Tasting one Glenallachie (Ha!..consistency)

So, no grain galore today, and for once, a one-whisky tasting on maltdiary.com. Why? Well, its come to that point that I've tasted most distilleries in Scotland more than a dozen times, and I've come to grip with the fact that some whiskies in fact are better (imho) than others, so therefore there will probably not be anothe lineup with 6 Knockdhus, Loch Lomonds or Mannochmores anytime soon. But more whiskies that are available in bigger number and of better quality, in my opinion. But fear not, there will of course be room for a tasting of Mannochmore, Tormore and such in between the Bowmores, Glenlivets and Springbanks.









Glenallachie 18yo 1976-1995 43% The Castle Collection cask#6236

Golden color, I haven't seen this series for awhile, is it still being produced? It smells of honey, oak and pepper, quite nice, surely a good bourbon cask here. Also some beetroot and mustard. The taste is sweet and perfumy, soda water and soap. This is not a very pleasant version of Glenallachie, not that I've run into an awful lot of them.
The finish is short and peppery. Water helps little but dilute some of the soapy flavor.

Certainly a rarity, and with good reason I think: 2.5



Next tasting: Grain Galore

tasting 7 Glendronachs

So, Glendronach, it should be a very sherry-driven tasting or what? Included in the line-up is the four miniatures from 8-18yo, available in a miniature package in Norway these days, unfortunately the 21yo didn't make it...I think I've set them up against some fair competition from different IB's.


Glendronach 13yo 1990-2003 46% Murray McDavid cask#579

From a bourbon cask. The color is pale and turns cloudy immediately when its poured. It smells of wheat and oak, mashed potatoes and hay, very light. There's a small evaporation in this mini bottle. The taste is of rhubarb, vanilla, sour leaves, apricot jam, honey. The finish is quite sour and bitter, following the initial rhubarb sensation. Its far from unpleasant, just very far from that sherry-flavored Glendronach profile we've learned to love.

A nice, or great if you'd like, twist on Glendronach: 7.5


Glendronach 8yo 46% OB Octarine

A bold move to try adding an 8yo to what else is a very good OB range by todays standard. The first one in the recent standard OB selection in todays tasting.At only 8yo, how much will it have developed? Enough? The color is nicely bronzed. It smells of cloves, coriander, cinnamon, orange zest, salt, stout, lentils, asparagus. The taste is of heather, peat, honey and black peppers, its young age shines through with some spirity and raw notes, and the oakiness suggests the whisky comes from mainly small casks. Some sweet sultanas and raisins too.

A very nice youngster, though a bit raw: 6


Glendronach 12yo 43% OB Original

A bit lower strength than the other OBs. Paler color than the 8yo, light bronze. It smells of toffee, cocoa powder, honey, sherry, less peaty notes this time. It reminds me a bit of the 12yo HP OB actually. The taste is of honey, camphor, sulphur, cointreau, subtle, sweet orange flavors, butterscotch, caramel. For someone that's new to whisky this would be a convincing dram, and to me, its one that will never disappoint me.

Great everyday dram, one of the best out there: 7


Glendronach 15yo 46% OB Revival

This one is 100% sherry matured. I've tried it once, a couple of years back, in 2009 I think, so maybe a couple of batches back then. Bronze/redish hue. It smells of dry sherri, fino or amontillado, figs, dates, cured ham, dry cheeses, leather, tobacco, definitively a heavy sherry influence in this one. The taste is of leather, oak, sulphur, acetone, pistachio, strong, like the end of a cuban. Just barely numbing my tongue. I'd just say it right now, I think this is one of the best, if not the best, quality contra price whiskies out there at the moment.

An old style sherried one, these are getting scarcer by the minute: 8


Glendronach 18yo 46% OB Allardice

The 18yo, the oldest Ob in this session, but remember, there's also a great 21yo OB out there. A light red-ish color on this one. I'd expect there's quite some sherry casks in the v at here as well. It smells of petroleum oil, amontillado sherry, cinnamon, onion powder, stout, not as typical of a Glendronach as the last three I think. The taste is leather, chewing tobacco, malt syrup, porter beer, balsamic vinegar, dates, figs, some chemical notes. The finish is on mushrooms, more vinegar, some bitter oaky notes and a hint of gingerbread.

Its a good whisky, but please choose the revival instead: 6


Glendronach 14yo 54.3% Cadenhead's

Another IB, another one without that red hue that might suggest time in a sherry cask. Let's hope this is just as good, or even better than the one from MM. The color is golden. it smells of barley, wheat, sour dough, orange zest, coriander, leeches, cloves, turmeric, ginseng, much round and gentle flavors if you know what I mean. Not a very expressive malt thus far. The taste is of bittersweet, white grapes and white wine, sort of the same thing? I've never gotten white wine flavors in a whisky quite like this before. A real zesty, sour/dry riesling taste, amazing! Furthermore there's some aniseed, vanilla and peat.

Granted you like white wine, this is a great whisky: 7.5


Glendronach 9yo 2002-2012 55.5% OB Cask in a Van IV

A new try for the van, the fourth edition today, I remember the first one was a bit of a disappointment in my book. "Cask in a Van" means they've driven a van which had a cask in the trunk, around in europe for some time, correct me if I'm wrong. A bit like the Linie Aqua Vitae who's been traveling the world on a ship prior to bottling. The distances apart, but you catch my drift. This one comes from a sherry puncheon,and again its a youngster who's been on its first road trip. Brown color on this one. It smells of resinous sherry, vegetable stock, salt, rubber, dry, wool, ammonium. I'd have to say this is not far from some less sweet batches of Aberlour A'bunadh. The taste is on leeches, pickled anchovies, green peppers, dry, leather, I think it needs some water. Now it turns sweeter, zesty, lemon, gin, dried fruits, quite boring, despite being a bit weird at first, I now prefer it without water.

I still like the "Cask in a Warehouse" versions a bit better: 4



Next tasting: Grain Galore

Tasting 4 Bladnochs

A couple more Bladnochs, affordable, available and much to my liking usually. I think there are still, thankfully, some whiskies that fits most budgets out there without being sub-standard in quality. Dailuaine, Ardmore and Glendronach being other examples. Oh, and while I said I wasn't going to mention what my next tasting will be anymore, that caused a bit of a stirr, and I got five e-mails requesting me to continue doing that. So I wll, but how trustworthy they'll be I cannot say.



Bladnoch 11yo 1984-1995 40% OB for The Dram Good Whisky Co. Ltd.

To be honest I've never heard of the Dram Good Whisky Company before, but lets hope they've had the skills to choose some good whiskies to represent them. The color is white wine. It smells of heather, honey, marzipan, nutty, sweet and light. Typical Bladnoch, not the greatest complexity, but perfectly clean and fresh. The taste is of honey, grassy, floral notes with a peaty finish. I'll just add some water to see if that opens it more up. Now it turns more sweet, phenolic, grassier, bitter, herbal liqueur, one to avoid I'm afraid..

The nose was promising, the rest fell dead quickly: 3


Bladnoch 10yo 1984-1994 43% Master of Malt cask#20086,20087

As it seems to me, if a numbered cask bottling is diluted down to 40 or 43%abv. There's usually a good reason for it, and that can be that they consider it a better whisky at lower strenbth, or just trying to push out most profit from some sub-standard casks. Lets see with this one. Same pale white wine color. It smells of sour and bitter notes, rhubarb, phenols, oaky, grassy, peaty, wet hay, burnt. The taste is of lemon rind, limonade, sweet lemon drops, brown sugar, parsnip, onions, fried cale, balsamic vinegar. Far better than the DGW of same wintage, how can that be?

Rich lowland style: 6.5


Bladnoch 20yo 1990-2010 51.8% OB cask#30491

From an bourbon barrel, should be quite a treat if its not too oaky, I mean, mr. Armstrong certainly knew how to pick a good cask, just look at the Bladnoch Forum Bottlings. Golden color. It smells of mint leaves, orange zest, ginger, onions, grainy, oat meal, very mundane, not much going on here. Not oaky at all actually. The taste is sweet, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, ginger, bitter, wheat ale, not bad, but quite tame. I like the zesty citrus notes on the palate, but the finish is kinda short and uninteresting, some peppery and herbal notes perhaps.

No distillery character, not for Bladnoch fans, but for any other whisky fan: 6


Bladnoch 12yo 56.8% The Birds of Britain, The Capercaillie

I have no idea who produces this series, but it sure looks like something that could come from Signatory. The color is dark amber. It smells of leather, spices, turmeric, red bell peppers, herbal, thyme, rosemary, ginger, turmeric, grassy, onions, wheat brew, canned tomatoes, very rustic in a way. The taste is sweet, sweet licorice, ginger, spices, caramel, caramelized onions, honey, creamy, thick, almost sugary and sulphury at once. Great expression of Bladnoch. The finish is on black pepper and honey. I'm pretty sure this concentrated malt comes from a stupendous bourbon cask.

All the best of Bladnoch in one glass, I wish I had a full bottle: 8.5



Next tasting: Glendronach Distillery

Kilchoman tasting with John MacLellan

Thursday 25th of October, Denmark, at Hotel Eyde in the centre of the main street Bredgade, in the city of Herning, on behalf of Offie Uhrskov Vine, an evening with John MacLellan was held. I joined the danes for a whisky tasting with the Distillery Manager of the year, according to The Whisky Magazine, and of course the tastings were all great and all Kilchomans. It seems theres a special connection between Denmark and Kilchoman Distillery as there's always a lot of single cask bottlings for Denmark surfacing around in wine shop in this flat and small country. And when I was approached to join this tasting for 50 quid, which included 8 drams, one full bottle of Kilchoman to take home and 4 hours listening to the informative and entertaining John MacLellan, I knew I couldn't let that chance slip. Jens from danish whisky importer FC Whisky was also present and shared a bit of the reasons and ideas behind forming a relationship with one of the youngest distilleries in Scotland.

The ones about to be tasted, the three red boxes are especially bottled for Denmark and imported by FC Whisky. The black one is a sherried edition, and the blue ones are the standards most of us know well by now, I presume.

A lot of danes had turned up, and the room was absolutely packed.

John MacLellan, talking about the principal of the 100% Islay Inaugural releases.

John MacLellan with the two sons of the Uhrskov Vine store-owner, Ulrik if I remember correctly, whom had created this successful tasting and surely put in a more than decent amount of work to it.

Distillery Manager of the Year 2012, John MacLellan, together with Norwegian of the Evening, Jonas. You can see by the way I'm holding my glass that I've just tried all those 8 whiskies :-).

And this was the whiskies we tried. I must apologize for not having all that sharp photos, but I didn't want to use the blitz in respect of other people at the tasting.









All in all I must say it was a great night, and definitively worth the trip for me, and as a bonus, we were able to purchase all of the whiskies at the tasting at very fair prices after the tasting was finished. Next tasting at Uhrskov will be with Adelphi in march or april 2013, also then in companionship with FC Whisky. Until then, if ever in Herning, be sure to drop by their shop in Bredgade 56.

Tasting 2 Glen Grants

No photo this time, as the ones I'm about to taste both comes from brown sample bottles, so it has little visual impact. I've always felt Glen Grant being a bit too light and easy, but there's rumors around about stupendous older bottlings, especially from G&M. Let's hope for a bit of an awakening with these two then.


Glen Grant 5yo 1980 40% OB

5yo, I remember Macduff, or Glen Deveron if you like, had some 5yo's as well back in the days. I purchased one of them, not my best money spent to be fair. Let's hope Glen Grants youngsters has matured a bit quicker. The color is like diluted white wine, almost blank. It smells of oak, raw, spirity, gasoline, paint thinner, white spirit, some hay and grassy notes. The taste is extremely sweet, aniseed liqueur, vanilla, coconut, tonic water, nice stuff, but its very obvious its bottled before its prime.

Sweet and light whisky: 5.5


Glen Grant 27yo 1980-2008 54% Bladnoch Forum cask#20291

Considering the strength and age, this whisky should be a fuller and have a bigger impact. But remember, they're the same vintages. Golden color. It smells oaky, bourbon notes, malty, vinegar, olives, oat meal, stout. A rich and wholesome malt it seems. The taste is sweet, aniseed again, not that far away from the 5yo actually, just less spirity and more oaky with vanilla and coconut again. I'll add some water now. Water helps it open up a bit on more peppery and vanilla notes. All in all its a rather one-dimensioned malt, with little or no finish. But if you're a dog after bourbon casks, this one sure could appeal to you.

Decent malt, sweet and light, needs water: 5.5



Next tasting: I'll stop doing this for a bit now as it seems I'm way too inconsistent in keeping my word...

tasting 3 Glen Gariochs

None of the Glen Garioch's I've tried so far has stood out, not necessarily because its a below average malt, but its a hard malt to taste. It has this sort of bitter earthy flavor, a lot like some younger Glenrothes, but I believe that within in its own right, it can be a great malt whisky.



Glen Garioch 18yo 1988-2007 52.8% Duncan Taylor cask#1557

All the whiskies in this session are about the same age and strength. I've had a couple CS OB's at same age, and they all were e bit MOTR. Let's hope the OB's cracked the code of Glen Garioch. This one has the color os dark golden. It smells of rich, sweet honey notes, minty, pistachio, salty, some burnt grass and apple vinegar. Peat? I know they used peat at Glen Garioch a couple of decades back, and I believe there's quite a bit in this one as well. The taste is burnt, leather, wool, burnt fabric, oaky, perfumy, raw onions, nothing to be desired for my taste.

One to please Glen Garioch fans, for me its still a bit raw and unrefined: 4


Glen Garioch 18yo 1993-2011 53% Cadenhead's

A very recent Cadenhead's bottling, I've mostly tried older ones. This comes from Sauternes casks, which is a sweet white wine, and I applaud the use of it in Glenmorangies Nectar D'Or. It did not work that well carrying Springbank I remember. The color is brown. It smells of Moscatel, peppery, spicy, fennels, muscat, caustic soda, sweet apples. The taste is very drying and sulphury, reminds me more of some extreme fino casked whisky. Hard to tell much more, some sour apples and fish stock maybe. With water it becomes sweeter, more peppery, thyme, basil leaves, but most of all bitter and raw. I'm not sure, but I've always had a bit of trouble with Glen Gariochs. Please do not take these scores too seriously, they are very colored by my own lack of appreciation for the bitter herbal style this whisky often offers.

I could not go higher on this one: 3


Glen Garioch/Caskieben 17yo 54.2% The Whisky Connoisseur

I love these miniatures from The Whisky Connoisseur which I must admit, if fairly priced, I often buy blind just to try look up the spirits origin online. Most times I'll be able to do so. The color on this one is dark golden/peach. It smells of rich honey, fennels, anise seeds, lots of bitter herbs. Give it some time and some sweet camphor, bananas and heather comes to mind. The taste is sweet, raw potato starch, herbs, bitter guava, grassy, rosemary, licorice, black pepper, definitively the easiest recogniceable flavors in this one, but not necessarily the most interesting.

This is a pleasant Glen Garioch, but if you love complexity, stay away: 4



Next tasting: Glendronach Distillery

Tasting 5 Blair Athols

Most of Blair Athols output goes into blends, mainly Bell's. There used to be an 12yo OB in the Flora & Fauna series, and in 2010 there were a high strength OB released. I'll be trying that one in this tasting. Other than that I don't think they've ever bottled a lot of single malt. Some whiskies from James MacArthur's and one Cadenhead's as well.



Blair Athol 18yo 1977-1995 50.4% James MacArthur's

Blair Athol at 18yo, a rich and fruity highlander? The color is dark golden. It smells of peat, honey, dry notes, ginger, white pepper, glue, burnt wood, oaky. The taste is wheat, lager ale, peppery, oaky, peat, gin, lemon rind, fresh sage, cumin. Its not a whisky for any one with a refined taste, this the ugly bulldog at the dog show. Water opens it up a bit on some acidic plastic notes, grainy. The finish reminds me of some very bad vodka. All in all not a very pleasant experience I'm afraid.

Just unbalanced and with one too many off-notes: 3.5


Blair Athol 17yo 1977-1994 53.1% James MacArthur's

Same vintage and almost same age, should I prepare myself for another burnt and oaky one? The color is golden. It smells of perfumy notes, tea, lime zest, paint thinner, once agin some weird stuff. The taste is sweet, cinnamon, light, peppery, oranges, creamy, pears, white grapes, a totally different whisky this time around. The finish is once again a bit strange with some fresh mint and lime.

Beautiful whisky, one with that fruity highland flair: 6


Blair Athol 14yo 1978-1992 53.1% James MacArthur's

Another Blair Athol from the 70's, third in a row. Seems most Blair Athols I've ever tasted was distilled and bottled some decades ago. Perhaps its time for IB's to take a new interest in this distillery? The color is dark golden. It smells of honey, lime rind, caramel, toffee, grape soda, white wine, bounty chocolate, coconut, rich, Mitchell's blend comes to mind. The taste is sweet, honeyed, peat, turnips, ashy, sooth, mustard, cigarette smoke, oaky, fragrant, carrot, juniper, grassy, fresh, thyme, mint, lingonberry vinegar. The finish is long and peppery.

Best so far, how I imagine some peated rum might taste like: 6.5


Blair Athol NAS 2010 55.8% OB

This one was sold exclusively at the distillery. The color is light golden brown. It smells of peat, there is no peat in Blair Athol, is there? Yet these that I've had so far all reminisces me of peat. It smells of butter, caramel, onions, corn stew, maize, very light whisky. The taste is all on licorice and leather, honey, balsamic, phenols, some tannins, the best palate so far, really a rich highlander. If this is the general output of modern Blair Athol casks, then its a shame they don't bottle more of.

My fav Blair Athol thus far perhaps: 7.5


Blair Athol 24yo 1966-1990 57.1% Cadenhead's

This is the oldest Blair Athol I've ever tasted, bottled no less than 22 years ago, and a 24 years of age then, one can only imagine what stories this small whisky could tell. Or maybe its just been stuck in a cask and then an attic for four decades. Noone will ever know. So this is the final end of its journey... The color is golden. It smells of honey, strawberries, prunes, jam, oranges, tea, rich, raisins, sherry, tangy, phenolic, great stuff. The taste is drying, fino sherry, oaky, resinous, hay, starch, wheat, dried mushrooms, a very dry whisky. Leather and cream, biscuits, salty, amazing in its own old style way. I wish they stated the cask type on this old Cadenhead's bottling, wonderful stuff!

Compare to modern whiskies, no.. wait, they can't compare: 8.5



Next tasting: Glen Garioch Distillery

Tasting 5 Glen Scotias

Glen Scotia was for a long time the only unpeated whisky in Campbeltown, but the likes of Glengyle from Kilkerran and Hazelburn from Springbank changed that some years ago. It was never truly appreciated as a single malt, and now it seems more of a curiosity. I know I've not always been to kind with it in my past reviews, let's see if that can change this time around.



Glen Scotia 15yo 1991-2006 43% Macphails Collection, Gordon & Macphail

Golden color. I so not know what differs this series from the Connoisseurs Choice as I've never found one significantly better than the other. Perhaps just a trick of the trade. It smells of polyester, honey, lacquer, earthy, varnish, old style with some off-notes. The taste is bitter, tangy, grassy, some iodine and salt, reminds me a bit of some young low strength Bowmores, surf, anyone? Very small amount of water added. Now it is still grassy, still that iodine, just not with salt. Almost like there's some peat along with varnish and rubber here. A tough whisky to follow. After some breathing it becomes more peppery and less varnish, seems a bit like a young Craigellachie. I'd say this is no bad whisky, but its certainly not for those who looks for luxury in whisky.

Interesting how it changes with time, worth trying if ever offered: 4


Glen Scotia 38yo 1972-2010 45.7% Malts of Scotland cask#1931

From a bourbon hogshead, remember, due to the extensive number of closures and different owners and workers, one might see a bit more of contrasts from Glen Scotia than some other distilleries when tasting vintages from different decades. Hazel color. It smells thick wheat porridge, salty ham, smoky, bacon, grilled mushrooms, peat(?), earthy, damp, dried herbs, tea shop, coffee beans, tobacco, nice one. The taste is smooth, leather, honey, salty, thyme, bacon crisps, wheat, toast. A bit unchallenging, but a lot of nice notes, maybe it needs a bit of water after all those years on wood? With a teaspoon of water it turns more grassy, moss, lighter and much simpler.

I'm rating this one with no added water: 7


Glen Scotia 20yo 1992-2012 51.9% Malts of Scotland cask#112031

From a sherry hogshead, which seems to be the cask favorite of MoS, I mean, I rarely see them bottle an octave, or even barrels are rare to come across from this IB. I think this is the only sherried version in this tasting. The color is honey brown. It smells strong sherry, cinnamon, coriander, salty, leeks, pickles, bread, garlic, anchovies, capers, heather. It tastes grassy, weeds, turnips, drying, mustard, vinegar, tarragon, leather, dry one. I guess I could have added some water to open it up, but I think its excellent when closed, a true sherry monster!

Another great MoS Glen Scotia, the start of a revival?: 7


Glen Scotia 21yo 1991-2012 54.5% Malts of Scotland cask#12009

From another bourbon hogshead, same vintage as the CC. I hope this one will have some more complexity. The color is deep golden/orange. It smells a bit spirity, peppery, some peaty notes, oaky, rich, iodine, lime rind, red onions, no I was wrong, not some peaty notes, but a lot of them! The taste is vanilla, banana, peppery, gin, toffee, very sweet, custard all the way. Peppery and short aftertaste. Even though a nice whisky, after the last two, this was a bit of a disappointment.

A lot of bourbon cask-influence, not much more I guess: 5.5


Glen Scotia 15yo 1979-1994 55.6% James MacArthur's

One from JMcA, I don't think there's a distillery their yet to bottle an affordable version of. The color is white wine. It smells of pepper and some spirity notes, not wildly amusing yet. 5 minutes went by. Now it smells of more spirit and herbs, herbal liqueur is the only thing I get from this one right now. The taste is sweet, caramel, dark chocolate, soy, bitterschnaps, limonade, peppery, rustic, some leather notes, salty, a great palate to make up for a rather boring nose. To be fair, once again, its the best whisky in this session, but just by the smallest of margins.

It barely beats the 38yo because of its complexity: 7.5



Next tasting: Blair Athol Distillery

Old and older vs. Young and strong Strathmill

Once again, no Blair Athol today, I'm sorry for the untrustworthiness of this site. The story is that when getting home from work in the early night hours tonight, I checked my e-mail and discovered I'm getting offered a new, exciting and improved job! And, because it is the early hours of night, I'll celebrate with a smaller portion of something not only just as new, but also exciting to me. Let's make a final judgement on it later to see if there's improvement as well. Strathmill Distillery! I've had a bunch of older Strathmills before, I think it was 4x30-something year olds, but they lacked a bit of spice, or life if you like. Two new oldies in this one, but if they don't prove up to par there's a young CS JMcA at well over 60%abv that perhaps can bring something new to the table.



Strathmill 37yo 1974-2011 44.4% The Nectar of the Daily Dram

I believe this is rumoured to be one of the better Strathmills out there, at least today that is, remember, although never spoken much of, its still been around for over a century. The Nectar... seems to be an IB that's fairly priced yet emphasizes on bottling older whisky. Let's hope its mellowed with style rather than being an over-oaked monster. The color is golden. It smell spearmint and honey, grassy, marjoram, wool, peppery, herbal, citrus, sherried, older HP's comes to mind, cinnamon, oil, just a perfect nose, can't say a bad word about it. After 37 years, one would might expect so... The taste is stearic, junipers, honey, grassy, weeds, needs some water. Now theres marzipan, caramel, almonds, earthy notes, steam damp, raw mushrooms, well, I'll tell you one thing, the nose seems much older than the palate, but all in all I can agree its one of the best, if not the best, Strathmill I've ever had.

Fancy sherry or peat? Stay away from this. A maltfan? Try this one!: 7


Strathmill 31yo 1976-2008 44.8% Adelphi cask#1126

I know 1976 was a good year (Quality of spirit concerned) in particular for many scotch distilleries, why I have no idea as the downfall of scotch whisky reached its climax just 7 years later. Adelphi is a bit of a pricy IB, but they have some stupendous sherry casks once in a while, absolutely worth having a go at if you can afford it. Same color as the 1974. It smells of restrained honey and glue, not much in this whisky, maybe it needs some time. About 15 minutes later it turns more acidic, dusty, washcloth, linens, silk, I do not get much from this. The taste is sweet and rich, sweet licorice, mint, dark berries, leather, varnish, reminds me a bit of Allt-á-Bhainne, but the licorice are a bit more mundane. Adding water does not help, but its a fun whisky which again seems younger than it really is. But no oaky notes!

I can't differ them scorewise, but that don't mean they're similar: 7


Strathmill 11yo 1992-2003 64.2% James MacArthur's cask#10907

JMcA also bottled cask#10908 one year later, I don't know what that could mean in this context. Young, high strength, should be a great break from those older Strathmills I'm used to. The color is golden, becomes hazy very quickly. It smells wheat, hay, spirity, onions, herbal, thyme, wool, seems a very natural whisky. The taste is heather, peppery, spices, chili, cayenne, onions, cinnamon, oregano, basil, very nice! Banana skin and black pepper. This is right in my alley when it comes to malt, dangerous and peculiar, rich and powerful, a great whisky.

My fav Strathmill so far: 8



Next tasting: Glen Scotia Distillery

Tasting 4 Allt-á-Bhainnes from James MacArthur's

Allt-á-Bhainne is a fairly new distillery, opened in 1975, but has already been mothballed once in its young lifetime. It is foremost a working horse for Chivas' blends and nearly all of its output goes into blending. Not many IB's shows a great interest for Allt-á-Bhainne either, but they James MacArthur's have had a few, and all in this session derives from them. So, I'm not tasting only one single distillery in this session, but also one single IB. Personally I think Allt-á-Bhainne can be great and I've had one or two of real excellence. Please notice that the whiskies in this session although all young, represents two decades of distillation.



Allt-á-Bhainne 12yo 1981-1993 43% James MacArthur's Fine Malt Selection

The only one below 50%abv in this session. I think this should be interesting as since there are no OB's from Allt-á-Bhainne, most of them are bottled at CS, and I believe this is my second only ever diluted Allt-á-Bhainne. Nice golden color. It smells light, blend, vodka, salmi, frying oil, laurels, grassy, onions, rubber, spirity. The taste is light, white wine, wheat pastry, coconut, apple, sweet and light stuff.

Aperitif whisky: 4.5


Allt-á-Bhainne 12yo 1981-1993 57.9% James MacArthur's Fine malt Selection

Rather a big jump from 43%abv, but same vintage, let's hope for a bit more punch in this one. The color is pale straw. It smells oaky, coal, lamp oil, spirity, ammonium, chlorine, strange and quite raw. The taste is bitter, potato starch, rubber, salmon, butter, egg yolk (liquid substance), some bitter notes of weed and perfume.

Short notes for a kinda short whisky: 4.5


Allt-á-Bhainne 11yo 1996-2007 56.9% James MacArthur's Old Master's

A more modern version perhaps? Matt golden hue. It smells strong, peppery, chili, bitter, kräuterlikör, licorice, drying, a much more pungent spirit, much to my liking so far. The taste is sweet, honey, coconut, strawberries, elderflowers, syrup, sweet'n'sour sauce, mango, bananas, gingerbread, walnuts, almonds. The taste is leather, tobacco, licorice, dark chocolate, bitterschnapps, jägermeister, great stuff. I have never tried another whisky with such excellent licorice taste. For that alone it's worth 7+. The finish salty and minty, and kinda short. A great sherried whisky is my guess!

Great whisky, but very unusual: 8.5


Allt-á-Bhainne 10yo 1995-2006 58.9% James MacArthur's Old Master's

Last one was a great surprise in this session. The color is white wine. It smells peppery, spirity, oaky, lacquer, ginger, onions. The taste is peppery, licorice, honey, ginger, cigars, leather, sweet, kräuterlikör, wonderful again! I'd say this whisky is very consistent as long as you try same or neighboring vintages. Giving this another score than the 11yo would be like splitting hairs.

Once again a great and unusual whisky, bitter licorice: 8.5



Next tasting: Blair Athol Distillery

Tasting 5 NDS Speysiders, some of the from Glenfarclas?

NDS? No Distillery Statement... All of these are IB's from The Master of Malt. If anyone has any information from which distillery these single malts are from, I'd love to hear it. I'm pretty sure one of them is a Glenfarclas.






Premier Select 11yo 43% Master of Malt Speyside Single Malt

There's 3 Premier Select bottles in this session, they may not even come from the same distillery, but lets try and see if there's similarities enough to make such assumption. The color on this one is light golden. It smells of wheat, white pepper, cream, biscuits, gin, apple juice, reminds me much of gin on the nose, not too pleasant, perhaps I'll save a sip and add some tonic later...Gets more austere and peppery after awhile. The taste is light, pleasant, rum, biscuits, honey glaze, ginger, white wine, fresh, sugar peas and grapefruit, nice one. If I were to guess, this one reminds me a bit of a young Glendullan.

A good whisky, better on the palate than on the nose however: 6


Blairfindy 15yo 43% Master of Malt

The label states it comes from a family owned distillery, so I guess that more than hints to be a Glenfarclas. From a sherry cask. The color is deep red/orange. It smells of heavy sherry, drying, phenolic, peppery, chillies, grassy, minty, minerals, oaky, dark chocolate. The taste is burnt, phenolic, dry, needs water. With a small addition of water and a lot of breathing it becomes burnt, peppery, drying, phenolic, grassy, not that full and rich Glenfarclas profile in this one, but it has a lot of sherry notes.

If this was at higher strength, I think it could be a winner: 4


Premier Select 21yo 46% Master of Malt Speyside Single Malt

10 years older, a bit stronger, should be a great whisky if the 11yo is to go by. Dark orange/brown color. It smells of cinnamon, black pepper, red bell peppers, sweet, sun-dried tomatoes, dried fruits, phenolic, ginger. Quite a sherry treat. The taste is sweet, rich, cinnamon, dark grapes, dark berries, cherries. The finish is all on black pepper, licorice, heather, gingerbread and honey. Water makes it a bit sweeter and more honeyed, even some stewed, caramelized onions.

Simply a great whisky, could very well be a Glenfarclas: 7


Premier Select 11yo 58.6% Master of Malt Speyside Single Malt

This one is bottled at cask strength. If it is the same quality as the 11yo 43%, I'll think this could be an absolute winner in my book. The color is golden. It smells of heavy spirit and spices, a certain bitterness, krauterlikör. The taste is drying, herbal, yeasty, dry, a bit like fino sherry, licorice, cinnamon, orange zest, definitively from another sherry cask, and it has some similarities to the 21yo Glenfarclas to be honest.

Nice whisky, at this age and price its an absolute scoop: 6


Select Cask 12yo 1980-1993 58.6% The Master of Malt cask#10665

A CS at the same strength as the Premier Select CS. One year older though. Let's hope this was the superior predecessor of the current Premier Select CS. A bit dirty is this one, quite some cask sediments. The color is golden brown. It smells hot, peppery, chillies, honey, smoked, not peaty, just that old cigar stench, sweet, onions, sugary, syrup. Great! The taste is peppery, olive oil, whipped cream, dry licorice, peaty(!), honey, onions, sherried, I'd say this sure could be a Glenfarclas, smooth and creamy sherry notes. I must say this is one of the best bottlings I've had from Master of Malt.

Great stuff, sherry monster with some peat: 7.5



Next tasting: Allt-á-Bhainne Distillery

Tasting 4 Royal Brackla's, postponing Blair Athol

Instead of Blair Athol I'll have some Royal Brackla tonight. I got that idea when watching the movie The Angels Share earlier today. And at a tasting in the movie, held by Rory MacAllister, they tasted 4 whiskies. So 4 Royal Bracklas instead of 5 Blair Athols then. Am I a brilliant genius or what?!? ;-)



Royal Brackla 25yo 1974-1999 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail

The oldest one in this session. Bottled back when the CC-series was at 40%abv, nowadays its up at 46%abv. Dark golden color, caramel added as well? It smells fruity, tropical fruits, kiwi, melons, hay, oaky, smoky, grainy, musty, rustic notes and also some metallic notes. The taste is light, sweet, bitter, waxy, honey, mineral and metallic, fish oil, fresh, mint leaves and heather. I must say I'm impressed, one of the better late 40%abv bottlings in the CC-series, I usually find the diamonds in older bottled rough from G&M.

If you want to try a great Royal Brackla, why not this one: 7.5


Royal Brackla 13yo 1991-2004 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail

So, a much younger from same series, but bottled with higher strength. I know comparing these two might not be fair as one is almost twice as old as the other, but if my instincts are right, going from 40% to 46%abv could make up for just that. Golden color. It smells peppery, dark berries, herbal, onions, fresh, thyme, mint leaves, grassy. Light whisky, but the initial peppery notes vanishes very quickly. The taste is red wine, drying, wool, vodka, this one calls for some water. Now it turns sweeter, lighter, musty, old rug, leather, now it has gone all weird.

Unchallenging, undemanding and uninteresting, this should go to blending: 3


Royal Brackla 11yo 1992-2004 58.8% Cadenhead's

Almost same age and vintage as the 13yo, hopefully will excel on being bottled at CS. The color is golden. It smells of gunpowder, ammonium, peppermints, salmi, cough drops, halls lozenges, very fresh if you ask me. The taste is sweet and peppery, creamy, cashew nuts, grassy, banana leaves, orange zest, marshmallows. Sweet and light! The finish is long and peppery. Water makes this one even more peppery!

Fun stuff, but seems Royal Brackla needs some age to really be on top: 5


Royal Brackla 12yo 64.5% James MacArthur's

From the Fine Malt Selection range. Many good ones have come from that. I have the opinion that if one can easily address the company's quality evaluation of a whisky in what series its bottled in, such as with Signatory, Duncan Taylor, Douglas Laing and many other, one loses the fun in finding a good bottle. What I like about J McA, Murray McDavid, G&m (to a certain point, and maybe some others is that one can find great whisky at low prices as long as one is aware of cask references and vintages. "You get what you pay for" seems to be a term that is used widely in wine industry, but now seems to be just as real on the whisky market. But I have no idea what this thunderous whisky at 64.5% will be like. Golden color. It smells spirity, peppery, mostly spirity actually. For fun I'll try this one bare, but I'm afraid it'll somehow ruin my tastebuds for awhile. The taste is burnt, spirity, licorice, lime zest, needs some water as its now more spirity than what I imagined. With water it becomes lighter, bitter, more orange zest and lemon zest. Very bitter stuff, a whisky that really needs a lot of work to be worth its while.

Too spirity, burnt and bitter: 3



Next tasting: Glenfarclas Distillery (Possibly Glenfarclas Distillery)

Mixed distillery tasting

Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, GlenGarioch, Tamnavulin & Tomatin. Not distilleries I encounter too often anymore, so why not do a mixed tasting with one of each of them.








Dalmore 12yo 40% OB Pure Malt

Bottled by Whyte & Mackay. I'm assuming this whisky was bottled back in the 80's sometime because of the "Pure Malt" statement. Don't be confused, its still a single malt from Dalmore Distillery. Small evaporation in this miniature. Golden/hazel color. It smells of leather, ammonium, chalkdust, gasoline, wax, engine oil, quite a beast actually. The taste is sweet, cinnamon, nutty, honey, almonds, caramel, candle wax, gingerbread, fantastic!

A velvet whisky if I should be so pompous: 8


Tomatin 12yo 40% OB

This one is "finished in spanish sherry casks". The color is deep mahogany. It smells honey, wheat, perfumy, a bit burnt, old textiles and pistachio. The taste is sweet and fresh, rosé wine, leeks, fruit syrup, green tea, lavender, sweet red berries. There's a very short, but pleasant peppery finish.

Easy, light and undemanding aperitif style whisky: 5


Tamnavulin 18yo 1990-2008 43% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail

Tamnavulin is now under ownership of indian Dr Mallya since buying Whyte & Mackay back in 2007. So, when their new whisky is coming together after the re-opening, I unfortunately see very little, if any of it, coming to Norway. Not much Tamnavulin to be found anywhere these days, but I recommend trying one from one of the finer IB ranges if you can find it. The color is golden. It smells austere, spirity notes, some oakand apple juice, but its very boring to be honest. No fruitiness, no sweetness, no maltiness, no heat, seems almost like a vodka. After a while it gets a bit more heat, some oak and cinnamon, but all in all this was somewhat disappointing.

An alternative to cheap white wines?: 3


Dalwhinnie 27yo 1966-1993 45.5% Cadenhead's

At this age, I hope Dalwhinnie, which is a very light whisky, will not be all dominated by the oak. The color is golden. It smells rice wine, sake, very perfumy, raw onions, orange zest, spirity, bourbon wood. The taste is sweet, vanilla, sweet licorice, marzipan, floral, linseed oil, just perfect! Orange liqueur and honey is also present. The finish is fried pears and black pepper. But the best thing is, its so thick its almost a dessert on its own.

Superb! Best Dalwhinnie so far in my book: 9


Glen Garioch 18yo 1988-2007 52.8% Duncan Taylor cask#1557

I visited Glen Garioch back in 2010, interesting stuff, what fascinated me the most was that all the tastings I got while there had the same peppery and dusty old style. Golden color. It smells grassy, ginger, soapy, old books, peat, wax, tin foil, kind of pleasant. The taste is burnt, chopped onions, oaky, licorice, juniper berries, cigars, smoky. The finish is herbal, oregano, basil, juniper again and some thyme.

A refined Glen Garioch: 6.5



Next tasting: Blair Athol Distillery

Tasting 6 Arrans

Fairly new distillery Arran, or Lochranza as its named, is a new shining star on the scene of scotch single malts. Time to try some of these whiskies from the isle of Arran. Remember, this distillery is only 17 years old.





Arran 10yo 1995-2005 46% OB 10th anniversary.

Golden amber color on this one. What I like about the new distilleries popping up in Scotland these days, are that many of them seems very interested in making good single malt whisky as to being just a workhouse for some blended brand. It smells sweet, cinnamon, caramel, dark chocolate, honey, when given time, about 3-5 minutes of breathing, most of these nice notes disappears and it gets a bit dull. The taste is light, dark chocolate, honey, caramel, pretty rich and intense sweetness. Subtle flavors of hay, pickles and aniseed in the finish.

A worthy celebrator of 10 years: 6


Arran 15yo 1995-2011 52% OB Arran Open Day

A bit like Ardbeg day I presume, just on another Island. Dark amber color. It smells peppery, flinty, moss, wet grass, forest (?). After a while there's more leather, more flinty, even some smoked paprika. The taste is fresh, peaty, meaty, barbecue sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, cheddar. With some added water it turns sweeter, more caramel, oloroso sherry, milk chocolate, strawberries, nougat.

Nice and unusual Arran, Rich, sweet non-coastal: 6


Lochranza 15yo 1996-2011 52.4% Blackadder Raw Caskcask#1599 btl.403/548

I remember another Lochranza from the same series a few years back, tasted in the dirties little pub in danish shipping port town Hirtshals, that one was nothing short of amazing. This one has been matured in a puncheon, which usually holds sherry, or other wine. The color is golden. It smells of flinty and metallic notes, dry hay, wheat, black pepper, briny, seaweed, salty, licorice, peppermint, sweet'n'tangy notes. The taste is honey, toffee, syrup, extremely sweet and fragrant. Also some dill, honey, mustard and onions. This is great stuff. The finish is on cranberries, pears, peaches, all fruity and good.

A mineral fruitbomb of another world: 8.5


Arran 11yo 1999-2011 56.6% ON cask#47

Arran has this series, called the ABC-series(Arran-bourbon-cask), which consists of CS-bottled single casked Arrans from Bourbon cask. They've proven to be quite a hit in Norway. Time to try a few for myself. The color is white wine. It smells peppery, mashed potatoes, caraway seeds, vinegar, brown sauce, plum spirit. The taste is of vanilla, meringue, honey, nessels, onions, caramel, peppery. The finish is raw and austere.

A good cask, but could benefit from later bottling, still a bit raw: 4


Arran 11yo 1999-2011 57.4% OB cask#46

A neighboring cask, or sister cask if you like, at a higher strength. Let's hope for a bit more "funk" from the aromas this time. Same white wine color. It smells of macadamia nuts, almonds, latex, rubbery, bitter leaves, hash browns, smoked ham, curry, garam masala, garlic. The taste is of vanilla, black pepper, honey, toffee, maize, grain, just a bit too sweet and light for me.

Evidently I'm not an ABC-guy: 4.5


Arran 11yo 1999-2010 57.7% OB cask#48

I must tell you that all the ABC-casks in this tasting distilled at the same date. Same golden pale color. It smells of bourbon notes, dry sweet oaky notes, cloves, garlic, sour cream, leather, old fabric, a weird one. It tastes very spirity, some cotton, papery, cardboard. This being the youngest of the ABC bunch seconds my first notion that this whisky maybe needs a couple years more in the cask to fully develop. Can't wait to try the standard 14yo.

Seems even younger than 11yo imho: 3



Next tasting: Mixed session including fantastic Dalwhinnie

Ending the peaty tour with 6 Laphroaigs

Going on with my favorite Islay distillery, Laphroaig. I fin great pleasure in those high strength young Laphroaigs at about 10yo and 60%abv. Lets instead have a few older ones in this session, and at lower strength. And the recent PX-finished OB is also under the telescope.


Laphroaig NAS 48% OB PX

PX stands for Pedro Ximenez, which is a sweet sherry. The combination of peat and sherry sure isn't for everyone. I've tried bot good and bad. I do not know how long this will be on the market considering that sherry casks usually are expensive. The color is amber. It smells of sherry, mushrooms, stilton cheese, mustard, flinty, raw, once again it seems the peat and sherry battling a bit and as a result the whisky becomes a bot hard to follow. The taste is sweet, perfumy, blood oranges and grapefruit before it becomes more vile. Peat, mint, peppermint, corn, floral, not much Laphroaig character, but it reminds me a bit of the Bowmore Dawn actually.

Better than the QC and 10yo imho: 6


Laphroaig 17yo 1993-2010 48.2% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#6630

From a refill hogshead. If OMC-bottlings are under 50%abv, that means they're always bottled at CS, so in a way, low strength could be good news when it comes to this series. Pale white wine color. I know DL made their reputation on some old sherry casks, but I think there are some great bourbon casks in the OMC-series as well. It smells of canned peaches and marshmallows, fruity for a Laphroaig. It's peaty and fruity, a bit like Caol Ila? The taste is vanilla and peat, some hints of banana and sugar syrup. All in all its the least demanding and least complex Laphroaig I've ever tried.

Fruity, sweet Laphroaig: 4


Laphroaig 22yo 1988-2010 49.6% Creative Whisky Company Anniversary Bottling cask#8301

I've not tasted much from the Creative Whisky Company, but I did buy a Glengoyne CS from then a couple years back, not bad stuff! Another one that carries a strength under 50%abv even though being bottled at CS. The color is lightamber. It smells of peat, iodine, camphor, medicinal, smoke, charcoal, big peat in this one. The taste is of camphor and vanilla, grainy, sesame seeds, bacon, smoked ham, sour cream, vaseline, smoked salmon. It ends on a short note with some oak, grains and bitterness.

Good Laphroaig, just a bit too tamed I think: 7


Laphroaig 20yo 1990-2010 52.8% Nectar of The Daily Dram

Another older Laphroaig with a bit of a low strength despite being bottled at CS. No, not really, at 20yo this is a good strength(!). The color is light golden. It smells of aubergine, pickles, acidic, peat, floral, vegetable stock, wax, butter, potato chips, deep fry, oily, clay, rotting tomatoes, peppery, aniseeds, cod liver. A bit of a tamed Laphroaig so far. The taste is burnt, licorice, peppermint, cloves, onions, plastic, acidic, futile, a lot of acidic notes, but not much else.

Futile is perhaps the right sum-up: 3.5


Laphroaig NAS 51.2% OB Cairdeas for Friends of Laphroaig

I guess Friends of Laphroaig is pretty much the same as The Ardbeg Committee, a club for hardcore fans. I'm not a member, even though I own one square foot of Islay:). A lot of gimmicks on Islay. Light golden color. It smells of peat, honey, salt water, rubber, ammonia, seaweed, smoked salmon, briny, sweat(!?!), grease, yarn, oily, gasoline, markers, a nice one. The taste is of vanilla, honey, leather, tea, floral, syrup, gin, very light but utmost pleasant young Laphroaig.

Friends with benefits...: 7


Laphroaig NAS 58.8% Lp1 Elements of Islay

Ending this session with a young and powerful Laphroaig (hopefully). This series is great as it focuses on one region only and tries to capture each distillery in it. Let's hope this one shows Laphroaig from its best side. The color is light golden. It smells of spirity and citric notes, a bit burnt, cough syrup, lime rind, not very pleasant, but short. The taste is sweet and peppery, some peat, some lavender some apricots, but all in all its peppery and spirity more than anything else. The initial flavors are good, plums, honey, melon, fruity, but the finish is just too dry and volatile for my palate. Hard to enjoy.

A bitter, peppery and a bi fruity Laphroaig: 3



Next tasting: Arran Distillery

More peat with 7 Ardbegs

Ardbeg seems to have become a bit style over substance, or matter, lately. With Gallileos, Alligators and such, telling us little or no more than the alcohol level in the spirit. Let's try two of these newer bottlings against some other young, more informative Ardbegs.




Ardbeg 12yo 1998-2010 46% Taste Still Selection cask#1796

This one is known as "Smells Like Teen spirit". A small tribute to Nirvana greatest hit, but also a hardly precise description of the drink itself. Same strength as the current 10yo OB. There are far between the "watered down" single casked Ardbegs these days as CS seems to be the trend. The color is golden. It smells sweet, nutty, gin, wax, styling gel, rubbery, plastic, a bit perfumy and salty. Hay, brine, some seaweed, becomes more coastal as air works its magic. The taste is peaty, sweet, nectarine, pineapple, pepper, oyster, cod liver, pea stew, lamb grease, cointreau. The finish ends on some red onions and carraway.

Perfect "almost teen" spirit: 8


Ardbeg 13yo 1991-2004 50% Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask cask#1565

From a refill hogshead. Pale golden color. It smells rich, mustard, curry, coriander, a lot of good spices. Musty and rustic. Turkish kitchen? The taste is sweet, caramel, onions, cinnamon, cardamum, stout, grape seeds, rum, chili, peppery. No peat? No Islay character? I've had one other Ardbeg from 1991, an I remember that as well being a bit of a categoric misfit, but I see nothing wrong with that as long as its still good whisky.

One to try if you get the chance: 7


Ardbeg NAS 2011 51.2% OB Alligator Committee Reserve

There is an Ardbeg Committee for which they bottle some very limited bottlings. A hardcore fan base if you like. I know Springbank has a similar thing going on. The color is deep golden. It smells light, mustard, herbal, boiled cauliflower, vegetable stock, wool, leather, ginger, lotus. More peat and dried fish after a while. Nice one, but a bit more mellow than the SLTS and OMC. The taste is sweet, honey, peppery, briny, peaty, vanilla, banana, pecan nuts. The finish is short and peppery.

Quite a bland Ardbeg to be honest: 5


Ardbeg 12yo 1998-2011 55.4% Nectar of the Daily Dram

The same vintage as the excellent SLTS. And from an IB that usually knows their stuff. The color is golden. It smells of cigars, mustard, herbal, grassy, peppery, peat, ioly, rubber, cinnamon, dried fruits, smoked mackerel. The taste is creamy, bisquits, acidic, salty, rhubarb, jello, orange juice, strawberry jam, another un-typical Ardbeg.

But nevertheless a good one: 6


Ardbeg 10yo 1998-2008 55.9% OB Renaissance

The renaissance was the final producct after 10 years of distillation after re-openingthe distillery. The also had younger versions along the way named "Very Young", "Still Young", "Almost There", all leading up to this renaissance. The color is light golden. It smells peaty, peppery, honey, minty, toffee, peppery, nuts, cream, almonds, butter, rich Ardbeg. The taste is spicy, fruity, orange zest, grape fruit, lime, coco-nut juice, banana leaves, tarragon, a bit drying, vanilla, kumquats, kiwi, very fruity for a young CS Ardbeg.

Maybe the modern Ardbegs will be of more fruity than coastal kind: 6


Ardbeg NAS 2012 56.7% OB Ardbeg Day Committee Bottling

Another one for our friends in the committee. 12,000 bottles this time. Must be quite a committee then. I have not yet celebrated the Ardbeg Day, but if it turns out to be a lasting annual celebration, I guess I'll be traveling to Islay soon enough. The color is golden. It smells wheat, peat, tarry, briny, iodine, fish stock, lemon rind, sweet lemon, like sprite or even some mojito. The taste is lemony, peppery, mint, cloves, hay, peat, sea salt, wheat brew, conditioned ale. The finish is warming and spicy.

A good reason to celebrate Ardbeg Day: 7


Ardbeg 10yo 1999-2010 58.6% OB cask#1924

This one comes from a bourbon barrel, The "FF" on the handwritten sample label I have no idea what stands for. The color is golden. It smells peaty, burnt chocolate, grainy, warming, sauna air, ocean breeze, coastal, sea salt, briny, leather, dates, figs, oaky, very nice the best nose so far. The taste is of mango chutney, black pepper, tarragon, peat, very short, some nutty aroma and lemon, but all in all this was a slight disappointment after many good whiskies in this session.

The nose was great though: 4.5



Next tasting: Laphroaig Distillery