Glenallachie 10 Year Cask Strength Batch 2

Appearance: amber color, high viscosity. Nose (with water): honey, dark berries, raisins, apricots, cereal, damp oak. Palate (with water): spicy entry, rich, full-bodied, slightly rough around the edges, chocolate, vanilla, toffee, rum cake, apricots, raisins, dark berries, oak. Finish: medium-long, with a sweet woody aftertaste. Comment: I had higher expectations for this dram and needed to add a considerable amount of water as it was quite hot and harsh for my preference. I've heard excellent things about batches 4 and 5; if you have the opportunity, try to get one of those.

A peach caramel, dried apricots, golden raisins, a lovely nose, truly! Some yellow flowers/goldenrod/dandelion, spicy wood on the finish, and a nice length. This is a unique scotch, not a typical Speyside, and quite different from batches 3 and 5 (I haven't tasted 4).

Nearly finished with this bottle. Tastes of chocolate and orange, like a higher proof version of a certain Glenfiddich. It's good, but I won't seek out this rare bottle again if I see it.

The aroma has some orange and toffee, with darker fruits further back. It's also fairly floral. The taste starts with pear, honey, and creme brulee, finishing with Sherry notes. Hints of honey and vanilla are on the finish.

Tasting Batch 3, the nose has an almost smoky aroma due to the high alcohol content. Adding just two drops of water reveals banana and caramel notes. It's rich and creamy on the palate with a slightly sharp finish. It could benefit from even more water.

A rich, sweet malt that's easy to drink. It has no peatiness at all. This is a good malt for someone who prefers non-peaty drinks but wants something more complex.