A small mixed session

Not the fancy lineup at all this time, but just a small session to celebrate my new background. I actually put this one together because I have no other bottlings from these distilleries, and that I read somewhere that Dalmore was the biggest selling single malt in Tax Free shops these days. I think it was on the Norwegian whisky forum. So, the bestseller against some less notable whisky distilleries. I know its not a contest, but its a bit of fun to see how they compare. The other whiskies are a best-seller in France, the highest placed distillery in Scotland, and the home of the Famous Grouse.



Cardhu 12yo 40% OB

Beige color label and silver letters on this one. From Italy, and thats surely not a big surprise as countries like Italy, France, Spain and surely some others are warming more to this particular whiky, perhaps because of the warm climate, than us up here in northern europe. Golden hue. It smells light, polyester, spirity, old factory smell. hard to distinguish any real notes here. The taste is sweet, cherries, puff pastry, sweet onions, some hints of sherry wood, but all in all its a lightweighter in every sense. If it was 30 degrees outside I'd rather have this than a Fettercairn, but only then.

Light and easy, drinkable and even enjoyable, but never interesting: 5


Dalwhinnie 20yo 1963-1983 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail

This, usually, light highlander has never been a favorite of mine, but then again I think I've just had like three or four bottlings of it, so this might be its time to chine. Orange/bronze color. It smells pungent and spirity, more like some questionable Mannochmores or even Loch Lomonds. Perhaps it just needs some time to open up, remember, its an old whisky. Breathing helps a bit as it calms the spirity notes, but what's left i nothing more than a bland highlander. I remember some young recent Ben Nevis that smelled a lot like this one. The taste is far better, peppery, floral, honey, vanilla, mustard leaves, musty, aroma oils, licorice, heather, nutty. A great comeback.

Old style, and one of the best Dalwhinnies I've tried, if not the best: 7


Glenturret 25yo 1965-1991 52.4% Cadenhead's Original Collection

I've never felt so much anticipation before trying a Glenturret ever before, I don't know why, maybe it has to do with it being produced almost half a century ago and bottled at CS, which is rarer with whiskies from back then. Nowadays it seems CS is the new 40%abv. The color is light golden, an it carries some cask sediments. It smells burnt, sweet, marzipan, vanilla, burnt sugar, becomes lighter after some breathing, heather, parmesan and dried herbs. The taste is peppery, light, heather, lentils, yoghurt, or more like soured milk actually. Water added. Now it gets a bit more recognizable for this distillery, even if that means just plain peppery and spirity in this case.

Don't add water, rather just have it in very small sips: 3


Dalmore/Auld Lang Syne 18yo 1976-1994 62.3% The Whisky Connoisseur

So, if this is the whisky which is sold in biggest quantity or thats sold for most money in the duty free shops I'm not sure, maybe its both. Richard Patterson nose his work. I've never tried Dalmore at this high strength before, and never from a single bourbon cask. The color is golden. It smells rich, mustard, creamy, spices, red bell peppers, saffron, cumin, sweat, grits. The taste is drying and peppery, mustard, salty, batter, crusted nuts. With water it becomes earthy, complex, root veggies, raw onions, garlic, a style I know many would like, not me unfortunately, so I recommend drinking it neat, in neat proportions.

When neat: 7



Next tasting: Deanston Distillery