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
mandag 25. oktober 2010
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!
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