Holiday gifts - Vintages Release
by Patricia Noonan

Grappa Sarpa de Poli, Italy, Jacopo Poli
CSPC #982264, 700 mL, $43.95
Crystal clear with typical grapey, mildly sweaty aromas with mild raisin/almond notes. Quite viscous with a fiery, spicy bite, it calms down into a lengthy finish. Pot distilled and the pomace used is a 60/40 % merlot -cabernet mix. (90)

Te Bheag Gaelic, Connoisseurs' Blend, Unfiltered, Gaelic Whisky, Scotland
CSPC #949172, 700 mL, $35.95
This orangey gold unchill filtered whisky remains a very good value. Honeyed- toffee, orange peel, gentle peat smoke, mild dubbin boot polish aromas. Silky sweet entry with lively spice flavours of ginger, cloves and a touch of cool mint at the back of the palate. Long, even finish. (90)

Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, Scotland
CSPC #500231, 750 mL, $117.95
An orangey tinted dark gold, the 18 Year Old sports gentle smokey sweet aromas with nuts, dried peel and honey notes as well. A first, gentle spices , than it firms up with intense smokey clove and cinnamon baking spice flavours. Great weight. Fruit, spice flavours carry into a drying finish, with highlights of bitter chocolate into a dram of memorable length.(92)

Armagnac de Montal V.S.O.P. France
CSPC #618496, 750 mL, $44.95
Rich, burnished gold with burnt orange highlights, fruity raisin, vanilla, butterscotch nose with honey-ish florals. Weighty flavour recaps the aromas and carries them into a classic fruit-fired warming finish. Great value. (89)

Arran Single Malt 10 Years Old
Scotland
CSPC #5090, 700 mL, $59.95
Bright gold with vanilla, lemon cake and honeyed aromas, full and sweet upfront, with a lively spiced, youthful finish. (86)

THE ARRAN MALT HARDY COGNAC FINISH ISLE OF ARRAN SINGLE MALT
Limited Edition , Scotland
CSPC #50054, 700 mL, $84.95
Pale gold, delicate aromas of white flowers, honey, vanilla lead into a smokey spiced flavours with an intensity that surprises after the initial gentle quality, but still sophisticated and elegant overall. And that's at 57.8% ABV. (90)

THE ARRAN MALT AMARONE WINE CASK FINISH ISLE OF ARRAN SINGLE MALT
Limited Edition Bottling , Scotland
CSPC #50070, 700 mL, $84.95
Reddish gold, almost amaro like in colour. Slightly winey aromas followed by honey vanilla. Voluptuous, mouthfilling whisky with a fruity, raisiny, spiced peat mix. Slightly bitter in the finish, reminiscent of an amarone. The only thing that bothered me was that the addition of a bit of water clouded this up. Maybe my glass wasn't sufficiently rinsed before hand though. (88)

THE ARRAN MALT CREAM SHERRY CASK FINISH ISLE OF ARRAN SINGLE MALT
Limited Edition , Scotland
CSPC #50120, 700 mL, $84.95
Bright gold with a fresh slightly oxidative, sherried nose with delicate vanilla. . Sweet to start and the sherry fruitcake flavours show themselves more mid-palate finishing on the quaint side. Lovely and harmonious without being overwhelming. Cask strength at 57.2 %. (89)

THE BALVENIE 15 YEARS OLD SINGLE BARREL SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT,
CSPC #366963, 750 mL, $105.95
This sweet, honey-vanilla charmer includes citrus cake and gentle smoke wrapped in a bright gold tones. Spicy fruit warmth carries into good length. 47.8 % ABV. (90)

THE BALVENIE NEW OAK 17 YEARS OLD SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT
First Bottling, New Oak
CSPC #48959, 750 mL, $129.95
On the sophisticated side, the 17 Year Old has sherry and bourbon vattings to up the ante in the aroma/flavours of vanilla, honey and sweet spicy fruitcake with a big finish of drying baking spices. Generous, mouthfilling whisky. (89)

THE BALVENIE PORTWOOD 21 YEARS OLD SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT
CSPC #500090, 750 mL, $174.95
A transferred to Port casks for the final touch, this Balvenie expression features a burnt orange/buckwheat colour, slighly winey fruity aromas followed by cocoa and subtle smoke. A heavier silky feel leads to classic spice cake with dried fruit a and hot clove, cinnamon finish. (90)

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