Ledaig 12yo 46.3% OB
Both Bunnahabhain and Ledaig/Tobermory have introduced us to new OB's this year at 46.3%, or perhaps it was late last year? Let's see if it improves it? It smells sweet and lightly peaty, not unlike the Ardbeg Blasda. The flavors are quite heavy, lots of peaty smoke and some dirty rum notes. It lacks some maltiness for me to enjoy it thoroughly, some flowers and weeds, bitter stuff. After a bit of time, lets say 15 minutes, some dark chocolate, strong coffee and sweet almonds appears. Now it talks more of my language, definitely an improvement to old NAS version.
Fine combination of a good spirit and massive peat: 6.5
Tobermory 14yo 1996-2010 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Tobermory hass recently had a boom due to some very well received versions of their peated malt Ledaig. The unpeated version is one you hear far less about, so let's see if the spirit can deliver without peat. It smells coastal, nice salty, briny, crystal salt, cod liver and lime skin. The taste is peppery, complex, salty, sweet, caviar and cream, a wonderful blast of different flavors. The aftertaste is long and peppery, with pistachio and cannabis (relax, I've only tried a bun in amsterdam). A very well made malt with lots of characteristics.
A damn good dram: 7.5
Tobermory 11yo 1996-2007 60.1% Alambic Classique x/60 btls.
A very limited edition this one, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's just because it's so bad they wouldn't continue. I guess it's from a barrel or quarter? Does size matter tastewise? I'm sure it does. It's almost as pale as water, probably bourbon wood. The smell is very spirity. The taste is actually quite simple, sweet, bourbony, vanilla and pepper. It's so straight-forward I'll add water right away. For a whisky at this high % abv I think it's weird to be as light and easy as any other bourbon-matured diluted 40% malt. The water brings out some more bourbon notes and gives a bit longer and drying finish. Other than that it's flawless but quite uneventful.
A limited edition everyday malt: 5.5
Ledaig 11yo 1993-2004 43% Signatory Vintage cask 125
Today I'll try three alternative peated malts, which means they're not from Islay. This one, stated on bottle comes from Ledaig Distillery, which actually isn't a distillery, it's just a peated version of Tobermory. It has a nice coastal smell, and of course some peat, 35ppm to be excact. Initially it does taste like the soft and mild Tobermory, but when the peat hits it's actually very nice. Unfortunately it does get kind of one-dimensional then as all the distillery character disappears and all I'm left with is peat.
One to use as a peat initiation, it lacks many many other things: 5
Ledaig 9yo 1990-1999 40% Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & MacPhail
The peated version from Tobermory Distillery, I've not heard too much about it yet. It has a very nice and perfumy smell, like a male cologne, don't know what to expect tastewise. It is sweet and sour, like dried oranges, it's hard to recognize the peat. The aftertaste is long and minty, like mint drops. With some water it gets more peppery, but doesn't improve to much.
I'll have a regular Tobermory instead, thanks: 2.5
Tobermory NAS 40% OB
So this is a version of Ledaig without the peat, from Tobermory distillery, let's see... A very light fragrance, some cinnamon and bag of unpolished rice. The taste is much the same with some dried berries at first, but it's totally lacking any finish at all. It reminds me of Chivas Regal 12 in a way. I think a cask strength version perhaps could have raised my eyebrows, but money talks in this industry...
Comfy grannymalt: 4
Ledaig 14yo 59.6% Cadenhead's
It strikes me as a bit weird that a whisky of this strength has almost no fragrance on the nosing at all. Perhaps a faint hint of freshly cut grass. Anyhow, the taste has exciting hints og burnt sugar at first, then a robust and massive expression of dark chocolate in the finish. An absolute delight.
Different and enjoyable: 6.5
lørdag 12. mars 2011
torsdag 10. mars 2011
3 Balmenachs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Balmenach 10yo 43% Signatory Scottish Wildlife
Balmenach's another one that I haven't ranked too high in the past, but I have a couple lying around that I'm looking forward to try. Smells spirity, burnt sugar, nothing that gets me excited before tasting. The flavors are better, but very neutral, almost like a gin tonic only less sweet. This is like some middle ground blend, not bad, just lacking any real flavors. Could've been just any other spirit.
allright spirit: 3
Balmenach 10yo 43% Scottish Wildlife SV
Second Wildlife version today then, maybe third if you count the eagle. Anyway, Balmenach is a distillery hard to come by as they don't seem to produce any regular OB's? I've got this one and a 12yo Deerstalker and I guess that's about as close as you get then? Golden colour, The smell is of some harsh liquorice you know, the bitter ones and wet woolen carpets. The taste is spirity, just spirity, like some molasse spirit. Spirity aftertaste as well.
Youngish and spirity, new-make style: 1.5
Balmenach 16yo 1971-1987 40% CC G&M
I'll do 3 71's Chosen by the Connoisseurs today, let's find out if that's agreeable. This one is sort of a rarity, not much Single Malt from Balmenach is to be found. It smells nice and cozy, finnish sauna, juniper on fire and danish sausages. It does taste a bit withdrawn, some salt, mussels, with a bitter and charismatic finish.
Much flavour for a CC: 5
Balmenach's another one that I haven't ranked too high in the past, but I have a couple lying around that I'm looking forward to try. Smells spirity, burnt sugar, nothing that gets me excited before tasting. The flavors are better, but very neutral, almost like a gin tonic only less sweet. This is like some middle ground blend, not bad, just lacking any real flavors. Could've been just any other spirit.
allright spirit: 3
Balmenach 10yo 43% Scottish Wildlife SV
Second Wildlife version today then, maybe third if you count the eagle. Anyway, Balmenach is a distillery hard to come by as they don't seem to produce any regular OB's? I've got this one and a 12yo Deerstalker and I guess that's about as close as you get then? Golden colour, The smell is of some harsh liquorice you know, the bitter ones and wet woolen carpets. The taste is spirity, just spirity, like some molasse spirit. Spirity aftertaste as well.
Youngish and spirity, new-make style: 1.5
Balmenach 16yo 1971-1987 40% CC G&M
I'll do 3 71's Chosen by the Connoisseurs today, let's find out if that's agreeable. This one is sort of a rarity, not much Single Malt from Balmenach is to be found. It smells nice and cozy, finnish sauna, juniper on fire and danish sausages. It does taste a bit withdrawn, some salt, mussels, with a bitter and charismatic finish.
Much flavour for a CC: 5
onsdag 9. mars 2011
6 Glen Morays tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glen Moray 10yo 40% OB
A flat bottle similar to those of OB's bottles by G&M a decade or two back. Label seems weary so it could be from about the same time. Another pale one this, Smells of apple vinegar and cinnamon, a nice combination although again very light. The taste is bitter and raw, unpleasant. This taste of rotten ropes and iron kills it dead, perhaps some water can mellow it down a bit. With water added it gets a bit sweeter, but still there's these weird rotten woody flavors.
All in all a disappointment: 2
Glen Moray 27yo 1962-1989 55.1% Cadenhead's
This one I've been looking forward to all week, as Glen Moray is far from a favourite amongst the IB's, rare to be found at CS and at an age above 18yo. I don't know for how long the Glen Moray distillery have matured their whisky exclusively in wine casks, if for long it's going to be something new, if not, an extremely rare occasion. The colour is pretty dark, bronze-like. It smells even better than the Fettercairn, definately some sort of wine cask. it's sweet, raisins, plums, cooked apples, fresh fruits, apple cake straight from oven, cinnamon, it's absolutely beautiful. The taste is at first sweet, many of the flavours on the nose, but then it sort of gets a bit bitter and dies. Water brings a bit of life and gives way to hints of bitter red wine on the finish.
A pleasant experience: 7.5
Glen Moray 12yo 40% OB
I'm doing a bit of time travelling today and trying some older bottlings that probably never really had their glory days. This Glen Moray is not the same as the current version, but an older, paler version from the 70's or 80's. The smell is huge, spicy, malt syrup, pekanese duck soho style, barbeque, not that winey, but still a bit acidic. I'm tempted to believe the %abv have increased a bit in this one due to evaporation. The taste is very grainy, woody, some peppers, water please! Just a small drop of water makes it as soft as it gets, not unlike the 5yo Glen Grant. This is an either/or whisky. It can suite both the masochist and the finer connoisseur, but it probably won't blow any of them away.
No ace but very different from the current version: 4
Glen Moray 12yo 40% OB for Japan
One from Japan or something, at least if I judge the signs on the bottle right. So I'm only assuming this to be 40%. What I know is that it's, like almost all other Glen Moray OB's, matured in some sort of white wine cask. The smell is kind of boring, reminds me slightly of champagne, or it's actually just like champagne. The taste is very easy, nothing to complain about, but again amazingly boring. Hard to recognize any flavours at all except maybe some dry white wine. It's funny that I need to dilute a 40% to find flavours, but with water some earthy notes appears, but the aftertaste is still silent.
Nothing to get excited about I'm afraid: 4
Glen Moray 16yo 40% OB
When I tried the 8yo I thought it was too sweet and lacked complexity, let's see on double age. It definately has much of the same concentrated sweetness, with some more more oakiness. The taste is acidic and spirity, some canned pear and coconutmilk. Unfortunately there aren't much to be said about the finish, some drops of water helps a little smokiness to diverge.
Powerful at first, then it dies: 6
Glen Moray 8yo 40% OB
Young and sweet, but far too sweet for my taste buds. Taste a bit of ripe pears and non-fizzy softdrinks. Perhaps a whisky that can satisfy curious newbies, but lacks really both taste and substance.
Needs a couple more years in the cask: 2
A flat bottle similar to those of OB's bottles by G&M a decade or two back. Label seems weary so it could be from about the same time. Another pale one this, Smells of apple vinegar and cinnamon, a nice combination although again very light. The taste is bitter and raw, unpleasant. This taste of rotten ropes and iron kills it dead, perhaps some water can mellow it down a bit. With water added it gets a bit sweeter, but still there's these weird rotten woody flavors.
All in all a disappointment: 2
Glen Moray 27yo 1962-1989 55.1% Cadenhead's
This one I've been looking forward to all week, as Glen Moray is far from a favourite amongst the IB's, rare to be found at CS and at an age above 18yo. I don't know for how long the Glen Moray distillery have matured their whisky exclusively in wine casks, if for long it's going to be something new, if not, an extremely rare occasion. The colour is pretty dark, bronze-like. It smells even better than the Fettercairn, definately some sort of wine cask. it's sweet, raisins, plums, cooked apples, fresh fruits, apple cake straight from oven, cinnamon, it's absolutely beautiful. The taste is at first sweet, many of the flavours on the nose, but then it sort of gets a bit bitter and dies. Water brings a bit of life and gives way to hints of bitter red wine on the finish.
A pleasant experience: 7.5
Glen Moray 12yo 40% OB
I'm doing a bit of time travelling today and trying some older bottlings that probably never really had their glory days. This Glen Moray is not the same as the current version, but an older, paler version from the 70's or 80's. The smell is huge, spicy, malt syrup, pekanese duck soho style, barbeque, not that winey, but still a bit acidic. I'm tempted to believe the %abv have increased a bit in this one due to evaporation. The taste is very grainy, woody, some peppers, water please! Just a small drop of water makes it as soft as it gets, not unlike the 5yo Glen Grant. This is an either/or whisky. It can suite both the masochist and the finer connoisseur, but it probably won't blow any of them away.
No ace but very different from the current version: 4
Glen Moray 12yo 40% OB for Japan
One from Japan or something, at least if I judge the signs on the bottle right. So I'm only assuming this to be 40%. What I know is that it's, like almost all other Glen Moray OB's, matured in some sort of white wine cask. The smell is kind of boring, reminds me slightly of champagne, or it's actually just like champagne. The taste is very easy, nothing to complain about, but again amazingly boring. Hard to recognize any flavours at all except maybe some dry white wine. It's funny that I need to dilute a 40% to find flavours, but with water some earthy notes appears, but the aftertaste is still silent.
Nothing to get excited about I'm afraid: 4
Glen Moray 16yo 40% OB
When I tried the 8yo I thought it was too sweet and lacked complexity, let's see on double age. It definately has much of the same concentrated sweetness, with some more more oakiness. The taste is acidic and spirity, some canned pear and coconutmilk. Unfortunately there aren't much to be said about the finish, some drops of water helps a little smokiness to diverge.
Powerful at first, then it dies: 6
Glen Moray 8yo 40% OB
Young and sweet, but far too sweet for my taste buds. Taste a bit of ripe pears and non-fizzy softdrinks. Perhaps a whisky that can satisfy curious newbies, but lacks really both taste and substance.
Needs a couple more years in the cask: 2
3 Tullibardines tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Tullibardine NAS 1993-? 40% OB
I'm doing some youngsters today, this one surely is the oldest of the two. I remember the 10yo and 12yo Tullibardine as kind of futile whiskies, so hopefully this will boost the sale of standard OB's down in Blackford. White wine colour, The nose os floral and extremely light, a summers malt? If nosing this blind I'd never guess it was a whisky. The taste is slightly oaky, lemon peel, fresh and sour, lemonade sundae and bitter riesling. A pleasant surprise , pretty complex for an unpeated and unsherried highlander at only 40%. The aftertaste is peppery and a bit drying but not too much.
A whisky to have with scallops?: 6.5
Tullibardine NAS 1993-? 40% OB
A lighter whisky than the last two, light yellow with some green notes, can that be good? No wonder it comes in a green bottle. This one smells a bit grassy, some coastal notes, but again a bit on the bland side. The taste is nice, a bit minty, fresh, sushi, soy beans, cedar wood and earthy notes. The aftertasteis very nice, minty and earthy, just a bit too earthy and bitter for my taste, but I'm sure there are many out there who would appreciate this one as a light aperitif malt.
It has something a bit unique: 4
Tullibardine 10yo 40% OB
Tullibardine has still to really make it's mark among the modern single malts. It reminds me of liquoricefudge and grass, typical smells for whiskies that perhaps haven't matured long enough. Very light-flavoured, dried herbs, smoked salmon, burnt clay, very light and dry. Could have done well if less diluted.
A pretty bland experience: 3.5
I'm doing some youngsters today, this one surely is the oldest of the two. I remember the 10yo and 12yo Tullibardine as kind of futile whiskies, so hopefully this will boost the sale of standard OB's down in Blackford. White wine colour, The nose os floral and extremely light, a summers malt? If nosing this blind I'd never guess it was a whisky. The taste is slightly oaky, lemon peel, fresh and sour, lemonade sundae and bitter riesling. A pleasant surprise , pretty complex for an unpeated and unsherried highlander at only 40%. The aftertaste is peppery and a bit drying but not too much.
A whisky to have with scallops?: 6.5
Tullibardine NAS 1993-? 40% OB
A lighter whisky than the last two, light yellow with some green notes, can that be good? No wonder it comes in a green bottle. This one smells a bit grassy, some coastal notes, but again a bit on the bland side. The taste is nice, a bit minty, fresh, sushi, soy beans, cedar wood and earthy notes. The aftertasteis very nice, minty and earthy, just a bit too earthy and bitter for my taste, but I'm sure there are many out there who would appreciate this one as a light aperitif malt.
It has something a bit unique: 4
Tullibardine 10yo 40% OB
Tullibardine has still to really make it's mark among the modern single malts. It reminds me of liquoricefudge and grass, typical smells for whiskies that perhaps haven't matured long enough. Very light-flavoured, dried herbs, smoked salmon, burnt clay, very light and dry. Could have done well if less diluted.
A pretty bland experience: 3.5
fredag 4. mars 2011
10 Springbanks tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Springbank 23yo 53.7% James MacArthur's
My problem with Springbank is the fact that they produce a peaty quality malt that all to often is put in some weird wine cask. Gaja Barolo anyone? But when presented at a high strength in a traditional bourbon cask I often find it to be amazing. The label says nothing about what cask(s) this has endured during its lifetime, but the colour is pale and the abv is high. The smells is peaty, herbal, burnt wool, farm, barnyard, salty. The taste is Sweet, peppery, slightly peaty with lots of fruity notes, honeycomb, melon, sweet green grapes, pears, perfect, just perfect. This is too good to criticize for lacking puch. It's just a perfect summers dram, or all year dram for that matter.
Perfect Springbank: 10
Springbank 16yo 1993-2010 52.4% OB Private Bottling
From a second fill sherry hogshead, light orange hue, let's see how much influence the sherry has during a second fill maturation. Smells peppery, flinty, a bit peaty, licorice allsorts, not much sherry influence that I can detect. The palate is sweet and slightly peppery, almost a bit bland. Its saved by a finish of peat and peppery notes, but all in all this is a pretty unilateral whisky, not much going on.
Less complex than any standard OB Springbank: 3
Springbank 10yo 57% OB
I tried the Longrow 100proof the other day, and it was amazing, lets see how this less peated variant functions. It smells of sour candy, soap, cream, dried berries, burnt matches, chilli and dark tap ale. The taste is rustic, kind of old-fashioned kirschwein, red wine, tannins, goat cheese and chili peppers, nothing short of perfect if you like your red wine dry. And I do!! The aftertaste is just a bit too much on liquorice, I wish they'd given this another year in the cask(s).
Great springbank: 8
Springbank 21yo 46% OB
I'm taking the plunge with some finer older whiskies, and rarities indeed, this sunday. First of is this rather rare, and quite expensive 21yo Springbank. Older Springbanks are reaching astronomical prices nowadays so get your hands on some before it's to late and they start producing more like Bruichladdich. This smells sweet, honeyed, camphor, ginger, reminds me of older more sherried versions of Highland Park, nice!!! The taste has sort of a lowland-style, burns the throat, but not peaty or anything, just sourness and heavy spices. It needs a wee drop of water. Elegant and rustic, reminds me of the air in some german cities, Trier, Münster... Fresh but with a true prescence of older days if it makes any sense.
I'll have this over Hazelburn and Longrow any day: 7
Springbank 15yo 46% OB
I love the fact that a place so little known for good whiskies as Campbeltown has such a highly regarded whisky as Springbank. Let's try this one then. It needs some time to open up, but when it does it's all on citrus and oak, very complex but still subtle scents. The taste is fresh, cinnamon, white pepper, sour cream, a fantastic taste it is indeed. The aftertaste is again on lemon, with a nice addition of some peppery notes. I guess I like the good old Springbank a whole lot compared to the Longrow, Hazelburn and whatever else is produced there these days.
Marvellous malt: 8.5
Springbank NAS 46% OB CV
This one is bottled in 2010, what CV means I have no idea, only that it's a whisky without age statement. A pretty strong smell, almost like liquorice and alcohol. Seaman's Shot maybe, infused with more alcohol? This is a peppery malt, pepper, pepper and even more pepper. You could garnish a steak with this and some salt. Addition of H2O, still an extremely peppery profile, and an aftertaste that just goes on with even more pepper, an some sour notes at the very end. It's a very uninspiring malt as there's not much going on, but also hard to put the finger on any particular flaws.
A clean and fun malt, but not for the connoisseur I'd say: 5.5
Springbank 10yo 46% OB
First of all, this is far lighter than any of the other expressions I've ever tasted from this distillery, I'd say it's even lighter than the Hazelburn! The taste is very sweet, red apples, iced sugar, pears, salt water and baking soda. The aftertaste is unfortunately nowhere to be found. If tried blind I'd put money on this was a tripple distilled whisky. This is a dangerous malt, as I could easily drink far too much in one evening.
Nice and clean fruitiness: 5.5
Hazelburn 12yo 46% OB
Hazelburn is a pretty new tripple distilled whisky from the Springbank distillery. Very dark, red, sweet, sherry matured? It's sweet, delicate, with some pear, glazed fruits, honey melon and applejuice. Much of the finish is very tame, due to the tripple distillation I guess.
A very gentle Springbank: 6
Springbank 10yo 50% The Golden Cask
A bottling from "The Golden Cask", of which I'm not familiar, looks a bit like the old Signatory-labels. It's very mild, reminds me on the nose about a young Glen Scotia. The taste is also awfully nice and mild, some red onions, mild chilli and the brown parts on the slamon cutlet. The aftertaste is nicely smoked and lifts my overall impression of this malt.
A soulless springbank: 4
Longrow 10yo 57% OB
Springbanks highest peated malt at 57%abv, I've heard good rumours about this one. Last high strength Lowngrow I tried was the Gaja Barolo finish, that was a very pretentious piece of malt whisky. Perhaps this one will be better. The odors are there, earthy, smoky, oaky, vanilla and apple cores. Honest and good, no funky wood here. The taste is very peaty at first, usually the peat comes in the finish, but here's a butter, strawberry, caramel and leather aftertaste that lifts this from good to very good. An honest whisky that I believe is best when had in a bourbon cask, and not dilluted too much.
Not a shelf-display malt, but fantastic in a glass: 7.5
Longrow 7yo 2000-2008 55.8% OB CS
This one is double matured in bourbon and a last month and a half in Gaja Barolo wood. It's a very strong version. It has a very dry, strong, acidic and phenolic smell, Gaja Barolo? The taste is very dry and concentrated, do need water. Then it seems the Double maturation has paid off, as it's initially very sweet with some vanilla until the dryness takes over again.
What would this be, given more time in the cask?: 5.5
Longrow 10yo 1996-2006 46% OB
This is the peated version of Springbank I guess, the nose is more powerful and far more coastal, some liquorice. The taste is very sweet, butterscotch, creamy caramel, perfumy and woody flavours. It has a long and soothing aftertaste after the initial taste is quite peppery. To me, this doesn't need water, but I believe some will say it's a bit "put". A couple drops does enhance the liquoricy flavours, if that's to your liking.
A strong, but very persuasive malt: 7
My problem with Springbank is the fact that they produce a peaty quality malt that all to often is put in some weird wine cask. Gaja Barolo anyone? But when presented at a high strength in a traditional bourbon cask I often find it to be amazing. The label says nothing about what cask(s) this has endured during its lifetime, but the colour is pale and the abv is high. The smells is peaty, herbal, burnt wool, farm, barnyard, salty. The taste is Sweet, peppery, slightly peaty with lots of fruity notes, honeycomb, melon, sweet green grapes, pears, perfect, just perfect. This is too good to criticize for lacking puch. It's just a perfect summers dram, or all year dram for that matter.
Perfect Springbank: 10
Springbank 16yo 1993-2010 52.4% OB Private Bottling
From a second fill sherry hogshead, light orange hue, let's see how much influence the sherry has during a second fill maturation. Smells peppery, flinty, a bit peaty, licorice allsorts, not much sherry influence that I can detect. The palate is sweet and slightly peppery, almost a bit bland. Its saved by a finish of peat and peppery notes, but all in all this is a pretty unilateral whisky, not much going on.
Less complex than any standard OB Springbank: 3
Springbank 10yo 57% OB
I tried the Longrow 100proof the other day, and it was amazing, lets see how this less peated variant functions. It smells of sour candy, soap, cream, dried berries, burnt matches, chilli and dark tap ale. The taste is rustic, kind of old-fashioned kirschwein, red wine, tannins, goat cheese and chili peppers, nothing short of perfect if you like your red wine dry. And I do!! The aftertaste is just a bit too much on liquorice, I wish they'd given this another year in the cask(s).
Great springbank: 8
Springbank 21yo 46% OB
I'm taking the plunge with some finer older whiskies, and rarities indeed, this sunday. First of is this rather rare, and quite expensive 21yo Springbank. Older Springbanks are reaching astronomical prices nowadays so get your hands on some before it's to late and they start producing more like Bruichladdich. This smells sweet, honeyed, camphor, ginger, reminds me of older more sherried versions of Highland Park, nice!!! The taste has sort of a lowland-style, burns the throat, but not peaty or anything, just sourness and heavy spices. It needs a wee drop of water. Elegant and rustic, reminds me of the air in some german cities, Trier, Münster... Fresh but with a true prescence of older days if it makes any sense.
I'll have this over Hazelburn and Longrow any day: 7
Springbank 15yo 46% OB
I love the fact that a place so little known for good whiskies as Campbeltown has such a highly regarded whisky as Springbank. Let's try this one then. It needs some time to open up, but when it does it's all on citrus and oak, very complex but still subtle scents. The taste is fresh, cinnamon, white pepper, sour cream, a fantastic taste it is indeed. The aftertaste is again on lemon, with a nice addition of some peppery notes. I guess I like the good old Springbank a whole lot compared to the Longrow, Hazelburn and whatever else is produced there these days.
Marvellous malt: 8.5
Springbank NAS 46% OB CV
This one is bottled in 2010, what CV means I have no idea, only that it's a whisky without age statement. A pretty strong smell, almost like liquorice and alcohol. Seaman's Shot maybe, infused with more alcohol? This is a peppery malt, pepper, pepper and even more pepper. You could garnish a steak with this and some salt. Addition of H2O, still an extremely peppery profile, and an aftertaste that just goes on with even more pepper, an some sour notes at the very end. It's a very uninspiring malt as there's not much going on, but also hard to put the finger on any particular flaws.
A clean and fun malt, but not for the connoisseur I'd say: 5.5
Springbank 10yo 46% OB
First of all, this is far lighter than any of the other expressions I've ever tasted from this distillery, I'd say it's even lighter than the Hazelburn! The taste is very sweet, red apples, iced sugar, pears, salt water and baking soda. The aftertaste is unfortunately nowhere to be found. If tried blind I'd put money on this was a tripple distilled whisky. This is a dangerous malt, as I could easily drink far too much in one evening.
Nice and clean fruitiness: 5.5
Hazelburn 12yo 46% OB
Hazelburn is a pretty new tripple distilled whisky from the Springbank distillery. Very dark, red, sweet, sherry matured? It's sweet, delicate, with some pear, glazed fruits, honey melon and applejuice. Much of the finish is very tame, due to the tripple distillation I guess.
A very gentle Springbank: 6
Springbank 10yo 50% The Golden Cask
A bottling from "The Golden Cask", of which I'm not familiar, looks a bit like the old Signatory-labels. It's very mild, reminds me on the nose about a young Glen Scotia. The taste is also awfully nice and mild, some red onions, mild chilli and the brown parts on the slamon cutlet. The aftertaste is nicely smoked and lifts my overall impression of this malt.
A soulless springbank: 4
Longrow 10yo 57% OB
Springbanks highest peated malt at 57%abv, I've heard good rumours about this one. Last high strength Lowngrow I tried was the Gaja Barolo finish, that was a very pretentious piece of malt whisky. Perhaps this one will be better. The odors are there, earthy, smoky, oaky, vanilla and apple cores. Honest and good, no funky wood here. The taste is very peaty at first, usually the peat comes in the finish, but here's a butter, strawberry, caramel and leather aftertaste that lifts this from good to very good. An honest whisky that I believe is best when had in a bourbon cask, and not dilluted too much.
Not a shelf-display malt, but fantastic in a glass: 7.5
Longrow 7yo 2000-2008 55.8% OB CS
This one is double matured in bourbon and a last month and a half in Gaja Barolo wood. It's a very strong version. It has a very dry, strong, acidic and phenolic smell, Gaja Barolo? The taste is very dry and concentrated, do need water. Then it seems the Double maturation has paid off, as it's initially very sweet with some vanilla until the dryness takes over again.
What would this be, given more time in the cask?: 5.5
Longrow 10yo 1996-2006 46% OB
This is the peated version of Springbank I guess, the nose is more powerful and far more coastal, some liquorice. The taste is very sweet, butterscotch, creamy caramel, perfumy and woody flavours. It has a long and soothing aftertaste after the initial taste is quite peppery. To me, this doesn't need water, but I believe some will say it's a bit "put". A couple drops does enhance the liquoricy flavours, if that's to your liking.
A strong, but very persuasive malt: 7
3 Braes of Glenlivets tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Braes of Glenlivet 16yo 1979-1996 59% Signatory Vintage cask#16045 btl.947/980
Sherry matured, golden brown colour, from this little acclaimed distillery. I have tried some good CS from Braeval but its often a bit one-dimensional. Let's see. Smells of the usual Breval peppery notes, with some dry and bitter sherry. The taste is peppery and dry along with some restrained oloroso sweetness. I'll add a couple drops of water. Now it turns sweeter, minty grassy, a fine whisky but it ends too quickly. Although it has its flaws its an exciting malt and a new take on sherry-matured whisky for me.
Very good, one for the adventurer: 8
Braes of Glenlivet/Braeval 18yo 40% Robert Graham's x/480 btl.
This is a bottling made especially for Robert Graham's online store I think. Colour of applejuice, an elegant and modest nose, gingerbread and caramelized fruits. It has a very fruity and sour taste, unripe apples, sour grapes and cooking salt. It is just a bit too playful and edgy to take seriously as a malt at this age, but I think it's got potential, and I wish I could try it sherry matured.
A weird malt: 4.5
Braes of Glenlivet 18yo 1979-98 43% Signatory Vintage
Braes of Glenlivet, also known as Breaval, must be one of lightest and simplest whiskies I've ever come across.The taste is dry and there's quite a large and dominating peppery flavour to it. I think there could have been more cask influence after 18 years in the warehouse.
Peppery: 4
Sherry matured, golden brown colour, from this little acclaimed distillery. I have tried some good CS from Braeval but its often a bit one-dimensional. Let's see. Smells of the usual Breval peppery notes, with some dry and bitter sherry. The taste is peppery and dry along with some restrained oloroso sweetness. I'll add a couple drops of water. Now it turns sweeter, minty grassy, a fine whisky but it ends too quickly. Although it has its flaws its an exciting malt and a new take on sherry-matured whisky for me.
Very good, one for the adventurer: 8
Braes of Glenlivet/Braeval 18yo 40% Robert Graham's x/480 btl.
This is a bottling made especially for Robert Graham's online store I think. Colour of applejuice, an elegant and modest nose, gingerbread and caramelized fruits. It has a very fruity and sour taste, unripe apples, sour grapes and cooking salt. It is just a bit too playful and edgy to take seriously as a malt at this age, but I think it's got potential, and I wish I could try it sherry matured.
A weird malt: 4.5
Braes of Glenlivet 18yo 1979-98 43% Signatory Vintage
Braes of Glenlivet, also known as Breaval, must be one of lightest and simplest whiskies I've ever come across.The taste is dry and there's quite a large and dominating peppery flavour to it. I think there could have been more cask influence after 18 years in the warehouse.
Peppery: 4
3 Obans tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Oban 32yo 1969-2002 55.1% OB
Due to trading some samples with a swedish malt buddy I'm gonna try a series of exciting malts today. This is the first CS Oban I've tried, not the most popular malt amongst IB's or just a distillery reluctant to sell casks to such. A pale colour, smells peaty, sweet, vanilla, Ardbeg-ish. Not as rich as the darker 14yo ob, but a nice intensity in this one. The taste is extraordinary it's rich, sweet, peaty, coastal, fresh, floral, herbal, balm, smoke, buttery, just perfect. The aftertaste is fat, peppery and lasts a long time.
Perfect Oban: 9.5
Oban 12yo 40% OB
A 12-year old made for export purpose. Quite strong and clean, distinctive smell, like alcohol inc. It has a pretty pure and straight-forward taste as well, chestnuts, nuts, wheat grain and herbal tea. There's lots of easy and simple favours in this malt, but none of them really sticks out, I'm missing the smokiness of the 14 year old.
I don't think this will last long on the market: 4.5
Oban 14yo 43% OB
An elegant, but still smoky highland whisky, hints of dark chocolate, suits as dinner companion to dark meat or with a good cheeze, say gorgonzola or smoked gruyere. Shows of with some subtle sweetness on the finish.
A pleasant experience: 7
Due to trading some samples with a swedish malt buddy I'm gonna try a series of exciting malts today. This is the first CS Oban I've tried, not the most popular malt amongst IB's or just a distillery reluctant to sell casks to such. A pale colour, smells peaty, sweet, vanilla, Ardbeg-ish. Not as rich as the darker 14yo ob, but a nice intensity in this one. The taste is extraordinary it's rich, sweet, peaty, coastal, fresh, floral, herbal, balm, smoke, buttery, just perfect. The aftertaste is fat, peppery and lasts a long time.
Perfect Oban: 9.5
Oban 12yo 40% OB
A 12-year old made for export purpose. Quite strong and clean, distinctive smell, like alcohol inc. It has a pretty pure and straight-forward taste as well, chestnuts, nuts, wheat grain and herbal tea. There's lots of easy and simple favours in this malt, but none of them really sticks out, I'm missing the smokiness of the 14 year old.
I don't think this will last long on the market: 4.5
Oban 14yo 43% OB
An elegant, but still smoky highland whisky, hints of dark chocolate, suits as dinner companion to dark meat or with a good cheeze, say gorgonzola or smoked gruyere. Shows of with some subtle sweetness on the finish.
A pleasant experience: 7
6 Balblairs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Balblair 38yo 1966-2004 OB Spanish Oak
Probably a sherry cask then, and at this age, amazing. The colour however isn't that dark, more of a golden hue, like some batches of my favourite Balblair, the old 16yo. Smells wine-influenced, rose-like, very light considering its age, and a bit dry, somewhat floral, reminds me of the 21yo Glanfarclas. The taste is silky smooth, warm, no sherry here, but a lot of honey, caramel, sweet, rich, creamy, toffee, absolutely amazing. A Highlander disguised as a Speysider(?) Yes I know, same region.
A dessert whisky: 7
Balblair 19yo 1990-2009 53% Adelphi Selection
Adelphi is one of the independent bottlers I've tried far too few from. This one has a nice nose, oloroso sherry, creamy sweets, hints of cinnamon, choriander and malt. The taste on the other hand is dry, very phenolic, just a bit over the top if you aren't a sherry-freak then. Could this be matured in some amoroso butt? I'll add some water then, doesn't change much. Reminds me more of some young sherried highlanders than the 16yo balblair, thus I hoped it would as that's still my preference and milestone when it comes to Balblair.
Instead get some old 16yo bottlings before they're all gone: 4.5
Balblair 17yo 1989-2006 43% OB
I've tried many Balblair's, but to be honest I have to say, none have ever compared to the 16yo OB, maybe this one will. Bourbon-matured, smells of vanilla and fresh eucalyptus, very minty. The taste is creamy, sweet, burnt sugar, dark toffee and mint leaves, after eight? It lacks the raffinement that the 16yo got, but let's stop comparing... With a generous addition of water it becomes a bot more dry, oaky, red onions, nuts, rubber notes. The aftertaste is short and a bit vanillish.
I wouldn't say it's great, it isn't, but straight and honest, yes: 5
Balblair NAS 40% OB Elements
I found the 16yo to be a giant leap ahead of the 10yo, so a NAS could be dodgy at least, but anyway, here it goes. A sweet marshmallow, nutty, milk chocolate and corn cereal nose. The taste is sweet, dark chocolate, vanilla, roasted onions and red peppers. This is a very nice surprise, I think this could give any standard 12year-old a run for it's money. It has some of the fresh notes that dominated the fabulous 16yo. A swell dram.
For a youngster, very well crafted: 6
Balblair 10yo 40% OB
One more 10-year old, this time from the highlands. The nose is very mild and reminds me vaguely of the classy 16 year old. My first impression is half ripe red apples, some water creates a more rustic flavour with some tannins and citrus cores, with a little hin of red hot chillies in the end, not too bad actually.
Pretty advanced for it's age: 5.5
Balblair 16yo 40% OB
It's stated on the label that this malt comes from the place in Scotland's with cleanest air(?), it could very well be trough, as it smells very fresh, like wet grass in springtime. In the beginning it's very sweet, hints of sweet caramell, and it finishes off with some flowery, peppery aftertaste.
Simply pleasure: 8
Probably a sherry cask then, and at this age, amazing. The colour however isn't that dark, more of a golden hue, like some batches of my favourite Balblair, the old 16yo. Smells wine-influenced, rose-like, very light considering its age, and a bit dry, somewhat floral, reminds me of the 21yo Glanfarclas. The taste is silky smooth, warm, no sherry here, but a lot of honey, caramel, sweet, rich, creamy, toffee, absolutely amazing. A Highlander disguised as a Speysider(?) Yes I know, same region.
A dessert whisky: 7
Balblair 19yo 1990-2009 53% Adelphi Selection
Adelphi is one of the independent bottlers I've tried far too few from. This one has a nice nose, oloroso sherry, creamy sweets, hints of cinnamon, choriander and malt. The taste on the other hand is dry, very phenolic, just a bit over the top if you aren't a sherry-freak then. Could this be matured in some amoroso butt? I'll add some water then, doesn't change much. Reminds me more of some young sherried highlanders than the 16yo balblair, thus I hoped it would as that's still my preference and milestone when it comes to Balblair.
Instead get some old 16yo bottlings before they're all gone: 4.5
Balblair 17yo 1989-2006 43% OB
I've tried many Balblair's, but to be honest I have to say, none have ever compared to the 16yo OB, maybe this one will. Bourbon-matured, smells of vanilla and fresh eucalyptus, very minty. The taste is creamy, sweet, burnt sugar, dark toffee and mint leaves, after eight? It lacks the raffinement that the 16yo got, but let's stop comparing... With a generous addition of water it becomes a bot more dry, oaky, red onions, nuts, rubber notes. The aftertaste is short and a bit vanillish.
I wouldn't say it's great, it isn't, but straight and honest, yes: 5
Balblair NAS 40% OB Elements
I found the 16yo to be a giant leap ahead of the 10yo, so a NAS could be dodgy at least, but anyway, here it goes. A sweet marshmallow, nutty, milk chocolate and corn cereal nose. The taste is sweet, dark chocolate, vanilla, roasted onions and red peppers. This is a very nice surprise, I think this could give any standard 12year-old a run for it's money. It has some of the fresh notes that dominated the fabulous 16yo. A swell dram.
For a youngster, very well crafted: 6
Balblair 10yo 40% OB
One more 10-year old, this time from the highlands. The nose is very mild and reminds me vaguely of the classy 16 year old. My first impression is half ripe red apples, some water creates a more rustic flavour with some tannins and citrus cores, with a little hin of red hot chillies in the end, not too bad actually.
Pretty advanced for it's age: 5.5
Balblair 16yo 40% OB
It's stated on the label that this malt comes from the place in Scotland's with cleanest air(?), it could very well be trough, as it smells very fresh, like wet grass in springtime. In the beginning it's very sweet, hints of sweet caramell, and it finishes off with some flowery, peppery aftertaste.
Simply pleasure: 8
onsdag 23. februar 2011
7 Glenburgie/Glencraigs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenburgie 26yo 1983-2010 53.7% Bladnoch Forum cask#9801
It's been awhile since last I tried a Glenburgie. I believe it was Glenburgie that produced the Glencraig, a malt that I have enjoyed a lot at earlier occasions, well, those were the days! Golden colour, Smells pretty much alcohol, immediately a huge punch. Need water I guess, lets try without first. The taste is at first some creamy caramel before the spirity notes hits me again. With water it becomes a bit rounder and gentler, but the sweet initial caramel flavour is gone and left is some slightly bitter grassiness.
It'll be awhile until I buy a bottle of Gleburgie: 2.5
Glenburgie 26yo 1983-2010 48.5% The Daily Dram
I have, at least up until this day, prefered the Glencraig malt made at this distillery over Glenburgie. But since they stopped making the Lomond spirit, there's got to be a reason, let's see if I can find it here. The nose is very fresh, autumn air, fresh leaves and some mineral notes. The taste is pretty dry and kind of stiff, so to speak. Something a bit edgy and overpowering. Strong malty notes. With some water it gets a strange sour/salty flavour, oat meal, beef jerky and bitterness. Theres some sourness like unripe apples that's teasing my tastebuds, but it vanishes very quickly and brutally because of the extreme bitterness.
I'm afraid I still prefer the Glencraig: 3
Glencraig 33yo 1974-2008 50.5% SMWS
An old bottling which unfortunately someone stole from me, I did manage to come across a small sample online fortubately. Light and soft nose, grassy and citrussy. Pale colour. It seems to have little cask influence, even though it's 33 years. At first it's very sour, lime, wood, cream, dessert topping, dryness, flint, exciting but not very enjoyable. A couple drops of water added, and it becomes grainy and kind of burnt, the aftertaste is strong, phenolic but quite short.
Some good parts, but seems very tired: 4.5
Glenburgie 8yo 40% Gordon & MacPhail
A whisky that rarely is bottled as a single malt. I'm gettin rosé wine, very harmonic for a whisky at such a young age. Tastewise it's carrotjuice, orange liqueur and vanilla fudge. Definately one of the lightest and fruitiest whiskies I've ever come across. Brown sugar dominates the finish.
An uplifting experience, something to start with: 7
Glencraig 16yo 1968-1984 40% Captain Burn's Selection
I think this one is a Gordon & Macphail bottling, sold under a different name on the southern european market, france and beyond. Anyway, Glencraig is a rare gem these days, and very hard to get a hold of. It was produced on Lomond Stills at the Gleburgie distillery from 1958-1981. A disappointment on the first nosing, as it's very anonymous, but give it some time, air, and circle the glass a bit, and some notes of nuts appears. It tastes very classic and old-fashioned, whipped cream, wax and oil, some water brings out some hints of dried turf as well.
Like whisky used to be, too bad there's so little left of it: 7
Glenburgie 11yo 59.8% Cadenhead's
A delightful light golden color on this IB, smells really fresh and clean, nice! But on the palate it hits like a bomb, far too strong to drink alone, needs a couple drops of water. With water, rather strong hints of banana and caramell comes to the surface, a bit of some maritim taste as well.
A powerful banana: 5
Glencraig 19yo 1981-2001 59.5% Cadenhead's
Finally I get my hands on a real Cask Strength Glencraig, this must be from one of the last casks distilled at Glenburgie. Very dark, obviously matured in a sherry cask. Smells of Sherry as well as dried meat and red paprika. Does taste like a dry speysider, except from a lovely sherryish finish. Heavy whisky, but a treasure for the ones that can handle it.
Extreme Classic: 8.5
It's been awhile since last I tried a Glenburgie. I believe it was Glenburgie that produced the Glencraig, a malt that I have enjoyed a lot at earlier occasions, well, those were the days! Golden colour, Smells pretty much alcohol, immediately a huge punch. Need water I guess, lets try without first. The taste is at first some creamy caramel before the spirity notes hits me again. With water it becomes a bit rounder and gentler, but the sweet initial caramel flavour is gone and left is some slightly bitter grassiness.
It'll be awhile until I buy a bottle of Gleburgie: 2.5
Glenburgie 26yo 1983-2010 48.5% The Daily Dram
I have, at least up until this day, prefered the Glencraig malt made at this distillery over Glenburgie. But since they stopped making the Lomond spirit, there's got to be a reason, let's see if I can find it here. The nose is very fresh, autumn air, fresh leaves and some mineral notes. The taste is pretty dry and kind of stiff, so to speak. Something a bit edgy and overpowering. Strong malty notes. With some water it gets a strange sour/salty flavour, oat meal, beef jerky and bitterness. Theres some sourness like unripe apples that's teasing my tastebuds, but it vanishes very quickly and brutally because of the extreme bitterness.
I'm afraid I still prefer the Glencraig: 3
Glencraig 33yo 1974-2008 50.5% SMWS
An old bottling which unfortunately someone stole from me, I did manage to come across a small sample online fortubately. Light and soft nose, grassy and citrussy. Pale colour. It seems to have little cask influence, even though it's 33 years. At first it's very sour, lime, wood, cream, dessert topping, dryness, flint, exciting but not very enjoyable. A couple drops of water added, and it becomes grainy and kind of burnt, the aftertaste is strong, phenolic but quite short.
Some good parts, but seems very tired: 4.5
Glenburgie 8yo 40% Gordon & MacPhail
A whisky that rarely is bottled as a single malt. I'm gettin rosé wine, very harmonic for a whisky at such a young age. Tastewise it's carrotjuice, orange liqueur and vanilla fudge. Definately one of the lightest and fruitiest whiskies I've ever come across. Brown sugar dominates the finish.
An uplifting experience, something to start with: 7
Glencraig 16yo 1968-1984 40% Captain Burn's Selection
I think this one is a Gordon & Macphail bottling, sold under a different name on the southern european market, france and beyond. Anyway, Glencraig is a rare gem these days, and very hard to get a hold of. It was produced on Lomond Stills at the Gleburgie distillery from 1958-1981. A disappointment on the first nosing, as it's very anonymous, but give it some time, air, and circle the glass a bit, and some notes of nuts appears. It tastes very classic and old-fashioned, whipped cream, wax and oil, some water brings out some hints of dried turf as well.
Like whisky used to be, too bad there's so little left of it: 7
Glenburgie 11yo 59.8% Cadenhead's
A delightful light golden color on this IB, smells really fresh and clean, nice! But on the palate it hits like a bomb, far too strong to drink alone, needs a couple drops of water. With water, rather strong hints of banana and caramell comes to the surface, a bit of some maritim taste as well.
A powerful banana: 5
Glencraig 19yo 1981-2001 59.5% Cadenhead's
Finally I get my hands on a real Cask Strength Glencraig, this must be from one of the last casks distilled at Glenburgie. Very dark, obviously matured in a sherry cask. Smells of Sherry as well as dried meat and red paprika. Does taste like a dry speysider, except from a lovely sherryish finish. Heavy whisky, but a treasure for the ones that can handle it.
Extreme Classic: 8.5
søndag 20. februar 2011
10 Edradours tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Edradour NAS 1997-? 55.8% OB Port Wood
I love that the act that the smallest distillery in scotland got one the widest ranges of special casked single malts. Having been highly impressed by a 8yo PC from a sherry butt the other day, I hope Edradour ad Port Wood can create some magic here. Lovely red hue, like cherry wine. The taste is extremely dry, red grape seeds, concentrated aromas, needs some water. With some water it doesn't improve much, gets a bit oily, the aftertaste is the biggest disappointment as it is sulphury and makes the initial palate far too short to make a real impression.
A bad cask, or as one of my theories goes, port needs peat?: 3
Edradour 20yo 1983-2003 46% OB Port
An all port casked Edradour 20yo, I'll have to say I've enjoyed some of their finished work in the Straight-from-the-Cask series very much, although I find that port cask often is in need of a more flavorful spirit not to completely dominate the taste. A nice red colour, The nose shows strong hints of smoked ham, some salt and sweet caramelized onions, say (kantareller) and spring onions. The taste is clean, woody, actually pretty fragrant with some caramel and (rødbetter). It's just a bit too modest to intrigue me, needs higher strength maybe?
Not too far from the standard ob, only less sweet: 4
Edradour 10yo 1999-2009 57.6% OB SFTC Sauternes
Another straight-from-the-cask from Signatory, which owns Edradour Distillery, so I guess that makes it an OB then? Sauternes is a sweet white dessert wine, I have tried and enjoyed some of it before. Smells very nice, sweet and tender, a bit like the Glengoyne Nectar D'Or, just with more punch, like the Fettercairn 1997 NAS CS. The taste is fresh, syrup, greens, malty with a hint of lime juice. The aftertaste is acidic and intense, a bit too much, lets try with water. It doesn't get any lighter, just a bit too intense on the finish for me, a bit too much alcohol sting.
Edradour seems to work well in red wine casks: 4
Edradour NAS 57.2% OB Chateneuf-du-Pape
Chateneuf-du-Pape is another french wine region, south-east in the country. This one has been all matured in a cask formerly carrying Chateneuf-du-Pape wine. This one smells lighter, more like some olorose sherry, just not that sweet, a tad one-dimensional. There's some sweet liquorice also. The taste is extremely concentrated, a bit like Aberlour A'Bunadh. Peppery and medicinal, not bad, but just a lot different than what I'd expect.
A good malt, but it's just not as refined as the other two: 6.5
Edradour NAS 56.9% OB Cassicaia
I believe Cassicaia is an Italian red wine, not too far from the bordeaux style of what taste is concerned. Smells a bit more spirity than the Bordeaux casked one. Lemons and unripe blackberries, very bitter and sour. The taste is sweeter and far more peppery than the bordeaux, seems almost like a vanilla bourbony Islayer. But there's this dry, prickly taste of sweet fruits, green grapes, mangos and kiwis. Another expression, but not necessarily better or worse, its in this case all a matter of personal taste.
Once again brilliant from Edradour: 8
Edradour NAS 56.5% OB Bordeaux
Well, now let's try something totally new, a vertical of CS specially maturated single malts from same distillery(!) Edradour!!! This ones all matured in a bordeaux cask, french wine then. It smells perfectly balanced, a bit sweet, a bit bitter and a bit drystings of red wine and apple vinegar. The taste is more on bittersweet white wine than red. But this is fantastic, sour pears, apples, cinnamon, bay leaves and a dry peppery aftertaste. I've always liked Glenmorangies cask experiments, but most of them were dilluted. And yes, I believe that bottling them like this just enhances even more cask influence.
Dry white apple wine? Strange as it sounds, perfect!: 8.5
Edradour NAS 1996 57.2% OB
One Edradour of natural cask strength, sample purchased from Masterofmalt.com Said to come from an Ibisco Decanter, to me, I don't care to much about what decanter of origin, but rather I'd like to know what casks been used. It's pretty dark, perhaps it's some sort of wine cask? Or as the usual 10yo, a blend of sherry and others? The taste is lingering and sweet, really young style, one of the better Edradours in my opinion. Perhaps it's a bit like Glengoyne or Fettercairn, just a bit soft when watered down, but excellent at cask strength. The smell is a bit sulphury, cinnamon, leather and honey and sun-dried tomatoes. Just the smallest hint of Cointreau, I know that sounds like an insult to every scotch, but here it isn't really. Add just a small sip of water and it's the perfect summer dram.
Jubilations: 8
Glenforres/Edradour 12yo 43% OB
The Glenforres was a malt produced at the Edradour distillery, I believe back in the 80's. By the colour I'd say there aren't much sherry matured whisky compared to todays standard OB. It smells pretty bland, bourbon, a bit vanilla, dry oak, lacquer and bitter white wine. It's peppery, vanilla and very sweet on the palate, I don't think it's a bad alternative to the fudgy sherry-dominated standard at all. The aftertaste is creamy, vanilla, wedding cake and toffee.
Edradour in a new light: 7
Edradour 12yo 46% Dougie MacLean's Caledonia Selection
Though it's been a while since I tasted it, I remember the 10yo OB from Edradour to be a marvellous dram. This one states natural colour on the label, and it's very dark, perhaps it's been in some sort of red wine cask? The nose is very fresh, herbal and minty. The taste is very flavourful, again herbs, brickdust and oak, and it has a very long and peppery aftertaste. A nice and powerful youngster that definately stands its ground against many others. With some water it becomes a bit sweeter, but doesn't moderate itself at all.
One fine example of a youngster with class: 6.5
Edradour 10yo 40% OB
Scotland's smallest distillery with only three employees produces this young, vibrant and easily drinkable malt. Smells of honey and pistachio. Tastewise it's fresh and mild, mountain air, both relaxing and really, really enjoyable.
Luxurious lightweighter: 7.5
I love that the act that the smallest distillery in scotland got one the widest ranges of special casked single malts. Having been highly impressed by a 8yo PC from a sherry butt the other day, I hope Edradour ad Port Wood can create some magic here. Lovely red hue, like cherry wine. The taste is extremely dry, red grape seeds, concentrated aromas, needs some water. With some water it doesn't improve much, gets a bit oily, the aftertaste is the biggest disappointment as it is sulphury and makes the initial palate far too short to make a real impression.
A bad cask, or as one of my theories goes, port needs peat?: 3
Edradour 20yo 1983-2003 46% OB Port
An all port casked Edradour 20yo, I'll have to say I've enjoyed some of their finished work in the Straight-from-the-Cask series very much, although I find that port cask often is in need of a more flavorful spirit not to completely dominate the taste. A nice red colour, The nose shows strong hints of smoked ham, some salt and sweet caramelized onions, say (kantareller) and spring onions. The taste is clean, woody, actually pretty fragrant with some caramel and (rødbetter). It's just a bit too modest to intrigue me, needs higher strength maybe?
Not too far from the standard ob, only less sweet: 4
Edradour 10yo 1999-2009 57.6% OB SFTC Sauternes
Another straight-from-the-cask from Signatory, which owns Edradour Distillery, so I guess that makes it an OB then? Sauternes is a sweet white dessert wine, I have tried and enjoyed some of it before. Smells very nice, sweet and tender, a bit like the Glengoyne Nectar D'Or, just with more punch, like the Fettercairn 1997 NAS CS. The taste is fresh, syrup, greens, malty with a hint of lime juice. The aftertaste is acidic and intense, a bit too much, lets try with water. It doesn't get any lighter, just a bit too intense on the finish for me, a bit too much alcohol sting.
Edradour seems to work well in red wine casks: 4
Edradour NAS 57.2% OB Chateneuf-du-Pape
Chateneuf-du-Pape is another french wine region, south-east in the country. This one has been all matured in a cask formerly carrying Chateneuf-du-Pape wine. This one smells lighter, more like some olorose sherry, just not that sweet, a tad one-dimensional. There's some sweet liquorice also. The taste is extremely concentrated, a bit like Aberlour A'Bunadh. Peppery and medicinal, not bad, but just a lot different than what I'd expect.
A good malt, but it's just not as refined as the other two: 6.5
Edradour NAS 56.9% OB Cassicaia
I believe Cassicaia is an Italian red wine, not too far from the bordeaux style of what taste is concerned. Smells a bit more spirity than the Bordeaux casked one. Lemons and unripe blackberries, very bitter and sour. The taste is sweeter and far more peppery than the bordeaux, seems almost like a vanilla bourbony Islayer. But there's this dry, prickly taste of sweet fruits, green grapes, mangos and kiwis. Another expression, but not necessarily better or worse, its in this case all a matter of personal taste.
Once again brilliant from Edradour: 8
Edradour NAS 56.5% OB Bordeaux
Well, now let's try something totally new, a vertical of CS specially maturated single malts from same distillery(!) Edradour!!! This ones all matured in a bordeaux cask, french wine then. It smells perfectly balanced, a bit sweet, a bit bitter and a bit drystings of red wine and apple vinegar. The taste is more on bittersweet white wine than red. But this is fantastic, sour pears, apples, cinnamon, bay leaves and a dry peppery aftertaste. I've always liked Glenmorangies cask experiments, but most of them were dilluted. And yes, I believe that bottling them like this just enhances even more cask influence.
Dry white apple wine? Strange as it sounds, perfect!: 8.5
Edradour NAS 1996 57.2% OB
One Edradour of natural cask strength, sample purchased from Masterofmalt.com Said to come from an Ibisco Decanter, to me, I don't care to much about what decanter of origin, but rather I'd like to know what casks been used. It's pretty dark, perhaps it's some sort of wine cask? Or as the usual 10yo, a blend of sherry and others? The taste is lingering and sweet, really young style, one of the better Edradours in my opinion. Perhaps it's a bit like Glengoyne or Fettercairn, just a bit soft when watered down, but excellent at cask strength. The smell is a bit sulphury, cinnamon, leather and honey and sun-dried tomatoes. Just the smallest hint of Cointreau, I know that sounds like an insult to every scotch, but here it isn't really. Add just a small sip of water and it's the perfect summer dram.
Jubilations: 8
Glenforres/Edradour 12yo 43% OB
The Glenforres was a malt produced at the Edradour distillery, I believe back in the 80's. By the colour I'd say there aren't much sherry matured whisky compared to todays standard OB. It smells pretty bland, bourbon, a bit vanilla, dry oak, lacquer and bitter white wine. It's peppery, vanilla and very sweet on the palate, I don't think it's a bad alternative to the fudgy sherry-dominated standard at all. The aftertaste is creamy, vanilla, wedding cake and toffee.
Edradour in a new light: 7
Edradour 12yo 46% Dougie MacLean's Caledonia Selection
Though it's been a while since I tasted it, I remember the 10yo OB from Edradour to be a marvellous dram. This one states natural colour on the label, and it's very dark, perhaps it's been in some sort of red wine cask? The nose is very fresh, herbal and minty. The taste is very flavourful, again herbs, brickdust and oak, and it has a very long and peppery aftertaste. A nice and powerful youngster that definately stands its ground against many others. With some water it becomes a bit sweeter, but doesn't moderate itself at all.
One fine example of a youngster with class: 6.5
Edradour 10yo 40% OB
Scotland's smallest distillery with only three employees produces this young, vibrant and easily drinkable malt. Smells of honey and pistachio. Tastewise it's fresh and mild, mountain air, both relaxing and really, really enjoyable.
Luxurious lightweighter: 7.5
7 Glenrothes tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glen Rothes 12yo 43% OB
An older bottling as it states "Berry Bros & Rudd" on the label, from the late 80's or early 90's? Smells concentrated, rich bitterness, some chalk dust with some raw spirit notes, like antibacterial handwash. I have to admit that Glenrothes, or Glen Rothes as its called on this label, is a distillery yet to impress me. The taste is sweet, fruity, peppery, green grapes, watermelon, grapefruit, oranges, but it has this last finishing bitter sensation. A really refreshing single malt with enough complexity to stand out.
Smooth, fruity, bitter: 7.5
Glenrothes 18yo 1990-2009 43% Krügers Whiskygalerie cask#1994
This one is bottled for the same guy that's responsible for the brilliant whiskyauction.com site. Of course, that's where I found this bottle. This smells oaky, a bit grassy, neutral flavours that makes me wonder why there aren't more alcohol domination flavourwise. Seems almost too mild. Let's taste. The taste is again very withheld, does not show any character. A bit grassy, underlying oakiness. Smooth and a bit boring, sadly. With water the finish gets a bit longer with some peppery notes. Other than that it's sad to say a big disappointment.
A very boring malt: 3
Glenrothes NAS 1989-? 63.8% James MacArthur's Old Master's
Just to top this rising abv-tasting I have to go well above 60%, so why not try this one from Glenrothes at a crazy almost 64%? This one is not some sort of sherried monstrosity, but a young, I guess, Bourbon-matured malt. Oh, the alcohol almost completely blanks out every other possible odor. The taste to, peppery, liquorice, vanilla, some dryness and very much alcohol flavours. Needs water! With a fair amount of water it gets sweeter, more vanilla, almost sort of rum-like. The aftertaste is bitter, orange peel, but more bitter than that.
Shows that anything goes at James Mac's: 4
Glenrothes 14yo 1994-2008 43% OB
One of those vintage originals from Glenrothes, they seem to be in just about every airport these days. Let's try this one then. The nose is muscular, but not in a bad way, tickles my nostrils, like a newly opened bag of marshmallows. But the taste is awful, very dry for such a young age, some phenolic thing, very grainy. The aftertaste is nothing, really, it's as futile as it gets. With a drop of water the finish becomes somewhat sweeter.
Not worth the price, but it's semi-drinkable: 3.5
Glenrothes 35yo 1968-2004 40.3% Duncan Taylor CS
A really old one of the Glenrothes Distillery, which usually, at least when it comes to OB's, are bottled at young age. This one has a very strong and distinctive fragrance, phenolic, much what I remember from earlier tastings. The taste is very clean, oaky, nuts, coffe, cream, white wine and prunes. The aftertaste is also of a fine and delightful character, this is not a malt designed to blow you away with, but rather to be gently sipped when on a good couch.
Too nice to criticize:): 8
Glenrothes 8yo 40% Gordon & MacPhail
A distillery that I'm not usually too fond of. Strong smell for only 40%, almost a bit foul, like old white ashes. The taste is very mellow compared to the smell, I would not recommend adding water to this one. A small notion of marcipan along with some caramel syrup strikes me as the best to discover in this dram. A very uninspiring experience.
Boooring!: 2.5
Glenrothes NAS 43% OB Select Reserve
People never seem to agree on this distillery, nor it's whisky. No age, strong smell, young, burnt rubber and paint thinner. Not too bad on the palate, well developed, sweet, basil, peppermint, vanilla and a long and soothing finish with black pepper.
Not a bad effort: 6
An older bottling as it states "Berry Bros & Rudd" on the label, from the late 80's or early 90's? Smells concentrated, rich bitterness, some chalk dust with some raw spirit notes, like antibacterial handwash. I have to admit that Glenrothes, or Glen Rothes as its called on this label, is a distillery yet to impress me. The taste is sweet, fruity, peppery, green grapes, watermelon, grapefruit, oranges, but it has this last finishing bitter sensation. A really refreshing single malt with enough complexity to stand out.
Smooth, fruity, bitter: 7.5
Glenrothes 18yo 1990-2009 43% Krügers Whiskygalerie cask#1994
This one is bottled for the same guy that's responsible for the brilliant whiskyauction.com site. Of course, that's where I found this bottle. This smells oaky, a bit grassy, neutral flavours that makes me wonder why there aren't more alcohol domination flavourwise. Seems almost too mild. Let's taste. The taste is again very withheld, does not show any character. A bit grassy, underlying oakiness. Smooth and a bit boring, sadly. With water the finish gets a bit longer with some peppery notes. Other than that it's sad to say a big disappointment.
A very boring malt: 3
Glenrothes NAS 1989-? 63.8% James MacArthur's Old Master's
Just to top this rising abv-tasting I have to go well above 60%, so why not try this one from Glenrothes at a crazy almost 64%? This one is not some sort of sherried monstrosity, but a young, I guess, Bourbon-matured malt. Oh, the alcohol almost completely blanks out every other possible odor. The taste to, peppery, liquorice, vanilla, some dryness and very much alcohol flavours. Needs water! With a fair amount of water it gets sweeter, more vanilla, almost sort of rum-like. The aftertaste is bitter, orange peel, but more bitter than that.
Shows that anything goes at James Mac's: 4
Glenrothes 14yo 1994-2008 43% OB
One of those vintage originals from Glenrothes, they seem to be in just about every airport these days. Let's try this one then. The nose is muscular, but not in a bad way, tickles my nostrils, like a newly opened bag of marshmallows. But the taste is awful, very dry for such a young age, some phenolic thing, very grainy. The aftertaste is nothing, really, it's as futile as it gets. With a drop of water the finish becomes somewhat sweeter.
Not worth the price, but it's semi-drinkable: 3.5
Glenrothes 35yo 1968-2004 40.3% Duncan Taylor CS
A really old one of the Glenrothes Distillery, which usually, at least when it comes to OB's, are bottled at young age. This one has a very strong and distinctive fragrance, phenolic, much what I remember from earlier tastings. The taste is very clean, oaky, nuts, coffe, cream, white wine and prunes. The aftertaste is also of a fine and delightful character, this is not a malt designed to blow you away with, but rather to be gently sipped when on a good couch.
Too nice to criticize:): 8
Glenrothes 8yo 40% Gordon & MacPhail
A distillery that I'm not usually too fond of. Strong smell for only 40%, almost a bit foul, like old white ashes. The taste is very mellow compared to the smell, I would not recommend adding water to this one. A small notion of marcipan along with some caramel syrup strikes me as the best to discover in this dram. A very uninspiring experience.
Boooring!: 2.5
Glenrothes NAS 43% OB Select Reserve
People never seem to agree on this distillery, nor it's whisky. No age, strong smell, young, burnt rubber and paint thinner. Not too bad on the palate, well developed, sweet, basil, peppermint, vanilla and a long and soothing finish with black pepper.
Not a bad effort: 6
tirsdag 8. februar 2011
11 Unknown Distilleries tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Speyside NAS 40% Marks & Spencer
This one must not be confused with the Speyside distillery as it is not confirmed to be distilled there. On the other hand I've read comments made about its similarities to Drumguish which I believe is a 3 year old single malt from Speyside Distillery. Smells liquorice and spirit, like some licorice flavored vodka. No thanks, this is just a young and impotent whisky. No flavors have really evolved in this one yet.
A bland experience: 1.5
Inverey NAS 40% Marks & Spencer
A Highland Single Malt bottled for Marks & Spencer by an anonymous distillery. I have tried some of the cheap Marks & Spencer whiskies before and I haven't been too impressed as I feel its if they try to choose safe whiskies with little flavors to not alienate the high street punters. This one is light and mild, creamy at first, then turns into a nice compote of cream, chives and black peppers. This is a traditional light whisky, very young and too diluted to catch my attention.
Light, easy, nothing more: 4
Old Elgin 8yo 40% Fine Old Malt Whisky
I'm doing a bag of alternative whiskies today. I don't know for sure that this sin't a single malt, but it's a bottling by Gordon and Macphail and they've been bottling some "singles" as "pure" back in the days. Caramel, colored by E150, smells of grain spirit and rotten wet wood. The taste is The taste is more mature, some green tea, herbal notes, grassy, some interesting dry notes and it turns pretty rustic in the end. Cigar? Add some water an it becomes a bit rounder and sweeter and even gets a longer finish of more cigar, burning the tongue like a good cuban's last two inches.
For a blend(I believe), it stands very well at 8 years: 5.5
The Bramley Grange Hotel NAS 40% Foremost Products
I know there's more of these Hotel malts around there, but I'm not sure if there's different malts for different hotels or it's all from a batch bought from same distillery. Some light herbal and minty scents, The taste is quite grainy, some soft notes of orange peel at first, then turns grainy and bitter. Finishes grassy and spirity, I hope the The Bramley Grange Hotel has more malts to offer in their bar than this one.
Not for me: 2
Pride of Islay 12yo 40% Malt Gordon & Macphail
I don't know whether this is a blend, a vatted or a single malt from an unknown distillery. Either way its an islayer with lots of E150, artificial colouring. Hmm.. this smells really sweet and sherried, a bit dry, oloroso? Could it be matured in some good old style sherry wood, could I be wrong about the E150? A hidden treasure? The taste is fresh, sweet, raisins, phenol, cinnamon, som very fine custard and honey. This is absolutely a hidden gem that I believe can be found at very low prices, even though the bottle probably is a couple decades old.
No peat or coastal character, just old style Oloroso, a beauty: 7
Auld Reekie 12yo 46% Duncan Taylor
I'm doing an IB peated vertical today, starting off with this one from Duncan Taylor, which some say is a Caol Ila, I really have no idea. Colourwise it's very pale, like white wine. It smells a bit rougher than the Caol Ila 12yo. It's peaty for sure, but there aren't much else to it. I'm getting a lot of peat on the palate and just some small hints of vanilla. The aftertaste is light and less peaty, some notes of black pepper and white wine vinegar.
This feels more like a Bruichladdich to me, a pretty poor one: 4
Poit Dhubh 12yo 46% IB(?)
A malt from an unknown still, I've read online somewhere that it's an illicit distillation. Probably from Islay somewhere I would guess, or an Island. Very sweet and balanced odors, freshly ground coffee, and newly washed linens. I could have guessed Highland Park, but the taste of peat, seasalt, and pepper makes me think of Islay.
Wonderful smokiness: 9
Cu Dhub NAS 40% Mannochmore Dist(?)
A young whisky packed to the max with artificial colouring. A danish project to resurrect the old Loch Dhu, or at least something similar. Reeks of bad Vodka, the ones you get at german bordershops. Needs some time, but nothing really helps, there's not much more than alcohol and water as to flavours in this one. What saves it from bottom place, is just the faintest hint of coffee in the aftertaste.
A disgrace: 1.5
Glenfoyles 12yo 40% OB/IB(?)
Strange whisky, produced in Glasgow, while the original Glenfoyles Distillery, which were in another part of the country shut down in 1928. Taste quite OK, but very sweet and a bit plastic, lots of artificial colouring and such.
Bizarre stuff: 2.5
Glen Avon 25yo 40% Gordon & MacPhail
Glen Avon is a bottle of, said to be, Glenfarclas. Hints of pine and air freshener on the nose, very sweet. Has a couple similarities with the 21yo Glenfarclas, but not as elegant nor good, perhaps a cask issue? Anyway, this isn't that bad, and pretty much what you could expect of a good 10 to 12 year old. But a 25 year old should show some more signs of age and uniqueness.
Pretty much like an everyday malt: 5.5
Smokehead 12yo 43% IB
On the box there's mentioned about fifty different fragrances, all recognizable in this bottle. This seems also to be the problem as it comes across quite undefinable and unbalanced. Besides this, Smokehead does have the typical whiffs of smoke that's typical for Islay.
A smoky apocalypse: 5.5
This one must not be confused with the Speyside distillery as it is not confirmed to be distilled there. On the other hand I've read comments made about its similarities to Drumguish which I believe is a 3 year old single malt from Speyside Distillery. Smells liquorice and spirit, like some licorice flavored vodka. No thanks, this is just a young and impotent whisky. No flavors have really evolved in this one yet.
A bland experience: 1.5
Inverey NAS 40% Marks & Spencer
A Highland Single Malt bottled for Marks & Spencer by an anonymous distillery. I have tried some of the cheap Marks & Spencer whiskies before and I haven't been too impressed as I feel its if they try to choose safe whiskies with little flavors to not alienate the high street punters. This one is light and mild, creamy at first, then turns into a nice compote of cream, chives and black peppers. This is a traditional light whisky, very young and too diluted to catch my attention.
Light, easy, nothing more: 4
Old Elgin 8yo 40% Fine Old Malt Whisky
I'm doing a bag of alternative whiskies today. I don't know for sure that this sin't a single malt, but it's a bottling by Gordon and Macphail and they've been bottling some "singles" as "pure" back in the days. Caramel, colored by E150, smells of grain spirit and rotten wet wood. The taste is The taste is more mature, some green tea, herbal notes, grassy, some interesting dry notes and it turns pretty rustic in the end. Cigar? Add some water an it becomes a bit rounder and sweeter and even gets a longer finish of more cigar, burning the tongue like a good cuban's last two inches.
For a blend(I believe), it stands very well at 8 years: 5.5
The Bramley Grange Hotel NAS 40% Foremost Products
I know there's more of these Hotel malts around there, but I'm not sure if there's different malts for different hotels or it's all from a batch bought from same distillery. Some light herbal and minty scents, The taste is quite grainy, some soft notes of orange peel at first, then turns grainy and bitter. Finishes grassy and spirity, I hope the The Bramley Grange Hotel has more malts to offer in their bar than this one.
Not for me: 2
Pride of Islay 12yo 40% Malt Gordon & Macphail
I don't know whether this is a blend, a vatted or a single malt from an unknown distillery. Either way its an islayer with lots of E150, artificial colouring. Hmm.. this smells really sweet and sherried, a bit dry, oloroso? Could it be matured in some good old style sherry wood, could I be wrong about the E150? A hidden treasure? The taste is fresh, sweet, raisins, phenol, cinnamon, som very fine custard and honey. This is absolutely a hidden gem that I believe can be found at very low prices, even though the bottle probably is a couple decades old.
No peat or coastal character, just old style Oloroso, a beauty: 7
Auld Reekie 12yo 46% Duncan Taylor
I'm doing an IB peated vertical today, starting off with this one from Duncan Taylor, which some say is a Caol Ila, I really have no idea. Colourwise it's very pale, like white wine. It smells a bit rougher than the Caol Ila 12yo. It's peaty for sure, but there aren't much else to it. I'm getting a lot of peat on the palate and just some small hints of vanilla. The aftertaste is light and less peaty, some notes of black pepper and white wine vinegar.
This feels more like a Bruichladdich to me, a pretty poor one: 4
Poit Dhubh 12yo 46% IB(?)
A malt from an unknown still, I've read online somewhere that it's an illicit distillation. Probably from Islay somewhere I would guess, or an Island. Very sweet and balanced odors, freshly ground coffee, and newly washed linens. I could have guessed Highland Park, but the taste of peat, seasalt, and pepper makes me think of Islay.
Wonderful smokiness: 9
Cu Dhub NAS 40% Mannochmore Dist(?)
A young whisky packed to the max with artificial colouring. A danish project to resurrect the old Loch Dhu, or at least something similar. Reeks of bad Vodka, the ones you get at german bordershops. Needs some time, but nothing really helps, there's not much more than alcohol and water as to flavours in this one. What saves it from bottom place, is just the faintest hint of coffee in the aftertaste.
A disgrace: 1.5
Glenfoyles 12yo 40% OB/IB(?)
Strange whisky, produced in Glasgow, while the original Glenfoyles Distillery, which were in another part of the country shut down in 1928. Taste quite OK, but very sweet and a bit plastic, lots of artificial colouring and such.
Bizarre stuff: 2.5
Glen Avon 25yo 40% Gordon & MacPhail
Glen Avon is a bottle of, said to be, Glenfarclas. Hints of pine and air freshener on the nose, very sweet. Has a couple similarities with the 21yo Glenfarclas, but not as elegant nor good, perhaps a cask issue? Anyway, this isn't that bad, and pretty much what you could expect of a good 10 to 12 year old. But a 25 year old should show some more signs of age and uniqueness.
Pretty much like an everyday malt: 5.5
Smokehead 12yo 43% IB
On the box there's mentioned about fifty different fragrances, all recognizable in this bottle. This seems also to be the problem as it comes across quite undefinable and unbalanced. Besides this, Smokehead does have the typical whiffs of smoke that's typical for Islay.
A smoky apocalypse: 5.5
fredag 4. februar 2011
7 Caol Ilas tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Caol Ila 30yo 1979-2010 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing cask#5731 266btls
A refill cask of Caol Ila, usually I don't like peated malts at this age too much as I find too much time in cask removes too much of the peatiness and the character of the whisky fades. Smells fresh, flinty, sawdust, smoked salmon, fat and rustic. The taste is dry, peaty, not as raw as the best Caol Ilas, some bitter lemon and sea weed. I'm quite disappointed in this one as it's kept the peat influence but there seems to be other things lacking. I don't know how many times this cask has been retreated but with this produce it seems perhaps a time too many.
A (re)tired Caol Ila: 4
Caol Ila 12yo 63.5% James MacArthur's
Another crazy, high strength, James MacArthur's bottling, now from the Islay distillery Caol Ila. I love these bottlings as usually CS bottlings are either really old and expensive, or youngsters from specially selected casks. Here's an opportunity to see what the distillery's all about. Smells wonderful, nytrogin, acid, burnt butter, goose liver and plain black pepper. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it gives me something totaly different. It's sweet, probably from bourbon wood, really numbs my tongue, once again easy, cereals, butterscotch, tobacco, tin soil, burnt wood and salt. I know many peat-posterboys out there argues about what's the most flavourful Islayer, well, try this!!!
If you're into peaty stuff: 7.5
Caol Ila 13yo 59.8% James MacArthur's
Let's go whooping bananas with a Caol ila almost 60% as an ender to this fabulous whisky evening. I don't know if this is a single cask, but its all on bourbon that's for sure. It smells marvellous, all on lemon and vanilla, could it be too sweet? Let's taste. The taste is extremely oily, a fat islayer and also vanilla and some sour notes. This is a fantastic whisky, the bourbon notes plays me a trick but they don't last too long and then an aftertaste og citrus notes, vanilla, cedarwood and floral notes comes along.
Fantastic Caol Ila, very sophisticated for this strength: 7.5
Caol Ila 26yo 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
I believe this is my first really old(!) Caol Ila, of course there's probably much older ones out there, but 26 is old for an islay malt in my opinion. It's much darker than most Caol ila's. It smells really light, like a malt aperitif, malt liqueur? I know that years in cask decreases the level of peat, but this one is definately on the light side. Smells a bit smoky, but very herbal and coastal. The taste is sweet and minty at first, but then gets very dry, like some older bourbon-matured Macallans, before it finishes on a high note with lots of peat and salty, crisp notes.
I'd love to give this a higher score, but it's just too dry: 7
Caol Ila 13yo 1993-2006 OB Moscatel Finish
A Caol Ila finished in dark moscatel wood? I've never tried Dark Moscatel, but is it similar to the white one, I guess I'm in for a sweet dram. It smells sort of like a sherried Caol Ila without the sulphur. Red wine, sweetness and earthy notes. It has the peatiness of Caol Ila on the palate, but all the coastal Islay character is gone, it's sweet, a bit anis, some bourbon, tannins and oak. It's a totally different expression, but I love it. I think if it were to be a whisky with more similarity to the Caol Ila 12yo it would've had trouble standing on it's own.
The sound of Moscatel?: 7
Caol Ila 12yo 57.9% OB
It has a sweetness that I found in the older versions of the standard OB, the ones from back in the early 2000's, older...(?). Anyway, I guess it could be that more of the distillery charistica is kept due to less dilution. Marzipan, sugar and salty, coastal, maritime notes. The taste is at first very sweet and reminds me somewhat of the Glengoyne 12yo CS OB at about 57%. But not for long, here comes the peat in large proportions, with more coastal notes added. Water is not needed if your not looking for something more similar to the standard 12yo.
A very good Caol ila: 7
Caol Ila 12yo 43% OB
Light Whisky, smells beautiful of summer and flowers. The taste gets me on other thoughts. It's very smoky, almost like a rough dominican cigar. A classic Islay malt that's very firm in the mouth, not very nuanced, and obviously not for the finer malt enthusiasts.
A classic Islay: 5.5
Caol Ila 26yo 1982-2008 54.6% DTC cask 2738
A very peaty presence on this Islay no doubt. The nose is a real appetizer. The taste is fruity, loafy and seems much lighter than the OB's I've tried from this distillery. The taste is very dry, peated, starch, nuts, burnt grass and onions. The aftertaste is strong, peppery, acidic and eucalyptic and very influenced by the plain oak cask.
For the ones with a special interest: 4
A refill cask of Caol Ila, usually I don't like peated malts at this age too much as I find too much time in cask removes too much of the peatiness and the character of the whisky fades. Smells fresh, flinty, sawdust, smoked salmon, fat and rustic. The taste is dry, peaty, not as raw as the best Caol Ilas, some bitter lemon and sea weed. I'm quite disappointed in this one as it's kept the peat influence but there seems to be other things lacking. I don't know how many times this cask has been retreated but with this produce it seems perhaps a time too many.
A (re)tired Caol Ila: 4
Caol Ila 12yo 63.5% James MacArthur's
Another crazy, high strength, James MacArthur's bottling, now from the Islay distillery Caol Ila. I love these bottlings as usually CS bottlings are either really old and expensive, or youngsters from specially selected casks. Here's an opportunity to see what the distillery's all about. Smells wonderful, nytrogin, acid, burnt butter, goose liver and plain black pepper. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it gives me something totaly different. It's sweet, probably from bourbon wood, really numbs my tongue, once again easy, cereals, butterscotch, tobacco, tin soil, burnt wood and salt. I know many peat-posterboys out there argues about what's the most flavourful Islayer, well, try this!!!
If you're into peaty stuff: 7.5
Caol Ila 13yo 59.8% James MacArthur's
Let's go whooping bananas with a Caol ila almost 60% as an ender to this fabulous whisky evening. I don't know if this is a single cask, but its all on bourbon that's for sure. It smells marvellous, all on lemon and vanilla, could it be too sweet? Let's taste. The taste is extremely oily, a fat islayer and also vanilla and some sour notes. This is a fantastic whisky, the bourbon notes plays me a trick but they don't last too long and then an aftertaste og citrus notes, vanilla, cedarwood and floral notes comes along.
Fantastic Caol Ila, very sophisticated for this strength: 7.5
Caol Ila 26yo 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
I believe this is my first really old(!) Caol Ila, of course there's probably much older ones out there, but 26 is old for an islay malt in my opinion. It's much darker than most Caol ila's. It smells really light, like a malt aperitif, malt liqueur? I know that years in cask decreases the level of peat, but this one is definately on the light side. Smells a bit smoky, but very herbal and coastal. The taste is sweet and minty at first, but then gets very dry, like some older bourbon-matured Macallans, before it finishes on a high note with lots of peat and salty, crisp notes.
I'd love to give this a higher score, but it's just too dry: 7
Caol Ila 13yo 1993-2006 OB Moscatel Finish
A Caol Ila finished in dark moscatel wood? I've never tried Dark Moscatel, but is it similar to the white one, I guess I'm in for a sweet dram. It smells sort of like a sherried Caol Ila without the sulphur. Red wine, sweetness and earthy notes. It has the peatiness of Caol Ila on the palate, but all the coastal Islay character is gone, it's sweet, a bit anis, some bourbon, tannins and oak. It's a totally different expression, but I love it. I think if it were to be a whisky with more similarity to the Caol Ila 12yo it would've had trouble standing on it's own.
The sound of Moscatel?: 7
Caol Ila 12yo 57.9% OB
It has a sweetness that I found in the older versions of the standard OB, the ones from back in the early 2000's, older...(?). Anyway, I guess it could be that more of the distillery charistica is kept due to less dilution. Marzipan, sugar and salty, coastal, maritime notes. The taste is at first very sweet and reminds me somewhat of the Glengoyne 12yo CS OB at about 57%. But not for long, here comes the peat in large proportions, with more coastal notes added. Water is not needed if your not looking for something more similar to the standard 12yo.
A very good Caol ila: 7
Caol Ila 12yo 43% OB
Light Whisky, smells beautiful of summer and flowers. The taste gets me on other thoughts. It's very smoky, almost like a rough dominican cigar. A classic Islay malt that's very firm in the mouth, not very nuanced, and obviously not for the finer malt enthusiasts.
A classic Islay: 5.5
Caol Ila 26yo 1982-2008 54.6% DTC cask 2738
A very peaty presence on this Islay no doubt. The nose is a real appetizer. The taste is fruity, loafy and seems much lighter than the OB's I've tried from this distillery. The taste is very dry, peated, starch, nuts, burnt grass and onions. The aftertaste is strong, peppery, acidic and eucalyptic and very influenced by the plain oak cask.
For the ones with a special interest: 4
12 Bunnahabhains tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Bunnahabhain 30yo 1978-2008 53.1% Murray McDavid
Another 30yo Bunnahabhain from same vintage, again this dark orange hue, just a bit more intense, perhaps due to not being diluted. Smells spirity, sulphury, restrained, dark grapes, lime and worchestershire sauce. The taste is The taste is peppery, a bit zesty and got some nice malty notes with dark syrup playing in the background. Better than the OMC, but still there not that dissimilar, with water they're quite alike. The aftertaste is drying, and has some ruounded egg cream flavor.
This needs time, but it's well worth it: 6.5
Bunnahabhain 30yo 1978-2009 50% Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask cask#5120 566btls.
A vertical tasting of 30 years old whiskies today. Not my everyday tasting for sure. Notes of mustard, phenol, restrained sweetness and herbal bitterness. Dark orange colour. The taste is very restrained and sulphury, seems to need some water. I find this to be a whisky that lacks some punch, I'm used to more cask influence from the OMC series, and I find the Bunnahabhain has always been a whisky in need of a good cask as it quite frankly isn't the most characteristic spirit. Now I'm sure many will disagree, but for me this one just doesn't cut it.
A bland and even when given time a pretty "dead" Bunnahabhain: 4
Bunnahabhain 17yo 1979-1996 58.4% Signatory Vintage cask#5110 btl.4/730
A sherry casked Bunnahabhain, the kind Islayer, brown dark colour, could this be from one of the good old sherry casks from Signatory Vintage that's becoming just harder and harder to find nowadays? Colour of dark rosé wine. It smells of caramell, oloroso sherry, a quite sharp flavour, wild berries. The taste is dry, very dry, unfortunately it doesn't develop much from this. With water. No thanks, doesn't make it better.
A weird Bunnahabhain, seems much young than it's age: 2
Bunnahabhain 9yo 59.6% Adelphi cask#5265
A young cask strength Bunnahabhain, I traded this one from another whisky sample gatherer. Most OB's from Bunnahabhain is darker and partly sherry matured, this one is straw pale. The taste is spirity and acid, acrylic clothing. The taste diabolical, dry, like chewing dry oak soaked in high spirit alcohol. Turns cloudy with water, The taste is just foul and off, spirity on all notes.
I'm no fan of Bunnahabhain unless 15+yo it seems: 1
Bunnahabhain 14yo 1995-2009 46% Dun Bheagan
Bunnahabhain's recently upped the abv on the standard 10yo to 46.3% with even bigger amount of sherry if I'm not mistaken, so this fresh sherry matured Bunnahabhain should maybe be around the same level. This one smells grainy and bitter, sulphury, another fino expression? or amoroso? The taste is rather burnt, oily, fat fish, smoked ham, salt. By adding water the expression gets a bit sweeter, with some tannins. The aftertaste is just rather bitter.
It's OK, but I'd rather have the standard OB: 5
Bunnahabhain 12yo 46.3% OB
I'm finishing off tonights sampling session with and old aquaintance, everything looks to be the same, but the alcohol level have been elevated from 40 to 46.3%abv. Let's see what impact this makes. Seems of its red hue that it's still partly sherry-matured. Smells roasted coffee beans, phenol, dry red wine, goat cheese and hickory. The taste is sweet, dry sherry, viciously bitter, seems to me even more sherried than its predecessor. Needs more water! Now it becomes amazing, oaky, chili, walnuts, oregano, oloroso, with a hot and rustic long aftertaste, something of the indian kitchen I presume.
An improvement, hopefully they'll keep it up: 6.5
Bunnahabhain NAS 46.3% OB Darach Ur batch#1
This Bunnahabhain was one of the first releases with batch statement, something that nowadays, which at also Laphroaig and Aberlour seems to becoming an alternative to the cask and bottle numbered bottles. It smells very fresh, sea-air, salty and smoky. The taste is dry and peppery, phenolic, rustic, I do like it, but it doesn't follow up the nose. I believe there could be a good portion of sherried malt in this? The aftertaste is long, drying and burning.
Something's taken hold here, far away from the distillery profile: 5.5
Bunnahabhain 8yo 1992-2010 54.4% Malts of Scotland cask#1419 btl.x/603
Bunnahabhain is a malt that reaches abnormal prices when bottled at 30+yo, 8yo on the other hand, I have no clue what to expect. This one has been matured exclusively in a fresh sherry cask. Combined with cask strength I guess I can expect something quite different than the standard Bunnas. The taste is extremely dry, I guess it needs water. With some water it gets peppery, but most of all floral. The aftertaste is long and sweet.
A nice bunnahabhain, but when diluted, it just gets a bit bland: 6
Bunnahabhain 20yo 1979-1999 57% James MacArthur's Old Master's
Another lightweighter bottled at cask strength, this one from the James Macarthur's. They bottle everything from crap to gold, so I guess this could fit just about anywhere on the scale. As JM usually don't artificial colour in their whisky, and this one is very dark, I believe it could be a sweet sherried one. The nose is very light, third light one in a row, could there be something wrong with my sense of smell today? The taste is sherried, no doubt. Sulphur, red onions, cigars, dry, dusty, blackberries, lemon peel and grape seeds. A drop of water makes little difference. If you enjoy a dry sherry, you'll love this.
For me it's a beautifully balanced pure sherried malt: 7.5
Bunnahabhain 12yo 40% OB
The nice and friendly Islayer, I think I've heard, from Ralfy that Bunnahabhain is best at young age. It has a creamy and very vanillish nose, sweet but not too sweet. Very nice vanilla flavour, some tannic notes, a little dry and a strange kind of leather aftertaste. I'll add water and it becomes a little more pleasant on the finish. This is absolutely an enjoyable and easygoing malt.
A Standard welcoming malt for arriving guests: 6
Bunnahabhain 36yo 1967-2004 40.7% Duncan Taylor
Bunnahabhain is normally considered best when bottled at a fairly young age. This is dark, with a beautiful scent of freshly baked apple pie and some caramel, christmas malt? The taste on the other hand is very dry, almost like licking cardboard, needs water. Some thin fruitiness emerges, but it also becomes more spirity. The finish gives more alcohol and some vanilla.
A poor old dram: 3
Bunnahabhain 17yo 1984-2001 43% Signatory Vintage
Bottled 4 days after my date of birth, fun to try. Smells of peat, burnt alcohole, like gasoline on fire and tannic redwine. It does taste of some very ripe blackcurrants, peat and porous cream. This is the kinder brother of all the other Islay distilleries.
The finish doesn't quite make it: 5.5
Another 30yo Bunnahabhain from same vintage, again this dark orange hue, just a bit more intense, perhaps due to not being diluted. Smells spirity, sulphury, restrained, dark grapes, lime and worchestershire sauce. The taste is The taste is peppery, a bit zesty and got some nice malty notes with dark syrup playing in the background. Better than the OMC, but still there not that dissimilar, with water they're quite alike. The aftertaste is drying, and has some ruounded egg cream flavor.
This needs time, but it's well worth it: 6.5
Bunnahabhain 30yo 1978-2009 50% Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask cask#5120 566btls.
A vertical tasting of 30 years old whiskies today. Not my everyday tasting for sure. Notes of mustard, phenol, restrained sweetness and herbal bitterness. Dark orange colour. The taste is very restrained and sulphury, seems to need some water. I find this to be a whisky that lacks some punch, I'm used to more cask influence from the OMC series, and I find the Bunnahabhain has always been a whisky in need of a good cask as it quite frankly isn't the most characteristic spirit. Now I'm sure many will disagree, but for me this one just doesn't cut it.
A bland and even when given time a pretty "dead" Bunnahabhain: 4
Bunnahabhain 17yo 1979-1996 58.4% Signatory Vintage cask#5110 btl.4/730
A sherry casked Bunnahabhain, the kind Islayer, brown dark colour, could this be from one of the good old sherry casks from Signatory Vintage that's becoming just harder and harder to find nowadays? Colour of dark rosé wine. It smells of caramell, oloroso sherry, a quite sharp flavour, wild berries. The taste is dry, very dry, unfortunately it doesn't develop much from this. With water. No thanks, doesn't make it better.
A weird Bunnahabhain, seems much young than it's age: 2
Bunnahabhain 9yo 59.6% Adelphi cask#5265
A young cask strength Bunnahabhain, I traded this one from another whisky sample gatherer. Most OB's from Bunnahabhain is darker and partly sherry matured, this one is straw pale. The taste is spirity and acid, acrylic clothing. The taste diabolical, dry, like chewing dry oak soaked in high spirit alcohol. Turns cloudy with water, The taste is just foul and off, spirity on all notes.
I'm no fan of Bunnahabhain unless 15+yo it seems: 1
Bunnahabhain 14yo 1995-2009 46% Dun Bheagan
Bunnahabhain's recently upped the abv on the standard 10yo to 46.3% with even bigger amount of sherry if I'm not mistaken, so this fresh sherry matured Bunnahabhain should maybe be around the same level. This one smells grainy and bitter, sulphury, another fino expression? or amoroso? The taste is rather burnt, oily, fat fish, smoked ham, salt. By adding water the expression gets a bit sweeter, with some tannins. The aftertaste is just rather bitter.
It's OK, but I'd rather have the standard OB: 5
Bunnahabhain 12yo 46.3% OB
I'm finishing off tonights sampling session with and old aquaintance, everything looks to be the same, but the alcohol level have been elevated from 40 to 46.3%abv. Let's see what impact this makes. Seems of its red hue that it's still partly sherry-matured. Smells roasted coffee beans, phenol, dry red wine, goat cheese and hickory. The taste is sweet, dry sherry, viciously bitter, seems to me even more sherried than its predecessor. Needs more water! Now it becomes amazing, oaky, chili, walnuts, oregano, oloroso, with a hot and rustic long aftertaste, something of the indian kitchen I presume.
An improvement, hopefully they'll keep it up: 6.5
Bunnahabhain NAS 46.3% OB Darach Ur batch#1
This Bunnahabhain was one of the first releases with batch statement, something that nowadays, which at also Laphroaig and Aberlour seems to becoming an alternative to the cask and bottle numbered bottles. It smells very fresh, sea-air, salty and smoky. The taste is dry and peppery, phenolic, rustic, I do like it, but it doesn't follow up the nose. I believe there could be a good portion of sherried malt in this? The aftertaste is long, drying and burning.
Something's taken hold here, far away from the distillery profile: 5.5
Bunnahabhain 8yo 1992-2010 54.4% Malts of Scotland cask#1419 btl.x/603
Bunnahabhain is a malt that reaches abnormal prices when bottled at 30+yo, 8yo on the other hand, I have no clue what to expect. This one has been matured exclusively in a fresh sherry cask. Combined with cask strength I guess I can expect something quite different than the standard Bunnas. The taste is extremely dry, I guess it needs water. With some water it gets peppery, but most of all floral. The aftertaste is long and sweet.
A nice bunnahabhain, but when diluted, it just gets a bit bland: 6
Bunnahabhain 20yo 1979-1999 57% James MacArthur's Old Master's
Another lightweighter bottled at cask strength, this one from the James Macarthur's. They bottle everything from crap to gold, so I guess this could fit just about anywhere on the scale. As JM usually don't artificial colour in their whisky, and this one is very dark, I believe it could be a sweet sherried one. The nose is very light, third light one in a row, could there be something wrong with my sense of smell today? The taste is sherried, no doubt. Sulphur, red onions, cigars, dry, dusty, blackberries, lemon peel and grape seeds. A drop of water makes little difference. If you enjoy a dry sherry, you'll love this.
For me it's a beautifully balanced pure sherried malt: 7.5
Bunnahabhain 12yo 40% OB
The nice and friendly Islayer, I think I've heard, from Ralfy that Bunnahabhain is best at young age. It has a creamy and very vanillish nose, sweet but not too sweet. Very nice vanilla flavour, some tannic notes, a little dry and a strange kind of leather aftertaste. I'll add water and it becomes a little more pleasant on the finish. This is absolutely an enjoyable and easygoing malt.
A Standard welcoming malt for arriving guests: 6
Bunnahabhain 36yo 1967-2004 40.7% Duncan Taylor
Bunnahabhain is normally considered best when bottled at a fairly young age. This is dark, with a beautiful scent of freshly baked apple pie and some caramel, christmas malt? The taste on the other hand is very dry, almost like licking cardboard, needs water. Some thin fruitiness emerges, but it also becomes more spirity. The finish gives more alcohol and some vanilla.
A poor old dram: 3
Bunnahabhain 17yo 1984-2001 43% Signatory Vintage
Bottled 4 days after my date of birth, fun to try. Smells of peat, burnt alcohole, like gasoline on fire and tannic redwine. It does taste of some very ripe blackcurrants, peat and porous cream. This is the kinder brother of all the other Islay distilleries.
The finish doesn't quite make it: 5.5
onsdag 2. februar 2011
My stock of whiskies
The other day I actually received a mail from a guy politely questioning if I really have tried all the whiskies on my site, and if I really have all the whiskies on my expectations list...
So therefor I made the drastic action of trying to upload a videos with my whiskies, so here's the first batch of videos of my bottles. The talking is about 90% Norwegian, but the pictures speaks hopefully for themselves.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0479nOx3tk
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODC2bB2DmFc
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzBEIJQZvoA
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUo8p0SgdN4
this is 4 of the total of 7 videos I'm gonna upload of my stock, so more to come.
So therefor I made the drastic action of trying to upload a videos with my whiskies, so here's the first batch of videos of my bottles. The talking is about 90% Norwegian, but the pictures speaks hopefully for themselves.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0479nOx3tk
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODC2bB2DmFc
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzBEIJQZvoA
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUo8p0SgdN4
this is 4 of the total of 7 videos I'm gonna upload of my stock, so more to come.
tirsdag 1. februar 2011
9 Balvenies tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Balvenie 17yo 43% OB Rum Finish
I am one of those who believe Balvenie is somewhat of an over-performer seeing the fuzz it creates compared to the produce they put out. Although I've in the past admired their "Double Wood", I'm not that blown away by recent batches. Perhaps this 17yo can help change my mind. It smells of sweet rum, almost too dominated by the finishing cask(s), dark rum, aniseed and camphor. The taste is much lighter at first, some rubbery notes, a small hint of smoke and cedar wood. One to have alongside a cigar? The aftertaste is short and spirity, like some cough drops or eucalyptus liqueur, if such a thing exists. The Rum Cask provides nothing positive here as far as I can tell.
Balvenie, it's time to put your good old casks to better use: 2.5
Balvenie 17yo 43% OB Madeira
A Balvenie from a madeira cask, I did enjoy the port wood version a whole lot, so let's try this one. The smell is not that good, a firm alcohol sting, some sweetness, a bit like the last edition of the 15yo Glenfiddich, the one after the Solera Reserve. The taste is just tame, there's nothing to it other than a tired dryness, an absolute disappointment for me. I'll give it some water. Same thing, just a tame whisky with more taste of bad Vodka than anything else. No thanks.
Have Balvenie missed out on the good Madeira casks?: 2
Balvenie 21yo 43% OB Port Wood
Balvenie I believe were one of the pioneers among distilleries when it comes to double maturation, as the 12yo double wood has been around for as long as I can remember. And it used to be very good, although seems to be going through a bit of a rough patch now.. Bad casks? How about bourbon- with finishing portmaturation? It smells sweet and a bit austere, I'm not getting much of the port, there's more vanilla notes and butter bisquits. The taste is at first sweet, cherries and chilli. Then the Bourbon takes over and it gets peppery with some vanilla flavours. It needs a small touch of water. Now, with some water it gets fantastic, sweet, honey, vanilla, oaky, dark toffee and syrup.
Reminds me of older versions of Highland Park 12: 7.5
Balvenie 8yo 43% OB
This one comes in a green flat bottle, probably from the 80's. It has a very nice golden colour, and the "pure malt" mark, that actually can suggest whatever, but since this comes from an era where the Cardhu scheme weren't yet discovered I believe it's a true single malt. It smells a bit of flowers, milk chocolate, toasted almonds and garlic. The taste is at first creamy and a bit tender, then goes to minty sweets, like the inside of an after eight, before it finishes with some real peppery layers in the end. A fairly good malt, with a bit going on, like the old Founders Reserve.
It's flawless, but a bit simple: 5
Balvenie 15yo 50.4% OB Single Barrel
A balvenie from a single bourbon barrel, I don't know about this one, but let's go. The high alcohol volume makes the usually so mellow Balvenie seem a bit frustrated. It has some vanilla and peppermints, but it seems overshadowed by the alcohol. Give it some water and the bourbon influence comes forward. It tastes of vanilla, but gets a bit tame, and I miss the roundness of the Double Wood. Other than that it's pretty balanced, but hardly interesting.
A boring Balvenie: 5.5
The Balvenie NAS 62% "As We Get It"
"As We Get It" is another expression for Un-chill filtered Cask Strength I guess. This one is from the 70's, and is one of the strongest malts I've come across. Reeks of medical industrial spirit and chalk dust. Far too strong without added water, with some water, a small hint of liquorice is created. Nothing more.
Explosives: 1
The Balvenie 10yo 43% OB Founder's Reserve
This 10-year old's matured in traditional oak barrells, in contrast to the more popular 12yo. It doesn't stop the sweet smoked, sugary and honeyed balvenie-odor to appear. But the taste is a bit burnt and rancid, sweet at first, as expected, but with a very earthy and bitter finish. I you ask me, they could have dropped this version as it doesn't really difference from the Double Wood in any ways worth mentioning.
Traditional, good whisky: 5.5
Balvenie 12yo 40% OB Double Wood
Matured 50/50 in Sherry and traditional oak casks. smells heavily oak influenced, much sherry. The taste is initially very strong, while the finish reminds of a finer, more subtle sweet malt. This is high cask art.
Starts powerful, ends classy: 8
Balvenie 12yo 40% OB Signature
This is the one replacing the old 10yo Founders Reserve, which I found to be a pretty mediocre whisky. Let's see if they've raised their game with this one. The nose is very light, almost aperitif-like, butter, parsley and orange marmalade. The taste is very sweet, perfumy, anis, a bit like buffalo trace bourbon. Well, water then, now it's becoming even sweeter at first, but with a more peppery finish. Although nice, I just can't get my mind off that it's just a bit to similar to bourbon.
For the bourbon-lovers: 4
I am one of those who believe Balvenie is somewhat of an over-performer seeing the fuzz it creates compared to the produce they put out. Although I've in the past admired their "Double Wood", I'm not that blown away by recent batches. Perhaps this 17yo can help change my mind. It smells of sweet rum, almost too dominated by the finishing cask(s), dark rum, aniseed and camphor. The taste is much lighter at first, some rubbery notes, a small hint of smoke and cedar wood. One to have alongside a cigar? The aftertaste is short and spirity, like some cough drops or eucalyptus liqueur, if such a thing exists. The Rum Cask provides nothing positive here as far as I can tell.
Balvenie, it's time to put your good old casks to better use: 2.5
Balvenie 17yo 43% OB Madeira
A Balvenie from a madeira cask, I did enjoy the port wood version a whole lot, so let's try this one. The smell is not that good, a firm alcohol sting, some sweetness, a bit like the last edition of the 15yo Glenfiddich, the one after the Solera Reserve. The taste is just tame, there's nothing to it other than a tired dryness, an absolute disappointment for me. I'll give it some water. Same thing, just a tame whisky with more taste of bad Vodka than anything else. No thanks.
Have Balvenie missed out on the good Madeira casks?: 2
Balvenie 21yo 43% OB Port Wood
Balvenie I believe were one of the pioneers among distilleries when it comes to double maturation, as the 12yo double wood has been around for as long as I can remember. And it used to be very good, although seems to be going through a bit of a rough patch now.. Bad casks? How about bourbon- with finishing portmaturation? It smells sweet and a bit austere, I'm not getting much of the port, there's more vanilla notes and butter bisquits. The taste is at first sweet, cherries and chilli. Then the Bourbon takes over and it gets peppery with some vanilla flavours. It needs a small touch of water. Now, with some water it gets fantastic, sweet, honey, vanilla, oaky, dark toffee and syrup.
Reminds me of older versions of Highland Park 12: 7.5
Balvenie 8yo 43% OB
This one comes in a green flat bottle, probably from the 80's. It has a very nice golden colour, and the "pure malt" mark, that actually can suggest whatever, but since this comes from an era where the Cardhu scheme weren't yet discovered I believe it's a true single malt. It smells a bit of flowers, milk chocolate, toasted almonds and garlic. The taste is at first creamy and a bit tender, then goes to minty sweets, like the inside of an after eight, before it finishes with some real peppery layers in the end. A fairly good malt, with a bit going on, like the old Founders Reserve.
It's flawless, but a bit simple: 5
Balvenie 15yo 50.4% OB Single Barrel
A balvenie from a single bourbon barrel, I don't know about this one, but let's go. The high alcohol volume makes the usually so mellow Balvenie seem a bit frustrated. It has some vanilla and peppermints, but it seems overshadowed by the alcohol. Give it some water and the bourbon influence comes forward. It tastes of vanilla, but gets a bit tame, and I miss the roundness of the Double Wood. Other than that it's pretty balanced, but hardly interesting.
A boring Balvenie: 5.5
The Balvenie NAS 62% "As We Get It"
"As We Get It" is another expression for Un-chill filtered Cask Strength I guess. This one is from the 70's, and is one of the strongest malts I've come across. Reeks of medical industrial spirit and chalk dust. Far too strong without added water, with some water, a small hint of liquorice is created. Nothing more.
Explosives: 1
The Balvenie 10yo 43% OB Founder's Reserve
This 10-year old's matured in traditional oak barrells, in contrast to the more popular 12yo. It doesn't stop the sweet smoked, sugary and honeyed balvenie-odor to appear. But the taste is a bit burnt and rancid, sweet at first, as expected, but with a very earthy and bitter finish. I you ask me, they could have dropped this version as it doesn't really difference from the Double Wood in any ways worth mentioning.
Traditional, good whisky: 5.5
Balvenie 12yo 40% OB Double Wood
Matured 50/50 in Sherry and traditional oak casks. smells heavily oak influenced, much sherry. The taste is initially very strong, while the finish reminds of a finer, more subtle sweet malt. This is high cask art.
Starts powerful, ends classy: 8
Balvenie 12yo 40% OB Signature
This is the one replacing the old 10yo Founders Reserve, which I found to be a pretty mediocre whisky. Let's see if they've raised their game with this one. The nose is very light, almost aperitif-like, butter, parsley and orange marmalade. The taste is very sweet, perfumy, anis, a bit like buffalo trace bourbon. Well, water then, now it's becoming even sweeter at first, but with a more peppery finish. Although nice, I just can't get my mind off that it's just a bit to similar to bourbon.
For the bourbon-lovers: 4
fredag 28. januar 2011
7 Tamnavulins tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Tamnavulin 16yo 55.1% Master of Malt
A single cask bottling from this rare to find distillery. Or actually not that rare to find, but bottled at cask strength at this age. Tamnavulin is one of those making a point of being light and non-peated, like Glengoyne for instance. The nose is fruity, lots of red berries and some vinegar, very nice. On the palate there's some sweet malty notes but the high alcohol proof shins through a little too much. Adding water. With water it gets very hazy, the taste of some vinegar and dry hopsis perfectly fine and gives way to a light and far from complex but still very good aftertaste.
I hoped the strength would've added some more complexity: 7
Tamnavulin-Glenlivet 10yo 40% OB
Another version of the 10yo Tamnavulin OB, This one smells even lighter than the last one, some small hints of wood and some cotton. The taste is again a bit liquoricy but also some hints of dry steak appears. This one is far closer to a malty flavour, but still not as enjoyable as it's successor. Tamnavulin was mothballed in 1996, and from what I know, it hasn't resumed production yet. Perhaps this shows a bit why. Again, not a truly bad experience, just lacks any sign of peculiarity.
A bland whisky: 3.5
Tamnavulin 10yo 40% OB
I'm doing two Tamnavulins today H2H, both 10yo, one with the -glenlivet ending from the 90's, and this one from the 00's. It smells light, grassy, pretty plain. The taste is liquorice, not bad, but not like a malt actually. It sort of a cross between fisherman's minty liquorice and a light aperitif malt. It's far from bad, no flavours are putting me off, but it's not my kind of whisky. No aftertaste.
Sweet liquorice: 4.5
Tamnavulin NAS 40% OB
An old one with the -glenlivet ending. Also it's free of the unnecessary "Naturally light"-statement that's found on contemporary Tamnavulin bottles. It smells very light, butter, floral, vanilla, muscat and green apples. The taste is grassy, cinnamon, herbal and just a small hint of lemon. The aftertaste is a bit peppery, but other than that it's just far too light to enjoy more than as an aperitif.
I'm sure there are many blends out there tasting just like this: 4
Tamnavulin 12yo 40% OB
Tamnavulin has stated on it's label "Naturally Light". I don't know why they try to put themselves in a niche group of whiskies even before the buyer is allowed to consume. The whisky is very pale, and light on the nose, like when pouring water on the barbeque, H2O oxidising? Taste light as well, minty bubblegum, olive oil and some brie cheese or camembert.
Naturally light:): 4
Tamnavulin 37yo 1967-2005 46.7% Duncan Taylor
Duncan Taylor's been stacking this whisky since the 60's, right after it's birth. So now it's time to harvest. Very dark, smells of the sea, seaweed, tar and smoke, reminds me of many Islay malts that I've tasted. But the flavours are yat another story, there's fresh apple pie, brown sugar, honey, and a finish with a neutralising hint of pepper.
One of the best from DT I've tried so far: 7.5
Tamnavulin 9yo 1988-1997 58.9% Cask 4706-4709 G&M
Very powerful on the nose, pretty much what I would expect from a cask strength Tamnavulin, lacks fruitiness and other flavours, a whisky for the machochists out there. Can take a drop of water or five.
Strong and a bit medicinial: 5.5
A single cask bottling from this rare to find distillery. Or actually not that rare to find, but bottled at cask strength at this age. Tamnavulin is one of those making a point of being light and non-peated, like Glengoyne for instance. The nose is fruity, lots of red berries and some vinegar, very nice. On the palate there's some sweet malty notes but the high alcohol proof shins through a little too much. Adding water. With water it gets very hazy, the taste of some vinegar and dry hopsis perfectly fine and gives way to a light and far from complex but still very good aftertaste.
I hoped the strength would've added some more complexity: 7
Tamnavulin-Glenlivet 10yo 40% OB
Another version of the 10yo Tamnavulin OB, This one smells even lighter than the last one, some small hints of wood and some cotton. The taste is again a bit liquoricy but also some hints of dry steak appears. This one is far closer to a malty flavour, but still not as enjoyable as it's successor. Tamnavulin was mothballed in 1996, and from what I know, it hasn't resumed production yet. Perhaps this shows a bit why. Again, not a truly bad experience, just lacks any sign of peculiarity.
A bland whisky: 3.5
Tamnavulin 10yo 40% OB
I'm doing two Tamnavulins today H2H, both 10yo, one with the -glenlivet ending from the 90's, and this one from the 00's. It smells light, grassy, pretty plain. The taste is liquorice, not bad, but not like a malt actually. It sort of a cross between fisherman's minty liquorice and a light aperitif malt. It's far from bad, no flavours are putting me off, but it's not my kind of whisky. No aftertaste.
Sweet liquorice: 4.5
Tamnavulin NAS 40% OB
An old one with the -glenlivet ending. Also it's free of the unnecessary "Naturally light"-statement that's found on contemporary Tamnavulin bottles. It smells very light, butter, floral, vanilla, muscat and green apples. The taste is grassy, cinnamon, herbal and just a small hint of lemon. The aftertaste is a bit peppery, but other than that it's just far too light to enjoy more than as an aperitif.
I'm sure there are many blends out there tasting just like this: 4
Tamnavulin 12yo 40% OB
Tamnavulin has stated on it's label "Naturally Light". I don't know why they try to put themselves in a niche group of whiskies even before the buyer is allowed to consume. The whisky is very pale, and light on the nose, like when pouring water on the barbeque, H2O oxidising? Taste light as well, minty bubblegum, olive oil and some brie cheese or camembert.
Naturally light:): 4
Tamnavulin 37yo 1967-2005 46.7% Duncan Taylor
Duncan Taylor's been stacking this whisky since the 60's, right after it's birth. So now it's time to harvest. Very dark, smells of the sea, seaweed, tar and smoke, reminds me of many Islay malts that I've tasted. But the flavours are yat another story, there's fresh apple pie, brown sugar, honey, and a finish with a neutralising hint of pepper.
One of the best from DT I've tried so far: 7.5
Tamnavulin 9yo 1988-1997 58.9% Cask 4706-4709 G&M
Very powerful on the nose, pretty much what I would expect from a cask strength Tamnavulin, lacks fruitiness and other flavours, a whisky for the machochists out there. Can take a drop of water or five.
Strong and a bit medicinial: 5.5
tirsdag 25. januar 2011
6 Glen Albyns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glen Albyn 26yo 1975-2001 54.8% Rare Malts
Neighbor of Glen Mhor, another long time gone and just occasionally mentionedin malt whisky circles. Enjoyed at the Grill Bar in Aberdeen, a nice bar with a huge range of whiskies, just a bit pricy but isn't everything in Union Street? A pale one, bourbon casked, smells spirity, sweet, sultanas, The aftertaste is just spirity. At this age I'd expect so much more.
A dead cask?: 3
Glen Albyn 29yo 1981-2010 57.5% Signatory
I love these shops selling samples online, as I've been amazed by two Glen Albyns from Signatory before I'm wondering if I should invest in a CS in the near future, but money talks in this business, so I've now got a 3cl to try first.. fantastic! Bourbon-matured this one, needs time to open up, smells withheld, small, but really nice hints of wheat, powdered sugar and spearmint. The taste is very sour, rusty, weird, nothing like a bourbon, more like really sour gravy. I cannot say it doesn't intrigue me because its so far from well.. any other expression of anything, but I will try with water, just to see what happens. Water gives a more usual vanilla and black pepper bourbon taste. It's nothing special, I prefer it without water.
A weird whisky, to unordinary to not take notice of: 4
Glen Albyn 25yo 1964-1989 58% Signatory Vintage cask#942-943 btl.841/1200
I do have another bottle from same casks, and if I remember correctly I enjoyed that very much. But I also remember that one to be dark red coloured, while this is golden pale..hmmm... Maybe I'm mixing up. It has a phenolic smell, almost like fino sherry. The taste is very peppery, phenolic, dry, salty and has a very long rubbery and salt aftertaste. It's first of all dry and bittersweet. A good expression, but it could've been just slightly sweeter.
Dry sherried malt: 6.5
Glen Albyn 25yo 1979-2005 56% Duncan taylor Rarest of the Rare cask#3958 btl.218/238
"A historic collection of Cask Strength Single Casks..." This label statement reeks of being a collector's item rather then a whisky to enjoy. Anyway, life's too short to let the bottles rot away on a shelf. The nose is pleasant, anis, liquorice and bonfire. The taste is unfortunately a big disaster. I'd say tastewise it's closer to a new-make spirit than even a 10-year old. With additional water it's becoming a bit minty but that's about it, and off course a nauseating sweetness of rotten fruit.
I've been amazed by other Glen Albyns, but this one is horrible: 1.5
Glen Albyn 12yo 1980-1993 43% Signatory Vintage cask 2946-48 btl. 765/2400
The last Glen Albyn I tried from S/V was at cask strength and amazing, will this younger, dilluted version live up to it's ancestor? The odors are quite unpleasant, very strong, but no real hint of any flavours. It has a very sweet taste of much vanilla, fruity, easy, mango, passion fruit and wax. Absolutely fantastic. The aftertaste is short and peppery. This one must be bourbon matured, and very young, but it doesn't lack much compared to the older versions I've tried.
Glen Albyn plays on all strings in this one, unforgetable: 8
Glen Albyn 25yo 1964-89 58% Signatory Vintage
Oh behold mortals, this aniquity has the most amazing odors of white pepper, garlic and parsley. Does have quite a delicate sweet flavour as well, again with some white pepper, sugar and a nice and zesty oakiness. This one, which I guess there aren't much left of, has got something rarely found in modern malts. Close your eyes and it really creates a vision of the highlands.
A closed, dismantled and almost forgotten treasure: 8
Neighbor of Glen Mhor, another long time gone and just occasionally mentionedin malt whisky circles. Enjoyed at the Grill Bar in Aberdeen, a nice bar with a huge range of whiskies, just a bit pricy but isn't everything in Union Street? A pale one, bourbon casked, smells spirity, sweet, sultanas, The aftertaste is just spirity. At this age I'd expect so much more.
A dead cask?: 3
Glen Albyn 29yo 1981-2010 57.5% Signatory
I love these shops selling samples online, as I've been amazed by two Glen Albyns from Signatory before I'm wondering if I should invest in a CS in the near future, but money talks in this business, so I've now got a 3cl to try first.. fantastic! Bourbon-matured this one, needs time to open up, smells withheld, small, but really nice hints of wheat, powdered sugar and spearmint. The taste is very sour, rusty, weird, nothing like a bourbon, more like really sour gravy. I cannot say it doesn't intrigue me because its so far from well.. any other expression of anything, but I will try with water, just to see what happens. Water gives a more usual vanilla and black pepper bourbon taste. It's nothing special, I prefer it without water.
A weird whisky, to unordinary to not take notice of: 4
Glen Albyn 25yo 1964-1989 58% Signatory Vintage cask#942-943 btl.841/1200
I do have another bottle from same casks, and if I remember correctly I enjoyed that very much. But I also remember that one to be dark red coloured, while this is golden pale..hmmm... Maybe I'm mixing up. It has a phenolic smell, almost like fino sherry. The taste is very peppery, phenolic, dry, salty and has a very long rubbery and salt aftertaste. It's first of all dry and bittersweet. A good expression, but it could've been just slightly sweeter.
Dry sherried malt: 6.5
Glen Albyn 25yo 1979-2005 56% Duncan taylor Rarest of the Rare cask#3958 btl.218/238
"A historic collection of Cask Strength Single Casks..." This label statement reeks of being a collector's item rather then a whisky to enjoy. Anyway, life's too short to let the bottles rot away on a shelf. The nose is pleasant, anis, liquorice and bonfire. The taste is unfortunately a big disaster. I'd say tastewise it's closer to a new-make spirit than even a 10-year old. With additional water it's becoming a bit minty but that's about it, and off course a nauseating sweetness of rotten fruit.
I've been amazed by other Glen Albyns, but this one is horrible: 1.5
Glen Albyn 12yo 1980-1993 43% Signatory Vintage cask 2946-48 btl. 765/2400
The last Glen Albyn I tried from S/V was at cask strength and amazing, will this younger, dilluted version live up to it's ancestor? The odors are quite unpleasant, very strong, but no real hint of any flavours. It has a very sweet taste of much vanilla, fruity, easy, mango, passion fruit and wax. Absolutely fantastic. The aftertaste is short and peppery. This one must be bourbon matured, and very young, but it doesn't lack much compared to the older versions I've tried.
Glen Albyn plays on all strings in this one, unforgetable: 8
Glen Albyn 25yo 1964-89 58% Signatory Vintage
Oh behold mortals, this aniquity has the most amazing odors of white pepper, garlic and parsley. Does have quite a delicate sweet flavour as well, again with some white pepper, sugar and a nice and zesty oakiness. This one, which I guess there aren't much left of, has got something rarely found in modern malts. Close your eyes and it really creates a vision of the highlands.
A closed, dismantled and almost forgotten treasure: 8
mandag 24. januar 2011
7 Fettercairns tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Fettercairn 23yo 1984-2007 52% OB
A dark sherried I suppose(spanish oak) OB from the Fettercairn Distillery. It smells light, typical Fettercairn, easy, crispy, herbal, nuts and sweet oloroso. Followed by a round warming flavour, definately malty, seems much lighter than its actual abv., almost a trademark for this distillery. This is definately not for the macho peatfreaks of the ones that loves intense flavours, but if you like the malt in malt whisky combines with loads and loads of gentle sherry, you're in for a real treat.
Beautiful Fettercairn: 9
Fettercairn 33yo 1975-2008 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Fettercairn, former Fettercairn 1824, former Old Fettercairn, is now out with an impressive new OB range of 24, 30 and 40yo whisky. I have tried none of those, although I have the Fior in my cabinet. I'm looking forward to see the production development in this distillery in the years to come. This one smells awesome, lots of sherry, wood, barbeque, grilled tomatoes, herbs, dried red berries and red peppers. The taste has just the perfect balance, at first a bit phenolic, sweet, rustic, dry, herbal, just everything in small, well-fitted portions. The aftertaste shows green peppercorns and phenol, seeds and dry herbs. Again all in perfect amounts. It doesn't get much better than this.
An utterly great whisky, one of the best: 9.5
Fettercairn NAS 42% OB Fior
The label states this is a limited release, but since there's no number of bottlings, casks or batches mentioned, I find it's a kind of weird statement. But then again aren't really all whiskies limited editions? Orange hue, smells greenish, herbal, peaty, sweet, minty, meaty, just a small bit of everything. This might get confusing tastewise? The taste is definately peaty, mildly so, and herbal, some nice dry sherriness without any rubbery notes, beautiful. The aftertaste is also peaty and herbal. To say it's a fantastic whisky would be wrong, but this one is most definately worth the money paid for it.
A classic whisky with lots of old style charisma: 7
Old Fettercairn NAS 40% OB
Another oldie without age statement today, probably from the 80's with pure instead of single malt stated on the label. It smells caramel, probably its loaded with E150. The taste is much the same as with the Tamnavulin unfortunately, grassy and a bit herbal. With a small addition of water it gets sweeter, red berries, plums and corn. Well, it's not a marvellous malt, but i do like the development when diluted a bit.
One for the nice guys: 4.5
Fettercairn 1824 12yo 40% OB
The new version of Fettercairn, 2 years older than the quite impressive "old fettercairn". This is very fresh and grassy. The taste is quite drying despite having a prominent vanilla flavour and a very herbal, but short aftertaste. It's a very good example of an easy, clean and fun malt. Usually I don't use to much water, or any at all, in whiskies already diluted down to 40%abv, but in this one, just about half a teaspoon will work magic. A bit more peppery and some smoky burnt oak notes.
A summers malt: 6
Old Fettercairn NAS 1997-? 62.3% OB
Fettercairn is one of the hugely underrated scotch distilleries in my opinion. What? No smoky peat? No indulgent special cask maturation? No crazy label name or serie to erase the fact that this is a NAS-bottling? They do it their own way up in Fettercairn. The nose on this one is malty, light and crisp malt notes. The fragrances are beyond superb, pepper, extremely waxy, complex, blue cheese, cheddar, soy, almonds, oranges, really zesty. The aftertaste is not for just anybody, but if you can handle some really strong peppery notes for about 15 minutes it's well worth it.
Up there amongst the great whiskies of our time: 9.5
Old Fettercairn 8yo 43% OB
An older bottling from before the japanese came. It has a very mild nose, some apples, some citrus and of course the some gunpowder. It performs very well on the palate, again citrus, orange, lemon, a slight bitterness and a touch of ale. A small drop of water gets it a bit sweeter, but now it's becoming so mild that it's almost like a borderline blend/malt. The aftertaste is if not exciting, at least very unique, it's just like after a huge sip of guinness ale.
Very enjoyable, but not if you're into peated or sherried stuff: 6.5
A dark sherried I suppose(spanish oak) OB from the Fettercairn Distillery. It smells light, typical Fettercairn, easy, crispy, herbal, nuts and sweet oloroso. Followed by a round warming flavour, definately malty, seems much lighter than its actual abv., almost a trademark for this distillery. This is definately not for the macho peatfreaks of the ones that loves intense flavours, but if you like the malt in malt whisky combines with loads and loads of gentle sherry, you're in for a real treat.
Beautiful Fettercairn: 9
Fettercairn 33yo 1975-2008 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
Fettercairn, former Fettercairn 1824, former Old Fettercairn, is now out with an impressive new OB range of 24, 30 and 40yo whisky. I have tried none of those, although I have the Fior in my cabinet. I'm looking forward to see the production development in this distillery in the years to come. This one smells awesome, lots of sherry, wood, barbeque, grilled tomatoes, herbs, dried red berries and red peppers. The taste has just the perfect balance, at first a bit phenolic, sweet, rustic, dry, herbal, just everything in small, well-fitted portions. The aftertaste shows green peppercorns and phenol, seeds and dry herbs. Again all in perfect amounts. It doesn't get much better than this.
An utterly great whisky, one of the best: 9.5
Fettercairn NAS 42% OB Fior
The label states this is a limited release, but since there's no number of bottlings, casks or batches mentioned, I find it's a kind of weird statement. But then again aren't really all whiskies limited editions? Orange hue, smells greenish, herbal, peaty, sweet, minty, meaty, just a small bit of everything. This might get confusing tastewise? The taste is definately peaty, mildly so, and herbal, some nice dry sherriness without any rubbery notes, beautiful. The aftertaste is also peaty and herbal. To say it's a fantastic whisky would be wrong, but this one is most definately worth the money paid for it.
A classic whisky with lots of old style charisma: 7
Old Fettercairn NAS 40% OB
Another oldie without age statement today, probably from the 80's with pure instead of single malt stated on the label. It smells caramel, probably its loaded with E150. The taste is much the same as with the Tamnavulin unfortunately, grassy and a bit herbal. With a small addition of water it gets sweeter, red berries, plums and corn. Well, it's not a marvellous malt, but i do like the development when diluted a bit.
One for the nice guys: 4.5
Fettercairn 1824 12yo 40% OB
The new version of Fettercairn, 2 years older than the quite impressive "old fettercairn". This is very fresh and grassy. The taste is quite drying despite having a prominent vanilla flavour and a very herbal, but short aftertaste. It's a very good example of an easy, clean and fun malt. Usually I don't use to much water, or any at all, in whiskies already diluted down to 40%abv, but in this one, just about half a teaspoon will work magic. A bit more peppery and some smoky burnt oak notes.
A summers malt: 6
Old Fettercairn NAS 1997-? 62.3% OB
Fettercairn is one of the hugely underrated scotch distilleries in my opinion. What? No smoky peat? No indulgent special cask maturation? No crazy label name or serie to erase the fact that this is a NAS-bottling? They do it their own way up in Fettercairn. The nose on this one is malty, light and crisp malt notes. The fragrances are beyond superb, pepper, extremely waxy, complex, blue cheese, cheddar, soy, almonds, oranges, really zesty. The aftertaste is not for just anybody, but if you can handle some really strong peppery notes for about 15 minutes it's well worth it.
Up there amongst the great whiskies of our time: 9.5
Old Fettercairn 8yo 43% OB
An older bottling from before the japanese came. It has a very mild nose, some apples, some citrus and of course the some gunpowder. It performs very well on the palate, again citrus, orange, lemon, a slight bitterness and a touch of ale. A small drop of water gets it a bit sweeter, but now it's becoming so mild that it's almost like a borderline blend/malt. The aftertaste is if not exciting, at least very unique, it's just like after a huge sip of guinness ale.
Very enjoyable, but not if you're into peated or sherried stuff: 6.5
tirsdag 18. januar 2011
7 Mortlachs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Mortlach 15yo 40% Gordon and Macphail Rare Old
I´m not sure what´s the name of this G&M-series, it says Rare Old on the label and there´s a golden eagle above the distillery name. Light, malty, spirity and a little rubbery smell. This could be an older bottling from the 80´s perhaps so I´ll give it some time to settle down. Some bitter citrus notes develops after some time, grapefruit perhaps.. The taste doesn´t have the meaty character many associates with the distillery, for me it´s more rustic, sweetness, sufary bitterness, burnt sugar? Spirity, sweet with an acidic bitter finish, like some strange bitter schnaps.
Rare Old perhaps, but for me, not Good Old: 3
Mortlach 12yo 1997-2009 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
I'm doing two young whiskies today traded from a fellow online whisky browser. I don't know what cask been used but it's pretty pale so I guess it's from a bourbon cask as I do not believe there's many refill casks in the OMC series? Smells somewhat peaty and raw chopped onions, it definately got a bite. The taste is fresh, spiced and full of vanilla. Kind of one-dimensional, but not boring. This is very spicy and sweet, hard to describe other than some vanilla, peppery and banana notes, perhaps some lime skin. The aftertaste is starch and smoke, a bit woody.
A well expressed malt, if not very refined: 5
Edit: Note from owner of an original bottle says that the label states this comes from a sherry cask(!) I guess perhaps a refill then, or maybe Fino or Manzanilla? It's just too pale to come from a fresh Oloroso or Amontillado.
Mortlach 19yo 1990-2009 57.5% Signatory Vintage
A Mortlach from Signatory's Cask Strength Collection, this series I often enjoy a lot, but the when I enjoy it it's usually always been in a sherry cask for a good while. This one smells sweet, syrupy, vanilla, corn and fluoride mints. The taste is of sage, oregano, lots of herbs, a very herbal malt, something a bit like paprika butter and mashed red onions. This is just too high %abv. on this one, I'll add water. Now it gets very floral with lots of herbs. This is not good, better without water.
A spirity and green Mortlach: 3.5
Mortlach 12yo 1998-2010 59.1% G&M for The Whiskyshop Dufftown
Another purchased sample, this time from the whiskysamples.flyingcart.com, not nearly as estethiqually bottled, but like with humans, it's what's inside that counts? And it smells delicious, these smoky, sweet, farmy aromas on the nose, and something citrussy, mouth-watering! The taste is fruity, grapefruit, sour, zesty, very good, but considering the high %abv and the very intense flavours I'll add some water. With water it gets more oaky, peppery, even drier. This sherry cask does give a lot of surprises. The finish is creamy, voloptous (in lack of a better word) and smoked meat.
A Mortlach with much character: 6
Mortlach 12yo 40% Gordon & Macphail
One from the flat bottled series of the 80's by G&M. I've never found a Mortlack that stood out as far as being a really good whisky. The nose is smells of cotton, old books and apple pie. The taste is also pretty schizo, theres sort of a nice round buttery sweetness and at the same time a real dusty, harsh sourness. The aftertaste is a bit the one you get from a bad stout, let's say Beamish or Buffalo (Sorry to the ones I may offend).
No wonder there's lots of these strange bottles still lying around: 2
Mortlach 50yo 1936-1986 40% Gordon & Macphail's
This one is with no doubt one of the rarest malts I've had in my hand, therefore I will not dilute it with any water. It's very mild at first nosing, perhaps it needs some more air and time. Still mild, candyfloss and cinnamon. It's pretty strange-tasting, mild at first, as some sort of artificial malt aperitif. But the finish is so oaky that it's almost like licking a barrell.
It's sad, but it doesn't reach higher than: 4.5
Mortlach 22yo 46% Cadenhead's
Wow, this one seems pretty massive, but straightforward, candied apples and dark liqueur chocolate. At first very sweet, like honey concentrate, but with an aftertaste that can be a little too dry for some of us. Seems almost to be like a very tannined red wine on the palate.
Schizofrenic Whisky: 6
I´m not sure what´s the name of this G&M-series, it says Rare Old on the label and there´s a golden eagle above the distillery name. Light, malty, spirity and a little rubbery smell. This could be an older bottling from the 80´s perhaps so I´ll give it some time to settle down. Some bitter citrus notes develops after some time, grapefruit perhaps.. The taste doesn´t have the meaty character many associates with the distillery, for me it´s more rustic, sweetness, sufary bitterness, burnt sugar? Spirity, sweet with an acidic bitter finish, like some strange bitter schnaps.
Rare Old perhaps, but for me, not Good Old: 3
Mortlach 12yo 1997-2009 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
I'm doing two young whiskies today traded from a fellow online whisky browser. I don't know what cask been used but it's pretty pale so I guess it's from a bourbon cask as I do not believe there's many refill casks in the OMC series? Smells somewhat peaty and raw chopped onions, it definately got a bite. The taste is fresh, spiced and full of vanilla. Kind of one-dimensional, but not boring. This is very spicy and sweet, hard to describe other than some vanilla, peppery and banana notes, perhaps some lime skin. The aftertaste is starch and smoke, a bit woody.
A well expressed malt, if not very refined: 5
Edit: Note from owner of an original bottle says that the label states this comes from a sherry cask(!) I guess perhaps a refill then, or maybe Fino or Manzanilla? It's just too pale to come from a fresh Oloroso or Amontillado.
Mortlach 19yo 1990-2009 57.5% Signatory Vintage
A Mortlach from Signatory's Cask Strength Collection, this series I often enjoy a lot, but the when I enjoy it it's usually always been in a sherry cask for a good while. This one smells sweet, syrupy, vanilla, corn and fluoride mints. The taste is of sage, oregano, lots of herbs, a very herbal malt, something a bit like paprika butter and mashed red onions. This is just too high %abv. on this one, I'll add water. Now it gets very floral with lots of herbs. This is not good, better without water.
A spirity and green Mortlach: 3.5
Mortlach 12yo 1998-2010 59.1% G&M for The Whiskyshop Dufftown
Another purchased sample, this time from the whiskysamples.flyingcart.com, not nearly as estethiqually bottled, but like with humans, it's what's inside that counts? And it smells delicious, these smoky, sweet, farmy aromas on the nose, and something citrussy, mouth-watering! The taste is fruity, grapefruit, sour, zesty, very good, but considering the high %abv and the very intense flavours I'll add some water. With water it gets more oaky, peppery, even drier. This sherry cask does give a lot of surprises. The finish is creamy, voloptous (in lack of a better word) and smoked meat.
A Mortlach with much character: 6
Mortlach 12yo 40% Gordon & Macphail
One from the flat bottled series of the 80's by G&M. I've never found a Mortlack that stood out as far as being a really good whisky. The nose is smells of cotton, old books and apple pie. The taste is also pretty schizo, theres sort of a nice round buttery sweetness and at the same time a real dusty, harsh sourness. The aftertaste is a bit the one you get from a bad stout, let's say Beamish or Buffalo (Sorry to the ones I may offend).
No wonder there's lots of these strange bottles still lying around: 2
Mortlach 50yo 1936-1986 40% Gordon & Macphail's
This one is with no doubt one of the rarest malts I've had in my hand, therefore I will not dilute it with any water. It's very mild at first nosing, perhaps it needs some more air and time. Still mild, candyfloss and cinnamon. It's pretty strange-tasting, mild at first, as some sort of artificial malt aperitif. But the finish is so oaky that it's almost like licking a barrell.
It's sad, but it doesn't reach higher than: 4.5
Mortlach 22yo 46% Cadenhead's
Wow, this one seems pretty massive, but straightforward, candied apples and dark liqueur chocolate. At first very sweet, like honey concentrate, but with an aftertaste that can be a little too dry for some of us. Seems almost to be like a very tannined red wine on the palate.
Schizofrenic Whisky: 6
mandag 17. januar 2011
7 Glenfiddichs tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glenfiddich 15yo 51% OB Distillery Edition
To call a whisky Distillery Edition makes me asume there´s some other almost similar edition out there?? None that I´ve heard of. Not the way to create fuzz about a new bottling if you ask me. "Solera Reserve" had a better ring in my ears. Time to try this then. Actually the nose is not far from the 12yo, just a bit more punchy, with some enhanced sweetness. Probably due to the higher proof. The taste is floral with some lime and sweet liquorice. Sort of thick, fat, lovely texture. The aftertaste is peppery, ginger, but unfortunately a bit short.
Go try the Distillery Edition: 8
Glenfiddich/Strathblair 16yo 1978-1994 56% The Whisky Connoisseur
Another alternatively named bottling from the IB The Whisky Connoisseur, the one I know so very very little about, but seems to have stocks of almost everything and anything. Strathblair is Glenfiddich, a fairly rare whisky to find from IB bottlers. This smells very soft, not unlike the 18yo OB actually. The taste is very salty, heinz bbq-sauce, peppery, a very strong burning sensation. Adding water. With water it just gets more peppery, but less burnt and smoky. This is maybe why Glenfiddich is yet to puT a lot of effort into their CS projects.
A bit dull: 4.5
Glenfiddich 8yo 43% OB Italian Market
This one is from back in the days, with screw cap and everything, dating from the 60's according to whiskyfun. It's very pale and got a sweet, mustard nose. It tastes very young, a bit spirity and dry. Off course it's nice to have tried this oldie, but it's clear that it comes from a different era, compared to the modern 43% Glenfiddichs. I wouldn't buy it again, but if you want a bit of old school malt in your cabinet, this could be it.
Old fashion, old style: 6
Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB Chaoran Reserve
This one has been maturing in ex-Islay casks from what I've heard, so it's actually not peated in the traditional way. It is a bit darker than the original. The smell is also just a tad smokier. The taste has at first the initial roundness and light taste of the original but soon shows to be far more smoky and a bit creamier. It has a finish of nice and instant smoke, wood, white pepper and grain cereal. The aftertaste is soft and lingering.
I prefer it to the original, a nice variation: 6
Glenfiddich 15yo 43% OB Solera Reserve
The most widely recognized Glenfiddich original amongst malt connoisseurs. The cask finish makes a huge impact both in smell and taste. The nosing reminds me a bit of dry tawny, a sweet glenfiddich with honey and syrup. Maybe it's a bit over the top.
Good apperitif, but in small sips: 6.5
Glenfiddich 18yo 40% OB
More delicate and much sweeter than the 12-year old, but not worth the prize difference in my opinion. Shows that there's perhaps a small lack of development potential in the traditionally casked Glenfiddichs. Cask experimentation or higher abv might be the answer.
Good, but not worth the money: 6.5
Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB
The worlds most popular single malt, very commercial and easy taste. Little to none cask influence and no particularly recognizeable fragrances. Very light and easily drinkable, but there are no challenges for my tastebuds here.
Will always be liked by most people: 5
To call a whisky Distillery Edition makes me asume there´s some other almost similar edition out there?? None that I´ve heard of. Not the way to create fuzz about a new bottling if you ask me. "Solera Reserve" had a better ring in my ears. Time to try this then. Actually the nose is not far from the 12yo, just a bit more punchy, with some enhanced sweetness. Probably due to the higher proof. The taste is floral with some lime and sweet liquorice. Sort of thick, fat, lovely texture. The aftertaste is peppery, ginger, but unfortunately a bit short.
Go try the Distillery Edition: 8
Glenfiddich/Strathblair 16yo 1978-1994 56% The Whisky Connoisseur
Another alternatively named bottling from the IB The Whisky Connoisseur, the one I know so very very little about, but seems to have stocks of almost everything and anything. Strathblair is Glenfiddich, a fairly rare whisky to find from IB bottlers. This smells very soft, not unlike the 18yo OB actually. The taste is very salty, heinz bbq-sauce, peppery, a very strong burning sensation. Adding water. With water it just gets more peppery, but less burnt and smoky. This is maybe why Glenfiddich is yet to puT a lot of effort into their CS projects.
A bit dull: 4.5
Glenfiddich 8yo 43% OB Italian Market
This one is from back in the days, with screw cap and everything, dating from the 60's according to whiskyfun. It's very pale and got a sweet, mustard nose. It tastes very young, a bit spirity and dry. Off course it's nice to have tried this oldie, but it's clear that it comes from a different era, compared to the modern 43% Glenfiddichs. I wouldn't buy it again, but if you want a bit of old school malt in your cabinet, this could be it.
Old fashion, old style: 6
Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB Chaoran Reserve
This one has been maturing in ex-Islay casks from what I've heard, so it's actually not peated in the traditional way. It is a bit darker than the original. The smell is also just a tad smokier. The taste has at first the initial roundness and light taste of the original but soon shows to be far more smoky and a bit creamier. It has a finish of nice and instant smoke, wood, white pepper and grain cereal. The aftertaste is soft and lingering.
I prefer it to the original, a nice variation: 6
Glenfiddich 15yo 43% OB Solera Reserve
The most widely recognized Glenfiddich original amongst malt connoisseurs. The cask finish makes a huge impact both in smell and taste. The nosing reminds me a bit of dry tawny, a sweet glenfiddich with honey and syrup. Maybe it's a bit over the top.
Good apperitif, but in small sips: 6.5
Glenfiddich 18yo 40% OB
More delicate and much sweeter than the 12-year old, but not worth the prize difference in my opinion. Shows that there's perhaps a small lack of development potential in the traditionally casked Glenfiddichs. Cask experimentation or higher abv might be the answer.
Good, but not worth the money: 6.5
Glenfiddich 12yo 40% OB
The worlds most popular single malt, very commercial and easy taste. Little to none cask influence and no particularly recognizeable fragrances. Very light and easily drinkable, but there are no challenges for my tastebuds here.
Will always be liked by most people: 5
tirsdag 11. januar 2011
6 Glen Ords tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Glen Ord 28yo 2975-2003 58.3% OB
I traded a couple samples of this one from another malt connoisseur. When I heard there was a 28yo Glen Ord I knew I had to grab the chance, how often do I come across that? Golden colour, smells sweet and honeyed, with a small alcohol sting. Reminds me somewhat of the 12yo OB which I enjoyed quite a bit. The taste is sweet, chalk, dry, a bit spirity. Water. It gets a bit sweeter with the help of water, but it isn't as fresh as the younger version. A bit tired from many years in the cask?
At this age I believe it could've developed some more: 6
Glen Ord 27yo 1962-1989 55.4% Cadenhead's
An oldie from Glen Ord, a malt that I rarely try, but I was a bit fascinated by the 12yo OB back in the days. This smells really rustic, cereal, corn jacks, iron, smokey, very delicate. The taste is a killer, lots of ashes, dusty, burning, lots of herbs and spices. Magnificent so far, even though I'll add some water as the taste can be too concentrated and hide the aftertaste. Now it gets a bit rounder, some flowery notes, a bit phenolic. I believe this one comes from a sherry cask. And if so it's cask magic at its best.
Pure pleasure: 8.5
Glen Ord 31yo 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
This has a round smell, hints of caramel, honey and lemon zest. Very good, I do like to point out that Glen Ord is a malt that I find to vary a lot in quality, not depended on cask or age. The taste shows this is a sherry matured whisky, very dry aftertaste, sweet, phenolic, creamy cheese, herbs and cinnamon. With water it gets lighter, fruitier, mango, kiwi, grape fruit and banana(?). A very pleasant malt, if not the most complex 31yo I've ever tried.
Could've benefited from even higher %abv: 6
Glen Ord 11yo 1999-2010 54.5,% Malts of Scotland cask#31212 btl.x/289
Now a showdown of some young IB cask strengths. This one is Bourbon matured in a hogshead. A very round nose on such a young whisky, floral, sweet, honey. The taste is a bit anonymous on the palate, some sweet notes of plum and sour fruit, but that's about it. The finish is a bit dry with lots of caramel. With some water more bourbon is showing along with some coffee notes and even more dryness on the finish. It's a good whisky and I bet many would love it, but for me, this style is a bit too weird unfortunately.
I'm having a trouble finding balance in this one: 5
Glenordie 12yo 40% OB
An 80's bottling of Glen Ord this on, some ginger, allspice and nutmeg on the nose. Tastewise it has something going with gingerbread, wheat and cigars, but all in all, it's not quite as good as the slightly more sophisticated and modern 12yo Glen Ord OB. I can imagine this is very fine blending material, but it doesn't really deliver as a single.
Cigar Malt?: 4
Glen Ord 12yo 40% OB
Smells very malty, almost like newly poured guinness. It has also got a strong and dominant malty flavour. Some might call it simple and old fashioned, but still this is a very nice and gentle dram, a good value for your money. Relatively short aftertaste.
A good introduction to other malts: 6.5
I traded a couple samples of this one from another malt connoisseur. When I heard there was a 28yo Glen Ord I knew I had to grab the chance, how often do I come across that? Golden colour, smells sweet and honeyed, with a small alcohol sting. Reminds me somewhat of the 12yo OB which I enjoyed quite a bit. The taste is sweet, chalk, dry, a bit spirity. Water. It gets a bit sweeter with the help of water, but it isn't as fresh as the younger version. A bit tired from many years in the cask?
At this age I believe it could've developed some more: 6
Glen Ord 27yo 1962-1989 55.4% Cadenhead's
An oldie from Glen Ord, a malt that I rarely try, but I was a bit fascinated by the 12yo OB back in the days. This smells really rustic, cereal, corn jacks, iron, smokey, very delicate. The taste is a killer, lots of ashes, dusty, burning, lots of herbs and spices. Magnificent so far, even though I'll add some water as the taste can be too concentrated and hide the aftertaste. Now it gets a bit rounder, some flowery notes, a bit phenolic. I believe this one comes from a sherry cask. And if so it's cask magic at its best.
Pure pleasure: 8.5
Glen Ord 31yo 50% Old Malt Cask Douglas Laing
This has a round smell, hints of caramel, honey and lemon zest. Very good, I do like to point out that Glen Ord is a malt that I find to vary a lot in quality, not depended on cask or age. The taste shows this is a sherry matured whisky, very dry aftertaste, sweet, phenolic, creamy cheese, herbs and cinnamon. With water it gets lighter, fruitier, mango, kiwi, grape fruit and banana(?). A very pleasant malt, if not the most complex 31yo I've ever tried.
Could've benefited from even higher %abv: 6
Glen Ord 11yo 1999-2010 54.5,% Malts of Scotland cask#31212 btl.x/289
Now a showdown of some young IB cask strengths. This one is Bourbon matured in a hogshead. A very round nose on such a young whisky, floral, sweet, honey. The taste is a bit anonymous on the palate, some sweet notes of plum and sour fruit, but that's about it. The finish is a bit dry with lots of caramel. With some water more bourbon is showing along with some coffee notes and even more dryness on the finish. It's a good whisky and I bet many would love it, but for me, this style is a bit too weird unfortunately.
I'm having a trouble finding balance in this one: 5
Glenordie 12yo 40% OB
An 80's bottling of Glen Ord this on, some ginger, allspice and nutmeg on the nose. Tastewise it has something going with gingerbread, wheat and cigars, but all in all, it's not quite as good as the slightly more sophisticated and modern 12yo Glen Ord OB. I can imagine this is very fine blending material, but it doesn't really deliver as a single.
Cigar Malt?: 4
Glen Ord 12yo 40% OB
Smells very malty, almost like newly poured guinness. It has also got a strong and dominant malty flavour. Some might call it simple and old fashioned, but still this is a very nice and gentle dram, a good value for your money. Relatively short aftertaste.
A good introduction to other malts: 6.5
8 Macduff/Glen Deverons tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Macduff 19yo 55.7% Whisky-Doris
A single cask from german bottler Whisky-Doris, I've not tried too many of these but I believe I've read somewhere that they sometimes buys from other IB's. If that's true it surely makes me question why the one IB wanna sell stock to another IB? Let's see.. The colour is sort of dirty, like earl grey tea, it smells great, honey, leather and smoked ham. The taste is beautiful, plums, aniseed, sweet liquorice, honey, herbs, grilled tomatoes, this is just about as exciting as a whisky can be. The aftertaste is like a good rum, sweet, dark syrupy, goes on forever.
A fantastic bottling from this fairly unknown Whisky-Doris: 10
Macduff 25yo 1984-2009 54.9% Thosop Import
An even lighter nose than the longmorn, I can't believe its been so long since I tried some older CS bourbon-matured non-Islayers. Now it reminds me of childrens booze. The taste is hard and heavy, soapy with hints of hard candy. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this one bit. With water it gets even worse.
Could be any kind of newmake: 2
Glen Deveron 5yo 40% OB 80's
After a good night of very light and delicate, yet also attractive whiskies I will now try the Glen deveron again as last time I had it straight after a CS Old Pulteney. I guess my palate will provide me with better answers this time. Smells fragrant, hay, pesto, dried herbs and fresh bakery. The taste is much as I remember, sweet, sugary, plums, malty, but with a nice peppery finish that just puts it above being average/boring flavourwise. I must say I enjoy this old 5yo from decades ago much better than the contemporary bottlings. It's just so damn nice, actually reminds me of some lowland whisky, sweet and zesty, but very light.
I'll give it 1.5 more points, a very enjoyable experience: 6.5
Glen Deveron 5yo 40% OB 80's
One from Italy, I know its silly trying this after a cask strength, but I've got a whole bottle so I guess I can check if my first impression don't give a realistic view. This was distilled at the Macduff distillery, which I think is a way cooler name than Glen Deveron, anyway, here goes. The nose is sweet, vanilla, bourbon-matured, bananas, sugar peas and wheat. The first taste is nice, allright, like some young 40% Glengoynes, very light and thats probably due to my very roughed up palate. Now, to say more I guess would be unfair so I'll come back to this later. For now, it's far from a bad malt, very young, but carries that well as the spirit shows great potential.
Fine Glen Deveron, one for each year: 5
Glen Deveron 12yo 40% OB
Glen Deveron is the malt whisky produced at MacDuff Distillery. It's a very mild and sweetish smell on this thing, a bit like aqua vitae, or maybe it's just the holiday spirits playing a trick on me.. It's a bit watery as well, almost like very young grain whisky. The taste is bitter, oaky and without any real character. With water it becomes even more bitter.
Like Underberg only more bitter: 1.5
MacDuff 31yo 1969-2001 50% Douglas Laing OMC
An old sherry-matured bottling which I've been aching to try. beautiful odors, mashed cranberries, spices, dried onions and garlic on the very aromatic nose. A sweet taste of caramel, honey, lemon and raisins. It's an incredibly rich whisky with a finish of pepper and clementines.
As close to perfect as one can get: 9.5
Macduff 18yo 1975-1993 40% CC G&M
A strong scent, despite being diluted to only 40%, it's the first smell that I've come over that actually has an aftersmell(!), the phenolic odors stays with me for quite some time here.The taste is also a bizarre case, at first sweet, then strong, sugar and medicine? The finish is sour and strong, like pickled jalapeñoes. Water works and modifies the flavours a bit, and a mild sweetness emerges.
Lots of things going on, too bad none of them really works together: 3
MacDuff 16yo 59.8% Cadenhead's
Beautiful golden whisky from the destillery that produces Glen Deveron. Smells sweet, strong, reminding me slightly of rum. The taste is much more robust, gasolin, fire, smoke, not easy to get a hold of any real flavours here. Needs water!
Too strong: 3
A single cask from german bottler Whisky-Doris, I've not tried too many of these but I believe I've read somewhere that they sometimes buys from other IB's. If that's true it surely makes me question why the one IB wanna sell stock to another IB? Let's see.. The colour is sort of dirty, like earl grey tea, it smells great, honey, leather and smoked ham. The taste is beautiful, plums, aniseed, sweet liquorice, honey, herbs, grilled tomatoes, this is just about as exciting as a whisky can be. The aftertaste is like a good rum, sweet, dark syrupy, goes on forever.
A fantastic bottling from this fairly unknown Whisky-Doris: 10
Macduff 25yo 1984-2009 54.9% Thosop Import
An even lighter nose than the longmorn, I can't believe its been so long since I tried some older CS bourbon-matured non-Islayers. Now it reminds me of childrens booze. The taste is hard and heavy, soapy with hints of hard candy. I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this one bit. With water it gets even worse.
Could be any kind of newmake: 2
Glen Deveron 5yo 40% OB 80's
After a good night of very light and delicate, yet also attractive whiskies I will now try the Glen deveron again as last time I had it straight after a CS Old Pulteney. I guess my palate will provide me with better answers this time. Smells fragrant, hay, pesto, dried herbs and fresh bakery. The taste is much as I remember, sweet, sugary, plums, malty, but with a nice peppery finish that just puts it above being average/boring flavourwise. I must say I enjoy this old 5yo from decades ago much better than the contemporary bottlings. It's just so damn nice, actually reminds me of some lowland whisky, sweet and zesty, but very light.
I'll give it 1.5 more points, a very enjoyable experience: 6.5
Glen Deveron 5yo 40% OB 80's
One from Italy, I know its silly trying this after a cask strength, but I've got a whole bottle so I guess I can check if my first impression don't give a realistic view. This was distilled at the Macduff distillery, which I think is a way cooler name than Glen Deveron, anyway, here goes. The nose is sweet, vanilla, bourbon-matured, bananas, sugar peas and wheat. The first taste is nice, allright, like some young 40% Glengoynes, very light and thats probably due to my very roughed up palate. Now, to say more I guess would be unfair so I'll come back to this later. For now, it's far from a bad malt, very young, but carries that well as the spirit shows great potential.
Fine Glen Deveron, one for each year: 5
Glen Deveron 12yo 40% OB
Glen Deveron is the malt whisky produced at MacDuff Distillery. It's a very mild and sweetish smell on this thing, a bit like aqua vitae, or maybe it's just the holiday spirits playing a trick on me.. It's a bit watery as well, almost like very young grain whisky. The taste is bitter, oaky and without any real character. With water it becomes even more bitter.
Like Underberg only more bitter: 1.5
MacDuff 31yo 1969-2001 50% Douglas Laing OMC
An old sherry-matured bottling which I've been aching to try. beautiful odors, mashed cranberries, spices, dried onions and garlic on the very aromatic nose. A sweet taste of caramel, honey, lemon and raisins. It's an incredibly rich whisky with a finish of pepper and clementines.
As close to perfect as one can get: 9.5
Macduff 18yo 1975-1993 40% CC G&M
A strong scent, despite being diluted to only 40%, it's the first smell that I've come over that actually has an aftersmell(!), the phenolic odors stays with me for quite some time here.The taste is also a bizarre case, at first sweet, then strong, sugar and medicine? The finish is sour and strong, like pickled jalapeñoes. Water works and modifies the flavours a bit, and a mild sweetness emerges.
Lots of things going on, too bad none of them really works together: 3
MacDuff 16yo 59.8% Cadenhead's
Beautiful golden whisky from the destillery that produces Glen Deveron. Smells sweet, strong, reminding me slightly of rum. The taste is much more robust, gasolin, fire, smoke, not easy to get a hold of any real flavours here. Needs water!
Too strong: 3
3 Knockandos tasted between 1.4.2008-28.5.2011
Knockando 18yo 1991-2009 43% OB
Knockando, a malt mostly sold in france and usually not a whisky stirring up much fuzz when mentioned among malt whisky geeks. One thing I believe the pioneered is the vintage standard OB's which we now also see at Balblair. Light amber colour, smells spirity, sulphury, some hints of dry sherry. The taste is spirity, somewhat closed, needs time and maybe some water? Initially it got some nice hints of orange peel, sweet bitterness on the palate before it quickly turns spirity. I liked the double matured 15yo much better.
Spirity above anything else: 3
Knockando 15yo 1994-2009 43% OB Double Matured
I believe Knockando is the #1 most sold whisky in france, this one I bought on the riviera in the small town of st. Maxime. It is double matured in bourbon and sherry casks. It has a nice round, a bit dry smell, plum syrup and burnt moscatel wine. The taste is dry, sherry, oaky, grape seeds and small pears. This is very nice compared to the other Standard Versions I've tried, it's very exciting.
I like the sherry twist: 6
Knockando 18yo 1990-2008 43% OB
One bought from the french, as Knockando makes it good on the southern european markets. It's sherrymatured, but very pale, I guess it somes from a well used refill. It smells sharp, and the malt is unfortunately to weak to hold it's own against the cask, and the whole experience turns into something soapy and pretty plastic.
nauseating: 2
Knockando, a malt mostly sold in france and usually not a whisky stirring up much fuzz when mentioned among malt whisky geeks. One thing I believe the pioneered is the vintage standard OB's which we now also see at Balblair. Light amber colour, smells spirity, sulphury, some hints of dry sherry. The taste is spirity, somewhat closed, needs time and maybe some water? Initially it got some nice hints of orange peel, sweet bitterness on the palate before it quickly turns spirity. I liked the double matured 15yo much better.
Spirity above anything else: 3
Knockando 15yo 1994-2009 43% OB Double Matured
I believe Knockando is the #1 most sold whisky in france, this one I bought on the riviera in the small town of st. Maxime. It is double matured in bourbon and sherry casks. It has a nice round, a bit dry smell, plum syrup and burnt moscatel wine. The taste is dry, sherry, oaky, grape seeds and small pears. This is very nice compared to the other Standard Versions I've tried, it's very exciting.
I like the sherry twist: 6
Knockando 18yo 1990-2008 43% OB
One bought from the french, as Knockando makes it good on the southern european markets. It's sherrymatured, but very pale, I guess it somes from a well used refill. It smells sharp, and the malt is unfortunately to weak to hold it's own against the cask, and the whole experience turns into something soapy and pretty plastic.
nauseating: 2
tirsdag 4. januar 2011
2010 (a personal review)
2010 was a good year for me what whisky is concerned, my favourite distillery Fettercairn has released a new series showing proof of much old stock, even though the 24, 30 and 40yo is a bit too expensive for my taste. I've tried some new Distillers Editions double matured whiskies, all bollocks, why fuck up something good with funky finishes? Real sherry-matured whiskies becoming more expensive as re-treating casks and so on seems to become the rule more than the exception. The standard % has risen, something I wholeheartly applaude as 40% seems to becoming extinct amongst standard OB's. Deanston and Bnnahabhain being amongst the last ones still bottling at 40% now upping till 46.3%. Unfortunately Tamdhu jumped on the mothball train, Imperial seems to be pretty much out of business and Caperdonich's now out of business for good, something that again will increase the already expensive prices on whisky from this distillery. More CS OB's are hitting the market, Glengoyne single casks, new Ardbegs, 2nd batch Laphroaig Cask and Bowmore Tempest, nice for those of us that enjoy a high strength abv, and I do. All in all it's been an interesting year for malt enthusiasts, with good prospects for year 2011!
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