Invergordon 10yo 40% OB Grain
Grain can be fantastic but usually it needs a bit more years in the cask to develop flavours like malt whisky. This one smells of liquorice and boiled peas. The taste is peppery, liquorice, papery, bitter and just extremely weird, like some cardboard stew.
No thanks: 1.5
North British 12yo 1997-2009 43% Signatory Vintage
Another blank single grain whisky, or is it just called "grain"? Well, as long as it's from same distillery I'll just use same standards as with malts. Once again the nose is extremely boring, maybe some salty water? Tonic? The taste on the other hand is pretty herbal, a bit dry, shows more promise than the Cameronbridge, but it just doesn't give much more than hints of real character. I've really liked the older CS grains I've tried before, but to bottle it young and diluted just like any other standard malt obviously won't work for grain whiskies, at least not for me.
All right, but far from it's peak: 3.5
Cameronbridge 12yo 1995-2007 43% Signatory Vintage
Although I've always been pretty exclusively a fan of scotch single malt, I've lately had some grain, some japanese and some irish, and I've been hugely impressed by some of them. So today I'll take another alternative journey, and try some grain as well as a recently revealed secret malt. This one comes from a bourbon cask, smells really light, some hay and wheat. The taste is sweet, spicy, hints of liquorice, kind of boring, with no aftertaste at all. I guess that the single grain needs some more mturing than the single malt?
Boring, bland grain: 3
Strathclyde 24yo 1980-2005 62.4% Duncan Taylor
A grain whisky of crazy strength, at a respectable age, I think this has to be something not many get to try. Strathclyde also produced the malt Kinclaith, the short period it was produced that is. it smells liquorice, salty, ammonia. This is a remarkably salty grain whisky, reminds me of the unpeated Caol Ila, or some older Bunnahabhains. I think it's a splendid grain. The taste is salty, peppery and really rustic, something of onions and red peppers. I know at a strength like this water is usually a necessity, but not here. This one's got all it needs.
A totally new grain experience: 8
Garnheath 40yo 1969-2009 47.9% Douglas Laing
Nice to try such an old grain whisky, usually it's said that the difference between old and young is even bigger when it comes to single grain than single malts. It smells really big, lots of different odors, honey, syrup, black pepper, grilled aubergine, melted butter and pesto. The taste doesn't quite follow up, but it's really pleasant, peanut butter, chorizo, slightly dry, rustic, many fine flavours. I do like to point that this is an oldie that truly doesn't need any water. Anyway, the aftertaste is a bit short and lacks character, but other than that it's a fine whisky.
Probably a bit expensive, but flawless: 7
Greenore 8yo 40% OB Cooley Single Grain
From the distillery Cooley in Ireland comes this Greenore, pretty young grain whisky. A so called small batch release, which I never understood why is a considered a sign of quality. It's a yellow, almost greenish colour, smells sort of grassy and minty, nothing special but pleasant. The taste is really light, a bit grassy, sweet, coastal, spicy, herbal, very herbal actually, I'd say the herbal flavours makes this just a bit more than your usual delicate youngster. I'm very impressed by this, unfortunately as far people have come in discovering that singles usually surpasses blends tastewise in scotch, I believe that Jameson will be the whisky of Ireland for many the year still. :(
Try this, you'll be surprised: 6
Cameronbridge 30yo 1978-2008 56.6% Adelphi cask 5 btl 1/238
A very limited bottling from this grain distillery by Adelphi. An impressing cask strength at this age. Very alcoholic and woody taste. A beautifully balanced whisky, sweet and sour, kind of like a sorbet of lime and strawberry. It changes to a peppery and very very long aftertaste of syrup, chilli, coconut, olive oil and many more flavours that's hard to describe. I haven't tried much old grain from before, but this definately makes me want much, much more.
Like a good story, a good beginning, good middle and good end: 9.5
onsdag 29. desember 2010
mandag 20. desember 2010
6 Littlemills tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Littlemill 5yo 40% OB
I'm doing a vertical of some of the less talked about closed distilleries. Starting with this OB from Littlemill, one that rarely amazes me. Straw color, smells spirity, tiger balm, minty, you know the smell when you've rubbed tiger balm on your hands, waxy and minty is the best I can describe it. The taste is sweet with iodine and dark vinegar, it definately got someting to it on the palate, but the finish is just spirity with some restrained acrylic notes.
Not very enjoyable, but fun to see how different a whisky really can get: 5
Littlemill 16yo 1980-1996 46% Murray McDavid The Perfect Dram btl.x/480
I tried this at a bar yesterday. It is a bourbon-matured Littlemill, the now, finally might some say, closed down distillery fairly known for it's variable malts. Strong smell, very strong alcohol notes and some citrus. The taste then is a bit off as I'm getting something similar to the most recent Glen Albyn I tried. With water it becomes a bit more citrussy and herbal as well. The aftertaste then kills it being mainly bitter and soapy, not enjoyable at all.
A poor malt but it has its moment halfway through: 3
Littlemill 18yo 58.5% Cadenhead's
Golden colour, european oak. Heathery, wheat and oak, traditional odors, needs some time to open up. With time, some really nice hints of honey develops. The taste is very intense, lots of honey here as well, cream soap, herbal butter and almonds. This must be one of the best versions of Littlemill, maybe it's a bit like another hard tried malt, Glen Scotia. Best when served at cask strength!
I'll be looking for cask strength Littlemills from now on: 8
Littlemill 20yo 1984-2004 46% Hart Brothers
I believe that Littlemill was the oldest distillery in scotland until it's pretty recent closure. It has a nice and fruity odor, cooked apples, prunes, coconutjuice and bananaflavoured carb shake. The taste is very nice at first, and I'm getting excited, but it finishes on weizenkorn, burnt matches and a horrible, long aftertaste of water with chlorine, the ones you accidently swallow in public baths.
I've heard much bad about this distillery, and I guess some of it is true then.
Not too bad, but far from good: 3.5
Dunglass 5yo 40% OB
Dunglass was a malt from Littlemill Distillery, without standing apart from the Littlemill OB in any way that I know of. It's very pale, short whiff of leather jacket from a second hand shop, pretty futile. Doesn't really taste anything except some diluted applejuice, with no finish at all. If I'd guess I'd say this one is far below 40% abv.
Great if you wanna get drunk in a hurry: 4
Littlemill 40% 8yo OB
Littlemill was until its recent closure Scotlands oldest distillery. It has a sort of tickling and grassy smell of dried grass and wheat flour. Nothing fancy on this one, a bit sweetness, but very uninteresting. Strong alcoholic influence tastewise, dilluting will unfortunately just make it even worse.
won't be missed by many: 2.5
I'm doing a vertical of some of the less talked about closed distilleries. Starting with this OB from Littlemill, one that rarely amazes me. Straw color, smells spirity, tiger balm, minty, you know the smell when you've rubbed tiger balm on your hands, waxy and minty is the best I can describe it. The taste is sweet with iodine and dark vinegar, it definately got someting to it on the palate, but the finish is just spirity with some restrained acrylic notes.
Not very enjoyable, but fun to see how different a whisky really can get: 5
Littlemill 16yo 1980-1996 46% Murray McDavid The Perfect Dram btl.x/480
I tried this at a bar yesterday. It is a bourbon-matured Littlemill, the now, finally might some say, closed down distillery fairly known for it's variable malts. Strong smell, very strong alcohol notes and some citrus. The taste then is a bit off as I'm getting something similar to the most recent Glen Albyn I tried. With water it becomes a bit more citrussy and herbal as well. The aftertaste then kills it being mainly bitter and soapy, not enjoyable at all.
A poor malt but it has its moment halfway through: 3
Littlemill 18yo 58.5% Cadenhead's
Golden colour, european oak. Heathery, wheat and oak, traditional odors, needs some time to open up. With time, some really nice hints of honey develops. The taste is very intense, lots of honey here as well, cream soap, herbal butter and almonds. This must be one of the best versions of Littlemill, maybe it's a bit like another hard tried malt, Glen Scotia. Best when served at cask strength!
I'll be looking for cask strength Littlemills from now on: 8
Littlemill 20yo 1984-2004 46% Hart Brothers
I believe that Littlemill was the oldest distillery in scotland until it's pretty recent closure. It has a nice and fruity odor, cooked apples, prunes, coconutjuice and bananaflavoured carb shake. The taste is very nice at first, and I'm getting excited, but it finishes on weizenkorn, burnt matches and a horrible, long aftertaste of water with chlorine, the ones you accidently swallow in public baths.
I've heard much bad about this distillery, and I guess some of it is true then.
Not too bad, but far from good: 3.5
Dunglass 5yo 40% OB
Dunglass was a malt from Littlemill Distillery, without standing apart from the Littlemill OB in any way that I know of. It's very pale, short whiff of leather jacket from a second hand shop, pretty futile. Doesn't really taste anything except some diluted applejuice, with no finish at all. If I'd guess I'd say this one is far below 40% abv.
Great if you wanna get drunk in a hurry: 4
Littlemill 40% 8yo OB
Littlemill was until its recent closure Scotlands oldest distillery. It has a sort of tickling and grassy smell of dried grass and wheat flour. Nothing fancy on this one, a bit sweetness, but very uninteresting. Strong alcoholic influence tastewise, dilluting will unfortunately just make it even worse.
won't be missed by many: 2.5
11 Rosebanks tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Rosebank 20yo 1990-2010 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#6396
I know there are many people that loves their occasional Rosebank more than me, but sometimes it shows what a great dram it can be. Another pale one, smells very light, a bourbon-cask? vanilla and alcohol, needs some time to open up, turns more spicy, goat cheese in chili, tapas-style. Time to taste this. Floral, vanilla and black pepper, a great whisky in all its simplicity. The finish is a tad short, spirity and one-dimensional.
A good whisky, but not worth the cost: 6
Rosebank 18yo 1990-2008 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#4655
A pale whisky from this closed lowland distillery, Smells sweet, aniseeds, vanilla, cream toffee and liqueur filling. Give it some time to rest and it develops a bit to the lighter side. The taste is at first very sweet, and a bit bitter, like some liqueur filled dark chocolate. It soon turns into some absolutely fantastic flavors of sour and herbal character. All in all this is a fantastic whisky, of the long lost Rosebank. Hopefully there's stock left for a couple more years before it turns too expensive for the common whisky drinker.
Fine example of the lowland character: 7.5
Rosebank 19yo 1990-2009 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Rosebanks one that was lost in the 90's, therefor still pretty widely available, but if you wanna make a good purchase, buy one now before the demand increases the price because of decreasing stock. This one smells spirity, tobacco, glue and vanilla. Much bourbon influence here. The taste is peppery and floral, typical lowland-style. I know many are very impressed by Rosebank, unfortunately I still don't quite fall into that category. Some sour lemon notes appears after a while.
A good rosebank, just not my style: 5.5
Rosebank 12yo 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Now Rosebank has been closed for nearly two decades, but there are still many bottlings to be found, and if I might say so, of very varying quality. This is a bourbon-matured version, smells very citrussy, lemon and oranges, sort of cider-ish. The taste is pretty easy, aniseed, lemon drops and pears. A nice easy-drinking malt which would've probably been a tad boring if bottled at about 40%abv. I'll add some water and see what happens. Still very gentle, cider-ish, pears, apples, aftertaste of sour apples. It's a fun, light and crispy malt, definately a whisky suitable as an aperitif.
A fine, classy, smooth, just plain good malt whisky: 7
Rosebank 13yo 1990-2003 46% Murray McDavid
This one is matured for 5 more years, will that make a big difference tastewise? Oh yes, instantly a much richer and rounder smell, like thick syrup, but still a bit burnt. This is much sweeter than the younger version, butter, syrup, malty, sort of like a strong caramel toffee. I'll add just a couple drops of water. Water doesn't enhance at all and I therefore recommend it to be taken neat.
A sweet, malty whisky: 6
Rosebank 8yo 1990-1998 46% Murray McDavid
I'm doing two different 1990-vintage Rosebanks from Murray McDavid today, both 46% and Bourbon-matured. Will they be as similar as they sound? This one smells really spirity with some burnt sugar, far from mouth-watering. The first taste is woody, burnt and very austere, I'll add some water. With water it gets a bit sweeter, some vanilla, but all in all it's not a very good Rosebank. It lacks both flavour and body.
Not complex enough: 4.5
Rosebank 10yo 1989-1999 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
This one is a bit paler despite being 2 years older, a good thing I guess, as the use of E150 has decreased at G&M. It has a far less substantial smell than the 1988, much more spirity even at 40%. The taste is kind of dry, I wonder if there's been any wine casks involved here, but I doubt it. peanut butter, capers, onion mayo and breadcrumbs. Water does no good in this one, and the aftertaste is bot with or without water a pretty dismal.
I guess it should been bottled a couple years earlier: 3.5
Rosebank 8yo 1988-1996 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
Today I'll be trying to Rosebanks from the CC-series with only a year different vintage. This 8yo has a nice and firm sweetish, caramelly odor. I have enjoyed some really young Rosebanks in the past. This tastes fresh and vibrant, blackberries, peppery, a bit woody, and it has that dirty lowland style, try a young Glenkinchie to compare. The aftertaste is quite sour, bitter and very sweet, all at once. I recommend just the tiniest drop of water in this one. Then it becomes a bit rounder.
A swell youngster from a sadly closed distillery: 6.5
Rosebank 12yo 43% OB F&F
Rosebank were due to unfortunate circumstances closed. Pretty distinctive smell, woody and mild oakiness. It has the initial fragrances of a classic lowlander, some withdrawn woody flavours, some pine nuts, burnt rubber, fried sugar, strong coffee and flowers.
Advanced but no classic: 4.5
Rosebank 8yo 40% Distillers Agency
An 8-year old version of this classic malt, maybe an OB, I'm not sure. Very dark for it's age, some lavender, hot spices and lots of herbal notes in the smell. It tastes about the same as the nosing predicted, remarkably many flavour for a whisky that consists of only 40% abv. I'm getting Fishermans Friend, cactus, lime, dried herbs and much more. One of the better Rosebanks I've come across.
By far one of the best 8yo's yet: 8.5
Rosebank 17yo 1991-2008 55.1% Single Malts of Scotland
An older Rosebank, the distillery from which I tend to lean more towards the younger versions. A fantastic nose, clearly soft, mild, sweet, manchego cheeze, dried fruits and blueberry jam. The taste is very smooth, waxy, honey, brie and mozzarella. It's just a tad drying on the finish. With a small drop of water the pleasant and quite beautiful taste all disappears, and some old tawny notes shows. I would not encourage dilution of this whisky anyhow.
A good Rosebank, not my favourite, but it's up there: 6.5
I know there are many people that loves their occasional Rosebank more than me, but sometimes it shows what a great dram it can be. Another pale one, smells very light, a bourbon-cask? vanilla and alcohol, needs some time to open up, turns more spicy, goat cheese in chili, tapas-style. Time to taste this. Floral, vanilla and black pepper, a great whisky in all its simplicity. The finish is a tad short, spirity and one-dimensional.
A good whisky, but not worth the cost: 6
Rosebank 18yo 1990-2008 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#4655
A pale whisky from this closed lowland distillery, Smells sweet, aniseeds, vanilla, cream toffee and liqueur filling. Give it some time to rest and it develops a bit to the lighter side. The taste is at first very sweet, and a bit bitter, like some liqueur filled dark chocolate. It soon turns into some absolutely fantastic flavors of sour and herbal character. All in all this is a fantastic whisky, of the long lost Rosebank. Hopefully there's stock left for a couple more years before it turns too expensive for the common whisky drinker.
Fine example of the lowland character: 7.5
Rosebank 19yo 1990-2009 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Rosebanks one that was lost in the 90's, therefor still pretty widely available, but if you wanna make a good purchase, buy one now before the demand increases the price because of decreasing stock. This one smells spirity, tobacco, glue and vanilla. Much bourbon influence here. The taste is peppery and floral, typical lowland-style. I know many are very impressed by Rosebank, unfortunately I still don't quite fall into that category. Some sour lemon notes appears after a while.
A good rosebank, just not my style: 5.5
Rosebank 12yo 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Now Rosebank has been closed for nearly two decades, but there are still many bottlings to be found, and if I might say so, of very varying quality. This is a bourbon-matured version, smells very citrussy, lemon and oranges, sort of cider-ish. The taste is pretty easy, aniseed, lemon drops and pears. A nice easy-drinking malt which would've probably been a tad boring if bottled at about 40%abv. I'll add some water and see what happens. Still very gentle, cider-ish, pears, apples, aftertaste of sour apples. It's a fun, light and crispy malt, definately a whisky suitable as an aperitif.
A fine, classy, smooth, just plain good malt whisky: 7
Rosebank 13yo 1990-2003 46% Murray McDavid
This one is matured for 5 more years, will that make a big difference tastewise? Oh yes, instantly a much richer and rounder smell, like thick syrup, but still a bit burnt. This is much sweeter than the younger version, butter, syrup, malty, sort of like a strong caramel toffee. I'll add just a couple drops of water. Water doesn't enhance at all and I therefore recommend it to be taken neat.
A sweet, malty whisky: 6
Rosebank 8yo 1990-1998 46% Murray McDavid
I'm doing two different 1990-vintage Rosebanks from Murray McDavid today, both 46% and Bourbon-matured. Will they be as similar as they sound? This one smells really spirity with some burnt sugar, far from mouth-watering. The first taste is woody, burnt and very austere, I'll add some water. With water it gets a bit sweeter, some vanilla, but all in all it's not a very good Rosebank. It lacks both flavour and body.
Not complex enough: 4.5
Rosebank 10yo 1989-1999 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
This one is a bit paler despite being 2 years older, a good thing I guess, as the use of E150 has decreased at G&M. It has a far less substantial smell than the 1988, much more spirity even at 40%. The taste is kind of dry, I wonder if there's been any wine casks involved here, but I doubt it. peanut butter, capers, onion mayo and breadcrumbs. Water does no good in this one, and the aftertaste is bot with or without water a pretty dismal.
I guess it should been bottled a couple years earlier: 3.5
Rosebank 8yo 1988-1996 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
Today I'll be trying to Rosebanks from the CC-series with only a year different vintage. This 8yo has a nice and firm sweetish, caramelly odor. I have enjoyed some really young Rosebanks in the past. This tastes fresh and vibrant, blackberries, peppery, a bit woody, and it has that dirty lowland style, try a young Glenkinchie to compare. The aftertaste is quite sour, bitter and very sweet, all at once. I recommend just the tiniest drop of water in this one. Then it becomes a bit rounder.
A swell youngster from a sadly closed distillery: 6.5
Rosebank 12yo 43% OB F&F
Rosebank were due to unfortunate circumstances closed. Pretty distinctive smell, woody and mild oakiness. It has the initial fragrances of a classic lowlander, some withdrawn woody flavours, some pine nuts, burnt rubber, fried sugar, strong coffee and flowers.
Advanced but no classic: 4.5
Rosebank 8yo 40% Distillers Agency
An 8-year old version of this classic malt, maybe an OB, I'm not sure. Very dark for it's age, some lavender, hot spices and lots of herbal notes in the smell. It tastes about the same as the nosing predicted, remarkably many flavour for a whisky that consists of only 40% abv. I'm getting Fishermans Friend, cactus, lime, dried herbs and much more. One of the better Rosebanks I've come across.
By far one of the best 8yo's yet: 8.5
Rosebank 17yo 1991-2008 55.1% Single Malts of Scotland
An older Rosebank, the distillery from which I tend to lean more towards the younger versions. A fantastic nose, clearly soft, mild, sweet, manchego cheeze, dried fruits and blueberry jam. The taste is very smooth, waxy, honey, brie and mozzarella. It's just a tad drying on the finish. With a small drop of water the pleasant and quite beautiful taste all disappears, and some old tawny notes shows. I would not encourage dilution of this whisky anyhow.
A good Rosebank, not my favourite, but it's up there: 6.5
4 Lochsides tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Lochside 19yo 1991-2010 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#6553
Lochside produced both single malt and grain whisky, and is a distillery that seems to have gotten some sort of renaissance as far as their reputation is concerned the last couple of years. Another pale one from a refill hogshead, Smells of licorice and galiano, a weird combination, sweet, honey, yeast and dark chocolate. The taste is dry and peppery with hints of dark toffee and oat meal. Its a fine mix, and my guesses would be that this comes from hoggie previously containing fino sherry?
About the same quality as the Rosebank: 6
Lochside 18yo 1991-2010 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#6303
Lochside, one of those that survived the 80's to sadly be put asleep just a decade later. Thankfully it seems that Douglas Laing predicted many of these years ago and bought casks at closing time or prior. White wine color, amazing how pale it is even after 18 years. Really strong, punchy, spirity smell with banana sweetness sprinkled with vanilla and rum and coconut liqueur. The taste is pretty straight-forward on vanilla notes and rum(again?). Water added. Now it turns extremely sweet, to the point that I can't take it serious anymore.
A disappointment, sweet and tame: 4
Lochside 27yo 1981-2009 56.1% Gordon & Macphail Cask cask#803 btl.x/205
I need another one to re-establish my relationship with the dead malts after the last disastrous Glen Albyn. This Lochside comes from a refill sherry hogshead. The nose is very anonymous, not much sherry notes or anything else actually. It needs time. The taste shows much more sherry influence, although a bit sulphury it's got some dark grapes, dry, and a bit sour. Give it a bit. It's rather pale for a sherry cask, and pretty fresh as well so I'll try with some water. Water does it very well, it makes for very sweet and spicy initial flavour, and ends with a short but lively peppery finish. Although Lochside aren't among the most sought after closed distilleries, it's well worth checking out.
A mellow beauty: 8
Lochside 17yo 1968-1985 40% CC G&M
A real oldie this one, hence some evaporation since bottling. Very strong smell, burnt toffee cake, booze filled dark chocolate, kind of charming in it's own bizarre way. The taste isn't that bad either, sweet and anticing, gingerbread, minty and strong coughdrops. Unfortunatley it gets ruined by a very burnt and rubbery finish.
To bad there's not much more left anywhere: 6.5
Lochside produced both single malt and grain whisky, and is a distillery that seems to have gotten some sort of renaissance as far as their reputation is concerned the last couple of years. Another pale one from a refill hogshead, Smells of licorice and galiano, a weird combination, sweet, honey, yeast and dark chocolate. The taste is dry and peppery with hints of dark toffee and oat meal. Its a fine mix, and my guesses would be that this comes from hoggie previously containing fino sherry?
About the same quality as the Rosebank: 6
Lochside 18yo 1991-2010 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#6303
Lochside, one of those that survived the 80's to sadly be put asleep just a decade later. Thankfully it seems that Douglas Laing predicted many of these years ago and bought casks at closing time or prior. White wine color, amazing how pale it is even after 18 years. Really strong, punchy, spirity smell with banana sweetness sprinkled with vanilla and rum and coconut liqueur. The taste is pretty straight-forward on vanilla notes and rum(again?). Water added. Now it turns extremely sweet, to the point that I can't take it serious anymore.
A disappointment, sweet and tame: 4
Lochside 27yo 1981-2009 56.1% Gordon & Macphail Cask cask#803 btl.x/205
I need another one to re-establish my relationship with the dead malts after the last disastrous Glen Albyn. This Lochside comes from a refill sherry hogshead. The nose is very anonymous, not much sherry notes or anything else actually. It needs time. The taste shows much more sherry influence, although a bit sulphury it's got some dark grapes, dry, and a bit sour. Give it a bit. It's rather pale for a sherry cask, and pretty fresh as well so I'll try with some water. Water does it very well, it makes for very sweet and spicy initial flavour, and ends with a short but lively peppery finish. Although Lochside aren't among the most sought after closed distilleries, it's well worth checking out.
A mellow beauty: 8
Lochside 17yo 1968-1985 40% CC G&M
A real oldie this one, hence some evaporation since bottling. Very strong smell, burnt toffee cake, booze filled dark chocolate, kind of charming in it's own bizarre way. The taste isn't that bad either, sweet and anticing, gingerbread, minty and strong coughdrops. Unfortunatley it gets ruined by a very burnt and rubbery finish.
To bad there's not much more left anywhere: 6.5
6 Imperials tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Imperial 12yo 1997-2009 55% Closed Distilleries btl.96/250
Imperial isn't necessarily closed as far as I'm concerned, it's just out of business as current owners refuses to start producing again. Straw color, smells very light for its high %abv, very delicate, austere, fresh lavender, notes of delicious spicy bratwurst, lightly spiced and meaty. The taste is at first mild, whipped cream and orange marmalade, but the finish is long and extremely peppery, needs some water I think. With a drop of water it it gets more rubbery and quite unpleasant, I prefer it without.
Very well made Imperial but stay away from water: 6.5
Imperial 18yo 43% Chieftain's Choice
I'm one of those hoping that we will see Imperial distilling in the future even though it seems Chivas sees no future for the distillery. White wine color, smells little to nothing, like a young Glen Grant OB. Given time it develops on heathery notes and slight sweetness, sweet white wine, but very withdrawn. The taste is fresh, clean, sweet, floral, honey, winter fruits, peach, sauternes, amazingly well composed. It's all ended with a spicy peppery finish that settles the fruitiness and gives the impression of a mature malt.
Perfectly balanced fruity malt: 7
Imperial 10yo 1998-2009 46% Duncan Taylor nc2 cask#1022 btl.209/323
Imperial, seems to be one in the dangerzone of being closed within near future. This would be a major mistake I think, as its bottlings are way better at a younger and much more profitable age than for example Caperdonich, Glen Keith and Littlemill. This one has the colour of straw, smells slightly spirity and peppery, farm house. This taste is light and floral with an aftertaste of fresh mint. From a bourbon cask. A good whisky that's worth checking out while its still affordable.
From a cask that demands a flavourful malt: 5.5
Imperial 27yo 1982-2009 58.3% Signatory Vintage
The Imperial seems to be closed forever, but in this whiskyworld nothing is impossible, so we might in the future see a change of hands on this distillery, and hopefully it will start reproducing its fine malt whisky. At 27 years of age this needs some time to open up. The smell is spirity, I am a firm believer that sherry-matured whiskies handles high alcohol strength better than bourbon-matured, which shows to be true here, so I'll add some water right away. With water its still way to dry, with taste of starch, grass and orange peel, very bitter.
A bitter, ruined Imperial: 2
Imperial 17yo 1989-97 46% Signatory Vintage
Very oaky this one from Signatory. Imperial can be anything from exceptional to rock bottom when it comes to taste. This is no different, that's for sure, sweet and eucalyptic. Modern tasting, almost minty, clean. I'm looking forward to and hoping there will be some new OB's from this distillery soon.
Sofisticated and modern Signatory: 6
Imperial 12yo 65% James MacArthur's
65% on this very dark malt sherried malt. Smells of lemon, caramelized almonds and quite flowery. Very pleasant drink, even with the staggering amount of alcohol. Tastes of dark toffe, creamy caramel and leather. Is to be enjoyed without water in my opinion, and Imperial here shows that it can handle a high percentage of alcohol very well, without loosing any of the beautiful and pleasant, soft flavours.
A connoisseur's gem: 8
Imperial isn't necessarily closed as far as I'm concerned, it's just out of business as current owners refuses to start producing again. Straw color, smells very light for its high %abv, very delicate, austere, fresh lavender, notes of delicious spicy bratwurst, lightly spiced and meaty. The taste is at first mild, whipped cream and orange marmalade, but the finish is long and extremely peppery, needs some water I think. With a drop of water it it gets more rubbery and quite unpleasant, I prefer it without.
Very well made Imperial but stay away from water: 6.5
Imperial 18yo 43% Chieftain's Choice
I'm one of those hoping that we will see Imperial distilling in the future even though it seems Chivas sees no future for the distillery. White wine color, smells little to nothing, like a young Glen Grant OB. Given time it develops on heathery notes and slight sweetness, sweet white wine, but very withdrawn. The taste is fresh, clean, sweet, floral, honey, winter fruits, peach, sauternes, amazingly well composed. It's all ended with a spicy peppery finish that settles the fruitiness and gives the impression of a mature malt.
Perfectly balanced fruity malt: 7
Imperial 10yo 1998-2009 46% Duncan Taylor nc2 cask#1022 btl.209/323
Imperial, seems to be one in the dangerzone of being closed within near future. This would be a major mistake I think, as its bottlings are way better at a younger and much more profitable age than for example Caperdonich, Glen Keith and Littlemill. This one has the colour of straw, smells slightly spirity and peppery, farm house. This taste is light and floral with an aftertaste of fresh mint. From a bourbon cask. A good whisky that's worth checking out while its still affordable.
From a cask that demands a flavourful malt: 5.5
Imperial 27yo 1982-2009 58.3% Signatory Vintage
The Imperial seems to be closed forever, but in this whiskyworld nothing is impossible, so we might in the future see a change of hands on this distillery, and hopefully it will start reproducing its fine malt whisky. At 27 years of age this needs some time to open up. The smell is spirity, I am a firm believer that sherry-matured whiskies handles high alcohol strength better than bourbon-matured, which shows to be true here, so I'll add some water right away. With water its still way to dry, with taste of starch, grass and orange peel, very bitter.
A bitter, ruined Imperial: 2
Imperial 17yo 1989-97 46% Signatory Vintage
Very oaky this one from Signatory. Imperial can be anything from exceptional to rock bottom when it comes to taste. This is no different, that's for sure, sweet and eucalyptic. Modern tasting, almost minty, clean. I'm looking forward to and hoping there will be some new OB's from this distillery soon.
Sofisticated and modern Signatory: 6
Imperial 12yo 65% James MacArthur's
65% on this very dark malt sherried malt. Smells of lemon, caramelized almonds and quite flowery. Very pleasant drink, even with the staggering amount of alcohol. Tastes of dark toffe, creamy caramel and leather. Is to be enjoyed without water in my opinion, and Imperial here shows that it can handle a high percentage of alcohol very well, without loosing any of the beautiful and pleasant, soft flavours.
A connoisseur's gem: 8
fredag 17. desember 2010
3 Deanstons tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Deanston 33yo 1977-2010 43% Thosop Import
To find a Deanston of this age is nothing short of exceptional, I just wish it would've been bottled at cask strength as well. Whiskysamples is now sadly closed although Thosop will continue bottling whiskies, and I bet there's still a lot of samples going around. The colour is golden- The smell is fruity and fat, loads of apples and barbeque smoke. The taste is fresh with hints of apples and pears a real light and fruity treat. Deanston is a light malt and I was worried that it as such an age would be overdominated by oakiness, but it's actually just enhanced its best assets. This is a light and easy malt, overall very good, but considering the price it's perhaps not as fancy as many would expect. But I'm no posh commentator anyway.
A wonderful light whisky from the early days of Deanston Distillery: 8
(Ruben, thanks a lot for informing me that although whiskysamples is closed, Thosop is not!!! And by the way, Thosop bottled a new Bowmore 1993 and Tomintoul 1967 last week) mmm... :)
Deanston NAS 40% OB
This one has got some funky paper inside the cork. Thankfully it hasn't disintegrated and mixed with the malt. Odorwise it's very light, even lighter than the Strathisla, it has some barely recognizeable nutty smell. The taste is nice, a bit dry, but that doesn't matter here. Sweet, rich, nuts, mascarpone and burnt toffee, burnt baileys? The aftertaste is somewhat woody and bland. I wish there would be more than just a good malt, but unfortunately it doesn't excell beyond the palate.
A fine old malt, easily approachable: 4
Deanston 12yo 40%OB
Pale straw colour on this one, with a powerful and very very malty odor, with a small hint of gingerbread, christmas malt? The taste is soft like velvet, with a distinctive sweetness of strawberries and honey. What's perhaps missing is some muscles, there's a lot of delicate flavours, but not much character.
The sweet elixir of the Highlands: 6.5
To find a Deanston of this age is nothing short of exceptional, I just wish it would've been bottled at cask strength as well. Whiskysamples is now sadly closed although Thosop will continue bottling whiskies, and I bet there's still a lot of samples going around. The colour is golden- The smell is fruity and fat, loads of apples and barbeque smoke. The taste is fresh with hints of apples and pears a real light and fruity treat. Deanston is a light malt and I was worried that it as such an age would be overdominated by oakiness, but it's actually just enhanced its best assets. This is a light and easy malt, overall very good, but considering the price it's perhaps not as fancy as many would expect. But I'm no posh commentator anyway.
A wonderful light whisky from the early days of Deanston Distillery: 8
(Ruben, thanks a lot for informing me that although whiskysamples is closed, Thosop is not!!! And by the way, Thosop bottled a new Bowmore 1993 and Tomintoul 1967 last week) mmm... :)
Deanston NAS 40% OB
This one has got some funky paper inside the cork. Thankfully it hasn't disintegrated and mixed with the malt. Odorwise it's very light, even lighter than the Strathisla, it has some barely recognizeable nutty smell. The taste is nice, a bit dry, but that doesn't matter here. Sweet, rich, nuts, mascarpone and burnt toffee, burnt baileys? The aftertaste is somewhat woody and bland. I wish there would be more than just a good malt, but unfortunately it doesn't excell beyond the palate.
A fine old malt, easily approachable: 4
Deanston 12yo 40%OB
Pale straw colour on this one, with a powerful and very very malty odor, with a small hint of gingerbread, christmas malt? The taste is soft like velvet, with a distinctive sweetness of strawberries and honey. What's perhaps missing is some muscles, there's a lot of delicate flavours, but not much character.
The sweet elixir of the Highlands: 6.5
torsdag 9. desember 2010
7 Port Ellens tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Port Ellen 27yo 1982-2010 55.5% Old Bothwell cask#2558
Another pale Port Ellen, but last one of those was very good, and I believe Port Ellen absolutely makes it better in bourbon casks. This smells sort of briny, salty, old hard italian dry cheese, say well vintaged parmigiano. The taste is obviously peated, but the alcohol stings a bit and overshadows other flavours that pretty much stays in the background, I can detect som cod liver and raisins. I'll try some water in this one. Some time and water opens this one and some minty and herbalness comes out on the nose. The flavour is peppery and peaty with some minty sweetness, some weird but good stuff.
A good Port Ellen, if not a typical one in any way: 6.5
Port Ellen 26yo 1982-2008 46% Berry Bros.
A Port Ellen 1982 vertical today then, I believe Port Ellen bottles now has reached a prize far above justification. So this might be some of the last PE on my part then... Light colour, beautiful salty, coastal and a bit peaty nose, like the ocean winds blowing through a fire by the seaside(wow). The taste is sweet and peaty, a bit honeyed and lots of vanilla, banana, yoghurt cream, wonderful light whisky with some gentle peat in the background. The coastal character has disappeared but that doesn't really bother me in this one.
Port Ellens reaching these ages are usually solid gold: 9
Port Ellen 24yo 1982-2006 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
This has a recognizeable Port Ellen, Islay, nose. Smoke, choriander, honey, lots of salt, coastal. The taste on the other hand is extremely light and sweet for a peated Islay malt. It's just a bit too sweet to take seriously I'm afraid. That's partly, I guess, also due to the fact that it's been diluted down to 40% prior to bottling. The aftertaste is short and sweet,
Islay childrens booze: 4
Port Ellen 28yo 1983-2009 53.5% Old Bothwell for Thosop Bvba cask 221
Aaah, good old Port Ellen, now let's see if it blows me away this time. A wonderful nose, much coastal things going on here, salt, salted haddock, shrimps and fish stock. The taste continues on very salty notes, but maybe the alcohol level is showing a bit too much. It's just perfectly dry and the aftertaste is just slightly salty once again.
A beautiful old Port Ellen: 8
Port Ellen 23yo 1983-2006 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Another OMC today, this one from Douglas Laing who seems to be sitting on many Port Ellen casks. It's very pale, unusually light coloured, white wine? It's smells a lot like burnt rubber, very smoky with a sting. The taste is a hundred percent Port Ellen, it's like some of the older bottlings, a bit more coastal than the 1th-9th release. And I think that the modest and good salty and herbal flavours of Port Ellen works very well together with the peat in this one, and the result is a very fine balanced malt.
I'll have this any day: 8
Port Ellen 24yo 1975-1999 43% Signatory Vintage cask 1768 btl. 272/1250
This one's a pale and a bit hazy Port Ellen, with 24 years maturation, I suggest this to be bourbon matured. A peaty and strong smell, some vanilla, bourbon. It has a very coastal character, much saltiness, black caviar, sushi and scallops. The aftertaste is quite short with some peat and chilli.
Good, but there are many better PE's out there: 7
Port Ellen 17yo 1980-1997 40% CC G&M
Port Ellen is unfortunately becoming harder and harder to get a hold of. Clear odors of sea, mussels, pan-fried onions and sweet nuts. Lots of good fragrances, pistachio, shallots and parsley. Islay flavours combined with a nice herbal twist.
One to buy before it's too late, or too expensive: 9
Another pale Port Ellen, but last one of those was very good, and I believe Port Ellen absolutely makes it better in bourbon casks. This smells sort of briny, salty, old hard italian dry cheese, say well vintaged parmigiano. The taste is obviously peated, but the alcohol stings a bit and overshadows other flavours that pretty much stays in the background, I can detect som cod liver and raisins. I'll try some water in this one. Some time and water opens this one and some minty and herbalness comes out on the nose. The flavour is peppery and peaty with some minty sweetness, some weird but good stuff.
A good Port Ellen, if not a typical one in any way: 6.5
Port Ellen 26yo 1982-2008 46% Berry Bros.
A Port Ellen 1982 vertical today then, I believe Port Ellen bottles now has reached a prize far above justification. So this might be some of the last PE on my part then... Light colour, beautiful salty, coastal and a bit peaty nose, like the ocean winds blowing through a fire by the seaside(wow). The taste is sweet and peaty, a bit honeyed and lots of vanilla, banana, yoghurt cream, wonderful light whisky with some gentle peat in the background. The coastal character has disappeared but that doesn't really bother me in this one.
Port Ellens reaching these ages are usually solid gold: 9
Port Ellen 24yo 1982-2006 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
This has a recognizeable Port Ellen, Islay, nose. Smoke, choriander, honey, lots of salt, coastal. The taste on the other hand is extremely light and sweet for a peated Islay malt. It's just a bit too sweet to take seriously I'm afraid. That's partly, I guess, also due to the fact that it's been diluted down to 40% prior to bottling. The aftertaste is short and sweet,
Islay childrens booze: 4
Port Ellen 28yo 1983-2009 53.5% Old Bothwell for Thosop Bvba cask 221
Aaah, good old Port Ellen, now let's see if it blows me away this time. A wonderful nose, much coastal things going on here, salt, salted haddock, shrimps and fish stock. The taste continues on very salty notes, but maybe the alcohol level is showing a bit too much. It's just perfectly dry and the aftertaste is just slightly salty once again.
A beautiful old Port Ellen: 8
Port Ellen 23yo 1983-2006 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Another OMC today, this one from Douglas Laing who seems to be sitting on many Port Ellen casks. It's very pale, unusually light coloured, white wine? It's smells a lot like burnt rubber, very smoky with a sting. The taste is a hundred percent Port Ellen, it's like some of the older bottlings, a bit more coastal than the 1th-9th release. And I think that the modest and good salty and herbal flavours of Port Ellen works very well together with the peat in this one, and the result is a very fine balanced malt.
I'll have this any day: 8
Port Ellen 24yo 1975-1999 43% Signatory Vintage cask 1768 btl. 272/1250
This one's a pale and a bit hazy Port Ellen, with 24 years maturation, I suggest this to be bourbon matured. A peaty and strong smell, some vanilla, bourbon. It has a very coastal character, much saltiness, black caviar, sushi and scallops. The aftertaste is quite short with some peat and chilli.
Good, but there are many better PE's out there: 7
Port Ellen 17yo 1980-1997 40% CC G&M
Port Ellen is unfortunately becoming harder and harder to get a hold of. Clear odors of sea, mussels, pan-fried onions and sweet nuts. Lots of good fragrances, pistachio, shallots and parsley. Islay flavours combined with a nice herbal twist.
One to buy before it's too late, or too expensive: 9
mandag 6. desember 2010
6 Foreign Whiskies tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Amrut NAS 2006 63.8% OB Peated
A peated indian whisky, I wonder if there's any vast differences between british peat and indian peat? There might be considering humidity, temperature and all that jazz. I reckon this was distilled in 2006 since that's the only vintage stated on label, which in that case makes it a very dark whisky for its young age. It smells lovely, some sweet strawberry sherry notes, moreso than peat or alcohol. The taste on the other hand is also sweet at first, but just for half a hundred of a second before the peat and massive alcohol bites. Needs water! It's another, not so pronounced peaty taste along with some tame champagne notes and a bit tarry stuff. A weird malt. As far as I'm concerned peat works best on Islay/Islands although some Highlanders and a certain Campbeltown distillery pulls it off. India? No...
Madonna doing Back In Black doesn't make it a bad song, but still: 4
The Tyrconnell NAS 40% OB
Next up on this vertical of whiskies off the beaten path is this Irish standard whisky from Cooley distillery. This one smells a bit citrussy, not bad, it's hard to taste these NAS "foreigners" without being just a little judgemental. The taste is somewhat citrussy, bitter lemon, but once again far too bland for my palate. The aftertaste is just peppery, one-dimensional, but lifts the rather boring overall impression just a bit.
I'd rather just have a regular Connemara: 2.5
Swn Y Mor NAS 40% Blended
Honest mistake, when I bought this I thought it was a welsh malt whisky, but I've since learned that Swn Y Mor started as a blend but has later been produced as a single. So this is sort of first edition, perhaps could be worth something years from now? Who cares, definately not me! Pale straw colour, smells grassy, sweet and light. The taste is zesty and bitter, I usually don't use water in Blends, but this is just a bit too mean. No, this just doesn't get any better, no aftertaste worth mentioning here.
This stuff is way too bitter, tonic stuff?: 1.5
Sikkim Old Gold Himalayan Single Malt 40% OB(?)
Okay, this is totally unfamiliar terrain for me, and I've never heard of it actually. On the bottle it says it comes from Himalaya's Dreams in Schönberg, Germany, the sole importer of Sikkim to Europe. Not a widespread whisky then, to say the least. Smells very light, actually a bit like cheap calvados, or vodka. The taste is sweet and light, sugar notes, nothing more, no aftertaste at all. It's drinkable, but not for the connoisseur. No maltiness, nothing close to scotch whisky.
Childrens booze: 2.5
Redbreast 12yo 40% OB
Well, on a trip yesterday to denmark I had a visit to a local run-down shabby to the max pub in the dirty port town of Hirtshals. They had two different single malts on their shelves, one irish and one scotch. This one smells rustic and fruity, choriander and oregano. Extremely light, just a bit too light to take seriously, like a tripple distilled Tamnavulin, Glengoyne or Highland Park. The label states it's a unique whisky. I'm not that sure.
whisky stock?: 4.5
Connemara NAS 57.9% OB CS Peated
I've had many a disappointment with irish whiskeys, as I many times find them a bit dull, but let's give this one a try. Soft nose, liquorice, very young I guess. Weird little dram, as I can't find any notes of peat at all on the nose. On the other hand, in the tasting the peat overshadows everything else. I'm not sure I follow the idea of combining tripple distillation and much peat. Anyway, no alcohol taste or aftertaste in this one, only peat.
A peat massacre: 4
A peated indian whisky, I wonder if there's any vast differences between british peat and indian peat? There might be considering humidity, temperature and all that jazz. I reckon this was distilled in 2006 since that's the only vintage stated on label, which in that case makes it a very dark whisky for its young age. It smells lovely, some sweet strawberry sherry notes, moreso than peat or alcohol. The taste on the other hand is also sweet at first, but just for half a hundred of a second before the peat and massive alcohol bites. Needs water! It's another, not so pronounced peaty taste along with some tame champagne notes and a bit tarry stuff. A weird malt. As far as I'm concerned peat works best on Islay/Islands although some Highlanders and a certain Campbeltown distillery pulls it off. India? No...
Madonna doing Back In Black doesn't make it a bad song, but still: 4
The Tyrconnell NAS 40% OB
Next up on this vertical of whiskies off the beaten path is this Irish standard whisky from Cooley distillery. This one smells a bit citrussy, not bad, it's hard to taste these NAS "foreigners" without being just a little judgemental. The taste is somewhat citrussy, bitter lemon, but once again far too bland for my palate. The aftertaste is just peppery, one-dimensional, but lifts the rather boring overall impression just a bit.
I'd rather just have a regular Connemara: 2.5
Swn Y Mor NAS 40% Blended
Honest mistake, when I bought this I thought it was a welsh malt whisky, but I've since learned that Swn Y Mor started as a blend but has later been produced as a single. So this is sort of first edition, perhaps could be worth something years from now? Who cares, definately not me! Pale straw colour, smells grassy, sweet and light. The taste is zesty and bitter, I usually don't use water in Blends, but this is just a bit too mean. No, this just doesn't get any better, no aftertaste worth mentioning here.
This stuff is way too bitter, tonic stuff?: 1.5
Sikkim Old Gold Himalayan Single Malt 40% OB(?)
Okay, this is totally unfamiliar terrain for me, and I've never heard of it actually. On the bottle it says it comes from Himalaya's Dreams in Schönberg, Germany, the sole importer of Sikkim to Europe. Not a widespread whisky then, to say the least. Smells very light, actually a bit like cheap calvados, or vodka. The taste is sweet and light, sugar notes, nothing more, no aftertaste at all. It's drinkable, but not for the connoisseur. No maltiness, nothing close to scotch whisky.
Childrens booze: 2.5
Redbreast 12yo 40% OB
Well, on a trip yesterday to denmark I had a visit to a local run-down shabby to the max pub in the dirty port town of Hirtshals. They had two different single malts on their shelves, one irish and one scotch. This one smells rustic and fruity, choriander and oregano. Extremely light, just a bit too light to take seriously, like a tripple distilled Tamnavulin, Glengoyne or Highland Park. The label states it's a unique whisky. I'm not that sure.
whisky stock?: 4.5
Connemara NAS 57.9% OB CS Peated
I've had many a disappointment with irish whiskeys, as I many times find them a bit dull, but let's give this one a try. Soft nose, liquorice, very young I guess. Weird little dram, as I can't find any notes of peat at all on the nose. On the other hand, in the tasting the peat overshadows everything else. I'm not sure I follow the idea of combining tripple distillation and much peat. Anyway, no alcohol taste or aftertaste in this one, only peat.
A peat massacre: 4
fredag 3. desember 2010
7 Longmorns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Longmorn 19yo 1990-2009 54.5% Malts of Scotland cask#25003
I'm doing a CS bourbon-matured vertical today. I guess it isn't a real vertical, but still. Starting it all with this Longmorn, a malt that I myself have been both impressed and depressed over. Smells light, vanilla, banana, toffee(the lame sugarfree ones). The taste is dry and sour, lemon juice, but halfway it turns sweet again with anis and vanilla notes. Do I dare add water? Yes I do! With a small touch of water it becomes more robust, the sweetness and the soury notes almost disappears and left is a real peppery flavour. I wish I didn't use water.
A good example of an aged bourbon expression: 6
Longmorn 18yo 1989-2007 54.5% Signatory Vintage
Longmorns one of those malts highly regarded by many connoisseurs although never really launched in varieties like Ardbeg, Glenmorangie and so on. Usually you can find one or maybe two if you're really lucky at the liquor store. Smells plain, lots of chlorin, like being in an overheated svimmingpool. The taste is intense, some ripe notes of pear and grapefruit as well as some nice bitterness. With a small dash of water the fruitiness and bitterness disappears, now to have this one neat will be my advice, then it's really a treat.
A really nice fruity Longmorn: 6.5
Longmorn 16yo 48% OB
The new Longmorn, replacing the old 15yo, in addition to another year of maturation it's upping the abv 3%. It doesn't smell much, caramel, glucose and woodiness. The taste is slightly dry and very straight, no fragrances really standing out. It's more like a high strength blend, a really big disappointment compared to the old 15yo standard. I have to try with some water added. It's really kind of one dimansional, rubbery and pepper. I hope they revert back to the 15yo in the future.
A bland and uninspiring malt: 3
Longmorn 15yo 1991-2006 56% JWWW Scottish Castles cask 12851
Well, this then, to celebrate my temporary break, but not to worry, I'll be back with some notes on the fine whiskies from the Great Expectations list near summer. This is a single cask cask strength from JWWW, another IB I'm not familiar with. Very light colour, and definate hints of bourbon on the nose. The taste is absolutely amazing, lots of raw vanilla, small hints of lemon and a wonderful taste of palm heart. This is the kind of malt that is wonderful by itself because of it's complexity, but would also fit just about any meal because it's so damn appetizing. Actually it makes me hungry as there are some flavours that just teases my tastebuds. The aftertaste is of vanilla, lemon and melon pie.
A fantastic version of Longmorn: 8.5
Longmorn-Glenlivet 12yo 40% Gordon and Macphail
One from back in the days, bottled by G&M, stacked with E150 and very cleverly called Pure Malt. But let's hold on to the assumption that it's single malt.It smells really weak, some well hidden rustic notes, sherry or tired cask? The taste is dry and really hot, chili and lime. Adding just a drop of water then. It really opens up with some sweetness, grape soda-like with a spicy finish, actually a pretty huge transformation for such a low abv-malt.
It's something special for sure: 5.5
Longmorn 32yo 1976-2008 53% The Whisky Agency
I haven't tried any of the whisky agency series yet, but I've heard it's supposed to be really good, so.. Nice and dark colour, old style, malty nose, some sweetness and much wood. The taste is instantly oaky and sweet, not much for the ones that loves special casks or peat or any other fragrant "additives". It takes some water and the taste becomes a bit more harmonic, eh, fantastic that is. The aftertaste is peppery, like sweet wasabi.
It's not perfect, but very charming in all it's simplicity: 8
Longmorn 15yo 45% OB
From what I know, Longmorn have now stopped distributing the 15 years old. Funky smells of sweet liquorice, blackberries and cured meat. It has a nice and powerful taste of tawny portwine, dark berries, something sweet and something very peppery. No water needed. All in all a very dry malt, which I won't invest more in event though it will become increasingly harder to get a hold of.
Nice, but don't add water: 5
I'm doing a CS bourbon-matured vertical today. I guess it isn't a real vertical, but still. Starting it all with this Longmorn, a malt that I myself have been both impressed and depressed over. Smells light, vanilla, banana, toffee(the lame sugarfree ones). The taste is dry and sour, lemon juice, but halfway it turns sweet again with anis and vanilla notes. Do I dare add water? Yes I do! With a small touch of water it becomes more robust, the sweetness and the soury notes almost disappears and left is a real peppery flavour. I wish I didn't use water.
A good example of an aged bourbon expression: 6
Longmorn 18yo 1989-2007 54.5% Signatory Vintage
Longmorns one of those malts highly regarded by many connoisseurs although never really launched in varieties like Ardbeg, Glenmorangie and so on. Usually you can find one or maybe two if you're really lucky at the liquor store. Smells plain, lots of chlorin, like being in an overheated svimmingpool. The taste is intense, some ripe notes of pear and grapefruit as well as some nice bitterness. With a small dash of water the fruitiness and bitterness disappears, now to have this one neat will be my advice, then it's really a treat.
A really nice fruity Longmorn: 6.5
Longmorn 16yo 48% OB
The new Longmorn, replacing the old 15yo, in addition to another year of maturation it's upping the abv 3%. It doesn't smell much, caramel, glucose and woodiness. The taste is slightly dry and very straight, no fragrances really standing out. It's more like a high strength blend, a really big disappointment compared to the old 15yo standard. I have to try with some water added. It's really kind of one dimansional, rubbery and pepper. I hope they revert back to the 15yo in the future.
A bland and uninspiring malt: 3
Longmorn 15yo 1991-2006 56% JWWW Scottish Castles cask 12851
Well, this then, to celebrate my temporary break, but not to worry, I'll be back with some notes on the fine whiskies from the Great Expectations list near summer. This is a single cask cask strength from JWWW, another IB I'm not familiar with. Very light colour, and definate hints of bourbon on the nose. The taste is absolutely amazing, lots of raw vanilla, small hints of lemon and a wonderful taste of palm heart. This is the kind of malt that is wonderful by itself because of it's complexity, but would also fit just about any meal because it's so damn appetizing. Actually it makes me hungry as there are some flavours that just teases my tastebuds. The aftertaste is of vanilla, lemon and melon pie.
A fantastic version of Longmorn: 8.5
Longmorn-Glenlivet 12yo 40% Gordon and Macphail
One from back in the days, bottled by G&M, stacked with E150 and very cleverly called Pure Malt. But let's hold on to the assumption that it's single malt.It smells really weak, some well hidden rustic notes, sherry or tired cask? The taste is dry and really hot, chili and lime. Adding just a drop of water then. It really opens up with some sweetness, grape soda-like with a spicy finish, actually a pretty huge transformation for such a low abv-malt.
It's something special for sure: 5.5
Longmorn 32yo 1976-2008 53% The Whisky Agency
I haven't tried any of the whisky agency series yet, but I've heard it's supposed to be really good, so.. Nice and dark colour, old style, malty nose, some sweetness and much wood. The taste is instantly oaky and sweet, not much for the ones that loves special casks or peat or any other fragrant "additives". It takes some water and the taste becomes a bit more harmonic, eh, fantastic that is. The aftertaste is peppery, like sweet wasabi.
It's not perfect, but very charming in all it's simplicity: 8
Longmorn 15yo 45% OB
From what I know, Longmorn have now stopped distributing the 15 years old. Funky smells of sweet liquorice, blackberries and cured meat. It has a nice and powerful taste of tawny portwine, dark berries, something sweet and something very peppery. No water needed. All in all a very dry malt, which I won't invest more in event though it will become increasingly harder to get a hold of.
Nice, but don't add water: 5
tirsdag 30. november 2010
3 Kilchomans tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Kilchoman 2010 46% OB Summer
I really don't like these whiskies making a point of different months or seasons of the year the bottling takes place, as I mean that the good old vintage statements is plenty. But on the other hand I believe I tried the Spring release just weeks ago. So I guess it works. Pale whisky, smells very peaty, all on peaty notes and hay, summer on the farm? Extremely peaty compared to the Spring release, how could this be? Seems like two diferent malts. This is like a reincarnation of Lagavulin 16 from the 90's when it was incredible. So sweet, so bitter, so salty, so citrussy, it's all thats good from Islay in one small jar.
A pleasant surprise: 7.5
Kilchoman NAS 46% OB Spring 2010 Release
Kilchoman then, I usually don't see the reason for bottling spirits and malt at 3-4 years old. Spirits that dares and blushes and so on. Early marketing I guess and if one could pull it off with quality, I guess it would have to be some young Islay distillery. Kilchoman is the newest distillery on Islay, and I guess this one is about 4yo. Dilluted to only 46%. It smells good, bourbon, vanilla, oaky, peaty, iron, seems much older than my assumption. The taste is hot, peppery with good peatyness, caviar, cod liver, tarry, a huge whisky. Oh yes, a little spirity and young-ish on the aftertaste, but I see a great future for this malt.
No dark sails on the horizon for Kilchoman: 5.5
Kilchoman 3yo 2006-2009 61.1% LMDW
The spirit from the new Kilchoman Distillery on Islay has finally reached the age of whisky! I'm delighted to try this one. It has a lovely nose, with beautiful small portions of smoke, enticing! Sweet on the palate, with much peat in presence, it works for this age. I prefer it without addition of water, as I feel much of the peaty character then disappears. A dry finish with some tickling on the tongue makes this a "one to watch" in the coming years.
The future looks bright for Kilchoman: 6
I really don't like these whiskies making a point of different months or seasons of the year the bottling takes place, as I mean that the good old vintage statements is plenty. But on the other hand I believe I tried the Spring release just weeks ago. So I guess it works. Pale whisky, smells very peaty, all on peaty notes and hay, summer on the farm? Extremely peaty compared to the Spring release, how could this be? Seems like two diferent malts. This is like a reincarnation of Lagavulin 16 from the 90's when it was incredible. So sweet, so bitter, so salty, so citrussy, it's all thats good from Islay in one small jar.
A pleasant surprise: 7.5
Kilchoman NAS 46% OB Spring 2010 Release
Kilchoman then, I usually don't see the reason for bottling spirits and malt at 3-4 years old. Spirits that dares and blushes and so on. Early marketing I guess and if one could pull it off with quality, I guess it would have to be some young Islay distillery. Kilchoman is the newest distillery on Islay, and I guess this one is about 4yo. Dilluted to only 46%. It smells good, bourbon, vanilla, oaky, peaty, iron, seems much older than my assumption. The taste is hot, peppery with good peatyness, caviar, cod liver, tarry, a huge whisky. Oh yes, a little spirity and young-ish on the aftertaste, but I see a great future for this malt.
No dark sails on the horizon for Kilchoman: 5.5
Kilchoman 3yo 2006-2009 61.1% LMDW
The spirit from the new Kilchoman Distillery on Islay has finally reached the age of whisky! I'm delighted to try this one. It has a lovely nose, with beautiful small portions of smoke, enticing! Sweet on the palate, with much peat in presence, it works for this age. I prefer it without addition of water, as I feel much of the peaty character then disappears. A dry finish with some tickling on the tongue makes this a "one to watch" in the coming years.
The future looks bright for Kilchoman: 6
lørdag 27. november 2010
7 Juras tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Jura Beinn a' Chaolais 15yo 46% OB
This time it's the Mountain of Sound, so let's see what a Cabernet Sauvignon finished Jura sounds like. It's much lighter colourwise than the previous two. Strong, fresh and herbal nose, not that bad actually, much more straight-forward than the other two. It's clearly a lighter whisky, more oaky and smooth, this reminds me of some of the less sweet Glenfarclas'es like the 21yo. Reminds me more and more of some older Glenfarclas'es the more I drink of it, not that that's a bad thing, just very unexpected.
Absolutely one of my favourite Juras: 7.5
Jura Beinn Shiantaidh 15yo 46% OB
The Sacred Mountain, this time a Barolo finishing, I believe I've only tried one Barolo finish in the past. That was a longrow and I believe I was disappointed then. But again, I believe it's a harder task finding fitting cask for finishing peaty malts than lightweighters like Jura. A much lighter nose, white peppers, dried tomatoes, something honeyed and fruity, very nice. Seems thicker tastewise, at first a bit honey, turns into anis, then turns peppery before it finishes with nicely bitterness.
I prefer this one neat: 6
Jura Beinn an Oir 15yo 46% OB
I'm doing 3 different 15yo finished Jura whiskies today, a strange vertical. Jura Distillery have never been a fav of mine, but with a couple new edition the last years, like superstition, they seem to have gotten a boost. This one, translated as mountain of the gold is finished in a pinot noir cask. Golden colour(surprise!), smells spicy and crispy, sugar mellowed in butter on a hot stove. The taste is extremely spirity, needs water. With water it gets herbal, medicinal, laphroaig without peat? A very special expression.
I can't quite make up my mind on this one: 5
Isle of Jura 8yo 40% OB
A version from back in the 80's I believe, or maybe even the 70's, a time when Isle of Jura was a distillery far from its peak. Smells wheat, hay and bisquits, clean flavours. The taste is herbal, green tea, parsley and chamomile. It's a clean and good malt, a perfect starter, although a bit bitter on the finish. Not many either ups or downs in this one.
A pretty flawless malt: 5
Isle of Jura 16yo 40% OB
The 16yo Isle of Jura might be a bit more pungent than the rather bland 10yo? I certainly hope so. The colour is golden brown, and it has a flowery nose pretty dominated by alcohol, at 40% only... The first taste is kinda dry, some liquorice, a bit bitter sweetness and some sage. I must try this with water, to see if the disaster can be prevented. With water some of the dryness, naturally, disappears, but nothing else improves and for what aftertaste is concerned there aren't any.
Maybe I'll have to try the Superstition next: 3
Isle of Jura 25yo 50% OMC Douglas Laing
A very pale Jura, that's been 25 years in sherry casks, I'd expect it to fetch some colour. Very herbal, flowery and spirity smell. It's sweet on the palate, honey, cheddar, sweet breakfast cereal, rum and dark syrup. A very sweet and nice malt with a longlasting and warming finish of spices and coal. It's kinda flawless, but there's something a bit unfinished about it.
Very nice old jura: 7
Isle of Jura 10yo 40% OB
This whisky have been victim of much, to a certain degree well put, critiscism in the last years, in contradiction to its high sales number. Much of, I believe comes from it's simplicity, and lack of having a particular character. It's a whisky with some light malty whiffs, and light taste of oak and a bit smoke.
Simple but alright whisky: 4.5
This time it's the Mountain of Sound, so let's see what a Cabernet Sauvignon finished Jura sounds like. It's much lighter colourwise than the previous two. Strong, fresh and herbal nose, not that bad actually, much more straight-forward than the other two. It's clearly a lighter whisky, more oaky and smooth, this reminds me of some of the less sweet Glenfarclas'es like the 21yo. Reminds me more and more of some older Glenfarclas'es the more I drink of it, not that that's a bad thing, just very unexpected.
Absolutely one of my favourite Juras: 7.5
Jura Beinn Shiantaidh 15yo 46% OB
The Sacred Mountain, this time a Barolo finishing, I believe I've only tried one Barolo finish in the past. That was a longrow and I believe I was disappointed then. But again, I believe it's a harder task finding fitting cask for finishing peaty malts than lightweighters like Jura. A much lighter nose, white peppers, dried tomatoes, something honeyed and fruity, very nice. Seems thicker tastewise, at first a bit honey, turns into anis, then turns peppery before it finishes with nicely bitterness.
I prefer this one neat: 6
Jura Beinn an Oir 15yo 46% OB
I'm doing 3 different 15yo finished Jura whiskies today, a strange vertical. Jura Distillery have never been a fav of mine, but with a couple new edition the last years, like superstition, they seem to have gotten a boost. This one, translated as mountain of the gold is finished in a pinot noir cask. Golden colour(surprise!), smells spicy and crispy, sugar mellowed in butter on a hot stove. The taste is extremely spirity, needs water. With water it gets herbal, medicinal, laphroaig without peat? A very special expression.
I can't quite make up my mind on this one: 5
Isle of Jura 8yo 40% OB
A version from back in the 80's I believe, or maybe even the 70's, a time when Isle of Jura was a distillery far from its peak. Smells wheat, hay and bisquits, clean flavours. The taste is herbal, green tea, parsley and chamomile. It's a clean and good malt, a perfect starter, although a bit bitter on the finish. Not many either ups or downs in this one.
A pretty flawless malt: 5
Isle of Jura 16yo 40% OB
The 16yo Isle of Jura might be a bit more pungent than the rather bland 10yo? I certainly hope so. The colour is golden brown, and it has a flowery nose pretty dominated by alcohol, at 40% only... The first taste is kinda dry, some liquorice, a bit bitter sweetness and some sage. I must try this with water, to see if the disaster can be prevented. With water some of the dryness, naturally, disappears, but nothing else improves and for what aftertaste is concerned there aren't any.
Maybe I'll have to try the Superstition next: 3
Isle of Jura 25yo 50% OMC Douglas Laing
A very pale Jura, that's been 25 years in sherry casks, I'd expect it to fetch some colour. Very herbal, flowery and spirity smell. It's sweet on the palate, honey, cheddar, sweet breakfast cereal, rum and dark syrup. A very sweet and nice malt with a longlasting and warming finish of spices and coal. It's kinda flawless, but there's something a bit unfinished about it.
Very nice old jura: 7
Isle of Jura 10yo 40% OB
This whisky have been victim of much, to a certain degree well put, critiscism in the last years, in contradiction to its high sales number. Much of, I believe comes from it's simplicity, and lack of having a particular character. It's a whisky with some light malty whiffs, and light taste of oak and a bit smoke.
Simple but alright whisky: 4.5
mandag 15. november 2010
2 Kinclaiths tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Kinclaith 35yo 1969-2004 53.3% Signatory Vintage
The fat lady sang at Kinclaith long before its due, but I've managed to come across some scarce samples during the last years. This one smells quite spirity, I wouldn't think it'd been casked for more than 20 years, or even that long. Given time it gets more sulphury. Extremely peppery taste, chilli, dried spices, a burning sensation. I'll add some water. With water it gets acidic, dry, fino sherry? Quite exciting, a real explosion of hard flavours, no honey or creamy toffee here. If you like a malt that talks, this is perfect, and I do!!
Maybe not presentable for bygone days Kinclaiths: 8.5
Kinclaith 16yo 1966-1982 40% CC G&M
One malt that today is almost impossible to find anywhere, it's an honour to finally taste the Kinclaith. The taste is a bit off, some beetroot, canned enchalots and fried tomatoes. It finishes very mild and almost boring.
Could have worked with game meat: 5
The fat lady sang at Kinclaith long before its due, but I've managed to come across some scarce samples during the last years. This one smells quite spirity, I wouldn't think it'd been casked for more than 20 years, or even that long. Given time it gets more sulphury. Extremely peppery taste, chilli, dried spices, a burning sensation. I'll add some water. With water it gets acidic, dry, fino sherry? Quite exciting, a real explosion of hard flavours, no honey or creamy toffee here. If you like a malt that talks, this is perfect, and I do!!
Maybe not presentable for bygone days Kinclaiths: 8.5
Kinclaith 16yo 1966-1982 40% CC G&M
One malt that today is almost impossible to find anywhere, it's an honour to finally taste the Kinclaith. The taste is a bit off, some beetroot, canned enchalots and fried tomatoes. It finishes very mild and almost boring.
Could have worked with game meat: 5
5 Dallas Dhus tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Dallas Dhu 18yo 43% Master of Malt cask#1497
I've heard rumours that when Dallas Dhu were active, their milestone malt was the 20yo. As most DD's bottled today usually are undiluted cask strengths and older as well, I presume this perhaps can give me some idea of what the well spoken of 20yo OB could be like. This one has a pale colour, it smells very old fashioned, malty, grainy, earth notes, herbs, and a small alcohol sting. The taste is also very old school, small hints of vanilla, very waxy, malty and just a small spiritiness that really gives some extra punch to it all.
Old style, charming malt, do not add water: 7
Dallas Dhu 26yo 48.5% Chieftain's cask#90721
A rum finished Dallas Dhu. I've always found Dallas Dhu to be a whisky often underrated. But then again I've never really enjoyed a rum- or cognac-finished whisky. Spirit gives little from cask unless it's bourbon in my opinion. A very light colour on this one. Seems like a young bourbon-matured, maybe the finishing time has been short? The taste is all on bourbon influence, vanilla, liquorice, aniseed, sunflower oil and some peppery aftertaste.
Want a bourbon-matured Dallas Dhu you could also try this: 4.5
Dallas Dhu 10yo 40% G&M
One from back in the 80's, some E150 added, a dry and a bit clinging nose, it's a bit like ammonium and lime, not pleasant. The taste is sharp, like liquorice with mint and dark chocoloate, a very strange combination but far from disappointing. I've heard many a bad rumour of the malt produced at the Dallas Dhu distillery, but this young one is not far from brilliant.
I guess that some whiskies may be better when bottled at a young age, and if this is the case with Dallas Dhu, there will probably never come any younger bottlings on the market, so I guess you have to dig into the glory days archive to find the good reviews?
A blast from the past: 7
Dallas Dhu 30yo 1962-1993 53.3% Cadenhead's
Another old treasure from Cadenhead's, This time from the long mothballed distillery Dallas Dhu. This one needs some time to open up as well. It doesn't smell too interesting, some weak spirit and sour milk. I do also get some hints of stale mushrooms. The taste is bittersweet, sour grapes, old stilton and mushy tomatoes. With some dillution it gets sweeter, and develops a fatastic minty and spicy aftertaste.
Down like a stick, then up like a rocket: 5.5
Dallas Dhu 24yo 1971-1995 40% CC G&M
This whisky has one of the most anonymous expressions I can remember on the nosing. When it comes to the tasting it's intense and sweet, alcoholic. With a little water appears a somewhat burnt sugary taste and some oak. I don't think Dallas Dhu will resume operating for a while based on this.
I hope the OB's are better : 3
I've heard rumours that when Dallas Dhu were active, their milestone malt was the 20yo. As most DD's bottled today usually are undiluted cask strengths and older as well, I presume this perhaps can give me some idea of what the well spoken of 20yo OB could be like. This one has a pale colour, it smells very old fashioned, malty, grainy, earth notes, herbs, and a small alcohol sting. The taste is also very old school, small hints of vanilla, very waxy, malty and just a small spiritiness that really gives some extra punch to it all.
Old style, charming malt, do not add water: 7
Dallas Dhu 26yo 48.5% Chieftain's cask#90721
A rum finished Dallas Dhu. I've always found Dallas Dhu to be a whisky often underrated. But then again I've never really enjoyed a rum- or cognac-finished whisky. Spirit gives little from cask unless it's bourbon in my opinion. A very light colour on this one. Seems like a young bourbon-matured, maybe the finishing time has been short? The taste is all on bourbon influence, vanilla, liquorice, aniseed, sunflower oil and some peppery aftertaste.
Want a bourbon-matured Dallas Dhu you could also try this: 4.5
Dallas Dhu 10yo 40% G&M
One from back in the 80's, some E150 added, a dry and a bit clinging nose, it's a bit like ammonium and lime, not pleasant. The taste is sharp, like liquorice with mint and dark chocoloate, a very strange combination but far from disappointing. I've heard many a bad rumour of the malt produced at the Dallas Dhu distillery, but this young one is not far from brilliant.
I guess that some whiskies may be better when bottled at a young age, and if this is the case with Dallas Dhu, there will probably never come any younger bottlings on the market, so I guess you have to dig into the glory days archive to find the good reviews?
A blast from the past: 7
Dallas Dhu 30yo 1962-1993 53.3% Cadenhead's
Another old treasure from Cadenhead's, This time from the long mothballed distillery Dallas Dhu. This one needs some time to open up as well. It doesn't smell too interesting, some weak spirit and sour milk. I do also get some hints of stale mushrooms. The taste is bittersweet, sour grapes, old stilton and mushy tomatoes. With some dillution it gets sweeter, and develops a fatastic minty and spicy aftertaste.
Down like a stick, then up like a rocket: 5.5
Dallas Dhu 24yo 1971-1995 40% CC G&M
This whisky has one of the most anonymous expressions I can remember on the nosing. When it comes to the tasting it's intense and sweet, alcoholic. With a little water appears a somewhat burnt sugary taste and some oak. I don't think Dallas Dhu will resume operating for a while based on this.
I hope the OB's are better : 3
8 Benriachs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Benriach 16yo 43% OB
A couple years ago Benriach launched a new range of OB's, I've tried the peaty ones, Curiositas and Authenticus, now let's try the one that's possibly a bit closer to the distillery profile then. Smells fresh and caramelly, nice and clean with a bit spicy sweetness. The taste gives me less, peppery, grassy, one of the grassies whiskies I've had, even more grassy than the ol' Dunglass from Littlemill¨Distillery. With water it gets sweeter, some minty floral notes, not bad at all. This is a widely available and quite affordable 16yo OB, if you like it light and don't mind adding water.
Light and grassy sweetness: 6
Benriach 11yo 1982-1993 60.6% Gordon and Macphail cask#5211-5213
My first IB Benriach then, nothing to get excited about, a friend told me the other day, well I'm excited anyway! This one is from the good old days, before the distillery were relaunched, and I slightly believe in bottle maturation... Smells like minty caramel, pan-browned sugar, pears and dark chocolate, a real dessert malt, so creamy.. The taste is full of caramel and appel notes, a true sweet treasure, but the alcohol level is so high and the taste so concentrated it needs some water. With a fair amount of water it becomes softer, more red apples, sour notes of ginger and smoked salmon, a strange combo that works very well. I can't see why this distillery was mothballed back in the days, when giving such an aromatic and characterful set of flavours. maybe it was a bit before its time.
If you like sometihing new, try something old: 7
Benriach 10yo 43% OB
I've tried the "Curiositas" before, and I remember it a good malt, so let's see what Benriach can do at same age without peatiness. It sure got an intense smell for such a young speysider, floral, leather, soap and a bit spirity. It seems a malt quite enjoyable in it's own right, but something puts me a bit off. Perhaps the strong floral notes. The taste is sweet, spicy and yes, spirity, and a bit dry, a bizarre combo. With some water it gets sweeter, more floral, herbal and earthy. The aftertaste is earthy, ammonia and bitter.
I enjoyed it more when peated, at least at this age: 4
Benriach 21yo 46% OB Authenticus
An older version of the curiositas, this time unchill-filtered as well. A much stronger and more oaky smell then the last one. This seems to be a bit more for the experienced connoisseur. It is far more dry, and not as easy to enjoy, but there are some flavours, when given time, that truly makes up for the far from sophisticated start. Apples, oysters, raw eggs and ranch dressing creates a somewhat memorable finish.
I actually prefer the 10yo: 4.5
Benriach 10yo 46% OB Curiositas
Benirach has by far the most peated whisky outside of Islay with a striking 55ppm. The peat is very noticeable on the nose in this one as well as some sweet fruits. On my palate it's very wholesome, with a bit of everything a speysider should have, sweetness, freshness, spicyness and some dryness. The peat is unfortunately a bit shy in this one, I wish it would be a bit more punchy. However, it's a very nice malt that I think fits just any malt enthusiast well, but it might never really astound anyone.
An affordable and nice whisky, one to share with your friends: 6
Benriach 20yo 43% OB
Benriach's producing a lot of different aged OB's nowadays, with the peated versions "Authenticus" and "Curositas" getting most of the fuzz. This one has a fresh nose with much vanilla and barley. The first sip tells the story of good casks, much vanilla and oaky notes, nice bourbon-matured whisky. It's semi-dry and toasty, like smoke of a barbeque. With water it becomes just a bit too sweet for me. But all in all a lovely dram.
Traditional speyside, very good: 6.5
Benriach 12yo 1969-1981 40% CC G&M
Benriach is in my opinion a whisky that's often best when bottled at a young age. This one is very dark, and has spent some time in a sherry cask, no doubt. It has withdrawn hint of dried spices and herbs, say fennel. Easier on the palate with dry straws, and a finish of pepper and alcohol.
Not very enjoyable: 2.5
Benriach 34yo 1968-2003 49.8% Hart Brothers
Too be honest, I didn't give this one time enough in the glass before sinking it, but anyway, here's a very questionable review. Nose, mhm, a bit funky, hard to get anything from, reminds me of anis spirit. Sweet and steady put taste, much too strong finish, hard to define anything but the alcohol here.
Hart Bros could have improved this with a different cask or a finish maybe?: 3
A couple years ago Benriach launched a new range of OB's, I've tried the peaty ones, Curiositas and Authenticus, now let's try the one that's possibly a bit closer to the distillery profile then. Smells fresh and caramelly, nice and clean with a bit spicy sweetness. The taste gives me less, peppery, grassy, one of the grassies whiskies I've had, even more grassy than the ol' Dunglass from Littlemill¨Distillery. With water it gets sweeter, some minty floral notes, not bad at all. This is a widely available and quite affordable 16yo OB, if you like it light and don't mind adding water.
Light and grassy sweetness: 6
Benriach 11yo 1982-1993 60.6% Gordon and Macphail cask#5211-5213
My first IB Benriach then, nothing to get excited about, a friend told me the other day, well I'm excited anyway! This one is from the good old days, before the distillery were relaunched, and I slightly believe in bottle maturation... Smells like minty caramel, pan-browned sugar, pears and dark chocolate, a real dessert malt, so creamy.. The taste is full of caramel and appel notes, a true sweet treasure, but the alcohol level is so high and the taste so concentrated it needs some water. With a fair amount of water it becomes softer, more red apples, sour notes of ginger and smoked salmon, a strange combo that works very well. I can't see why this distillery was mothballed back in the days, when giving such an aromatic and characterful set of flavours. maybe it was a bit before its time.
If you like sometihing new, try something old: 7
Benriach 10yo 43% OB
I've tried the "Curiositas" before, and I remember it a good malt, so let's see what Benriach can do at same age without peatiness. It sure got an intense smell for such a young speysider, floral, leather, soap and a bit spirity. It seems a malt quite enjoyable in it's own right, but something puts me a bit off. Perhaps the strong floral notes. The taste is sweet, spicy and yes, spirity, and a bit dry, a bizarre combo. With some water it gets sweeter, more floral, herbal and earthy. The aftertaste is earthy, ammonia and bitter.
I enjoyed it more when peated, at least at this age: 4
Benriach 21yo 46% OB Authenticus
An older version of the curiositas, this time unchill-filtered as well. A much stronger and more oaky smell then the last one. This seems to be a bit more for the experienced connoisseur. It is far more dry, and not as easy to enjoy, but there are some flavours, when given time, that truly makes up for the far from sophisticated start. Apples, oysters, raw eggs and ranch dressing creates a somewhat memorable finish.
I actually prefer the 10yo: 4.5
Benriach 10yo 46% OB Curiositas
Benirach has by far the most peated whisky outside of Islay with a striking 55ppm. The peat is very noticeable on the nose in this one as well as some sweet fruits. On my palate it's very wholesome, with a bit of everything a speysider should have, sweetness, freshness, spicyness and some dryness. The peat is unfortunately a bit shy in this one, I wish it would be a bit more punchy. However, it's a very nice malt that I think fits just any malt enthusiast well, but it might never really astound anyone.
An affordable and nice whisky, one to share with your friends: 6
Benriach 20yo 43% OB
Benriach's producing a lot of different aged OB's nowadays, with the peated versions "Authenticus" and "Curositas" getting most of the fuzz. This one has a fresh nose with much vanilla and barley. The first sip tells the story of good casks, much vanilla and oaky notes, nice bourbon-matured whisky. It's semi-dry and toasty, like smoke of a barbeque. With water it becomes just a bit too sweet for me. But all in all a lovely dram.
Traditional speyside, very good: 6.5
Benriach 12yo 1969-1981 40% CC G&M
Benriach is in my opinion a whisky that's often best when bottled at a young age. This one is very dark, and has spent some time in a sherry cask, no doubt. It has withdrawn hint of dried spices and herbs, say fennel. Easier on the palate with dry straws, and a finish of pepper and alcohol.
Not very enjoyable: 2.5
Benriach 34yo 1968-2003 49.8% Hart Brothers
Too be honest, I didn't give this one time enough in the glass before sinking it, but anyway, here's a very questionable review. Nose, mhm, a bit funky, hard to get anything from, reminds me of anis spirit. Sweet and steady put taste, much too strong finish, hard to define anything but the alcohol here.
Hart Bros could have improved this with a different cask or a finish maybe?: 3
fredag 12. november 2010
5 Bladnochs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Bladnoch 16yo 1992-2008 46% Murray McDavid
Another one from an ex-sherry cask of Murray McDavid, these ex-sherries aof very light colour has disappointed me a bit lately, last with an expression of the usually so very good Highland Park. This smells burnt and spirity, not good. The taste is kind of a mix of phenolic dry sherry and peat, more peatiness than in any other expression I've tried from Bladnoch. The aftertaste is long and herbal, dark chocolate and figs. A textbook sherried Bladnoch I guess.
A PEATY lowlander: 6
Bladnoch 17yo 46% OB
A bottling to celebrate "Alex Barclay 5 years as officer of the mini bottle club". Bladnochs rare bottlings are often just standard OB's with a special label. This one smells very strong, spirity, a bit too raw for me. With water added, a harsh and semi-sweet limeish aftertaste appears. Very one-dimensional and alcoholic whisky. The aftertaste is alcoholic and unfortunately very long-lasting.
Hard to consume: 2
Bladnoch 8yo 40% OB
A bottling probably from the 80's, made for Arthur Bell. Pale, powerful, smoky fragrances, could it be peated? Very rough flavours as well, with som acidic sweetness. A couple drops of water doesn't improve much on the flavours, but extends the finish quite a bit and creates a softer and nicer aftertaste.
8 years' perhaps too young for a Bladnoch: 3
Bladnoch 17yo 55% OB "Obama Inauguration" 235/238
So pale it's almost like water, this very limited bottling to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama. Pleasantly minty, sends me towards contaminated air and the Indian kitchen. Sweet-tasting, tonic water, jupiter and wet leather. With some water added, it becomes more minty, mint leaves and dried herbs dominates the flavours.
A special case: 4
Bladnoch 17yo 55% OB
Bladnoch doesn't really have any standard OB's, but they do bottle a lot at 17 years old. This one is called "Spirit of the Lowlands". It smells pretty harsh, of wood and alcohol, not much else. The taste is pretty intense, with menthos and white wine. 55% have with no doubt contributed to a woody flavour. It has a dry aftertaste of vinegar and wheat flour.
Unorthodox, but not bad at all: 6
Another one from an ex-sherry cask of Murray McDavid, these ex-sherries aof very light colour has disappointed me a bit lately, last with an expression of the usually so very good Highland Park. This smells burnt and spirity, not good. The taste is kind of a mix of phenolic dry sherry and peat, more peatiness than in any other expression I've tried from Bladnoch. The aftertaste is long and herbal, dark chocolate and figs. A textbook sherried Bladnoch I guess.
A PEATY lowlander: 6
Bladnoch 17yo 46% OB
A bottling to celebrate "Alex Barclay 5 years as officer of the mini bottle club". Bladnochs rare bottlings are often just standard OB's with a special label. This one smells very strong, spirity, a bit too raw for me. With water added, a harsh and semi-sweet limeish aftertaste appears. Very one-dimensional and alcoholic whisky. The aftertaste is alcoholic and unfortunately very long-lasting.
Hard to consume: 2
Bladnoch 8yo 40% OB
A bottling probably from the 80's, made for Arthur Bell. Pale, powerful, smoky fragrances, could it be peated? Very rough flavours as well, with som acidic sweetness. A couple drops of water doesn't improve much on the flavours, but extends the finish quite a bit and creates a softer and nicer aftertaste.
8 years' perhaps too young for a Bladnoch: 3
Bladnoch 17yo 55% OB "Obama Inauguration" 235/238
So pale it's almost like water, this very limited bottling to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama. Pleasantly minty, sends me towards contaminated air and the Indian kitchen. Sweet-tasting, tonic water, jupiter and wet leather. With some water added, it becomes more minty, mint leaves and dried herbs dominates the flavours.
A special case: 4
Bladnoch 17yo 55% OB
Bladnoch doesn't really have any standard OB's, but they do bottle a lot at 17 years old. This one is called "Spirit of the Lowlands". It smells pretty harsh, of wood and alcohol, not much else. The taste is pretty intense, with menthos and white wine. 55% have with no doubt contributed to a woody flavour. It has a dry aftertaste of vinegar and wheat flour.
Unorthodox, but not bad at all: 6
torsdag 11. november 2010
4 Benrinnes tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Benrinnes 14yo 1994-2008 46% Dun Bheagan
A sherried Benrinnes, I did love the 14yo sherried 1994 OMC Benrinnes last time I tried, maybe this one can reach those high, or even surpass. Smells fresh, green herbs, olive oil, chives, a bit soapy. The taste is certainly oaky, lots of character, but it's just too simple. With water it gets sweeter, bananas and vanilla, but the aftertaste is acidic and ruins much of the potential palate pleasure.
An oaky Benrinnes with little soul: 4
Benrinnes/Stronachie 12yo 43% Dewar's
Stronachie has, according to many online sources been outed as a Benrinnes malt, after many a year as a good kept secret, when it comes to distillery of origin. I've always enjoyed my Benrinnes when sherry-matured, how will this lighter version make it? The smell is round, soft, woody, cigars, toast and bacon. The taste is just as pleasant, easy, rubbery, cinnamon, rope, dry. It's not my favourite Benrinnes by far, but it's a pleasant, honest working-class malt whisky.
A naughty speysider: 5
Benrinnes 23yo 1986-2009 58.8% OB
A cask strength version from this little known, and little sought after, but to my experience very good distillery. This sherry cask has definately made it's mark, and the taste is estremely sweet and pungent, a real kick. It's very dry, and the afteretaste is almost too phenolic. A small drop of water makes the finish a bit softer. This is a crazy cask, one of the strongest sherry notes I've ever tried.
Dry, peppery and sherried: 5
Benrinnes 14yo 1994-2008 50% Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask
Benrinnes is one that's hard to find, but I've heard some good about it. It comes across as very elegant on the nosing, fresh, fruity and pretty spiced. Gets me thinking the percentage of alcohol may be a bit high. But the taste is nicely tuned, with spices, herbs, sour fruits and a nice crisp finish. A malt that would bless almost any occation.
Almost perfect: 9
A sherried Benrinnes, I did love the 14yo sherried 1994 OMC Benrinnes last time I tried, maybe this one can reach those high, or even surpass. Smells fresh, green herbs, olive oil, chives, a bit soapy. The taste is certainly oaky, lots of character, but it's just too simple. With water it gets sweeter, bananas and vanilla, but the aftertaste is acidic and ruins much of the potential palate pleasure.
An oaky Benrinnes with little soul: 4
Benrinnes/Stronachie 12yo 43% Dewar's
Stronachie has, according to many online sources been outed as a Benrinnes malt, after many a year as a good kept secret, when it comes to distillery of origin. I've always enjoyed my Benrinnes when sherry-matured, how will this lighter version make it? The smell is round, soft, woody, cigars, toast and bacon. The taste is just as pleasant, easy, rubbery, cinnamon, rope, dry. It's not my favourite Benrinnes by far, but it's a pleasant, honest working-class malt whisky.
A naughty speysider: 5
Benrinnes 23yo 1986-2009 58.8% OB
A cask strength version from this little known, and little sought after, but to my experience very good distillery. This sherry cask has definately made it's mark, and the taste is estremely sweet and pungent, a real kick. It's very dry, and the afteretaste is almost too phenolic. A small drop of water makes the finish a bit softer. This is a crazy cask, one of the strongest sherry notes I've ever tried.
Dry, peppery and sherried: 5
Benrinnes 14yo 1994-2008 50% Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask
Benrinnes is one that's hard to find, but I've heard some good about it. It comes across as very elegant on the nosing, fresh, fruity and pretty spiced. Gets me thinking the percentage of alcohol may be a bit high. But the taste is nicely tuned, with spices, herbs, sour fruits and a nice crisp finish. A malt that would bless almost any occation.
Almost perfect: 9
fredag 5. november 2010
5 Ben Nevis tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Ben Nevis 15yo 1992-2007 56.6% Signatory Vintage
Ben Nevis is a malt that unfortunately for me seems to have a word by mouth of stupendous old sherried bottlings, but the recent batches seems to not work out, or maybe it's just people beeing to spoiled by older(better) times? Smells of cocoa, toffee, smooth. The taste is at first very sweet, honey, mango, peaches, oily, mushy peas and vegetabel stock. The aftertaste is very spirity. Water needed. With water it's the same stuff, nice fruity notes at start, then spirity, sulphur notes at the end.
A shame, it started so well: 5
Ben Nevis 12yo 1996-2008 46% The Warehouse Collection
A 2cl bottle of Ben Nevis from a 1st fill sherry cask of only 576 bottles. I actually have no idea how I got this one, but anyway, here goes. It smells very fresh, and smoky, smoky mountain air? It tastes like a bad grain whisky, nothing going on at all. The aftertaste is just woody, and bland. I'm not going to say it out loud, but if you read a bit between the lines, and I've heard of the Warehouse Collection either, and the bottle most certainly aren't from the british Isles. Well, well...
Useless: 2
Maybe a bit off topic, but still... http://www.trademarkia.com/the-warehouse-collection-76408807.html
Ben Nevis 14yo 1996-2010 57.1% Malts of Scotland cask 1466
I'm travelling further down the sherry road with a relatively young sherried Ben Nevis Cask Strength. The alcohol level completely dominates the smell of this one. And the taste is überspirity. Let's add water. With water it gets a bit less spirity, but it's still very off. No real flavours that's recognizeable, eveything is hidden behind dryness and spirity notes. When given some time an initial sweetness shows tastewise, but it's not enough to save this one.
Ben Nevis needs much time, mostly in the cask: 4
Ben Nevis 10yo 46% OB
The first OB of Ben Nevis for me. I do enjoy the older CS IB's, so how does a youngster come across? A very anonymous nose, some hints of sulphur, sherry? The first taste confirms my suspicions, here there are some sherry-notes involved. But I can hardly find any sweetness, smokiness or anything else, maybe just some hay and leather. Water doesn't improve much, but it becomes a bit more cuddly, a whisky to enjoy responsibly while watching a curling match or some snooker. This is not a loud, aggressive or punchy whisky in any sort of way.
One for a lazy day: 4.5
Ben Nevis 27yo 1963-1990 54% James MacArthur
This one is a cask strength of 54%, at 27 yo that's usually proof of a good cask. It's coppercoloured, with a firm taste of garlic, salt and sun dried tomatoes, very rustic, sherry cask?It has many a good flavour in store, mild pepper, roasted pine nuts, pistachios and dried ham of pork. This is truly one to save for a special occation.
Will outshine just about anything: 9.5
Ben Nevis is a malt that unfortunately for me seems to have a word by mouth of stupendous old sherried bottlings, but the recent batches seems to not work out, or maybe it's just people beeing to spoiled by older(better) times? Smells of cocoa, toffee, smooth. The taste is at first very sweet, honey, mango, peaches, oily, mushy peas and vegetabel stock. The aftertaste is very spirity. Water needed. With water it's the same stuff, nice fruity notes at start, then spirity, sulphur notes at the end.
A shame, it started so well: 5
Ben Nevis 12yo 1996-2008 46% The Warehouse Collection
A 2cl bottle of Ben Nevis from a 1st fill sherry cask of only 576 bottles. I actually have no idea how I got this one, but anyway, here goes. It smells very fresh, and smoky, smoky mountain air? It tastes like a bad grain whisky, nothing going on at all. The aftertaste is just woody, and bland. I'm not going to say it out loud, but if you read a bit between the lines, and I've heard of the Warehouse Collection either, and the bottle most certainly aren't from the british Isles. Well, well...
Useless: 2
Maybe a bit off topic, but still... http://www.trademarkia.com/the-warehouse-collection-76408807.html
Ben Nevis 14yo 1996-2010 57.1% Malts of Scotland cask 1466
I'm travelling further down the sherry road with a relatively young sherried Ben Nevis Cask Strength. The alcohol level completely dominates the smell of this one. And the taste is überspirity. Let's add water. With water it gets a bit less spirity, but it's still very off. No real flavours that's recognizeable, eveything is hidden behind dryness and spirity notes. When given some time an initial sweetness shows tastewise, but it's not enough to save this one.
Ben Nevis needs much time, mostly in the cask: 4
Ben Nevis 10yo 46% OB
The first OB of Ben Nevis for me. I do enjoy the older CS IB's, so how does a youngster come across? A very anonymous nose, some hints of sulphur, sherry? The first taste confirms my suspicions, here there are some sherry-notes involved. But I can hardly find any sweetness, smokiness or anything else, maybe just some hay and leather. Water doesn't improve much, but it becomes a bit more cuddly, a whisky to enjoy responsibly while watching a curling match or some snooker. This is not a loud, aggressive or punchy whisky in any sort of way.
One for a lazy day: 4.5
Ben Nevis 27yo 1963-1990 54% James MacArthur
This one is a cask strength of 54%, at 27 yo that's usually proof of a good cask. It's coppercoloured, with a firm taste of garlic, salt and sun dried tomatoes, very rustic, sherry cask?It has many a good flavour in store, mild pepper, roasted pine nuts, pistachios and dried ham of pork. This is truly one to save for a special occation.
Will outshine just about anything: 9.5
4 Aultmores tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Aultmore 12yo 1997-2009 50% Dun Bheagan
Aultmore is a malt far to rarely bottled as a single Malt I believe, I've tried some older aherried versions almost exclusively of brilliance. This one smells of toffee and autumn leaves, pretty bland. The taste is sort of the middle of the road sherried. A bit dry, a bit sweet, a bit sulphury, far from enough to leave a lasting impression, at least for me.
A bland expression: 4
Aultmore 11yo 1985-1997 60.4% Signatory Vintage cask#2905 btl.109/1200
One bourbon-matured Aultmore at high strength bottled 13 years ago, this should be something new. The colour is totallt blank, like spring water. It smells very fresh, mushrooms, earth, banana skin, green tea, many subtle flavours, nothing screams 60% here. It needs some time, then develops some candy odors, very sweet. The taste is extremely sweet and burnt, burnt matches, ink, vanilla, needs water. With water it gets interestingly fruity, something very similar to small sour green grapes, very peculiar, an aggressive fruity beauty.
With water its a very aromatic, fruity whisky: 7.5
Aultmore/Tarracroy 18yo 1975-1993 57.3% The Whisky Connoisseur
The Whisky Connoisseur gives alternative names to their bottlings, like this one, Tarracroy, it makes it fun, giving the bottle an unpredictable content, which I later can check what is online. The nose on this one is very citrussy, I'd say its lemon scent overpowers everything else. The taste is pretty simple, apples, lemon and pepper. With some water it gets sweeter, bananas, lemon, grapes and cinnamon. The aftertaste is wheaty. Once again a nice cask strength, but it doesn't compare to the best yet.
A fine whisky from Aultmore, one I'm not too familiar with: 6.5
Aultmore 16yo 1992-2008 59.2% SMWS
Aultmore is one that I'm not to familiar with, I don't think it is too common on international markets yet. At this strength it has a very phenolic fragrance, needs water, then comes a sweet, raspberryliquer like flavour forth. Dark chocolate with cognac inside is the first that comes to mind.
Can't handle the strength, 40-46% could do the trick: 5
Aultmore is a malt far to rarely bottled as a single Malt I believe, I've tried some older aherried versions almost exclusively of brilliance. This one smells of toffee and autumn leaves, pretty bland. The taste is sort of the middle of the road sherried. A bit dry, a bit sweet, a bit sulphury, far from enough to leave a lasting impression, at least for me.
A bland expression: 4
Aultmore 11yo 1985-1997 60.4% Signatory Vintage cask#2905 btl.109/1200
One bourbon-matured Aultmore at high strength bottled 13 years ago, this should be something new. The colour is totallt blank, like spring water. It smells very fresh, mushrooms, earth, banana skin, green tea, many subtle flavours, nothing screams 60% here. It needs some time, then develops some candy odors, very sweet. The taste is extremely sweet and burnt, burnt matches, ink, vanilla, needs water. With water it gets interestingly fruity, something very similar to small sour green grapes, very peculiar, an aggressive fruity beauty.
With water its a very aromatic, fruity whisky: 7.5
Aultmore/Tarracroy 18yo 1975-1993 57.3% The Whisky Connoisseur
The Whisky Connoisseur gives alternative names to their bottlings, like this one, Tarracroy, it makes it fun, giving the bottle an unpredictable content, which I later can check what is online. The nose on this one is very citrussy, I'd say its lemon scent overpowers everything else. The taste is pretty simple, apples, lemon and pepper. With some water it gets sweeter, bananas, lemon, grapes and cinnamon. The aftertaste is wheaty. Once again a nice cask strength, but it doesn't compare to the best yet.
A fine whisky from Aultmore, one I'm not too familiar with: 6.5
Aultmore 16yo 1992-2008 59.2% SMWS
Aultmore is one that I'm not to familiar with, I don't think it is too common on international markets yet. At this strength it has a very phenolic fragrance, needs water, then comes a sweet, raspberryliquer like flavour forth. Dark chocolate with cognac inside is the first that comes to mind.
Can't handle the strength, 40-46% could do the trick: 5
onsdag 3. november 2010
9 Glenmorangies tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenmorangie NAS 46% OB Lasanta
Apart from reciding in the fanciest miniature bottle I've seen in a good while, this is also finished in sherry casks, no statement wether it's a fresh or refill. Orange colour, smells light, burnt polyester, phenolic, rubbery. The taste is a nice surprise, onions, blueberries, sharp, kiwi, lots of bitter berries, small ones from the woods, like blackcurrants and gooseberries. The aftertaste is long and tastes of pistachio and oak. A bit of water lightens it up a bit and gives hints of the standard 10yo OB.
There are better finished Glenmorangies out there: 4.5
Glenmorangie NAS 46% OB Signet
This one is said to be distilled from some dark chocolate malt, whatever that is. It has a golden brown colour extremely nice smell, the dark chocolate they've been talking about completely knocks me over. This smells fantastic. Dark chocolate, roasted nuts, honey, just wonderful. I don't wanna drink this, just sit and nose it. The taste is at firste very similar to the smell, lot of dark chocolate. But the finish changes radically and becomes bitter, not bad, like bitter dark chocolate. I've never taken the taste notes on bottles too serious as I think they're not always too objective. But this dark chocolate stuff is really hittin' the nail.
Kind of one-dimensional, but the odors oh the odors: 6
Glenmorangie 12yo 46% OB Burgundy Finish
In contrast to the sweet Sauterne-finished Nectar D'Or, this one is finished in a red or white-wine cask from eastern france, known as Burgundy. Not much darker in colour. Smells less intriguing than the D'Or, a bit metallic, needs some time, gets floral, honey and malty. The taste is very nice, deep, dark chocolate, hazel and almonds. It's not as complex as the D'Or, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, this is clean, sweet, with a bitterness of dark chocolate and in the end it kind of reminds me just a bit of the very good Balvenie rum wood. Seems Glenmorangie yet again has played and won in the cask finishing casino.
Splendid, but hardly complex: 7.5
Glenmorangie 12yo 46% OB Nectar D'Ór
I tried this one many years ago while in france, it was an instant match and since that I've been longin to get a bottle of my own. Finally it's here, will it be as I remember it? Smells honey, oak and vanilla, a perfect combination of subtle odors. The taste gets a bit dry, nuts, honey, lavender, liquorice, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon and mustard. Amazing!! Later I'll definately have a cigar withis one. I'll admit there's been, and still is, some ups and downs with Glenmorangie's finishing experiments, but this is a true beauty in every sense of the word, only thing a bit on the downside is the lack of a complex finish, it's got some apple and ginger but that's about it.
One of the best Glenmorangies: 9
Glenmorangie 18yo 43% OB
The legal aged Glenmorangie, one I've been looking forward to. It's fairly mild I guess, as the smell doesn't let me in on anything, quite futile and boring. Perhaps it needs some water. In the tasting I get more of the distillery character, carnation, turnips, white wine vinegar and cranberry jello. A very mild one.
I prefer many of the younger versions opposed to this one: 5
Glenmorangie 12yo 43% OB Madeira Finish
The star of this finish-serie of Glenmorangie. It has a mild and well balanced scent. Like a summerwhisky, reminds me of the more modern Nectar D'Or, but then, there are strong cask similarities. On taste it gives what the nosing promised, mild, creamy, with hints of vanilla and caramelized almonds. The finish is of dry red wine, or madeira.
Glenmorangie's reaping benefits of its cask policy: 8
Glenmorangie 12yo 43% OB Sherry Finish
Number 2 in the now discontinued serie with Glenmorangie on different cask finishes. I think that to mature well in a sherry cask a whisky needs to be quite strong, and mature for quite some time. Here unfortunately, this is not the case, it tastes just like the ordinary Glemorangie OB, except it's sweeter and a little darker. A light taste of outdated Mascarpone is one of the only golden moments in this one, it's hardly impressive in any way.
I actually prefer the 10yo OB: 4
Glenmorangie 12yo 43% OB Port Wood Finish
This Glenmorangie finished in port wood casks is one of many a variation to come from this distillery in the last years. It does have a nice tawny port-influenced smell, and it's seems quite dry. The taste is exciting, but seems much younger than 12 years old. A very harsh and alcoholic taste, doesn't handle water well at all. Some notes of blueberry and liquorice in the finish.
Nice try, but not quite there yet: 4.5
Glenmorangie 10yo 40% OB
Glenmorangie's a distillery that's taken a couple new turns the last decades with countless different cask finishes. The traditional 10-year old upon which these are based, is very sweet, concentrated apple liqueur, cinnamon and hard malty candy. A very simple, easy and sweet malt. Good for cask experimentation, but comes across a little weak on it's own.
Too bland to make a lasting impression: 4.5
Apart from reciding in the fanciest miniature bottle I've seen in a good while, this is also finished in sherry casks, no statement wether it's a fresh or refill. Orange colour, smells light, burnt polyester, phenolic, rubbery. The taste is a nice surprise, onions, blueberries, sharp, kiwi, lots of bitter berries, small ones from the woods, like blackcurrants and gooseberries. The aftertaste is long and tastes of pistachio and oak. A bit of water lightens it up a bit and gives hints of the standard 10yo OB.
There are better finished Glenmorangies out there: 4.5
Glenmorangie NAS 46% OB Signet
This one is said to be distilled from some dark chocolate malt, whatever that is. It has a golden brown colour extremely nice smell, the dark chocolate they've been talking about completely knocks me over. This smells fantastic. Dark chocolate, roasted nuts, honey, just wonderful. I don't wanna drink this, just sit and nose it. The taste is at firste very similar to the smell, lot of dark chocolate. But the finish changes radically and becomes bitter, not bad, like bitter dark chocolate. I've never taken the taste notes on bottles too serious as I think they're not always too objective. But this dark chocolate stuff is really hittin' the nail.
Kind of one-dimensional, but the odors oh the odors: 6
Glenmorangie 12yo 46% OB Burgundy Finish
In contrast to the sweet Sauterne-finished Nectar D'Or, this one is finished in a red or white-wine cask from eastern france, known as Burgundy. Not much darker in colour. Smells less intriguing than the D'Or, a bit metallic, needs some time, gets floral, honey and malty. The taste is very nice, deep, dark chocolate, hazel and almonds. It's not as complex as the D'Or, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, this is clean, sweet, with a bitterness of dark chocolate and in the end it kind of reminds me just a bit of the very good Balvenie rum wood. Seems Glenmorangie yet again has played and won in the cask finishing casino.
Splendid, but hardly complex: 7.5
Glenmorangie 12yo 46% OB Nectar D'Ór
I tried this one many years ago while in france, it was an instant match and since that I've been longin to get a bottle of my own. Finally it's here, will it be as I remember it? Smells honey, oak and vanilla, a perfect combination of subtle odors. The taste gets a bit dry, nuts, honey, lavender, liquorice, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon and mustard. Amazing!! Later I'll definately have a cigar withis one. I'll admit there's been, and still is, some ups and downs with Glenmorangie's finishing experiments, but this is a true beauty in every sense of the word, only thing a bit on the downside is the lack of a complex finish, it's got some apple and ginger but that's about it.
One of the best Glenmorangies: 9
Glenmorangie 18yo 43% OB
The legal aged Glenmorangie, one I've been looking forward to. It's fairly mild I guess, as the smell doesn't let me in on anything, quite futile and boring. Perhaps it needs some water. In the tasting I get more of the distillery character, carnation, turnips, white wine vinegar and cranberry jello. A very mild one.
I prefer many of the younger versions opposed to this one: 5
Glenmorangie 12yo 43% OB Madeira Finish
The star of this finish-serie of Glenmorangie. It has a mild and well balanced scent. Like a summerwhisky, reminds me of the more modern Nectar D'Or, but then, there are strong cask similarities. On taste it gives what the nosing promised, mild, creamy, with hints of vanilla and caramelized almonds. The finish is of dry red wine, or madeira.
Glenmorangie's reaping benefits of its cask policy: 8
Glenmorangie 12yo 43% OB Sherry Finish
Number 2 in the now discontinued serie with Glenmorangie on different cask finishes. I think that to mature well in a sherry cask a whisky needs to be quite strong, and mature for quite some time. Here unfortunately, this is not the case, it tastes just like the ordinary Glemorangie OB, except it's sweeter and a little darker. A light taste of outdated Mascarpone is one of the only golden moments in this one, it's hardly impressive in any way.
I actually prefer the 10yo OB: 4
Glenmorangie 12yo 43% OB Port Wood Finish
This Glenmorangie finished in port wood casks is one of many a variation to come from this distillery in the last years. It does have a nice tawny port-influenced smell, and it's seems quite dry. The taste is exciting, but seems much younger than 12 years old. A very harsh and alcoholic taste, doesn't handle water well at all. Some notes of blueberry and liquorice in the finish.
Nice try, but not quite there yet: 4.5
Glenmorangie 10yo 40% OB
Glenmorangie's a distillery that's taken a couple new turns the last decades with countless different cask finishes. The traditional 10-year old upon which these are based, is very sweet, concentrated apple liqueur, cinnamon and hard malty candy. A very simple, easy and sweet malt. Good for cask experimentation, but comes across a little weak on it's own.
Too bland to make a lasting impression: 4.5
mandag 25. oktober 2010
4 Banffs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Banff 26yo 1979-2006 56.1% Duncan Taylor cask#2913 btl.146/220
On vacation in the rainy town of Bergen, Norway, I decided to try some rarities. Smells of honey notes, vanilla, sawdust, dried peppers. The taste is very strong, strong peppery mustard, very dark, reminds me somewhat of a sherried Littlemill, kind of spirity so to speak. Hmm.. doesn't make much sense to me, let's add some water. The odors are getting gentler, the taste now becomes sweeter and extremely acidic. I've had some banffs that really impressed me lately, but this one is a poor spirit. The aftertaste is fortunately a small saving grace, peppery and very longlasting.
Poor banff: 3
Banff 28yo 1976-2005 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
As well as the Sheep and the Pig, we tried a range of rare G&M CC-bottlings from Terroir Wines tonight. This smells of vanilla, linen and sand, dirt, just a bit heavy, opens up after a while. The taste is also strong, applecore and a half peppery aftertaste. It comes from a refill sherry cask, maybe that's why it lacks the sweetness that I usually find in malt from Banff.
Not my cup of tea, but still pleasant: 4.5
Banff 26yo 1980-2006 56.1% Duncan Taylor Old & Rare
I've always liked the sort of sweet peppery taste of the sadly demolished Banff Distillery. Will the nice notes disappear behind the strong alcohol level in this one? It has a weird smell of garlic, dried sage, grilled artichokes and smoked swiss cheese. There's a burning peppery sweet taste with a long aftertaste of honey and lemon. To this I will not recommend water as I think such a remarkably rich flavour isn't enhanced by being watered down.
A dangerous malt, as it just gets better and better by every sip: 9
Banff 23yo 1974-1997 40% CC G&M
Banff is one of the really hard-to-get-a-hold-off-nowadays malts. And therefore it's prices increases at a skyrocking speed. This one smells of peppermints and ammonia, chlorine? Not much to cheer for. But the taste is actually quite charming with some notes of cactus, salt and apple nectar, one to have on the pier? Unfortunately it's a bit too dry on the finish to be worth the amount of hard earned cash it goes for these days.
Summery malt: 7
On vacation in the rainy town of Bergen, Norway, I decided to try some rarities. Smells of honey notes, vanilla, sawdust, dried peppers. The taste is very strong, strong peppery mustard, very dark, reminds me somewhat of a sherried Littlemill, kind of spirity so to speak. Hmm.. doesn't make much sense to me, let's add some water. The odors are getting gentler, the taste now becomes sweeter and extremely acidic. I've had some banffs that really impressed me lately, but this one is a poor spirit. The aftertaste is fortunately a small saving grace, peppery and very longlasting.
Poor banff: 3
Banff 28yo 1976-2005 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
As well as the Sheep and the Pig, we tried a range of rare G&M CC-bottlings from Terroir Wines tonight. This smells of vanilla, linen and sand, dirt, just a bit heavy, opens up after a while. The taste is also strong, applecore and a half peppery aftertaste. It comes from a refill sherry cask, maybe that's why it lacks the sweetness that I usually find in malt from Banff.
Not my cup of tea, but still pleasant: 4.5
Banff 26yo 1980-2006 56.1% Duncan Taylor Old & Rare
I've always liked the sort of sweet peppery taste of the sadly demolished Banff Distillery. Will the nice notes disappear behind the strong alcohol level in this one? It has a weird smell of garlic, dried sage, grilled artichokes and smoked swiss cheese. There's a burning peppery sweet taste with a long aftertaste of honey and lemon. To this I will not recommend water as I think such a remarkably rich flavour isn't enhanced by being watered down.
A dangerous malt, as it just gets better and better by every sip: 9
Banff 23yo 1974-1997 40% CC G&M
Banff is one of the really hard-to-get-a-hold-off-nowadays malts. And therefore it's prices increases at a skyrocking speed. This one smells of peppermints and ammonia, chlorine? Not much to cheer for. But the taste is actually quite charming with some notes of cactus, salt and apple nectar, one to have on the pier? Unfortunately it's a bit too dry on the finish to be worth the amount of hard earned cash it goes for these days.
Summery malt: 7
Three short ones.
I was doing some whiskies at a busy bar on vacation recently and had a hard time finding an opportunity to write down notes. So here's some plain scores for you:
Braeval 8yo 46% Provenance Douglas Laing (6)
Imperial 11yo 1994-1995 53% Exclusive Malts (3.5)
Glenkinchie 20yo 55.1% OB (8.5)
Braeval 8yo 46% Provenance Douglas Laing (6)
Imperial 11yo 1994-1995 53% Exclusive Malts (3.5)
Glenkinchie 20yo 55.1% OB (8.5)
tirsdag 12. oktober 2010
3 Glen Speys tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glen Spey 31yo 1977-2009 55.8% Malts of Scotland cask#3656
Matured in a bourbon hogshead for 31 years, I'm wondering what will be the result as I usually find this to be one of the whiskies that needs another cask to function well. Smells a bit restrained, but sweet and delicate, marshmallows, summer fruits and caramelized nuts.The taste is way too simple, sweet and extremely dry, dark grape seeds. This one needs water. Water brings less dryness, bananas, watermelon, stills weet, but a much gentler dram. The aftertaste is short an anonymous. After a while it develops some sourness, but that's all.
a slight diappointment, boring malt: 3.5
Glen Spey 12yo 1996-2008 58.3% Die Abfüllung (Derwhisky.de) btl. 86/100 cask# 712
A bourbon-matured CS bottling for www.derwhisky.de, a german forum for malt enthusiasts. The label states that you should not add ice or fizzy drinks to this with some fun illustations, "wasser erlaubt". This whisky is about as pale as it gets. Nice odors of coffee, barley, vanilla and spices, it needs a bit time to open up. It's very robust and fresh, immensely sweet and very spirity, I'll add some water straight away. It becomes a bit more pleasant, but still very sweet and dry. Like chewing malt syrup. With even more added water it just gets too plain for me. No real high here.
Far too sweet: 3
Glen Spey 21yo 55.4% James Macarthur's
Glen Spey is hard to find both as OB and IB, and therefore goes for insane prices on online auctions and ebay and so on. Very strong nose, sulphur, gasoline, smoked salmon, fantastic. very strong, burning the tongue, paint stripper, nail polish remover, not pleasant, needs water. With water it changes on the palate and becomes more sweet, like sweet dough, chirstmas bakery, but quickly turns into a strong haze of phenol, french mustard and acid.
Like a mix of malt and stroh, saved by the nose: 3
Matured in a bourbon hogshead for 31 years, I'm wondering what will be the result as I usually find this to be one of the whiskies that needs another cask to function well. Smells a bit restrained, but sweet and delicate, marshmallows, summer fruits and caramelized nuts.The taste is way too simple, sweet and extremely dry, dark grape seeds. This one needs water. Water brings less dryness, bananas, watermelon, stills weet, but a much gentler dram. The aftertaste is short an anonymous. After a while it develops some sourness, but that's all.
a slight diappointment, boring malt: 3.5
Glen Spey 12yo 1996-2008 58.3% Die Abfüllung (Derwhisky.de) btl. 86/100 cask# 712
A bourbon-matured CS bottling for www.derwhisky.de, a german forum for malt enthusiasts. The label states that you should not add ice or fizzy drinks to this with some fun illustations, "wasser erlaubt". This whisky is about as pale as it gets. Nice odors of coffee, barley, vanilla and spices, it needs a bit time to open up. It's very robust and fresh, immensely sweet and very spirity, I'll add some water straight away. It becomes a bit more pleasant, but still very sweet and dry. Like chewing malt syrup. With even more added water it just gets too plain for me. No real high here.
Far too sweet: 3
Glen Spey 21yo 55.4% James Macarthur's
Glen Spey is hard to find both as OB and IB, and therefore goes for insane prices on online auctions and ebay and so on. Very strong nose, sulphur, gasoline, smoked salmon, fantastic. very strong, burning the tongue, paint stripper, nail polish remover, not pleasant, needs water. With water it changes on the palate and becomes more sweet, like sweet dough, chirstmas bakery, but quickly turns into a strong haze of phenol, french mustard and acid.
Like a mix of malt and stroh, saved by the nose: 3
4 Pittyvaich tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Pittyvaich 12yo 54% James MacArthur's cask#15096
Last time I tried a CS Pittyvaich I believe it was a very good OB at 21yo?This one is very light in colour, smells woody, floral, dry, intense, burnt butter, needs some time to open up, then it turns more flinty and rustic. The taste is extremely sweet, loads of bubble gum, charcoal, vanilla and kiwi fruit. I love it even though its a bit weird and wacky. The aftertaste is citrussy, very long and ends on some nice oaky notes. I've always meant that Pittyvaich at CS is a malt that talks, and this one is no other.
Wonderful Pittyvaich: 8.5
Pittyvaich 13yo 1977-1991 58.4% Cadenhead's
A sherry-matured Pittyvaich at CS, not many of them to be found on the market, at least not at this age. Smells wonderful sherry, blueberries, plums, honey, floral, guinness, leather, sweet soy and far too many other delicious odors to mention all here. The taste is slightly dry, peppery, chilli, couscous and blueberries. Needs some water because of the dryness, a personal preference of course. Even with water its very dry, but now in a good way, actually perfect dryness.
A wonderful dry sherried malt: 7
Pittyvaich 20yo 1989-2009 57.5% OB
A cask strength 20yo from Pittyvaich, I hope many other distilleries will start bottling older cask strengths at fair prices soon. It has a very anonymous odor, I'd say if it weren't for the high abv I couldn't smell anything. The taste is also much milder than what I'd expect. Something a bit off, like old dry wood. Other than that it has a sort of plum infused sweetness with some fine pepper notes as well. It's kind of dry, I'll add water. Oh yes, this is what it needs, the nose really talks now, and it tells me of pepper, salt, burnt rubber and smoked ham. The taste gets perfect, big, bold, with a nice flinty peppery style, very rustic.
Wow: 8.5
Pittyvaich 14yo 1976-90 54.5% James McArthur's
This bottling of Pittyvaich is almost completely blank. Almost like Vodka. Smells of nothing except some pine. Very sweet taste, some marcipan, but the alcohol is too intense on this one unfortunately. The finish is the big disappointment, it consists of nothing but a bit dried grass.
too mild for 54%: 4
Last time I tried a CS Pittyvaich I believe it was a very good OB at 21yo?This one is very light in colour, smells woody, floral, dry, intense, burnt butter, needs some time to open up, then it turns more flinty and rustic. The taste is extremely sweet, loads of bubble gum, charcoal, vanilla and kiwi fruit. I love it even though its a bit weird and wacky. The aftertaste is citrussy, very long and ends on some nice oaky notes. I've always meant that Pittyvaich at CS is a malt that talks, and this one is no other.
Wonderful Pittyvaich: 8.5
Pittyvaich 13yo 1977-1991 58.4% Cadenhead's
A sherry-matured Pittyvaich at CS, not many of them to be found on the market, at least not at this age. Smells wonderful sherry, blueberries, plums, honey, floral, guinness, leather, sweet soy and far too many other delicious odors to mention all here. The taste is slightly dry, peppery, chilli, couscous and blueberries. Needs some water because of the dryness, a personal preference of course. Even with water its very dry, but now in a good way, actually perfect dryness.
A wonderful dry sherried malt: 7
Pittyvaich 20yo 1989-2009 57.5% OB
A cask strength 20yo from Pittyvaich, I hope many other distilleries will start bottling older cask strengths at fair prices soon. It has a very anonymous odor, I'd say if it weren't for the high abv I couldn't smell anything. The taste is also much milder than what I'd expect. Something a bit off, like old dry wood. Other than that it has a sort of plum infused sweetness with some fine pepper notes as well. It's kind of dry, I'll add water. Oh yes, this is what it needs, the nose really talks now, and it tells me of pepper, salt, burnt rubber and smoked ham. The taste gets perfect, big, bold, with a nice flinty peppery style, very rustic.
Wow: 8.5
Pittyvaich 14yo 1976-90 54.5% James McArthur's
This bottling of Pittyvaich is almost completely blank. Almost like Vodka. Smells of nothing except some pine. Very sweet taste, some marcipan, but the alcohol is too intense on this one unfortunately. The finish is the big disappointment, it consists of nothing but a bit dried grass.
too mild for 54%: 4
mandag 11. oktober 2010
4 Miltonduffs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Miltonduff 10yo 40% OB
Of my Miltonduff tastings so far I think I've been mostly impressed by the Mosstowie, a whisky produced at Miltonduff in Lomond Stills back in the days. Smells of black peppers and air, one of the easiest odors I've sampled for a long time. The taste is sweet, vanilla, peppery, honey, orange peel and herbal tea. It's a fresh, pleasant, smooth single malt. Like a very nice blend at first, then ending with a peppery finish, bringing the whole experience up a notch or two. An all in all very pleasant whisky to drink, but beware, it's easily drinkable.
A good everyday dram: 6
Miltonduff 37yo 1971-2008 40% Duncan Taylor "Lonach"
Another oldie today, but this one is either diluted or from a seriously different cask, hence the 25%+ difference from the Inchgower. It smells sweet, mild, sophisticated, flipper soles, cinnamon, paperdust and orange zest. The taste is very very light, I'm tempted to guess it's dilluted. There are some winegum, apples and choriander there, quite flawless, but then again, a bit too nice to really adore. I'd say if it were a 10+ something Standard it'd be a really good whisky, but at this age and price it falls a bit behind unfortunately.
Nice and gentle malt: 6
Miltonduff 36yo 1967-2004 40.1% Duncan Taylor
This 36-year has an undeniable cask influence, both in smell and taste. Woody, semi-smoky, sugar and coffee. It lingers on the tounge, followed by an intense taste of white pepper, medicinical aftertaste, not for the faint hearted.
A well developed malt: 6.5
Mosstowie 12yo 1970-1982 40% CC G&M
Mosstowie is a version of Miltonduff that was produced on Lomond stills, up until 1981, not too many casks left. Has a strong wood-influenced taste, best combined with some drops of water. A bit of honey and cream is revealed initially, it finishes woody once more.
Can measure up to most modern whiskies: 6
Of my Miltonduff tastings so far I think I've been mostly impressed by the Mosstowie, a whisky produced at Miltonduff in Lomond Stills back in the days. Smells of black peppers and air, one of the easiest odors I've sampled for a long time. The taste is sweet, vanilla, peppery, honey, orange peel and herbal tea. It's a fresh, pleasant, smooth single malt. Like a very nice blend at first, then ending with a peppery finish, bringing the whole experience up a notch or two. An all in all very pleasant whisky to drink, but beware, it's easily drinkable.
A good everyday dram: 6
Miltonduff 37yo 1971-2008 40% Duncan Taylor "Lonach"
Another oldie today, but this one is either diluted or from a seriously different cask, hence the 25%+ difference from the Inchgower. It smells sweet, mild, sophisticated, flipper soles, cinnamon, paperdust and orange zest. The taste is very very light, I'm tempted to guess it's dilluted. There are some winegum, apples and choriander there, quite flawless, but then again, a bit too nice to really adore. I'd say if it were a 10+ something Standard it'd be a really good whisky, but at this age and price it falls a bit behind unfortunately.
Nice and gentle malt: 6
Miltonduff 36yo 1967-2004 40.1% Duncan Taylor
This 36-year has an undeniable cask influence, both in smell and taste. Woody, semi-smoky, sugar and coffee. It lingers on the tounge, followed by an intense taste of white pepper, medicinical aftertaste, not for the faint hearted.
A well developed malt: 6.5
Mosstowie 12yo 1970-1982 40% CC G&M
Mosstowie is a version of Miltonduff that was produced on Lomond stills, up until 1981, not too many casks left. Has a strong wood-influenced taste, best combined with some drops of water. A bit of honey and cream is revealed initially, it finishes woody once more.
Can measure up to most modern whiskies: 6
fredag 8. oktober 2010
My Dearly Departed....
Most of the whiskies I've tried and loved are still available and being produced, but some have sadly been discontinued or distilleries have been shut down.. Here's my ones to get before they're all gone.
Ardbeg Uigeadail OB - getting scarcer and scarcer as the sherry stocks at Ardbeg are being vatted at a larger amount than what's produced. One of the best Ardbegs whatever competition.
Balblair 16yo OB - Balblair's now making some vintage OB's instead of the ones with age statement. I've got this in england some years back, and been looking for it ever since when travelling to the UK. Sadly discontinued, splendid malt.
Bowmore Tempest OB batch#1 - One that won't disappear anytime soon, but try to get your hands on the batch#1, as I think it will be a bit like the usually very nice Aberlour A'bunadh, weaker as the number of batches increase.
Dallas Dhu 10yo G&M - the closest you get to a young affordable Dallas Dhu today, and I guess as close as you get to a young OB, like it was back in the good old days. Worth checking out before its all gone.
Edradour/Glenforres 12yo OB - Glenforres was an experiment at Edradour, still available broadly at a fair price, and it is very good, I like it much better than the standard OB.
Highland Park 8yo 57% OB - A classic bottling from the 80's mouthwatering HP.
Old Fettercairn 10yo OB - Relaunched as Fettercairn 1824 some years ago without the Old, with 12yo, 15yo and 18yo, now again relaunched as only Fettercairn with Fior, 24yo 30yo and 40yo. But try the old 10yo first and compare. It's a smooth malt.
Macallan 12yo OB Sherry - Less and less 12yo sherry matured Macallan is produced, and I believe it's all stopped now, one to get before prices become ridiculous.
These whiskies are all available today at a pretty fair price, but who knows for how long, so to get something to save for later enjoyment, or if you like, but I never recommend, invest!
Ardbeg Uigeadail OB - getting scarcer and scarcer as the sherry stocks at Ardbeg are being vatted at a larger amount than what's produced. One of the best Ardbegs whatever competition.
Balblair 16yo OB - Balblair's now making some vintage OB's instead of the ones with age statement. I've got this in england some years back, and been looking for it ever since when travelling to the UK. Sadly discontinued, splendid malt.
Bowmore Tempest OB batch#1 - One that won't disappear anytime soon, but try to get your hands on the batch#1, as I think it will be a bit like the usually very nice Aberlour A'bunadh, weaker as the number of batches increase.
Dallas Dhu 10yo G&M - the closest you get to a young affordable Dallas Dhu today, and I guess as close as you get to a young OB, like it was back in the good old days. Worth checking out before its all gone.
Edradour/Glenforres 12yo OB - Glenforres was an experiment at Edradour, still available broadly at a fair price, and it is very good, I like it much better than the standard OB.
Highland Park 8yo 57% OB - A classic bottling from the 80's mouthwatering HP.
Old Fettercairn 10yo OB - Relaunched as Fettercairn 1824 some years ago without the Old, with 12yo, 15yo and 18yo, now again relaunched as only Fettercairn with Fior, 24yo 30yo and 40yo. But try the old 10yo first and compare. It's a smooth malt.
Macallan 12yo OB Sherry - Less and less 12yo sherry matured Macallan is produced, and I believe it's all stopped now, one to get before prices become ridiculous.
These whiskies are all available today at a pretty fair price, but who knows for how long, so to get something to save for later enjoyment, or if you like, but I never recommend, invest!
tirsdag 28. september 2010
5 Speyburns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Speyburn 26yo 1980-2006 61.3% Signatory
Speyburn's a whisky hard to get by both as an IB and as Original bottling over 12yo. There seems to be some 21yo OB's around anyway. This smells sweet, metallic, ginseng, hay, mints and clover. The taste is dry, spirity and lemony, bring the water. At this strength and bourbon-matured I expected an explosion, but this is absurd. With plenty water it gets a bic acidic, sour, peppery, not too enjoyable, I think that Speyburn is a malt that needs to be carried in a sweeter cask, at least a couple years. Othe than that it just seems underdeveloped, very young-ish.
Another bummer: 2.5
Speyburn-Glenlivet 15yo 1975-1991 60.1% Cadenhead's
Now, time to break up the game, last time I tried a young 60% whisky, I believe it was a Fettercairn which totally surprised me in a positive way. This Speyburn smells of pine, hay, leather, lime, veal and grilled onions. The taste is far to dry and heavily alcohol influenced to enjoy neat, even though it shows great potential with honey, banana and almond among the flavours. The almond, plum, sugar and banana notes are fantastic, with lots of vanilla coming through when water's added you could say it's a bit like a vanilla split, malt style.
I never thought a Speyburn could be like this: 9.5
Speyburn 15yo 1979-1994 62.9% James MacArthur's "500 years of Scotch Whisky"
The rarely single bottled speyburn is hard to find. The smell is very strong, as indeed the abv is, christmas tree, cigar smoke and pistachio. The taste is extremely strong, a bit too big, concentrated damp and oaky fragrances. This one might be hard to find, but I'm already guessing why. Very strong with much taste, but no finesse whatsoever.
One to ruin your tastebuds with: 3
Speyburn 10yo 40% OB
Speyburn is a malt that's not to widely sold on the european market. Neither bottled too often independently. It's pretty dark with a strong, pungent nose, floral, minty, oaky, funny little thing. The taste is a bit of a let down, very woody, but quite boring and slow to develop. I'll add some time and water. It becomes even more woody, and some sugar in the aftertaste.
A pretty tired malt: 3.5
Speyburn 21yo 1971-1992 40% CC G&M
A mature speyburn is usually a malt to my liking. It's very floral, smells of dried flowers and mosquito spray. There's taste of freshly popped pocorn with lots of butter, cured ham, chorizo. Some chilli oil on the palate, and it finishes off with lots of salty flavours.
I'm not overly surprised, only a bit: 7.5
Speyburn's a whisky hard to get by both as an IB and as Original bottling over 12yo. There seems to be some 21yo OB's around anyway. This smells sweet, metallic, ginseng, hay, mints and clover. The taste is dry, spirity and lemony, bring the water. At this strength and bourbon-matured I expected an explosion, but this is absurd. With plenty water it gets a bic acidic, sour, peppery, not too enjoyable, I think that Speyburn is a malt that needs to be carried in a sweeter cask, at least a couple years. Othe than that it just seems underdeveloped, very young-ish.
Another bummer: 2.5
Speyburn-Glenlivet 15yo 1975-1991 60.1% Cadenhead's
Now, time to break up the game, last time I tried a young 60% whisky, I believe it was a Fettercairn which totally surprised me in a positive way. This Speyburn smells of pine, hay, leather, lime, veal and grilled onions. The taste is far to dry and heavily alcohol influenced to enjoy neat, even though it shows great potential with honey, banana and almond among the flavours. The almond, plum, sugar and banana notes are fantastic, with lots of vanilla coming through when water's added you could say it's a bit like a vanilla split, malt style.
I never thought a Speyburn could be like this: 9.5
Speyburn 15yo 1979-1994 62.9% James MacArthur's "500 years of Scotch Whisky"
The rarely single bottled speyburn is hard to find. The smell is very strong, as indeed the abv is, christmas tree, cigar smoke and pistachio. The taste is extremely strong, a bit too big, concentrated damp and oaky fragrances. This one might be hard to find, but I'm already guessing why. Very strong with much taste, but no finesse whatsoever.
One to ruin your tastebuds with: 3
Speyburn 10yo 40% OB
Speyburn is a malt that's not to widely sold on the european market. Neither bottled too often independently. It's pretty dark with a strong, pungent nose, floral, minty, oaky, funny little thing. The taste is a bit of a let down, very woody, but quite boring and slow to develop. I'll add some time and water. It becomes even more woody, and some sugar in the aftertaste.
A pretty tired malt: 3.5
Speyburn 21yo 1971-1992 40% CC G&M
A mature speyburn is usually a malt to my liking. It's very floral, smells of dried flowers and mosquito spray. There's taste of freshly popped pocorn with lots of butter, cured ham, chorizo. Some chilli oil on the palate, and it finishes off with lots of salty flavours.
I'm not overly surprised, only a bit: 7.5
4 Glenlochys tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenlochy 20yo 46% Cadenhead's
Lately I've had an epiphany when it comes to the whisky from this sadly closed distillery. Cadenheads bottlings at 46% is also usually a lot better than the dumpy's of other IB's. This has a pleasant but very oaky flavour, deems maybe the slight evaporation has hightened the %abv some(?). The taste is very spirity and grassy, not pleasant at all, needs water. A bit better with water, but even more grassy and a bit austere, not my kind of malt at all this.
Poor Spirit, poor cask, I guess: 2
Glen Lochy 27yo 46% Cadenhead's
Glenlochy is one of the closed distilleries truly hard to find these days, not so much because they're in big demand, but because most of it were used for blending purposes. It smells mild, creamy, hay, old style. The taste is sweet, pesto, a bit sour, farmy, hay, really charming old style malt. With water comes addition of some really sweet liquorice notes. I must admit that not many connoisseur's mention Glenlochy amongst their most beloved lost ones, but I do find it to be a whisky of good example of how fabulous older whiskies can be without being bottled Cask Strength or killed with special cask maturations.
A true gem if you like to try some old school malt: 7.5
Glenlochy 18yo 60.5% The Whisky Connoisseur
Very odorless for a whisky with such an high abv. It needs some time to develop. It becomes pleasantly sweet after a while with hints of caramell and fresh christmas bakery. On the palate it's very herbal at first, but quickly gets very salty . Surprisingly "wet" whisky, a cask strength at 60+% at this age is usually more influenced by wood and dryness. With water is the salt still present, also an extraordinarily long aftertaste of diabolic mint, pepper, oak, nuts, red meat and lots of wasabi comes out.
Lovely cask strength, but not for beginners: 8
Glenlochy 14yo 1968-1982 40% CC G&M
Strong smell of dark chocolate infused with hints of malty aromas, a beauty from the highlands. Too bad this distillery doesn't produce anymore. Hard to define the taste, complicated, some fruit, pear, salt, malt, and white pepper.
nice and clean, firm on the palate: 6
Lately I've had an epiphany when it comes to the whisky from this sadly closed distillery. Cadenheads bottlings at 46% is also usually a lot better than the dumpy's of other IB's. This has a pleasant but very oaky flavour, deems maybe the slight evaporation has hightened the %abv some(?). The taste is very spirity and grassy, not pleasant at all, needs water. A bit better with water, but even more grassy and a bit austere, not my kind of malt at all this.
Poor Spirit, poor cask, I guess: 2
Glen Lochy 27yo 46% Cadenhead's
Glenlochy is one of the closed distilleries truly hard to find these days, not so much because they're in big demand, but because most of it were used for blending purposes. It smells mild, creamy, hay, old style. The taste is sweet, pesto, a bit sour, farmy, hay, really charming old style malt. With water comes addition of some really sweet liquorice notes. I must admit that not many connoisseur's mention Glenlochy amongst their most beloved lost ones, but I do find it to be a whisky of good example of how fabulous older whiskies can be without being bottled Cask Strength or killed with special cask maturations.
A true gem if you like to try some old school malt: 7.5
Glenlochy 18yo 60.5% The Whisky Connoisseur
Very odorless for a whisky with such an high abv. It needs some time to develop. It becomes pleasantly sweet after a while with hints of caramell and fresh christmas bakery. On the palate it's very herbal at first, but quickly gets very salty . Surprisingly "wet" whisky, a cask strength at 60+% at this age is usually more influenced by wood and dryness. With water is the salt still present, also an extraordinarily long aftertaste of diabolic mint, pepper, oak, nuts, red meat and lots of wasabi comes out.
Lovely cask strength, but not for beginners: 8
Glenlochy 14yo 1968-1982 40% CC G&M
Strong smell of dark chocolate infused with hints of malty aromas, a beauty from the highlands. Too bad this distillery doesn't produce anymore. Hard to define the taste, complicated, some fruit, pear, salt, malt, and white pepper.
nice and clean, firm on the palate: 6
mandag 20. september 2010
so far so good...
I've now reached just over 500 tasting notes, and to see what's the result I've made a list over the distilleries I've tasted 5 or more of, and counted out each's average score. So here goes...
Aberlour 6.4
Ardbeg 5.25
Balvenie 5.2
Benriach 4.4
Bowmore 5.7
Bruichladdich 6.25
Bunnahabhain 5.5
Caol Ila 6.7
Fettercairn 7.2
Glen Elgin 6.6
Glen Grant 5.3
Glen Mhor 6.2
Glen Moray 4.7
Glen Ord 6
Glendronach 5.7
Glenfarclas 6.1
Glenfiddich 5.75
Glenlivet 4.8
Glenmorangie 5.2
Glenrothes 4.5
Glenturret 5
Highland Park 5.8
Laphroaig 6.5
Linkwood 5.3
Longmorn 6
Macallan 4.9
Macduff 4.4
Port Ellen 7.2
Rosebank 5.8
Scapa 4.4
Springbank
st. Magdalene 7.2
Tamdhu 5.8
Strathisla 6
Tamnavulin 4.8
Tomintoul 4
Port Ellen, Fettercairn and st. Magdalene (Linlithgow) as winners, only ones to top 7. Perhaps will the results be a bit different when I reach 1k, who knows?
Aberlour 6.4
Ardbeg 5.25
Balvenie 5.2
Benriach 4.4
Bowmore 5.7
Bruichladdich 6.25
Bunnahabhain 5.5
Caol Ila 6.7
Fettercairn 7.2
Glen Elgin 6.6
Glen Grant 5.3
Glen Mhor 6.2
Glen Moray 4.7
Glen Ord 6
Glendronach 5.7
Glenfarclas 6.1
Glenfiddich 5.75
Glenlivet 4.8
Glenmorangie 5.2
Glenrothes 4.5
Glenturret 5
Highland Park 5.8
Laphroaig 6.5
Linkwood 5.3
Longmorn 6
Macallan 4.9
Macduff 4.4
Port Ellen 7.2
Rosebank 5.8
Scapa 4.4
Springbank
st. Magdalene 7.2
Tamdhu 5.8
Strathisla 6
Tamnavulin 4.8
Tomintoul 4
Port Ellen, Fettercairn and st. Magdalene (Linlithgow) as winners, only ones to top 7. Perhaps will the results be a bit different when I reach 1k, who knows?
søndag 19. september 2010
4 Royal Bracklas tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Royal Brackla 14yo 1992-2007 57.9% Cadenhead's btl.x/228
Last time I tried Royal Brackla I was truly impressed. Now I have another chance to be amazed, as Royal Brackla isn't bottled much as a single malt it's a rare occasion to try it. A very powerful whisky this smells like. oak, gelatin, espresso coffee, roasted nuts, and with a small alcohol sting. The flavour is dry, toffee, butter, floral, bisquits, many many different flavours. This one comes from a bourbon cask, but there's no sign of an banana/vanilla notes, I'd say it's almost more like fino sherry. A pleasant surprise.
I'm still impressed: 8
Royal Brackla 14yo 1992-2007 57.9% Cadenhead's btl.x/228
Last time I tried Royal Brackla I was truly impressed. Now I have another chance to be amazed, as Royal Brackla isn't bottled much as a single malt it's a rare occasion to try it. A very powerful whisky this smells like. oak, gelatin, espresso coffee, roasted nuts, and with a small alcohol sting. The flavour is dry, toffee, butter, floral, bisquits, many many different flavours. This one comes from a bourbon cask, but there's no sign of an banana/vanilla notes, I'd say it's almost more like fino sherry. A pleasant surprise.
I'm still impressed: 8
Royal Brackla 14yo 1978-1993 43% The Master of Malt cask 11081 btl 205/240
The Master of Malt I have no idea about although they're doing quite some advertising online I've seen, but who aren't these days. Totally blank whisky, Has a sweet and perfumy odor, pretty nice and appetizing. This is a strong and fullbodied malt, cupcakes, cinnamon sticks, beef tartar, brine and mussels. The aftertaste is very minty and fresh, soothing, and it needs to be because of the very rich palate. A well-balanced malt that can accomodate just about anything.
Very very nice: 7.5
Royal Brackla 14yo 1969-1983 40% CC G&M
Royal Brackla has never been a very popular single malt, let's see if I can figure why. It smells of lemon-like detergent and concentrated oranges, orange kernels? In other words lots of citrus. It does taste the same, reminds me of soap, with something bitter too it. Hard to describe better.
Total Failure: 1
Royal Brackla 11yo 58.4% SMWS The Chattering Glass cask#55.15
I was quite pleased with the Dailuaine from the same artsy series, that I tried a while back. This one has the color of white wine, and it has a nice and modest wheat, hay, dried herbs and butterscotch sweetness scent. Extremely nice at such a strength, I'd say its one of the finest noses I've ever had. The taste is The taste is dried and taste of leather, prunes, mellow and silky. There's also this sweet licorice note that follows through the whole experience. Definately something new.
A smooth and mellow but tender whisky: 8
Last time I tried Royal Brackla I was truly impressed. Now I have another chance to be amazed, as Royal Brackla isn't bottled much as a single malt it's a rare occasion to try it. A very powerful whisky this smells like. oak, gelatin, espresso coffee, roasted nuts, and with a small alcohol sting. The flavour is dry, toffee, butter, floral, bisquits, many many different flavours. This one comes from a bourbon cask, but there's no sign of an banana/vanilla notes, I'd say it's almost more like fino sherry. A pleasant surprise.
I'm still impressed: 8
Royal Brackla 14yo 1992-2007 57.9% Cadenhead's btl.x/228
Last time I tried Royal Brackla I was truly impressed. Now I have another chance to be amazed, as Royal Brackla isn't bottled much as a single malt it's a rare occasion to try it. A very powerful whisky this smells like. oak, gelatin, espresso coffee, roasted nuts, and with a small alcohol sting. The flavour is dry, toffee, butter, floral, bisquits, many many different flavours. This one comes from a bourbon cask, but there's no sign of an banana/vanilla notes, I'd say it's almost more like fino sherry. A pleasant surprise.
I'm still impressed: 8
Royal Brackla 14yo 1978-1993 43% The Master of Malt cask 11081 btl 205/240
The Master of Malt I have no idea about although they're doing quite some advertising online I've seen, but who aren't these days. Totally blank whisky, Has a sweet and perfumy odor, pretty nice and appetizing. This is a strong and fullbodied malt, cupcakes, cinnamon sticks, beef tartar, brine and mussels. The aftertaste is very minty and fresh, soothing, and it needs to be because of the very rich palate. A well-balanced malt that can accomodate just about anything.
Very very nice: 7.5
Royal Brackla 14yo 1969-1983 40% CC G&M
Royal Brackla has never been a very popular single malt, let's see if I can figure why. It smells of lemon-like detergent and concentrated oranges, orange kernels? In other words lots of citrus. It does taste the same, reminds me of soap, with something bitter too it. Hard to describe better.
Total Failure: 1
Royal Brackla 11yo 58.4% SMWS The Chattering Glass cask#55.15
I was quite pleased with the Dailuaine from the same artsy series, that I tried a while back. This one has the color of white wine, and it has a nice and modest wheat, hay, dried herbs and butterscotch sweetness scent. Extremely nice at such a strength, I'd say its one of the finest noses I've ever had. The taste is The taste is dried and taste of leather, prunes, mellow and silky. There's also this sweet licorice note that follows through the whole experience. Definately something new.
A smooth and mellow but tender whisky: 8
5 Linlithgow/St. Magdalenes tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Linlithgow 26yo 1982-2008 61.2% Signatory Vintage
Returning to the lowlands with this one, now seen as a true connoisseurs malt, I have no idea why they put it to sleep, but seems almost every closed whisky distillery gets sort of a renaissance post mortem. I'll keep an eye on Littlemill, who knows, years from now people may sit complain why it was brought to sleep? Smells honey, fruity, tar, paint, musk, hard to put a finger on an odor definition here. Very delicate for a whisky of this strength. It's really sweet and zesty, an absolute summers dram, the taste actually makes me smile and its far from the alcohol talking. I think if I should sum up the flavours it's look pretty mediocre, but there's just something really vibrant about this old malt that gives me chills all over.
I guess not all whiskies go dry and oaky with age: 9
St. Magdalene 23yo 1982-2006 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
A totally blank whisky bottled at 23yo, bourbon-matured for sure. Smells a bit salty, raw, radishes and mint, but most of all it is sour, full of lemon notes. The taste is also very lemony, salty, kind of a classic st. magdalene, with a heavy minty aftertaste. I only have 2cl of this to enjoy, unfotunately, so I do not have the opportunity to try it with water. Anyway, I don't think it would need that to impress me.
Wonderful old st. Magdalene: 8
St. Magdalene 15yo 46% Cadenhead's
The Linlithgow is considered by many as one that we all should mourn over, but I often find it to be a malt of very varying caliber. This one comes from a bourbon cask. It smells good, vanilla, liquorice, oaky, kiwi and blackberry jam. Very unusual. The taste is very concentrated on acidy taste, lots of lemon and some herbs. It's immensely sour, lemon all the way. The aftertaste gives way to even more lemon. Alright, there aren't many layers of flavours in this whisky, but the lemon sensation is absolutely fabulous.
Malt sour?: 7
St. Magdalene 23yo 1982-2006 56% Hart Brothers
A cask strength from the old st. Magdalene Distillery could be a treasure. Fantastic odors of strong camphor and barley. The taste is very dry, with some honey, a bit like fernet with syrup I guess. Very very dry whisky, with a finish of sour leaves. It has no problems handling some water, which will make it a bit less dry.
Honey and dry white wine: 6
St. Magdalene 16yo 1981-1997 40% CC G&M
St. Magdalene, also known as Linlithgow is a dearly departed. Lowland-whisky like this is hard to come across these days. Sweet and spicy notes on the nose, very light-hearted. Taste of sweet liquorice, should definately been bottled at a higher abv, as this whisky comes off as too tame when dilluted to only 40%
I'll be on the lookout for other bottlings: 6
Returning to the lowlands with this one, now seen as a true connoisseurs malt, I have no idea why they put it to sleep, but seems almost every closed whisky distillery gets sort of a renaissance post mortem. I'll keep an eye on Littlemill, who knows, years from now people may sit complain why it was brought to sleep? Smells honey, fruity, tar, paint, musk, hard to put a finger on an odor definition here. Very delicate for a whisky of this strength. It's really sweet and zesty, an absolute summers dram, the taste actually makes me smile and its far from the alcohol talking. I think if I should sum up the flavours it's look pretty mediocre, but there's just something really vibrant about this old malt that gives me chills all over.
I guess not all whiskies go dry and oaky with age: 9
St. Magdalene 23yo 1982-2006 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
A totally blank whisky bottled at 23yo, bourbon-matured for sure. Smells a bit salty, raw, radishes and mint, but most of all it is sour, full of lemon notes. The taste is also very lemony, salty, kind of a classic st. magdalene, with a heavy minty aftertaste. I only have 2cl of this to enjoy, unfotunately, so I do not have the opportunity to try it with water. Anyway, I don't think it would need that to impress me.
Wonderful old st. Magdalene: 8
St. Magdalene 15yo 46% Cadenhead's
The Linlithgow is considered by many as one that we all should mourn over, but I often find it to be a malt of very varying caliber. This one comes from a bourbon cask. It smells good, vanilla, liquorice, oaky, kiwi and blackberry jam. Very unusual. The taste is very concentrated on acidy taste, lots of lemon and some herbs. It's immensely sour, lemon all the way. The aftertaste gives way to even more lemon. Alright, there aren't many layers of flavours in this whisky, but the lemon sensation is absolutely fabulous.
Malt sour?: 7
St. Magdalene 23yo 1982-2006 56% Hart Brothers
A cask strength from the old st. Magdalene Distillery could be a treasure. Fantastic odors of strong camphor and barley. The taste is very dry, with some honey, a bit like fernet with syrup I guess. Very very dry whisky, with a finish of sour leaves. It has no problems handling some water, which will make it a bit less dry.
Honey and dry white wine: 6
St. Magdalene 16yo 1981-1997 40% CC G&M
St. Magdalene, also known as Linlithgow is a dearly departed. Lowland-whisky like this is hard to come across these days. Sweet and spicy notes on the nose, very light-hearted. Taste of sweet liquorice, should definately been bottled at a higher abv, as this whisky comes off as too tame when dilluted to only 40%
I'll be on the lookout for other bottlings: 6
3 Broras tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Brora 30yo 53.2% OB
I've tried the much talked about Brora before, but never an OB, this should be a cracker from what I've heard. It smells fresh, green notes, forest, wet grass, tea, nice but very gentle. The taste is slightly bitter, lemon peel, sage, fish sauce, but that's not the problem, to me it seems kind of dead. I'll add some water. With enought time and water some notes of red onion and salt appears, very nice, but at this age, well, I guess it should've been bottled earlier then.
Good, but at this age and price?: 6
Brora 23yo 1981-2005 48% Dun Bheagan cask#1512 btl.x/648.
From a refill sherry butt, Brora is a dearly departed as it shows to be one of the most sought after discontinued malts today. It smells minty and grassy, maybe it needs some time. It doesn't improve much. The taste is so sweet and lovely, oloroso sherry, caramel, marshmallows, green tea and banana leaves. The aftertaste is long and peppery, not much going on. With some water it gets dryer and richer on the palate. But all in all, what saves this malt is the palate.
I'm not as fascinated by Brora as many others I guess: 4.5
Brora 17yo 1982-1999 40% CC G&M
The odor gives me a small idea of honey and flowers, summery. Tastewise it's also honey at first, then blackberries on the palate. A very special taste, perhaps a bit strange, who knows, but absolutely worth a shot.
Charismatic for the highlands: 7
I've tried the much talked about Brora before, but never an OB, this should be a cracker from what I've heard. It smells fresh, green notes, forest, wet grass, tea, nice but very gentle. The taste is slightly bitter, lemon peel, sage, fish sauce, but that's not the problem, to me it seems kind of dead. I'll add some water. With enought time and water some notes of red onion and salt appears, very nice, but at this age, well, I guess it should've been bottled earlier then.
Good, but at this age and price?: 6
Brora 23yo 1981-2005 48% Dun Bheagan cask#1512 btl.x/648.
From a refill sherry butt, Brora is a dearly departed as it shows to be one of the most sought after discontinued malts today. It smells minty and grassy, maybe it needs some time. It doesn't improve much. The taste is so sweet and lovely, oloroso sherry, caramel, marshmallows, green tea and banana leaves. The aftertaste is long and peppery, not much going on. With some water it gets dryer and richer on the palate. But all in all, what saves this malt is the palate.
I'm not as fascinated by Brora as many others I guess: 4.5
Brora 17yo 1982-1999 40% CC G&M
The odor gives me a small idea of honey and flowers, summery. Tastewise it's also honey at first, then blackberries on the palate. A very special taste, perhaps a bit strange, who knows, but absolutely worth a shot.
Charismatic for the highlands: 7
lørdag 18. september 2010
4 Old Pulteneys tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Old Pulteney 20yo 1990-2010 57.4% OB cask#5253
This is an edition only available at the distillery, on the sample it says it's handfilled, does that effect the taste??? Surely not, but anything sells these days. It smells pretty coastal, actually reminds me of some CS versions of Port Ellen. Salty, earthy, smoky, coastal, really nice. The taste is extreme, truly dry, I'd bet a fair amount cash that this was a peaty Islayer. Extremely rich, salty notes, rustic. I have to add some water. Given water it becomes herbal, sherry-like, fino style. A true gem, if you like a punchy whisky.
One to test your palate with: 6
Old Pulteney 14yo 1993-2007 59.9% G&M Cask
Another bar-whisky from yesterday's escapades. Now the Old Pulteney I've always reckoned a fine malt without too much fancyness. This one is sherry matured and quite dark, probably some E150 a well. A very aromatic nose, white wine and glue plus some salty dry notes. More coastal than most OB's I've tried. The taste is very peppery, almost overpowering combined with the dryness. I dare to add some water. I wish I didn't, now it becomes a bit like some of the horrible CC-bottlings one could get their hands on in the 80's.
Without water I'll give it: 7
Old Pulteney 8yo 40% Gordon & Macphail for J&G Stodart
Old Pulteney is a fascinating distillery, and hard to find bottled independently. This is one from back in the 70's or 80's bottled for J&G Stodart. It has a very nice golden colour, artificial for sure. A perfumy, honey-like and a bit coastal smell, pleasant. The taste is like that of roasted nuts, sweet smoke, dry, hops, very, very dry. The aftertaste is of peppers and rum. This must be sherry-matured.
A straight-forward old-styled sherry thing: 6
Old Pulteney 12yo 40% OB
Pulteney is the nothernmost distillery on the scottish mainland. It has a somewhat soothing and passive smell, with hints of caramelized nuts. Tastes of butterscotch, gingerbread, really sweet, spicy, honey, lemon, caramel, oregano, sundried tomatoes and some salt.
Extraordinary and different from anything else: 8
This is an edition only available at the distillery, on the sample it says it's handfilled, does that effect the taste??? Surely not, but anything sells these days. It smells pretty coastal, actually reminds me of some CS versions of Port Ellen. Salty, earthy, smoky, coastal, really nice. The taste is extreme, truly dry, I'd bet a fair amount cash that this was a peaty Islayer. Extremely rich, salty notes, rustic. I have to add some water. Given water it becomes herbal, sherry-like, fino style. A true gem, if you like a punchy whisky.
One to test your palate with: 6
Old Pulteney 14yo 1993-2007 59.9% G&M Cask
Another bar-whisky from yesterday's escapades. Now the Old Pulteney I've always reckoned a fine malt without too much fancyness. This one is sherry matured and quite dark, probably some E150 a well. A very aromatic nose, white wine and glue plus some salty dry notes. More coastal than most OB's I've tried. The taste is very peppery, almost overpowering combined with the dryness. I dare to add some water. I wish I didn't, now it becomes a bit like some of the horrible CC-bottlings one could get their hands on in the 80's.
Without water I'll give it: 7
Old Pulteney 8yo 40% Gordon & Macphail for J&G Stodart
Old Pulteney is a fascinating distillery, and hard to find bottled independently. This is one from back in the 70's or 80's bottled for J&G Stodart. It has a very nice golden colour, artificial for sure. A perfumy, honey-like and a bit coastal smell, pleasant. The taste is like that of roasted nuts, sweet smoke, dry, hops, very, very dry. The aftertaste is of peppers and rum. This must be sherry-matured.
A straight-forward old-styled sherry thing: 6
Old Pulteney 12yo 40% OB
Pulteney is the nothernmost distillery on the scottish mainland. It has a somewhat soothing and passive smell, with hints of caramelized nuts. Tastes of butterscotch, gingerbread, really sweet, spicy, honey, lemon, caramel, oregano, sundried tomatoes and some salt.
Extraordinary and different from anything else: 8
tirsdag 7. september 2010
5 Glenlossies tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenlossie 12yo 65.8% James MacArthur's cask#8230
A golden bronze coloured Glenlossie of unusual high %abv. I wonder if the reason J.M. is bottling all these young CS is that they're offering a strength a bit above the average? Anyway, high strength CS' seems to be becoming more and more in demand nowadays, so could be they're just doing their best to satisfy the market. Even the G&M CC-series have upped now. The nose is spicy, nutty, tickling, blueberries, elderflower, sherry, phenolic, too many notes to mention. The flavour is what I expect airplane fuel to taste like. far too strong without water. Water tames the beast, and a sweet, dried herbs, spices, dried elderberries, and a bit perfumy notes appears.
A malt you can nose for hours, otherwise mediocre: 5.5
Glenlossie 24yo 1984-2008 59.1% Signatory Vintage
I've always loved the whisky from Glenlossie Distillery, the few I've managed to come across that is. But I don't believe I've ever tried it at this strength. It has a nice bronze colour, sherry matured, the nose is full on plums, grapes, soft fruits, mango puree, red pesto and red wine reduction. Oh yes, this is a gentle, but oh so powerful monster, starts sweet, butter cookies, goose liver (to say it in english), and thick sherriness, it then turns peppery, phenolic, a bit burning, but not too much and finishes with a long waxy aftertaste.
There are far too few Glenlossies out there: 8.5
Glenlossie 28yo 1978-2005 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
Having already tried the G&M 29yo Glenlossie from the same vintage I was expecting a treat here. It starts off with some nice scents, smoky, salty and juniper berries. The taste is sweet, much liquorice, a small disappointment, but the finish lifts it again with notes of chilli, brown sugar and shallots. Again a refill sherry.
Good whisky: 7.5
Glenlossie 10yo 1993-2004 46% Murray McDavid
Glenlossie have nipped my attention before but since it's so hard to get by I've just been able to taste so so many. This one is bourbon-matured and of course without any colouring or such. It does smell of apples, young ripe green ones, very much apples, hard to find much else but that doesn't matter as the apple-notes are fantastic. The taste is also a bit sweet/sour apple-like to start off before it becomes very peppery a bit too soon I'm afraid. The initial taste is delicate but just doesn't last long enough or it'd be a winner in my book. To make most of it just keep it in the mouth a bit before swallowing and let the tip of your tongue fetch all the fruity taste. The aftertaste is very peppery and quite long. Addition of water makes little difference in this one.
Half perfect, half mediocre: 7
Glenlossie 29yo 1978-2007 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
My first Glenlossie ever calls for a celebration, I'll pour myself a double... oh yes, this is a rocket up your nose, spicy, hints of dried herbs and irish stew. Very salty. the taste is dry, flinty, peppery, like a good old Coleburn. With water it does excell with some nice notes of beef tartar and mashed peas. Now, it's far from fantastic, but it has something honest and good going on. An old school quality malt that doesn't need finishing touches in strange wood or added peat for that sake, it's fabulous just the way it is.
It won't win many awards, but a true whiskylover will enjoy this: 7
A golden bronze coloured Glenlossie of unusual high %abv. I wonder if the reason J.M. is bottling all these young CS is that they're offering a strength a bit above the average? Anyway, high strength CS' seems to be becoming more and more in demand nowadays, so could be they're just doing their best to satisfy the market. Even the G&M CC-series have upped now. The nose is spicy, nutty, tickling, blueberries, elderflower, sherry, phenolic, too many notes to mention. The flavour is what I expect airplane fuel to taste like. far too strong without water. Water tames the beast, and a sweet, dried herbs, spices, dried elderberries, and a bit perfumy notes appears.
A malt you can nose for hours, otherwise mediocre: 5.5
Glenlossie 24yo 1984-2008 59.1% Signatory Vintage
I've always loved the whisky from Glenlossie Distillery, the few I've managed to come across that is. But I don't believe I've ever tried it at this strength. It has a nice bronze colour, sherry matured, the nose is full on plums, grapes, soft fruits, mango puree, red pesto and red wine reduction. Oh yes, this is a gentle, but oh so powerful monster, starts sweet, butter cookies, goose liver (to say it in english), and thick sherriness, it then turns peppery, phenolic, a bit burning, but not too much and finishes with a long waxy aftertaste.
There are far too few Glenlossies out there: 8.5
Glenlossie 28yo 1978-2005 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
Having already tried the G&M 29yo Glenlossie from the same vintage I was expecting a treat here. It starts off with some nice scents, smoky, salty and juniper berries. The taste is sweet, much liquorice, a small disappointment, but the finish lifts it again with notes of chilli, brown sugar and shallots. Again a refill sherry.
Good whisky: 7.5
Glenlossie 10yo 1993-2004 46% Murray McDavid
Glenlossie have nipped my attention before but since it's so hard to get by I've just been able to taste so so many. This one is bourbon-matured and of course without any colouring or such. It does smell of apples, young ripe green ones, very much apples, hard to find much else but that doesn't matter as the apple-notes are fantastic. The taste is also a bit sweet/sour apple-like to start off before it becomes very peppery a bit too soon I'm afraid. The initial taste is delicate but just doesn't last long enough or it'd be a winner in my book. To make most of it just keep it in the mouth a bit before swallowing and let the tip of your tongue fetch all the fruity taste. The aftertaste is very peppery and quite long. Addition of water makes little difference in this one.
Half perfect, half mediocre: 7
Glenlossie 29yo 1978-2007 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
My first Glenlossie ever calls for a celebration, I'll pour myself a double... oh yes, this is a rocket up your nose, spicy, hints of dried herbs and irish stew. Very salty. the taste is dry, flinty, peppery, like a good old Coleburn. With water it does excell with some nice notes of beef tartar and mashed peas. Now, it's far from fantastic, but it has something honest and good going on. An old school quality malt that doesn't need finishing touches in strange wood or added peat for that sake, it's fabulous just the way it is.
It won't win many awards, but a true whiskylover will enjoy this: 7
søndag 29. august 2010
3 Mannochmores tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Mannochmore 18yo 1990-2008 54.9% OB
Once producer of the now strangely very sought after Loch Dhu - the black single malt, Mannochmore is a malt you rarely find, or at least rarely find good stuff said about. It smells spirity, cloying, needs some time, then a light, extremely sweet smell appears, like some fruity bubble gum, say hubba-bubba. The taste is again extremely sweet, and a bit spirity. A very one-dimensional malt. I'll add some water just for fun. Still sweet, with a weird rubber-plastic aftertaste.
This is some weird stuff: 3
Mannochmore 16yo 1984-2001 43% Signatory Vintage cask#4576
Today I'm doing a vertical of some distilleries I'm not tasting too often. This Mannochmore comes from 16 years in a refill sherry butt, and it's paler than a 3-year old bourbon matured whisky. What's been in the cask prior and how many times have it been refilled? Well, better pale than black might some say having tasted the Loch Dhu. The nose is fresh, vibrant, grassy, oily, some winey notes. The taste is dry and very burnt, much sulphur going on, unpleasant, let's add water. Now it becomes a bit more sweet, some minty fragrance, mint leaves and cotton... But still there's that extremely burnt taste that just puts me off.
A foul whisky from a foul cask: 2
Mannochmore 16yo 1990-2006 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
I've not tried to many of the newer bottlings by G&M with higher abv and no colouring. This one is from the rarely bottled Mannochmore Distillery. It has a nice earthy, salty and grassy smell. Oh yes, it has a distinct taste of dark chocolate and praline. With a grassy finish that just goes on and on and on. There aren't too much good said about Mannochmore, but this one is wonderful in all it's simplicity.
Some great and distinct flavours: 7
Once producer of the now strangely very sought after Loch Dhu - the black single malt, Mannochmore is a malt you rarely find, or at least rarely find good stuff said about. It smells spirity, cloying, needs some time, then a light, extremely sweet smell appears, like some fruity bubble gum, say hubba-bubba. The taste is again extremely sweet, and a bit spirity. A very one-dimensional malt. I'll add some water just for fun. Still sweet, with a weird rubber-plastic aftertaste.
This is some weird stuff: 3
Mannochmore 16yo 1984-2001 43% Signatory Vintage cask#4576
Today I'm doing a vertical of some distilleries I'm not tasting too often. This Mannochmore comes from 16 years in a refill sherry butt, and it's paler than a 3-year old bourbon matured whisky. What's been in the cask prior and how many times have it been refilled? Well, better pale than black might some say having tasted the Loch Dhu. The nose is fresh, vibrant, grassy, oily, some winey notes. The taste is dry and very burnt, much sulphur going on, unpleasant, let's add water. Now it becomes a bit more sweet, some minty fragrance, mint leaves and cotton... But still there's that extremely burnt taste that just puts me off.
A foul whisky from a foul cask: 2
Mannochmore 16yo 1990-2006 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
I've not tried to many of the newer bottlings by G&M with higher abv and no colouring. This one is from the rarely bottled Mannochmore Distillery. It has a nice earthy, salty and grassy smell. Oh yes, it has a distinct taste of dark chocolate and praline. With a grassy finish that just goes on and on and on. There aren't too much good said about Mannochmore, but this one is wonderful in all it's simplicity.
Some great and distinct flavours: 7
fredag 20. august 2010
3 Ardmores tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Ardmore 12yo 56.2% James Macarthur's
Returning to the 2000's with this Ardmore from James MacArthur's. Ardmore is another speyside distillery producing whisky with additional peat, but they do also make non-peated whisky. This smells totally different, really herbal with much more alcohol influence. Well, I guess none of the whisky here has had the commodity of reciding in a sherry caskt then...(?) Allright, the taste is herbal, peppery and again very influenced by the high abv. Actually, it gets a bit more aromatic and also oaky and buttery.
The difference between new and old is immense, but this is good: 6
Ardmore NAS 1977-? 40% G&M
Another one from bygone days bottled by G&M outside the CC-series. It smells very sweet, camphor and marshmallows, like flour sugar. The taste is also very sweet and light, it seems to not be peated, like the current NAS-version from the distillery is. There's caramel, champagne, walnuts, rum and sugar peas. The aftertaste is short and hardly worth to mention. It's a good whisky allright, and at it's time probably a good value for money malt, but this vintage would probably hit a price far above its less than gourmet-standard on todays market.
a nice and clean malt, a beginnerswhisky: 5.5
Ardmore NAS 46% OB
Should be about 6-8yo this one. A strongly peated highlander, and it is interesting to see what generous amounts of peat does to a mild highlander. It smells very rough, white pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, parsley and yeast. Not as smoky as I envisioned, perhaps it's local peat, and of course the flora is quite different in the Highland than on Islay. The taste is quite straight-forward with garlic, chilli, honeybread and snow peas.
A classy youngster: 7.5
Returning to the 2000's with this Ardmore from James MacArthur's. Ardmore is another speyside distillery producing whisky with additional peat, but they do also make non-peated whisky. This smells totally different, really herbal with much more alcohol influence. Well, I guess none of the whisky here has had the commodity of reciding in a sherry caskt then...(?) Allright, the taste is herbal, peppery and again very influenced by the high abv. Actually, it gets a bit more aromatic and also oaky and buttery.
The difference between new and old is immense, but this is good: 6
Ardmore NAS 1977-? 40% G&M
Another one from bygone days bottled by G&M outside the CC-series. It smells very sweet, camphor and marshmallows, like flour sugar. The taste is also very sweet and light, it seems to not be peated, like the current NAS-version from the distillery is. There's caramel, champagne, walnuts, rum and sugar peas. The aftertaste is short and hardly worth to mention. It's a good whisky allright, and at it's time probably a good value for money malt, but this vintage would probably hit a price far above its less than gourmet-standard on todays market.
a nice and clean malt, a beginnerswhisky: 5.5
Ardmore NAS 46% OB
Should be about 6-8yo this one. A strongly peated highlander, and it is interesting to see what generous amounts of peat does to a mild highlander. It smells very rough, white pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, parsley and yeast. Not as smoky as I envisioned, perhaps it's local peat, and of course the flora is quite different in the Highland than on Islay. The taste is quite straight-forward with garlic, chilli, honeybread and snow peas.
A classy youngster: 7.5
mandag 16. august 2010
4 Glenallachies tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenallachie 17yo 1989-2007 58.5% Cadenhead's btl.x/240
Glenallachie has never been too good if I remember correctly, a pretty young distillery making a malt with hint of industrial spirit. Smells pretty ordinary, young, underdeveloped for a 17yo. The taste is dry all the way, fino sherry, just a bit too strong, bitter and dry flavours to discover much else. With water it gets a bit lighter, but it's still to bitter to really enjoy, actually if I tasted this one blind I'd guess it was a bitter schnapps.
A bitter Glenallachie: 2.5
Glenallachie 12yo 43% OB
One from back in the days when most distilleries used the -Glenlivet ending. Glenallachie-bottlings are hard to come by even though it's a pretty young distillery. It smells of alcohol and polluted air, rush hour traffic in London, not very pleasant but not directly bad either. The taste on the other hand is nice and clean, but just too bland. It smells really industrialized, just thrown in some re-re-refill bourbon casks and put out there. The taste is at best a bit oaky. Any aftertaste is not present in this malt.
I think Glenallachie is a malt very dependent on a fresh cask: 4
Glenallachie 13yo 1991-2005 43% Dun Bheagan cask 90261-90262 1800btls.
This is a sherry-finished bottling by Dun Bheagan. I haven't tried to many Dun Bheagan's yet. The smell is nice, fruity with a small hint of lemon and chives. The taste is very fresh and peppery, a straight-forward malt. This is wonderful, a nice combo of oak and sherry notes. No pretentious extravaganza, just a simply nice and enjoyable malt. The aftertaste is a bit phenolic and kind of minty, but not in any way a letdown.
A powerful malt with a gentle touch of sherry: 7
Glenallachie 12yo 1992-2004 43% Signatory Vintage
One from Signatory Vintage who seems to have been stacking up on some unusual spirits for some time. It smells very smoked, peat, Puerto Rican cigars. It has a nutty flavour, some bitterness, fernet, tonic water. With some drops of water the bitterness disappears, and a richer flavour of nuts and dried dates appear.
Will never be a classic, but nice however: 5
Glenallachie has never been too good if I remember correctly, a pretty young distillery making a malt with hint of industrial spirit. Smells pretty ordinary, young, underdeveloped for a 17yo. The taste is dry all the way, fino sherry, just a bit too strong, bitter and dry flavours to discover much else. With water it gets a bit lighter, but it's still to bitter to really enjoy, actually if I tasted this one blind I'd guess it was a bitter schnapps.
A bitter Glenallachie: 2.5
Glenallachie 12yo 43% OB
One from back in the days when most distilleries used the -Glenlivet ending. Glenallachie-bottlings are hard to come by even though it's a pretty young distillery. It smells of alcohol and polluted air, rush hour traffic in London, not very pleasant but not directly bad either. The taste on the other hand is nice and clean, but just too bland. It smells really industrialized, just thrown in some re-re-refill bourbon casks and put out there. The taste is at best a bit oaky. Any aftertaste is not present in this malt.
I think Glenallachie is a malt very dependent on a fresh cask: 4
Glenallachie 13yo 1991-2005 43% Dun Bheagan cask 90261-90262 1800btls.
This is a sherry-finished bottling by Dun Bheagan. I haven't tried to many Dun Bheagan's yet. The smell is nice, fruity with a small hint of lemon and chives. The taste is very fresh and peppery, a straight-forward malt. This is wonderful, a nice combo of oak and sherry notes. No pretentious extravaganza, just a simply nice and enjoyable malt. The aftertaste is a bit phenolic and kind of minty, but not in any way a letdown.
A powerful malt with a gentle touch of sherry: 7
Glenallachie 12yo 1992-2004 43% Signatory Vintage
One from Signatory Vintage who seems to have been stacking up on some unusual spirits for some time. It smells very smoked, peat, Puerto Rican cigars. It has a nutty flavour, some bitterness, fernet, tonic water. With some drops of water the bitterness disappears, and a richer flavour of nuts and dried dates appear.
Will never be a classic, but nice however: 5
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