93 Wine Enthusiast

Resurrected after 23 years, this smooth, buttery American whiskey is worth the wait. It has mellow vanilla and oak flavors, with a faint cherry essence on the long finish that seems to urge, “stir up a few Manhattans already.” — K.N. (7/1/2013)

96 Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute)

Golden amber color. Aromas and flavors of baker’s dark chocolate and pecan, rye bread and toasted sesame, walnut brittle, and incense with a satiny, bright, dryish medium-to-full body and a peppery, colossal, long finish with accents of fresh caramel corn with salt and cracked black pepper, cinnamon candies and mace, white pepper, and lilac and manuka honey. A spicy and delicious show stopper expressing youthful, powerful grain flavors and just the right delicate influence of barrel characteristics.

96 Wine Enthusiast

Lively, complex and deeply aromatic, with hits of Christmas spice, orange blossom and vanilla. It’s spicy on the tongue, with lots of woodsy vanilla and orange. Medium body, this would rock a Bourbon-based Sazerac. —K.N.

94 Wine Enthusiast

The signature pineapple-infused Stiggins' Fancy rum is already a bartender staple; will this version, finished in ex-Teeling peated Irish whiskey casks, be next? Look for a tawny-orange hue and roasted pineapple flavor, with a charred note that leads into allspice and clove. The smoke is subtle, reading more as a pleasingly meaty, savory undertone. Limited edition. Sip or mix. — Kara Newman

98 Wine Enthusiast

A stunning limited-edition añejo. The golden color and caramel scent hint at what’s to come: sweet agave flavor, a lingering whisper of smoke and mellow notes of tropical fruit, Sauternes and butterscotch. — K.N. (5/1/2011)

97 Wine Enthusiast

Within the distinctive pear-shaped bottle, this Cognac-based golden liqueur bursts with fresh-cut pear from start to finish, layered gently with almond pastry and white pepper sparks. Just stunning. — Kara Newman

94 VinePair - VinePair

This is the second single malt release produced at Mars’ Tsunuki distillery, which was constructed in 2016. While a relatively youthful whiskey, it isn’t overpowered by peated character, nor the influence from the bourbon and sherry casks in which it aged. Prepare for an attractive mix of rose petals, apples, golden honey, and lightly scorched earth.

89 The Whisky Advocate

The distillery’s second U.S. bottling spotlights peat, though this is Kyushu, not Islay. A pure and clinical nosing experience, with honey, cantaloupe, peach, and green apple, a delightful puff of peat smoke, and scents of barley, creamed coconut, raffia baskets, and peppercorn. Better with water, it’s creamy and well-balanced, with apple, bitter orange, lime, and peppery smoke, ending with sweet citrus, malt, and cocoa powder.

4 WHISKEY RICHARD - NOMUNICATION

Score: B. Nose: Initially there’s a whiff of peat, but give it a couple minutes and you realize it’s actually quite unpeaty for a peated whisky. Instead we get plenty of sweet Bourbon cask notes and fruitiness and honey. Think pears, apples, and maybe a plum or two. Palate: On the tongue it’s smooth as butter. The cask is dominating this one for now; the malt hasn’t had a chance to shine through the sweet vanilla. Otherwise quite nicely balanced and I’m glad they didn’t go smoke-bombing us. Finish: Here’s where we can feel more of that boldness that Tsunuki is supposed to become famous for. A twinge of bitter oak initially, but some nice smoke closes things out.

89 Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute)

Clear with a faint nickel straw cast. Aromas of nougat, vanilla cream, bison grass, tropical citrus, and fig paste with supple, fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a nice vegetal agave, nut, mineral and pepper snap on the finish. A nice marriage of agave and delicate oak that has some white whisky-like notes. Will shine in cocktails. (tasted on Aug-27-2013)

97 Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute)

Super clean and crisp with almost no flavor or aroma and also almost no alcohol burn, this is impressive distillation. A benchmark example for the category.