I haven't yet had my grand revelation to the often referred point that many older grain whiskies are solid gold. Maybe this tasting will prove different, at least I hope so. Some of these distilleries I have never tried before. It's gonna be interesting, that I know for sure looking at the lineup.
Invergordon 37yo 1972-2009 44% First Cask cask#63641
I have only tried the 10yo standard Invergordon, which was not to my surprise, a pretty neutral and weak grain whisky. I know much of it goes into the Whyte & MacKay blends. Which is usually much to my liking. At this age it still smells like a light and young whisky, needs some time to open up at this age. Licorice, wheat flour, dried hay, wheat, dry and light, lighter than most blends I've come across. Not much from the cask so far, a bourbon cask by the way. The taste is light (surprise!!!), lemon, vanilla, paper and raw wheat flour. It's so sweet and light I wouldn't dare add water, but for my own research's sake, I will in this case. With a small addition it becomes a bit spirity.
A fine and gentle whisky, but yawn...: 4.5
Garnheath 43yo 1967-2010 44.4% Clan Denny cask#6642
From a hogshead, this one should really have a wood impact, considering it's age in wood. I haven't got much experience with either the bottler or the distillery, having had only one or two bottlings from Clan Denny ahead of this one. And one from Garnheath, which I think also were from C.D. and 45 years of age. Another one that's light in color. smells citrussy, lemons and grape fruit, interesting, but also very light when considering time in cask and that its bottled at cask strength. Some minty and peppery notes as well, again it seems much younger than its actual age. The taste is light and intensely herbal, lots of greens, again some lemon and mint, basil and chives, again a small disappointment, but a step or two up from the Invergordon, a bit fuller in flavor.
At this age, well I guess it could've gone several more years one oak: 5.5
North British 45yo 1963-2008 50.7% Signatory Vintage
The matriarch of the bunch, the old grand-dad, 45 years old, I do not often come across whiskies at this age, and I usually don't even remotely consider buying them because of the ridiculous expense. But thankfully there are cheaper alternatives, like blends or grains, which usually comes much fairer priced. This one is much darker than the prior two, orange hue. Much more powerful on the nose, radishes, phenols, dried sage, dried basils, sort of a sherried take on a very herbal whisky. But then I have to say, if this is the case, after so long time, the spirit stands up well to the sherry influence. Some rum as well. The taste is sweet and burnt, phenolic, sugar candy, more like port than sherry, plums and vanilla fudge. Water is needed. Now it gets some more vanilla and bitterness.
It has more edge to it, but it struggles with some off-notes: 5
Greenore 10yo 2000-2011 52.9% OB for Belgium cask#87
Irish single grain, I've had one before, but this is my first one at cask strength. Pale color, probably from bourbon casks. This most definitively bourbon matured, huge vanilla, cream and lemon on the nose, a sweet treat, but it's so intense it makes up for the lack of so-called complexity. The taste is just what the nose promised, intense lemon, vanilla, vanilla curd, full fat cream and some raisins. Little to no aftertaste. Well done job cask(s)!
Fantastic in all its simplicity: 7
Cameronbridge 30yo Adelphi 1979-2009 56.6% Adelphi
I had a 30yo Cameronbridge from Adelphi a couple of years back, it was superb, I think I rated it a 9.5'er. This one is sort of light, color of very light rosé wine, I remember the 9.5 one to be way darker, but I could be wrong. It smells peppery, soft fruits, tannins, honey, melted butter and sugar, I love it so far. The taste is... oh, now it's all coming back to me, honey, leather, cough syrup, light phenols, sherry, drying (in a very good way), licorice, red paprika, coffee, cream (bailey's), sun-dried tomatoes, cinnamon, wow!!! I don't think I can describe this one much more without becoming pretentiously positive.
Fantastic, but not the same, served more chilled this time, still: 9.5
Carsebridge 26yo 1979-2005 60.3% Duncan Taylor cask#32903
First one popping the 60% limit, I know I'm a bit of a criminal drinking alcoholic beverage at this strength in the country of which I'm residing. It's a strange law as I think there are so many whiskies +60% that's absolutely amazing. But I don't think it's the malt drinkers they're after. Anyway, if opportunity shows, please do try an older sherried 60+% single malt, as I have never been disappointed by such, and I've tried a few. many older whiskies that falls in %abv. into the 40's loses a lit of it's punch(if u know what I mean), but at high proof, the spirit handles the wood impact in glorious manner. Enough now, let's taste. light golden color, smells much more spirity than the Cameronbridge, burnt sugar, some vanilla, and red plums, prunes, sweet rounded fruitiness. Tight stuff, if you know what I mean... Smells dry. The taste is very burnt and dry, yet with a sort of prunes and juniper berries mixed taste, dark fruits. I'll add some water though maybe not needed in this one. With water it becomes lighter, and pretty boring, leather and mashed potatoes, avocado, fat.
It's good enough undiluted, don't add water: 6.5
Next tasting: Bowmore Distillery
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