McDowell's No. 1 Reserve Whisky, Oak Cask, 42.8%

The clearest contrast is between the sweet caramel, vanilla and dried-fruit notes and the drier edge of spice and burnt coffee. That gives this blended whisky more to follow than sweetness alone, while the reported smooth, lingering finish sounds measured rather than forceful. The mix of familiar sweet notes with a little spice is appealing to me, though the coffee and drier finish may make it less purely soft than the opening suggests.

Reviewed by SunbeamRover

Nose

Caramel and vanilla, Oak with light spice and citrus

Palate

Dried fruit and chocolate, Burnt coffee with a hint of spice

Finish

Sweet and spicy notes, White pepper and cocoa powder