Kirkland 19 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch Sherry Cask Finish

Nose: Typical single malt profile with hints of dark fruit and cocoa. Fig, stone fruit like ripe cherries and apricots. Honey-sweetened granola with green apple. Some toasted nuts in the background. Alcohol is present but not strong. Lemon zest. A whisper of mint or wintergreen among the other aromas. Great scent, matches the style suggested by the label. Palate: Flavors of toasted grain, cereal, honey, and green apple. Dark chocolate and dark fruit notes reappear. It's balanced, not an overwhelming sherry influence. The sweetness is pleasant, not excessive. Lemon zest, including some bitterness from the peel, and a noticeable amount of tannic bitterness and texture. Subtle vanilla. Everything is well-integrated, although it can be a bit sharp on the tongue. Focus is in the mid-high frequency range. The mouthfeel is medium-light but coats the palate effectively. Finish: Starts with apple, honey, and toasted grain. Oak and tannins emerge, alongside wintergreen and that lemon zest. It concludes with berries, cream, honey, green apples, dark chocolate, and perhaps a hint of barrel char. A medium-length finish. With a splash of water: The aroma gains notes of vanilla and cream – vanilla cream with mint. Oak is also more apparent. The palate becomes smoother, less sharp. The sherry cask sweetness is a bit more prominent. The finish remains largely consistent. Overall: The balance is outstanding. The sherry presence is clear but doesn't dominate the spirit. The extended aging contributes vanilla, sweetness, and oak characteristics, creating a cohesive experience. Among the Kirkland-branded spirits I've sampled, these are consistently quite good. Not exceptional or the absolute best, but very solid. Fans of sherry-finished Speyside whiskies will likely enjoy this. The cost (around $70) made it a compelling purchase; a 19-year-old whisky for under $100 is a great deal. While I may not repurchase it, it's certainly worth buying a bottle.

Nose: sherry, plums, medicinal, honey Taste: tart, sweet dark fruits transition into a medium bitter, sherry, medicinal, numbing finish. It's not outstanding but solid for the cost. Compared side-by-side with the 20-year, even though this 19-year spent a few extra months in the sherry cask, the 20-year absorbed more sherry, is darker in color, smoother, and superior. What a difference a year makes. The 19 is a bit sweeter, still solid, and I'm pleased to own both!

This highland scotch is really good. I regret not getting more of it. It's smooth and has a nice finish.

Pleasant and sweet with notes of candied bitter orange peel. It's not very complex, but it's highly drinkable.

The sherry cask notes are definitely present, with a bold flavor. It's just a little too potent, though.

Very faint peat, if any, with a delightful nose of stonefruit and toffee, and a hint of caramel.