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Moon Harbour Dock 1, OB, 45.8%, B :2022. Price:
 Colour: Gold Nose: Young, smooth, winey, malty, slightly creamy, with moderate sweet winey flavours, custard, and a touch of spice and seabrine. Taste: Light, smooth to very smooth, creamy, winey, slightly spicey, on sweet wine and some oak spices. The finish is medium, creamy, winey, slightly spicy and maritime, slightly syrupy as well, on oak spices, vanilla and winey flavours. Impression: A nice smooth, creamy, easy drinking and rather winey single malt. Rating: 11/20 FP:D1 |
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Moon Harbour Dock 3, OB, 45.8%, B :2022. Price:
Colour: Old gold Nose: Smoky, peaty, maritime, salty to very salty, on seaweeds, iodine, maritime peat smoke, kelps, sea brine and some seashells. Very maritime, salty and smoky. Taste: Smoky to very smoky, maritime to very maritime, on seaweeds, kelp, smoke, some seashells, tar and soot, with some peat-like flavours. The finish is rather long, smoky to very smoky, on seabrine, iodine, seaweeds, maritime smoke and sea tang. Impression: A very nice whisky, with a light maritime smoke, on seaweeds, iodine and some tar, as well as some light peat smoke-like flavours. The smoky flavours are not coming from peat smoke, but from the smoke of burnt seaweeds, giving a very maritime aspect to this whisky, with a nice smoothness, Very good and enjoyable. Rating: 15/20  FP:A5 |
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Imperial 32 YO, Elixir Distillers, 42.2%, B :2022. Price:
 Colour: Gold Nose: Mellow to very mellow, complex, on nice summer floral flavours, pollen, vanilla, some ripe yellow fruits, heather honey, quince, aromatic and slightly austere herbs, and a touch of smoke Taste: Mellow, delicate, grassy, moderately aromatic, on slighly austere aromatic herbs, vanilla, some yellow fruits, light grassy flavours and a hint of smoke. The finish is medium to long, complex, delicate, rather aromatic, slightly austere, with some vanilla, custard, aromatic herbs and a dash of smoke and citrus. Diluted, it becomes more on citrus. Impression: A very nice, mellow, delicate and rather aromatic expression of Imperial. A whisky to savour. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1 |
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Talisker 11 YO Special Release 2022, OB, 55.1%, B:2022. Price:
Colour: Gold Nose: Very smoky, maritime, salty, peaty, on iodine, charred wood, peat smoke, bonfire smoke, tar, seaweeds, iodine and disinfectant. Very smoky and maritime, Taste: Salty to very salty, maritime to very maritime, smoky, moderately tarry, on charred wood, sea salt, iodine, disinfectant, vanilla, maritime peat smoke and some menthol. The finish is long, very smoky, maritime, on iodine, disinfectant, seaweeds, iodine, peat smoke and some tar. Impression: A very smoky, medicinal and maritime expression of Talisker. The most “Islay-like” expression of Talisker. Very good and so far, one of my favourites of the Special Releases. Rating: 16/20 FP:A5 |
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Bowmore 20 YO Collection Antipodes, The Nectar, 54.9%, B:2022. Price:
Colour: Pale gold Colour: Old gold Nose: Peaty, dry, maritime, slightly phenolic, dry and austere, with some peat smoke, iodine, light austere flavours and seaweeds. Taste: Round, peaty, smoky, tarry, with a nice sweet edge, some leather, round peat smoke, some tar, iodine, dried fruits, light meaty flavours, as well as some orange and cinnamon. The finish is medium to long, gentle, smoky, slightly meaty and peaty, with some cinnamon, seaweeds, and dried fruits. Impression: A very nice, round, complex and well balanced Bowmore, rather gentle and meaty, with a light seabrine. Rating: 16/20 FP:C5 |
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Filey Bay Flagship, OB, 43%, B:2022. Price:
Colour: Pale gold Nose: Very smooth, fresh, slightly yeasty and malty, on fresh green orchards fruits, some vanilla and grassy flavours. Taste: Fresh, smooth to very smooth, malty, yeasty, on green orchards fruits, some light floral flavours, soft oaky spices, light creamy and citric flavours. The finish is medium, smooth, malty, slightly green, with light creamy and citric flavours, some vanilla, green orchards fruits and a touch of honey. Diluted, it becomes more on lemon peel and aromatic herbs. Impression: A nice and smooth English single malt distilled in Yorkshire. Rather young, but showing a nice flavour profile and balance. Rating: 12/20 FP:A1 |
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Cameron Bridge Special Releases 2022, 26 YO, OB, 56.2%. B:2022. Price:
Colour: Gold Nose: Round, complex, creamy, on ripe yellow fruits, peach, cooked apples and round vanilla flavours. Very nice. Taste: Fragrant to very fragrant, fresh, intense, on varnish, vanilla, caramel, some cooked apples, gentian and freshly cut oak. The finish is medium, fragrant, on varnish, green apples, vanilla and some fresh wood. Impression: A grain whisky, with a lovely rich, creamy and fruity nose, more fragrant and on varnish on the palate. Matured in ex-bourbon casks. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1 |
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Blended Scotch The Whisky Trail Antipodes 1980, 42 YO, Elixir Distillers, 46.6%, B:2022. Price:
Colour: Old gold Nose: Mellow, very fruity, complex to very complex, slightly smoky, on exotic fruits juice, a light peat smoke, honey dew and light round grassy flavours. Taste: Mellow, rich, aromatic, slightly austere and smoky, with a delicate peat smoke, citrus, some spices, exotic fruits, leather and a touch of ginger. Diluted, it becomes slightly more citric. The finish is long, complex, rather mellow and citric, on citrus fruits, some aromatic and slightly austere flavours, dried apricots and a dash of old peat smoke. Impression: A delicious old style of blended whisky, with single malts from the Speyside and Highlands. Rating: 17/20 FP:C2 |
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The Singleton of Glen Ord Special Releases 2022, 15 YO, OB, 54.2%, B:2022. Price:
Colour: Old gold Nose: Winey, fruity, slightly oaky, on red berries (mainly strawberries), grapes, some plums, leather and light aromatic herbs. Taste: Winey, floral, aromatic, rather spirity (burning), slightly oaky, on red berries, grapes, rather strong winey flavours, some vanilla, burnt wood and red wine. The finish is medium to long and on the same flavours. Diluted, it becomes more winey. Impression: An atypical Glen Ord, with strong winey flavours. A Glen Ord that spent 8 years in wine casks. The type of wine casks is not mentioned, but I would be surprised if it was from different wine types. The winey flavours are dominant in this whisky, thus it tasted rather like a “wineshky”. Not my type, but if you like Glen Ord and willing to taste something out of the ordinary, then it might be something for you. Rating:11/20 FP:F1 |
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Mortlach 2012 Animal Series for World of Whisky, 10 YO, Signatory, 57.9%, B:2022. Price:
Colour: Dark Amber Nose: Oaky, intense, floral, oaky, on oak spices, light fragrant floral flavours, sultanas and some leather. A mixture of oaky and sherry flavours. Taste: Thick, intense, oaky, fragrant to very fragrant, floral, on lacquer, old wood, leather, sultanas, dates, grapes, marmalade, Christmas cake and some cocoa. The finish is long, thick, heavy, on leather, cinnamon, cocoa, fragrant floral flavours, dates, grapes, cinnamon, some nutmeg and cloves. Impression: A Mortlach initially intense, floral and oaky, becoming rather heavy and thick on the palate, with heavy sherry flavours, leather and dried fruits. Rating: 14/20 FP:H2 |
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Oban 10 YO Special Releases 2022, OB, 57.1%, B :2022. Price: Colour: Pale Nose: Intense, coastal, slightly smoky and oaky, on vanilla, sea brine, a light smokiness, harbour-like flavours, some orange zest and a touch of other citrus fruits. Taste: Fresh, salty, moderately oaky, with lots of seabrine, orange zest, round dried citric fruits, rather creamy, slightly floral, with some grapes, red berries and a touch of heather honey. The finish is medium, creamy, slightly smoky, with candied citrus, heather honey, grapes, light round grassy flavours (including some hay) and some green orchards fruits. Diluted, it becomes slightly more on orange zest. Impression: A nice expression of Oban, with its slightly smoky flavours and seabrine. It was matured in ex-American oak casks, before receiving a final maturation in ex-amontillado cask. The amontillado sherry cask influence is moderate, but add some extra roundness to the whisky, contributing to a nice balance. Rating: 15/20 FP:C2
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Cardhu 16 YO Special Releases 2022, OB, 58%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Round, sweet, rather fruity, on orchards fruits, tropical fruits, light grassy and malty flavours, sugar cane and nice round and light winey flavours. A lovely Rum influence well-integrated. Taste: Sweet, fruity, malty, oaky, slightly peppery and hot, with a mixture of tropical fruits (including banana), orchards fruits, oak spices, pepper and fresh floral flavours. The finish is medium to long, spicy, peppery, oaky, with sweet winey flavours, bananas, pineapples, some vanilla, orchards fruits, freshly cut grass and some light fragrance. Impression: A nice variation of Cardhu, with a very nice sweet and sugary nose. On the palate, the sweetness of the Jamaican Rum cask is present, as well as some fresh oaky flavours. Rating: 15/20 FP:D1
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Clynelish 1997, 16 YO, A.D. Rattray, 54.6%, B:2013, cask 6525. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Fresh, clean, waxy, malty, on beeswax, lemon peel, some heather and a touch of seabrine. Taste: Intense, zesty, waxy to very waxy, rather citric, on heather honey, citrus, beeswax and vanilla. The finish is long to very long, citric to very citric, waxy to very waxy, complex, intense, on citrus, light malty flavours, some heather, light grassy flavours and lemon peel. Impression: A very good, waxy and intense Clynelish, rather complex and citric. Tasted it many years ago, it seemed to have improved with time, losing some of its initial harshess. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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Clynelish 12 YO Special Releases 2022, OB, 58.5%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Waxy, intense, mustardy, slightly floral and oaky, with nice round vanilla, some honey, dried fruits, sultanas and freshly cut grass. Taste: Hot, rich, spicy, intense, waxy. Let’s quickly add some water. It becomes smoother, waxier, spicier, on lemon peel, vanilla spices, dried fruits, some leather, heather honey and some sea brine. The finish is long, intense, rich, rather spicy, moderately waxy and oaky, on oak spices, citrus, some heather, dried fruits and a touch of smoke. Impression: A very nice expression of Clynelish and the first one in the special releases. Finished in ex-Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks, the vanilla and oaky flavours from the ex-bourbon casks are well present, with the sherry casks rounding the edges and contributing to light aromas of dried fruits. Rating: 15/20 FP:C1
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Mortlach 2007 for Whisky Bibliothek, 15 YO, Carn Mor, 56.8%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Dark amber Nose: Complex, rather intense, on a mixture of floral flavours, leather, dried fruits, some honey, Christmas cake, and nice fresh fruity flavours. Very good and well balanced. Taste: Round, mellow, complex, fruity, on nice round fruity flavours, orange peel, heather, some leather, tropical fruits, strawberries, as well as cocoa and nice round floral flavours. The finish is long to very long, rich, very complex, spicy, syrupy, on cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa, summer flowers, dates, figs, some orange peel, marmalade and lacquer. Impression: An excellent sherry expression of Mortlach, rich, complex, with lovely sherry flavours, balanced and on the fruity side. Reminds me of the old Mortlach distilled in the 1970s. Great selection from whisky-bibliothek.ch Rating: 16/20 FP:G1
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Mortlach Special Releases 2022, OB, 57.8%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Fresh, intense, floral, rather round, slightly spicy and bold, with light vanilla and winey flavours, grapes, and some fresh Port. Taste: Oaky, spicy, intense, floral, winey, fresh, slightly fragrant, with light fresh floral flavours, round winey flavours, grapes, some vanilla and light grassy flavours. Diluted, it becomes more on port. The finish is medium to long, oaky, slightly dry and floral, on oak spice, red winey flavours (port), some spices and aromatic herbs. Impression: Finished in virgin oak, Tawny Portand Red Muscat Wine, this expression of Mortlach is very fresh, rather light and oaky, with light winey (port) flavours. Rather different from the core range of Mortlach. Rating: 14/20 FP:C2
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Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast, OB, 48%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Smooth to very smooth, aromatic to very aromatic, on diluted peach juice, light sweet exotic fruits (dragon eye) and a hint of smoke. Taste: Very smooth, malty, slightly minty, floral to very floral, with some yeast extracts, peach, citrus and hay. The finish is medium and on the same flavours. Impression: A nice mellow, very smooth and with some round, with light citrusy flavours. Rating: 14/20 FP:C1
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Bruichladdich 2005 Ramseyers for Jan M. Heckler, OB, 61.7%, B:2021, cask 398. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Clean, malty, slightly spicy, oaky and maritime, on vanilla custard, a light smokiness, some aromatic and austere flavours, sea brine and a touch of peat. Taste: Intense, salty, maritime, smoky, rather austere and aromatic, on an aromatic peat smoke, sea salt, sea brine, vanilla, some citrus and old leather. The finish is long, austere, rather aromatic, bitter and smoky, with some mineral oil, old leather and slightly bitter aromatic herbs, sea brine and grapefruits. Impression: A surprisingly aromatic, austere and smoky Bruichladdich, reminding me of some Bruichladdich distilled in the early 2000s, when they used barley peated to circa 10 ppm. Very good! Rating: 16/20 FP:A3
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Scalasaig blended malt, OB, 43%, B :2021. Price:  Colour: Amber Nose: Rich, intense, smoky, peaty, tarry, aromatic, rather dry and maritime, some heather honey, worn leather, orange, cinnamon and round floral flavours. Taste: Peaty, smoky, maritime, mellow, floral, round, fruity, on dry maritime peat smoke, heather honey, aromatic peat smoke, leather, soot, tar, orange, sultanas, leather, some toffee, cocoa and vanilla. The finish is long, complex, fruity to very fruity, peaty, maritime, moderately floral and aromatic, on leather, fudge, dried fruits, dry maritime peat smoke, some aromatic smoke, tar, soot, and disinfectant. Impression: A vatting of single malts including Highland Park, Alisa Bay, Caol Ila and Bowmore. The result is a most enjoyable whisky, rich, complex, rather peaty, with a mixture of maritime and aromatic peat smoke, rich fruity flavour and a nice rich fruity influence from the sherry, on cocoa, leather and dried fruits. A most enjoyable blended malt whisky. A very good value whisky. Rating: 16/20 FP:F4
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Macduff 2011, 11 YO, Acla Selection, 52.3%, B :2021, cask 900341. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Mellow, floral, rather thick, on leather, dried fruits, some orange floral flavours. Taste: Mellow, rich, floral, fruity, complex, moderately grassy, on dried fruits, sultanas, orange, cinnamon, nice grassy flavours, some honey, dates and exotic fruits. The finish is medium to long, rich, complex, grassy, floral, fruity, on exotic fruits, dried fruits, leather, honey, nice round grassy flavours, orange, and some light floral flavours. Impression: An excellent, grassy, complex to very complex Macduff, with lovely round and fruity sherry flavours. If I recall correctly, the bottling date had a typo and should read 2022 and not 2021. Rating: 15/20 FP:D1
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Yoichi, OB, 45%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Smooth, young, light, moderately peaty, on dry peat smoke, light fresh and smooth floral flavours. Taste: Smooth, dry, smoky, peaty, slightly tarry, on dry smoke, some green pears, vanilla and light floral flavours, as well as some oaky spices. The finish is medium, smooth, slightly aromatic, on dry peat smoke, some light mineral flavours, vanilla, and a touch of peach. Impression: A very smooth expression of Yoichi, tasting slightly young, with a nice dry clean peat smoke. More expressive and intense than the Aromatic Yeast. Rating: 13/20 FP:A5
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Yoichi Aromatic Yeast, OB, 48%, B :2022. Prix: Colour: Gold Nose: Smooth, light, gentle, slightly aromatic, with just a hint of smoke, floral, very round, with some vanilla and a touch of peach. Taste: Very smooth, aromatic, with some peach, fresh floral flavours, some grapes, barley and berries. The finish is medium, malty, fresh, smooth, fruity, with some vanilla, berries, green orchards fruits and light grassy flavours. Impression: A very smooth and rather gentle unpeated Yoichi, with various fruity flavours, including some berries. Not very complex. Rating: 12/20 FP:A2
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Burberrys 1965 Pure Malt, OB, 43%, B:1980s. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round, complex, slightly earthy and smoky, with lots of dried fruits (sultanas, dates, figs), on cocoa, leather, some aromatic smoke, heather honey and a touch of toffee. Nicely balanced, Taste: Rich, complex, mellow, slightly mineral, smoky, earthy and aromatic, on aromatic herbs, a light mineral and aromatic smokiness, dried fruits, some cocoa, orange peel, dates, light nutty flavours and leather, as well as some fudge. The finish is medium, aromatic, elegant, balanced, slightly mineral, aromatic and smoky, with some rancio, dried fruits, leather and some aromatic herbs. Diluted, it becomes slightly spicier and more earthy. Impression: A rather rare bottling of Burberrys whisky. This version distilled in 1965 is labelled as pure malt, while the 1968 distillation was labelled as single malt. It was rumoured that this was a Glen Garioch single malt, and it might be indeed one, as the Glen Garioch were only lightly peated until circa 1965, before they increase progressively the phenolic content in their malt between 1968 until the early 1970s. Since the sherry hides slightly the character of the distillery and several Speyside distilleries produced slightly peated single malt, we will probably never know the truth. In any case, a very enjoyable whisky, slightly smoky, aromatic with a nice nutty and old worn leather influence from refill sherry casks.Note: on the neck label, it is referred as a single malt. Rating: 16/20 FP:D3
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Speymalt Macallan 2001 Antipodes for LMDW, Gordon&Macphail, 55.4%, B:2022, cask 10046804. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Rich, floral, complex, spicy, on leather, precious wood, sultanas, dates, figs, othe dried fruits, high quality leather, some cigar, cocoa and cinnamon. Very good. Taste: Rich, floral, nutty, complex, spicy, rubbery, slightly bitter, on marmalade, leather, cinnamon, cocoa, some cloves, burnt rubber, various spices and some lacquer. The finish is medium, rich, intense, spicy, floral, slightly bitter and fragrant, on lacquer, dried fruits, marmalade, leather and some cloves. Diluted, it become bitterer and more rubbery. Impression: A Macallan, with a lovely rich and floral nose, rather complex and well balanced, with a strong sherry influence, with too much rubbery flavours to my liking. A sherry monster. Rating: 14/20 FP:G1
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Caroni Navi Rum Extra Strong, OB, 90 Proof, B:1960s. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Thick, syrupy to very syrupy, on chewy caramel (carambar), rancio, some tar, earthy flavours, humus, treacle and a touch of mint. Lightly phenolic. Taste: Fruity to very fruity, on banana flambé, some mint, tar, warm toffee and fudges, pineapple, brown sugar, light earthy flavours and mushrooms. The finish is medium to long, very earthy, fruity, with lots of rancio, on toffee, fudge, pineapples, bananas, some camphor, phenols (tar), some old leather, a touch of mint and mellow aromatic herbs Impression: This Caroni was bottled by the former owner of Caroni and a vatting of light and heavy rum style. I could enjoy this rare expression of Caroni at the last Whisky Schiff Luzern at Catawiki, which is a very sought after bottling of Caroni. The rum is very pleasant, with a rather thick and syrupy feeling on the nose and lovely sugary and fruity flavours on the palate, with a fair dose of toffee and rancio. A nice expression, rather different from the Caroni that I tasted bottled the last 10 years. I enjoyed it very much. Rating: FP: n.a.
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Whistle Pig 15 Estate Oak Rye, OB, 46%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Mellow, spices, on orange, cinnamon, orange, some caramel, vanilla, mellow oak spices and light buttery flavours. Nicely balanced. Taste: Mellow, rich, spicy, fruity, on orange, cinnamon, heather, oak spices, buttery flavours, some honey, orange skin, some light floral flavours and cloves. Diluted, it becomes slightly bitter, on marmalade and slightly more oaky and drier. The finish is long, complex, mellow, slightly spicy and bitter, on orange, cinnamon, butter and oak spices. Impression: A whiskey with a final maturation in oak trees from the Whistle Pig estate in the US. Mellow, rich, complex and most enjoyable. The rye is rather soft. Definitely worth tasting if you can. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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Whistle Pig 12 YO Old World Rye, OB, 43%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Old gold-red Nose: Winey, round, oaky, spicy, on oak spices, cinnamon, red wine, spices, cardamom, some orange, vanilla and caramel Taste: Spicy, floral, fragrant, oaky, on cinnamon, orange, grapes, winey flavours, some caramel, oak spices, a mixture of dry and sweet wine, as well as cinnamon and cloves. The finish is medium, spicy to very spicy, oaky, winey, with some sweet grapes, oak spices, dry spices, caramel and some orange. Impression: A nice rye (Canadian) whiskey matured in Madeira, Sauternes and Port wine, with a relatively soft rye influence, and rather strong winey flavours. Rating:14/20 FP:D1
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Tsunuki Single Malt 2022 Edition, OB, 50%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Smooth, malty, spicy, on green orchard’s fruits, vanilla, juicy oak, some quince and dough. Taste: Light, smooth to very smooth, malty, slightly spicy, on green orchards fruits, some vanilla, oak spices and light floral flavours, as well as some quince. The finish is medium, smooth to very smooth, light, spicy, on orchards fruits, vanilla, some fresh barley, green apples and light floral flavours. Impression: A nice, light, smooth and rather clean Japanese single malt. Tasted rather young. Rating:12/20 FP:A1
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Ben Nevis 1996, Acla Selection & Liquid Treasures, 53.6%, B:2021, cask 1747. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Rich, complex to very complex, oily, nutty, slightly malty, with nice vanilla flavours, spices, apples, candy sugar, and other nice ripe fruity flavours. Taste: Rich, bold, oily to very oily, fruity, nutty, complex, some tobacco leaves, shoe wax, fruit jam, and a touch of smoke and grassy flavours. The finish is long, bold, oily, rich, rather fruity, slightly bitter, on vanilla, apples, some shoe polish, apricots jam and cane sugar. Impression: A lovely rich, bold and oily Ben Nevis, nicely balanced and an enjoyable complexity. A very nice selection from Acla. Rating: 16/20 FP:B1
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Knappogue 1997 Wind of Spices, Ex-libris, 54.4%, B:2020, sherry cask 87601. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Spicy to very spicy, intense, rich, deep, complex, on leather, rose, cinnamon, round and soft spices, sultanas, some dates and figs. The sherry is intense and smooth. Delicious. Taste: Deep, rich, fruity, velvety, intense, spicy, on leather, cinnamon, cardamom, lacquer, santal wood, dried fruits, cocoa and some citrus. Complex, rather floral and with some tannins. The finish is long, complex, rather floral, fragrant and spicy, on dried fruits, grenade, cocoa, citrus, figs and iris. Diluted, Cachou (black unsweetened liquorice) flavours are rather present. Impression: A very good expression of Knappogue, with a lovely rather dry sherry influence on leather and dried fruits. The balance between the sherry and the malt is very good. Rating: 16/20 FP:H1
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Knappogue 2000 Wind of May, Ex-libris, 56.8%, B:2022, Ruby Port cask 45429. Price: Colour: Old-gold-red Nose: Round, winey, slightly sweet and sugary, on red grapes, some varnish, lacquer and fragrance. The Ruby Port flavours are strong. Taste: Sweet, winey, very round, on lacquer, red grapes, beeswax, spices, some fragrance, bitter orange, Christmas cake and candied oranges. The finish is medium, rather bitter, fragrant and floral, on red grapes, port, lacquer, some varnish and bitter aromatic herbs (San Bitter). Impression: A Knappogue with a very strong influence from the Ruby Port cask, fragrant and rather bitter. A hate or love Irish single malt. Not an easy one. Rating: 13/20 FP:I1
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Knappogue 1994 Summer Wind, ex-libris, 52.4%, B:2022, bourbon cask 888138. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Rich, mellow, fruity, intense, complex, on berries (mainly blackcurrant and goosberies), light foral flavours, some tropical fruits and a touch of vanilla custard. Very nice. Taste: Zesty, mellow, complex, fresh, floral, on vanilla, lemon zest, black and redcurrant, ginger, nice fresh floral flavours (Iris), and some aromatic herbs, with some candied ginger coming through progressively. The finish is medium, rather spicy, slightly dry, initially on liquorice and salmiac, before becoming slightly more on humus, ginger, vanilla and some banana. Impression: The nose is very pleasant, complex, rich and intense, with a nice zesty touch on the palate, before becoming more spicy and slightly dry on the finish. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Clynelish 1990, 32 YO, The Nectar, 49.3%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Waxy, mineral, with some beeswax, mineral oil, stable, citrus (including bitter lemon), quince, a touch of mustard seeds and sea brine. Taste: Mellow, waxy, rather mineral and fruity, on citrus, candied lemon and grapefruits, some vanilla, light farmy flavours and a touch of mustard sees and sea brine. The finish is long, mineral, waxy, citric, on candied and bitter lemon, some grapefruits, mineral oil and wax. Impression: A very nice aged expression of Clynelish, more intense and rounder than the Artist. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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Clynelish 1990, 30 YO, Artist, 47.7%, B:2022, cask 3477. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Waxy, subtle, slightly citric and farmy, on flint stone, wax, citrus, and a touch of sea brine and heather. An old style of Clynelish. Taste: Rather thin, subtle, mineral and oily, becoming more citric and waxy over time, on lemon peel, soot and flint stone, as well as some mustard. Diluted, it becomes more citric and bitter (i.e., on grapefruit). The finish is rather long, very citric, waxy, slightly mineral and herbal. Impression: A Clynelish, rather weak in intensity, subtle, but with a good complexity and very nice waxy-citric and slightly farmy flavours. A whisky to taste alone, as it might appear rather bland when tasted with another whisky. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Glen Grant 1998, 24 YO, Chapter 7, 51.1%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Floral to very floral, mellow, slightly sweet, fruity and malty, with yellow fruits, end of spring flowers, ripe barley, as well as some dried apples. Taste: Floral to very floral, mellow, rather sweet and fruity, on grapes, sultanas, some peach juice, ripe barley, as well some summary flowers and orchards fruits. The finish is medium to long, mellow and on the same flavours. Impression: A very nice fruity and mellow expression of Glen Grant. Rating: 15/20 FP:D1
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Ardbeg Smoketrails, OB, 46%, B :2022. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Very peaty, smoky and maritime, salty, rather clean, and moderately malty, on iodine, lots of seaweeds, a smooth maritime peat smoke, some camphor and a light round sweetness. Taste: Smooth, dry, maritime, peaty, smoky, rather sweet, slightly winey, on camphor, seaweeds, peat smoke, iodine and some grapes. The finish is long, peaty, maritime, smooth, slightly winey, on seaweeds, iodine and peat smoke. Diluted, it becomes rather thin, frail and smoother. Impression: A rather sweet and smooth expression of Ardbeg. Released initially for selected Airports in the UK, this Ardbeg contains a proportion of casks matured in ex-Manzanilla sherry casks, giving a nice smooth and slightly winey edge to Ardbeg, thus removing some dryness of the peat smoke. This whisky is rather smooth and not very complex, suggesting the use of a fair amount of cask of around 5 to 7 years old in the vat. Rating: 14/20 FP:C6
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Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 4, OB, 46.2%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Smoky, peaty, maritime, medicinal, complex, on seaweeds, peat smoke, iodine, disinfectant, a fair amount of tar, some soot and camphor. Very nice. Taste: Complex, maritime, peaty, smoky, sooty, tarry, on iodine, camphor, medicinal and maritime peat smoke, tar, smoked ham, soot, some seaweeds, sultanas, figs, a touch of orange peel, toffee and leather. The finish is long, peaty, smoky, maritime, medicinal, peaty, tarry, sooty, on camphor, peat smoke, seaweeds, smoked meat, some dried fruits, as well as some orange and toffee. Impression: A very good Ardbeg, with a complex maritime peat smoke. But as most of the Ardbeg distilled since the early 2000s, the peat intensity seems to decline rapidly after the first decade in the casks. To be enjoyed neat, as it becomes rather thin with some water. Rating: 16/20 FP:D4
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Chichibu Peated 2022, OB, 53.5%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Peated, young, dry, tarry, slightly malty, on dried peat smoke, tar, some soot and vanilla. Taste: Young to very young, peaty, smooth, on vanilla, vanilla custard, floral fragrant flavours and crushed barley. The finish is long, smooth, dry, peaty, aromatic, slightly earthy and tarry. Impression: A rather youngish expression of Chichibu, with some new make smoothness, and a lingering dry peat smoke. Rating: 12/20 FP:A5
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Chichibu Paris Edition 2022, OB, 51.5%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Dry, peaty, rather clean, with some dried malt, vanilla, dried peat smoke, and grilled bread. Taste: Smooth to very smooth, light, young, rather malty, slightly floral, with some vanilla, ginger and light grassy flavours. The finish is medium, young, malty, slightly floral and grassy, with a light dry and tarry peat smoke. Diluted, it becomes lighter, smoother and more malty, with a rather long dry peated retro-olfaction. Impression: A rather young, clean and moderately peated Chichibu, with a long lingering dry peat smoke. Rating: 13/20 FP:A4
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Ardmore 2009 Living World, Liquid Treasures, 61.4%, B:2020. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Peaty, intense, rather complex and smoky, with some tar, aromatic peat smoke, vanilla, light grassy flavours and vanilla. Taste: Light, grassy, peaty, smoky, slightly tarry, intense, and some vanilla. The finish is medium to long and on the same flavours. Impression: A very good, intense, clean, peaty and slightly grassy Ardmore. Rating: 14/20 FP:A5
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Ardmore 2009, 12 YO, The Nectar, 51.8%, B :2022. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round, sweet, herbal, slightly mineral and smoky, on aromatic herbs, some dried and juicy fruits, as well as light malty flavours. Rather intense and fresh, Taste: Round, juicy, fruity, rather aromatic, slightly malty, on dried fruits, juicy orange, some liquorice, leather, cinnamon and lacquer. The finish is medium to long, rich, spicy, fruity, slightly malty, on juicy orange, dried fruits, spices and some leather. Diluted, it becomes slightly smoky. Impression: A very pleasant, rich, spicy and juicy Ardmore, with light smoky and meaty flavours. Rating: 14/20 FP:G2
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Ardmore 1985 Private Collection, 36 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 49.6%, B:2022, Sherry cask 958. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Peaty, smoky, earthy, mineral, on old aromatic peat smoke, heather, aromatic herbs and some soot. Very complex. Taste: Very complex and elegant, juicy, on old style of aromatic peat smoke, heather, vanilla, vanilla custard, some soot, aromatic herbs and tar. The finish is very long, smoky, peaty, sooty, slightly mineral, with some liquorice roots, gentian, and aromatic herbs, including rosemarin. Diluted, it becomes more aromatic, on vanilla and with a touch of grapefruit. Impression: I cannot remember the last time I taste such a great example of Ardmore. It is nicely peaty, smoky, aromatic, complex, elegant and most enjoyable. Excellent. The sherry influence is very modest. Rating: 17/20 FP:A4
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Glen Moray 2005, 15 YO, Whisky Cellar, 54.7%, B2021, cask 6918. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Floral, slightly spicy, oaky and zesty, with some oak spices, clean fragrant flowers and a touch of vanilla. Slightly rounder and mellower than the Samaroli. Taste: Round, mellow, floral, rather fragrant, on yellow flowers, fragrance, some pollen, vanilla and malty flavours. The finish is medium to long, rather fragrant, intense, clean and slightly bitter. Impression: A whisky close to the Samaroli, slightly rounder but also more fragrant. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1
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Glen Moray 2007, Samaroli, 45%, B:2021, cask 5857. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Clean, floral, slightly spicy, oaky and zesty, with some oak spices, clean fragrant flowers and a touch of vanilla. Taste: Light, creamy, floral, slightly zesty, with some oak spices, toffee, ripe barley, vanilla, and a touch of caramel. The finish is medium, rather round and mellow, slightly fragrant, with some caramel, barley, toffee, some lemon peel and fragrant flowers. Impression: A rather fragrant and clean expression of Glen Moray, well-made, but the flavour profile is not my favourite style. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1
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Glen Grant 1997 Fazzino Rum Cask, Sansibar, 53.2%, B :2020. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Intense, rather clean and floral, slightly sweet and sugary, with some peach, apricots, daffodils, fresh flowers, some crispy barley, nice light cane sugary flavours, and a touch of fudge. Taste: Malty, spicy, round, floral, slightly sugary and fragrant, with some cane sugar, round malty flavours, fresh light fragrant flowers, some oak spices and vanilla, as well as a touch of peach and apricots. The finish is medium, malty, sugary, moderately floral and round, with some peach, apricots, brown sugar and rum. Impression: A nice round Glen Grant, balanced, rather fruity and floral, with a sugary influence from the Rum cask. Rating: 14/20 FP:D1
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Glen Garioch 1991 Hand-filled, OB, 46.4%, B:2022, cask 4556. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Peaty, smoky, aromatic, austere, with rather aromatic and slightly bitter herbs, aromatic peat smoke, some burnt heather, light floral and spicy notes. Excellent. Taste: Aromatic, austere, peaty to very peaty, slightly floral, on aromatic peat smoke, aromatic and slightly bitter herbs, ginger, light floral spicy and floral flavours, some humus and a touch of vanilla. The finish is long, aromatic, peaty, austere, slightly floral and bitter, on aromatic peat smoke, aromatic herbs, some almonds, ginger, heather and vanilla. Impression: A surprisingly peaty Glen Garioch, with a delicious aromatic peat smoke, slightly mineral and sooty, on aromatic herbs and very austerity. The most peated Glen Garioch from the 1990s I have tasted. Reminds me strongly of the 1978 style. An old fashioned Glen Garioch, that the distillery is resuming producing now. This was a hand-filled cask selected for the completion of the renovation. If you can, get at least a bottle of that one. Rating: 18/20 FP:A4
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Ledaig 2007, 14 YO, Acla Da Fans, 52.6%, B:2021, cask 800040. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Clean, very intense, peaty and farmy, with a very intense and powerful farmy peat smoke, on stable, some seaweeds and sea brine. Very good. Taste: Clean, very peaty and intense, slightly bitter, very intense, on farmy peat smoke and some ashes. The finish is medium and on the same flavours. Impression: A peat bomb, clean and with a very intense farmy peat smoke. A whisky without compromise. Rating: 15/20 FP:A8
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Fazzino Secret Speyside, 43 YO, Sansibar, 51.3%. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Mellow, rich, complex, fruity, on stewed and candied fruits, some orange peel, sultanas, honey, herbal flavours and a touch of smoke. Very well balanced and rather intense. Taste: Mellow to very mellow, fruity, rich, complex, well balanced, elegant, on dried and stewed fruits, candied orange, some herbal flavours, precious wood, leather, dried plums, and a hint of smoke. The finish is long, complex, balanced, slightly floral, mellow, rich, fruity, elegant, on nice dried and fruity flavours, mellow herbal flavours, some precious wood. Impression: A very good, rich and complex Speyside whisky, with well integrated dried fruits and herbal flavours and without any off flavours. Surprisingly intense and high abv for a whisky of this age. A collaboration between Sansibar and the pop art artist Charles Fazzino. Rating: 17/20 FP:F2
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Glenrothes 1997, 23 YO, Dramcatcher, 51.3%, B:2021, cask 715773. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Fresh to very fresh, intense, malty, slightly zesty, on sun bathed barley Taste: Fresh, light, floral, slightly malty and starchy, with some lemon zest, nice light but sweet flavours of gooseberries and Mirabelle, some light fragrant flavours. Diluted, it becomes spicier and on tobacco leaves. The finish is rather long, elegant, floral, slightly fragrant and malty, with a touch of spices, some lemon zest, and dough. Impression: A very good, fresh and floral Glenrothes, with light zesty and fruity flavours. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Clynelish 1996 Old Malt Cask, 21 YO, Hunter Laing, 50%, B:2018. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Slightly mellow, waxy and malty, with some ripe orchards fruits, vanilla, beeswax, light mineral flavours, and a zest of citrus. Taste: Fresh, citric, waxy, mineral, on orchards fruits, wax, light mineral flavours, vanilla, heather honey, a zest of citrus and smoke. The finish is long, citrusy, waxy, slightly mineral, with some honey, lemon zest, vanilla and light farmy flavours. Diluted, it become more aromatic and grassy. Impression: A very good, rather clean and zesty Clynelish, with a nice waxiness. Rating: 15/20 FP:A2
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Mortlach Game of Thrones Six Kingdoms, 15 YO, OB, 48%, B:2020. Price: Colour: Old Gold Nose: Round, sweet, rather fruity, slightly floral, on ripe fruits, sultanas, orange, cinnamon, some leather, tannins and ripe exotic fruits, with some spices. Taste: Sweet, fruity to very fruity, floral, slightly malty, with lots of sultanas, on cinnamon, orange, cinnamon, round floral flavours, orange peel and some leather. The finish is medium and on the same flavours. Impression: A pretty good, sweet and fruity expression of Mortlach, with lots of sultanas and other dried fruits. Not overly complex but enjoyable to drin Rating: 14/20 FP:E2
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Unnamed Islay Single Malt for Kirsch Import, 1992, 28 YO, Signatory, 52.7%, B:2021, cask 6779. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Mellow, maritime, peaty, salty, on sea water, mild maritime peat smoke, sea shells, kippers, some iodine, vanilla, disinfectant and light woody flavours. Taste: Mellow, complex, moderately maritime, smoky and medicinal, slightly woody, on a mellow medicinal and maritime peat smoke, some citrus, vanilla, sea brine and ashes. The finish is medium, long, peaty, complex, maritime, slightly medicinal and woody, with some seaweeds, maritime peat smoke, iodine, vanilla, oak spice and a touch of citrus, Impression: Signatory has bottled a few of these aged Islay single malt, distilled at Laphroaig distillery. I really enjoyed the cask bottled for Waldhaus am See, but this one is thinner and the wood starts to show off. Rating: 15/20 FP:A4
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Springbank 1992 for Japanwhisky, 28 YO, Sansibar, 42.8%, B :2020, cask 28. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Mellow, green, mineral, maritime, slightly peaty, with some camphor, light mineral and peat smoke flavours, disinfectant and a twist of lemon. Very good. Taste: Complex, mineral, smoky, sightly maritime, medicinal and sooty, on old fashioned mineral peat smoke, engine oil, some grassy flavours, camphor, sea shells, and camphor. The finish is medium to long, mineral, sooty, slightly citric, on sea brine, mineral oil, disinfectant and some mineral peat smoke. Impression: An excellent old style of Springbank, on sea brine, peat smoke and disinfectant. I enjoy this style very much. Rating: 17/20 FP:A3
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Glen Garioch 2009 Hand-filled, OB, 58.3%, B:2022, cask 1408. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round to very round, on ripe malt, high grade leather, some lacquer, round and sweet dried fruits flavours (dates, sultanas), precious wood, light floral flavours and shoe polish. Taste: Very round and smooth, malty, fresh, on soft spices, ripe barley, sultanas, dates, honey, leather, some lacquer, tannins, marshmallows, honey and spices. The finish is medium to long, very round and smooth, silky, malty, on leather, dates, sultanas, honey, some lacquer, cinnamon and candied oranges. Diluted, it becomes fruitier, but also slightly tannic, Impression: A particularly round and smooth Glen Garioch, rolling on the tongue, without any bitterness or rubbery flavours, but on dried fruits, lots of honey and high grade leather. A very good sherry expression of Glen Garioch. Rating: 14/20 FP:E1
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Clynelish 16 YO The 4 Corners of Scotland, 16 YO, OB, 49.3%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Farmy, oaky, waxy, greasy, with some fresh citrus, oak spices, vanilla and ripe exotic fruits, as well as light flavours from the stable. A mixture of oak spices and sweet fruity flavours. Taste: As my sample leaked through the journey home, tasting notes on the palate are provided only as diluted. The whisky is nicely sweet, rich, complex, grassy, waxy, on ripe tropical fruits, light farmy and oaky spices. The finish is long, rather sweet, grassy and waxy, with nice fruity flavours, some oak spices and citrus serbet. Impression: When I tasted it neat at the distillery, the oak spices were rather intense, but back home, it was rounder, more balanced and less oaky. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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Glen Garioch 2012 Missouri Oak Hand-filled, 61.6%, B:2022, cask 1363. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Round, slighlty spicy and malty, with a touch of aromatic herbs, some vanilla, butterscotch, heather, honey and oak spices. Taste: Smooth to very smooth, intense, spicy, fresh, slightly floral, malty and aromatic, on fresh aromatic herbs, oak spices, vanilla, some heather, vanilla and a touch of toffee. The finish is long, fresh, smooth, oaky, spicy, aromatic, slightly floral and nutty, on toffee, vanilla, oak spices, some aromatic herbs and heather. Diluted, it becomes creamier. Impression: Tasted fresher, smoother (younger) and more fragrant than the Kentucky Oak, slighltly creamier and oaky as well and less spicy. A version close to the Kentucky, with some sweetness from the Minnesota. This trilogy shows the influence of the origin of the wood. Best to be tasted head to head. I like this concept and whisky very much. Rating: 14/20 FP:A1
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Clynelish 20 YO 200th Anniversary, OB, 57.3%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Sweet, mellow, rich, very fruity, with lots of fruits (passion fruits, guava, orange, sultanas and melon) and some beeswax. Delicious. The sherry is very well integrated with the bourbon casks. Taste: Spicy, waxy, intense, peppery, on orange, beeswax, citrus zest, leather, guava, passion fruits, some sultanas and light farmy flavours. The finish is long, rich, spicy, peppery, fruity, rich, on orange, sultanas, round leather, exotic fruits, some candlewax and light peaty, sooty and farmy flavours. Diluted, it becomes more pepper initially, before this flavour is replaced by sweeter honey flavours. Impression: The balance between the sherry bodega casks and the bourbon barrels works very well in this whisky, with nice fruity flavours topping waxy and slightly farmy flavours. Rating: 16/20 FP:E1
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Brora 1980 Prima & Ultima, OB, 49.4 %, B:2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Farmy, mineral, smoky, complex, slightly waxy, on old mineral oil, stables, rather aromatic and farmy peat smoke, aromatic, some candied citrus, bandages and soot. Excellent. Taste: Mellow, peaty, smoky, elegant, citric, on heather, mineral and rather farmy peat smoke, citrus, sea brine, some soot, bandages, stables and other austere and aromatic flavours. Rather peaty. The finish is long to very long, complex, mellow, peaty, smoky, aromatic, slightly citric and waxy, with light grassy and aromatic flavours, some manure, peat smoke, disinfectant, bandages and iodine. The finish is very long, peaty, smoky, farmy, on aromatic herbs, peat smoke, bandages, iodine, some disinfectant, burnt heather, tar, soot and sea brine. Impression: An excellent Brora made with the last casks from 1980. This Brora is remarkably complex and peaty, with lovely and strong flavours, close in the style of the 1977 Brora. A whisky that does not disappoint. Thank you Andrew! Rating: 19/20 FP:A6
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Strathisla 2002 Distillery Reserve, 19 YO, OB, 55.6%, B : 2022, bourbon cask 27053. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Mellow, round, fruity, floral, slightly grassy, on honey, ripe exotic fruits, some round floral flavours, some vanilla, banana and marshmallow. Very good. Taste: Fruity, grassy, floral, juicy, on ripe exotic fruits, lovely grassy flavours, some quince, a slight spiciness, a touch of tobacco leaves and a hint of smoke. The finish is long, complex, grassy, floral, on honey, fruity flavours, round floral flavours, some spices, orchards fruits and bananas. Impression: A very good Strathisla, rather grassy and fruity, on honey, and a touch of smoke. Mellow and mature, without any woody flavours. Rating:16/20 FP:A2
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Clynelish 21 YO Art of Distilling, Elixir, 56.1%, B:2017. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Clean, round, mineral, slightly waxy and lemony, with some vanilla, light aromatic and austere flavours, with a coastal influence. Taste: Mineral, citric, waxy, slightly austere, aromatic and juicy, on citrus, lemon, some quince, heather honey, vanilla and melon. The finish is medium to long, mellow, waxy, slightly coastal, lemony and citric, with some heather, vanilla, light creamy flavours and beeswax. Impression: A mellow, mineral, coastal and clean citric version of Clynelish. Well made and pleasant to drink. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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Glen Garioch Hand-filled Kentucky Oak 2012, 61.8%, B:2020, cask 1359. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Intense, spicy, gingery, slightly aromatic, on oak spices, some candied ginger, humus, vanilla and a touch of austere and aromatic herbs. Sharper and more intense than the Minnesota. Taste: Intense, spicy, gingery, moderately oaky, on candied ginger, fudge, aromatic herbs, some vanilla, toffee and a touch of candied lemon. The finish is medium, oaky, spicy, rather aromatic, on oak spices, heather honey, some aromatic herbs, candied ginger and a touch of humus. Impression: This version is very much of what you would expect a cask strength version of Glen Garioch to be, intense, spicy, rather complex, with some ginger and light aromatic flavours. Very good. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Ballechin 2005, 16 YO, DramCatcher, 54.4%, B2021, cask 342. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Complex, peaty, slightly dry and tarry, on a rather aromatic peat smoke, aromatic herbs, smoked ham and bacon, leather, some dried fruits, toffee, soot and toffee. Taste: Round, fruity, smoky, peaty, rather syrupy, slightly aromatic, rather complex, on high grade leather, sultanas, high grade leather, dates, figs, some candied oranges, cinnamon, smoked ham and bacon. The finish is long, syrupy, round to very round, on soft leather, sultanas, figs, dates, smoked ham and bacon and light floral flavours. Diluted, it becomes more peated. Impression: A lovely expression of Ballechin, from an excellent sherry cask, without any rubbery or bitter flavours. An excellent pick from this Swiss bottler Dramcatcher. Rating: 16/20 FP:G5
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Bowmore 1997 Fino, Samaroli, 43%, B:2021, cask 54. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Round, mellow, fruity, on guava, mango, ripe exotic fruits, quince, a light and elegant smokiness. Great fruitiness. Taste: Complex, round, syrupy, rather maritime and salty, moderately smoky and peaty, on nice round and syrupy exotic fruits, sea brine, sea salt, maritime peat smoke, some iodine, smoked ham and bacon. The finish is long, round, syrupy, maritime, peaty, slightly smoky, on round syrupy exotic fruits, some citrus (pink grapefruits). Diluted, it becomes slightly peppery, with some toffee and smokier. Impression: An excellent aged Bowmore matured in ex-fino casks, with lovely round fruity flavours, leaving a nice syrupy mouthfeel, with an elegant peat smoke and maritime influence. The reduction to 43% probably enhances the elegance of this whisky and works well in this whisky. I just wished the price was also reduced. Rating: 17/20 FP:D3
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Caol Ila 2009, 11 YO, Acla Selection, 53.4%, B :2021, cask 319093. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Very peaty, intense, salty, maritime, on peat smoke, iodine, hemp rope, seaweeds, some vanilla and tar. Very good. Taste: Dry, oaky, peaty, tarry, salty, on dry and maritime peat smoke, iodine, hemp rope, vanilla and some vanilla flavours. The finish is medium to long, very peaty, intense, rather clean, maritime, medicinal, slightly oaky, on peat smoke and hemp rope. Impression: A very good, clean, intense, maritime and very peaty Caol Ila. All what you can expect from Caol Ila. Rating: 14/20 FP:A7
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Bruichladdich 1970 Valinch, OB, 47.3%, cask 5085. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Intense, complex, slightly peaty and smoky, fruity to very fruity, on ripe orchards fruits, tropical fruits (papaya and guava), a lovely round peat smoke, some seabrine and marzipan. Deliciously fruity and complex. Taste: Maritime, salty, smoky, complex, intense, fruity, on juicy orchards fruits, sea brine, sea salt, peach, papaya, mango, some maritime and round peat smoke, and a touch of vanilla and marzipan. The finish is medium to long, rich, intense, complex, maritime, slightly austere and peaty, on nice rich and juicy orchards fruits, papaya mango, some peat smoke and sea salt. Impression: A delicious aged and complex Bruichladdich, the first valinch bottled at the distillery at the time of its reopening. More peated than the Bruichladdich distilled later on. Rating:18/20 FP:A3
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Secret Islay 2011, 10 YO, DramCatcher, 53.3%, B: 2021, cask 3494. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Maritime to very maritime, rather complex, smoky, peaty, moderately salty, on iodine, disinfectant, a nice and rather mellow peat smoke, seaweeds, and some sea shells. Very pleasant. Taste: Smoky to very smoky, maritime, on iodine, disinfectant, a nice maritime peat smoke, some burnt wood, seaweeds, and a touch of liquorice and vanilla. The finish is long, rather smoky and complex, maritime, on disinfectant, peat smoke, seaweeds, some vanilla and charred wood. Impression: A very good Islay single malt, nicely smoky and maritime distilled at Laphroaig. Remarkably complex for 10 years. Matured in a Port barrique, the Port influence is rather modest, as the Port flavours are rather mild and well integrated with the distillate, but more noticeable on the mouthfeel, giving more weight to the whisky. Rating: 15/20 FP:A5
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Secret Islay Single Malt 2013 for Tokyo 3Rivers, The Whisky Agency, 54.7%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Peaty, oaky, smoky to very smoky, maritime, on burnt wood, seaweeds, oak spices, some hemp rope and vanilla. More on wet wood and vanilla than the Caol Ila from Acla. Taste: Winey, peaty, smoky, slightly winey, on rancio, leather, celery, popcorn, caramel, some burn candles and some disinfectant. The finish is medium, on popcorn with caramel, peat smoke, iodine, seaweeds, leather, rancio, sultanas and burnt candles and matches. Impression: An Islay single malt with a strong influence from an usual PX cask. The whisky is rather thick and syrupy, with strong flavours of popcorn coated with caramel, peat smoke, some dried fruits and burnt wood. An usual flavour profile and not so much to my liking. Rating: 11/20 FP:G5
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Cameronbridge 1974, 46 YO, The Whisky Agency, 40.1%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Rich, complex, mellow, fruity to very fruity, on porridge, tropical fruits, peach, some vanilla, dried fruits, watermelon and pastries. Very good Tasting: Grainy, fruity, thin to very thin, with some canned peach, tropical fruits, cinnamon and cooked cereals. The finish is extremely short and abrupt. Impression: A grain whisky with a lovely rich, mellow and fruity nose, but it has just time to reach your palate that it fades and falls apart. Just bottled above the legal strength. When tasted from a freshly opened bottled, the finish seems longer, suggesting that this bottle must be consumed quickly. Do not add any water! Very good, but taste rather thin and weak. Rating: 10/20 FP:C1
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Cameronbridge 1974, 46 YO, Dramcatcher, 37.6%, B: 2021, cask 3. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Mellow to very mellow, rather fruity, on elderberries flowers, some lychees, vanilla, pastries, peach and a light fragrance. Rather light and subtle. Tasting: Light, mellow, fruity, rich, on canned peach, vanilla, some pears, lychees, elderberries and a light fragrance. The finish is medium, mellow, on canned peach, vanilla, some pears, tropical fruits and porridge. Diluted, it becomes more on orchards fruits. Impression: As the distillate went below the 40%, this is not classified as a Grain whisky, but as a grain spirit. The spirit is refreshing, rather mellow and fruity, that could make it pleasant to drink during the summer. Rating: N/A (as not a whisky) |
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Dornoch 2017, OB, 54.2%, B:2022, cask 16. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Hot, young, oaky, oily, greasy, on varnish, sea brine, green nuts, some celery, green malt, gentian and light mineral flavours. Taste: Very smooth, clean, young to young, on green orchards fruits, light honey, oily and grassy flavours. The finish is medium, oily, green, fruity, on green orchards fruits, some sea brine, light malty and oily flavours. Diluted, it becomes younger, smoother and more on green malt. Impression: A very young whisky, clean, and smooth. Immature, but it shows a nice, pleasant, green, rather fruity and slightly malty distillate of high quality. Made with Plumage archer malt and brewer yeast (B). Curious to taste older expressions from that distillery. Rating: 10/20 FP:A2
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Dailuaine Dreisatz/ Ramseyer’s whisky connection, 9 YO, Signatory, 55.6%, B:2021, cask 308749. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Fresh, oaky, floral to very floral, slightly grassy, on vanilla, fresh spring floral flavours, and a light oakiness. Taste: Fresh, floral, smooth, slightly smoky and oaky, with some tobacco leaves, spices, floral flavours, quince and Mirabelle. The finish is medium, fresh, smooth, spicy, with some tobacco leaves, quince, plums and Mirabelle. Impression: A whisky with flavours reminding me of drying tobacco leaves, some bitter and aromatic herbs (including quinine) mixed with some pink pepper and fresh and slightly fragrant floral flavours. A refreshing and well-made Dailuaine. Rating: 14/20 FP:A1
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Bimber Virgin Oak 2018, C. Dully Selection, 59.5%, B:2022, cask 320. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Intense to very intense, very floral, spicy, oaky, on vanilla, charred wood, nice fresh floral flavours, vanilla custard, crème brulée and some banana. Very nice. Taste: Smooth, floral, fresh, intense, oaky, slightly hot, on crème brulée, banana, cinnamon, vanilla, oak spices, cinnamon, marmalade, charred wood and fresh floral flavours. Diluted, it become more on cinnamon and slightly smoother. The finish is medium to long, rich, oaky, rather floral, on vanilla, fresh floral flavours, oak spices, butter, charred wood, orange blossom, some cinnamon and orange peel. Impression: My first taste at an independent bottling of Bimber, from the C. Dully Selection. This Bimber is just four years old, but it shows a remarkable maturity and complexity, and the Virgin oak works very well with the Bimber distillate. Well balanced and most enjoyable. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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White Horse Spring Cap, OB, 43%, B:1960s. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Mellow, round, balanced, smoky, peaty, on old sooty peat smoke, dried fruits, leather, sultanas, round floral flavours, some mango and other ripe fruity flavours. Very good and rather complex. Taste: Intense, smoky, peaty, rather sooty and tarry, with nice mellow fruity flavours, leather, sultana, orange, some heather and light floral flavours, as well as some humus and old furnitures. The finish is long, rather complex and on the same flavours, with a slight bitterness and rusted mineral on the finish, Impression: I haven’t tried for a long time a White Horse whisky, but this one as definitely a content of Islay single malt and a pleasant mild sherry influence. Very good. Thank you Bernhard! Rating: 16/20 FP:D3
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Springbank Local Barley, 10 YO, OB, 51.6%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Slightly smoky and peaty, malty, rather fresh, with a light peat smoke, light salty and mineral flavours, as well as vanilla. Taste: Clean, fresh, malty, on lemon cake, vanilla, mineral oil, sea brine, camphor, some humus and sour flavours. The finish is medium, oaky, woody, rather bitter and sour, humus, wet socks, vanilla, some lemon zest and light mineral and peaty flavours. Diluted, it becomes saltier, smokier and more mineral. Impression: A nice Springbank, rather mineral and clean, but with a rather rough and oaky finish. Seems like the bourbon casks were rather active. Some water helps to remove the sourness on the finish and to enhance the sooty-smoky flavours. Rating: 14/20 FP:A3
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Strathisla 15 YO Distillery Exclusive, OB, 48%, B :2022. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round, floral to very floral, rather complex, on very smooth and round sherry flavours, sultanas, high grade leather, dates, summer flowers and some orange. The balance and roundness on the nose is impressive. Taste: Round, floral, juicy to very juicy, on leather, sultanas, bloody orange, honey, pineapples, some red berries, nice floral flavours, cinnamon and a touch of lacquer. Nicely balanced. Diluted, it becomes fruitier and sweeter. The finish is long, smooth, silky, rich, complex, floral, on honey, leather, some cinnamon, orange, dates, sultanas, dark berries, cherries and pineapples. Impression: Woaww. That is a change from the previous Strathisla OB! This is a new Strathisla available only at the distillery and a very impressive one, with a beautiful sherry influence, very fruity, silky and leaving a moreish feeling on the tongue, with lots of roundness. If you stop at the distillery, make sure to buy at least one bottle! Rating: 17/20 FP:G1
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Bushmills 2010 Cuvée Causeway Collection for Germany, OB, 54.8%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Winey, oaky, malty, slightly gristy, on red wine, toffee, oaky spices, some pepper, nuts and some toffee. Diluted, it becomes more oaky, winey and with some roasted coffee beans. Taste: Winey, malty, slighly oaky, on a mixture of winey and oaky flavours, some toffee, roasted coffee beans and black berries. The finish is medium, oaky, moderately winey and spicy, on pears, red wine, some tannins and black berries. Impression: A good and intense Bushmills, from a vatting of ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks finish in cuvée casks, probably red-wine casks. Rating: 13/20 FP:C1
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Brora 1982 Distillery Exclusive “Hidden Beneath”, 39 YO, OB, 58.2%, B:2021, cask 582, 150 bottles. Price: Nose: Round to very round, waxy, on vanilla, beeswax, some custard, candied citrus fruits, light farmy flavours, pollen and heather. Taste: Waxy to very waxy, rather fruity, slightly farmy and peppery, with a zest of lemon, some heather, vanilla, underlying spices, candied citrus. The finish is long, waxy, austere, farmy, slightly peaty, on candied citrus, beeswax, stables, some ashes and hint of mineral flavours. Impression: Unfortunately the sample I brought home leaked and *could only taste it diluted, therefore these tasting notes should be interpreted with caution. This single cask is limited to 150 bottles and sold exclusively at the Distillery. Diluted, this whisky was most enjoyable, waxy and rather farmy and lovely candied citrus flavours, without any blemish of age. Probably the most farmy 1982 Brora I have tasted. Rating: 18/20 FP:A2*
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Clynelish 12 YO Hand-filled batch 1, OB, 59.7%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Fresh, grassy, waxy, slightly spicy, on vanilla, some citrus, honey and tropical fruits. Taste: Light, fresh, waxy, intense, malty, on oak spice, vanilla, candlewax, orchards fruits, lychees and some other tropical fruits. The finish is medium to long, very waxy, green grassy, on green malt, orchards and tropical fruits. Impression: This might not be a very complex whisky, but the quality of the spirit shines through this bottle, as the wood influence is most discreet, allowing to reveal the green, grassy, waxy and fruity character of the distillery. Very pleasant. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Glen Garioch 2012 Hand-filled Minnesota Oak, OB, 61.1%, B:2022, cask 1355. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Spicy, round, creamy, on butterscotch, vanilla, crème brulée, some heather honey and fudge. Diluted, it becomes markedly fresher, with some floral and orchards fruits flavours. Taste: Spicy, fresh, oaky, rather smooth, on sawdust, ginger, vanilla, sevilla orange, leather, charred wood and some heather honey. Diluted, it becomes smoother, more on ginger beer and stronger oaky flavours.The finish is medium to long, oaky, spicy, slightly aromatic, on charred wood, vanilla, orange, ginger, some heather honey and light aromatic herbs. Impression: A nice Glen Garioch, rather round and creamy on the nose, becoming fresher and smoother once it reaches your palate. The influence of the American oak is strong, with lots of vanilla flavours and a generally round profile. The sweeter of the trilogy. Rating: 14/20 FP:A1
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Glen Garioch 1988 Private stock for Taiwan, The Whisky Agency, 47.9%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Mellow, slightly smoky, mineral and earthy, complex to very complex, with a light and mellow aromatic peat smoke, some heather, candied ginger, some humus and damp clothes. Taste: Mellow to very mellow, on soft aromatic, mineral and slightly peat smoke, slightly grassy, with some humus, mushrooms and a touch of candied orange and a dash of nuts. The finish is long, very mellow, slightly mineral, rather grassy, on soft aromatic herbs and spices, honey, some mushrooms, humus, a light peat smoke and a slightly sappy mouthfeel, as well as light floral and slightly fragrant flavours. Impression: A very mellow expression of Glen Garioch, rather subtle, with a nice mouthfeel and elegant and complex aromatic and grassy flavours. As the flavours are rather soft and subtle (i.e., not very intense), a whisky to savour best neat and with a fresh palate. Should have been best bottled earlier, to my humble opinion. Rating: 15/20 FP:B2
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Wolfburn Gessner #2 for Switzerland, OB, 55%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Smooth, fruity, light, slightly coastal and maritime, on schnapps, some mineral oil Taste: Oily, fruity, fresh, slightly oaky, yeasty and coastal, on oak spices, some vanilla, liquorice roots, a light coastal peat smoke, some hops and schnapps. The finish is medium, oaky, spicy, intense, slightly coastal and winey. Impression: A rather oaky and winey expression of Wolfburn with some fruit schnapps. Tasted rather young to my liking. Rating: 12/20 PA:E2
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Annandale 2015, 6 YO, The Whisky Chamber, 61.0%, B:2021, cask 449. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Peated to very peated, oily, smoky, dirty, aromatic, rather intense, on peat smoke, old mineral oil, aromatic herbs, some vanilla, ginger, gentian and sea brine. Rather complex. Taste: Oaky, peaty, smooth, rather young and rough, on oaky spices, liquorice roots, mineral oil and some peat smoke. The finish is medium, rather dry and on the same flavours. Impression: The nose was nice and promising, but on the palate, the youth of the whisky is immediately apparent. A good whisky, but that would have deserved a longer maturation. Rating: 12/20 FP:A6
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Bushmills 10 YO Sherry Cask, OB, 40%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Round, malty, fruity, juicy, on sweet juicy and fruity flavours, light oaky spices, orange, some tangerine, cinnamon and tannins. Taste: Oaky, spicy, malty, slightly gristy, on oak spice, pears, some black berries, orange, tangerine and cinnamon. The finish is medium and on the same flavours. Impression: A good Bushmills, with the finish in sherry casks giving a nice fruitiness, on top of the rather active ex-bourbon casks used for the initial maturation. A longer maturation in sherry cask might have improved the balance. Rating: 12/20 FP:C1
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Isle of Jura 1990 10th Anniversary, 30 YO, Sansibar, 46.5%, B:2020. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Clean, rather sharp, moderately salty, with a soft sweet side, sunbathed barley, some sultanas, orange zest and marzipan. Well balanced. Taste: Clean, malty, maritime, oaky, slightly spicy, on juicy oak, some vanilla, sea brine, sea salt, a touch of leather, sultanas and orange. The finish is medium, satly, moderately malty, slightly floral, with some worn leather, sea brine, a touch of orange and toffee. Diluted, it becomes softer and slightly thinner. Impression: A rather elegant and subtle Isle of Jura, initially rather clean, and then becoming progressively more complex and mellow. Matured in a sherry cask, but the influence is rather faint. A good whisky. Rating : 14/20 FP:B1
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Benrinnes 1997 for Waldhaus am See, 22 YO, Signatory, 55.1%, B:2020. Price: Colour: Amber-black Nose: Rich, fruity, intense, thick, slightly bitter and rubbery, on tannins, slightly overinfused black tea, high grade rubber, mango, rose hip, orange, leather, dates and figs. Taste: Floral, fragrant, slightly bitter, fragrant and aromatic, tannic, on orange, marmalade, mango, black tea, rose hip, leather, lacquer and fresh rubber. The finish is long, floral to very floral, tannic, on old leather, blackcurrant, lacquer, marmalade, black tea, rose hip high, grade rubber, some blueberries, dates and figs. Impression: A challenging whisky. It has the typical fragrant and slightly rubbery profile of the distillery, associated with thick and syrupy flavours from the sherry, heavy on tannins, while combining a nice fruitiness. The tannins are well present, as well as some bitter spices, but not astringent. The mouthfeel reminds me the feeling left after fresh blueberries and blackcurrant. A whisky difficult to rate, but definitely worth tasting. Rating : 15/20 FP:G1
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Clan Colla 19 YO, OB, 46%, B :2020. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round to very round, sweet, fruity, on leather, high grade round rubber, dried fruits, candied orange, cinnamon, high grade leather and some honey. Taste: Round to very round, mellow, slightly syrupy, malty, spicy and fruity, on leather, cinnamon, dates, sultanas, red berries, some tannins, chocolate, coffee beans, vanilla, and oak spices. The finish is long, round, syrupy, rather fruity and oaky, on dried fruits, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, sultanas, leather and some oak spices. Diluted, it become markedly more fruity. Impression: A Irish single malt matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in ex-Oloroso casks. A good whisky, with intense round flavours of dried fruits and leather coming from the Oloroso cask, with lingering oaky flavours from the ex-bourbon casks. With some water, the Oloroso shows a very nice fruitiness. Rating : 13/20 FP:A1
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Clan Colla 11 YO, OB, 46%, B :2022. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Intense to very intense, rather complex, fruity, with some light mellow and slightly aromatic peat smoke, vanilla and butterscotch. Taste: Intense, moderately oaky and peaty, fruity, slightly malty, on round and mellow peat smoke, some seabrine, orchards fruits, vanilla, butterscotch and some rather salty and maritime retro-olfaction. Diluted, it becomes more on maritime peat smoke. Impression: An Irish whiskey matured in ex-bourbon and ex-peated casks, well balanced, with a moderate and rather mellow peat smoke. The peat is mild and provides some punch and originality to this well-made whiskey. Rating : 13/20 FP:A4
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Glen Garioch Virgin Oak N°2, OB, 48%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Intense, spicy, aromatic, on ginger, cereals, vanilla, some cloves, sawdust and dry aromatic herbs. Taste: Oaky, fresh, spicy, in ginger, oak spices, vanilla, some heather, humus, light green and aromatic flavours, as well as some pears. Rather intense. With time, it becomes more aromatic, spicier and with some butterscotch. Diluted, it becomes spiocier. The finish is rather long, spicy, intense, oaky, aromatic, slightly nutty, on vanilla, aromatic herbs, ginger, some butterscotch and pears. Impression: I find that the Virgin oak works well with the ginger-spicy and aromatic flavours of the spirit, giving it an additional spiciness. I really like this style, but some might find it too oaky. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Secret Orkney Acla Selection N°10 1998, 20 YO, Acla Selection, 50.5%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Intense, rather floral and rubbery, on dried fruits, tannins, leather, cinnamon, orange peel, nutmeg, fresh floral flavours and some lacquer. Taste: Clean, intense, floral, slightly fragrant, on tannins, dried fruits, sultanas, dates, orange peel, some lacquer, clove, a mix of floral and grassy flavours, as well as some nutmeg, cinnamon and honey. The finish is medium to long, on the same flavours. Impression: A single malt mixing a clean, fresh and slightly oaky profile, with sweet and rather velvety round and honey flavours. Initially, there was a whiff of rubber, but it disappeared after a few minutes, leaving round flavours on the palate and a sweet layer of leather and dried fruits in the palate. Rating : 14/20 FP:D1
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Ardnamurchan AD 07.21.05, OB, 46%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Maritime, salty, smooth, peaty, slightly young, on sea brine, sea salt, maritime peat smoke, iodine and some vanilla. Taste: Salty, tarry, zesty, on liquid tar, maritime peat smoke, iodine, seaweeds, some disinfectant, vanilla, dough, pepper and sea salt. The finish is long, salty, maritime, peaty, on sea salt, seabrine, dough, tar, peat smoke, some iodine, seaweeds and camphor. Impression: A peaty with a strong maritime and sea salt influence, not very complex, but pleasant to drink and sharing some similarities with a well-known single malt from Skye. Rating : 14/20 FP:A5
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In memoriam of Mr Grallet, the founder of the Rozelieures distillery, who passed away last week
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Rozelieures ex-fût unique de Rhum HSE, OB, 43%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Moderately peaty, rather round, sweet and winey, on round and sugary flavours of candied sugar, a nice and slightly aromatic peat smoke. Very pleasant. Taste: Smooth, light, fresh, juicy, oaky, moderately sugary, with a lingering sooty, dry and tarry peat smoke, light floral flavours and some sweet sugary-winey flavours. The finish is medium, rather light, elegant, and moderately peaty, on dry and tarry peat smoke, sweet sugary flavours, some grist and soot. Impression: The whisky might be slighly smooth and young, but it shows a remarkable balanced between a delicious tarry and sooty peat smoke, light malt and floral flavours. As the whisky has not rested too long in the Rhum cask, the influence from that spirit is light, complementing well the peaty side of this whisky. The barley was peated only to 6 ppm, but it seems stronger. Rozelieures is now changing their label, so that the cask number will be visible. Rating : 14/20 FP:C3
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The Dublin Liberties Irish single malt, 10 YO, OB, 46%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Intense, malty, fruity, on ripe orchards fruits, gooseberries, some spices, aromatic herbs and light grassy flavours. Taste: Oaky, intense, grassy to very grassy, malty, on orchards fruits, oak spices, vanilla, gooseberries and some butterscotch. The finish is medium, grassy to very grassy, moderately oaky, spicy and buttery, on vanilla, some orchards fruits and oak spices. Impression: A nice fruity and very grassy Irish whiskey, on orchard’s fruits and some oaky flavours. Diluted, the oaky flavours are more pronounced. Rating : 12/20 FP:C1
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Ledaig 2011 Dreisatz / Ramseyer’s Whisky Connection Bordeaux finish after Ballechin, 10 YO, Signatory, 51.5%, B:2021, cask 17. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Winey, peaty to very peaty, rather dry, moderately oaky and maritime, on a dry maritime peat smoke, vanilla, oak spices, some seaweeds, winey flavours and iodine. Taste: Peaty, oaky, moderately maritime, complex, rather balanced, with a nice winey sweetness, peat smoke, iodine, seaweeds and red grapes. The finish is long, peaty, medicinal, round, rather balanced, on iodine, seaweeds, red grapes, light oaky spices and some vanilla. Impression: A lovely expression of Ledaig, heavily peated, with the Bordeaux wine cask influence contributing to a nice balance between the intense peat smoke and the winey sweetness, rounding the edges and making it more easy to drink than the Signatory expression. Matured in ex-Ballechin cask with a finish in Bordeaux red wine cask. Rather complex for its age. Rating: 14/20 FP:D6
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Ledaig 2007, 13 YO, Signatory, 59.7%, B:2020, refill sherry cask 70550. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Dry, peaty, maritime, intense, smoky, salty, moderately oaky, on dry maritime peat smoke, oak spices, vanilla, seaweeds and some medicinal flavours. Taste: Intense to very intense, dry, very peaty, maritime and rather oaky, on vanilla, oak spices, a dry maritime peat smoke, some idione, disinfectant and seaweeds. The finish is long, dry, oaky, peaty to very peaty, maritime, on vanilla, peat smoke, seaweeds and disinfectant, liquorice roods and with a light sweetness on the finish. Impression: A very intense and peaty expression of Ledaig, maritime and without compromise. Rating: 15/20 FP:B7
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Hogmanay Single Malt volume 2 2007, 13 YO, The whisky Chamber, 57.9%, B:2020, Oloroso quarter cask 10A. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Complex, peaty, maritime, slightly medicinal, on maritime peat smoke, seaweeds, some camphor, iodine and sea salt, as well as some oak spices. Taste: Intense, peaty, oaky, salty, maritime, on vanilla, peat smoke, some round winey flavours, sultanas, liquorice roots, seaweeds and iodine. The finish is medium, peaty, rather syrupy, maritime, on leather, sultanas, dates, seaweeds, some red grapes, iodine, peat smoke and seaweeds. Impression: A very nice expression of a single malt distilled at the Lagavulin distillery, with a complex and lovely peat smoke, and round and syrupy flavours from the Oloroso cask more present on the finish. Rating: 15/20 FP:D6
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Cambus 1991 for Heads and Tails Canada, The Whisky Agency, 51.1%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Grainy, rather spirity and fragrant, with some vanilla and whole grains cereals. Taste: Fresh, spirity, hot, grainy. Let’s quickly add some water: it remains spirity, hot and rather bland. The finish is medium, grainy, rather hot, with some vanilla, varnish, fragrance and whole grain cereals. Impression: A strong contrast with the Signatory bottling, rather monotone, bland and burning on the palate. No my cup of spirits. Rating: 10/20 FP:A1
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Wolfburn cask N°318, OB, 46%, B:2022. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Oily, coastal, mineral, slightly peaty and aromatic, with a touch of oak spices, seaweeds, seabrine and vanilla. Very nice. Taste: Fresh, maritime, oily, smoky, slightly peaty, coastal, on old dirty and aromatic peat smoke, sea brine, some mineral brush, oak spices and a touch of seaweeds. The finish is medium to long and on the same flavours. Impression: A very nice expression of Wolfburn, rather peated for this distillery, with nice oily and coastal flavours. I enjoyed it very much. Rating: 14/20 FP:B3
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Cambus 1991 For Waldhaus am See, 30 YO, Signatory, 57.0%, B: 2021, Sherry cask 34111. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Mellow, fruity, grainy, rather complex, on ripe fruits, orange, some leather, porridge and light fragrant flavours. Intense. Taste: Mellow to very mellow, grainy, on porridge, ripe fruits, including peach and orange, nice floral flavours, some quince and cooked cereals. The finish is long, fruity, mellow, on vanilla, fragrant floral flavours, some quince, peach and porridge. Diluted, it becomes more velvety, with lovely balanced flavours of cooked cereals, cinnamon and some heather. Impression: A lovely, rich, rather complex, fruity and intense Cambus. Very enjoyable. Rating : 15/20 FP:C1
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Glen Grant 1967, 5 YO, OB, 40%, B:1970s. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Aromatic, austere, slightly peaty, dirty, slightly floral, on aromatic and austere peat smoke, aromatic herbs, and dry heather bushes with mineral notes. Taste: Austere, oily, aromatic to very aromatic, herbal, slightly floral, on a very nice aromatic and mineral peat smoke, heather, some quince, vanilla and dry bushes. The finish is medium to long and on the same flavours. Austere to very austere. Impression: A lovely austere, aromatic and rather peaty Glen Grant, very different from the current production, with only a fait influence of the oak, leaving the austere peat smoke from the Highlands to shine. I love this old style of Speyside (and Highland whiskies). Thank you Markus. Rating: 16/20 FP:B5
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Strathearn Peated 2014 ex-Port, Uniqueness of the cask, 55.4%, B :2018, cask 092. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Round, smooth, peaty, oaky, on aromatic peat smoke, toffee, fudge, some candied pears, vanilla and light aromatic herbs. Smelled younger and smoother than cask 084. Taste: Oaky, floral, smooth, rather young and intense, slightly zesty and smoky, with round spices, oak, vanilla and fresh floral flavours. The finish is medium, on the same flavours, as well as on aromatic smoke and some orchards fruits. Impression: It tasted markedly younger than the cask 084, but also fruitier and less peated. Rating: 13/20 FP:A4
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Man O’Sword 2015, OB, 60.9%, cask 271. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Complex, intense, rather round and sweet, slightly peaty, mineral and austere, on nice sherry amontillado flavours, dry, but elegant, mineral, slightly peaty, herbal and aromatic. The combi Colour: Pale gold Nose: Smooth, rather young and clean, with some herbal and aromatic flavours, as well as some nutty and a touch of smoke. Taste: Smooth, young, clean, rather spirity, rather oaky, slightly fierce, on vanilla, wood polish, some light herbal, aromatic and smoky flavours. The finish is medium, oaky, smooth, slightly herbal and aromatic, on vanilla and some round floral flavours. The moderate peat smoke needs time to be released. Impression: A sharp contrast to the Awico bottling, markedly less matured, smooth, more oaky and less complex, with a touch of varnish. Rating: 13/20 FP:A3
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Annandale Amontillado 2015, Awico, 58.9%, B:2020, cask 481. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Complex, intense, rather round and sweet, slightly peaty, mineral and austere, on nice sherry amontillado flavours, dry, but elegant, mineral, slightly peaty, herbal and aromatic. The combination of the amontillado and the slightly peaty and mineral flavours from the spirit work very well together. Taste: Dry, intense, rather mineral, herbal and aromatic, with some peat smoke, dry grapes, some nuts, leather and mineral soot. Impression: An excellent Annandale bottled by Willy Cotting. The whisky might only be five years old, but it is complex, well matured and with a delicious integration from a full maturation in ex-amontillado sherry casks. Amontillado matured single malts are rare. I loved it. Rating: 16/20 FP:D3
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Caol Ila 2007 for Heads and Tails, The Whisky Agency, 52.9%, B :2019. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Light, clean, peaty to very peaty, maritime, smoky, oaky, tarry, on dry peat smoke, sea weeds, sea salt and some vanilla. Taste: Dry, peaty to very peaty, intense, smoky, salty, on maritime and dry peat smoke, oaky flavours, citrus and some tar. The finish is medium, peaty, tarry, dry, young, oaky, on maritime peat smoke, some iodine and citrus. Impression: A clean and light Caol Ila, with a rather dry maritime peat smoke, that taste rather young. Rating : 12/20 FP:A6
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Loch Lomond Oloroso 2012 for Best Taste Trading, OB, 54.4%, B:2021, cask 18/667-4. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Intense, round, floral, sweet, moderately rubbery, with loads of dried fruits, rubber, orange, cinnamon, some cloves, floral flavours, malt and some tannins. Taste: Round to very round, rubbery, floral, fragrant, with loads of fresh rubber and dried fruits, orange, cinnamon, cloves, leather and some round floral and malty flavours. Diluted, it becomes more bitter. The finish is medium to long, round, floral, rubbery, rather sweet and fragrant, on dried fruits, cinnamon, orange peel, some cloves, liquorice roots, leather and tannins. Impression: A Loch Lomond dominated by a strong sweet oloroso influence, with lots of cinnamon and dried fruits, as well as some bitter flavours. The rubbery flavours are fortunately not too astringent or bitter. Mainly for sherry freaks. Rating: 13/20 FP:G1
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Isle of Jura 1992, 29 YO, The Maltbarn, 47.3%, B:2021, cask 176. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Very smooth, elegant, on sea brine, light mellow malty flavours, some light floral and fruity flavours, as well as some hops and almonds. Taste: Rich, salty, malty, on hops, malt, spices, herbs, some toffee and a fair dose of pink grapefruit. Zesty. Diluted, it becomes fresher and more intense. The finish is intense, spicy, malty, salty, on hops, herbs, some citrus and a touch of mint. Impression: On the nose, it is rather smooth and elegant, but as soon as the liquid touches your palate, you can taste an intense salty and rather citric expression of Isle of Jura, rather complex and zesty. Very good. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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Lagavulin Offerman Guinness Finish, 11 YO, OB, 46%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Heavy, smoky, vegetal, round, on stout, vegetamine, peat smoke and some sea salt. The influence of the Guinness is rather intense and tends to take over the spirit. Taste: Round, salty, smoky, maritime, on vegetal extract, round and heavy stout flavours, some lemon, sea salt, iodine and some seaweeds. The finish is medium, salty, smoky, on stout, lemon, sea salt and medicinal flavours. Impression: A Lagavulin finished in Guinness oak casks. The round influence of the Guinness is clearly present and provides an original profile to this whisky. Tasted at the same time as the Special Release, it is markedly smoother, rounder and less intense, even when both are reduced at the same strength. Rating: 13/20 FP:B5
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Lagavulin 12 YO Special Release 2021, OB, 56.5%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Very smoky, peaty, medicinal, salty, rather dry and ashy, on peat smoke, seaweeds, light oak spices, antiseptic, tar, some rooty flavours and lemon. Very intense. Taste: Very intense and smoky, peaty, maritime, on sea brine, disinfectant, peat smoke, sea salt, some dry roots and lemon. The finish is very intense, long, and smoky, peaty, on sea salt, disinfectant, some oak spices, lemon, seaweeds, tar and dry roots. Diluted, it retains is intensity. Impression: An excellent Lagavulin, very intense, smoky and zesty. A Lagavulin with no compromise. Rating:16/20 FP:A7
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Starward Ginger Beer 2017, OB, 48.0%, B:2021, cask 6. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: On ginger beer, sugar, fresh ginger, with some candy sugar, light buttery and citric flavours. Taste: Sweet, sugary, spicy, on fresh ginger, ginger beer and sugar, as well as some citrus. The finish is medium, spicy to very spicy and on ginger beer. Impression: A very special whisky with very strong ginger beer flavours, more like a sweet alcoholic version of ginger beer than whisky. If you do not like ginger beer, like Fever Tree, best to avoid it. Rating:12/20 FP:A2
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Strathearn Peated 2014, Uniqueness of the cask, 56.4%, B :2018, cask 084 New Charred American Oak Cask. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Elegant, peaty, rather complex, moderately oaky, smoky, on aromatic and slightly dry peat smoke, some floral flavours, roots, charred oak, vanilla, and liquorice. Taste: Peaty, floral, aromatic, intense, oaky, spicy, on charred wood, ashes, aromatic peat smoke, liquorice roots, some vanilla, dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans. Diluted, it becomes more floral and slightly coastal. The finish is medium to long, smoky, peaty, rather round and oaky, on aromatic peat smoke, charred oak, liquorice, some soot, ashes, vanilla and light floral flavours. Impression: A very nice single malt, with a “highland style” of peat smoke, more aromatic and less maritime or salty than Islay single malt. The peat is also moderated and the presence of the charring of the cask is well present, with the whole rather well integrated and pleasant. It tasted more matured than a 4-year old whisky. Rating: 15/20 FP:A5
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Loch Lomond Peated Grain, OB, 46%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Light, fresh, malty, with a nice dry peat smoke, some floral and nice round malty flavours. Taste: Peaty to very peaty, fresh, slightly zesty, rather elegant and floral, with some nice dry and slightly floral peat smoke. The finish is medium to long, with a nice dry peat smoke, slightly floral and aromatic, with some green malt, a touch of hay and citrus. Diluted, it becomes slightly fragrant and more floral. Impression: My first peated grain whisky, rather elegant, fresh and complex, with a lovely peat smoke, combing the impression of a rather dry peat smoke with a round aromatic and slightly floral peat smoke, allowing the whole to be rather round. A very nice made and enjoyable whisky. Very good value too. Rating: 14/20 FP:A5
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Strathearn Unpeated new charred American oak, Uniqueness of the Cask, 57.4%, B :2018, Cask 081. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Fresh, floral to very floral, round, spicy, on vanilla, vanilla custard, nice round and rather mellow floral flavours, some almond and ripe orchards fruits. Taste: Intense, round, floral, spicy, moderately grassy, with very nice round and floral flavours, vanilla, vanilla custard, spices, green grass and some ripe orchards fruits. The finish is medium, grassy, round, floral, on yellow fruits, gooseberries, vanilla, vanilla custard, green grass, spices, and some ripe orchards fruits. Diluted, it becomes more fragrant and spicier, as well as slightly buttery. Impression: A very enjoyable Strathearn matured in an octave. An intense, fresh and floral single malt, with a very nice mouthfeel, remarkably complex and lovely various fruity flavours. Rating : 15/20 FP:A1
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Swissländer Fino, OB, 40%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Clean, slightly malty and winey, with round fino flavours and some spices. Taste: Clean, malty, with nice round fino flavours, rather sweet and winey and on grapes. Diluted, it becomes fruitier. The finish is medium, clean, round, malty, rather winey, on grapes, some spices and a rather sweet fino influence. Impression: A nice whisky, well made and easy to drink, with a full maturation in ex-fino casks. The fino influence is surprisingly sweet in this whisky. Rating:12/20 FP:G1
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Isle of Raasay Batch 002, OB, 46.4%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Maritime to very maritime, coastal, salty, peaty, dirty, intense, on dry maritime peaty smoke, iodine, sea brine, sea salt, harbour like flavours, coconuts, seaweeds and some winey flavours. The maritime influence is very strong and pleasant. Taste: Dry, salty, maritime, oaky, winey, on grapes, on oak spices and coconut, as well as some tobacco leaves. The finish is rather long, maritime, salty and winey, on coconut, iodine, sea salt, seaweeds and grapes. Impression: A nicely made whisky, complex, with a strong maritime and coastal influence, tasting like a mixture of old Campbletown whiskies, with some winey influence. A assembly of peated and unpeated malt, matured each in 4 different types of casks (i.e., 8 casks in total). Rating:15/20 FP:D4
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Irten’ ge Project 1 2012, 8 YO, OB, 48.0%, B:2019, cask 198/222. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Complex, bold, malty, very fruity, intense, on ripe yellow and exotic fruits, vanilla custard, sunbathed barley and some cinnamon. Taste: Oily, malty, bold, round, fruity, on cinnamon, orange peel, peach, papaya, vanilla custard and other soft spices. The finish is medium to long, malty, complex, fruity, on cinnamon, ripe exotic fruits, orange peel and sun bathed barley. Impression: A really impressive whisky, complex, fruity and bold, with fruity flavours reminding me of old Speyside whiskies with its ripe fruits with a dash of mellow Bourbon whiskies. Made with Golden Promise barley. A very good surprise from the distillery founded by Dany Kissling and his partners in Switzerland. Of note, the distillation date was erroneous on the label and should read as 2011 instead of 2012. Rating:16/20 FP:A1
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Bunnahabhain 1987, 33 YO, Maltbarn, 49.5%, B:2021, cask 175. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Very mellow, round, coastal, fruity, slightly grassy and maritime, on ripe yellow fruits, banana, papaya, some heather, light grassy and aromatic flavours. Taste: Mellow to very mellow, slightly salty, spicy and oaky, on ripe yellow fruits, some coastal flavours, spring flowers, sea salt, some pineapples, apricots and dried fruits. Diluted, there are some peaches. The finish is medium, salty, coastal, round and mellow, on ripe yellow fruits, some spices, heather and light round floral flavours. Impression: An elegant Bunnahabhain, round, mellow, fruity and rather maritime, slightly more intense and with a touch of wood less than the Acla selection. Rating: 16/20 FP:A2
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Bunnahabhain Acla Edition 11 1987, 34 YO, Acla Selection, 53.4%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Mellow, slightly maritime and smoky, on ripe bananas, some heather, coastal brine, apricots and a light round smokiness as well as some soft spices. Taste: Mellow to very mellow, slightly spicy, coastal and fruity, on ripe bananas, exotics fruits, some heather, sea brine and light aromatic flavours. The finish is mellow to very mellow, fruity, slightly dry and oaky, with light coastal flavours, on vanilla, almonds, apricots, bananas and some exotic fruits. Impression: A very nice and elegant Bunnahbahain, rather fruity, but with some dry woody underlying flavours. A whisky bottled just in time. Rating: 15/20 FP:A2
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Bunnahabhain 2014 Heavily Peated Staoisha for Ramseyer’s whisky connection, Signatory, 57.9%, B:2021, Cask 10620. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Maritime, peated, smoky, slightly salted, on charred (burnt wood), peat smoke, iodine, sea weeds, peat, some liquorice and dark chocolate. The charred wood is slightly less present than the Whisky Bibliothek, but also slightly less peated. Taste: Oaky, maritime, peaty, smoky, slightly floral, on burnt wood, peat smoke, sea brine, seaweeds, sea salt, liquorice, oak spices, some heater and tar. Impression: A whisky with a nose close to the Whisky Bibliothek, but with less intense flavours of charred wood on the palate. I like this one slightly better, but this is a matter of choice and tasting both of them head to head will help you to select one that fits your taste better. Rating: 14/20 FP:A6
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Bunnahabhain 2014 Heavily Peated for Whisky Bibilothek, 8 YO, Signatory, 59.2%, B:2021, cask 10593. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Heavily peated, maritime, slightly salty, on charred (burnt) wood, peat smoke, iodine, seaweeds, some tar, iodine, black liquorice and other maritime flavours. Intense. Taste: Oaky to very oaky, peaty, ashy, slightly satly and maritime, on charred wood, liquorice, tar, ashes, coal and oak spices. The finish is medium, on charred wood, black liquorice, sea weeds, sea salt, peat smoke and tar. Impression: A heavily peated Bunnahabain matured in a de-charred and re-charred cask. The cask was very heavily charred (Alligator) and thus the influence of charred wood is very present and the whisky not as peated as expected from tasting younger expressions of heavily peated Bunnahabhain. A whisky that I enjoyed, although I wished the charred wood flavours were lighter. Rating: 14/20 FP:A6
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Ardbeg 2001 Private Reserve Wu Dram Clan, 20 YO, OB, 46.6%, B:2021, cask 348, 155 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Very complex, maritime, peaty, smoky, mellow, on iodine, lemon, peat smoke, disinfectant, some ashes, vanilla, seaweeds, and some hemp rope. Elegant. Taste: Peaty, maritime, medicinal, smoky, maritime, on peat smoke, apples, lemon peel, some vanilla custard, seaweeds, iodine, tar and ashes. Mellow. The finish is medium, smoky to very smoky, peaty, medicinal, maritime, on iodine, seaweeds, peat smoke, some tar, vanilla, lemon peel, soot, apples and a touch of hemp rope. Impression: I was very curious to taste this aged Ardbeg, as the team behind the Wu Dram Clan enjoy fine whiskies and as the official small batches of Ardbeg (Ardbeg 18, 22 and 23 YO OB) left me with a mixed feeling. This Ardbeg has a lovely complexity, reminding me of the complex and medicinal peat smoke of the Ardbeg from the 1970s, with citrus, soot and a very nice balance. More complex than the Ardbeg previously mentioned and slightly more intense. The whisky was mellow to very mellow to enjoy neat, as with water it becomes to weak and thin to my liking. Seems like the Ardbeg distilled after 1998 do not age as well as the Ardbeg from the 1970s, but very happy to taste again a complex Ardbeg as this one. Rating: 18/20 FP:A5
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Myagikyo Peated Limited Edition 2021, OB, 42%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Smooth, slightly peated, malty and floral, with some light floral and buttery flavours and starch. Soft and rather thin. Taste: Smooth, round, slighlty peaty, with some dry, aromatic and floral peat smoke, butter and starch. The finish is medium to long, very smooth, slightly peaty and aromatic, floral with some starch and almonds Impression: A very lightly and vcry smooth expression of the Myagikyo, rather thin and slightly more complex than the Yoichi. Rating:12/20 FP:B3
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Yoichi Unpeated Limited Edition 2021, OB, 42%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Light, very smooth, slightly coastal, with some starch, light floral flavours a hint of smoke and orchards fruits. Very soft and rather thin. Taste: Very smooth, thin, moderately coastal, with some peat smoke, peach, starch, fresh light floral flavours and some sea brine, as well as some almond. Diluted, it becomes smoother and more floral. The finish is medium, very smooth, starchy, floral, on round and light floral flavours, some sea salt, peat smoke, peach and a touch of green orchards fruits. Impression: A very smooth and rather thin expression of Yoichi, showing a coastal and slightly peaty profile. A well made whisky, but very thin and rather unidimensional. I miss the Yoichi with an age statement. Rating: 11/20 FP:A2
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Glen Moray 2008, 12 YO, C. Dully Selection, 55.4%, B:2021, cask 5664. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Intense, fresh, malty, moderately floral, round, on vanilla custard, fresh floral flavours, some gooseberries and a touch of spices. Nicely balanced. Taste: Fresh, light, intense, malty, rather round and balanced, on yellow flowers, vanilla, some oak spices, geranium and gooseberries. The finish is medium to long, round, floral, well balanced, on fresh floral flavours, vanilla, vanilla custard, some geranium and lilly of the valley flavours. Impression: A very nice expression of Glen Moray, well balanced, floral, fresh and intense, and a light pleasant roundness. Glen Moray is a distillery producing very nice single malts, but unfortunately, with a low visibility. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Islay Single Malt 1985, 33 YO, C. Dully Selection, 47.1%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Peaty, smoky, maritime, intense, complex, on maritime peat smoke, iodine, seaweeds, some citrus and sea shells. The peat smoke is deliciously complex and lingering, old style of peat smoke. Taste: Salty to very salty, mellow, fruity, maritime, slightly fragrant, on seaweeds, iodine, peat smoke, some exotic fruits, lavender, sea shells and gooseberries. The finish is medium to long, mellow, maritime, salty, on iodine, seaweeds, peat smoke, some tar, exotic fruits and vanilla. Diluted, it becomes smokier. Impression: An excellent old and mellow Islay single malt distilled at the Bowmore distillery, with a rather smoky and peat nose and finish, mellow and well balanced and with only a moderate fragrance on the palate. Very good value compared to the official bottlings. Rating: 17/20 FP:A3
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Bladnoch 14 YO, OB, 46.7%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Round, bold, malty, raisins, sultanas, leather, dried fruits, some oak spices, cocoa, orange, cinnamon and Christmas cake. Very nice and well balanced. Taste: Round, malty, spicy, moderately oaky, on dried fruits, orange peel, sultanas, cinnamon, some nutmeg, dark chocolate, leather and a touch of lacquer. The finish is medium to long, nutty, moderately oaky, on leather, dried fruits, sultanas, orange, some ripe floral flavours, dark chocolate and Christmas cake. Diluted, it becomes fruitier. Impression: It has been a long time since I had the opportunity of tasting an official bottling and this is one is very good, with lots of dried fruits, chocolate and leather coating your palate. Rating: 15/20 FP:D1
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Talisker Special Release 2021, 8 YO, OB, 59.7%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Very coastal and smoky, oaky, tarry, intense, salty, on strong flavours of smoke (peat and burnt wood) and various maritime influence (sea salt, iodine, seaweeds), iodine and some tar. Taste: Very intense and smoky, maritime, iodine, on burnt wood (charred), iodine, seaweeds, lemon, pepper, peat smoke, and seaweeds. The finish is long, tarry, rooty, maritime, on iodine, citrus, liquorice roots, burnt wood and smoke, seaweeds and some tar. Impression: A very intense and smoky Talisker, with strong maritime flavours. Smokier than the standard 10 YO. Rating: 15/20 FP:A6
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Waterfords The Cuvée, OB, 50%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Malty, oily, winey, on vanilla, green orchards fruits, floral flavours and some banana as well as some Pu-Erh tea. Taste: Fresh, young, smooth, malty, moderately green and spicy, on orchards fruits, vanilla custard, banana and some dried tobacco leaves, as well as light exotic fruits. The finish is medium, malty, oily, on banana, vanilla and fresh malty flavours. Diluted, it becomes more oily and on gooseberries. Impression: A nice, clean and young whisky, with a pleasant body. Tasted first from a bottle freshly opened after a long transit, it tasted rather unbalanced. At the second tasting a few days later, it had positively changed to a balanced whisky, with rich green fruity and malty flavours. Rating : 14/20 FP:C1
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Highland Park Single Cask series for Hermann Brothers 2007, 12 YO, OB, 65.6%, B:2020, cask 4608. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Round, sweet, fruity, slightly coastal, on ripe orange, some exotic fruits, sultanas, leather, a touch of cinnamon and a hint of smoke. Well balanced and juicy. Taste: Rather hot when tasted neat. Diluted, it is round, sweet, juicy, rather fruity, on leather, ripe orange, some peat smoke, tobacco quid, lacquer, black liquorice, sultanas and tangerine. Impression: A very nice round Highland Park, on leather, dry and juicy fruits, as well as some leather. Rather hot at full strength, but you just need to add a few drops of water and it becomes very pleasant. Rating: 16/20 FP:D2
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Torabhaig, OB, 46%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Sweet (young), salty, smoky, maritime, on iodine, seaweeds, peat smoke, some vanilla and juicy oak. Reminds me strongly of the Talisker bottled 20 years ago with its maritime peat smoke. Taste: Sweet to very sweet (sugary), maritime, salty, on dry maritime peat smoke, lots of iodine, juicy oak, dry maritime and oily peat smoke, some hemp, tar, soot and seaweeds. The finish is medium and on the same flavours. Impression: From the second distillery built on Skye, this whisky shares a strong similarity with the other distillery on the island, with maybe a more pronounced peat smoke. Rating: 14/20 FP:A5
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Secret Grain 1976, 43 YO, Dramcatcher, 45.1%, B:2020, cask 940006. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Grainy, round, on cooked cereals, fragrance, moderately floral, with some melon, vanilla and cooked orchards fruits. Taste: Grainy, round, moderately fragrant and oily, slightly spicy, on vanilla, fragrance, porridge, cooked cereals and a touch of exotic fruits. The finish is medium, grainy, round, moderately fragrant, on vanilla, fragrance, some porridge and cooked fruits. Impression: Compared to the Givran, it is mellower, more complex, and less burning. According to the label, this was distilled at the Dumbarton grain distillery. A good whisky from a lost distillery and very affordable. Rating: 14/20 FP: A1
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Givran 1989 XOP for Hermann Brothers, Douglas Laing, 31 YO, 56.9%, B:2021, cask 14434. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Grainy, rather hot, fragrant, with some vanilla, porridge and perfume. The alcohol is rather burning. With water, it improves markedly, becoming mellower, more fruity, on melon, some papaya and vanilla custard. Taste: Grainy, fragrant, hot, floral, on porridge, melon, vanilla and some exotic fruits. Diluted, it become more floral and fragrant, on fragrant floral flavours, some varnish The finish is medium and hot. Let’s add quickly some water: it becomes more grainy, on cooked cereals, vanilla and floral fragrance. Impression: Tasting neat with a rested nose, the alcohol is very present and almost burning. With water, it becomes mellower, more elegant and fragrant. Intense and rather clean. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1
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Komagatake Limited Edition 2020, OB, 50%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Very smooth, fresh and floral, balanced, with some starch, vanilla and fresh summer flowers, as well as a touch of spices. Taste: Smooth, well balanced an rather bold and malty, with some starch, malt, toffee, sultanas, some dried fruits (including plums and apricots) as well as some exotic fruits. Diluted, it become rather spicy and with some pipe tobacco. The finish is medium to long, malty, starchy, smooth, on spices, some dried fruits, nuts and round floral flavours. Rather complex. Impression: The whisky is rather young (approximately 5 years old), but nicely smooth, balanced, with nice spicy flavours and some dried fruits. A rather complex expression of that distillery. Rating: 14/20 FP:D1
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Irish single malt whiskey 1998, Samaroli, 40%, B :2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Malty, gristy, slightly dry and oaky, with some gooseberries, blackcurrant, oak spices and pears. Taste: Light, delicate, on gooseberries, blackcurrant, some aromatic herbs, soft spices and a touch of orchards fruits. The finish is short to medium, delicate, rather green, slightly malty, with some berries and light oaky flavours, as well as orchards fruits. Impression: Distilled at Cooley, this malt is light and rather delicate, but flavours are not very intense and finish rather short, probably due to the reduction to 40%. Slightly too thin to my liking. Rating: 13/20 FP:A2
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Secret Irish 2002, 17 YO, Dramcatcher, 48.7%, B:2020, cask 11464. Price: Colour: Pale gold-Gold Nose: Intense, fresh, slightly malty and spicy, on orchards fruits, freshly ground malt and some gooseberries. Very pleasant. Taste: Intense, green, malty, bold, rather juicy, on cooked orchards fruits, melon, some berries, round malty flavours, vanilla, vanilla custards and pear drops. Balanced and rich. The finish is medium to long, malty, green, rather intense, on nice bold malty flavours, vanilla, melon, orchards fruits, some spices and light vegetal flavours. Diluted, it becomes fruitier and slightly smoky. Impression: A very nice bold and intense Irish whisky bottled by a new Swiss independent bottler, Dramcatcher. I enjoyed the balance between the sweet malty flavours and round fruity flavours. A whisky with a very nice body and without the dry oaky flavours too often encountered in several secret Irish single malts. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1 |
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Glen Garioch 2011, Samaroli, 45%, B :2021, cask 1537. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Intense, oaky, spicy, rather aromatic, on ginger, vanilla, spices, aromatic herbs, some heather, grist and light floral flavours. Taste: Rich, intense, spicy, moderately aromatic and floral, on heather, honey, aromatic spices, vanilla, some ginger and floral fragrance. Diltued, it becomes smoother, more aromatic and on candied ginger. The finish is medium, round, floral, aromatic, on round spicy flavours, some ginger, aromatic herbs and heather. Impression: A very nice, round, rather aromatic Glen Garioch, with some ginger, heather and other round spices and aromatic herbs. Balanced and rather complex for a 10 YO whisky. Independent bottlings of Glen Garioch are rather uncommon lately, unfortunately. Rating:15/20 FP:A1
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The Blended Whisky 1980, 31 YO, Samaroli, 40%, B :2021, cask 18. Price: Colour : Amber Nose : Rich, mellow, complex, spicy, aromatic, on ginger, vanilla, oak spices, leather, sultanas, heather, some honey, aromatic herbs, light floral flavours and a touch of cereals. Very nice and rather intense. Taste: Very mellow and round, slightly grainy, peaty and smoky, with some ginger, banana, vanilla, almonds, cooked cereals (including maize/corn), sultanas and strawberries. The finish is long, round, sweet, moderately grainy, on cooked cereals, ginger, vanilla, sultanas, strawberries, some ripe oranges and heather. Diluted, it becomes more aromatic and on old aromatic peat smoke, with some austere and slightly fragrant flavours. Diluted, it becomes slightly more fragrant. Impression: A vatting of 80% Glen Garioch and 20% of North British grain. The nose taste very much like the old style of Glen Garioch, rich, aromatic and with a light aromatic peat smoke, while on the palate, the influence of the grain is rather dominant, round and on cooked cereals. On the finish, it starts on a round and grainy mouthfeel before moving to a more intense, spicy, aromatic and austere peat smoke flavours. The vatting of the malt and grain whisky works rather well, although I wished they had bottled it as a Glen Garioch single malt. I suppose that the Glen Garioch went below 40% and they added the grain to increase the abv above 40%. The blend had a final maturation in a sherry cask. Rating: 16/20 FP:F3
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Bimber For Fine Food Switzerland, OB, 58.6%, B :2021, cask 205. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Clean, intense, malty, slightly mineral and oily, with some green apples and black berries. Taste: Round, intense, malty, floral, moderately spicy and oily, on aromatic herbs, vanilla, berries, some green apples and ginger. The finish is medium to long, aromatic, spicy, rather complex, on green apples, ginger and some black berries. Diluted, it becomes smoother and slightly more oaky. Impression: A rather impressive whisky, rich, balanced, aromatic, moderately spicy and a surprising complexity for such a young whisky. A tour de force. Very nice. Rating: 15/20 FP:A2
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Blended Malt 1993, 27 ans, Sélection C. Dully, 53.2%, B:2021, Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Rich, spicy, intense, on leather, fine tannins, spices, dried and candied fruits, orange, toffee, and a touch of peat smoke. Very complex and well balanced. Delicious. Taste: Rich, very complex and complex, intense, with rich spices, high grade leather, dried and candied fruits (sultanas, orange, dates and figs mainly),soft floral flavours, cinnamon, Christmas cake, lots of oranges, some liquorice a touch of coastal flavours. Lovely. The finish is long, rich, spicy, floral, rather thick and complex, on leather, dried fruits, cinnamons, some tannins, orange, dark chocolate and spiced bread. Diluted, it becomes more tannic and bitter. Impression: An excellent aged blended malt from Edrington, with a nose smelling like the old Macallan 100% sherry matured. The whisky is very complex, rich and fruity. Most enjoyable and it is best tasted neat. I just wished the finish was longer. A very good value whisky too. One of the best recently bottled malt whisky I tasted. Rating : 17/20 FP:H2
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Goldwaescher Pure Rye, OB, 43%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Spicy to very spicy, round, slightly mineral and floral, with strong notes of rye, some grilled bread, vanilla and light winey flavours. The Rye flavours are very intense, but not very dry or coarse. Taste: Smooth to very smooth initially, fresh, on green orchards fruits, grilled bread, some nice lavender and other fragrant flowers from the South of Europe, grapes, vanilla, and nice spices (rye). The finish is medium, smooth, slightly starchy, very spicy, slightly mineral, on grilled bread, vanilla, some grapes, green orchards fruits and nice floral flavours. Impression: A 100% Swiss rye whisky, made with local Swiss rye, local water, Swiss yeast and virgin oak casks. Distilled at Diwisa using pot still, the Rye flavours are very nice and intense, and compared to most US Rye whiskies, the whisky does not taste or bitter, but the rye flavours are intense and rather smooth. A good surprise. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1
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Waterfords Biodynamic Luna 1.1, OB, 50%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Young, sweet, fresh, floral, malty, light, slightly earthy, on vanilla, freshly crushed barely, banana, and some tobacco leaves. Very different from The Cuvée. Taste: Clean to very clean, fresh, floral, on vanilla, almonds, fragrant floral flavours, some spice and green vegetal flavours. The finish is medium, clean, fresh, malty, green, with some apples, spices, almonds, sultan and vanilla. Diluted, it becomes rather winey, on sweet wine. Impression: A nicely made whisky, clean and light, with some sweet winey flavours, once water is added. Slightly too young to my liking, but I like the concept very much. Rating : 12/20 FP:B1
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Lindores MCDXCIV, OB, 46%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Oily to very oily, malty, slighty spicy, nutty and herbal, on vanilla, some green apples and light floral flavours. Taste: Oily to very oily, sweet, sugary, on sweet barley, spices, grapes, orange, strawberries and some nuts. The finish is medium, oily, malty, on grapes, green apples, nuts, winey flavours as well as some floral flavours. Diluted, it becomes spicier and more winey. Impression: This is the first release from the Lindores distillery, aged in ex-bourbon, sherry and red wine casks. The whisky taste rather young (sweet) and the ex-red wine influence is rather strong. A good whisky for its age, although the flavours are rather unbalanced. Rating : 11/20 FP:D1
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Strathisla 1949, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%, B: 2006. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Aromatic, floral, waxy, moderately dry, fruity, on a mixture of wax, aromatic herbs, sultanas, orange and some exotic fruits. Complex. Taste: Smoky, mineral, peaty, mellow, slightly waxy, rather aromatic, slightly soft, on an earthy and aromatic peat smoke, light floral flavours, some heather honey, leather and candied citrus. The finish is medium to long, slightly tannic and woody and on the same flavours. Impression: A surprisingly peaty version of Strathisla, complex, slightly tannic and soft. Very good, but slightly soft and thin. Thank you Patrick S. Rating: 16/20 FP:E3
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Glenfarclas 1.31 1969, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 52.4% B:1991. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Aromatic, mellow, slightly grassy and floral, subtle, with elegant grassy and aromatic flavours, some humus and peat smoke, with a hint of mineral flavours. Taste: Grassy, aromatic, mellow, complex, with a nice delicate and mineral peat smoke, metallic wool, aromatic herbs, light grassy and floral flavours and some light stone fruits flavours. The finish is long, complex, mineral, moderately aromatic, on stone fruits, aromatic and grassy flavours, as well as some elegant peat smoke and light spicy flavours. Diluted, there are some light flavours of fruit jam. Impression: A very good, complex, elegant, rather mineral and peaty expression Rating: 17/20 FP:C3
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Bunnahabhain Moine 2008 French Oak Finish Feis Ile 2019, 11 YO, OB, 57.4%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Peaty to very peaty, tarry, ashy, dry, oaky, on dry peat smoke, tar, oak spices, some seaweeds and sea brine. Taste: Very peaty, intense, oaky, tarry, ashy, on soot, dry peat smoke, oak spices, some seaweeds and seabrine. The finish is long, peaty, tarry, rooty, oaky, on dry peat smoke, tar, oak spices and see weeds. Impression: A rather oaky expression of Bunnahahbain, but with a very pleasant intense and tarry peat smoke. Rating: 16/20 FP:A8
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Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2020 Madeira Cask, 19 YO, OB, 53%, B :2020. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Winey, sweet, on dried fruits, some seabrine, sweet wine, dried grapes, and a touch of smoke Taste: Oaky, spicy, winey, slightly rough, winey and salty, with some sea brine, oak spices, dried fruits and grapes. The finish is medium, oaky, modern, on oak spcies, dried wine, grapes. Impression: A rather oaky expression of Feis Ile with a strong dried influence of the Madeira cask. Rating : 14/20 FP:G2
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Bowmore Feis Ile 2019, 15 YO, OB, 51.7%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Peaty to vcry peaty, smoky, maritime, moderately oaky, on an intense dry peat smoke, oak spices, some seaweeds and a touch of yellow fruits and vanilla. Taste: Dry to vcry dry, oaky, maritime, very peaty, smoky, on seaweeds, dry peat smoke, oaky spices, vanilla, light floral flavours as well as some yellow fruits. Impression: A modern and rather expression of Bowmore, with intense peaty and smoky flavours. Very enjoyable. Rating : 15/20 FP:A7
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Glen Scotia 2002 Oloroso Finish Dunnage Tasting 2021, OB, 58.7%, B:2021, cask 2019/618/81. Price: N.A Colour: Old gold Nose: Intense to very intense, round, slightly oaky, on oak spices, some vanilla, light sea brine and a touch of dried fruits. Taste: Intense to very intense, oaky, spicy, with some sultanas, dried fruits, vanilla, oak spices and sea brine, The finish is medium, oaky to very oaky, rather spicy, on oak spice, vanilla, some dried fruits and sultanas, Impression: A whisky with a rather oaky profile, from a refill bourbon cask and a final maturation in a first fill oloroso cask. As for the Port, the influence of the refill bourbon cask is rather pronounced and the final maturation brings some sweetness without dominating too much the whisky. Rating: 14/20 FP:D1
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Glen Scotia 2002 Ruby Port Finish Dunnage Tasting 2021, OB, 53.8%, B:2021, cask 2019/609/80. Price: N.A Colour: Old gold-red Nose: Intense to very intense, round, sweet, slightly winey and oaky, with a strong influence of the Port. Taste: Intense to very intense, round, rather sweet and winey, on grapes and a pronounced round Port influence. The finish is medium to long, round, sweet, winey, on sultanas and Port. Diluted, it becomes more salty and sea brine, as well as slightly rubbery. Impression: Matured in a refill bourbon cask with a final maturation in a first fill ruby port. Neat, the whisky is clean and round, rather intense. Diluted, it becomes more salty, but also slightly rubbery. Rating: 14/20 FP:G1
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Glen Scotia 1999 Dunnage Tasting 2021, OB, 59.0%, B:2021, cask 2018/256/2. Price: N.A Colour: Gold Nose: Very intense, round, slightly oily and floral, with a nice mellowness, some yellow fruits, vanilla, light honey flavours, as well as some sea brine and light round floral flavours. Taste: Mellow, rich, complex, mellow, on nice yellow fruits, vanilla, some nice mellow floral flavours, light oily flavours as well as some coconut. The finish is long, mellow, slightly oily and maritime, with a nice fruity and floral flavours, as well as some butter. impression: A nice contrast to the 2015, markedly more complex and mellow, with nice fruity and slightly floral flavours. From a refill bourbon, with a final maturation in a refill bourbon cask. Rating: 16/20 FP:B1
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Glen Scotia 2015 Dunnage Tasting 2021, OB, 60.5%, B:2021, cask 1535, 1st Fill Bourbon. Price: N.A Colour: Gold Nose: Oily, intense, moderately maritime, on sea brine, some seaweeds, vanilla, coconut, light spices and mineral oil. Rounder than the double cask. Taste: Young to very young, clean, hot, intense, spicy, slightly floral, with some vanilla, heather and oak spices. Diluted, it becomes lighter, smoother, more on vanilla and with some spring meadow flowers. The finish is medium, clean, slightly floral, with some oak spices, fresh spring flowers, round vanilla flavours and some coconuts. impression: A rather young and clean whisky, with nice round vanilla and floral flavours, smooth and well balanced. Young but promising, showing a very nice clean distillate. Rating: 11/20 FP:A1
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Glen Scotia Double Cask, OB, 46%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Intense, spicy, oily, slightly maritime, on sea brine, coconut, vanilla, some oil, oak spices and a hint of sweetness. Taste: Smooth, oily, maritime to very maritime, with a fair dose of sea brine, on coconut, harbour-like flavours, mineral oil, spices, cinnamon and vanilla. Diluted, it becomes more on vanilla and oak spices, with a little more smoke. The finish is medium, spicy to very spicy, slightly young and smoky, with a hint of sultans. impression: A nice oily, rich and spicy Glen Scotia, matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in pedro ximenez casks to contribute to a light sweetness. Rating: 13/20 FP:D2
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Glen Elgin 1988, 30 YO, Wilson & Morgan, 51.1%, B:2019, Cask 4319, Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Mellow, complex to very complex, floral, grassy, slightly nutty, on dried and stewed fruits, honey and nice sweet exotic fruits. Excellent. Taste: Mellow, complex to very complex, oily, slightly austere, grassy, aromatic, with a light underlying smokiness, candied citrus, exotic fruits, spices and some humus. Very good! The finish is long, complex, slightly citric, austere and aromatic, with nice mineral flavours, a subtle smokiness and candied grapefruits, as well as some lovely discreet floral flavours. Diluted, it becomes fruitier. Impression: An excellent fruity, complex, with nice citric and austere flavours. Rating: 17/20 FP:D2
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Bunnahabhain Moine 2008 French Oak Finish Feis Ile 2019, 11 YO, OB, 57.4%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Peaty to very peaty, tarry, ashy, dry, oaky, on dry peat smoke, tar, oak spices, some seaweeds and sea brine. Taste: Very peaty, intense, oaky, tarry, ashy, on soot, dry peat smoke, oak spices, some seaweeds and seabrine. The finish is long, peaty, tarry, rooty, oaky, on dry peat smoke, tar, oak spices and see weeds. Impression: A rather oaky expression of Bunnahahbain, but with a very pleasant intense and tarry peat smoke. Rating: 15/20 FP:A8
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Balblair 10 YO, OB, 40%, B:2005. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Round, fruity, malty, slightly grassy, on juicy oaky flavours, honey, some grassy flavours, orange peel, dried fruits and orchards fruits. Taste: Malty to very malty, grassy to very grassy, round, slightly spicy, juicy and oaky, on nice round malty flavours, honey, some oak spices, grass, orange peel and dried fruits. The finish is medium, malty, rather grassy, moderately spicy, on honey, malt, light floral flavours as well as some orange peel. Impression: A nice rich, round and malty Bablair, on honey and nice moderate honey flavours, with probably a fair amount of sherry casks used in the mix. Thank you Martin. Rating: 14/20 FP:D1
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Mistery Islay Single Malt 1992 for Waldhaus am See, 28 YO, Signatory, 52.8%, B:2021, cask 6773. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Very smoky, maritime, peaty and complex, on seabrine, sea salt, iodine, some camphor, phenol, seaweeds and lapsang souchong. Very good. Taste: Complex, phenolic, maritime, peaty, smoky, medicinal, on old peat and bonfire smoke, sea salt, citrus, some lapsang souchong and a long lingering maritime peat smoke, as well as a touch of almond. Elegant and most enjoyable. The finish is long, complex, medicinal, phenolic, on seabrine, seaweeds, lapsang souchong, peat smoke, and some citrus. Impression: A very good, elegant, smoky and rather peaty whisky distilled at the Laph… distillery on the South shore of Islay, with a nice citrus twist. A whisky that I enjoyed very much sipping. Rating: 17/20 FP:A5
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Clynelish 1965 for Corti, 21 YO, Duthie’s, 86 US proof, B:1986. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Rich, smooth, velvety, on high grade leather, delicate and subtle peat smoke, orange, heather, with some sea brine soot, “barbour” jacket wax, and metallic flavours and light spices. Superb nose. Taste: Rich, smooth, waxy, juicy, slightly mineral, peaty and smoky, with some sea brine, light metallic flavours, some candied lemon, orange and tangerines, a few mustard seeds, and old mineral peat smoke. Extremely well balanced. The finish is long to very long, waxy, mineral, on mustard seeds, sea brine, old mineral peat smoke, rancio, old fine leather, some heather, citrus, lemon zest, old furniture, nuts (including a light touch of walnut and maple syrup), orange, tangerine and did I missed something? Impression: An excellent Clynelish distilled at the old Brora distillery, combining excellent mineral smoky notes with a delicious mild sherry influence. Beautiful. Rating: 19/20 FP: F3
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Benromach Cask Strength 2008 batch 1, OB, 57.9%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Meaty, peaty, maritime, slightly aromatic, on tar, dried meat, peat smoke, vanilla, light vanilla and malty flavours. More intense and complex than the 10 YO. Taste: Round, malty, complex, aromatic, slightly smoky, on round spicy flavours, a round peat smoke, some rubber, marmalade, orange, cinnamon, cloves, candied ginger and nice malty flavours. Diluted, it becomes markedly smoother, rounder, with some rubber, tannins, and more walnuts. The finish is medium, balanced, malty, nutty, moderately smoky and aromatic, on walnuts, ginger, some toffee, rubber, aromatic herbs, leather, dried and candied fruits, with some underlying aromatic dry peat smoke Impression: A nice whisky, more intense and complex than the 10 YO, with some dried fruits. Rating: 14/20 FP:C3
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Kilchoman 2011 Single Cask The Little Big Book for LMDW, 7 YO, 56.3%, Sherry Cask 621/2011. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Peaty to very peaty, bold, maritime, slightly meaty, on dry maritime and slightly tarry peat smoke, some dry roots, sultanas, oranges and seaweeds. Taste: Round, tarry, slightly young, rubbery and spirity, on oak spices, tar, some soot, fresh rubber, sultanas, dates, strawberries and seaweeds. The finish is medium and on the same flavours. Impression: A slightly young Kilchoman, heavily sherried, with some rubber and a light bitterness. Rating: 13/20 FP:F7
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Glenburgie 2007 20 Rue d'Anjou, 12 YO, Signatory, 63.6%, B: 2019, cask 9000777. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Round, floral, spicy, nutty, on dried fruits (mainly sultanas and figs), cinnamon, some nutmeg, cloves, vegetal condiment, orange, tangerine, and Christmas cake. Taste: Spicy, floral to very floral, fragrant, very bitter, on perfume, floral fragrant flavours, cinnamon, nutmeg, rubber and some unidentified aromas. The finish is medium, bitter to very bitter, floral, fragrant to very fragrant, on perfume, tannins, bitter orange and tannins. Impression: A sherry monster, on heavily bitter and tannic flavours. Rating: 09/20 FP:I1
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Clynelish 1989 Moody Lions, 22 YO, The Whisky Agency, 50.9%, B:2011, 267 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Mellow, round, floral, aromatic, complex to very complex, on humus, some grass, honey, aromatic herbs, vanilla and cooked apples. Very good Taste: Very aromatic, floral, spicy, slightly bitter and salty, on sea brine some citric fruits, aromatic and bitter herbs, some cooked apples and thyme. The finish is rather long, spicy, aromatic, on aromatic herbs slightly bitter, some humus, honey and cooked apples. Impression: A very good, complex and rich whisky, with very pleasant aromatic flavours, and only with light waxy flavours. Rating: 16/20 FP:C2
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Dalwhinnie 15 YO James Buchanan, OB, 40%, B:1980s. Price: Colour Old gold Nose: Complex, slightly austere, waxy, peaty, ashy, malty with light floral flavours, some mineral and dry peat smoke. Markedly different from the current Dalwhinnie. Taste: Austere, waxy, peaty, tarry, rather mineral, on old fashioned mineral and austere peat smoke, some honey, wax and a hint of orange peel. The finish is long, mineral, austere, peaty, slightly grassy and waxy, with some honey, metallic brush, soot and orange peel. Impression: A very surprising Dalwhinnie, reminding of some old austere, waxy, and rather smoky old Highland single malts. Most enjoyable and so different from the current production. If you find such an old bottle, do not hesitate to buy one! Rating: 16/20 FP:D4
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Glendronach 2009 for the Netherlands, 11 YO, Hart Brothers, 58.1%, B:2020. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Rich, intense, spicy, with lots of dried fruits, lovely round tannins and spices, sultanas, orange and leather. Taste: Rich, intense, spicy, floral, with nice round tannins, sultanas, dried fruits, orange peel, some dates and oaky flavours. The finish is medium to long, rich, intense, spicy, floral, on dried fruits, spices, tannins, some fudge and oaky flavours. Impression: A nice rich and intense Glendronach, on dried fruits but also with a rather oaky influence. Thank you Martin. Rating: 15/20 FP:D1
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Kavalan Solist Moscatel, OB, 56.3%, cask MO100625025A. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Floral, thick, syrupy, heavy, on treacle, marmalade, leather and loads of dried fruits. Taste: Rich, spicy to very spicy, on a mixture of fresh and dried fruits, some aromatic herbs and spices, leather and tannins. The finish is long, rich, thick, rather syrupy, moderately floral and spicy, on leather some fudge, cocoa, sultanas, tannins, orange and cinnamon. Impression: A whisky with a very thick and heavily sherry nose, but getting more fruity and less tannic on the palate, with rich and nice candied and dried fruits. Rating: 16/20 FP:G1
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Ledaig 2004, 10 YO, Signatory, 61.4%, Sherry butt cask 900171. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Intense, dry, very peaty, smoky, moderately oaky, on dry and maritime peat smoke, some sea brine, oak spices and seaweeds. Taste: Very intense, peaty and oaky, maritime, on seaweeds, maritime peat smoke, iodine, camphor, vanilla and oaky spices. Slightly hot. The finish is medium to long, peaty, maritime, intense, smoky, on iodine, seaweeds, camphor, vanilla and some smoked bacon. Diluted, it becomes more on iodine and camphor. Impression: A slightly young whisky, very intense, peaty and maritime. Powerful and with a sherry rather shy. Thank you Martin. Rating: 13/20 FP:A8
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Longrow 2001 Society Bottling, 14 YO, OB, 53.2%, B:2016, Fresh sherry butt, 600 bottles. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Very intense, tarry and peaty, smoky, maritime, on meaty and smoky peat smoke, smoked meat, seaweeds, some dried fruits, phenols and ashes. Delicious. Taste: Very peaty and intense, maritime, tarry, on soot, peat smoke, some ashes, diesel smoke, seaweeds, camphor, smoked bacon and dried fruits. The finish is medium to long, round, peaty, maritime, smoky, on smoked meat, seaweeds, camphor, some dried fruits and metallic flavours. Diluted, it becomes more oaky and slightly bitter. Impression: A lovey and very peaty Longrow, intense and with some nice round dried fruits flavours. Very good! Thank you Martin. Rating: 16/20 FP:D7
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Bruichladdich 2002 for ARen Trading, 16 YO, Archives, 59%, B:2018, Sherry Hogshead, cask 884, 240 bottles. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Thick, heavy, floral, tannic, on leather, tannins, thick spices, orange, tangerine, sultanas and other dried fruits. Taste: Dry, tannic, thick, nutty, on heavy spices, treacle, marmalade, some rubber, lacquer varnish, lacquer and tobacco smoke. The finish is long, thick, floral, heavy on tannins and dried fruity, rather dry and tannic, on leather, marmalade. Impression: A very nice, thick and heavily sherried single malt, on tannins and lots of dried fruits. Rating: 16/20 FP:G1
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Kavalan Solist Sherry 2010, 8 YO, OB, 59.4%, B:2018, cask S100201015A, Oloroso Sherry, 481 bottles. Price: Colour: Dark amber Nose: Thick, heavy, tannic, floral, nutty, dry, on lacquer, heavy tannins, spices, sultanas, dried fruits, cinnamon and some cloves. Taste: Dry, floral, very fragrant, on strong varnish, lacquer and wood polish flavours, rubber, some rocket, bitter herbs and marmalade. The finish is rather long, dry, floral, astringent and with lots of varnish and bitter herbs. Impression: A very dry and bitter whisky. Rating: 10/20 FP:G1
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Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique, OB, 57.8%, cask W120302034A. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Thick, rich, nutty, malty, floral, heavy, on tannins, lacquer, spices, nuts, sultanas, some winey flavours, lots of dried fruits, some cocoa and toffee. Taste: Rich, floral, fragrant to very fragrant, spicy, on lacquer, varnish, apricots, peach, juicy oaky flavours, some melon, tannins, cloves and incense. The finish is medium, dry, very floral and fragrant and on the same flavours. Impression: A very floral and fragrant whisky, with rather strong varnish and flavours. Close to a Cognac in style. Rating: 12/20 FP:I1
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Glentauchers 2009, 10 YO, Asta Morris, 51.5%, B :2019, AM102. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Soft, round, floral, vegetal, on toffee, fudge, some dried fruits, cinnamon, nice round and soft floral flavours. Taste: Spicy, floral, rich, on tannins, wet wood, orange, cinnamon, sultanas, peach, and other sweet fruity flavours. Nicely complex. The finish is long, sweet, floral, complex, nicely balanced, with sweet fruity flavours, nice soft tannins (fresh soft leather), honey, and light grassy flavours. Very good! Impression: A very nice and usual expression of Glentauchers, very sweet and fruity, surprisingly complex for its age, with nice honey, grassy, and sweet fruity flavours, as well as tannins to give weight. Rating: 16/20 FP:F1
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Strathmill 1976, 31 YO, A.D. Rattray, 48.4%. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Rather fresh, malty, slightly green, rather light and elegant, some fresh barley, vanilla and a touch of quince and gooseberries. Taste: Fresh, malty, slightly green and spicy, on fresh barley, some vanilla, spices and gooseberries. The finish is medium to long, fresh, malty, slightly green, on vanilla and some gooseberries. Impression: A nice fresh and malty Strathmill, with some nice fruitiness. Thank you Martin. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Glenesk 5 YO, OB, 40%, B:1970s. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Clean, green, fresh, malty, slightly fragrant, with freshly crushed malt and barley and vanilla. Taste: Clean, fresh, malty, green, slightly spicy, with some fresh malt, light fresh floral flavours and vanilla. The finish is medium, clean, fresh, slightly green amd malty. Impression: A nice fresh, green and clean single malt from the lost distillery of Glenesk / Hillside. Not overly complex, but well balanced and rather mature for its age. Thank you Martin. Rating: 12/20 FP:A1
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Ainslie's Royal Edinburgh for Fourcroy, OB, 40%, B:1977 Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Waxy, mineral, smoky, metallic, slightly peaty and austere, on wax, some quince, candied lemon, metallic brush and ashes. Very nice old fashioned nose. Taste: Waxy to very waxy, citric, smoky, austere, with a nice old fashioned smoke with some peat, smoked bacon candied citrus, light metallic and mineral flavours as well as a touch of toffee. The finish is medium to long, round, smoky, mineral, slightly peaty and citric, with some toffee, peat smoke, citrus and various mineral flavours. Slightly austere as well. Impression: A lovely waxy and mineral blend produced by Ainslie & Heilbron, with a lovely smokiness and candied citrus. Fourcroy was the importer for Belgium for Clynelish and the Ainslie’s brands. Thank you Martin. Rating: 16/20 FP:E2
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Ardbeg Drum Feis Ile 2019, OB, 46%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Peaty to very peaty, intense, maritime, smoky, on seaweeds, maritime peat smoke, some light sugary sweetness, vanilla, camphor and seaweeds. Taste: Young, sweet, peaty to very peaty, maritime, on iodine, seaweeds, light sugary flavours, peat smoke, and vanilla. Diluted, it becomes younger and less complex. The finish is medium to long and on the same flavours. Impression: A very nice peaty Ardbeg, with a sweet and sugary influence from the Rum finish. Diluted it tasted younger. Rating: 15/20 FP:A6
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Ardbeg Wee Beastie, 5 YO, OB, 47.4%, B:2021. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Young, peaty, smoky, maritime, on peat smoke, seaweeds and camphor. Taste: Peaty to very peaty, clean, smoky to very smoky, maritime, slightly oaky, on iodine, camphor, seaweeds, peat smoke and some vanilla. Diluted, it becomes more salty and citric. The finish is medium, clean, round, slightly young, on peat smoke, iodine, lemon zest, seaweeds and some camphor. Impression: A new entry in the Ardbeg range. It is only 5 years old, but it shows already a nice maturity. Smoky and peaty. A good one. Rating: 15/20 FP:A7
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Ben Nevis 1998 Spiders from Mars for the Caskplan participants, 21 YO, Archives, 48.2%, cask 188, 24 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Round, fresh, slightly oaky, on fresh vanilla, malty flavours, some hopps and light and fresh oaky flavours. Less complex and mellow than the Archives 1996. Taste: Fresh, light, malty, slightly green and floral, on vanilla, some green malty and grassy flavours, as well some oaky and tobacco leaves flavours. The finish is medium, rather clean and malty, slightly oaky and smoky. It becomes rounder and with some orchards fruits with some water. Impression: A rather clean version of Ben Nevis, fresh and less complex and round than the 1996. Rating: 14/20 FP:A1
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Ben Nevis 1996 Fishes of Samoa, 24 YO, Archives, 49.9% cask 887. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Mellow, round, malty, complex slightly grassy and spicy, on nice grassy flavours, stewed fruits, vanilla, some vanilla custard and light oaky flavours. Nicely complex Taste: Mellow, rich, complex, grassy, malty, on juicy vanilla and grassy flavours, some quince, nice sweet flavours, vanilla custard, light fruity flavours and a hint of smoke. The finish is long, juicy, malty, grassy, with some vanilla and light honey flavours. Diluted, there is a hint of tobacco quid. Impression: A very nice, mellow, rich, malty and grassy Ben Nevis, with a nice balance of flavours. Very good! Thank you Martin. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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Carsebridge 1979, 30 YO, Duncan Taylor, 48.8%, B:2010, cask 33043, 69 bottles. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Spicy, intense, slightly peppery, on vanilla, spices and crushed pepper. Smells rather young and intense. Taste: Mellow, grainy, slightly spicy, on cooked corn (maize), a light fragrance and some stewed fruits and porridge. The finish is medium to long, mellow, on cooked cereals, porridge, vanilla, cooked corn and a slight fragrance. Diluted, it becomes more fragrant. Impression: A very nice mellow Grain whisky, with a light spiciness and cooked corn (maize). Thank you Martin. Rating: 15/20 FP:A1
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Dumbarton 1987, 29 YO, Whiskybroker, 52.5%, B:2016, cask 25240, 143 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Round, mellow to very mellow, grainy, on vanilla, porridge, light grassy fruity and nice mellow yellow fruits, with a light fragrance. Taste: Grainy, slightly green and spicy, with some green cereals, vanilla and a light fragrance. The finish is medium, grainy, on porridge, some vanilla and light spices. Impression: A nice grain whisky, with a mellow fruity nose, while getting fresher and more spicy on the palate. Thank you Martin. Rating:14/20 FP:A1
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Irish Single Malt Whiskey 1993, 25 YO, Liquid Art & Beacon Spirits, 48.1%, B:2018. Price: Colour: Gold -old gold Nose: Round, malty, slightly green, with some vanilla, blackurrant, pear drops and a light fragrance. Taste: Malty, round, slightly oaky and spicy, with some vanilla, pear drops and light oaky flavours. The finish is medium, malty, slightly green and spicy, on vanilla, light oaky and pear drop flavours. Diluted, it becomes slightly fruitier. Impression: A nice round, malty, slightly oaky and spicy flavours. A good one tasting younger than the age on the label. Thank you Martin. Rating : 13/20 FP:A1
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| Brothers in arms Irish single malt whiskey, 14 YO, Vom Fass, 43%, B:2015. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Fresh, malty, slightly green, with some vanilla, pear drops and green malt. Taste: Fresh, young, oaky, rather green, some vanilla, oak spice, pear drops and green malt. Diluted, it becomes more fragrant. The finish is medium, green, young, malty, slightly spicy. Diluted, it was more fragrant. Impression: A clean, fresh and rather green Irish single malt, that taste rather young. Thank you Martin. Rating : 12/20 FP:A1
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Special Edition 7 Highland Single malt 1987, 32 YO, Acla Selection, 50.1%, B:2019, 120 bottles. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Mellow to very mellow, rich, slightly nutty, on heather, sultanas, some dried fruits, walnuts and honey. Taste: Mellow to very mellow, nutty, slighty spicy, on dried fruits, heather, honey and some candied fruits. The finish is medium to long, complex, on dried fruits, walnuts, honey and some candied fruits. Impression: A very nice mellow old Highland single malt, with dried fruits, a nice mouthfeel and nutty flavours, without any dryness. Rating: 16/20 FP:G2
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Omar 2013, 6 YO, OB, 57.3%, B:2019, cask 21130075, 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead, 239 bottles. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Fragrant, floral, slightly rubbery, on nice soft spices, orange, marmalade, tannins, lacquer, some tannins, leather and rubber. Taste: Floral, fragrant, clean, slightly spicy and bitter, on red berries, dried fruits, leather, cinnamon, lacquer, some tannins, orange and marmalade. The finish is medium to long and on the same flavours. Diluted, it becomes more fragrant and bitter. Impression: A nice smooth, floral, fragrant and lacquered whisky. Rating: 16/20 FP:H1
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A Secret Highland Distillery 2000, 19 YO, Liquid Treasures, 55.6%, B:2020, cask 1442, 325 bottles. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Complex, intense, balanced, waxy to very waxy, with nice light vanilla flavours, some gooseberries, light spicy and mineral flavours. Taste: Intense, complex, waxy, mineral, on beeswax, some very pleasant mineral flavours, almonds, shoe wax, some gooseberries, pear drops and vanilla. The finish is long, waxy, complex, slightly spicy, mineral and on the same flavours. Impression: A secret Highland distillery with a very character and light mineral flavours, that is unique to Clynelish. A very good complex and balanced whisky distilled in the village of Brora. Rating: 17/20 FP:A1
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Tomatin 2006, 12 YO, OB, 46%, B:2018, Amontillado Sherry Limited Edition. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Round, thick, tannic, slightly acetic, on oak spices, heavy tannins, leather, vegetal condiments, dried fruits, cinnamon, cloves and some rubber. Taste: Acetic to very acetic, round, on toffee, balsamic vinegar, rubber, tannins, leather and sultanas. The finish is medium, acetic and on the same flavours. Diluted, it becomes more acetic and rubbery. Impression: A whisky with a very strong Amontillado influence, rather acetic, rubbery and on dried fruits… Rating: 12/20 FP:D1
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Glenrothes 1997, 21 YO, Cadenhead's, 57.1%, B:2019, 510 bottles. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Floral, round, rather mellow, slightly oaky, with some vanilla, light grassy and oaky flavours, as well nice floral flavours. Taste: Okay, spicy, intense, floral, slightly fragrant, on oak spices, some pepper, fresh floral flavours, green melon, apples and freshly cut grass. The finish is medium and on the same flavours. Impression: A nice, oaky, green and spicy Glenrothes, with fresh floral flavours. Rating: 14/20 FP:C1
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Kavalan Solist Pedro Ximenez, OB, 56.3%, Cask PX100630005A, 481 bottles. Price: Colour: Dark amber Nose: Round to very round, floral, moderately creamy and malty, on fudge, nice creamy and round fruity flavours, as well as some lacquer and candied fruits. Taste: Floral, malty, fragrant to very fragrant, with some lacquer, candied fruits, vanilla, oak spices, tangerine, orange, and wood polish. The finish is medium to long and on the same flavours. Impression: A rather floral and fragrant whisky, on candied fruits and some lacquer. Rating: 13/20 FP:F1
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Bn7 2001, Elixir Distillers, 55.7%, B:2018. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Mellow, rich, complex, aromatic, with some floral flavours, fudge, humus, soft spices, mellow fruity flavours, aromatic herbs and round malty flavours. Excellent. Taste: Mellow, round, floral, fragrant, aromatic, grassy, slightly malty, with some spices, fragrant floral flavours, humus, dried fruits, nice round grassy flavours mixed with some aromatic herbs. Nicely balanced. The finish is long, complex, balanced, malty, aromatic, slightly grassy, floral and fragrant. Impression: An excellent, rich, complex, floral, fragrant, and on dried fruits. I enjoyed the balance very much. Very well made. Rating:17/20 FP:F2
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Amrut Kadhambam, OB, 50%, B:2019, 3600 botttles. Price: Colour: Dark amber Nose: Floral to very floral, round, on tannins, some lacquer, juicy oak, exotic fruity, cinnamon and light grassy flavours. Taste: Floral, spicy, slightly oaky, balanced, rather fruity, on oak spices, some cinnamon, ginger, exotic fruits, marzipan, marmalade and lacquer. The finish is medium, spicy, floral, slightly fruity, on sultanas, leather, some tannins, black liquorice, exotic fruits, ginger, oak spices and dark chocolate. Impression: A nicely balanced whisky, rich, fruity, spicy and with a pleasant complexity. Rating: 16/20 FP:G1
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The Old Man of Hoy Orcadian 12 YO For Taiwan, Blackadder, 58.8%, B:2019, Hogshead, C#OMH 2019-3, 365 bottles. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Gristy, slightly young, light and coastal, with a light smokiness, some orchards fruits, vanilla and sea brine. Taste: Salty, maritime, slightly oaky, on vanilla, some heather, seabrine, a hint of smoke and seashells. The finish is medium and on the same flavours. Diluted, it becomes smokier, slightly rooty Impression: A nice maritime, slightly salty and smoky whisky. Rating: 14/20 FP:A2
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Glen Moray Raw Cask 2007, 10 YO, Blackadder, 57.6%, B:2018, cask 5688. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Very sweet and fruity, fresh, on freshly pressed green pears, nice malty and grassy flavours, as well as a hint of spices. Taste: Fresh, floral, malty, slightly green, on green apples and pears, some oaky, malty and grassy flavours. Diluted, it becomes slightly more peppery. The finish is medium, malty, oaky, spicy, peppery, rather intense, slightly floral, on nice fresh malty flavours and some pepper. Impression: A nice and intense Glen Moray, rather sweet, smooth and fruity on the nose, with initial flavours of green orchards fruits, before becoming more spicy and peppery. Rating: 14/20 FP:A2
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The GlenAllachie Cask Strength Batch 3, 10 YO, OB, 58.2%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Old gold-amber Nose: Round, floral, rather intense, moderately spicy, on nice floral and fragrant flavours, stewed fruits, exotic fruits, Taste: Round to very round, floral, slightly grassy, with some honey, lemon, vanilla custard and nice round stewed fruits flavours, as well as soft spices. Nicely balanced. Diluted, it becomes slightly more aromatic. The finish is medium and on the same flavours Impression: A nice GlenAllachie, very round, but also rather intense, well balanced and nicely fruity. Very good value. Rating: 15/20 FP:C1
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The GlenAllachie 18 YO, OB, 46%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Mellow, nutty, rather heavy, slightly floral, on nice spices, leather, dried and dark fruits, Christmas cake, cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, and humus. Taste: Mellow, floral, on soft and round spices, sultanas, leather, cinnamon, nutmeg, praline, nice fragrant flowers, some orange, tangerine, exotic fruits, including mango. Impression: A very good floral, mellow and rather complex whisky, on soft spices and nice fruity flavours. Rating: 16/20 FP:G1
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Timorous Beastie 18 YO Blended Malt, Douglas Laing, 46.8%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Pale gold Nose: Intense, oaky, spicy, rather mellow, slightly malty and floral, with round spices, nice round floral flavours and some honey. Taste: Floral, mellow, fruity, slightly spicy, on honey, some humus, nice round fruity flavours and light aromatic herbs. Diluted, it becomes smoother. The finish is medium, rather mellow and on the same flavours. Impression: A very nice, mellow and slightly aromatic blended malt, with nice honey flavours. Rating: 13/20 FP:A1
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Millstone Special # 17 Moscatel 2010, OB, 46%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Mellow, round to very round, vegetal, slightly floral, on vegetal condiment, leather, tannins, various dried fruits and some fragrant flowers. Taste: Round, malty, slightly floral, acetic and fruity, on sultanas, dried fruits, some vegetal condiment, round spices and dark chocolate. Diluted, it becomes rounder, fruitier and more malty. The finish is medium to long, malty, floral, on spices, cachou, sultanas, light acetic flavours, dried fruits and some vegetal condiments. Impression: A very nice expression of Millstone, with a slightly acetic and dry influence of the Moscatel. Slightly too much to my liking when tasted neat, but then it becomes more balanced and smoother once diluted. Very good. Rating: 15/20 FP:D1
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Ballechin Vintage 2009, OB, 46%, B:2019, Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Peaty to very peaty, dry, slightly floral and aromatic, on dry peat smoke, some aromatic herbs, soot and tar. Taste: Dry, tarry, peaty, slightly floral, with some phenols, dry and tarry peat smoke, some aromatic herbs and light grassy flavours. The finish is medium, dry, rooty, tarry, sooty and on dry aromatic peat smoke Impression: A very peaty, dry and tarry expression of Ballechin. Rating: 14/20 FP:A7
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Glendronach 1993, 25 YO, OB, 53.9%, B:2019, cask 6251. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Mellow, floral, complex, slightly spicy, on round floral flavours, Christmas cake, some toffee, spices, fruits and sultanas. Taste: Rich, floral, spicy to very spicy, complex, slightly nutty, on orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, Christmas cake, leather, sultanas, and some exotic fruits. The finish is long, spicy, rich, nutty, slightly tannic and bitter, on dried fruits, nuts, orange, marmalade, leather, tannins, cinnamon and some cloves. Diluted, it becomes more tannic and bitter. Impression: A very nice, rich, floral, intense and rather spicy Glendronach, becoming with on tannins after some dilution. Rating: 16/20 FP:G1
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Invergordon 1974, 44 YO, The Whisky Blues, 46.5%, B:2018, cask 29, refill butt, 250 bottles. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Very fruity, sweet, round, on peaches, cooked cereals, some exotic fruits, apricots and nice cinnamon flavours. Taste: Very round, grainy, sweet, slightly fragrant, on cooked cereals, peach juice, apricots, some light perfume flavours and mango. The finish is medium to long, rich, mellow, fruity, grainy and on the same nice flavours, with some cinnamon. Impression: A very nice, mellow, sweet and fruity Invergordon. Rating: 16/20 FP:D2
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Aultmore 13 YO Collective 3.3, 2006, LMDW, 48%, B:2019, 1st Fill Sherry Butt, Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Round, mellow, fruity, sweet, complex, with nice sweet exotic fruits flavours (mango puree, pineapples and some coco nut), vanilla and light creamy aromas. Very good! Taste: Mellow, sweet, very fruity, on delicious and very abundant fruity flavours. The finish is long to very long, sweet, extremely fruity, mellow, complex and very nicely balanced. Impression: A deliciously sweet, round and fruity Aultmore. The fruitiness is delicious and it seems much older than the age indicated on the label. Rating: 17/20 FP:A1
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Invergordon 1974 For Hot Malt Art Series, 45 YO, Signatory, 45%, B:2019, cask 30, Bourbon Barrel, 228 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold Nose: Complex, round, mellow, on cinnamon, stewed fruits, vanilla, nice floral flavours, and some custard. Taste: Mellow to very mellow, round, fruity, on stewed fruits, cinnamon, some cardamom, a light fragrance, apricots and some nutmeg. The finish is long, mellow, fruity, slightly fragrant, on stewed fruits, apricots, some peach, nice floral and slightly fragrant flavours and soft spices. Impression: A very nice mellow grain whisky, slightly fragrant and with nice stewed fruits Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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Glenrothes 1996 Connoisseur Society, The Maltman, 47.8%, cask 1627, Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask, 259 bottles. Price: Colour: Dark amber Nose: Round, floral, rather close, with some leather, melon, apricots and plums. Taste: Round, floral to very floral, slightly fragrant, on sultanas, cinnamon, some nutmeg, cloves, and fragrant floral flavours. Diluted, it becomes more bitter. The finish is medium to long, fragrant, floral, tannic, bitter, on coca, coffee beans, dried figs, sultanas, nuts and fragrant floral flavours. Impression: A very fragrant and rather tannic Glenrothes, very heavy on the sherry. For the sherry bombs lovers. Rating:12/20 FP:G1
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Whisky Trail Jazz Groove Vol.1: Mortlach 1993, 26 YO, Elixir Distillers, 56.2%, cask #85, 190 bottles. Price: Colour: Straw Nose: Meaty, heavy, floral, spicy, on meaty flavours (mainly ham), some vanilla, melon and other fruity flavours. Rather complex and balanced. Taste: Floral, intense, complex, on very nice complex spices, some light smoky and meaty flavours, precious wood, humus and light aromatic herbs. The finish is long, complex, aromatic herbs, some precious wood and various spicy and fruity flavours. Impression: A very nice complex and rather aromatic Mortlach, with a nice meaty nose. Rating: 15/20 FP:B2
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Highland Region Malt 1996 for Taiwan, 22 YO, The Whisky Agency, 48.4%, B:2018, 340 bottles. Price: Colour: Amber Nose: Floral, heavy, complex, grassy, slightly fragrant, with some varnish, nice grassy-waxy flavours, melon, quince and orchards fruits. Taste: Bold, grassy, waxy, fruity, floral, malty, slightly spicy, on vanilla, nice grassy and malty flavours, some spices, a hint of smoke, melon and orchards fruits. The finish is medium, bold, malty, and on the same flavours. Impression: A nice bold, malty, grassy-waxy and rather complex whisky, with a nice mouthfeel. A single malt apparently distilled in the town of Brora. Rating: 16/20 FP:A1
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MacNair's Blended Malt Lum Reek 21 YO, OB, 48%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Round, mellow, nicely floral, slightly peaty, with some heather, honey and vanilla. Taste: Mellow, slightly floral, with a nice mellow peat smoke, nice fruity flavours, as well as some elderberries flowers syrup. The finish is long, sweet, fruity, and on the same flavours Impression: A very nice, mellow, fruity and well balanced blended malt. Rating: 15/20 FP:C1
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| Kilnachtan Blended Malt, Le Liquoriste, 43%, B:2019. Price: Colour: Old gold Nose: Bold, spicy, rich, rather intense, on humus, oak spices, some toffee, light floral flavours and nuts Taste: Floral, round, spicy, slightly bold, on humus, some toffee, fragrant flowers, caramel, sultanas and carambar. Rather fresh. Diluted, it becomes more fragrant. The finish is medium to long, fresh, floral, fragrant, on humus, caramel, some dried fruits and fresh fragrant flowers. Impression: A whisky rather bold rich, intense and spicy on the nose, becoming rather floral and fragrant on the palate, and even more fragrant on the palate, with some nutty and caramel flavours. A good one. Rating: 12/20 FP:F1
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