After dry January, some flu and a vacation break. Here are some more reviews!
Glencadam 11, SMWS #82.48 “The Big Yellow”, 62.8%
First fill ex-bourbon-aged bottling from a new-to-me distillery. The nose is big and bold, with citrus oils dominating, followed by lovely perfume notes of lavender and sweet vanilla. The palate is big, punchy and quite hot, a vanilla bomb that remains enjoyable, spicy, vanilla-forward and slightly oaky on the finish. A few drops of water help cut through the proof, though too much and it falls apart. Overall: A competent ex-bourbon cask showing a rare-for-USA distillery that doesn’t disappoint but doesn’t quite wow either, feeling a touch young and slightly too high proof to be truly interesting. Value: Probably somewhat overpriced as is the norm with SMWS bottles, but since this was a gift, N/A.
Score: B
Waterford Irish Malt, Dunbell Edition 1.1, 50%
A bottle from the — sadly now defunct — Irish malt producer Waterford, a distillery that proudly leaned into terroir, documenting soil composition and other gloriously geeky details about each farm supplying its grain. Bottled without coloring or chill filtration, so bonus points there.The nose opens with dry malted grains, minerality, citrus peel, and sugar candy sweetness. The texture is pleasantly oily — somewhat surprising for an NAS bottling. The palate carries forward the mineral and candy notes, joined by a faintly meaty, almost saline undertone that balances the cask sweetness nicely. A noticeable oak char emerges mid-palate and lingers into a fairly short, drying finish of vanilla, sugar cookies, gentle oak spice, and pepper. Overall: An unusual and interesting Irish malt that stands well apart from the regional norm. I can’t say I dislike it, though the pronounced char feels slightly compensatory — as if masking youthful spirit underneath. Still, this works exceptionally well as a blend fixer: an ex-bourbon component that adds structure and flavor without disappearing, punching well above its apparent age even if subtlety isn’t its strongest suit. Value: Picked up for $40–50 at Binny’s clearance — absolute score. At the ~$100 original MSRP, considerably harder to justify.
Score: B
Dailuaine 15 K&L SP, Old Particular, 57%
A Dailuaine bottled by Old Particular for K&L Wines, distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2024 from sherry butt DL17719. Color is about what you’d expect for the age and cask type — nothing unusual there. The nose brings plenty of spice along with stewed, sugared dark fruits and a clear sherry influence. The palate starts in the same direction: brown sugar, baking spices, and rich fruit sweetness. Then comes a surprise. Mid-palate shifts hard into spicy tobacco notes, followed by coffee and dried fruits that carry into the finish. A few drops of water smooth the transition a bit, though it doesn’t really need it. Overall: A slightly weird one. It begins like a fairly typical modern sherried malt, then turns into something quite different halfway through. Not bad at all — just a bit disconnected between the front and back halves. Starts like fruit leather, finishes more like licking a cigar. Value: Listed at $99 at K&L, which feels like reasonable value for the age and a single sherry cask.
Score: B
Highland Park 10, K&L SP # 5434, 66.1%
A Highland Park single cask, distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2022 for K&L Wines. This was aged in first fill European oak sherry butt. Honestly, I’m going to be brief here. This is a sherry bomb that is typical Highland Park single cask, with an impressive proof. It actually drinks a touch below its proof and isn’t super peat-forward. Value: Priced at 119 it may not be best deal on paper for each year but solid price for the quality.
Score: B+
Glenlivet 17, Signatory Vintage, 62.2%
I actually have another bottle of this, so yay — early preview. Glenlivet 17, bottled in 2023 by Signatory from 1st fill Oloroso sherry butt #900810. Nose opens with slightly sulfuric sherry and sweet vanilla extract. The palate is meaty, sweet, and gently spiced — very modern sherry in style. That light sulfur note plays nicely with the savory meatiness and settles into more of a supporting role behind the sherry. Am I getting oily, salty-sweet roasted almonds? The finish turns drying, woody, and leathery, with a faint minty edge, medium-long in length. Overall: I’m really enjoying this. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but it drinks well at proof, and the progression from nose to finish feels coherent and steady. Definitely falls into that “funky-but-good” quality malt category. Value: Listed at $149 at K&L — honestly, a pretty solid deal.
Score: A-
—
Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown