Reading my list of whiskies I'm now done with, must not be read as a critic of those distilleries and their produce, why I will be concentrating on a smaller number of distilleries going forth from here, is a decided based on many factors. There are some whiskies that I have tried just a lot of, and I think its not worth the effort to chase more of. Some of the whiskies in this session there is some whiskies that I probably won't try again for a while, unless something really strikes me as interesting. As said, there will not be any young Dufftown or Isle of Jura verticals again anytime soon, but if a bottling of one of those really makes me curious, for sure, I will have a go at it. So, perhaps more quality instead of quantity will be tasted from some distilleries in the following months. 6 different whiskies of unforeseen caliber today then.
Edit: And by the way, my last session was my sestercentennial post on this page, and even though only celebrated with a small Loch Lomond vertical, to me it was a small milestone.
Glen Moray 13yo 1980-1993 43% Master of Malt cask#80,81 btl.62/240
Glen Moray matures almost (or) all of their produce in white wine casks. I do not know enough about this, or if this practice is still going on, but it sure makes for an interesting alternative to sherry and port if proven successful. The color is light, white wine. It smells spirity, oaky, dry white wine, citrus, lemon rind, lemon juice, green apples. Kind of fresh and fruity, a summers malt? The taste is bitter and citrussy, all on dry white wine again, I wouldn't go as far saying it resembles a fino sherry, but there's some very nice citrussy and earthy notes. The finish is unexpectedly short after such a characteristic palate, and leaves a little to be desired. Some nice citrus and salty notes, Like a tequila shot, except the tequila. Hmm... I do like it, but I can sure see why it's never made for a popular-by-demand whisky.
Assertive young whisky, but lacks some on the finish: 6
Edradour 12yo 1997-2010 43% Signatory Vintage cask#462
One from a sherry butt, I think S/V has many of them lying around, but it doesn't say anything about it being fresh or ex-. Orange pulp color. It smells of sherry and herbs, that's a new one for me. Seems the whisky also gets a word in. Edradour Distillery usually produces one of the lighter spirits. Give it some time and the sherry takes full control here. Lemongrass and thyme, some grenadine and sunflowers. Floral and herbal. Yet there is some sweetness from the sherry which I could easily mistake for some sweet berry syrup. The taste is light, floral hints of coconut and light peppers. Oak, some leather and grease. It's a bit of a dirty whisky, which in many aspects could've been taken for an older whisky, not necessarily better. I wish this one was bottled at CS, I think it might be a surprise winner in my book.
A dirty and bewildered whisky, doesn't seem to fit being bottled so young and weak: 4.5
Craigellachie 17yo 1991-2008 43% Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice
Another one of those more recent bottlings from the CC-series of G&M. They had a short spell at 43%abv before deciding to jump all the way up to 46%abv strength. I don't know if it has made any significent quality in the whiskies bottled in this series. Seems to me it still is a sub-par series bottling much stuff that otherwise could go to blends or such. But, some older bottlings, and a couple new ones has distracted me from completely giving up on this series, and by the way, it is usually much more affordable than other IB series. I guess you usually get what you give in the whisky world as well. White wine color. It smells oaky, lilac paint, spirity, heather, sand, salty notes, beer batter, dried onions, old steam house, well, it actually is a good one so far. The taste is all on apple juice and vodka. Something for the "a bit too" young ones? Now, this is a first for me, just to prove my sincerity. I have now mixed 3/5 apple juice and 2/5 vodka, and it is pretty much the same apart the horrible spirity vodka notes. The finish is all onions and greens. Grassy! I think, excepts some poor Littlemills, this is as grassy as you get it. Remember the scents when emptying the lawnmower as a child, this is what I think it'd taste like. Some peppery notes as well, but most of all its weeds and grassy notes.
The nose was great, the rest was a bit thin, so to speak: 4
Oban 15yo 1993-2008 43% OB Distillers Edition 157.FT
So, I really like the 14yo OB, and this one finished one year in montillado casks should make for a pleasing alternative as there aren't many Obans around. I think I've had one from Cadenhead's which was great, but nowadays it seems the distilleries, or their owners, are much more restricted when releasing their whisky to IB's. It smells oaky and smoky, not peaty, just smoky. Don't know the difference? Have this one beside a young CS Laphroaig and smell them both without tasting. Great stuff, fresh on the nose, a bit burnt, honey, coffee, bell peppers, corn flakes, licorice, plum wine. The taste is a bit boring, it lacks the rawness and optimism (excuse my language) that I find in the 14yo. This is a tamed whisky.
If you have the choice, try the 14yo standard OB before this one, it is worlds apart: 2.5
Glen Ord 12yo 1999-2011 54.4% Malts of Scotland cask#110013
I've had a very good experience with Glen Ord back in the days as the 12yo miniatuer I bought in Rose, London back in 2006 was one of my first ever knowledges of single malt whisky. Since then its been mostly misses. Perhaps this can restore my faith in this otherwise neutral distillery (not that it's produce is neutral, by far). The color is light brown/orange. It smells much bigger than the prior ones in this tasting, is it only due to the alcohol content being bigger? dried meat and blood oranges is my first hint. Meaty and citrussy. The taste is zesty, something metallic, old carpets, cinnamon, hash browns, rubber, glue, limes, cucumbers. One might say this not malty enough, but I think its great.
Very good whisky, one to get more familiar with, given the opportunity: 5.5
Glen Elgin 13yo 59.5% Cadenhead's
A very interesting whisky. Glen Elgin has always been one of my favorite whiskies thus far. But it is a lot of work to find them amongst all other IB favorites (read:Linkwood). I personally think Cadenhead's is one of the most overlooked IB's with James MacArthur's and Scott's Selection. I hope this one will be an inspiration helping that matter, not that I think the people in the industry are at all interested in my opinion though. But expressing it will never be a waste of time. The color is about as pale as it gets. White wine. It smells a bit burnt and spirity, hard to understand, but it really smells like acid and paint thinner. The taste is peppery and burnt. I'm thinking of some burnt raisins and old wood. This is an old style malt for sure.
How long to keep hope?: 7
Next tasting: Glenrothes Distillery
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