Tamnavulin 16yo 55.1% Master of Malt
A single cask bottling from this rare to find distillery. Or actually not that rare to find, but bottled at cask strength at this age. Tamnavulin is one of those making a point of being light and non-peated, like Glengoyne for instance. The nose is fruity, lots of red berries and some vinegar, very nice. On the palate there's some sweet malty notes but the high alcohol proof shins through a little too much. Adding water. With water it gets very hazy, the taste of some vinegar and dry hopsis perfectly fine and gives way to a light and far from complex but still very good aftertaste.
I hoped the strength would've added some more complexity: 7
Tamnavulin-Glenlivet 10yo 40% OB
Another version of the 10yo Tamnavulin OB, This one smells even lighter than the last one, some small hints of wood and some cotton. The taste is again a bit liquoricy but also some hints of dry steak appears. This one is far closer to a malty flavour, but still not as enjoyable as it's successor. Tamnavulin was mothballed in 1996, and from what I know, it hasn't resumed production yet. Perhaps this shows a bit why. Again, not a truly bad experience, just lacks any sign of peculiarity.
A bland whisky: 3.5
Tamnavulin 10yo 40% OB
I'm doing two Tamnavulins today H2H, both 10yo, one with the -glenlivet ending from the 90's, and this one from the 00's. It smells light, grassy, pretty plain. The taste is liquorice, not bad, but not like a malt actually. It sort of a cross between fisherman's minty liquorice and a light aperitif malt. It's far from bad, no flavours are putting me off, but it's not my kind of whisky. No aftertaste.
Sweet liquorice: 4.5
Tamnavulin NAS 40% OB
An old one with the -glenlivet ending. Also it's free of the unnecessary "Naturally light"-statement that's found on contemporary Tamnavulin bottles. It smells very light, butter, floral, vanilla, muscat and green apples. The taste is grassy, cinnamon, herbal and just a small hint of lemon. The aftertaste is a bit peppery, but other than that it's just far too light to enjoy more than as an aperitif.
I'm sure there are many blends out there tasting just like this: 4
Tamnavulin 12yo 40% OB
Tamnavulin has stated on it's label "Naturally Light". I don't know why they try to put themselves in a niche group of whiskies even before the buyer is allowed to consume. The whisky is very pale, and light on the nose, like when pouring water on the barbeque, H2O oxidising? Taste light as well, minty bubblegum, olive oil and some brie cheese or camembert.
Naturally light:): 4
Tamnavulin 37yo 1967-2005 46.7% Duncan Taylor
Duncan Taylor's been stacking this whisky since the 60's, right after it's birth. So now it's time to harvest. Very dark, smells of the sea, seaweed, tar and smoke, reminds me of many Islay malts that I've tasted. But the flavours are yat another story, there's fresh apple pie, brown sugar, honey, and a finish with a neutralising hint of pepper.
One of the best from DT I've tried so far: 7.5
Tamnavulin 9yo 1988-1997 58.9% Cask 4706-4709 G&M
Very powerful on the nose, pretty much what I would expect from a cask strength Tamnavulin, lacks fruitiness and other flavours, a whisky for the machochists out there. Can take a drop of water or five.
Strong and a bit medicinial: 5.5
fredag 28. januar 2011
tirsdag 25. januar 2011
6 Glen Albyns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glen Albyn 26yo 1975-2001 54.8% Rare Malts
Neighbor of Glen Mhor, another long time gone and just occasionally mentionedin malt whisky circles. Enjoyed at the Grill Bar in Aberdeen, a nice bar with a huge range of whiskies, just a bit pricy but isn't everything in Union Street? A pale one, bourbon casked, smells spirity, sweet, sultanas, The aftertaste is just spirity. At this age I'd expect so much more.
A dead cask?: 3
Glen Albyn 29yo 1981-2010 57.5% Signatory
I love these shops selling samples online, as I've been amazed by two Glen Albyns from Signatory before I'm wondering if I should invest in a CS in the near future, but money talks in this business, so I've now got a 3cl to try first.. fantastic! Bourbon-matured this one, needs time to open up, smells withheld, small, but really nice hints of wheat, powdered sugar and spearmint. The taste is very sour, rusty, weird, nothing like a bourbon, more like really sour gravy. I cannot say it doesn't intrigue me because its so far from well.. any other expression of anything, but I will try with water, just to see what happens. Water gives a more usual vanilla and black pepper bourbon taste. It's nothing special, I prefer it without water.
A weird whisky, to unordinary to not take notice of: 4
Glen Albyn 25yo 1964-1989 58% Signatory Vintage cask#942-943 btl.841/1200
I do have another bottle from same casks, and if I remember correctly I enjoyed that very much. But I also remember that one to be dark red coloured, while this is golden pale..hmmm... Maybe I'm mixing up. It has a phenolic smell, almost like fino sherry. The taste is very peppery, phenolic, dry, salty and has a very long rubbery and salt aftertaste. It's first of all dry and bittersweet. A good expression, but it could've been just slightly sweeter.
Dry sherried malt: 6.5
Glen Albyn 25yo 1979-2005 56% Duncan taylor Rarest of the Rare cask#3958 btl.218/238
"A historic collection of Cask Strength Single Casks..." This label statement reeks of being a collector's item rather then a whisky to enjoy. Anyway, life's too short to let the bottles rot away on a shelf. The nose is pleasant, anis, liquorice and bonfire. The taste is unfortunately a big disaster. I'd say tastewise it's closer to a new-make spirit than even a 10-year old. With additional water it's becoming a bit minty but that's about it, and off course a nauseating sweetness of rotten fruit.
I've been amazed by other Glen Albyns, but this one is horrible: 1.5
Glen Albyn 12yo 1980-1993 43% Signatory Vintage cask 2946-48 btl. 765/2400
The last Glen Albyn I tried from S/V was at cask strength and amazing, will this younger, dilluted version live up to it's ancestor? The odors are quite unpleasant, very strong, but no real hint of any flavours. It has a very sweet taste of much vanilla, fruity, easy, mango, passion fruit and wax. Absolutely fantastic. The aftertaste is short and peppery. This one must be bourbon matured, and very young, but it doesn't lack much compared to the older versions I've tried.
Glen Albyn plays on all strings in this one, unforgetable: 8
Glen Albyn 25yo 1964-89 58% Signatory Vintage
Oh behold mortals, this aniquity has the most amazing odors of white pepper, garlic and parsley. Does have quite a delicate sweet flavour as well, again with some white pepper, sugar and a nice and zesty oakiness. This one, which I guess there aren't much left of, has got something rarely found in modern malts. Close your eyes and it really creates a vision of the highlands.
A closed, dismantled and almost forgotten treasure: 8
Neighbor of Glen Mhor, another long time gone and just occasionally mentionedin malt whisky circles. Enjoyed at the Grill Bar in Aberdeen, a nice bar with a huge range of whiskies, just a bit pricy but isn't everything in Union Street? A pale one, bourbon casked, smells spirity, sweet, sultanas, The aftertaste is just spirity. At this age I'd expect so much more.
A dead cask?: 3
Glen Albyn 29yo 1981-2010 57.5% Signatory
I love these shops selling samples online, as I've been amazed by two Glen Albyns from Signatory before I'm wondering if I should invest in a CS in the near future, but money talks in this business, so I've now got a 3cl to try first.. fantastic! Bourbon-matured this one, needs time to open up, smells withheld, small, but really nice hints of wheat, powdered sugar and spearmint. The taste is very sour, rusty, weird, nothing like a bourbon, more like really sour gravy. I cannot say it doesn't intrigue me because its so far from well.. any other expression of anything, but I will try with water, just to see what happens. Water gives a more usual vanilla and black pepper bourbon taste. It's nothing special, I prefer it without water.
A weird whisky, to unordinary to not take notice of: 4
Glen Albyn 25yo 1964-1989 58% Signatory Vintage cask#942-943 btl.841/1200
I do have another bottle from same casks, and if I remember correctly I enjoyed that very much. But I also remember that one to be dark red coloured, while this is golden pale..hmmm... Maybe I'm mixing up. It has a phenolic smell, almost like fino sherry. The taste is very peppery, phenolic, dry, salty and has a very long rubbery and salt aftertaste. It's first of all dry and bittersweet. A good expression, but it could've been just slightly sweeter.
Dry sherried malt: 6.5
Glen Albyn 25yo 1979-2005 56% Duncan taylor Rarest of the Rare cask#3958 btl.218/238
"A historic collection of Cask Strength Single Casks..." This label statement reeks of being a collector's item rather then a whisky to enjoy. Anyway, life's too short to let the bottles rot away on a shelf. The nose is pleasant, anis, liquorice and bonfire. The taste is unfortunately a big disaster. I'd say tastewise it's closer to a new-make spirit than even a 10-year old. With additional water it's becoming a bit minty but that's about it, and off course a nauseating sweetness of rotten fruit.
I've been amazed by other Glen Albyns, but this one is horrible: 1.5
Glen Albyn 12yo 1980-1993 43% Signatory Vintage cask 2946-48 btl. 765/2400
The last Glen Albyn I tried from S/V was at cask strength and amazing, will this younger, dilluted version live up to it's ancestor? The odors are quite unpleasant, very strong, but no real hint of any flavours. It has a very sweet taste of much vanilla, fruity, easy, mango, passion fruit and wax. Absolutely fantastic. The aftertaste is short and peppery. This one must be bourbon matured, and very young, but it doesn't lack much compared to the older versions I've tried.
Glen Albyn plays on all strings in this one, unforgetable: 8
Glen Albyn 25yo 1964-89 58% Signatory Vintage
Oh behold mortals, this aniquity has the most amazing odors of white pepper, garlic and parsley. Does have quite a delicate sweet flavour as well, again with some white pepper, sugar and a nice and zesty oakiness. This one, which I guess there aren't much left of, has got something rarely found in modern malts. Close your eyes and it really creates a vision of the highlands.
A closed, dismantled and almost forgotten treasure: 8
mandag 24. januar 2011
7 Fettercairns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Fettercairn 23yo 1984-2007 52% OB
A dark sherried I suppose(spanish oak) OB from the Fettercairn Distillery. It smells light, typical Fettercairn, easy, crispy, herbal, nuts and sweet oloroso. Followed by a round warming flavour, definately malty, seems much lighter than its actual abv., almost a trademark for this distillery. This is definately not for the macho peatfreaks of the ones that loves intense flavours, but if you like the malt in malt whisky combines with loads and loads of gentle sherry, you're in for a real treat.
Beautiful Fettercairn: 9
Fettercairn 33yo 1975-2008 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Fettercairn, former Fettercairn 1824, former Old Fettercairn, is now out with an impressive new OB range of 24, 30 and 40yo whisky. I have tried none of those, although I have the Fior in my cabinet. I'm looking forward to see the production development in this distillery in the years to come. This one smells awesome, lots of sherry, wood, barbeque, grilled tomatoes, herbs, dried red berries and red peppers. The taste has just the perfect balance, at first a bit phenolic, sweet, rustic, dry, herbal, just everything in small, well-fitted portions. The aftertaste shows green peppercorns and phenol, seeds and dry herbs. Again all in perfect amounts. It doesn't get much better than this.
An utterly great whisky, one of the best: 9.5
Fettercairn NAS 42% OB Fior
The label states this is a limited release, but since there's no number of bottlings, casks or batches mentioned, I find it's a kind of weird statement. But then again aren't really all whiskies limited editions? Orange hue, smells greenish, herbal, peaty, sweet, minty, meaty, just a small bit of everything. This might get confusing tastewise? The taste is definately peaty, mildly so, and herbal, some nice dry sherriness without any rubbery notes, beautiful. The aftertaste is also peaty and herbal. To say it's a fantastic whisky would be wrong, but this one is most definately worth the money paid for it.
A classic whisky with lots of old style charisma: 7
Old Fettercairn NAS 40% OB
Another oldie without age statement today, probably from the 80's with pure instead of single malt stated on the label. It smells caramel, probably its loaded with E150. The taste is much the same as with the Tamnavulin unfortunately, grassy and a bit herbal. With a small addition of water it gets sweeter, red berries, plums and corn. Well, it's not a marvellous malt, but i do like the development when diluted a bit.
One for the nice guys: 4.5
Fettercairn 1824 12yo 40% OB
The new version of Fettercairn, 2 years older than the quite impressive "old fettercairn". This is very fresh and grassy. The taste is quite drying despite having a prominent vanilla flavour and a very herbal, but short aftertaste. It's a very good example of an easy, clean and fun malt. Usually I don't use to much water, or any at all, in whiskies already diluted down to 40%abv, but in this one, just about half a teaspoon will work magic. A bit more peppery and some smoky burnt oak notes.
A summers malt: 6
Old Fettercairn NAS 1997-? 62.3% OB
Fettercairn is one of the hugely underrated scotch distilleries in my opinion. What? No smoky peat? No indulgent special cask maturation? No crazy label name or serie to erase the fact that this is a NAS-bottling? They do it their own way up in Fettercairn. The nose on this one is malty, light and crisp malt notes. The fragrances are beyond superb, pepper, extremely waxy, complex, blue cheese, cheddar, soy, almonds, oranges, really zesty. The aftertaste is not for just anybody, but if you can handle some really strong peppery notes for about 15 minutes it's well worth it.
Up there amongst the great whiskies of our time: 9.5
Old Fettercairn 8yo 43% OB
An older bottling from before the japanese came. It has a very mild nose, some apples, some citrus and of course the some gunpowder. It performs very well on the palate, again citrus, orange, lemon, a slight bitterness and a touch of ale. A small drop of water gets it a bit sweeter, but now it's becoming so mild that it's almost like a borderline blend/malt. The aftertaste is if not exciting, at least very unique, it's just like after a huge sip of guinness ale.
Very enjoyable, but not if you're into peated or sherried stuff: 6.5
A dark sherried I suppose(spanish oak) OB from the Fettercairn Distillery. It smells light, typical Fettercairn, easy, crispy, herbal, nuts and sweet oloroso. Followed by a round warming flavour, definately malty, seems much lighter than its actual abv., almost a trademark for this distillery. This is definately not for the macho peatfreaks of the ones that loves intense flavours, but if you like the malt in malt whisky combines with loads and loads of gentle sherry, you're in for a real treat.
Beautiful Fettercairn: 9
Fettercairn 33yo 1975-2008 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Fettercairn, former Fettercairn 1824, former Old Fettercairn, is now out with an impressive new OB range of 24, 30 and 40yo whisky. I have tried none of those, although I have the Fior in my cabinet. I'm looking forward to see the production development in this distillery in the years to come. This one smells awesome, lots of sherry, wood, barbeque, grilled tomatoes, herbs, dried red berries and red peppers. The taste has just the perfect balance, at first a bit phenolic, sweet, rustic, dry, herbal, just everything in small, well-fitted portions. The aftertaste shows green peppercorns and phenol, seeds and dry herbs. Again all in perfect amounts. It doesn't get much better than this.
An utterly great whisky, one of the best: 9.5
Fettercairn NAS 42% OB Fior
The label states this is a limited release, but since there's no number of bottlings, casks or batches mentioned, I find it's a kind of weird statement. But then again aren't really all whiskies limited editions? Orange hue, smells greenish, herbal, peaty, sweet, minty, meaty, just a small bit of everything. This might get confusing tastewise? The taste is definately peaty, mildly so, and herbal, some nice dry sherriness without any rubbery notes, beautiful. The aftertaste is also peaty and herbal. To say it's a fantastic whisky would be wrong, but this one is most definately worth the money paid for it.
A classic whisky with lots of old style charisma: 7
Old Fettercairn NAS 40% OB
Another oldie without age statement today, probably from the 80's with pure instead of single malt stated on the label. It smells caramel, probably its loaded with E150. The taste is much the same as with the Tamnavulin unfortunately, grassy and a bit herbal. With a small addition of water it gets sweeter, red berries, plums and corn. Well, it's not a marvellous malt, but i do like the development when diluted a bit.
One for the nice guys: 4.5
Fettercairn 1824 12yo 40% OB
The new version of Fettercairn, 2 years older than the quite impressive "old fettercairn". This is very fresh and grassy. The taste is quite drying despite having a prominent vanilla flavour and a very herbal, but short aftertaste. It's a very good example of an easy, clean and fun malt. Usually I don't use to much water, or any at all, in whiskies already diluted down to 40%abv, but in this one, just about half a teaspoon will work magic. A bit more peppery and some smoky burnt oak notes.
A summers malt: 6
Old Fettercairn NAS 1997-? 62.3% OB
Fettercairn is one of the hugely underrated scotch distilleries in my opinion. What? No smoky peat? No indulgent special cask maturation? No crazy label name or serie to erase the fact that this is a NAS-bottling? They do it their own way up in Fettercairn. The nose on this one is malty, light and crisp malt notes. The fragrances are beyond superb, pepper, extremely waxy, complex, blue cheese, cheddar, soy, almonds, oranges, really zesty. The aftertaste is not for just anybody, but if you can handle some really strong peppery notes for about 15 minutes it's well worth it.
Up there amongst the great whiskies of our time: 9.5
Old Fettercairn 8yo 43% OB
An older bottling from before the japanese came. It has a very mild nose, some apples, some citrus and of course the some gunpowder. It performs very well on the palate, again citrus, orange, lemon, a slight bitterness and a touch of ale. A small drop of water gets it a bit sweeter, but now it's becoming so mild that it's almost like a borderline blend/malt. The aftertaste is if not exciting, at least very unique, it's just like after a huge sip of guinness ale.
Very enjoyable, but not if you're into peated or sherried stuff: 6.5
tirsdag 18. januar 2011
7 Mortlachs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Mortlach 15yo 40% Gordon and Macphail Rare Old
I´m not sure what´s the name of this G&M-series, it says Rare Old on the label and there´s a golden eagle above the distillery name. Light, malty, spirity and a little rubbery smell. This could be an older bottling from the 80´s perhaps so I´ll give it some time to settle down. Some bitter citrus notes develops after some time, grapefruit perhaps.. The taste doesn´t have the meaty character many associates with the distillery, for me it´s more rustic, sweetness, sufary bitterness, burnt sugar? Spirity, sweet with an acidic bitter finish, like some strange bitter schnaps.
Rare Old perhaps, but for me, not Good Old: 3
Mortlach 12yo 1997-2009 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
I'm doing two young whiskies today traded from a fellow online whisky browser. I don't know what cask been used but it's pretty pale so I guess it's from a bourbon cask as I do not believe there's many refill casks in the OMC series? Smells somewhat peaty and raw chopped onions, it definately got a bite. The taste is fresh, spiced and full of vanilla. Kind of one-dimensional, but not boring. This is very spicy and sweet, hard to describe other than some vanilla, peppery and banana notes, perhaps some lime skin. The aftertaste is starch and smoke, a bit woody.
A well expressed malt, if not very refined: 5
Edit: Note from owner of an original bottle says that the label states this comes from a sherry cask(!) I guess perhaps a refill then, or maybe Fino or Manzanilla? It's just too pale to come from a fresh Oloroso or Amontillado.
Mortlach 19yo 1990-2009 57.5% Signatory Vintage
A Mortlach from Signatory's Cask Strength Collection, this series I often enjoy a lot, but the when I enjoy it it's usually always been in a sherry cask for a good while. This one smells sweet, syrupy, vanilla, corn and fluoride mints. The taste is of sage, oregano, lots of herbs, a very herbal malt, something a bit like paprika butter and mashed red onions. This is just too high %abv. on this one, I'll add water. Now it gets very floral with lots of herbs. This is not good, better without water.
A spirity and green Mortlach: 3.5
Mortlach 12yo 1998-2010 59.1% G&M for The Whiskyshop Dufftown
Another purchased sample, this time from the whiskysamples.flyingcart.com, not nearly as estethiqually bottled, but like with humans, it's what's inside that counts? And it smells delicious, these smoky, sweet, farmy aromas on the nose, and something citrussy, mouth-watering! The taste is fruity, grapefruit, sour, zesty, very good, but considering the high %abv and the very intense flavours I'll add some water. With water it gets more oaky, peppery, even drier. This sherry cask does give a lot of surprises. The finish is creamy, voloptous (in lack of a better word) and smoked meat.
A Mortlach with much character: 6
Mortlach 12yo 40% Gordon & Macphail
One from the flat bottled series of the 80's by G&M. I've never found a Mortlack that stood out as far as being a really good whisky. The nose is smells of cotton, old books and apple pie. The taste is also pretty schizo, theres sort of a nice round buttery sweetness and at the same time a real dusty, harsh sourness. The aftertaste is a bit the one you get from a bad stout, let's say Beamish or Buffalo (Sorry to the ones I may offend).
No wonder there's lots of these strange bottles still lying around: 2
Mortlach 50yo 1936-1986 40% Gordon & Macphail's
This one is with no doubt one of the rarest malts I've had in my hand, therefore I will not dilute it with any water. It's very mild at first nosing, perhaps it needs some more air and time. Still mild, candyfloss and cinnamon. It's pretty strange-tasting, mild at first, as some sort of artificial malt aperitif. But the finish is so oaky that it's almost like licking a barrell.
It's sad, but it doesn't reach higher than: 4.5
Mortlach 22yo 46% Cadenhead's
Wow, this one seems pretty massive, but straightforward, candied apples and dark liqueur chocolate. At first very sweet, like honey concentrate, but with an aftertaste that can be a little too dry for some of us. Seems almost to be like a very tannined red wine on the palate.
Schizofrenic Whisky: 6
I´m not sure what´s the name of this G&M-series, it says Rare Old on the label and there´s a golden eagle above the distillery name. Light, malty, spirity and a little rubbery smell. This could be an older bottling from the 80´s perhaps so I´ll give it some time to settle down. Some bitter citrus notes develops after some time, grapefruit perhaps.. The taste doesn´t have the meaty character many associates with the distillery, for me it´s more rustic, sweetness, sufary bitterness, burnt sugar? Spirity, sweet with an acidic bitter finish, like some strange bitter schnaps.
Rare Old perhaps, but for me, not Good Old: 3
Mortlach 12yo 1997-2009 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
I'm doing two young whiskies today traded from a fellow online whisky browser. I don't know what cask been used but it's pretty pale so I guess it's from a bourbon cask as I do not believe there's many refill casks in the OMC series? Smells somewhat peaty and raw chopped onions, it definately got a bite. The taste is fresh, spiced and full of vanilla. Kind of one-dimensional, but not boring. This is very spicy and sweet, hard to describe other than some vanilla, peppery and banana notes, perhaps some lime skin. The aftertaste is starch and smoke, a bit woody.
A well expressed malt, if not very refined: 5
Edit: Note from owner of an original bottle says that the label states this comes from a sherry cask(!) I guess perhaps a refill then, or maybe Fino or Manzanilla? It's just too pale to come from a fresh Oloroso or Amontillado.
Mortlach 19yo 1990-2009 57.5% Signatory Vintage
A Mortlach from Signatory's Cask Strength Collection, this series I often enjoy a lot, but the when I enjoy it it's usually always been in a sherry cask for a good while. This one smells sweet, syrupy, vanilla, corn and fluoride mints. The taste is of sage, oregano, lots of herbs, a very herbal malt, something a bit like paprika butter and mashed red onions. This is just too high %abv. on this one, I'll add water. Now it gets very floral with lots of herbs. This is not good, better without water.
A spirity and green Mortlach: 3.5
Mortlach 12yo 1998-2010 59.1% G&M for The Whiskyshop Dufftown
Another purchased sample, this time from the whiskysamples.flyingcart.com, not nearly as estethiqually bottled, but like with humans, it's what's inside that counts? And it smells delicious, these smoky, sweet, farmy aromas on the nose, and something citrussy, mouth-watering! The taste is fruity, grapefruit, sour, zesty, very good, but considering the high %abv and the very intense flavours I'll add some water. With water it gets more oaky, peppery, even drier. This sherry cask does give a lot of surprises. The finish is creamy, voloptous (in lack of a better word) and smoked meat.
A Mortlach with much character: 6
Mortlach 12yo 40% Gordon & Macphail
One from the flat bottled series of the 80's by G&M. I've never found a Mortlack that stood out as far as being a really good whisky. The nose is smells of cotton, old books and apple pie. The taste is also pretty schizo, theres sort of a nice round buttery sweetness and at the same time a real dusty, harsh sourness. The aftertaste is a bit the one you get from a bad stout, let's say Beamish or Buffalo (Sorry to the ones I may offend).
No wonder there's lots of these strange bottles still lying around: 2
Mortlach 50yo 1936-1986 40% Gordon & Macphail's
This one is with no doubt one of the rarest malts I've had in my hand, therefore I will not dilute it with any water. It's very mild at first nosing, perhaps it needs some more air and time. Still mild, candyfloss and cinnamon. It's pretty strange-tasting, mild at first, as some sort of artificial malt aperitif. But the finish is so oaky that it's almost like licking a barrell.
It's sad, but it doesn't reach higher than: 4.5
Mortlach 22yo 46% Cadenhead's
Wow, this one seems pretty massive, but straightforward, candied apples and dark liqueur chocolate. At first very sweet, like honey concentrate, but with an aftertaste that can be a little too dry for some of us. Seems almost to be like a very tannined red wine on the palate.
Schizofrenic Whisky: 6
mandag 17. januar 2011
7 Glenfiddichs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenfiddich 15yo 51% OB Distillery Edition
To call a whisky Distillery Edition makes me asume there´s some other almost similar edition out there?? None that I´ve heard of. Not the way to create fuzz about a new bottling if you ask me. "Solera Reserve" had a better ring in my ears. Time to try this then. Actually the nose is not far from the 12yo, just a bit more punchy, with some enhanced sweetness. Probably due to the higher proof. The taste is floral with some lime and sweet liquorice. Sort of thick, fat, lovely texture. The aftertaste is peppery, ginger, but unfortunately a bit short.
Go try the Distillery Edition: 8
Glenfiddich/Strathblair 16yo 1978-1994 56% The Whisky Connoisseur
Another alternatively named bottling from the IB The Whisky Connoisseur, the one I know so very very little about, but seems to have stocks of almost everything and anything. Strathblair is Glenfiddich, a fairly rare whisky to find from IB bottlers. This smells very soft, not unlike the 18yo OB actually. The taste is very salty, heinz bbq-sauce, peppery, a very strong burning sensation. Adding water. With water it just gets more peppery, but less burnt and smoky. This is maybe why Glenfiddich is yet to puT a lot of effort into their CS projects.
A bit dull: 4.5
Glenfiddich 8yo 43% OB Italian Market
This one is from back in the days, with screw cap and everything, dating from the 60's according to whiskyfun. It's very pale and got a sweet, mustard nose. It tastes very young, a bit spirity and dry. Off course it's nice to have tried this oldie, but it's clear that it comes from a different era, compared to the modern 43% Glenfiddichs. I wouldn't buy it again, but if you want a bit of old school malt in your cabinet, this could be it.
Old fashion, old style: 6
Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB Chaoran Reserve
This one has been maturing in ex-Islay casks from what I've heard, so it's actually not peated in the traditional way. It is a bit darker than the original. The smell is also just a tad smokier. The taste has at first the initial roundness and light taste of the original but soon shows to be far more smoky and a bit creamier. It has a finish of nice and instant smoke, wood, white pepper and grain cereal. The aftertaste is soft and lingering.
I prefer it to the original, a nice variation: 6
Glenfiddich 15yo 43% OB Solera Reserve
The most widely recognized Glenfiddich original amongst malt connoisseurs. The cask finish makes a huge impact both in smell and taste. The nosing reminds me a bit of dry tawny, a sweet glenfiddich with honey and syrup. Maybe it's a bit over the top.
Good apperitif, but in small sips: 6.5
Glenfiddich 18yo 40% OB
More delicate and much sweeter than the 12-year old, but not worth the prize difference in my opinion. Shows that there's perhaps a small lack of development potential in the traditionally casked Glenfiddichs. Cask experimentation or higher abv might be the answer.
Good, but not worth the money: 6.5
Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB
The worlds most popular single malt, very commercial and easy taste. Little to none cask influence and no particularly recognizeable fragrances. Very light and easily drinkable, but there are no challenges for my tastebuds here.
Will always be liked by most people: 5
To call a whisky Distillery Edition makes me asume there´s some other almost similar edition out there?? None that I´ve heard of. Not the way to create fuzz about a new bottling if you ask me. "Solera Reserve" had a better ring in my ears. Time to try this then. Actually the nose is not far from the 12yo, just a bit more punchy, with some enhanced sweetness. Probably due to the higher proof. The taste is floral with some lime and sweet liquorice. Sort of thick, fat, lovely texture. The aftertaste is peppery, ginger, but unfortunately a bit short.
Go try the Distillery Edition: 8
Glenfiddich/Strathblair 16yo 1978-1994 56% The Whisky Connoisseur
Another alternatively named bottling from the IB The Whisky Connoisseur, the one I know so very very little about, but seems to have stocks of almost everything and anything. Strathblair is Glenfiddich, a fairly rare whisky to find from IB bottlers. This smells very soft, not unlike the 18yo OB actually. The taste is very salty, heinz bbq-sauce, peppery, a very strong burning sensation. Adding water. With water it just gets more peppery, but less burnt and smoky. This is maybe why Glenfiddich is yet to puT a lot of effort into their CS projects.
A bit dull: 4.5
Glenfiddich 8yo 43% OB Italian Market
This one is from back in the days, with screw cap and everything, dating from the 60's according to whiskyfun. It's very pale and got a sweet, mustard nose. It tastes very young, a bit spirity and dry. Off course it's nice to have tried this oldie, but it's clear that it comes from a different era, compared to the modern 43% Glenfiddichs. I wouldn't buy it again, but if you want a bit of old school malt in your cabinet, this could be it.
Old fashion, old style: 6
Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB Chaoran Reserve
This one has been maturing in ex-Islay casks from what I've heard, so it's actually not peated in the traditional way. It is a bit darker than the original. The smell is also just a tad smokier. The taste has at first the initial roundness and light taste of the original but soon shows to be far more smoky and a bit creamier. It has a finish of nice and instant smoke, wood, white pepper and grain cereal. The aftertaste is soft and lingering.
I prefer it to the original, a nice variation: 6
Glenfiddich 15yo 43% OB Solera Reserve
The most widely recognized Glenfiddich original amongst malt connoisseurs. The cask finish makes a huge impact both in smell and taste. The nosing reminds me a bit of dry tawny, a sweet glenfiddich with honey and syrup. Maybe it's a bit over the top.
Good apperitif, but in small sips: 6.5
Glenfiddich 18yo 40% OB
More delicate and much sweeter than the 12-year old, but not worth the prize difference in my opinion. Shows that there's perhaps a small lack of development potential in the traditionally casked Glenfiddichs. Cask experimentation or higher abv might be the answer.
Good, but not worth the money: 6.5
Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB
The worlds most popular single malt, very commercial and easy taste. Little to none cask influence and no particularly recognizeable fragrances. Very light and easily drinkable, but there are no challenges for my tastebuds here.
Will always be liked by most people: 5
tirsdag 11. januar 2011
6 Glen Ords tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glen Ord 28yo 2975-2003 58.3% OB
I traded a couple samples of this one from another malt connoisseur. When I heard there was a 28yo Glen Ord I knew I had to grab the chance, how often do I come across that? Golden colour, smells sweet and honeyed, with a small alcohol sting. Reminds me somewhat of the 12yo OB which I enjoyed quite a bit. The taste is sweet, chalk, dry, a bit spirity. Water. It gets a bit sweeter with the help of water, but it isn't as fresh as the younger version. A bit tired from many years in the cask?
At this age I believe it could've developed some more: 6
Glen Ord 27yo 1962-1989 55.4% Cadenhead's
An oldie from Glen Ord, a malt that I rarely try, but I was a bit fascinated by the 12yo OB back in the days. This smells really rustic, cereal, corn jacks, iron, smokey, very delicate. The taste is a killer, lots of ashes, dusty, burning, lots of herbs and spices. Magnificent so far, even though I'll add some water as the taste can be too concentrated and hide the aftertaste. Now it gets a bit rounder, some flowery notes, a bit phenolic. I believe this one comes from a sherry cask. And if so it's cask magic at its best.
Pure pleasure: 8.5
Glen Ord 31yo 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
This has a round smell, hints of caramel, honey and lemon zest. Very good, I do like to point out that Glen Ord is a malt that I find to vary a lot in quality, not depended on cask or age. The taste shows this is a sherry matured whisky, very dry aftertaste, sweet, phenolic, creamy cheese, herbs and cinnamon. With water it gets lighter, fruitier, mango, kiwi, grape fruit and banana(?). A very pleasant malt, if not the most complex 31yo I've ever tried.
Could've benefited from even higher %abv: 6
Glen Ord 11yo 1999-2010 54.5,% Malts of Scotland cask#31212 btl.x/289
Now a showdown of some young IB cask strengths. This one is Bourbon matured in a hogshead. A very round nose on such a young whisky, floral, sweet, honey. The taste is a bit anonymous on the palate, some sweet notes of plum and sour fruit, but that's about it. The finish is a bit dry with lots of caramel. With some water more bourbon is showing along with some coffee notes and even more dryness on the finish. It's a good whisky and I bet many would love it, but for me, this style is a bit too weird unfortunately.
I'm having a trouble finding balance in this one: 5
Glenordie 12yo 40% OB
An 80's bottling of Glen Ord this on, some ginger, allspice and nutmeg on the nose. Tastewise it has something going with gingerbread, wheat and cigars, but all in all, it's not quite as good as the slightly more sophisticated and modern 12yo Glen Ord OB. I can imagine this is very fine blending material, but it doesn't really deliver as a single.
Cigar Malt?: 4
Glen Ord 12yo 40% OB
Smells very malty, almost like newly poured guinness. It has also got a strong and dominant malty flavour. Some might call it simple and old fashioned, but still this is a very nice and gentle dram, a good value for your money. Relatively short aftertaste.
A good introduction to other malts: 6.5
I traded a couple samples of this one from another malt connoisseur. When I heard there was a 28yo Glen Ord I knew I had to grab the chance, how often do I come across that? Golden colour, smells sweet and honeyed, with a small alcohol sting. Reminds me somewhat of the 12yo OB which I enjoyed quite a bit. The taste is sweet, chalk, dry, a bit spirity. Water. It gets a bit sweeter with the help of water, but it isn't as fresh as the younger version. A bit tired from many years in the cask?
At this age I believe it could've developed some more: 6
Glen Ord 27yo 1962-1989 55.4% Cadenhead's
An oldie from Glen Ord, a malt that I rarely try, but I was a bit fascinated by the 12yo OB back in the days. This smells really rustic, cereal, corn jacks, iron, smokey, very delicate. The taste is a killer, lots of ashes, dusty, burning, lots of herbs and spices. Magnificent so far, even though I'll add some water as the taste can be too concentrated and hide the aftertaste. Now it gets a bit rounder, some flowery notes, a bit phenolic. I believe this one comes from a sherry cask. And if so it's cask magic at its best.
Pure pleasure: 8.5
Glen Ord 31yo 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
This has a round smell, hints of caramel, honey and lemon zest. Very good, I do like to point out that Glen Ord is a malt that I find to vary a lot in quality, not depended on cask or age. The taste shows this is a sherry matured whisky, very dry aftertaste, sweet, phenolic, creamy cheese, herbs and cinnamon. With water it gets lighter, fruitier, mango, kiwi, grape fruit and banana(?). A very pleasant malt, if not the most complex 31yo I've ever tried.
Could've benefited from even higher %abv: 6
Glen Ord 11yo 1999-2010 54.5,% Malts of Scotland cask#31212 btl.x/289
Now a showdown of some young IB cask strengths. This one is Bourbon matured in a hogshead. A very round nose on such a young whisky, floral, sweet, honey. The taste is a bit anonymous on the palate, some sweet notes of plum and sour fruit, but that's about it. The finish is a bit dry with lots of caramel. With some water more bourbon is showing along with some coffee notes and even more dryness on the finish. It's a good whisky and I bet many would love it, but for me, this style is a bit too weird unfortunately.
I'm having a trouble finding balance in this one: 5
Glenordie 12yo 40% OB
An 80's bottling of Glen Ord this on, some ginger, allspice and nutmeg on the nose. Tastewise it has something going with gingerbread, wheat and cigars, but all in all, it's not quite as good as the slightly more sophisticated and modern 12yo Glen Ord OB. I can imagine this is very fine blending material, but it doesn't really deliver as a single.
Cigar Malt?: 4
Glen Ord 12yo 40% OB
Smells very malty, almost like newly poured guinness. It has also got a strong and dominant malty flavour. Some might call it simple and old fashioned, but still this is a very nice and gentle dram, a good value for your money. Relatively short aftertaste.
A good introduction to other malts: 6.5
8 Macduff/Glen Deverons tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Macduff 19yo 55.7% Whisky-Doris
A single cask from german bottler Whisky-Doris, I've not tried too many of these but I believe I've read somewhere that they sometimes buys from other IB's. If that's true it surely makes me question why the one IB wanna sell stock to another IB? Let's see.. The colour is sort of dirty, like earl grey tea, it smells great, honey, leather and smoked ham. The taste is beautiful, plums, aniseed, sweet liquorice, honey, herbs, grilled tomatoes, this is just about as exciting as a whisky can be. The aftertaste is like a good rum, sweet, dark syrupy, goes on forever.
A fantastic bottling from this fairly unknown Whisky-Doris: 10
Macduff 25yo 1984-2009 54.9% Thosop Import
An even lighter nose than the longmorn, I can't believe its been so long since I tried some older CS bourbon-matured non-Islayers. Now it reminds me of childrens booze. The taste is hard and heavy, soapy with hints of hard candy. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this one bit. With water it gets even worse.
Could be any kind of newmake: 2
Glen Deveron 5yo 40% OB 80's
After a good night of very light and delicate, yet also attractive whiskies I will now try the Glen deveron again as last time I had it straight after a CS Old Pulteney. I guess my palate will provide me with better answers this time. Smells fragrant, hay, pesto, dried herbs and fresh bakery. The taste is much as I remember, sweet, sugary, plums, malty, but with a nice peppery finish that just puts it above being average/boring flavourwise. I must say I enjoy this old 5yo from decades ago much better than the contemporary bottlings. It's just so damn nice, actually reminds me of some lowland whisky, sweet and zesty, but very light.
I'll give it 1.5 more points, a very enjoyable experience: 6.5
Glen Deveron 5yo 40% OB 80's
One from Italy, I know its silly trying this after a cask strength, but I've got a whole bottle so I guess I can check if my first impression don't give a realistic view. This was distilled at the Macduff distillery, which I think is a way cooler name than Glen Deveron, anyway, here goes. The nose is sweet, vanilla, bourbon-matured, bananas, sugar peas and wheat. The first taste is nice, allright, like some young 40% Glengoynes, very light and thats probably due to my very roughed up palate. Now, to say more I guess would be unfair so I'll come back to this later. For now, it's far from a bad malt, very young, but carries that well as the spirit shows great potential.
Fine Glen Deveron, one for each year: 5
Glen Deveron 12yo 40% OB
Glen Deveron is the malt whisky produced at MacDuff Distillery. It's a very mild and sweetish smell on this thing, a bit like aqua vitae, or maybe it's just the holiday spirits playing a trick on me.. It's a bit watery as well, almost like very young grain whisky. The taste is bitter, oaky and without any real character. With water it becomes even more bitter.
Like Underberg only more bitter: 1.5
MacDuff 31yo 1969-2001 50% Douglas Laing OMC
An old sherry-matured bottling which I've been aching to try. beautiful odors, mashed cranberries, spices, dried onions and garlic on the very aromatic nose. A sweet taste of caramel, honey, lemon and raisins. It's an incredibly rich whisky with a finish of pepper and clementines.
As close to perfect as one can get: 9.5
Macduff 18yo 1975-1993 40% CC G&M
A strong scent, despite being diluted to only 40%, it's the first smell that I've come over that actually has an aftersmell(!), the phenolic odors stays with me for quite some time here.The taste is also a bizarre case, at first sweet, then strong, sugar and medicine? The finish is sour and strong, like pickled jalapeñoes. Water works and modifies the flavours a bit, and a mild sweetness emerges.
Lots of things going on, too bad none of them really works together: 3
MacDuff 16yo 59.8% Cadenhead's
Beautiful golden whisky from the destillery that produces Glen Deveron. Smells sweet, strong, reminding me slightly of rum. The taste is much more robust, gasolin, fire, smoke, not easy to get a hold of any real flavours here. Needs water!
Too strong: 3
A single cask from german bottler Whisky-Doris, I've not tried too many of these but I believe I've read somewhere that they sometimes buys from other IB's. If that's true it surely makes me question why the one IB wanna sell stock to another IB? Let's see.. The colour is sort of dirty, like earl grey tea, it smells great, honey, leather and smoked ham. The taste is beautiful, plums, aniseed, sweet liquorice, honey, herbs, grilled tomatoes, this is just about as exciting as a whisky can be. The aftertaste is like a good rum, sweet, dark syrupy, goes on forever.
A fantastic bottling from this fairly unknown Whisky-Doris: 10
Macduff 25yo 1984-2009 54.9% Thosop Import
An even lighter nose than the longmorn, I can't believe its been so long since I tried some older CS bourbon-matured non-Islayers. Now it reminds me of childrens booze. The taste is hard and heavy, soapy with hints of hard candy. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this one bit. With water it gets even worse.
Could be any kind of newmake: 2
Glen Deveron 5yo 40% OB 80's
After a good night of very light and delicate, yet also attractive whiskies I will now try the Glen deveron again as last time I had it straight after a CS Old Pulteney. I guess my palate will provide me with better answers this time. Smells fragrant, hay, pesto, dried herbs and fresh bakery. The taste is much as I remember, sweet, sugary, plums, malty, but with a nice peppery finish that just puts it above being average/boring flavourwise. I must say I enjoy this old 5yo from decades ago much better than the contemporary bottlings. It's just so damn nice, actually reminds me of some lowland whisky, sweet and zesty, but very light.
I'll give it 1.5 more points, a very enjoyable experience: 6.5
Glen Deveron 5yo 40% OB 80's
One from Italy, I know its silly trying this after a cask strength, but I've got a whole bottle so I guess I can check if my first impression don't give a realistic view. This was distilled at the Macduff distillery, which I think is a way cooler name than Glen Deveron, anyway, here goes. The nose is sweet, vanilla, bourbon-matured, bananas, sugar peas and wheat. The first taste is nice, allright, like some young 40% Glengoynes, very light and thats probably due to my very roughed up palate. Now, to say more I guess would be unfair so I'll come back to this later. For now, it's far from a bad malt, very young, but carries that well as the spirit shows great potential.
Fine Glen Deveron, one for each year: 5
Glen Deveron 12yo 40% OB
Glen Deveron is the malt whisky produced at MacDuff Distillery. It's a very mild and sweetish smell on this thing, a bit like aqua vitae, or maybe it's just the holiday spirits playing a trick on me.. It's a bit watery as well, almost like very young grain whisky. The taste is bitter, oaky and without any real character. With water it becomes even more bitter.
Like Underberg only more bitter: 1.5
MacDuff 31yo 1969-2001 50% Douglas Laing OMC
An old sherry-matured bottling which I've been aching to try. beautiful odors, mashed cranberries, spices, dried onions and garlic on the very aromatic nose. A sweet taste of caramel, honey, lemon and raisins. It's an incredibly rich whisky with a finish of pepper and clementines.
As close to perfect as one can get: 9.5
Macduff 18yo 1975-1993 40% CC G&M
A strong scent, despite being diluted to only 40%, it's the first smell that I've come over that actually has an aftersmell(!), the phenolic odors stays with me for quite some time here.The taste is also a bizarre case, at first sweet, then strong, sugar and medicine? The finish is sour and strong, like pickled jalapeñoes. Water works and modifies the flavours a bit, and a mild sweetness emerges.
Lots of things going on, too bad none of them really works together: 3
MacDuff 16yo 59.8% Cadenhead's
Beautiful golden whisky from the destillery that produces Glen Deveron. Smells sweet, strong, reminding me slightly of rum. The taste is much more robust, gasolin, fire, smoke, not easy to get a hold of any real flavours here. Needs water!
Too strong: 3
3 Knockandos tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Knockando 18yo 1991-2009 43% OB
Knockando, a malt mostly sold in france and usually not a whisky stirring up much fuzz when mentioned among malt whisky geeks. One thing I believe the pioneered is the vintage standard OB's which we now also see at Balblair. Light amber colour, smells spirity, sulphury, some hints of dry sherry. The taste is spirity, somewhat closed, needs time and maybe some water? Initially it got some nice hints of orange peel, sweet bitterness on the palate before it quickly turns spirity. I liked the double matured 15yo much better.
Spirity above anything else: 3
Knockando 15yo 1994-2009 43% OB Double Matured
I believe Knockando is the #1 most sold whisky in france, this one I bought on the riviera in the small town of st. Maxime. It is double matured in bourbon and sherry casks. It has a nice round, a bit dry smell, plum syrup and burnt moscatel wine. The taste is dry, sherry, oaky, grape seeds and small pears. This is very nice compared to the other Standard Versions I've tried, it's very exciting.
I like the sherry twist: 6
Knockando 18yo 1990-2008 43% OB
One bought from the french, as Knockando makes it good on the southern european markets. It's sherrymatured, but very pale, I guess it somes from a well used refill. It smells sharp, and the malt is unfortunately to weak to hold it's own against the cask, and the whole experience turns into something soapy and pretty plastic.
nauseating: 2
Knockando, a malt mostly sold in france and usually not a whisky stirring up much fuzz when mentioned among malt whisky geeks. One thing I believe the pioneered is the vintage standard OB's which we now also see at Balblair. Light amber colour, smells spirity, sulphury, some hints of dry sherry. The taste is spirity, somewhat closed, needs time and maybe some water? Initially it got some nice hints of orange peel, sweet bitterness on the palate before it quickly turns spirity. I liked the double matured 15yo much better.
Spirity above anything else: 3
Knockando 15yo 1994-2009 43% OB Double Matured
I believe Knockando is the #1 most sold whisky in france, this one I bought on the riviera in the small town of st. Maxime. It is double matured in bourbon and sherry casks. It has a nice round, a bit dry smell, plum syrup and burnt moscatel wine. The taste is dry, sherry, oaky, grape seeds and small pears. This is very nice compared to the other Standard Versions I've tried, it's very exciting.
I like the sherry twist: 6
Knockando 18yo 1990-2008 43% OB
One bought from the french, as Knockando makes it good on the southern european markets. It's sherrymatured, but very pale, I guess it somes from a well used refill. It smells sharp, and the malt is unfortunately to weak to hold it's own against the cask, and the whole experience turns into something soapy and pretty plastic.
nauseating: 2
tirsdag 4. januar 2011
2010 (a personal review)
2010 was a good year for me what whisky is concerned, my favourite distillery Fettercairn has released a new series showing proof of much old stock, even though the 24, 30 and 40yo is a bit too expensive for my taste. I've tried some new Distillers Editions double matured whiskies, all bollocks, why fuck up something good with funky finishes? Real sherry-matured whiskies becoming more expensive as re-treating casks and so on seems to become the rule more than the exception. The standard % has risen, something I wholeheartly applaude as 40% seems to becoming extinct amongst standard OB's. Deanston and Bnnahabhain being amongst the last ones still bottling at 40% now upping till 46.3%. Unfortunately Tamdhu jumped on the mothball train, Imperial seems to be pretty much out of business and Caperdonich's now out of business for good, something that again will increase the already expensive prices on whisky from this distillery. More CS OB's are hitting the market, Glengoyne single casks, new Ardbegs, 2nd batch Laphroaig Cask and Bowmore Tempest, nice for those of us that enjoy a high strength abv, and I do. All in all it's been an interesting year for malt enthusiasts, with good prospects for year 2011!
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