Usquaebach 15 Year

The aroma is musky and earthy with dried fruit. Regarding the taste, as a relatively new scotch drinker, I often find the initial bitterness overwhelming. It took several sips to discern all the flavors, but this one is complex. Initially, the flavor is earthy, woody, and perhaps vegetal. Then, some of that dried fruit appears, along with some salty chocolate and baking spices. Midway through, there was a hint of that mustiness again. The mouthfeel is not substantial, but it has a pleasant finish: bittersweet with some nutty notes. I would like to own a bottle of this.

It's peculiar to observe the discrepancy between the general reviewers' scores and those of the professional critic. This particular bottling receives a rating of 76 from the expert, while my colleagues and I are scoring it between 87 and 91. I'm not entirely sure why, but it could be due to numerous elements!

Citrus and honey on the nose, with butterscotch and a slight smoky note on the palate. The finish has spice and cherry. Adding a little water enhances the spice and citrus notes.

Usquaebach's bottles are impressive, and it leaves a captivating finish. It's rich and full in flavor nonetheless.

Nose of sherry and sea salt, a smooth taste of dark fruit with a salty quality. A lengthy finish. Outperforms the Dalmore 18 considerably.

Spicy! Dry. A bit harsh at the end for me.