Review #276: Archives 1992 "A Speyside Distillery" 26

Speyside - NAS - NCF - NCA - $160 - 51.5%

Archives is whiskybase's independent bottling brand.  They were for years an euro based bottling so a bit of an effort to get a bottling here in the US.  This year they have launched a US line.  This is Archives #00042 "A Speyside Distillery" 26 years old bottled at 51.5%.  Unnamed distilleries are a good way to get some meaty stats on the cheap.  According to Archives it is one of the largest distilleries out there.  Then if you hover your mouse over the bottle image, it says "Glenlivet" so there goes the mystery. This one comes in at cask strength for the low price of just over $6 a year.  Let's see if the taste comes through as a value as well.  

Color - Deep Gold

Nose -  Lemon drops, honey, wild flowers, caramel, fresh cut apples, lemon cakes

Palate -  Fresh apples, citrus, caramel, spices, new wood
Finish - Medium - Lemonheads, orange peels, toffee, pepper, sandalwood

Overall - 7 - This is very nice dram.  Enough complexity to keep you interested and super easy to drink.  It has great texture, a pleasant taste, rewards you with more flavors as you drink.  This too me is a classical highland presentation that is well executed from beginning until end.  It is also a good start to finish and a nice one to pick up if you like that profile.  

--------------------------------------------------------------

Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16