dough, dry spice notes (vanilla, cinnamon) and soft fruit (citrus, apple) round out the palate. This whisky is clean, polished, and very drinkable. A new addition to the Glengoyne line, and very welcome. (JH, Spring 2005)
K&L Notes
The Glengoyne 21 is one of the biggest deals in the world of Scotch, from a splendid distillery in the lower Highlands. Aged in Oloroso sherry casks, this 21-year production from a high-quality distillery could easily go for twice this price. Expect rich dark fruit and nutty sherry notes. Without a doubt, this is one of the finest values in Scotch available today.
Dalmore “King Alexander III” Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiksy (750ml) $249.99 View
93 points Wine Enthusiast
Caramel and toffee lead the nose, alongside a puff of smoke. The palate is robust and velvety, with dusty notes of cocoa, unsweetened chocolate and caramel. The finish is dry and complex, with hints of tea, leather, cocoa, cigar wrapper and vanilla. The producer says it’s the only single malt in the world to incorporate six different cask finishes: former Bourbon, oloroso Sherry, Madeira, Marsala, Port and Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. (KN) (12/2015)
91 points Whisky Advocate
Six different cask finishes were used for this bottling. Fudge, resin, tropical fruit, Seville oranges, and milk chocolate on the nose. Supple and smooth on the palate; complex, with red berries, orange rind, cream, cinnamon, and ginger. Long in the finish, with nougat, pepper, and dark berry fruits. (GS, Summer 2019)
K&L Notes
Dalmore’s multi-wood expression has become a benchmark whisky in the range of the luxury producer of single malt. Long aging in Madeira, Marsala, Jerez, Kentucky, French Oak, Port and ex-Bourbon makes for one of the richest most complex malts on the shelf. Big ripe, and fruit forward, but with a zippy maltiness that keeps it lively through a long peppery finish. The King Alexander is as balanced as it is luxurious.
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