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31 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Littlemill 1991 Old Malt Cask, 19 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2010, Ref 6552, 340 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Fresh, grassy, with some wet hay and manure and a touch of salami.
Taste: Light, very fresh, on hay, slightly floral and fragrant, aromatic, grassy, round, with a nice complexity. The finish is medium, light, fresh, slighty smoky, grassy, on hay and some floral notes.
Impression: A very pleasant light fresh and grassy Littlemill.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

29 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Shackleton Mackinlay Rare Old Highland Malt, OB, 47.3%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Peaty, smoky, rather smooth and light, mineral, on sea brine. Well balanced and rather close in style with the Berry Bros & Rudd blend from the early 20th Century that I reviewed a few months ago.
Taste: Peaty, spicy to very spicy, peppery, smoky, oaky, slight floral notes, with some jasmine, a twist of lemon, some sea water and seashells, a touch of burnt wood and some liquorice root. Complex. The finish is medium, with some fresh oak, bitter floral notes, some peat and some light iodine and seaweeds. The oaky notes are reminiscent of rather young whiskies and strong wood interactions.
Impression: How close is it from the original whisky? Only two people had the chance to compare the original and this replica. This replica of the Shackleton whisky is a pleasant rich blend with an original profile. Considering the time that Richard Patterson had to create this blend, the result is indeed impressive. Very enjoyable blend.Contains at least some Tamnavulin, Glen Mhor, and peated Dalmore.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B4

28 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

William Larue Weller Antique Collection Autumn 2011, OB, 63.3%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very smooth and mellow, slightly creamy, on orange peel, porridge, with some light maple syrup flavours and toffee. Velvety.
Taste: Very intense, rich, complex, floral, slightly bitter, on orange peel, some sandalwood, then it becomes rather creamy, with come pecan nuts and cashew. Very smooth, mellow and complex. The finish is medium to long, very smooth and round, with some pecan and cashed nuts, some orange peel and bitter, and some creamy notes.
Impression: An excellent whiskey, rich, intense, very complex and with a superb mouth feel. So far, this is the American whiskey that I enjoyed the most. Lovely.
Rating: 17/20 FP: C1

27 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Four Roses Single Barrel, OB, 50%, B: 2011, Barrel BS 38-3P. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Grainy, rich, smooth to very smooth, slightly fragrant and floral, on corn (maize) syrup.
Taste: Smooth, slightly bitter, rather floral, fragrant and complex, with some rye influence, and some maple syrup. The finish is medium, very smooth, slightly bitter, on rye, orange marmalade, light floral fragrance and some cinnamon.
Impression:  There is a noticeable rye influence in this whiskey contributing to complex flavours, without excessive sweet notes. Pleasant.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B1

26 Oct 11

Special Whisky Live Paris

Yamazaki 1995 The Owner’s cask for La Maison du Whisky, OB, 54%, B: 2010, sherry butt 5J3020, 420 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber-black.
Nose: On strong varnish and sherry notes, very clean, on plums, tannins, leather, as well as some sandalwood.
Taste: Smooth, fragrant, on varnish, leather, plums, tannins, rubber and rosewater. The finish is medium to long, dry, slightly bitter, very astringent, tannic, clean and on plums.
General Impression: A well made and clean whisky, but a really sherry monster. Love or hate. It was too much for me.
Rating: 12/20 FP:J2

25 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Hakushu Bourbon barrel, OB, 48.2%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, clean, floral, round, on vanilla, pear juice and some camomile. Rounder than the Yamazaki.
Taste: Smooth, round, subtle, with some vanilla, lychees, elderberries flower lemonade, a twist of lime, a touch of coconut, pear and apple juice and a few drops of fragrant honey. Diluted, it becomes sweeter and with some vanilla. The finish is medium, round, sweet, with some honey, light fruity and floral notes.
Impression: A pleasant nice modern whisky, sweeter and more subtle than the Yamazaki. The exclusive use of bourbon barrels gives a pleasant freshness to these Suntory single malts and a different alternative to the standard Yamazaki and Hakushu.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A2

23 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Yamazaki Bourbon barrel, OB, 48.2%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, clean, floral, oaky, and on vanilla. Very fresh.
Taste: Fresh, slightly smoky, clean, on juicy oak, with some fruits from the orchards and a pleasant light sweetness and some jasmine. Diluted, it becomes spicier, smokier, peppery, slightly bitter, more intense and with a hint of spearmint. The finish is medium, smooth and round, slightly floral and oaky, with some spices, vanilla, pear and apple juice freshly pressed.
Impression: A nice fresh, light and round whisky that becomes rather spicy once diluted. Not very complex, but a welcome freshness. Would probably work very well with an iceball?
Rating: 12/20 FP:A2

19 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Hibiki 17 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Extremely smooth, floral, rather silky, slightly smoky, on jasmine, some sandalwood and light sweet fruity notes (quince and/or Mirabelle jam).
Taste: Very smooth and mellow, rather smoky, spicy, and slightly salty and creamy, on sweet juicy fruity and peaty notes. Rather light and subtle. Harmonious. The finish is medium, very smooth, slightly smoky, on sweet fruity notes of mirabelle, quince, lychees, and elderberries flowers, and a hint of jasmine.
Impression: Probably the smoothest and mellowest whisky I have tasted. It is very light, harmonious, complex and very well balanced. A very surprising whisky that needs time to release its full potential and to be fully appreciated.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A3

18 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Karuizawa 1981 for The Whisky Exchange, Number one drink, 57.5%, B: 2011, cask 6256. Price: N/A.
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, with lots of mild spices, some sandalwood, nutmeg, seaweeds and salt.  Slightly farmy and musty.
Taste: The attack is slightly dry and bitter, then it becomes smoother, farmier, rather salty, with some game, yeast extract, nutmeg and some light peat smoke as well as some other indiscernible flavours. Quite floral at the end. With water, it becomes much smoother. The finish is medium, rather dry, woody and bitter, with some peat smoke and diverse mild spices.
Impression: A rather dry and difficult expression of Karuizawa, that really needs some water. Not as smooth or sherried as some previous expression from the 1960s or the 1970s and more meaty-farmy.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D3

16 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Kilkerran Work In Progress batch 3, OB, 46%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Rich, intense, farmy, on butter Scotch, sea brine, a light smokiness and oakiness.
Taste: Oil, strongly maritime, on juicy oak, some butter Scotch, salt and vanilla. Rich, very intense and with some diesel smoke. The finish is medium, oily, oaky, and maritime, with some ginger. The reto-olfaction is long, oaky, spicy and gingery.
Impression: A very good intense, oily and old fashioned whisky that I enjoyed very much. It shows a good maturity.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B2

15 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Longrow 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Very farmy and peaty, on “dirty” peaty smoke (musty), slightly maritime and dry.
Taste: Dry, mineral, peaty, spicy, with some white peach, sea brine, some maritime influence, a lemon twist, as well as some bonfire smoke. The finish is long, light, peaty and rather smooth.
Impression: They wanted to recreate an old style Longrow and the nose is pretty close to the old style Longrow, while it is sweeter, fruitier and smoother than the Longrow from the 1980, and this closer to the style from the 1970s. This Longrow is considerably cleaner and ligher than the Longrow 18 YO (blue label) from 2009 since they used less sherry casks and more refill bourbon casks. In any case, a very good Longrow.
Rating: 16/20 FP: A6

14 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Glenlivet XXV, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, slightly floral, with some humus, mushrooms, sweet fruits notes (canned fruits), a light sweet sherry notes including tangerine, as well as some old smoke.
Taste: Smooth to very smooth, with some nice round spices, orange, tangerine, juicy oak, and some notes of leather and heather. Rich, complex and slightly oaky. Diluted, some notes of mint, cinnamon and toffee are released. The finish is medium, slightly dry and tannic, with some walnuts, leather, some tannins, orange, as well as some humus. Diluted, it becomes slightly more spicy.
Impression: A pleasant, round and mellow Glenlivet that should appeal to a large range of consumer (i.e., easy drinking).
Rating: 14/20 FP:E2

13 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Glenlivet (The) Cellar Collection1959, OB, 42.28%, B: 2001, cask 2LHF801. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very smooth and mellow, rich, complex, very fruity, slightly fragrant and floral. Simply delicious.
Taste: Smooth to very smooth, very mellow, with on blueberries, some heather, eucalyptus,humus and old peat and bonfire smoke. Very juicy and complex. The finish is long, smooth, mellow, rich, slightly fruity, floral, and mineral, with some peat smoke, some mint, eucalyptus, white peaches, heather, humus, camphor and old cigars.
Impression: An excellent old Glenlivet. The flavour profile is old fashioned, complex, rich, mineral, smoky and on humus. A whisky to savour. Please, provide us with more whiskies like this one!
Rating: 18/20 FP: C3

12 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Longrow 14 YO Burgundy, OB, 56.1%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Amber-red.
Nose: Immediately winey and spicy, on nutmeg, strawberries, then comes some round meaty and farmy notes on top of the peat.
Taste: Very salty, maritime, very intense, spicy to very spicy, almost hot, on bold peat smoke, then the dry sultanas notes comes, as well as the strawberries and some winey notes. The finish is medium, peaty and spicy, with a mixture of bitter-meaty-farmy flavours and some winey influence.
Impression: A rather special and unusual Longrow that I found difficult to evaluate due to the interplay between the Burgundy influence and the peatiness of the Longrow. Some will love it, some not at all. Judge it by yourself, when it will be available in the next few weeks to come.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D6

11 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

GlenDronach 1995 Single Cask Pedro Ximinez sherry puncheon for UK, 15 YO, OB, 56.2%, B: 2011, cask 4681, 725 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Oaky, fruity, on custard, tangerine, some grapes and sour berries flavours. The sherry is rather discreet (considering its colour) and round, contributing to a slight sweetness to the floral and fruity backbone.
Taste: Sweet, fruity, slightly floral, with a moderate sherry influence, rather intense and spicy, on custard, orange, tangerine, and a touch of pineapple.
Impression: A very nice and surprisingly fruity GlenDronach giving the impression that the initial maturation took place in an ex-bourbon cask. Effect for the type of cask (puncheon) ?). A well appreciated whisky.
Rating: 16/20 FP: F2

10 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

GlenDronach 21 YO Parliament, OB, 48%, B: 2011. Price: .
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very rich and fruity, on berries, orange, tangerine, chocolate, some fudge, Christmas cake, mild spices, and a hint of smoke. Very smooth and velvety. In the same vein as the 18 YO, but maybe fruitier?
Taste: Extremely smooth, deliciously fruity, slightly meaty, with some chocolate, cream fudge, a touch of rubber and some pleasant mild spices as well as some orange. The finish is long, satisfying, slightly rubbery, with some coffee, chocolate, orange peel and some brambleberries and redcurrant.
Impression: A succulent GlenDronach slightly more complex and bitter than the 18 YO. Most enjoyable.
Rating: 17/20  FP: H2

09 Oct 11

Special Whisky Show London

Benromach 1969, 42 YO, OB, 42.6%, B: 2011, Cask 1178 & 09/1171 Refill sherry hogsheads. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Rich, fruity, slightly syrupy, on canned and ripe fruits (orange, peach, tangerine and guava) with a hint of smoke. Very mellow.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, with a slight oakiness, slight light earthy peaty notes complementing the rich, sweet fruits flavours of peach, manguo and guava. The finish is medium to long, on the same flavours as the palate.
Impression: A  very mellow, smooth and fruity Benromach with some light earthy and peaty notes giving a pleasant personality to this excellent whisky.
Rating: 18/20 FP:G3

07 Oct 11

Western Highland (Springbank) 1965 Private stock, 45 YO, The Whisky Agency, 45.7%, B: 2010, 98 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Deliciously sweet and fruity, maritime, mineral, juicy, on sea brine and a delicious mineral peatiness. Excellent.
Taste: Spicy, salty to very salty, on coconut, seaweed, tangerine, some herbs, peat and diesel smoke, heather and slight mineral peaty notes. The finish is long, very salty, peaty, juicy, slightly oaky, on pineapple, tangerine and seaweeds.
Impression: A deliciously peaty, salty and complex Springbank from an exceptional vintage. Thank you Johan.
Rating: 18/20 FP: E4

27 Sep 11

Highland Park 1972 Old Malt Cask, 27 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 1999, 315 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Fresh, floral, intense, on heather, honey, ginger bread, orange, tangerine, date, and some cinnamon.
Taste: Fresh, slightly soapy and rubbery, with some tannins, on heather, honey and tangerine. The finish is long, dry, slightly rubbery, quite bitter, on herb drinks, heather, cinnamon, spiced wine (Glühwein), orange and tangerine.
General Impression: A very nice Highland Park, slightly to bitter and rubbery to my taste.
Rating: 16/20 FP:J4

24 Sep 11

Highland Park 1966 for the Whisky Fair, 38 YO, Duncan Taylor, 42.4%, B: 2005, 168 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Dry, slightly tarry and ashy, peaty, maritime, slightly citric and on heather.
Taste: Slightly bitter and dry, smoky, on orange, lemon, tangerine, pink grapefruit, heather and some seaweeds. The finish is long, dry, smoky, slightly ashy and bitter, on orange, tangerine, pink grapefruit and vanilla.
General Impression: A very old, dry and smoky Highland Park, which aged very well.
Rating: 16/20 FP:D4

23 Sep 11

Highland Park ESC III for Switzerland, OB, 59%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Rich, intense, on heather, honey, chocolate, leather, bonfire smoke, raisins, orange and tangerine.
Taste: Sweet, round, on leather, tannins, dark chocolate, orange skin, tangerine, heather, with a touch of rubber and cinnamon. The finish is medium to long, on heather, honey, tannins, orange skin, tangerine, and some rubber.
General Impression: A very nice and heavily sherried Highland Park, with some honey sweetness. It becomes slightly soapy once diluted.
Rating: 15/20 FP:I4

22 Sep 11

Highland Park 4.104 1974, 32 YO, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 51.4%, B: 2006. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Intense, fruity, on heather, tannins, cinnamon, fig, raisin, orange, ginger bread and some old peat smoke.
Taste: Dry, thick, slightly tannic, on heather, orange, coriander, cinnamon and some walnut. The finish is long, dry to very dry, slightly tannic, thick, juicy, slightly smoky, rich and complex.
General Impression: A big and heavily sherried Highland Park, without any rubbery off-notes. Excellent.
Rating: 18/20 FP:I4

21 Sep 11

Highland Park 1990, 13 YO, Signatory, 56.5%, Cask 15690. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Clean to very clean, smooth, quite maritime, with lots of heather, old seaweeds and some peat smoke. The finish is medium, clean, peaty on old wet wood smoke, seaweeds, sea spray and some soap.
General Impression:  A correct clean to very clean Highland Park.
Rating: 11/20 FP:C4

20 Sep 11

Highland Park Straight from the Cask, 19 YO, Signatory, 53.5%. B:2004, Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: A typical Highland Park nose with heather and honey, some smoke, with the addition of vanilla and jasmine flavours.
Taste: Quite strong, bitter, with honey, salt, tobacco pipes ashes. Clean. The finish is of medium length, on dry tobacco smoke and winey.
General impression: A highland park with less complexity than expected for its age.
Rating: 13/20

18 Sep 11

Highland Park MacPhails collection, 30 YO, Gordon & MacPhails, 43%, B:2006 Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Soft round peat smoke, heather, honey, oranges, peach, apricots and pollen. Very pleasant.
Taste: Malty, salty, peaty, on apricots, oranges, leather, iodine, then it becomes slightly bitter and with tobacco aromas. Complex. The finish is of medium length, smooth, slightly dry and bitter, on oranges, leather and round peat smoke.
General Impression: An excellent Highland Park, very well balanced, complex, and reasonably priced.
Rating: 18/20

17 Sep 11

Highland Park 1990 Single Cask for Maxxium Netherlands, 16 YO, 58.7%, B: 2006, cask 5831, 1272 bottles. Price: (70 cl equivalent)
Colour: Red.
Nose: Round, on heather, peat smoke, orange, fresh and high quality rubber.
Taste: Very rubbery, smoky, salty, on ginger bread, heather, honey and seashells. Diluted it becomes more maritime (sea food) and more rubbery. The finish is medium, salty, smoky, very rubbery and slightly bitter.
General Impression: A good HP, but very rubbery. Thank you Jean-Michel.
Rating: 13/20

16 Sep 11

Highland Park 1966, 40 YO, Duncan Taylor, 40.7%, B: 2006, cask 4630. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Lots of heather and honey, smoky and peaty, some wood, overripe oranges and tangerines. Rich and complex, with some floral and sea breeze influence. Diluted, the nose gets more citric.
Taste: Tannic, dry, winey, smoky (tobacco), salty, dry peat fire smoke, leather, oranges and tangerines. Very complex. Don’t dilute it. The finish is quite smoky, round, malty, on wet tobacco leaves, honey, with some oranges and a lot of tangerines.
General Impression: A very nice and very old Highland Park, relatively on oak, with a nice orange-tangerine flavour.
Rating: 17/20

15 Sep 11

Highland Park 25 YO, OB, 48.1%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Lots of heather honey sweetness, ripe orange, tangerine, cinnamon powder and bold peat smoke. Nicely balanced and it becomes more floral when diluted.
Taste: Salty, on sweet honey, peat and wood smoke, tangerine, orange, cinnamon powder, ginger bread, with some light rubbery notes, heather and a hint of lavender and mint. The finish is medium, round, on honey, wood and peat smoke, with some rubber.
General Impression: A very good Highland Park, nicely balanced and smooth.
Rating: 16/20

09 Sep 11

Highland Park 1984 Bugs, 27 YO, The Whisky Agency, 52.5%, B: 2011.Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, on honey, some heather and burnt wood and a touch of tangerine.
Taste: Rather dry, slightly bitter and floral, smoky, with some black coffee, violet, heather, peat smoke and burnt heather. The finish is medium, dry, peaty, smoky, bitter, floral, on heather and some eucalyptus.
Impression: A good dry and floral expression of Highland Park.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A3

08 Sep 11

Laphroaig 1990 Bugs, 21 YO, The Whisky Agency, 56.8%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Clean, peaty, salty, maritime, rather smooth and with some iodine. Rather light and subtle.
Taste: Salty, slightly bitter and astringent, maritime, on seaweeds, seashells, some hemp rope and with a light oakiness. The finish is long, dry, astringent, smoky, on seaweeds and some iodine.
Impression:  A very dry, rather austere and difficult Laphroaig.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A6

06 Sep 11

Amrut peated, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Malty, on treacle, oak, vanilla and a medium peatiness. Rather young.
Taste: Light, slightly farmy and on manure, with some burnt wood and plastic, as well as some floral notes. The peatiness is rather unique, like if something was burnt more than it should. The finish is medium, farmy, peaty, slightly dry and on burnt wood.
Impression: I like the “normal” Amrut pretty well, but the peaty notes of this whisky are rather special and woody. The whisky tasted also pretty young.
Rating: 10/20 FP: A6

05 Sep 11

Amrut fusion, OB, 50%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Smooth, oaky, fresh, with a light peatiness.
Taste: Malty, slightly oaky, with some varnish, peat, starch and a light sweetness. The finish is medium, round, clean, malty, oaky, slightly peaty and spicy.
Impression: A nicely made and round Amrut. A good daily dram.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B3

04 Sep 11

Amrut Single Cask, Blackadder 46%, B: 2009, cask BA 5/ 2009, 295 bottles.Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Malty, clean, peaty, and floral.
Taste: Very smooth, clean, malty, slightly soapy, with some spiciness. The finish is short to medium, clean, malty, on pollen.
General Impression: A nice smooth and malty whisky.
Rating: 10/20 FP: C3

03 Sep 11

Special Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Tour

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel, OB, 50.5% (101 Proof), B: 2011, warehouse E, Rick 33, Barrel 33. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, slightly smoky, on corn (maize), some rye, cashew, cinnamon and other spices. Rather sharp. Diluted, it becomes more zesty.
Taste: Sweet, smooth, mellow, slightly peppery, on orange, orange peel, some apple, cooked cereals, peach, some pecan, cinnamon and treacle. Rather strong orange liquor flavours. The finish is long, mellow, smooth, rich, spicy, with some flavours of old rye whiskey. Complex and on orange.
Impression: A very good, rich and complex whiskey with strong flavours of orange.
Rating: 14/20 FP: B1

02 Sep 11

Special Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Tour

Russell’s reserve Rye Kentucky Straight Rye small batch, 6 YO, OB, 45%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Slightly close and dry, on rye, some cashew and vanilla.
Taste: Very zesty, slightly soapy, on cashew, peacan, with light floral notes and a hint of apples. The finish is short, smooth, with some nuts, oak and orange.
Impression: A rather clean and simple rye whiskey from Wild Turkey Distillery
Rating: 10/20 FP: A1

01 Sep 11

Special Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Tour

Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10 YO, OB, 45% (90 Proof), B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Very rich, with some cinnamon, nutmeg, maple and corn syrup. Very smooth.
Taste: Very nutty, smooth, on rich spices, pecan, cashew, treacle, cinnamon, orange, and milk chocolate. The finish is long, on corn, treacles, cashew, rich spices and orange peel.
Impression: A very smooth, sweet, richly spiced whiskey with a good dose of cashew and pecan.
Rating: 14/20 FP: B1

31 Aug 11

Special Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Tour

Buffalo Trace White Dog (new make) mash 1, OB, 62.5%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Incolour.
Nose: Very smooth, grainy, on corn (maize) and slight spicy notes of rye.
Taste: Grainy, smooth, immature, on anis seeds, some crushed rye, corn (maize). The finish is medium, slightly dry, grainy, very smooth, with some anis seeds.
Impression: Quite close to a Scotch grain whisky, but less spirity, smoother and slightly more flavoursome.
Rating: N/A

30 Aug 11

Special Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Tour

Four Roses Single Barrel, OB, B: 2011, Barrel DS 3-3C. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth and very floral, slightly spirity, on corn and rye,
Taste; Starts on varnish and corn, then it becomes floral, slightly soapy, spicy, nutty, and on violet. The finish is medium, dry, nutty, spicy, slightly floral and on vanilla.
Impression: A rather different version from the Small Batch, suggesting that this Barrel comes from a mash with high rye content. Drier, spicier and nuttier than the regular expression. Comparison of different single barrels from this distillery might be very interesting.
Rating: 11/20 FP: A1

29 Aug 11

Special Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Tour

Four Roses Small Batch, OB, 45%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, floral, fresh, on vanilla, some treacle and nutty spices from the rye.
Taste: Very smooth, mellow, floral, on vanilla, corn (maize), cooked cereals, rye, some peach and light fragrant floral notes, as well as corn syrup. The finish is short, smooth to very smooth, on cereals, peach, corn syrup, vanilla, treacle and fresh floral notes.
Impression: Straight, it offers nice rich and smooth flavours, while diluted it becomes more sugary and on corn syrup. A pleasant Bourbon.
Rating: 13/20 FP: A1


Four Roses, OB, 40%, B: 2011, Price:

I tasted a version bottled in the 1990s some time ago, and the quality of today's product was more floral, richer and pleasant. In addition, it is now considerably cheaper than then (at least in Switzerland).
Rating: 10/20 FP: B1

26 Aug 11

Black Barrel (Givran), OB, 40%, B: circa 2000. Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Meaty, clean, alcoholic, with some apricot flavours, otherwise rather bland.
Taste: Oaky, on vanilla, sawdust, cereals, old rubber (tyre) and some apricots. The finish is short, on toffee, otherwise bland.
General Impression: A rather bland and inexpressive grain whisky. The Blacker Barrel was the original bottling from the Givran grain distillery.
Rating: 07/20

25 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1990 Single Cask for Switzerland, 20 YO, OB, 49.8%, B: 2011, cask 1241, 691 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very round, slightly rubbery, with lots of fruits, some tannin and toffee, as well as some old smoke.
Taste: Rich, fruity, slightly soapy, with nice spicy notes (nutmeg) and some fresh rubber. The finish is long, round, slightly rubbery and on mild spices.
Impression: A similar version to the GlenDronach 1989 cask 3315 but smokier and more mineral and less rubbery.
Rating: 15/20 FPH2

24 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1993 batch 2, 17 YO, OB, 60.5%, B: 2010, cask 529. 604 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Intense sherry, on dark chocolate, coffee, brambleberries, cherries and some nutmeg.
Taste: Round, smooth, fruity, with some chocolate, berries and light bitterness. The finish is long, fruity, with some fresh rubber and some astringency.
Impression: A good whisky slightly rubbery. With some water, these notes are becoming less pronounced and the whisky becomes creamier.
Rating: 16/20 FP:I2

23 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1991 Batch 2, 18 YO, 51.7%, B: 2010, cask 3182, 632 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Round, very smooth, almost velvety, with very nice fruity notes (peach, apricots and strawberries).
Taste: Rich, complex, on berries as well as yellow fruits, with a sexy smooth texture. The finish is medium to long, with some nutmeg and faint rubbery notes as well as a nice complex rich fruitiness.
Impression: An excellent sherried whisky, with a most pleasant structure and fruitiness.
Rating: 17/20 FP:G2

16 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1989 batch 2, 20 YO, OB, 53.2%, B: 2010, cask 3315, 522 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Floral, fruity, smooth, with some honey, pollen, light smokiness and nice fruity notes, including orange and strawberries.
Taste: Very round, creamy, with some game, chocolate, tangerine, some burnt matches and nutmeg. The finish is long, rubbery, on fresh rubber, some sulphur and berries.
Impression: A rather rubbery GlenDronach, slightly sulphury, with nice creamy and fruity notes.
Rating: 15/20 FP:H2

15 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1990 Batch 2, 20 YO, OB, 57.9%, B: 2010, cask 2621, 546 bottles. Price:
Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very spicy (nutmeg and vegetal condiment), round and rubbery.
Taste: Very spicy, rich, intense, fruity, on orange, tangerine and strawberries. The finish is medium, round, slightly rubbery and with an abundance of spices and some berries.
Impression: A good sherried whisky, rather rubbery. Diluted, the rubbery notes are getting more pronounced and on sulphur.
Rating: 13/20 FP:H2

14 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1978 Batch 2, 31 YO, OB,  51.2%, B: 2010, cask 1040, 645 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Smooth, very fruity, on berries, with a good dose of raspberries. Sweet.
Taste: Smooth, round, very fruity, with complex fruity flavours (mainly wild berries). The finish is medium to long, sweet, sherried and fruity.
Impression: An excellent sweet sherried GlenDronach, with very pleasant berries notes.
Rating: 17/20 FP:G2

13 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1972 Batch 2, 38 YO, OB, 51.5%, B:2010, Butt 718, 396 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very fruity, rich, intense, on apricots, orange, strawberries and a lot of peach. Lovely.
Taste: Rich, sweet, fruity, on strawberries, peach, raspberries, orange and some bitter rubber. The finish is long, astringent, rubber and on orange marmalade.
Impression: The nose is beautiful, with rich strawberries and peach flavours and the finish rather astringent and rubbery.
Rating: 16/20 FP:I2

12 Aug 11

GlenDronach 1971 Batch 2, 39 YO, 48.8%, B: 2010. Sherry butt 489, 541 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very sherried, with some rancio, black berries (black cherries & brambleberries), orange, tangerine, tannins and leather. Diluted, it becomes fruitier.
Taste: Very rich, juicy, fruity, on berries, some mint and with a certain woody astringency. The finish is long, dry, astringent, with some tannins, orange, cinnamon powder and cloves.
Impression: A nice and old sherried GlenDronach, but with a rather strong woody component.
Rating: 15/20 FP:I2

11 Aug 11

Macduff 1973 Bugs, 38 YO, The Whisky Agency, 47.0%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour:  Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, floral, on heather, and tree wax.
Taste: Floral, fresh, with a faint hint of sea brine, pine wax and a lot of eucalyptus. Diluted, the eucalyptus notes are becoming stronger. The finish is medium to long, fresh, on pine wax and eucalyptus.
Impression: A good and original Macduff with rather strong pine and eucalyptus flavours.
Rating: 14/20 FP:B1

10 Aug 11

Cragganmore 1989, 21 YO, OB, 56%, B: 2010, 5856 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Malty, very floral, with some vanilla and heather. The floral notes are light and diverse.
Taste: Spicyy, slightly hot, with some light flavours of cooked fruits (pears?), some malt and tobacco leaves. The finish is medium, floral, soft, light, rather smoky (tobacco) and slightly astringent.
Impression: A light soft and floral version of Cragganmore that was below my expectations. I prefer to this version the younger but more complex regular 12 YO.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A1

09 Aug 11

Cragganmore 1991, 19 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 53.8%, B: 2010, cask 1176, 281 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Floral to very floral, rather light, on vanilla and some toffee. Slightly restrained undiluted. It becomes smoother and more complex with some water
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, floral, smooth, on ginger, with a nice oakiness and some toffee. Nice mouth feel, with some sweetness developing over time. The finish is medium, smooth, floral, with some menthol and banana.
General Impression: A rather light and floral whisky, with a hint of sweetness and becoming smoother and more complex with some water. A very good aperitif.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C2

08 Aug 11

Secret Stills 02/02 (Cragganmore) 1966, 40 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 45%, B: 2006, 600 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Nice light sherry notes, on tangerine, orange, peach, with some hint of smoke and humus.
Taste: Very juicy, floral, quite light, harmonious, slightly spicy and oaky, with the smoky notes more pronounced than on the nose. Nice orange and tangerine notes too. The finish is medium, slightly floral and smoky, oaky, on tangerine, orange, with some toffee.
General Impression: A secret whisky distilled at Cragganmore: a nice and very drinkable whisky that I enjoyed much.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E3

07 Aug 11

Glen Garioch 1991 Bugs, 20 YO, The Whisky Agency, 54.4%, B: 2011, Price:
Colour: Pale gold-gold.
Nose: Smooth, delicately smoky, nicely oaky, with nice floral and fragrant notes, some marzipan and sun bathed barley.
Taste:  Smooth, nicely oaky, with an elegant smokiness, mild summer floral notes, some marzipan and sunbathed barley. Subtle and complex. The finish is medium, slightly oaky, floral and smoky, with some peatiness, ripe barley and some marzipan, with maybe some pleasant lavender.
Impression: I have some fondness for Glen Garioch and this whisky is a very good example of subtle Glen Garioch, with a nice underlying smokiness. A whisky that should appeal to a large range of whisky enthusiasts.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A4

06 Aug 11

Glenfarclas 21 YO for E. Giaconne, Pinerolo import, OB, 51.5%. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Round, sweet, fruity, slightly smoky, on heather, honey, tangerine, leather, some tropical fruits and light tannins.
Taste: Sweet, oaky, spicy, smoky, on pineapple, tangerine, heather, honey, orange and juniper. The finish is medium to long, slightly syrupy, rich, fruity, slightly smoky and on berries.
General Impression: An excellent fruity and smooth Glenfarclas.
Rating: 17/20 FP:G3


Feral Clangs (Glenfarclas) 1966, 41 YO, Daily Dram, 45.7%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Floral, farmy, on hay, camomile, old damp peat smoke and slightly mineral.
Taste: Soapy,salty and fruity (tangerine, orange, bitter lemon). The finish is medium, tannic, dry and fruity.
General Impression: A good Glenfarclas, with the wood starting to show its fangs.
Rating: 14/20 FP:B2

05 Aug 11

Glenfarclas 1968 Family Cask 699 Gonzaless Byass for Luc Timmermans, OB, 51%, B: 2009, 60 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Definitely something special here. Very sweet and fruity, on aromatic herbs, thyme, pine wax, kumquats, physalis and vanilla. With time, some white swiss chocolate flavours are released.
Taste: Extremely sweet and fruits, light, fresh, on kumquats, physalis, pineapples, orange, and other exotic fruits. The finish is long, rich, fruity, smooth, slightly sugary and fresh. With a hint of bitterness.
General Impression: An extremely sweet and fruity complex Glenfarclas. Atypical, reminding me somewhat of the Bowmore from the same period. In any case, most enjoyable.
Rating: 18/20 FP:F3


Speyside (Glenfarclas) 1966 Old Malt Cask for the Whisky Show 2009, 43 YO, Douglas Laing, 48.2%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Rich, thick, heavily sherried, smoky, on tannins, leather, heather, cranberries, with some tangerine.
Taste; Rich, spicy, slightly tannic and fruity, on orange, tangerine, pineapple, pine wax, leather and some smoke. The finish is medium to long, very dry, tannic, fruity, slightly bitter, on orange, coffee and chocolate.
General Impression: A delicious nose, with a nice mouth structure, but a very dry finish. Too dry and astringent for me.
Rating: 14/20 FP:J2

04 Aug 11

GlenDronach 2002 for La Maison Du Whisky, 8 YO, OB, 59.9%, B: 2010, cask 694, 258 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, floral, with some cloudberries and physalis.Pleasantly fruity.
Taste: Smooth, oaky, with some mentol, physalis and vanilla. The finish is medium, oaky, spicy (wood spcies), slightly smoky and bitter, and on vanilla.
General Impression: An excellent rich and fruity nose and a well matured whisky.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

30 Jul 11

Laphroaig 1991, 15 YO, Signatory, 53.7%, B: 2006, cask 6981, 212 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Maritime, intense, rich, peaty, on iodine, seaweeds, smoke, some seashells and round oaky notes.
Taste:  Okay, peaty, salty, on seaweeds, liquorice, some fish, wet wood and some ashy and tarry notes. Strongly maritime. The finish is medium to long, slightly salty, oaky, rich and very maritime.
Impression: A very good”typical” Laphroaig with quite pronounced oaky flavours.
Rating: 16/20 FP:B7

29 Jul 11

Laphroaig 1990 Private Stock, Joint bottling with The Whisky Exchange, 21 YO, The Whisky Agency, 55.9%, B: 2011, 264 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very maritime, on wet seaweeds, some fish, tar, smoke, and some disinfectant. Austere and medicinal.
Taste: Very dry, peaty, salty, maritime, light, on disinfectant, iodine and liquorice root. The finish is long, dry, peaty, rooty, and maritime, on seaweeds, iodine, TCP and liquorice roots. Slightly astringent.
Impression: A dry, medicinal, peaty and rather austere “old style” Laphroaig that I enjoyed very much.
Rating: 18/20 FP:A7

28 Jul 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Ledaig 1973, 31 YO, Chieftains, 54.8%, B: 2004, cask 1710, 114 b. Prix:
Couleur: Ambre
Nez : Rond, épais, tourbé, légèrement fermier, sur l’algue et quelques condiments végétaux.
Bouche : Epais, légèrement floral, avec un peu de mélasse et de baies rouges, sur la tourbe sèche, l’orange, la mandarine et quelques notes fermières. Complexe et légèrement minéral. Dilué, il devient légèrement fruité. La finale est longue, très tourbée, richement sherry (sherry doux), légèrement floral et maritime,  avec un peu de mandarine et de cire d’abeille. La rétro-olfaction tourbée est très longue et complexe.
Impression générale : Un excellent Ledaig, avec de superbes notes tourbées complexes complémentant un élégant sherry.
Score : 18/20 FP:E6

27 Jul 11

Glenury Royal 1971 Rare Malts, 23 YO, OB, 61.3%, B: 1995. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Nicely oaky, mellow and round, on tangerine, orange, leather, toffee, polished furniture, nutty, slightly peaty. Very nice!
Taste: Rubbery, bitter, citric, salty, spicy (pepper), oaky, on bitter orange, nuts and toffee. Very intense. The finish is medium to long, bitter-dry, citric, on bitter orange and lemon, leather, tangerine and polished furniture.
General Impression: A heavy Higland malt, complex, intense and very pleasant to taste.
Rating: 17/20

26 Jul 11

Glenury Royal 1973, Dun Eideann, 50.9%, B:2004 cask 6858, 204 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose:  A beautiful nose, round, slightly peaty, smoky, on ripe fruits (peach, papaya and passion fruit), orange, tangerine, beeswax, and with a beautiful oakiness.
Taste: Very smooth, salty, spicy (cinnamon powder), oaky, slightly tannic, on leather, ripe tangerine, orange and mango, and on peat smoke. The finish is medium, oily, and slightly tannic, on leather, nuts and polished furniture.
General Impression: Slightly tannic, but otherwise most enjoyable, very complex and develops with time.
Rating: 18/20

25 Jul 11

Glenury Royal Platinum 1968, 33 YO, Douglas Laing, 48.8%, B: 2002, 165 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: More sherried than the Dun Eideann, rubbery, slightly sulphury, round, on orange and furniture polished with beeswax. Very sherried.
Taste: Dry, tannic, rubbery, salty, spicy (cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom), oaky, with some round peat smoke. The finish is long, dry and tannic.
General Impression: A very good Glenury, but too rubbery for me. If you enjoyed heavily sherried whiskies, you will love. This one resembles to  some old Glenfarclas.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E3

24 Jul 11

Glenury Royal 1973, 36 YO, Blackadder, 46.2%, B: 2009, 148 bottles. Cask 6863. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: On exotic fruits, sweet, smooth.
Taste: Very smooth, slightly fruity, grassy, on pineapples, honey, and some smoke. The finish is medium, slightly spicy, round, sweet, syrupy, with a light fruitiness and fresh vanilla.
Impression: A very well made Glenury, rich, spicy, smoky and on humus, with nice round candied fruit flavours.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C3

23 Jul 11

Glenury Royal 1973 joint bottling with The Nectar, 37 YO, The Whisky Agency, 43.0%, B: 2011, 146 bottles. Price:
Colour:  Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, round, malty, slightly smoky, rather soft and some light fruitiness.
Taste: Very fruity, juicy, oaky, rich, sweet, and tobacco quid. The finish is long, fruity, smoky, and slightly syrupy.
Impression:  On the nose, it is slightly milder and smoother than the Blackadder 1973, but also slightly sweeter. Both are equally good and offer a slight variation in their flavour profile.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C3

22 Jul 11

Caol Ila 1979 joint bottling with The Nectar, 32 YO, The Whisky Agency, 52%, B: 2011, 242 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very maritime, smoky, salty, slightly farmy, on sea spray, on burnt wood.
Taste: Dry, peaty, slightly zesty, maritime, with some fish and seaweeds. The finish is long, maritime, fishy, peaty, dry, with some graphite.
Impression: An old and rounded Caol Ila, with a nice finesse and pleasant rich maritime influence.
Rating: 16/20 FP:B6

21 Jul 11

Bunnahabhain 1968 The Perfect Dram for Sweden, 42 YO, The Whisky Agency, 43.8%, B:2010, 172 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-gold.
Nose: Fresh, intense, on pears, with a slight saltiness and peat smoke. After a few minutes, it becomes rounder and fuller.
Taste: Very smooth, creamy, on sweet fruity notes, some salt and maritime influence, with some banana and vanilla. The finish is medium, salty, slightly mineral, on grapes, seashells, some fish, vanilla and a light smokiness.
General Impression: A very smooth, subtle, and easy drinking Bunnhahbain.
Rating: 16/20 FP:B3

20 Jul 11

Glenlossie 1975 Joint bottling with The Nectar, 35 YO, The whisky Agency, 51.6%, B: 2011, 195 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Fresh, malty, mellow, on vanilla custard and berries.
Taste:  Juicy, oaky, fresh, smoky, syrupy, round, mellow, on tobacco leaves, and some fruits. The finish is long, syrupy, fruity, intense and on vanilla custard and fruit jam.
Impression: A lovely, well-made juicy and oaky Glenlossie, on vanilla and some wild berries.  If you never tried a Glenglossie, this one should positively surprises you.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C2

19 Jul 11

Longmorn 1973 Fino sherry, Joint bottling with Tokyo 3 river and The Nectar, 37 YO, The whisky Agency, 58.0%, 252 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old Gold
Nose: Round, oaky, intense, spicy, with some humus, smoke and some fruits (Mirabelle), and a light rancio. Slightly meaty. Rounder and deeper than the 1976 TWA.
Taste: Round, sweet, with some toffee, tangerine, oak, mushrooms, some root extract, old wet tobacco leaves and sticky toffee. The finish is long, coating, oaky, intense, spicy, with some mushrooms, tobacco and wallnuts.
Impression: A rather oaky, oily and rich complex  Longmorn, with a slight fino influence.
Rating: 16/20 FP: C3

18 Jul 11

Bowmore 1993 The Perfect Dram, 16 YO, The Whisky Agency, 53.8%, B: 2010. 222 bottles. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Very peaty, slightly citric, very intense, maritime, dry and tarry. Very good.
Taste: Oaky, maritime, slightly tarry, with a lot of vanilla, some seaweeds, hemp rope and some floral notes. Complex. The finish is long, peaty, dry, tarry and on seaweeds.
General Impression:  A very nice clean and very peaty Bowmore.
Rating: 15/20 FP: A7

17 Jul 11

Ben Nevis 1968 Private Stock, 42 YO, The Whisky Agency, 40.0%, B: 2010, 101 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, earthy, grainy, with some nice peat smoke and syrupy fruity flavours of passion fruit, mango and peach.
Taste: Spicy, juicy, slightly salty, sweet, on ginger, some honey and elderberries lemonade. Refreshing. The finish is short to medium, earthy, with some tobacco smoke and rather strong elderberries lemonade flavours.
Impression: A whisky with a very good and fruity nose, not too far from certain Tomatin, but on the palate the elderberries lemonade (in some region of Switzerland, the elderberries lemonade was made with the flowers of the elderberries tree, sugar and some lemon slices) dominates.
Rating: 15/20 FP: C3

16 Jul 11

Glengoyne 1972 The Perfect Dram, 38 YO, The Whisky Agency, 46.3%, B: 2011, 165 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Malty, long, fresh, floral, fragrant.
Taste: Very malty, slightly fruity (pear), rich, on hay. The finish is medium, sweet, fresh, malty, clean and on pears.
Impression: A good clean and malty Glengoye, with a fresh sweetness from pear juice. Tasted blind. Based on several comments I have heard, this whisky tasted better when freshly opened (a couple of weeks before I could taste it). A whisky that must be drunk quickly?
Rating: 14/20 FP: A1

15 Jul 11

Longmorn 1976 The Perfect Dram, 35 YO, The Whisky Agency, 53.6%, B: 2011. 187 bottles, Price:
Colour: Old Gold-amber.
Nose: Rich, round, slightly sweet, on humus, old smoke and tangerine. Big.
Taste: Rich, intense, spicy, oaky, sweet, on orange, humus, tangerine, and on old bold smoke. Diluted, it become fruitier and even richer. Rather oily. The finish is long, mouth coating, spicy, intense, rich, complex, on orange and tangerine.  Diluted, it becomes more on berries.
Impression: An excellent rich Longmorn, with sweet and fruity notes suggesting more a sherry maturation than an ex-bourbon.
Rating: 18/20 FP: D4

14 Jul 11

Hazelburn 12 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2010, 3900 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Light, fresh, slightly floral, on tangerine and with a zest of orange.
Taste: Light, malty, slightly oaky, on Turkish delights, with light grassy and lemony notes, as well as some tangerine and grape juice. The finish is short to medium, grassy, lemony, with a orange zest and some grapes.
General Impression: A light and zesty whisky, quite different from the 8 YO.
Rating: 12/20 FP: F1

13 Jul 11

Hazelburn Sauternes 2002, 8 YO, OB, 55.9%, B: 2011, 9180 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Fresh, thick, syrupy, sweet, on grapes, fresh rubber and salt.
Taste: Rubbery, chewy, syrupy, sweet, on grapes, with some smoke, toffee and treacle. Needs water. Diluted, it becomes slightly lighter and sweeter, without being overwhelming syrupy-chewy. The finish is medium, very thick, syrupy, rubbery, winey, on toffee and some smoke.
Impression: A very special thick, chewy and rubbery Hazelburn. A difficult and rather unusual whisky what requires water.
Rating: 08/20 FP: D2

12 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1989, 18 YO, The Bottlers, 52.70%, cask 1107, Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Clean, malty, fresh, on hay, vanilla,  with some sea brine. Diluted, it becomes more floral and subtle.
Taste: Smooth, malty, salty to very salty, smoky, rather spicy, on vanilla, ginger and pepper, with a nice a oakiness. The finish is medium to long, malty, clean, smoky to very smoky, salty, with some seaweeds.
General Impression: A very good, malty and rather smoky Isle of Jura, very enjoyable.
Rating 15/20 FP: A3

10 Jul 11

Isle Of Jura 1966 Old Malt Cask, 33 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 1999, 343 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Thick, syrupy, slightly peaty, on orange, tangerine, some exotic woods, beeswax and some humus.
Taste: Round, smooth, on tangerine, some pineapple, some spices (nutmeg and cinnamon powder). Rather thick and complex. The finish is long, slightly dry and bitter, with some woody notes, some redcurrant as well as nice sherry notes.
General Impression: A very nice, rich and complex Isle of Jura, with a slight astringency.
Rating: 16/20 FP:G2

09 Jul 11

Isle of Jura Prophecy, OB, 46%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Immediately smoky and peaty, with some hay, grilled bread, light floral notes, some seabrine, seaweeds and dry hemp rope.
Taste: Dry to very dry, tarry, salty to very salty, spicy to very spicy (mixture of pepper and cinnamon), on seaweeds, some iodine. Rather explosive. Diluted, it becomes slightly on toffee. The finish is long, dry, peaty, tarry, salty and on dried seaweeds.
General Impression: A very nicely peaty and very expressive Isle of Jura, with a certain youth giving some smoothness to the dry maritime peat smoke. A well made and much enjoyable whisky.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C7

08 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 27 YO Stillman Dram, OB, 45%, D: 1967, cask 590, Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber,
Nose:  Rich, fruity, malty, on tangerine, peach, and other yellow fruits, as well as some leather and heather.
Taste: Malty, sweet, fruity to very fruity, with some grassy notes, on peach, melon, tropical fruits, as well as some smoke. The finish is long, sweet, fruity, malty, with some dryness at the end.
General Impression: A very nice Isle of Jura, rich, malty and fruity.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E2

07 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1996, 12 YO, Adelphi, 60.3%, B: 2009, cask 5191, 217 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fresh, very malty, on straw, with quite some grassy flavours.
Taste: Fresh, lemony (lemon cake), malty, smooth, quite grassy, on biscuits and some smoke. The finish is medium, smooth, malty and lemony.
General Impression: Independent bottlings of Jura and rare. This one is particularly good, with its very nice lemony flavours. A very good surprise.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B2

06 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1966. 33 YO, Mackillops, 43%, B: 2000, cask 1870. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose:  Smoky, earthy, quite round, with some peat and a nice fruity-oakiness on tangerine and peach.
Taste: Malty, earthy, smooth, smoky, complex, on tangerine, peach, with some peat and fudge. The finis is medium, satisfying, oaky, smoky, and slightly floral, with some nice round fruity notes.
General Impression:  A very nice Isle of Jura, rich, rather smoky and with an enjoyable oakiness.
Rating: 17/20 FP:D3

05 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1989, 18 YO, Scott's Selection, 59.6%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Light, very floral, malty, slightly yeasty, with some seabreeze.
Taste: Very round, lots of slight spices, slightly spicy, oaky, spirity, with a lot of vanilla and caramel. The finish is short to medium, on toffee, cereals, with a hint of bitterness.
General Impression: A clean and fragrant Isle of Jura, with plenty of vanilla.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B1

04 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1999 Earth Feis Ile 2008, OB, 46%, 840 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very peaty, farmy, malty, on smoked ham and some grassy notes.
Taste: Fresh, malty, peaty, slightly yeasty, on smoked ham and freshly ground coffee. The finish is medium to long, peaty, malty and on coffee.
General Impression: A goood Isle of Jura, heavy peated, the one I enjoyed the most from the "Jura Elements" serie. I personally preferred the first 1999 Heavy Peated Edition (58%) bottled a few years ago.
Rating: 14/20 FP:D8

03 Jul 11

Isle of Jura 1993 Air Feis Ile 2008, OB, 46%, 768 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold,
Nose: Light, fresh, malty, with some tangerine, melon, Mirabelle and some spices.
Taste: Malty, spicy to very spicy (vegetal broth and yeast), dry to very dry, on grapes, with a rather strong influence of the manzanilla finish. Diluted, it becomes more floral and on honey. The finish is medium, malty, spicy-yeasty and slightly acetic.
General Impression: The conbination of the malty-yeasty flavours of Jura combine with the acetic influence of the manzanilla is not too much to my taste.
Rating: 10/20 FP:D1


Isle of Jura 1988 Water Feis Ile 2008, OB, 49.6%, 624 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Malty, spicy, slightly yeasty, on honey, with some hints of smoke and some raisins.
Taste: Malty, spicy, slightly yeasty, on hops, with some sulfury rubber. The finish is medium, malty and rubbery.
General Impression: A good whisky, but too rubbery to my taste.
Rating: 10/20 FP:FD1

02 Jul 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Lagavulin 12 YO (white label, clear bottle), OB, 43%, B:1970s. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very peaty, maritime, slightly mineral,on cold ashes, iodine, seaweeds, on old smoke and some fish. Excellent, rich, and complex.
Taste: Very salty, strongly maritime, tarry, very mineral, with lots of cold ashes, some lemon, old cold smoke, and on tangerine. Well balanced. Diluted, it becomes slighty more citric and slightly sour. The finish is medium to long, very peaty and ashy, mineral, tarry, on bonfire smoke and old seaweeds.
Impression:   An excellent sharp, intense and very complex Lagavulin, containing probably a certain proportion of older whiskies. This one is much more to my liking than the most "recent" 12 YO white label with the green bottle.
Rating: 18/20 FP:F7

01 Jul 11

Lagavulin 1998 Feis Ile 2011, 13 YO, OB, 51%, B: 2011, cask 1715, 588 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very peaty, intense, maritime, slightly tarry and on dried seaweeds.
Taste: Ashy, tarry to very tarry, very peaty, slightly salty, maritime, with a light sweentness on the top. The finish is long, very peaty, ashy, tarry, maritime, with a zest of tangerine, some fish, anis and dry smoke.
Impression: The Lagvulin bottled for the 2011 Feis Ile is considerably less sherried than the previous versions, more peaty, ashy and tarry. Excellent.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C7

30 Jun 11

Caol Ila 11 YO Feis Ile 2011, OB, 64.3%, B: 2011, casks 301/696, 500 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Clean, very intense, peaty, maritime, on hemp rope, seaweeds and disinfectant.
Taste: Round, clean, intense, peaty, on hemp rope, rather smooth, maritime, with some seaweed. The finish is very long, clean, salty, peaty, on disinfectant, hemp rope, liquorice and some toffee.
Impression: A clean and intense Caol Ila, with a faint sherry influence contributing to a slight smoothness. I appreciated this clean version very much.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B7

29 Jun 11

Bowmore 15 YO Laimrig Feis Ile 2011, OB, 54.4%, B: 2011. 500 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Smoky, very round, maritime, sweet, peaty, on cocoa, some strawberries, caramel and seaweed. Well balanced.
Taste: Roud, sweet, salty, spicy, smoky, on cherries, grapes, cocoa, toffee and seaweed. Diluted, it becomes rounder, fruitier and slightly rubbery. The finish is long, slightly bitter, salty, peaty, maritime, on cocoa, some rhubarb, toffee and some varnish.
Impression: A round, maritime and well made rounded Bowmore very nicely balanced. Very enjoyable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:D5

28 Jun 11

Ardbeg 1998 Feis Ile 2011 Pedro Ximenez, OB, 55.1%, B: 2011. 1200 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Peaty, rich, round to very round, maritime, on cocoa, chocolate and light fruity notes. Heavy.
Taste: Peaty, salty, thick, rubbery, winey, on cocoa, orange and tangerine. Thick, chewy and slightly bitter. Diluted, it noticeably improves: it becomes fruitier, lighter, smoother and on disinfectant. The finish is long, thick, rich, peaty, bitter, on cocoa, dark chocolate, seaweeds, salt, cherries, coffee and walnuts.
Impression: A difficult and heavily sherried Ardbeg, very thick and chewy, with rather strong bitter notes and on walnuts when tasted straight. A beast, sharing some similarities with the Bowmore Laimrig Feis Ile 2011, but more bitter and chewy. A whisky that really needs some water.
Rating: 14/20 FP:J6

26 Jun 11

Bruichladdich 2001 Renaissance Feis Ile 2011, 9 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2011, 2000 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fresh, nicely peaty, salty, oaky, maritime and with some pear. Close to the 2001 Resurrection.
Taste: Fresh, oaky, juicy, malty, slightly smoky, rather spicy (ginger, oak extracts, some curry and pepper). The finish is medium, smooth, salty, with some seaweeds. Fresh and slightly bitter.
Impression: A very nice and fresh nose, with a pleasant structure, while remaining slightly young. I enjoyed this Bruichladdich distilled in 2001 with barley peated at 10 ppm phenols pretty much. I still prefer the younger Bruichladdich 2001 Resurrection to this one.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A4

25 Jun 11

Kilchoman 5 YO sherry finish Feis Ile 2011, OB, 59.5%, B: 2011, 500 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Young, fresh, malty, very peaty, with some seawater and seashells, as well as on disinfectant and a light freshness at the end.
Taste: Tarry, dry, peaty, maritime, oily, bitter (gentian), smoky (tobacco), on seaweeds, seashells, sea salt and strong disinfectant flavours.
Impression: The first 5 YO released by this distillery shows an interesting transition compared to the previous editions, with more maturity and more TCP and disinfectant flavours. These “disinfectant” flavours remind me of the Ardbeg 1972 style.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A7

24 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Tomatin 1976, 34 YO, Liquid Sun, 48.7%, B: 2011.Prix:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose:  The attack is slightly nutty and dusty, with an elegant fruitiness, dry apricots, some orange and tangerine. Then, the nutty dusty flavours disappear and are replaced by bolder and fruitier notes.
Taste: Slightly smoky and peaty, oily, very fruity, on banana, mango, tangerine, guava and some other tropical fruits. Complex. The finish is long, syrupy, slightly smoky, with light tannins and a big fruitiness, as well as very discreet austere notes.
Impression: An excellent big and fruity Tomatin, with a light astringency in the finish.
Rating: 17/20 FP: H3


Tomatin 1967, 40 YO, Signatory, 51.8%, B: 2007, 415 b. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose. Floral, minty, on freshly cut grass, grapes, old cigar boxes, milk chocolate, and orange. A charming nose with a pleasant sherry influence not as pronounced as one would expect based on the colour (i.e., no rubbery notes).
Taste: Slightly woody, spicy, fresh, minty, earthy, quite heavy and thick, slightly tannic, on leather, old wood cigar box and blueberries. Very complex. The finish is medium-long, dry and woody, spicy, on leather, orange and cigar smoke.
General Impression: An excellent Tomatin in the same league as the old Glen Grant or Longmorn from the early 1970s.
Rating: 18/20

23 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Tomatin 1966 joint bottling with The Nectar, 45 YO, The Whisky Agency, 46.1%, B: 2011, 391 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Rich, fruity, juicy, oaky, sweet, slightly grassy, on honey.
Taste: Rich, fruity, complex, slightly waxy, juicy to very juicy, fruity, slightly spicy and on mustard. Diluted, it becomes smooth and fruitier. The finish is long, smooth, waxy, fruity, on vanilla, some wood and leather. Diluted, more woody.
Impression: The nose of this Tomatin is very nice round, sweet and with some wood in the finish.
Rating: 16/20 FP:D3

22 Jun 11

Tomatin 1976, The Whisky Agency, 51.3%, B: 2011, 309 bottles. Price:
Colour:  Old gold.
Nose: Light, fruity, elegant, with a certain maltiness and dustiness. With time, it becomes slightly more intense and fruity.
Taste: Slightly bitter and citric, with some spiciness and nice sweet fruits (mango, orange and banana). The finish is long, rather dry and citric, fruity, with a light smokiness.
Impression: A nice Tomatin, fruity, with rather bitter and citric flavours. A Tomatin with a strong personality.
Rating: 14/20 FP:E3


Tomatin 1976, Scotch Single Malt Circle, 49.6%, B: 2008, cask 19085, 336 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Sweet, rather oily, extremely fruity, on mango, papaya, guava, melon.  Excellent.
Taste: Big, oily, extremely fruity, intense, with a beautiful smokiness, on banana, guava, papaya and some watermelon. Delicious. The finish is long to very long, syrupy, slightly spicy and with a huge fruitiness.
Impression: An impressive rich, big and intense fruity Tomatin. Slightly delicious.
Rating: 19/20 FP: G4

21 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Tomatin Single Cask 1990, 18 YO, OB, 58.6%, B: 2008, cask 16352, Price:
Colour: Light gold-gold.
Nose: Malty, bold, slightly grassy and smoky, with nice floral notes and on vanilla.
Taste: Spicy, slightly spirit, on pollen, summer flowers, malty, oily, with some green apples and a nice fruitiness. Diluted, it becomes creamier. The finish is medium to long, creamy, slightly grassy, on vanilla and some tobacco leaves.
Impression:   A good Tomatin with a nice light but intense spiciness.
Rating: 14/20  FP:A2

20 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Tomatin Decades, OB, 46% (?), B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very creamy, smooth, milky, slightly young, with some caramel milk shake and a light peatiness.
Taste: Very creamy, slightly spicy and peaty, with some caramel, pepper, apples and vanilla, with a light fruitiness. Diluted, it becomes creamier. The finish is medium, creamy and slightly bitter.
Impression:   Released to commemorate the decades of work of the distillery manager. This just bottled Tomatin includes some lightly peated Tomatin and should be released next month. A very creamy expression of Tomatin.
Rating: 10/20 FP: D1

19 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Laphroaig Platinum 1989, 22 YO, Douglas Laing, 58.5%, B: 2011. Refill sherry. 207 bottles. Price:
Colour: gold.
Nose: Peaty, maritime, smoky, on seaweeds, graphite, some light farmy notes of manure. Intense, dry and slightly tarry.
Taste: Oaky, slightly soapy, maritime, slightly round, with some fish, tar, peat, seaweeds, charcoal, and sea shells. The finish is long, dry, peaty, maritime, with lots of seaweeds and rather tarry notes.
Impression:   A rather dry, round and peaty Laphroaig, with pronounced maritime and seaweeds flavours. The influence of the sherry is not very noticeable.
Rating: 16/20 FP: C7

18 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Glen Garioch 1968, 29 YO, OB, 55.9%, cask 624. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Big, meaty, peaty, intense, very sherry, farmy and tarry. Woaw, a stunning nose!
Taste: Spicy, on tannins, cherries, cloves, cinnamon, with floral and grassy notes, as well as some game. The finish is long, big, peaty, meaty, astringent, with quite some tannins. Diluted, it becomes rounder and the tannic notes less present and the fruity notes of candied orange more present.
Impression:   A big peaty and farmy Glen Garioch, with quite some tannin on the finish. A big whisky that I enjoyed very much.
Rating: 17/20 FP: H5

17 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Glen Garioch 1975 “Red Letters” by Duthie, Samaroli, 50%. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, slightly floral, round, on pollen and some delicate peat smoke.
Taste: Peaty, slightly creamy and floral, with a very nice peatiness, slight mineral and grassy notes. A whisky gaining in complexity over time. The finish is long, very peaty, slightly tarry, rather smooth and round, with a light and pleasant austerity.
Impression:  A very pleasant, round and smooth Glen Garioch, pleasantly peaty and hugely drinkable.
Rating: 18/20 FP: C6

15 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Glen Garioch “Hand Written Label” 1975, Samaroli, 57%. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very peaty, intense, austere, and floral, with some farmy notes.
Taste: Very peaty, slightly spicy, rather smooth, fruity, farmy, juicy, and with some mineral and grassy notes. Delicious. The finish is long to very long, peaty, round, slightly floral and mineral, with a nice smoothness, a touch of pollen and an ever present mineral cold peat smoke.
Impression: Simply a superb whisky, well balanced, harmonious, with the right of peat and a beautiful juiciness.
Rating: 19/20 FP: C6

14 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Clynelish 12 YO Brown and yellow label bottled for Mediterranea srl, Gordon & Macphail, 57%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Smooth, mellow, malty, slightly smoky, with nice mineral and light fruity notes.
Taste: Very round, smooth, slightly waxy and peaty, on bold smoke and nice light sweet fruity notes and melon. The finish is medium, smooth, mellow, slightly smoky, round, quite waxy and some fruity notes.
Impression: A very nice, round, mellow and dangerously drinkable old Clynelish.
Rating: 16/20 FP: C3

13 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Tomintoul 1967, 43 YO, Liquid Sun, 49.8%, B: 2011, 209 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Fresh, floral, grassy, with some dried meat and a faint smokiness. Rather light and fresh.
Taste: Fresh, oaky, floral, on hay, pollen, some honey and a light subtle smokiness. It becomes grassier with time. The finish is medium, light, fresh, refreshing and rather sweet, on Mirabelle and quince.
Impression: A nice refreshing and rather light Tomintoul. A very good summer dram.
Rating: 14/20 FP: C2

 

11 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Clynelish 1997, 13 YO, The Whisky Fair, 48.9%, B:2011, 170 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very clean, smooth, young, malty, with some gooseberries.
Taste: Smooth, young, malty, with some pollen, quince and mustard seeds. The finish is short to medium, malty and slightly waxy.
Impression: Tasted just after the Glenheaven, it might have suffered from the comparison. This one is nicely round and slightly waxy, but does not offer the same intensity or complexity as the former. On the other, it is still available and fairy priced.
Rating: 11/20 FP: A1

10 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Highland Park 1992, 18 YO, Silver Seal, 53.1%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Rich, thick, on treacle and spices, chocolate, honey, some bold smoke and orange.
Taste: Salty, spicy, rich, on leather, orange, sea salt, pepper and smoke. The finish is medium to long, on Christmas cake, orange, peat smoke, tangerine, heather and honey.
Impression: A very good Highland Park, from an excellent sherry cask. A Highland Park like it like them. Dangerously drinkable.
Rating: 16/20 FP: G4


Caol Ila 1980 Exclusive Malts, 28 YO, David Stirk, 50.5%, cask 4936. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Round, smooth, sweet, slightly maritime and meaty, with some mild spices.
Taste: Smooth, salty, on seaweeds, tar, charcoal, tangerine, orange and hemp rope. The finish is medium, round, slightly winey, spicy, rich, smoky, round, oaky and with some orange.
Impression: A very nice round whisky with a pleasant and light sherry influence complementing well the whisky.
Rating: 16/20 FP: D6

10 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Clynelish 12 YO, Glenhaven, 61%, B: 1996. Price: N.A.
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Sharp, spicy, mustardy, intense, waxy, floral, with some hay and sea salt.
Taste: Very intense, rich, spicy, on Dijon mustard, chilli, wasabi, floral notes, wax, hay and some oak. Diluted, it becomes more waxy and on cardamom. The finish is long to medium, spicy, hot, intense, waxy, mustardy, with some smoke.
Impression: An extremely intense and spicy Clynelish with a remarkable complexity. An excellent Clynelish from the excellent 1984 vintage. Thank you Tom.
Rating: 17/20 FP: A3

09 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Caol Ila Moch, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, rather sweet and young, maritime and with nice dry and tarry peaty notes.
Taste: Light, clean, juicy, maritime, smooth, salty, peaty, tarry, rooty with a pleasant roundness and lemon cake. The finish is medium, sweet, peaty, maritime, young and very tarry.
Impression: A young and medium peated Caol Ila, rather simple, but with a nice balance, sweetness and rather rich peaty notes that works well. A dangerously drinkable Caol Ila and an excellent introduction to the peatier and drier Caol Ila core range. Reminds me somewhat of the Ardbeg 17 YO, with probably a mixture of Islay and Highland (non-peated) style of Caol Ila casks. This Caol Ila is very good value.
Rating: 14/20 FP: C6

08 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Caperdonich 1972, 30 YO, Hart Brothers, 50.1%, B: 2002. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Spicy, rich, malty, nutty, with some round creamy notes, as well as some light banana and pear aromas.
Taste: Rich, smooth, creamy, spicy, with a nice juiciness, on heather, honey, and some sweet fruit. The finish is long, grassy, creamy, with some pears and a nice juicy oakiness.
Impression: A very nice, sweet, fresh and creamy Caperdonich.
Rating: 17/20 FP: B2


Caol Ila 1984, Scott’s selection, 54.1%, B:2004. Price:
Colour: Gold-amber.
Nose: Peaty, smoky, very maritime, drying kelps and a nice sherry sweetness.
Taste: Very salty, peaty, citric, on diesel smoke, some iodine, smoked fish, seaweeds and a nice sherry sweetness. Very intense. The finish is medium to long, clean, smoky, citric, peaty, tarry, and on iodine.
General Impression: A very good clean, peaty and sherried Caol Ila, with some citric and some light rubbery notes.
Rating: 17/20

07 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Glenlivet 1978 Joint bottling with Tokyo Three Rivers, 32 YO, The Whisky Fair, 52.9%, B: 2010, 250 bottles. Pric:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Rich, spicy, on Christmas cake, some peat smoke, orange and very elegant.  A very nice round sherried nose.
Taste: Light than the nose would suggest, with rich spicy notes, light citric fruits, on cloves, nutmeg and sweet fruits (mango, melon and tangerine).  The finish is medium, fruity, slighty woody and tannic, rather light.
Impression: A very elegant nose, but slightly too thin on the palate to my taste.
Rating: 14/20 FP:G3

06 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Bunnhahabhain 1973, 36 YO, Liquid Sun, 50%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose Very round, smooth, with an explosion of cream toffee, on coffee, tangerine, some sea brine and a light smokiness. Diluted, it becomes less on toffee but much more fruity.
Taste: Round, rather spicy and salty, slightly smoky and citric, rich, complex, on tangerine, orange, toffee and some pineapple. The finish is long, rich, spicy, smoky, salty, with some iodine, seawater, orange and tangerine.
Impression: A deliciously smooth and fruity Bunna, maybe not the most typical one, but a very fine one. Exquisite.
Rating: 17/20 FP:F3


Caol Ila 1993 Connoisseur’s choice, G&M,40%, B:2006. Price:
Colour: Pale yellow-straw
Nose: Very peaty, dry hemp rope, kelp, iodine, and with very strong maritime influence.
Taste: Dry, liquorice root, oaky, lots of dry peat, smoke, hemp rope and iodine. The finish is long, dry, salty, on hemp rope and dry peat.
General Impression: In spite of its 40%, it was surprisingly intense, very peaty and dry, with a typical Caol Ila profile.
Rating: 16/20

02 Jun 11

Glen Grant 1972, 38 YO, The Whisky Agency, 52.8%, B: 2011, 215 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Soft, very floral, on camomile tea, some heather, on slightly acidic berries, a hint of bold peat smoke with some sweet fruity notes.
Taste: Sweet, fruity, floral, quite spicy, slightly smoky, on orange, pineapples and berries. Complex. The finish is long to very long, rich, spicy, complex and fruity.
Impression: A very rich and fruity Glen Grant. The cask influence is rather subtle and allows the character of the Glen Grant whisky to shine. Simply delicious.
Rating: 18/20 FP:B3

01 Jun 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Caol Ila 1981, 30 YO, The Whisky Fair, 51.6%, B: 2011, 130 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very intense, peaty, with some seaweeds, salt, some patisserie and iodine. There are also some nice juicy and sweet oaky notes.
Taste: Round, oaky, with some peat, a slight saltiness, on seaweeds, vanilla, diesel smoke and some left over of hemp rope and some mint leaves. Mellow. The finish is long, round, smooth, complex, on peat smoke, seaweeds and some tar.
Impression: With time, the peat levels goes down and this one is no exception, but over its long maturation, it gained in complexity and in balance. Very enjoyable.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A6

31 May 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Inchgower 1975, 35 YO, The Whisky Fair, 41.9%, B: 2011, 224 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very coastal, slightly smoky, waxy, round, with a light fresh grassy notes. Very much “Inchgower”.
Taste: Juicy, spicy, slightly smoky, on peat smoke with rather strong maritime flavours, some seaweeds and fruits, and dry tobacco leaves. Complex and very fresh, with some starchy-malty notes. Diluted, it becomes slightly bitter, with rather strong flavours of hops.
Impression: A very nice fresh and complex Inchgower.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C3


Caol Ila 1969, 15 YO, Gordon and MacPhail, 60.4%, B: 1984. Price: N.A.
Colour: Gold
Nose: Heavily peated, very clean, maritime, tarry, pungent and dry hemp rope. Very light floral notes.
Taste: Very peaty, salty-maritime, very spicy, very dry hemp rope, some citrus, on cereals and smoke. The finish is very peaty, on dry hemp rope with some gentian bitterness. Slightly mineral. The finish was long with a surprising long peat retro olfaction.
General impression: A very peaty, dry, mineral and clean Caol Ila.
Rating: 17/20

28 May 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Ardbeg 1991 Platinum, 20 YO, Douglas Laing, 48.3%, B: 2011. 81 bottles. Price:
Colour:  Gold.
Nose: Very dry, smoky, rooty, on old peat and dried seaweeds, iodine, some bandage and manure. Excellent nose.
Taste: Salty, slighty soapy, peaty, maritime, with some disinfectant, on tar and seaweeds. Complex. The finish is long to very long, peaty, rooty, dry, slightly soapy, maritime, on seaweeds, some crab meat and a twist of citrus.
Impression: With the exception of some soapiness (and coriander), this is an excellent old, intense and complex Ardbeg.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A7


Caol Ila 1984 Exclusive Malts, 23 YO, David Stirk, 50.7%, B: 2007, cask 2729. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Fresh, maritime, meaty, peaty, slight lavender floral notes, on dried seaweed, and slight diesel and fishy flavours.
Taste: Dry, slightly spirity, maritime, some lavender, peat smoke, smoked fish, liquorice, salt and vanilla. The finish is medium, salty, smoky, peaty, meaty and on vanilla.
General Impression: A very good Caol Ila, which might have suffered from the direct comparison with the 1974 Caol Ila from Signatory, since less complex and shorter in length, but with more floral notes.
Rating: 16/20

27 May 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Bowmore 1989 Joint bottling with Tokyo 3-rivers, 20 YO, The Whisky Fair, 51%, B: 2010. 175 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Meaty, peaty, very maritime, with lots of seaweeds and sea spray.
Taste: Salty, very maritime, on seaweeds, citrus, peat smoke and some vanilla. The finish is medium, round, oaky, on seaweeds, smoke, some tar and vanilla.
Impression: A well-made and very maritime Bowmore.
Rating: 14/20 FP:B6


Caol Ila 1984, 23 YO, Adelphi, 57.3%, B: 2008, cask 6262, 232 bottles. Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Nice and subtle peat, on TCP, rather floral, on heater and slightly maritime.
Taste: Mellow, meaty, tarry, slightly mineral, nicely salty and maritime, rather complex, oily, with some round oakiness. The finish is medium, peaty, slightly dry, maritime, salty, tarry, on hemp rope and fudge.
General Impression: Not as peaty as a young Caol Ila, but more complex, smooth and subtle.
Rating: 16/20

26 May 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Brora 30 YO Annual Release, OB, 54.3%, B: 2010, 2958 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Clean, peaty, rather maritime, sweet and slightly farmy. with some light juniper berries, and with a delicious complex smoke. Reminding me somewhat of the Brora 25 YO.
Taste:  Sweet, juicy, rather light, with a delicate and complex peat smoke, slightly mustardy, with some flavours of distant seashells and seaweeds. The finish is long, rather sweet and smooth, slightly mustardy and smoky.
Impression: The latest Brora 30 YO is an interesting Brora, rather different from the previous Annual Releases. It is less peaty, sweeter and cleaner, with a lightness reminding me of the early 1970s Brora from the Rare Malts range. I appreciated this Brora on its own and do not be worry, this is a pure Brora! Most enjoyable.
Rating: 17/20 FP:B4

25 May 11

Special Limburg Whisky Fair

Brora 1981, 19 YO, The Bottlers, 61%, B: 2000, Cask 1076. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Peaty, farmy, with some meaty-mustardy notes, distant whiff of seaweeds and lovely notes of sweet sherry and tarr.
Taste: Very mustardy, peppery, farmy, waxy, on game (pheasant), dry peat and big tarry smoke flavours, some charcoal and very good dry sherry. A big beast!  The finish is very long, smoky, peppery, spicy, peaty, with quite some game and dry sherry.
Impression: An impressive and powerful Brora, with some Dijon mustard and old smoke flavours reminding me of these old chimneys where the farmers were smoking their bacon and sausages. I loved this one.
Rating: 19/20 FP:G6

24 May 11

Special Whisky Schiff Luzern

Brora 1982 Old Malt Cask, 23 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2006, 348 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Mustardy, slightly farmy, with a certain dry peaty smokiness. Rather austere and dry.
Taste: Mustardy to very mustardy, with light sweet aromas and a slight soapiness, rather salty and coastal, with light farmy notes and a touch of bitter rubber. The finish is long, waxy, very mustardy (“moutarde à l’ancienne”), with some juniper berries and old smoke.
Impression: A very farmy and mustardy Brora, with some juniper berries and old smoke.Thank you Daniel.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C4

23 May 11

Berry Bros & Rudd blend from the Early 20th Century. Price: N. A.
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Very peaty, sweet, grassy, floral, with some starch, salt and certain harshness.
Taste: Sweet, young, grainy, grassy, slightly harsh and spirity, with the smell of a not too distant Scottish harbour. The finish is medium, peaty, sweet, with some pear and light green grassy notes. Diluted, it becomes smokier, more mineral and spicier, with a long peaty and mineral retroolfaction.
Impression:  A very interesting blend, very peaty and on charcoal, with a slight harshness. I enjoyed very much this light blend, and without the “old bottle effect” present, I suppose that this whisky was certainly rough when bottled and based on the flavour profile, a certain amount of Campbeltown malts was used. This whisky was one bottle of these “Early 20th Century blend from BBR” lot sold by Bonhams this year (2011). Only a thin filigram of the label was left on those bottles, therefore no more details on this entry can be provided. Thank you very much Patrick S.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B6

21 May 11

St-Magdalene 1982, 20 YO, Cadenhead's, 52.7%, B:2008, 240 b. Price:
Colour: Light gold
Nose: Fresh, floral, on vanilla, with a hint of smoke, honey and quince. Diluted, it becomes slightly fruity and citric (lemon).
Taste: Malty, spicy (pepper and a touch of salt), mellow, smoky, on tobacco leaves, vanilla and a hint of caramel. Diluted, it becomes more on lime and lemon. The finish is medium, malty, slightly dry and bitter, smoky, with some old tobacco leaves.
General Impression: A good and mellow Lowlander, rather smoky and pleasant.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C4

20 May 11

Linlithgow 1982 Wine Treated butt bottled for Claudio Bernasconi, 26 YO, Signatory, 61.2%, B: 2009, cask 08/456, 300 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Rich, intense, smooth, malty, with a nice oakiness, some floral, grassy and winey notes. Diluted, it becomes more complex and floral.
Taste: Smooth, spicy, floral, slightly smoky and fruity, with some heather, camomile and toffee. Diluted, it becomes more floral and on linden blossom. The finish is medium, smooth, malty, clean, slightly floral and on camomile.
General Impression: A very nice and subtle Linlithgow, which needs some water to open up.
Rating: 16/20 FP:D2

19 May 11

St-Magdalene 1979 Rare Malts, 19 YO, OB, 63.80%.
Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, earthy, smoky, humic, on tobacco smoke.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, earthy, slightly grassy, floral, on camomile, peach, oak, tobacco smoke and some grapes. Complex and rather heavy. The finish is medium, smooth, mellow, floral, round, on peat smoke, earthy, with a nice oakiness and spearmint.
General Impression: An excellent St-Magdalene, powerful, intense and earthy. A quite difficult whisky.
Rating: 18/20 FP:C3

18 May 11

Linlithgow 1982 Wine treated butt for La Maison du Whisky Collectors' Edition, 59.2%, B:2008, cask 2201, 388 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very smooth, floral, on camomile, sage, some honey, a hint of grapes, with a slight bitterness.
Taste: Very smooth, slightly winey, floral, on vanilla. The finish is medium, very smooth, malty, floral, some spices and smoke.
General Impression: A clean, well made and very smooth Linlithgow.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

17 May 11

St-Magdalene 1975, 28 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, B: 2003, 49%, cask 20, 303 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: An excellent nose, smooth, creamy, malty, grassy, floral, with some smoke, sweet fruits and honey. Diluted, the nose becomes smoother, creamier on sweet lemon, with some light and fruity notes (cooked apples and tangerine).
Taste: Dry, smoky, winey, then it becomes smoky, grassy, earthy, on cream fudge, barley and slightly gristy. Diluted, it becomes fresher, creamier, and more on lemon and tangerine. The finish is smoky, malty, smooth, creamy and on bitter toffee. Diluted, it becomes lighter and fruitier.
NImpression: : A beautiful nose, fresh, floral, rich and perfect for some relaxation. The mouth is also enjoyable and this malt is even better diluted than at full strength.
Rating: 16/20

13 May 11

Linlithgow 1973, 30 YO, OB, 58.9%, B: 2004, 1500 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Fruit, oaky, juicy, slightly smoky, earthy, grassy, and well balanced. Diluted, some lemon can be perceived.
Taste: Slightly spirity, thick, big, malty, grassy, oaky, slightly smoky, complex, on peach, melon, marzipan and some floral notes. The finish is medium to long, earthy, smoky, grassy, thick, syrupy, oaky and slightly floral.
General Impression: A big, thick, juicy and very enjoyable whisky. Thank you Alain P.
Rating: 19/20 FP:C3

12 May 11

St-Magdalene 1982 Old Malt Cask, 23 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2006, 329 b. Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Light, fresh, grassy, malty, on lemon grass and pollen.
Taste: Dry, woody, slightly smoky, on hay, pollen and bitter toffee, with a hint of lemon grass. The finish is short, winey and on bitter toffee.
General Impression: A nice nose, but the whisky is otherwise rather bitter and woody.
Rating: 11/20

11 May 11

St-Magdalene 1982, 25 YO, Blackadder, 61.8%, B: 2008. 603 bottles. Price: :
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Smooth, malty, with some very mild spices, vanilla, a hint of smoke and some peach.
Taste: Very smooth, malty, with a nice oakiness and floral notes, some spices and some grass. The finish is medium, very smooth, slightly grassy, bitter and smoky.
General Impression: A very smooth whisky, with some spices. Very pleasant.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

10 May 11

Linlithgow 1975, 24 YO, Signatory, 51.5%, B: 1999, cask 961312. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, fragrant, floral, smoky, earthy, humic, with some quince jam.
Taste: Rich, spicy, floral to very floral (camomile and sage), earthy, with some grassy and smoky notes, as well as some oakiness. The finish is medium to long, rich, smooth, round, smoky, slightly bitter, on caramel, camomile and vanilla.
General Impression: A very nicely made Linlithgow, smooth and smoky.
Rating: 17/20 FP:B3

08 May 11

Glenkinchie 1990, 20 YO, OB, 55.4%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Oaky, round, very smooth, soft, with some camomile.
Taste: Spicy (ginger and white pepper), oaky, with soft floral notes, lots of vanilla and mirabelle. Diluted, it becomes slightly lemony. The finish is medium, oaky, round, floral, and light. Diluted, it becomes slightly bitter.
Impression: A well-made whisky, but rather one-dimensional.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B1

07 May 11

Glenkinchie 18 YO, Cadenhead's, 56%, Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose; Very smooth, floral, round, grassy, on vanilla and lemon grass.
Taste: Light, floral, with a hint of smoke and grass. Diluted, it becomes more bitter. The finish is medium, light, floral, fruity, with some roundness and apples.
Impression: A rather light but refreshing Glenkinchie for the summer. 35 cl bottle.
Rating: 13/20

06 May 11

Special Chivas Speyside tour

Ballantine’s 21 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Round, smooth, mellow, on mild spices, Christmas spices, some dried fruits, raisins, toffee and a touch of rubber.
Taste: Sweet, fresh, round, floral, smooth, on honey, heather, some Christmas spices, leather, beeswax and a slight peatiness. The finish is medium, light, slightly dry and rubbery, smooth, mellow, with some peat and caramel. Diluted, it becomes smokier and on liquorice root.
Impression: A rather different expression than the Ballantine’s 17YO: smoother, more sherried and less exuberant.
Rating: 12/20 FP:F2

05 May 11

Special Chivas Speyside tour

Ballantine’s 17 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Nicely smoky, rather peaty, sweet, slightly floral, rich, quite fresh and with some fudge.
Taste: Rather sweet, slightly peaty and grassy, soft, juicy, floral, with some caramel, fudge. Well balanced. The finish is medium to long, slightly maritime, floral, slightly grassy, with some toffee, heather, a touch of bitterness and citrus fruits.
Impression: A very made blend, with a nice coastal-peaty influence and a light fresh sweetness. Most pleasant. One of the best and affordable blend around. Nominated as world whisky of the year by Jim Murray in his whisky bible 2011
Rating: 14/20 FP:D3

04 May 11

Whisky Live Paris

Glenlossie 1984, 24 YO, Signatory, 59.1%, B: 2009, cask 2536, 549 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, grassy, fresh, on marzipan and some juicy tangerines.
Taste: Very grassy and smooth, round, creamy, slightly smoky, with some caramel, raisins, banana, some sweet fruits as well as some rubber. The finish is medium to long, smooth, grassy, creamy and with some tangerine.
General Impression: A very nice, smooth, grassy and enjoyable Glenlossie.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F2

03 May 11

Glenlossie 1966, 40 YO, Adelphi, 50%, B: 2006, cask 3779, 213 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Floral, fresh, with some nice juicy maltiness and oakiness, quite round.
Taste: Oaky, on juicy malt, quite smoky, round, nicely balanced, on vanilla and peach. The finish is medium, round, oaky, with some juicy malt and quite some smoke.
General Impression: The malty and floral notes of Glenlossie are well present, with a smokiness more pronounced than current expression of Glenlossie. It becomes better with some water.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D3

01 May 11

Glenlossie 1981 Cross Hill, Jack Wiebers, 27 YO, 64.1%, B: 2008, 305 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale Gold.
Nose: Very malty, fresh, fragrant, on pollen, with some oakiness.
Taste: Floral, malty, light, spicy (on curry), and on vanilla. The finish is medium, okay, fresh, light, and bitter at the end.
General Impression: A nice light very floral and malty Glenlossie.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B1

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