Glen Moray 2002 (Alexander Murray)

I got this at Costco a few months back. It cost $28.99 and it's a cask strength, 12-year-old, single malt scotch. The price was too great to ignore. At first, the aroma reminds me of Dole fruit cocktail syrup, but after a bit, it changes to a salty caramel apple with some apricot-like notes. The taste starts out salty with stone fruits, but the burn quickly overpowers my palate. There's a brief tartness in the long, peppery finish. Adding a bit of water reduces the burn on the palate and introduces some caramel, and it also appears to remove the tartness from the finish.

Butterscotch and almost pumpkin on the nose. Some fruit and honey present. On the palate, the sweetness from honey and butterscotch intensifies, and more oak flavors emerge. The alcohol sensation is less pronounced than anticipated. The finish brings in some mandarin fruitiness and caramel sweetness.