A bunch of Grains #2

Invergordon 10yo 43% OB

I have tried this one before, but back then I was kind of biased after a meeting a couple days before where the benefits of malted barley versus other grains were discussed with high intensity. It smells spirity, a bit sweet, young, not too good. The taste is bitter and sweet, grenadine, grapefruit and schweppes bitter lemon. Needs water. Water helps a lot, brings out some fresh mint and licorice. There is little or no aftertaste in this, perhaps some licorice.

Reminds me of why the malt were considered better at the meeting: 4



Hedonism NAS 46% Compass Box Vatted Grain

I have only tried one other vatted grain, the Snow Grouse, that wasn't too much to my liking, let's see this one then, that I believe has a better reputation amongst "whisky people". The nose is drier and much heavier than the Invergordon, almost like a fino sherry influence. A bit restrained. The taste is rounder, sweeter, cinnamon and oregano. Still a bit restrained, needs water to open up? Water makes it more bitter and sour, like lime-juice, definitively not better.

I did prefer it without water, but anyhow its sort of boring: 4



North British 48yo 1962-2010 47.9% The Perfect Dram

At this age it must be the oldest grain whisky I've ever tasted, from n ex-bourbon hogshead, dark golden color. The smell is amazing, lots of vanilla and honey, sweet, sweet and even more sweet. But there's no spirity notes so far, just perfect vanilla and bourbon notes. After a while there's some oaky notes coming through. The taste is mellower, less vanilla but still some, peppery notes, kind of one-dimensional. Vanilla and pepper all the way. No off-notes, very clean.

Not as developed as I'd hope for: 5.5



Cambus 24yo 1986-2010 53.2% Bladnoch Forum Bottling cask#18990

Cambus I have never tried, and I'm not sure which blends its used in. The smell is sweet, honey, powdered sugar and syrup. The taste is fruity and juicy, red apples, and green bananas. It's peppery, going further with some hay and old style eraser, the ones used in ground school. The aftertaste is long and peppery, green grapes and rubber.

A nice grain whisky, reminds me of some good rum: 6