This review is of the 2017 Astar re-release that I picked up on recommendation of Whisky Advocate. I'm not so impressed with this dram ... the alcohol burns hot even with a splash of water and just obliterates any subtle flavor nuances. With a bit of ice, the burn subsides and we can see that there is some nice flavor hiding behind it. For $85 though, I expected better.

24th November 2017

Very delicious and potent . Very easy to enjoy

19th April 2016

It's amazing that such a Great Whisky costs so Less!
By far the best tasting whisky and most elevating after a few.
Explodes in the mouth like a sparkle.
Always had it straight up!
I have changed my flight plans couple of times to get it at some Duty free airports.
Sad that it is discontinued, and hope it comes back not in a different avatar but the same.

4th April 2016

It has been several years since I last sampled this most beautiful tasting whisky, and I was most disappointed when I heard two years ago that it was discontinued. I am finding it hard to find a whisky that can come close to the of ASTAR . I would be a very happy pensioner if you could restart production of said product . May thanks.

1st May 2015

This is a real beaut. Light gold and a good spread of thin long legs. Lots of layers with an amazing nose: a sweet custard with honey, spice, light toffee with apricot and a sweeter, tropical fruit, very fragrant with a hint of mint, zesty citrus, and a cereal (digestive biscuit). On the palate there is a real honied sweetness and touch of vanilla with a creamy mouth feel and a kick of heat which has a zest and spice to it. Fleshy fruit notes with apricot emerging through the honied finish with the heat lingering alongside the light oak, touch of anise and stewed fleshy fruit. WOW! If winter is coming,this'll warm yer cockles.

13th October 2013

Plenty of whiskies are described as "sweet", but this is in a different league of sweetness. It's sweeter than any whisky I've tried, scotch or bourbon. It's liqueur-sweet when drunk without water. It's an excellent accompaniment to desserts like sticky toffee pudding, which I find often make other drams seem bitter by comparison.

For this reason it wouldn't be an everyday dram for me, but it's an essential part of my collection.

2nd September 2012

this is whisky i live i mile from the still never tasted better

29th February 2012

A real and marvellous whisky . Delicious oak taste, long and oily. It' s the essence of what a whisky should be.

7th February 2011

A lovely, warming dram. Smooth and sweet.

4th October 2010

SMOOTH as silk

28th April 2010