I was doing some whiskies at a busy bar on vacation recently and had a hard time finding an opportunity to write down notes. So here's some plain scores for you:
Braeval 8yo 46% Provenance Douglas Laing (6)
Imperial 11yo 1994-1995 53% Exclusive Malts (3.5)
Glenkinchie 20yo 55.1% OB (8.5)
mandag 25. oktober 2010
tirsdag 12. oktober 2010
3 Glen Speys tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glen Spey 31yo 1977-2009 55.8% Malts of Scotland cask#3656
Matured in a bourbon hogshead for 31 years, I'm wondering what will be the result as I usually find this to be one of the whiskies that needs another cask to function well. Smells a bit restrained, but sweet and delicate, marshmallows, summer fruits and caramelized nuts.The taste is way too simple, sweet and extremely dry, dark grape seeds. This one needs water. Water brings less dryness, bananas, watermelon, stills weet, but a much gentler dram. The aftertaste is short an anonymous. After a while it develops some sourness, but that's all.
a slight diappointment, boring malt: 3.5
Glen Spey 12yo 1996-2008 58.3% Die Abfüllung (Derwhisky.de) btl. 86/100 cask# 712
A bourbon-matured CS bottling for www.derwhisky.de, a german forum for malt enthusiasts. The label states that you should not add ice or fizzy drinks to this with some fun illustations, "wasser erlaubt". This whisky is about as pale as it gets. Nice odors of coffee, barley, vanilla and spices, it needs a bit time to open up. It's very robust and fresh, immensely sweet and very spirity, I'll add some water straight away. It becomes a bit more pleasant, but still very sweet and dry. Like chewing malt syrup. With even more added water it just gets too plain for me. No real high here.
Far too sweet: 3
Glen Spey 21yo 55.4% James Macarthur's
Glen Spey is hard to find both as OB and IB, and therefore goes for insane prices on online auctions and ebay and so on. Very strong nose, sulphur, gasoline, smoked salmon, fantastic. very strong, burning the tongue, paint stripper, nail polish remover, not pleasant, needs water. With water it changes on the palate and becomes more sweet, like sweet dough, chirstmas bakery, but quickly turns into a strong haze of phenol, french mustard and acid.
Like a mix of malt and stroh, saved by the nose: 3
Matured in a bourbon hogshead for 31 years, I'm wondering what will be the result as I usually find this to be one of the whiskies that needs another cask to function well. Smells a bit restrained, but sweet and delicate, marshmallows, summer fruits and caramelized nuts.The taste is way too simple, sweet and extremely dry, dark grape seeds. This one needs water. Water brings less dryness, bananas, watermelon, stills weet, but a much gentler dram. The aftertaste is short an anonymous. After a while it develops some sourness, but that's all.
a slight diappointment, boring malt: 3.5
Glen Spey 12yo 1996-2008 58.3% Die Abfüllung (Derwhisky.de) btl. 86/100 cask# 712
A bourbon-matured CS bottling for www.derwhisky.de, a german forum for malt enthusiasts. The label states that you should not add ice or fizzy drinks to this with some fun illustations, "wasser erlaubt". This whisky is about as pale as it gets. Nice odors of coffee, barley, vanilla and spices, it needs a bit time to open up. It's very robust and fresh, immensely sweet and very spirity, I'll add some water straight away. It becomes a bit more pleasant, but still very sweet and dry. Like chewing malt syrup. With even more added water it just gets too plain for me. No real high here.
Far too sweet: 3
Glen Spey 21yo 55.4% James Macarthur's
Glen Spey is hard to find both as OB and IB, and therefore goes for insane prices on online auctions and ebay and so on. Very strong nose, sulphur, gasoline, smoked salmon, fantastic. very strong, burning the tongue, paint stripper, nail polish remover, not pleasant, needs water. With water it changes on the palate and becomes more sweet, like sweet dough, chirstmas bakery, but quickly turns into a strong haze of phenol, french mustard and acid.
Like a mix of malt and stroh, saved by the nose: 3
4 Pittyvaich tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Pittyvaich 12yo 54% James MacArthur's cask#15096
Last time I tried a CS Pittyvaich I believe it was a very good OB at 21yo?This one is very light in colour, smells woody, floral, dry, intense, burnt butter, needs some time to open up, then it turns more flinty and rustic. The taste is extremely sweet, loads of bubble gum, charcoal, vanilla and kiwi fruit. I love it even though its a bit weird and wacky. The aftertaste is citrussy, very long and ends on some nice oaky notes. I've always meant that Pittyvaich at CS is a malt that talks, and this one is no other.
Wonderful Pittyvaich: 8.5
Pittyvaich 13yo 1977-1991 58.4% Cadenhead's
A sherry-matured Pittyvaich at CS, not many of them to be found on the market, at least not at this age. Smells wonderful sherry, blueberries, plums, honey, floral, guinness, leather, sweet soy and far too many other delicious odors to mention all here. The taste is slightly dry, peppery, chilli, couscous and blueberries. Needs some water because of the dryness, a personal preference of course. Even with water its very dry, but now in a good way, actually perfect dryness.
A wonderful dry sherried malt: 7
Pittyvaich 20yo 1989-2009 57.5% OB
A cask strength 20yo from Pittyvaich, I hope many other distilleries will start bottling older cask strengths at fair prices soon. It has a very anonymous odor, I'd say if it weren't for the high abv I couldn't smell anything. The taste is also much milder than what I'd expect. Something a bit off, like old dry wood. Other than that it has a sort of plum infused sweetness with some fine pepper notes as well. It's kind of dry, I'll add water. Oh yes, this is what it needs, the nose really talks now, and it tells me of pepper, salt, burnt rubber and smoked ham. The taste gets perfect, big, bold, with a nice flinty peppery style, very rustic.
Wow: 8.5
Pittyvaich 14yo 1976-90 54.5% James McArthur's
This bottling of Pittyvaich is almost completely blank. Almost like Vodka. Smells of nothing except some pine. Very sweet taste, some marcipan, but the alcohol is too intense on this one unfortunately. The finish is the big disappointment, it consists of nothing but a bit dried grass.
too mild for 54%: 4
Last time I tried a CS Pittyvaich I believe it was a very good OB at 21yo?This one is very light in colour, smells woody, floral, dry, intense, burnt butter, needs some time to open up, then it turns more flinty and rustic. The taste is extremely sweet, loads of bubble gum, charcoal, vanilla and kiwi fruit. I love it even though its a bit weird and wacky. The aftertaste is citrussy, very long and ends on some nice oaky notes. I've always meant that Pittyvaich at CS is a malt that talks, and this one is no other.
Wonderful Pittyvaich: 8.5
Pittyvaich 13yo 1977-1991 58.4% Cadenhead's
A sherry-matured Pittyvaich at CS, not many of them to be found on the market, at least not at this age. Smells wonderful sherry, blueberries, plums, honey, floral, guinness, leather, sweet soy and far too many other delicious odors to mention all here. The taste is slightly dry, peppery, chilli, couscous and blueberries. Needs some water because of the dryness, a personal preference of course. Even with water its very dry, but now in a good way, actually perfect dryness.
A wonderful dry sherried malt: 7
Pittyvaich 20yo 1989-2009 57.5% OB
A cask strength 20yo from Pittyvaich, I hope many other distilleries will start bottling older cask strengths at fair prices soon. It has a very anonymous odor, I'd say if it weren't for the high abv I couldn't smell anything. The taste is also much milder than what I'd expect. Something a bit off, like old dry wood. Other than that it has a sort of plum infused sweetness with some fine pepper notes as well. It's kind of dry, I'll add water. Oh yes, this is what it needs, the nose really talks now, and it tells me of pepper, salt, burnt rubber and smoked ham. The taste gets perfect, big, bold, with a nice flinty peppery style, very rustic.
Wow: 8.5
Pittyvaich 14yo 1976-90 54.5% James McArthur's
This bottling of Pittyvaich is almost completely blank. Almost like Vodka. Smells of nothing except some pine. Very sweet taste, some marcipan, but the alcohol is too intense on this one unfortunately. The finish is the big disappointment, it consists of nothing but a bit dried grass.
too mild for 54%: 4
mandag 11. oktober 2010
4 Miltonduffs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Miltonduff 10yo 40% OB
Of my Miltonduff tastings so far I think I've been mostly impressed by the Mosstowie, a whisky produced at Miltonduff in Lomond Stills back in the days. Smells of black peppers and air, one of the easiest odors I've sampled for a long time. The taste is sweet, vanilla, peppery, honey, orange peel and herbal tea. It's a fresh, pleasant, smooth single malt. Like a very nice blend at first, then ending with a peppery finish, bringing the whole experience up a notch or two. An all in all very pleasant whisky to drink, but beware, it's easily drinkable.
A good everyday dram: 6
Miltonduff 37yo 1971-2008 40% Duncan Taylor "Lonach"
Another oldie today, but this one is either diluted or from a seriously different cask, hence the 25%+ difference from the Inchgower. It smells sweet, mild, sophisticated, flipper soles, cinnamon, paperdust and orange zest. The taste is very very light, I'm tempted to guess it's dilluted. There are some winegum, apples and choriander there, quite flawless, but then again, a bit too nice to really adore. I'd say if it were a 10+ something Standard it'd be a really good whisky, but at this age and price it falls a bit behind unfortunately.
Nice and gentle malt: 6
Miltonduff 36yo 1967-2004 40.1% Duncan Taylor
This 36-year has an undeniable cask influence, both in smell and taste. Woody, semi-smoky, sugar and coffee. It lingers on the tounge, followed by an intense taste of white pepper, medicinical aftertaste, not for the faint hearted.
A well developed malt: 6.5
Mosstowie 12yo 1970-1982 40% CC G&M
Mosstowie is a version of Miltonduff that was produced on Lomond stills, up until 1981, not too many casks left. Has a strong wood-influenced taste, best combined with some drops of water. A bit of honey and cream is revealed initially, it finishes woody once more.
Can measure up to most modern whiskies: 6
Of my Miltonduff tastings so far I think I've been mostly impressed by the Mosstowie, a whisky produced at Miltonduff in Lomond Stills back in the days. Smells of black peppers and air, one of the easiest odors I've sampled for a long time. The taste is sweet, vanilla, peppery, honey, orange peel and herbal tea. It's a fresh, pleasant, smooth single malt. Like a very nice blend at first, then ending with a peppery finish, bringing the whole experience up a notch or two. An all in all very pleasant whisky to drink, but beware, it's easily drinkable.
A good everyday dram: 6
Miltonduff 37yo 1971-2008 40% Duncan Taylor "Lonach"
Another oldie today, but this one is either diluted or from a seriously different cask, hence the 25%+ difference from the Inchgower. It smells sweet, mild, sophisticated, flipper soles, cinnamon, paperdust and orange zest. The taste is very very light, I'm tempted to guess it's dilluted. There are some winegum, apples and choriander there, quite flawless, but then again, a bit too nice to really adore. I'd say if it were a 10+ something Standard it'd be a really good whisky, but at this age and price it falls a bit behind unfortunately.
Nice and gentle malt: 6
Miltonduff 36yo 1967-2004 40.1% Duncan Taylor
This 36-year has an undeniable cask influence, both in smell and taste. Woody, semi-smoky, sugar and coffee. It lingers on the tounge, followed by an intense taste of white pepper, medicinical aftertaste, not for the faint hearted.
A well developed malt: 6.5
Mosstowie 12yo 1970-1982 40% CC G&M
Mosstowie is a version of Miltonduff that was produced on Lomond stills, up until 1981, not too many casks left. Has a strong wood-influenced taste, best combined with some drops of water. A bit of honey and cream is revealed initially, it finishes woody once more.
Can measure up to most modern whiskies: 6
fredag 8. oktober 2010
My Dearly Departed....
Most of the whiskies I've tried and loved are still available and being produced, but some have sadly been discontinued or distilleries have been shut down.. Here's my ones to get before they're all gone.
Ardbeg Uigeadail OB - getting scarcer and scarcer as the sherry stocks at Ardbeg are being vatted at a larger amount than what's produced. One of the best Ardbegs whatever competition.
Balblair 16yo OB - Balblair's now making some vintage OB's instead of the ones with age statement. I've got this in england some years back, and been looking for it ever since when travelling to the UK. Sadly discontinued, splendid malt.
Bowmore Tempest OB batch#1 - One that won't disappear anytime soon, but try to get your hands on the batch#1, as I think it will be a bit like the usually very nice Aberlour A'bunadh, weaker as the number of batches increase.
Dallas Dhu 10yo G&M - the closest you get to a young affordable Dallas Dhu today, and I guess as close as you get to a young OB, like it was back in the good old days. Worth checking out before its all gone.
Edradour/Glenforres 12yo OB - Glenforres was an experiment at Edradour, still available broadly at a fair price, and it is very good, I like it much better than the standard OB.
Highland Park 8yo 57% OB - A classic bottling from the 80's mouthwatering HP.
Old Fettercairn 10yo OB - Relaunched as Fettercairn 1824 some years ago without the Old, with 12yo, 15yo and 18yo, now again relaunched as only Fettercairn with Fior, 24yo 30yo and 40yo. But try the old 10yo first and compare. It's a smooth malt.
Macallan 12yo OB Sherry - Less and less 12yo sherry matured Macallan is produced, and I believe it's all stopped now, one to get before prices become ridiculous.
These whiskies are all available today at a pretty fair price, but who knows for how long, so to get something to save for later enjoyment, or if you like, but I never recommend, invest!
Ardbeg Uigeadail OB - getting scarcer and scarcer as the sherry stocks at Ardbeg are being vatted at a larger amount than what's produced. One of the best Ardbegs whatever competition.
Balblair 16yo OB - Balblair's now making some vintage OB's instead of the ones with age statement. I've got this in england some years back, and been looking for it ever since when travelling to the UK. Sadly discontinued, splendid malt.
Bowmore Tempest OB batch#1 - One that won't disappear anytime soon, but try to get your hands on the batch#1, as I think it will be a bit like the usually very nice Aberlour A'bunadh, weaker as the number of batches increase.
Dallas Dhu 10yo G&M - the closest you get to a young affordable Dallas Dhu today, and I guess as close as you get to a young OB, like it was back in the good old days. Worth checking out before its all gone.
Edradour/Glenforres 12yo OB - Glenforres was an experiment at Edradour, still available broadly at a fair price, and it is very good, I like it much better than the standard OB.
Highland Park 8yo 57% OB - A classic bottling from the 80's mouthwatering HP.
Old Fettercairn 10yo OB - Relaunched as Fettercairn 1824 some years ago without the Old, with 12yo, 15yo and 18yo, now again relaunched as only Fettercairn with Fior, 24yo 30yo and 40yo. But try the old 10yo first and compare. It's a smooth malt.
Macallan 12yo OB Sherry - Less and less 12yo sherry matured Macallan is produced, and I believe it's all stopped now, one to get before prices become ridiculous.
These whiskies are all available today at a pretty fair price, but who knows for how long, so to get something to save for later enjoyment, or if you like, but I never recommend, invest!
tirsdag 28. september 2010
5 Speyburns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Speyburn 26yo 1980-2006 61.3% Signatory
Speyburn's a whisky hard to get by both as an IB and as Original bottling over 12yo. There seems to be some 21yo OB's around anyway. This smells sweet, metallic, ginseng, hay, mints and clover. The taste is dry, spirity and lemony, bring the water. At this strength and bourbon-matured I expected an explosion, but this is absurd. With plenty water it gets a bic acidic, sour, peppery, not too enjoyable, I think that Speyburn is a malt that needs to be carried in a sweeter cask, at least a couple years. Othe than that it just seems underdeveloped, very young-ish.
Another bummer: 2.5
Speyburn-Glenlivet 15yo 1975-1991 60.1% Cadenhead's
Now, time to break up the game, last time I tried a young 60% whisky, I believe it was a Fettercairn which totally surprised me in a positive way. This Speyburn smells of pine, hay, leather, lime, veal and grilled onions. The taste is far to dry and heavily alcohol influenced to enjoy neat, even though it shows great potential with honey, banana and almond among the flavours. The almond, plum, sugar and banana notes are fantastic, with lots of vanilla coming through when water's added you could say it's a bit like a vanilla split, malt style.
I never thought a Speyburn could be like this: 9.5
Speyburn 15yo 1979-1994 62.9% James MacArthur's "500 years of Scotch Whisky"
The rarely single bottled speyburn is hard to find. The smell is very strong, as indeed the abv is, christmas tree, cigar smoke and pistachio. The taste is extremely strong, a bit too big, concentrated damp and oaky fragrances. This one might be hard to find, but I'm already guessing why. Very strong with much taste, but no finesse whatsoever.
One to ruin your tastebuds with: 3
Speyburn 10yo 40% OB
Speyburn is a malt that's not to widely sold on the european market. Neither bottled too often independently. It's pretty dark with a strong, pungent nose, floral, minty, oaky, funny little thing. The taste is a bit of a let down, very woody, but quite boring and slow to develop. I'll add some time and water. It becomes even more woody, and some sugar in the aftertaste.
A pretty tired malt: 3.5
Speyburn 21yo 1971-1992 40% CC G&M
A mature speyburn is usually a malt to my liking. It's very floral, smells of dried flowers and mosquito spray. There's taste of freshly popped pocorn with lots of butter, cured ham, chorizo. Some chilli oil on the palate, and it finishes off with lots of salty flavours.
I'm not overly surprised, only a bit: 7.5
Speyburn's a whisky hard to get by both as an IB and as Original bottling over 12yo. There seems to be some 21yo OB's around anyway. This smells sweet, metallic, ginseng, hay, mints and clover. The taste is dry, spirity and lemony, bring the water. At this strength and bourbon-matured I expected an explosion, but this is absurd. With plenty water it gets a bic acidic, sour, peppery, not too enjoyable, I think that Speyburn is a malt that needs to be carried in a sweeter cask, at least a couple years. Othe than that it just seems underdeveloped, very young-ish.
Another bummer: 2.5
Speyburn-Glenlivet 15yo 1975-1991 60.1% Cadenhead's
Now, time to break up the game, last time I tried a young 60% whisky, I believe it was a Fettercairn which totally surprised me in a positive way. This Speyburn smells of pine, hay, leather, lime, veal and grilled onions. The taste is far to dry and heavily alcohol influenced to enjoy neat, even though it shows great potential with honey, banana and almond among the flavours. The almond, plum, sugar and banana notes are fantastic, with lots of vanilla coming through when water's added you could say it's a bit like a vanilla split, malt style.
I never thought a Speyburn could be like this: 9.5
Speyburn 15yo 1979-1994 62.9% James MacArthur's "500 years of Scotch Whisky"
The rarely single bottled speyburn is hard to find. The smell is very strong, as indeed the abv is, christmas tree, cigar smoke and pistachio. The taste is extremely strong, a bit too big, concentrated damp and oaky fragrances. This one might be hard to find, but I'm already guessing why. Very strong with much taste, but no finesse whatsoever.
One to ruin your tastebuds with: 3
Speyburn 10yo 40% OB
Speyburn is a malt that's not to widely sold on the european market. Neither bottled too often independently. It's pretty dark with a strong, pungent nose, floral, minty, oaky, funny little thing. The taste is a bit of a let down, very woody, but quite boring and slow to develop. I'll add some time and water. It becomes even more woody, and some sugar in the aftertaste.
A pretty tired malt: 3.5
Speyburn 21yo 1971-1992 40% CC G&M
A mature speyburn is usually a malt to my liking. It's very floral, smells of dried flowers and mosquito spray. There's taste of freshly popped pocorn with lots of butter, cured ham, chorizo. Some chilli oil on the palate, and it finishes off with lots of salty flavours.
I'm not overly surprised, only a bit: 7.5
4 Glenlochys tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenlochy 20yo 46% Cadenhead's
Lately I've had an epiphany when it comes to the whisky from this sadly closed distillery. Cadenheads bottlings at 46% is also usually a lot better than the dumpy's of other IB's. This has a pleasant but very oaky flavour, deems maybe the slight evaporation has hightened the %abv some(?). The taste is very spirity and grassy, not pleasant at all, needs water. A bit better with water, but even more grassy and a bit austere, not my kind of malt at all this.
Poor Spirit, poor cask, I guess: 2
Glen Lochy 27yo 46% Cadenhead's
Glenlochy is one of the closed distilleries truly hard to find these days, not so much because they're in big demand, but because most of it were used for blending purposes. It smells mild, creamy, hay, old style. The taste is sweet, pesto, a bit sour, farmy, hay, really charming old style malt. With water comes addition of some really sweet liquorice notes. I must admit that not many connoisseur's mention Glenlochy amongst their most beloved lost ones, but I do find it to be a whisky of good example of how fabulous older whiskies can be without being bottled Cask Strength or killed with special cask maturations.
A true gem if you like to try some old school malt: 7.5
Glenlochy 18yo 60.5% The Whisky Connoisseur
Very odorless for a whisky with such an high abv. It needs some time to develop. It becomes pleasantly sweet after a while with hints of caramell and fresh christmas bakery. On the palate it's very herbal at first, but quickly gets very salty . Surprisingly "wet" whisky, a cask strength at 60+% at this age is usually more influenced by wood and dryness. With water is the salt still present, also an extraordinarily long aftertaste of diabolic mint, pepper, oak, nuts, red meat and lots of wasabi comes out.
Lovely cask strength, but not for beginners: 8
Glenlochy 14yo 1968-1982 40% CC G&M
Strong smell of dark chocolate infused with hints of malty aromas, a beauty from the highlands. Too bad this distillery doesn't produce anymore. Hard to define the taste, complicated, some fruit, pear, salt, malt, and white pepper.
nice and clean, firm on the palate: 6
Lately I've had an epiphany when it comes to the whisky from this sadly closed distillery. Cadenheads bottlings at 46% is also usually a lot better than the dumpy's of other IB's. This has a pleasant but very oaky flavour, deems maybe the slight evaporation has hightened the %abv some(?). The taste is very spirity and grassy, not pleasant at all, needs water. A bit better with water, but even more grassy and a bit austere, not my kind of malt at all this.
Poor Spirit, poor cask, I guess: 2
Glen Lochy 27yo 46% Cadenhead's
Glenlochy is one of the closed distilleries truly hard to find these days, not so much because they're in big demand, but because most of it were used for blending purposes. It smells mild, creamy, hay, old style. The taste is sweet, pesto, a bit sour, farmy, hay, really charming old style malt. With water comes addition of some really sweet liquorice notes. I must admit that not many connoisseur's mention Glenlochy amongst their most beloved lost ones, but I do find it to be a whisky of good example of how fabulous older whiskies can be without being bottled Cask Strength or killed with special cask maturations.
A true gem if you like to try some old school malt: 7.5
Glenlochy 18yo 60.5% The Whisky Connoisseur
Very odorless for a whisky with such an high abv. It needs some time to develop. It becomes pleasantly sweet after a while with hints of caramell and fresh christmas bakery. On the palate it's very herbal at first, but quickly gets very salty . Surprisingly "wet" whisky, a cask strength at 60+% at this age is usually more influenced by wood and dryness. With water is the salt still present, also an extraordinarily long aftertaste of diabolic mint, pepper, oak, nuts, red meat and lots of wasabi comes out.
Lovely cask strength, but not for beginners: 8
Glenlochy 14yo 1968-1982 40% CC G&M
Strong smell of dark chocolate infused with hints of malty aromas, a beauty from the highlands. Too bad this distillery doesn't produce anymore. Hard to define the taste, complicated, some fruit, pear, salt, malt, and white pepper.
nice and clean, firm on the palate: 6
mandag 20. september 2010
so far so good...
I've now reached just over 500 tasting notes, and to see what's the result I've made a list over the distilleries I've tasted 5 or more of, and counted out each's average score. So here goes...
Aberlour 6.4
Ardbeg 5.25
Balvenie 5.2
Benriach 4.4
Bowmore 5.7
Bruichladdich 6.25
Bunnahabhain 5.5
Caol Ila 6.7
Fettercairn 7.2
Glen Elgin 6.6
Glen Grant 5.3
Glen Mhor 6.2
Glen Moray 4.7
Glen Ord 6
Glendronach 5.7
Glenfarclas 6.1
Glenfiddich 5.75
Glenlivet 4.8
Glenmorangie 5.2
Glenrothes 4.5
Glenturret 5
Highland Park 5.8
Laphroaig 6.5
Linkwood 5.3
Longmorn 6
Macallan 4.9
Macduff 4.4
Port Ellen 7.2
Rosebank 5.8
Scapa 4.4
Springbank
st. Magdalene 7.2
Tamdhu 5.8
Strathisla 6
Tamnavulin 4.8
Tomintoul 4
Port Ellen, Fettercairn and st. Magdalene (Linlithgow) as winners, only ones to top 7. Perhaps will the results be a bit different when I reach 1k, who knows?
Aberlour 6.4
Ardbeg 5.25
Balvenie 5.2
Benriach 4.4
Bowmore 5.7
Bruichladdich 6.25
Bunnahabhain 5.5
Caol Ila 6.7
Fettercairn 7.2
Glen Elgin 6.6
Glen Grant 5.3
Glen Mhor 6.2
Glen Moray 4.7
Glen Ord 6
Glendronach 5.7
Glenfarclas 6.1
Glenfiddich 5.75
Glenlivet 4.8
Glenmorangie 5.2
Glenrothes 4.5
Glenturret 5
Highland Park 5.8
Laphroaig 6.5
Linkwood 5.3
Longmorn 6
Macallan 4.9
Macduff 4.4
Port Ellen 7.2
Rosebank 5.8
Scapa 4.4
Springbank
st. Magdalene 7.2
Tamdhu 5.8
Strathisla 6
Tamnavulin 4.8
Tomintoul 4
Port Ellen, Fettercairn and st. Magdalene (Linlithgow) as winners, only ones to top 7. Perhaps will the results be a bit different when I reach 1k, who knows?
søndag 19. september 2010
4 Royal Bracklas tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Royal Brackla 14yo 1992-2007 57.9% Cadenhead's btl.x/228
Last time I tried Royal Brackla I was truly impressed. Now I have another chance to be amazed, as Royal Brackla isn't bottled much as a single malt it's a rare occasion to try it. A very powerful whisky this smells like. oak, gelatin, espresso coffee, roasted nuts, and with a small alcohol sting. The flavour is dry, toffee, butter, floral, bisquits, many many different flavours. This one comes from a bourbon cask, but there's no sign of an banana/vanilla notes, I'd say it's almost more like fino sherry. A pleasant surprise.
I'm still impressed: 8
Royal Brackla 14yo 1992-2007 57.9% Cadenhead's btl.x/228
Last time I tried Royal Brackla I was truly impressed. Now I have another chance to be amazed, as Royal Brackla isn't bottled much as a single malt it's a rare occasion to try it. A very powerful whisky this smells like. oak, gelatin, espresso coffee, roasted nuts, and with a small alcohol sting. The flavour is dry, toffee, butter, floral, bisquits, many many different flavours. This one comes from a bourbon cask, but there's no sign of an banana/vanilla notes, I'd say it's almost more like fino sherry. A pleasant surprise.
I'm still impressed: 8
Royal Brackla 14yo 1978-1993 43% The Master of Malt cask 11081 btl 205/240
The Master of Malt I have no idea about although they're doing quite some advertising online I've seen, but who aren't these days. Totally blank whisky, Has a sweet and perfumy odor, pretty nice and appetizing. This is a strong and fullbodied malt, cupcakes, cinnamon sticks, beef tartar, brine and mussels. The aftertaste is very minty and fresh, soothing, and it needs to be because of the very rich palate. A well-balanced malt that can accomodate just about anything.
Very very nice: 7.5
Royal Brackla 14yo 1969-1983 40% CC G&M
Royal Brackla has never been a very popular single malt, let's see if I can figure why. It smells of lemon-like detergent and concentrated oranges, orange kernels? In other words lots of citrus. It does taste the same, reminds me of soap, with something bitter too it. Hard to describe better.
Total Failure: 1
Royal Brackla 11yo 58.4% SMWS The Chattering Glass cask#55.15
I was quite pleased with the Dailuaine from the same artsy series, that I tried a while back. This one has the color of white wine, and it has a nice and modest wheat, hay, dried herbs and butterscotch sweetness scent. Extremely nice at such a strength, I'd say its one of the finest noses I've ever had. The taste is The taste is dried and taste of leather, prunes, mellow and silky. There's also this sweet licorice note that follows through the whole experience. Definately something new.
A smooth and mellow but tender whisky: 8
Last time I tried Royal Brackla I was truly impressed. Now I have another chance to be amazed, as Royal Brackla isn't bottled much as a single malt it's a rare occasion to try it. A very powerful whisky this smells like. oak, gelatin, espresso coffee, roasted nuts, and with a small alcohol sting. The flavour is dry, toffee, butter, floral, bisquits, many many different flavours. This one comes from a bourbon cask, but there's no sign of an banana/vanilla notes, I'd say it's almost more like fino sherry. A pleasant surprise.
I'm still impressed: 8
Royal Brackla 14yo 1992-2007 57.9% Cadenhead's btl.x/228
Last time I tried Royal Brackla I was truly impressed. Now I have another chance to be amazed, as Royal Brackla isn't bottled much as a single malt it's a rare occasion to try it. A very powerful whisky this smells like. oak, gelatin, espresso coffee, roasted nuts, and with a small alcohol sting. The flavour is dry, toffee, butter, floral, bisquits, many many different flavours. This one comes from a bourbon cask, but there's no sign of an banana/vanilla notes, I'd say it's almost more like fino sherry. A pleasant surprise.
I'm still impressed: 8
Royal Brackla 14yo 1978-1993 43% The Master of Malt cask 11081 btl 205/240
The Master of Malt I have no idea about although they're doing quite some advertising online I've seen, but who aren't these days. Totally blank whisky, Has a sweet and perfumy odor, pretty nice and appetizing. This is a strong and fullbodied malt, cupcakes, cinnamon sticks, beef tartar, brine and mussels. The aftertaste is very minty and fresh, soothing, and it needs to be because of the very rich palate. A well-balanced malt that can accomodate just about anything.
Very very nice: 7.5
Royal Brackla 14yo 1969-1983 40% CC G&M
Royal Brackla has never been a very popular single malt, let's see if I can figure why. It smells of lemon-like detergent and concentrated oranges, orange kernels? In other words lots of citrus. It does taste the same, reminds me of soap, with something bitter too it. Hard to describe better.
Total Failure: 1
Royal Brackla 11yo 58.4% SMWS The Chattering Glass cask#55.15
I was quite pleased with the Dailuaine from the same artsy series, that I tried a while back. This one has the color of white wine, and it has a nice and modest wheat, hay, dried herbs and butterscotch sweetness scent. Extremely nice at such a strength, I'd say its one of the finest noses I've ever had. The taste is The taste is dried and taste of leather, prunes, mellow and silky. There's also this sweet licorice note that follows through the whole experience. Definately something new.
A smooth and mellow but tender whisky: 8
5 Linlithgow/St. Magdalenes tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Linlithgow 26yo 1982-2008 61.2% Signatory Vintage
Returning to the lowlands with this one, now seen as a true connoisseurs malt, I have no idea why they put it to sleep, but seems almost every closed whisky distillery gets sort of a renaissance post mortem. I'll keep an eye on Littlemill, who knows, years from now people may sit complain why it was brought to sleep? Smells honey, fruity, tar, paint, musk, hard to put a finger on an odor definition here. Very delicate for a whisky of this strength. It's really sweet and zesty, an absolute summers dram, the taste actually makes me smile and its far from the alcohol talking. I think if I should sum up the flavours it's look pretty mediocre, but there's just something really vibrant about this old malt that gives me chills all over.
I guess not all whiskies go dry and oaky with age: 9
St. Magdalene 23yo 1982-2006 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
A totally blank whisky bottled at 23yo, bourbon-matured for sure. Smells a bit salty, raw, radishes and mint, but most of all it is sour, full of lemon notes. The taste is also very lemony, salty, kind of a classic st. magdalene, with a heavy minty aftertaste. I only have 2cl of this to enjoy, unfotunately, so I do not have the opportunity to try it with water. Anyway, I don't think it would need that to impress me.
Wonderful old st. Magdalene: 8
St. Magdalene 15yo 46% Cadenhead's
The Linlithgow is considered by many as one that we all should mourn over, but I often find it to be a malt of very varying caliber. This one comes from a bourbon cask. It smells good, vanilla, liquorice, oaky, kiwi and blackberry jam. Very unusual. The taste is very concentrated on acidy taste, lots of lemon and some herbs. It's immensely sour, lemon all the way. The aftertaste gives way to even more lemon. Alright, there aren't many layers of flavours in this whisky, but the lemon sensation is absolutely fabulous.
Malt sour?: 7
St. Magdalene 23yo 1982-2006 56% Hart Brothers
A cask strength from the old st. Magdalene Distillery could be a treasure. Fantastic odors of strong camphor and barley. The taste is very dry, with some honey, a bit like fernet with syrup I guess. Very very dry whisky, with a finish of sour leaves. It has no problems handling some water, which will make it a bit less dry.
Honey and dry white wine: 6
St. Magdalene 16yo 1981-1997 40% CC G&M
St. Magdalene, also known as Linlithgow is a dearly departed. Lowland-whisky like this is hard to come across these days. Sweet and spicy notes on the nose, very light-hearted. Taste of sweet liquorice, should definately been bottled at a higher abv, as this whisky comes off as too tame when dilluted to only 40%
I'll be on the lookout for other bottlings: 6
Returning to the lowlands with this one, now seen as a true connoisseurs malt, I have no idea why they put it to sleep, but seems almost every closed whisky distillery gets sort of a renaissance post mortem. I'll keep an eye on Littlemill, who knows, years from now people may sit complain why it was brought to sleep? Smells honey, fruity, tar, paint, musk, hard to put a finger on an odor definition here. Very delicate for a whisky of this strength. It's really sweet and zesty, an absolute summers dram, the taste actually makes me smile and its far from the alcohol talking. I think if I should sum up the flavours it's look pretty mediocre, but there's just something really vibrant about this old malt that gives me chills all over.
I guess not all whiskies go dry and oaky with age: 9
St. Magdalene 23yo 1982-2006 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
A totally blank whisky bottled at 23yo, bourbon-matured for sure. Smells a bit salty, raw, radishes and mint, but most of all it is sour, full of lemon notes. The taste is also very lemony, salty, kind of a classic st. magdalene, with a heavy minty aftertaste. I only have 2cl of this to enjoy, unfotunately, so I do not have the opportunity to try it with water. Anyway, I don't think it would need that to impress me.
Wonderful old st. Magdalene: 8
St. Magdalene 15yo 46% Cadenhead's
The Linlithgow is considered by many as one that we all should mourn over, but I often find it to be a malt of very varying caliber. This one comes from a bourbon cask. It smells good, vanilla, liquorice, oaky, kiwi and blackberry jam. Very unusual. The taste is very concentrated on acidy taste, lots of lemon and some herbs. It's immensely sour, lemon all the way. The aftertaste gives way to even more lemon. Alright, there aren't many layers of flavours in this whisky, but the lemon sensation is absolutely fabulous.
Malt sour?: 7
St. Magdalene 23yo 1982-2006 56% Hart Brothers
A cask strength from the old st. Magdalene Distillery could be a treasure. Fantastic odors of strong camphor and barley. The taste is very dry, with some honey, a bit like fernet with syrup I guess. Very very dry whisky, with a finish of sour leaves. It has no problems handling some water, which will make it a bit less dry.
Honey and dry white wine: 6
St. Magdalene 16yo 1981-1997 40% CC G&M
St. Magdalene, also known as Linlithgow is a dearly departed. Lowland-whisky like this is hard to come across these days. Sweet and spicy notes on the nose, very light-hearted. Taste of sweet liquorice, should definately been bottled at a higher abv, as this whisky comes off as too tame when dilluted to only 40%
I'll be on the lookout for other bottlings: 6
3 Broras tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Brora 30yo 53.2% OB
I've tried the much talked about Brora before, but never an OB, this should be a cracker from what I've heard. It smells fresh, green notes, forest, wet grass, tea, nice but very gentle. The taste is slightly bitter, lemon peel, sage, fish sauce, but that's not the problem, to me it seems kind of dead. I'll add some water. With enought time and water some notes of red onion and salt appears, very nice, but at this age, well, I guess it should've been bottled earlier then.
Good, but at this age and price?: 6
Brora 23yo 1981-2005 48% Dun Bheagan cask#1512 btl.x/648.
From a refill sherry butt, Brora is a dearly departed as it shows to be one of the most sought after discontinued malts today. It smells minty and grassy, maybe it needs some time. It doesn't improve much. The taste is so sweet and lovely, oloroso sherry, caramel, marshmallows, green tea and banana leaves. The aftertaste is long and peppery, not much going on. With some water it gets dryer and richer on the palate. But all in all, what saves this malt is the palate.
I'm not as fascinated by Brora as many others I guess: 4.5
Brora 17yo 1982-1999 40% CC G&M
The odor gives me a small idea of honey and flowers, summery. Tastewise it's also honey at first, then blackberries on the palate. A very special taste, perhaps a bit strange, who knows, but absolutely worth a shot.
Charismatic for the highlands: 7
I've tried the much talked about Brora before, but never an OB, this should be a cracker from what I've heard. It smells fresh, green notes, forest, wet grass, tea, nice but very gentle. The taste is slightly bitter, lemon peel, sage, fish sauce, but that's not the problem, to me it seems kind of dead. I'll add some water. With enought time and water some notes of red onion and salt appears, very nice, but at this age, well, I guess it should've been bottled earlier then.
Good, but at this age and price?: 6
Brora 23yo 1981-2005 48% Dun Bheagan cask#1512 btl.x/648.
From a refill sherry butt, Brora is a dearly departed as it shows to be one of the most sought after discontinued malts today. It smells minty and grassy, maybe it needs some time. It doesn't improve much. The taste is so sweet and lovely, oloroso sherry, caramel, marshmallows, green tea and banana leaves. The aftertaste is long and peppery, not much going on. With some water it gets dryer and richer on the palate. But all in all, what saves this malt is the palate.
I'm not as fascinated by Brora as many others I guess: 4.5
Brora 17yo 1982-1999 40% CC G&M
The odor gives me a small idea of honey and flowers, summery. Tastewise it's also honey at first, then blackberries on the palate. A very special taste, perhaps a bit strange, who knows, but absolutely worth a shot.
Charismatic for the highlands: 7
lørdag 18. september 2010
4 Old Pulteneys tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Old Pulteney 20yo 1990-2010 57.4% OB cask#5253
This is an edition only available at the distillery, on the sample it says it's handfilled, does that effect the taste??? Surely not, but anything sells these days. It smells pretty coastal, actually reminds me of some CS versions of Port Ellen. Salty, earthy, smoky, coastal, really nice. The taste is extreme, truly dry, I'd bet a fair amount cash that this was a peaty Islayer. Extremely rich, salty notes, rustic. I have to add some water. Given water it becomes herbal, sherry-like, fino style. A true gem, if you like a punchy whisky.
One to test your palate with: 6
Old Pulteney 14yo 1993-2007 59.9% G&M Cask
Another bar-whisky from yesterday's escapades. Now the Old Pulteney I've always reckoned a fine malt without too much fancyness. This one is sherry matured and quite dark, probably some E150 a well. A very aromatic nose, white wine and glue plus some salty dry notes. More coastal than most OB's I've tried. The taste is very peppery, almost overpowering combined with the dryness. I dare to add some water. I wish I didn't, now it becomes a bit like some of the horrible CC-bottlings one could get their hands on in the 80's.
Without water I'll give it: 7
Old Pulteney 8yo 40% Gordon & Macphail for J&G Stodart
Old Pulteney is a fascinating distillery, and hard to find bottled independently. This is one from back in the 70's or 80's bottled for J&G Stodart. It has a very nice golden colour, artificial for sure. A perfumy, honey-like and a bit coastal smell, pleasant. The taste is like that of roasted nuts, sweet smoke, dry, hops, very, very dry. The aftertaste is of peppers and rum. This must be sherry-matured.
A straight-forward old-styled sherry thing: 6
Old Pulteney 12yo 40% OB
Pulteney is the nothernmost distillery on the scottish mainland. It has a somewhat soothing and passive smell, with hints of caramelized nuts. Tastes of butterscotch, gingerbread, really sweet, spicy, honey, lemon, caramel, oregano, sundried tomatoes and some salt.
Extraordinary and different from anything else: 8
This is an edition only available at the distillery, on the sample it says it's handfilled, does that effect the taste??? Surely not, but anything sells these days. It smells pretty coastal, actually reminds me of some CS versions of Port Ellen. Salty, earthy, smoky, coastal, really nice. The taste is extreme, truly dry, I'd bet a fair amount cash that this was a peaty Islayer. Extremely rich, salty notes, rustic. I have to add some water. Given water it becomes herbal, sherry-like, fino style. A true gem, if you like a punchy whisky.
One to test your palate with: 6
Old Pulteney 14yo 1993-2007 59.9% G&M Cask
Another bar-whisky from yesterday's escapades. Now the Old Pulteney I've always reckoned a fine malt without too much fancyness. This one is sherry matured and quite dark, probably some E150 a well. A very aromatic nose, white wine and glue plus some salty dry notes. More coastal than most OB's I've tried. The taste is very peppery, almost overpowering combined with the dryness. I dare to add some water. I wish I didn't, now it becomes a bit like some of the horrible CC-bottlings one could get their hands on in the 80's.
Without water I'll give it: 7
Old Pulteney 8yo 40% Gordon & Macphail for J&G Stodart
Old Pulteney is a fascinating distillery, and hard to find bottled independently. This is one from back in the 70's or 80's bottled for J&G Stodart. It has a very nice golden colour, artificial for sure. A perfumy, honey-like and a bit coastal smell, pleasant. The taste is like that of roasted nuts, sweet smoke, dry, hops, very, very dry. The aftertaste is of peppers and rum. This must be sherry-matured.
A straight-forward old-styled sherry thing: 6
Old Pulteney 12yo 40% OB
Pulteney is the nothernmost distillery on the scottish mainland. It has a somewhat soothing and passive smell, with hints of caramelized nuts. Tastes of butterscotch, gingerbread, really sweet, spicy, honey, lemon, caramel, oregano, sundried tomatoes and some salt.
Extraordinary and different from anything else: 8
tirsdag 7. september 2010
5 Glenlossies tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenlossie 12yo 65.8% James MacArthur's cask#8230
A golden bronze coloured Glenlossie of unusual high %abv. I wonder if the reason J.M. is bottling all these young CS is that they're offering a strength a bit above the average? Anyway, high strength CS' seems to be becoming more and more in demand nowadays, so could be they're just doing their best to satisfy the market. Even the G&M CC-series have upped now. The nose is spicy, nutty, tickling, blueberries, elderflower, sherry, phenolic, too many notes to mention. The flavour is what I expect airplane fuel to taste like. far too strong without water. Water tames the beast, and a sweet, dried herbs, spices, dried elderberries, and a bit perfumy notes appears.
A malt you can nose for hours, otherwise mediocre: 5.5
Glenlossie 24yo 1984-2008 59.1% Signatory Vintage
I've always loved the whisky from Glenlossie Distillery, the few I've managed to come across that is. But I don't believe I've ever tried it at this strength. It has a nice bronze colour, sherry matured, the nose is full on plums, grapes, soft fruits, mango puree, red pesto and red wine reduction. Oh yes, this is a gentle, but oh so powerful monster, starts sweet, butter cookies, goose liver (to say it in english), and thick sherriness, it then turns peppery, phenolic, a bit burning, but not too much and finishes with a long waxy aftertaste.
There are far too few Glenlossies out there: 8.5
Glenlossie 28yo 1978-2005 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
Having already tried the G&M 29yo Glenlossie from the same vintage I was expecting a treat here. It starts off with some nice scents, smoky, salty and juniper berries. The taste is sweet, much liquorice, a small disappointment, but the finish lifts it again with notes of chilli, brown sugar and shallots. Again a refill sherry.
Good whisky: 7.5
Glenlossie 10yo 1993-2004 46% Murray McDavid
Glenlossie have nipped my attention before but since it's so hard to get by I've just been able to taste so so many. This one is bourbon-matured and of course without any colouring or such. It does smell of apples, young ripe green ones, very much apples, hard to find much else but that doesn't matter as the apple-notes are fantastic. The taste is also a bit sweet/sour apple-like to start off before it becomes very peppery a bit too soon I'm afraid. The initial taste is delicate but just doesn't last long enough or it'd be a winner in my book. To make most of it just keep it in the mouth a bit before swallowing and let the tip of your tongue fetch all the fruity taste. The aftertaste is very peppery and quite long. Addition of water makes little difference in this one.
Half perfect, half mediocre: 7
Glenlossie 29yo 1978-2007 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
My first Glenlossie ever calls for a celebration, I'll pour myself a double... oh yes, this is a rocket up your nose, spicy, hints of dried herbs and irish stew. Very salty. the taste is dry, flinty, peppery, like a good old Coleburn. With water it does excell with some nice notes of beef tartar and mashed peas. Now, it's far from fantastic, but it has something honest and good going on. An old school quality malt that doesn't need finishing touches in strange wood or added peat for that sake, it's fabulous just the way it is.
It won't win many awards, but a true whiskylover will enjoy this: 7
A golden bronze coloured Glenlossie of unusual high %abv. I wonder if the reason J.M. is bottling all these young CS is that they're offering a strength a bit above the average? Anyway, high strength CS' seems to be becoming more and more in demand nowadays, so could be they're just doing their best to satisfy the market. Even the G&M CC-series have upped now. The nose is spicy, nutty, tickling, blueberries, elderflower, sherry, phenolic, too many notes to mention. The flavour is what I expect airplane fuel to taste like. far too strong without water. Water tames the beast, and a sweet, dried herbs, spices, dried elderberries, and a bit perfumy notes appears.
A malt you can nose for hours, otherwise mediocre: 5.5
Glenlossie 24yo 1984-2008 59.1% Signatory Vintage
I've always loved the whisky from Glenlossie Distillery, the few I've managed to come across that is. But I don't believe I've ever tried it at this strength. It has a nice bronze colour, sherry matured, the nose is full on plums, grapes, soft fruits, mango puree, red pesto and red wine reduction. Oh yes, this is a gentle, but oh so powerful monster, starts sweet, butter cookies, goose liver (to say it in english), and thick sherriness, it then turns peppery, phenolic, a bit burning, but not too much and finishes with a long waxy aftertaste.
There are far too few Glenlossies out there: 8.5
Glenlossie 28yo 1978-2005 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
Having already tried the G&M 29yo Glenlossie from the same vintage I was expecting a treat here. It starts off with some nice scents, smoky, salty and juniper berries. The taste is sweet, much liquorice, a small disappointment, but the finish lifts it again with notes of chilli, brown sugar and shallots. Again a refill sherry.
Good whisky: 7.5
Glenlossie 10yo 1993-2004 46% Murray McDavid
Glenlossie have nipped my attention before but since it's so hard to get by I've just been able to taste so so many. This one is bourbon-matured and of course without any colouring or such. It does smell of apples, young ripe green ones, very much apples, hard to find much else but that doesn't matter as the apple-notes are fantastic. The taste is also a bit sweet/sour apple-like to start off before it becomes very peppery a bit too soon I'm afraid. The initial taste is delicate but just doesn't last long enough or it'd be a winner in my book. To make most of it just keep it in the mouth a bit before swallowing and let the tip of your tongue fetch all the fruity taste. The aftertaste is very peppery and quite long. Addition of water makes little difference in this one.
Half perfect, half mediocre: 7
Glenlossie 29yo 1978-2007 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
My first Glenlossie ever calls for a celebration, I'll pour myself a double... oh yes, this is a rocket up your nose, spicy, hints of dried herbs and irish stew. Very salty. the taste is dry, flinty, peppery, like a good old Coleburn. With water it does excell with some nice notes of beef tartar and mashed peas. Now, it's far from fantastic, but it has something honest and good going on. An old school quality malt that doesn't need finishing touches in strange wood or added peat for that sake, it's fabulous just the way it is.
It won't win many awards, but a true whiskylover will enjoy this: 7
søndag 29. august 2010
3 Mannochmores tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Mannochmore 18yo 1990-2008 54.9% OB
Once producer of the now strangely very sought after Loch Dhu - the black single malt, Mannochmore is a malt you rarely find, or at least rarely find good stuff said about. It smells spirity, cloying, needs some time, then a light, extremely sweet smell appears, like some fruity bubble gum, say hubba-bubba. The taste is again extremely sweet, and a bit spirity. A very one-dimensional malt. I'll add some water just for fun. Still sweet, with a weird rubber-plastic aftertaste.
This is some weird stuff: 3
Mannochmore 16yo 1984-2001 43% Signatory Vintage cask#4576
Today I'm doing a vertical of some distilleries I'm not tasting too often. This Mannochmore comes from 16 years in a refill sherry butt, and it's paler than a 3-year old bourbon matured whisky. What's been in the cask prior and how many times have it been refilled? Well, better pale than black might some say having tasted the Loch Dhu. The nose is fresh, vibrant, grassy, oily, some winey notes. The taste is dry and very burnt, much sulphur going on, unpleasant, let's add water. Now it becomes a bit more sweet, some minty fragrance, mint leaves and cotton... But still there's that extremely burnt taste that just puts me off.
A foul whisky from a foul cask: 2
Mannochmore 16yo 1990-2006 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
I've not tried to many of the newer bottlings by G&M with higher abv and no colouring. This one is from the rarely bottled Mannochmore Distillery. It has a nice earthy, salty and grassy smell. Oh yes, it has a distinct taste of dark chocolate and praline. With a grassy finish that just goes on and on and on. There aren't too much good said about Mannochmore, but this one is wonderful in all it's simplicity.
Some great and distinct flavours: 7
Once producer of the now strangely very sought after Loch Dhu - the black single malt, Mannochmore is a malt you rarely find, or at least rarely find good stuff said about. It smells spirity, cloying, needs some time, then a light, extremely sweet smell appears, like some fruity bubble gum, say hubba-bubba. The taste is again extremely sweet, and a bit spirity. A very one-dimensional malt. I'll add some water just for fun. Still sweet, with a weird rubber-plastic aftertaste.
This is some weird stuff: 3
Mannochmore 16yo 1984-2001 43% Signatory Vintage cask#4576
Today I'm doing a vertical of some distilleries I'm not tasting too often. This Mannochmore comes from 16 years in a refill sherry butt, and it's paler than a 3-year old bourbon matured whisky. What's been in the cask prior and how many times have it been refilled? Well, better pale than black might some say having tasted the Loch Dhu. The nose is fresh, vibrant, grassy, oily, some winey notes. The taste is dry and very burnt, much sulphur going on, unpleasant, let's add water. Now it becomes a bit more sweet, some minty fragrance, mint leaves and cotton... But still there's that extremely burnt taste that just puts me off.
A foul whisky from a foul cask: 2
Mannochmore 16yo 1990-2006 46% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail
I've not tried to many of the newer bottlings by G&M with higher abv and no colouring. This one is from the rarely bottled Mannochmore Distillery. It has a nice earthy, salty and grassy smell. Oh yes, it has a distinct taste of dark chocolate and praline. With a grassy finish that just goes on and on and on. There aren't too much good said about Mannochmore, but this one is wonderful in all it's simplicity.
Some great and distinct flavours: 7
fredag 20. august 2010
3 Ardmores tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Ardmore 12yo 56.2% James Macarthur's
Returning to the 2000's with this Ardmore from James MacArthur's. Ardmore is another speyside distillery producing whisky with additional peat, but they do also make non-peated whisky. This smells totally different, really herbal with much more alcohol influence. Well, I guess none of the whisky here has had the commodity of reciding in a sherry caskt then...(?) Allright, the taste is herbal, peppery and again very influenced by the high abv. Actually, it gets a bit more aromatic and also oaky and buttery.
The difference between new and old is immense, but this is good: 6
Ardmore NAS 1977-? 40% G&M
Another one from bygone days bottled by G&M outside the CC-series. It smells very sweet, camphor and marshmallows, like flour sugar. The taste is also very sweet and light, it seems to not be peated, like the current NAS-version from the distillery is. There's caramel, champagne, walnuts, rum and sugar peas. The aftertaste is short and hardly worth to mention. It's a good whisky allright, and at it's time probably a good value for money malt, but this vintage would probably hit a price far above its less than gourmet-standard on todays market.
a nice and clean malt, a beginnerswhisky: 5.5
Ardmore NAS 46% OB
Should be about 6-8yo this one. A strongly peated highlander, and it is interesting to see what generous amounts of peat does to a mild highlander. It smells very rough, white pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, parsley and yeast. Not as smoky as I envisioned, perhaps it's local peat, and of course the flora is quite different in the Highland than on Islay. The taste is quite straight-forward with garlic, chilli, honeybread and snow peas.
A classy youngster: 7.5
Returning to the 2000's with this Ardmore from James MacArthur's. Ardmore is another speyside distillery producing whisky with additional peat, but they do also make non-peated whisky. This smells totally different, really herbal with much more alcohol influence. Well, I guess none of the whisky here has had the commodity of reciding in a sherry caskt then...(?) Allright, the taste is herbal, peppery and again very influenced by the high abv. Actually, it gets a bit more aromatic and also oaky and buttery.
The difference between new and old is immense, but this is good: 6
Ardmore NAS 1977-? 40% G&M
Another one from bygone days bottled by G&M outside the CC-series. It smells very sweet, camphor and marshmallows, like flour sugar. The taste is also very sweet and light, it seems to not be peated, like the current NAS-version from the distillery is. There's caramel, champagne, walnuts, rum and sugar peas. The aftertaste is short and hardly worth to mention. It's a good whisky allright, and at it's time probably a good value for money malt, but this vintage would probably hit a price far above its less than gourmet-standard on todays market.
a nice and clean malt, a beginnerswhisky: 5.5
Ardmore NAS 46% OB
Should be about 6-8yo this one. A strongly peated highlander, and it is interesting to see what generous amounts of peat does to a mild highlander. It smells very rough, white pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, parsley and yeast. Not as smoky as I envisioned, perhaps it's local peat, and of course the flora is quite different in the Highland than on Islay. The taste is quite straight-forward with garlic, chilli, honeybread and snow peas.
A classy youngster: 7.5
mandag 16. august 2010
4 Glenallachies tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenallachie 17yo 1989-2007 58.5% Cadenhead's btl.x/240
Glenallachie has never been too good if I remember correctly, a pretty young distillery making a malt with hint of industrial spirit. Smells pretty ordinary, young, underdeveloped for a 17yo. The taste is dry all the way, fino sherry, just a bit too strong, bitter and dry flavours to discover much else. With water it gets a bit lighter, but it's still to bitter to really enjoy, actually if I tasted this one blind I'd guess it was a bitter schnapps.
A bitter Glenallachie: 2.5
Glenallachie 12yo 43% OB
One from back in the days when most distilleries used the -Glenlivet ending. Glenallachie-bottlings are hard to come by even though it's a pretty young distillery. It smells of alcohol and polluted air, rush hour traffic in London, not very pleasant but not directly bad either. The taste on the other hand is nice and clean, but just too bland. It smells really industrialized, just thrown in some re-re-refill bourbon casks and put out there. The taste is at best a bit oaky. Any aftertaste is not present in this malt.
I think Glenallachie is a malt very dependent on a fresh cask: 4
Glenallachie 13yo 1991-2005 43% Dun Bheagan cask 90261-90262 1800btls.
This is a sherry-finished bottling by Dun Bheagan. I haven't tried to many Dun Bheagan's yet. The smell is nice, fruity with a small hint of lemon and chives. The taste is very fresh and peppery, a straight-forward malt. This is wonderful, a nice combo of oak and sherry notes. No pretentious extravaganza, just a simply nice and enjoyable malt. The aftertaste is a bit phenolic and kind of minty, but not in any way a letdown.
A powerful malt with a gentle touch of sherry: 7
Glenallachie 12yo 1992-2004 43% Signatory Vintage
One from Signatory Vintage who seems to have been stacking up on some unusual spirits for some time. It smells very smoked, peat, Puerto Rican cigars. It has a nutty flavour, some bitterness, fernet, tonic water. With some drops of water the bitterness disappears, and a richer flavour of nuts and dried dates appear.
Will never be a classic, but nice however: 5
Glenallachie has never been too good if I remember correctly, a pretty young distillery making a malt with hint of industrial spirit. Smells pretty ordinary, young, underdeveloped for a 17yo. The taste is dry all the way, fino sherry, just a bit too strong, bitter and dry flavours to discover much else. With water it gets a bit lighter, but it's still to bitter to really enjoy, actually if I tasted this one blind I'd guess it was a bitter schnapps.
A bitter Glenallachie: 2.5
Glenallachie 12yo 43% OB
One from back in the days when most distilleries used the -Glenlivet ending. Glenallachie-bottlings are hard to come by even though it's a pretty young distillery. It smells of alcohol and polluted air, rush hour traffic in London, not very pleasant but not directly bad either. The taste on the other hand is nice and clean, but just too bland. It smells really industrialized, just thrown in some re-re-refill bourbon casks and put out there. The taste is at best a bit oaky. Any aftertaste is not present in this malt.
I think Glenallachie is a malt very dependent on a fresh cask: 4
Glenallachie 13yo 1991-2005 43% Dun Bheagan cask 90261-90262 1800btls.
This is a sherry-finished bottling by Dun Bheagan. I haven't tried to many Dun Bheagan's yet. The smell is nice, fruity with a small hint of lemon and chives. The taste is very fresh and peppery, a straight-forward malt. This is wonderful, a nice combo of oak and sherry notes. No pretentious extravaganza, just a simply nice and enjoyable malt. The aftertaste is a bit phenolic and kind of minty, but not in any way a letdown.
A powerful malt with a gentle touch of sherry: 7
Glenallachie 12yo 1992-2004 43% Signatory Vintage
One from Signatory Vintage who seems to have been stacking up on some unusual spirits for some time. It smells very smoked, peat, Puerto Rican cigars. It has a nutty flavour, some bitterness, fernet, tonic water. With some drops of water the bitterness disappears, and a richer flavour of nuts and dried dates appear.
Will never be a classic, but nice however: 5
tirsdag 27. juli 2010
4 Dufftown tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Dufftown 12yo 40% OB "Singleton of..."
I believe that Singleton doesn't really have anything to do with what kind of whisky, as I've also tried Singleton of Auchroisk and there are no obvious similarities between the two. So anyway, its just a regular 12yo OB then. Smells very full-bodied, aromatic, vanilla, cranberries, leather, oak and orange marmalade. The taste is undeniably lighter, a bit oaky, after eight, bourbony and floral. The aftertaste is short and reminds me somewhat of some OB Glengoynes I've tried, Tamnavulin?
A nice malt but far from generous tastewise: 4.5
Dufftown 10yo 40% OB
One from back in the days, I guess a late 70's or early 80's bottling. This one stands a bit apart from the last two as it has some quite expressive scents. There's white wine, club soda, pistachio and spices. The taste follows up very well. This is an old-fashioned whisky with a nice maltiness, some dried fuitiness and smoke. The aftertaste is kind of short and doesn't bring much to the table, but other than that it's a perfectly swell dram.
A nice old bottling: 6.5
Dufftown 8yo 40% OB
Another one from back in the 80's. An austere nose, not much to get excited about, just like any cheap blend. The taste is once again very rancid, bad spirits all the way, only thing saving it is a slight burning sensation right after swallowing. Actually, the aftertaste isn't that bad, it's quite alright and reminds me of some of the younger versions from this distillery. But other than that it's kind of off.
I guess it's a victim of it's time: 2.5
Dufftown 18yo 1979-1997 46% Murray McDavid
A very dark sherried malt from this little talked about distillery. Seriously oaky and nutty odors here, very exciting. Its very dry, phenol, really really sherried, but no sweetness at all. It's so dry it seems a bit lifeless, maybe some water will do some good. Indeed it's good, and it gets a bit sweet and some sour fruits. This wasn't bad at all, but I think a higher abv would do it very good.
If you like a real sherry-monster: 5.5
I believe that Singleton doesn't really have anything to do with what kind of whisky, as I've also tried Singleton of Auchroisk and there are no obvious similarities between the two. So anyway, its just a regular 12yo OB then. Smells very full-bodied, aromatic, vanilla, cranberries, leather, oak and orange marmalade. The taste is undeniably lighter, a bit oaky, after eight, bourbony and floral. The aftertaste is short and reminds me somewhat of some OB Glengoynes I've tried, Tamnavulin?
A nice malt but far from generous tastewise: 4.5
Dufftown 10yo 40% OB
One from back in the days, I guess a late 70's or early 80's bottling. This one stands a bit apart from the last two as it has some quite expressive scents. There's white wine, club soda, pistachio and spices. The taste follows up very well. This is an old-fashioned whisky with a nice maltiness, some dried fuitiness and smoke. The aftertaste is kind of short and doesn't bring much to the table, but other than that it's a perfectly swell dram.
A nice old bottling: 6.5
Dufftown 8yo 40% OB
Another one from back in the 80's. An austere nose, not much to get excited about, just like any cheap blend. The taste is once again very rancid, bad spirits all the way, only thing saving it is a slight burning sensation right after swallowing. Actually, the aftertaste isn't that bad, it's quite alright and reminds me of some of the younger versions from this distillery. But other than that it's kind of off.
I guess it's a victim of it's time: 2.5
Dufftown 18yo 1979-1997 46% Murray McDavid
A very dark sherried malt from this little talked about distillery. Seriously oaky and nutty odors here, very exciting. Its very dry, phenol, really really sherried, but no sweetness at all. It's so dry it seems a bit lifeless, maybe some water will do some good. Indeed it's good, and it gets a bit sweet and some sour fruits. This wasn't bad at all, but I think a higher abv would do it very good.
If you like a real sherry-monster: 5.5
onsdag 21. juli 2010
3 Blair Athols tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Blair Athol 21yo 46% Cadenhead's
Another bourbon-matured highlander, this time from Cadenhead's, I have had some good experiences with Blair Athol, but I have to admit I'm kind of on unknown territory on this one. Colour is intense yellow, almost green. It smells grassy, sweet, vanilla, applejuice and liquorice. The taste is fantastic, sweet, vanilla, lemon, sugary, malt syrup, pepper and unripe red apples. The aftertaste is peppery, a bit dry and very sweet, grape juice.
A bit of water gives it an even more round flavour.
Blair Athol, anything but your usual malt: 9
Blair Athol 8yo 40% Arthur Bell & Co
A bottling from the 70's, slightly evaporated. A soft and refreshing nose, woodlands. A very nice and smoky, mild cheddary taste. It's a classic light-smoky and easy drinking malt, actually it's far better than the new F&F bottlings by Diageo from this distillery. The aftertaste is like sauna air, hot and oaky.
Good stuff from the old days: 6
Blair Athol 12yo 43% OB Flora and Fauna
Blair Athol doesn't bring much single malts to the market, so this is interesting. The odors are very rich and strong, lots of good sweetness, like in some tawny ports. Seems sophisticated. The taste extends my first impression for a while, then goes over in a more woody and burnt notion. Give a bit water and I find a bitter smokiness coming on.
Different in many ways: 6.5
Another bourbon-matured highlander, this time from Cadenhead's, I have had some good experiences with Blair Athol, but I have to admit I'm kind of on unknown territory on this one. Colour is intense yellow, almost green. It smells grassy, sweet, vanilla, applejuice and liquorice. The taste is fantastic, sweet, vanilla, lemon, sugary, malt syrup, pepper and unripe red apples. The aftertaste is peppery, a bit dry and very sweet, grape juice.
A bit of water gives it an even more round flavour.
Blair Athol, anything but your usual malt: 9
Blair Athol 8yo 40% Arthur Bell & Co
A bottling from the 70's, slightly evaporated. A soft and refreshing nose, woodlands. A very nice and smoky, mild cheddary taste. It's a classic light-smoky and easy drinking malt, actually it's far better than the new F&F bottlings by Diageo from this distillery. The aftertaste is like sauna air, hot and oaky.
Good stuff from the old days: 6
Blair Athol 12yo 43% OB Flora and Fauna
Blair Athol doesn't bring much single malts to the market, so this is interesting. The odors are very rich and strong, lots of good sweetness, like in some tawny ports. Seems sophisticated. The taste extends my first impression for a while, then goes over in a more woody and burnt notion. Give a bit water and I find a bitter smokiness coming on.
Different in many ways: 6.5
torsdag 10. juni 2010
3 Tormores tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Tormore 12yo 43% OB
A french speaking label, either this is abv-adjusted for the french market or it's an older standard version. I'll put my money on the older version as the Tormore aren't a very prominent whisky in france. It smells fresh, caramel, honey, cinnamon and red apples. The taste is very sweet, grapes, plums, sweets, a bit minty and floral. It's first of all a fresh and clean whisky, but the aftertaste is a bit off. Some burnt notes, leaves me with a bitter taste. All in all a good malt though.
An everyday malt for lightweight connoisseurs: 5.5
Tormore 12yo 1990-2002 65.9% Blackadder Raw Cask cask#1964
A Tormore above 65%, just when I thought I'd seen it all... Tormore is a nice distillery, no doubt, but can it's light speyside flavours handle this strenght? The nose is special to say the least, magic mushrooms and paint thinner, a trip for sure! The taste is extremely dry and oaky, but with a very strong aftertaste of applecore and grain. What I dislike about the raw Cask serie of Blackadder is that it almost always contain a big part of cask sediments. Now, with water it becomes a bit salty and peppery. Very nice actually. An easy, strong and charming whisky.
Not too bad, but I wish they'd given it more time in the cask: 6.5
Tormore 10yo 40% OB
An 80's bottling, 2 years younger than today's standard bottling. It gets misty when poured, almost like wheat beer. First it's pretty flowery, with some burnt sugar. The taste is mild and round, camphorcandy, caramel liqueur, candyfloss, summer breeze and freshly fried pancakes.
A nice summermalt: 7
A french speaking label, either this is abv-adjusted for the french market or it's an older standard version. I'll put my money on the older version as the Tormore aren't a very prominent whisky in france. It smells fresh, caramel, honey, cinnamon and red apples. The taste is very sweet, grapes, plums, sweets, a bit minty and floral. It's first of all a fresh and clean whisky, but the aftertaste is a bit off. Some burnt notes, leaves me with a bitter taste. All in all a good malt though.
An everyday malt for lightweight connoisseurs: 5.5
Tormore 12yo 1990-2002 65.9% Blackadder Raw Cask cask#1964
A Tormore above 65%, just when I thought I'd seen it all... Tormore is a nice distillery, no doubt, but can it's light speyside flavours handle this strenght? The nose is special to say the least, magic mushrooms and paint thinner, a trip for sure! The taste is extremely dry and oaky, but with a very strong aftertaste of applecore and grain. What I dislike about the raw Cask serie of Blackadder is that it almost always contain a big part of cask sediments. Now, with water it becomes a bit salty and peppery. Very nice actually. An easy, strong and charming whisky.
Not too bad, but I wish they'd given it more time in the cask: 6.5
Tormore 10yo 40% OB
An 80's bottling, 2 years younger than today's standard bottling. It gets misty when poured, almost like wheat beer. First it's pretty flowery, with some burnt sugar. The taste is mild and round, camphorcandy, caramel liqueur, candyfloss, summer breeze and freshly fried pancakes.
A nice summermalt: 7
søndag 6. juni 2010
2 Glentauchers tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glentauchers 11yo 1985-1996 43% Signatory for Thurso & District Round Table
An IB bottling for a private company from a distillery rarely bottled as single malt. Intense bourbon on the nose, a bit grassy and spirity. Very sweet, lots of honey mustard, and some grapefruit. These notes of honey mustard are really appetizing, something to have before dinner? The aftertaste is a bit burning, but not too much. It's a nicely balanced malt, just lacks a bit complexity. The honey mustard palate alone gives this an honourable score in my book.
A flavoursome youngster, one to start with: 6.5
Glentauchers 19yo 1979-1998 40% Gordon & MacPhail
Another little rarity from G&M tonight. Very spirity and pungent odors, reminds me of strong potato spirit. Perhaps a reason why it isn't bottled that much as a single? It's has also a very strong taste, once again aqua vitae scandinavian style, oatmeal, fish scales, oil stain and flushing fluid.
Horrible stuff: 2
An IB bottling for a private company from a distillery rarely bottled as single malt. Intense bourbon on the nose, a bit grassy and spirity. Very sweet, lots of honey mustard, and some grapefruit. These notes of honey mustard are really appetizing, something to have before dinner? The aftertaste is a bit burning, but not too much. It's a nicely balanced malt, just lacks a bit complexity. The honey mustard palate alone gives this an honourable score in my book.
A flavoursome youngster, one to start with: 6.5
Glentauchers 19yo 1979-1998 40% Gordon & MacPhail
Another little rarity from G&M tonight. Very spirity and pungent odors, reminds me of strong potato spirit. Perhaps a reason why it isn't bottled that much as a single? It's has also a very strong taste, once again aqua vitae scandinavian style, oatmeal, fish scales, oil stain and flushing fluid.
Horrible stuff: 2
mandag 31. mai 2010
2 Convalmores tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Convalmore 14yo 1983-1997 43% Signatory Vintage cask# 1639 btl.1530/2460
Convalmore are another distillery now probably out of function for good, and therefor its whisky are reaching abnormally high prices in comparison to its usual quality. It has some nice odors, very fresh and herbal, reminds me somewhat of Balblair. The taste is all what I didn't expect, soft, honey, marmelade, sweet berries, soft fruits and syrup. A sweet, light whisky. Like some Highland Parks of older days. I know many would say, hey, this is not a man's whisky, aarrr (accompanied by sound of hands beating thorax areas). On the other hand, I find it a rare delight, a real dessert treasure.
A sweet escapade: 8
Convalmore 12yo 1969-1981 40% CC G&M
Convalmore is strong, very strong indeed, it litterally burns the nostrils. It tastes like some cough mixture, burnt astute and camphorcandy. Very special this one, works as a dessert malt after a good meal, but alone?
Hard to truly enjoy: 5
Convalmore are another distillery now probably out of function for good, and therefor its whisky are reaching abnormally high prices in comparison to its usual quality. It has some nice odors, very fresh and herbal, reminds me somewhat of Balblair. The taste is all what I didn't expect, soft, honey, marmelade, sweet berries, soft fruits and syrup. A sweet, light whisky. Like some Highland Parks of older days. I know many would say, hey, this is not a man's whisky, aarrr (accompanied by sound of hands beating thorax areas). On the other hand, I find it a rare delight, a real dessert treasure.
A sweet escapade: 8
Convalmore 12yo 1969-1981 40% CC G&M
Convalmore is strong, very strong indeed, it litterally burns the nostrils. It tastes like some cough mixture, burnt astute and camphorcandy. Very special this one, works as a dessert malt after a good meal, but alone?
Hard to truly enjoy: 5
4 Inchgowers tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Inchgower 12yo 1980-1993 43% Master of Malt cask# 13425 btl.55/240
A limited bottling of the rarely drunk but often very good Inchgower. Master of malt is an IB whos doing well on the continent. Here there are definately some sherry notes, typical refill sherry taste, an instant dryness, a soft middle of fruits like watermelon and kiwi, before it ends eith a short and peppery finish. Oh, and yes, the nose is phenolic and peppery, much more robust than the flavours. A fine whisky, maybe sort of a gentleman's treat, but for me, it's just a bit too modest and polite.
A balanced whisky: 6
Inchgower 15yo 43% Signatory Vintage cask# 12465 btl.299/1580
A bourbon-matured Inchgower with just about anything going on on the nose, lemon, almonds, barbeque-sauce, marzipan, burnt sugar, vanilla and caramillized apples. The taste is unfortunately a bit softer, I'm not getting much out of this it's just very mild, some hints of pears. Let's add water. Water lifts it just a bit, and some of the burnt sugar comes out as well as some pepper notes and vanilla, although it's far from enough to make up for the nosing-tasting mis-expectation. The aftertaste is also quite bland.
I've tasted much better from Inchgower: 4
Inchgower 36yo 1966-2002 67.6% SMWS
A 36yo with over 67% tells me of a tight cask, this one is sherry matured too. I hope it's not one of those sulphur-monsters again. The scents of this is absolutely amazing. Caramel, honey, barbeque, salt, cuban cigars and oak. The first taste is very sweet, but even more dry and intense, it's as if it begs for water. I'll give it some. With some water it gets spicier and a little more aromatic, I'm getting the same numbness in my mouth as I do after smoking a strong cigar. As for aftertaste I can't find too much, but I don't have to either, as the taste just goes on forever.
A very concentrated flavour, but very nice indeed: 7
Inchgower 12yo 40% OB
This one I guess must be from the 80's hence the labelpolicy of describing it as "A de Luxe Malt", instead of Single. It's very tan, lots of additional colouring I suppose. It smells actually beautifully balanced between smoke and sweetness, malt and port. The taste comes off as a bit plastic unfortunately, plums with coughdrops, or dried cherries with vinegar.
Try it after a good meal: 6
A limited bottling of the rarely drunk but often very good Inchgower. Master of malt is an IB whos doing well on the continent. Here there are definately some sherry notes, typical refill sherry taste, an instant dryness, a soft middle of fruits like watermelon and kiwi, before it ends eith a short and peppery finish. Oh, and yes, the nose is phenolic and peppery, much more robust than the flavours. A fine whisky, maybe sort of a gentleman's treat, but for me, it's just a bit too modest and polite.
A balanced whisky: 6
Inchgower 15yo 43% Signatory Vintage cask# 12465 btl.299/1580
A bourbon-matured Inchgower with just about anything going on on the nose, lemon, almonds, barbeque-sauce, marzipan, burnt sugar, vanilla and caramillized apples. The taste is unfortunately a bit softer, I'm not getting much out of this it's just very mild, some hints of pears. Let's add water. Water lifts it just a bit, and some of the burnt sugar comes out as well as some pepper notes and vanilla, although it's far from enough to make up for the nosing-tasting mis-expectation. The aftertaste is also quite bland.
I've tasted much better from Inchgower: 4
Inchgower 36yo 1966-2002 67.6% SMWS
A 36yo with over 67% tells me of a tight cask, this one is sherry matured too. I hope it's not one of those sulphur-monsters again. The scents of this is absolutely amazing. Caramel, honey, barbeque, salt, cuban cigars and oak. The first taste is very sweet, but even more dry and intense, it's as if it begs for water. I'll give it some. With some water it gets spicier and a little more aromatic, I'm getting the same numbness in my mouth as I do after smoking a strong cigar. As for aftertaste I can't find too much, but I don't have to either, as the taste just goes on forever.
A very concentrated flavour, but very nice indeed: 7
Inchgower 12yo 40% OB
This one I guess must be from the 80's hence the labelpolicy of describing it as "A de Luxe Malt", instead of Single. It's very tan, lots of additional colouring I suppose. It smells actually beautifully balanced between smoke and sweetness, malt and port. The taste comes off as a bit plastic unfortunately, plums with coughdrops, or dried cherries with vinegar.
Try it after a good meal: 6
torsdag 27. mai 2010
2 Inverlevens tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Inverleven 30yo 1977-2007 49.2% Signatory Vintage cask# 3603/3604 btl.64/279
Inverleven never were a widely recognized distillery, but again, it were rarely bottled at this age and strength. The nose is kind of perfumy but coastal, salty and rosy, hard to describe but it tells a lot.Give it some time and it becomes a bit mineral. The taste is peppery, a bit sweet, some vanilla, cedarwood, a bit like Springbank Claret. The aftertaste is a bit nippy, and burns quite a lot. I do enjoy it, but it seems far younger and less sophisticated than its age should predict.
No favourite of mine, but better than previous versions: 4.5
Inverleven 17yo 1990-2007 40% Gordon & Macphail
An almost transparent whisky makes me think of bourbonmaturation. Strange odor, minty, oaky, sulfur, and a touch of cinnamon. It tickles on the tip of the tounge, with liquorice, vanilla and honey. No aftertaste.
balanced, but very tamed: 5
Inverleven never were a widely recognized distillery, but again, it were rarely bottled at this age and strength. The nose is kind of perfumy but coastal, salty and rosy, hard to describe but it tells a lot.Give it some time and it becomes a bit mineral. The taste is peppery, a bit sweet, some vanilla, cedarwood, a bit like Springbank Claret. The aftertaste is a bit nippy, and burns quite a lot. I do enjoy it, but it seems far younger and less sophisticated than its age should predict.
No favourite of mine, but better than previous versions: 4.5
Inverleven 17yo 1990-2007 40% Gordon & Macphail
An almost transparent whisky makes me think of bourbonmaturation. Strange odor, minty, oaky, sulfur, and a touch of cinnamon. It tickles on the tip of the tounge, with liquorice, vanilla and honey. No aftertaste.
balanced, but very tamed: 5
lørdag 22. mai 2010
4 Benromachs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Benromach 18yo 1978-1996 43% Signatory Vintage cask# 244-245 btl.354/1800
A bourbonmatured Benromach at 18, it smells very spirity with some hints of oak. It seems to need some time to open up. After a while it's still very spirity. The taste is initially a bit minty and floral, but it fades soon and it all becomes spirity again. I'll add water. Water does it good, it becomes more drinkable and a bit sweeter, but not many other fragrances emerges. It strikes me as a very one-dimensional malt. Boring but not bland, strong but not characteristic, it's alright I guess but I recommend you use your money more wisely than to purchase this one.
At times a fun malt but not at this price and age: 3
Benromach NAS 40% OB
I had a blast with the "Peat Smoke" version the other day. How does the very pale no-age-stated standard compare? The label states hand-picked cask, I guess at a Nas 40% OB you gotta find alternative ways of stating uniqueness(?). By the colour I'd suggest this to be bourbon-matured, the nose confirms that although it's merely hints of bourbon plus some alcohol notes. The taste is quite light, with pretty straightforward bourbon notes and some vanilla. It's enjoyable, but gives me no thrills.
If you're new to malt whisky it's a good initiation malt: 4
Benromach 7yo 2000-2007 46% OB Peat Smoke
A strongly peated speyside malt is a, if not a new, at least a very untraditional project. The smell is lemony and sweet. Very straight-forward, not that smoky yet. The taste is again very sour, lemon or lime, and a bit of burnt wood, light smokiness. Now, it has a very smoky aftertaste, and that creating a big contrast to the fresh and tingling start.
A nice variation, a fine alternative to the peated islays: 6.5
Benromach 18yo 40% OB
Golden colour, smells spirity, like artificial colouring, alcohol ink, marcipan and smoked seabass with herbs. It tastes very herbal, like a dry Jägerschnaps, something for the germans? I'm getting freshness, mountain air, peppermints, mint leaves, and some blueberries. A fresh dram with the taste of mountainfruits, but lacks unfortunately bigtime on the aftertaste which is nonpresent.
A hunters delight?: 5
A bourbonmatured Benromach at 18, it smells very spirity with some hints of oak. It seems to need some time to open up. After a while it's still very spirity. The taste is initially a bit minty and floral, but it fades soon and it all becomes spirity again. I'll add water. Water does it good, it becomes more drinkable and a bit sweeter, but not many other fragrances emerges. It strikes me as a very one-dimensional malt. Boring but not bland, strong but not characteristic, it's alright I guess but I recommend you use your money more wisely than to purchase this one.
At times a fun malt but not at this price and age: 3
Benromach NAS 40% OB
I had a blast with the "Peat Smoke" version the other day. How does the very pale no-age-stated standard compare? The label states hand-picked cask, I guess at a Nas 40% OB you gotta find alternative ways of stating uniqueness(?). By the colour I'd suggest this to be bourbon-matured, the nose confirms that although it's merely hints of bourbon plus some alcohol notes. The taste is quite light, with pretty straightforward bourbon notes and some vanilla. It's enjoyable, but gives me no thrills.
If you're new to malt whisky it's a good initiation malt: 4
Benromach 7yo 2000-2007 46% OB Peat Smoke
A strongly peated speyside malt is a, if not a new, at least a very untraditional project. The smell is lemony and sweet. Very straight-forward, not that smoky yet. The taste is again very sour, lemon or lime, and a bit of burnt wood, light smokiness. Now, it has a very smoky aftertaste, and that creating a big contrast to the fresh and tingling start.
A nice variation, a fine alternative to the peated islays: 6.5
Benromach 18yo 40% OB
Golden colour, smells spirity, like artificial colouring, alcohol ink, marcipan and smoked seabass with herbs. It tastes very herbal, like a dry Jägerschnaps, something for the germans? I'm getting freshness, mountain air, peppermints, mint leaves, and some blueberries. A fresh dram with the taste of mountainfruits, but lacks unfortunately bigtime on the aftertaste which is nonpresent.
A hunters delight?: 5
tirsdag 27. april 2010
2 Royal Lochnagars tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Royal Lochnagar 10yo 1998-2009 46% Signatory Vintage cask#613
Royal Lochnagar has always been a whisky with major sherry components, as I remember. This is a bourbon-matured bottling. The nose is full of vanilla, very sweet and pleasant. The taste has three layers, first it's sweet and full of vanilla, then it becomes very dry and sort of bitter before it ends with a medium long and very distinctive peppery aftertaste. This has some sort of complex lightness if that makes any sense. A straightforward malt with just that little extra.
I think this could be a very successful mainstream malt: 6.5
Royal Lochnagar 12yo 40% OB
I find the odors, in this often ignored malt, quite exciting actually. Some citrussy notes, some honey, a bit rum, and wonderful dark chocolate. The taste is mildly spiced with hints of juniper berries, liquorice and a mild cigar. The finish brings sweetness of carrots and apricot tea to the table. Unfortunately it is a bit too much, very many flavours are combined and it is hard to find a true character.
All in all a good experience: 5.5
Royal Lochnagar has always been a whisky with major sherry components, as I remember. This is a bourbon-matured bottling. The nose is full of vanilla, very sweet and pleasant. The taste has three layers, first it's sweet and full of vanilla, then it becomes very dry and sort of bitter before it ends with a medium long and very distinctive peppery aftertaste. This has some sort of complex lightness if that makes any sense. A straightforward malt with just that little extra.
I think this could be a very successful mainstream malt: 6.5
Royal Lochnagar 12yo 40% OB
I find the odors, in this often ignored malt, quite exciting actually. Some citrussy notes, some honey, a bit rum, and wonderful dark chocolate. The taste is mildly spiced with hints of juniper berries, liquorice and a mild cigar. The finish brings sweetness of carrots and apricot tea to the table. Unfortunately it is a bit too much, very many flavours are combined and it is hard to find a true character.
All in all a good experience: 5.5
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