Tobermory 15yo 1998-2013 62.2% Blackadder Raw Cask cask#800030

No Clynelish today. Its because today I got my first born son home from the hospital, and that was to be celebrated, now that he's well asleep, and the misses too. How to celebrate? With something made in Scotland and sold only in Denmark. As you see, this whisky was exclusively bottled for "Vin & Vin Hjørring" 36 btls. But I have another bottle strikingly similar, also of only 36 bottlings,  from the same cask, but exclusively bottled for "Skjold Brune Vinhandel Aalborg". So it seems there was a cask of Ledaig split between several wine shops in Denmark. That might sound a bit liberal, but then again, it scored 92p on average (this day) on www.whiskybase.com (Omg, that should so not count, well it doesn't, too me). From a sherry butt. The color is cinnamon orange. It smells sweet, peppery, rich, yet not creamy sherry, honey, beeswax, seaweed, salty, butter, dried garlic, reminds me a bit of a young Talisker, but it has a lot more depth, a mix of Talisker and Dailuaine? Maybe some Glenfarclas in the mix, quite rich, spicy and peaty! The taste is extremely peppery, ashtray, peat, smoke, bonfire, wow! The peat completely dominates the sherry, but some dry notes in the aftertaste leaves a lingering exit. Time to add some water. Now it goes more oaky, feinty, pine wood, citron, a bit earthy notes, just a bit off as the peat is severely restrained by the addition of water. The finish is (with water) herbal, peaty and peppery.

The nose is easily a 9.5, even a 10. The taste shows it should've stayed 5 more years on oak: 8



Next tasting: Clynelish Distillery

Kavalan NAS 57% OB Solist

I've had som Kavalans before, varying in quality, but never disappointing. This one was all matured in oloroso sherry casks if I'm not mistaken. The color is dark brown. It smells sweet, honeyed, plums, grenadine, raisins, figs, oloroso sherry, cinnamon, cumin, dark chocolate, malt syrup, sweet orange liqueur, perfectly decent sherried profile. I wonder where they source their casks? The taste is intense, raw oaky notes, oak zest(?), spirity, aniseeds, cumin, peppery, perfumy, I believe this requires some added water. Now it turns richer, more cinnamon and chillies, black pepper, tannic, spirity, reminds me more and more of some of the rawest Aberlour A'bunadhs that I've had. The finish is citric, lime peel and grenadine.

A must for sherry freaks, not so much for me, nevertheless I believe the MB achieved his goal: 7



Next tasting: Clynelish Distillery

Amrut NAS 61.9% OB 2007 Release

This is only the 4th batch of CS OB Vintage Amruts. And it is approximately 3yo. Since its another continent I do not know wether the 3 y.o rule for what can be called whisky applies. But then again, things mature more quickly in warmer climates (or something like that).  The color is golden brown/deep golden. It smells young, raw, spirity, ginger, wasabi, black pepper, sour dough, yeast, spirity. Now remember, this is both young and at a very high strength. Lets try it straight just for fun. The taste is syrupy, sugary, vanilla, fried bananas, immensely sweet. Some spirity notes and even some small hints of peat in the background, but most of all its a sweet soup. Lets add some water. Now it turns drier, wheat biscuits, ginger and rubber. Water will be out of the question next time I try this batch.

Decent stuff, influenced by heavily toasted bourbon wood, is my guess: 4.5



Next tasting: Kavalan Distillery

Caol Ila NAS 60.1% OB

Some sources say this is a 12yo, but since there's no such information stated on the bottle, I'll stick with the NAS. Young high strength Islayers are popular as ever before, the likes of Bruichladdich, Laphroaig, Ardbeg and Bowmore seems to be throwing themselves at every chance to deliver a young monster. And Kilchoman, though they have little other options these days. And the IB's are following too. Caol Ila on the other hand, and Lagavulin, seems to be a bit more careful...  This at 60.1% my be one of the more extreme Caol Ilas I've tried. The color is pale golden. It smells peaty, gasoline, burnt rubber, ashes, earthy, salty, vinegar. Stellar example of an Islay malt that's not been over-powered by peat in any sense. The taste is peppery, tarry, drying, peaty, a bit too raw and unfocused. Hard to distinguish one nuance from the other, a bit like a Jackson Pollock painting. Lets add a few drops of water. Now it turns sweeter, more vanilla, smoky, ashes, damp smoke, lemon peel. The finish is long and peppery.

A good classic style Caol Ila: 6.5



Next tasting: Amrut Distillery

Hjørring Rom & Whisky Festival 2013

This year I attended the Rum&Whisky festival in small danish city of Hjørring. I was at this festival last year as well, when it was held in Nørregade in Hjørring at the old Vin&Vin locals. Now that the shop has expanded and the range also, its relocated just north of the city on Frilandsvej. The owner is still Stig Risgaard, and he successfully created a great festival this year too. The festival focuses mainly on Scotch single malt whisky and rums, but also tequila, cognac, bourbon, japanese whisky, gin and other spirits. Approximately 200 people attended the festival in its 4 hours period. When talking to Stig, he told me that next year there will perhaps be a smaller event for a smaller ensemble of invited people instead of the open festival. If so, its about time to see what we might miss in 2014. Photos, here we go!

/ means it's one to try, X means its one to buy! Bernheim wheat whisky!

Some of the IBs on display, something for everyone.

It was supposed to be 2cl a coupon, well measured ;-)

Inside the tent, but with 20 degrees outside, most people enjoyed their drinks outside...

Some of the more exclusive stuff, 1975 Ardbeg for instance.

The shop, in case you ever wanna stop by, much recommended by myself.

Some guy got the idea of selling cars at the whisky festival. Let's hope they didn't drive them home that night...

Highland Park 11yo 2000-2011 58.2% Gordon & Macphail Cask cask#542,543,544

It seems to me, this often underrated series by G&M is on its way back to the shelves. Nothing would make me more happy. And finding the prices on HP CS sky-rocketing with their valhalla-series these days, this makes for a very affordable alternative. A mix of three refill bourbon barrels. The color is nutty golden. It smells iodine, coastal, salty, waxy, rich, perfumy, buttery, wheat, rich whisky. I'm suspecting a decent amount of peated barley has been used here. Remember, it varies at HP, or it could just be that it stands out a bit more due to the lack of sherried wood. The immediately releases a flow of sweet cinnamon and vanilla notes. Quite extreme in its own right. The middle is more sweet'n'sour, pineapple and mango. The finish is long and peppery. Although the nose was the star here, its a whisky for anyone who loves the HP profile.

Complex nose, sweet palate, peppery finish: 8



Next tasting: Caol Ila Distillery

Kornog NAS 58.7% OB Glann Ar Mor

Kornog is the peated whisky distilled at Glann Ar Mor distillery in France. Its gotten a lot of praise the last few years. The color is pale golden. It smells spirity, some malty notes, a bit of peat, some paint thinner and spirit markers. Some coastal aromas of salt and brine. The taste is phenolic, peaty, briny, brick dust, ashes, burnt oak. It seems to me a bit raw, a bit like some of those CS youngsters from Kilchoman that needed a year or two more on wood. Let's add some water. Now it turns a bit sweeter, more citric notes, lemons, unripe kiwis, peat, salty, fresh lime, briny, much easier to see the Islay reference often used to describe this whisky now, that its been diluted. The finish is briny, peaty and longlasting.

Water provides a welcomed twist to this youngster: 7



Next tasting: Highland Park Distillery