For the complete list of tasting notes, please click here.
Linkwood 1991 "Zagatti's personal choice: 50 years collecting whisky", 16 YO, High Spirits, 46%, B: 2008. Price: 
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: A strong sherry nose, reminding me of a fino or a Palo Cortado sherry, with some leather.
Taste: Surprisingly sweet, on honey, with round sulphury-acetic aromas, clean, with a nice fruitiness and a light smokiness. The finish is medium, with some leather, smoked meat, acetic and with a honey sweetness.
General Impression: A different, but pleasant Linkwood.
Rating: 14/20 FP:G2
Linkwood 1969, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%, B: 2000, Price: 
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very smooth, malty, on old peat smoke, heather and lime tree tea.
Taste: Malty, slightly floral, with some oakiness and tangerine, on pine, and old peat smoke. The finish is short to medium, slightly dry, fruity and on old peat smoke.
General Impression: A correct and smooth Linkwood, but not very expressive.
Rating: 12/20
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Linkwood 12 YO John McEwan, OB, 43%,B: 1970s. Price: N.A. Colour: Pale gold. Nose: Light, malty, slightly mineral, juicy, with some watermelon. A bit thin. Taste: Sweet, soft, clean, juicy, with some dust and wax, mineral, slightly smoky, with some sweet apricots and watermelons. The finish is medium, slightly mineral, juicy, fruity, with some tobacco leaves. General Impression: A nice old Linkwood, sweet and juicy, a bit thin and with a pronounced "old bottle effect". Rating: 13/20 |
Linkwood 1974 Rare Malts, 30 YO, OB, 54.9%, B: 2005. Price:
Colour: Straw-gold
Nose: Fresh, light, grassy, floral, slightly earthy, with slight tangerine and peat smoke notes.
Tast:. Malty, spicy (ginger), quite spirity, with with slight tangerine and peat smoke notes. The finish is short, light, malty, and slightly fruity.
General Impression: A light and floral Linkwood, but not very expressive.
Rating: 11/20
Linkwood 1974 Rare Malts, 23 YO, OB, 61.2% Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Fresh nose, on lime-blossom tea (tilleul), nice round maltiness, floral notes and a light fruitiness.
Taste: Smooth, light, malty, on freshly cut summer flowers, lime tree, apricots and with some almonds.The apricot flavours are enhanced following some dilution. The finish is of medium length, smooth, fresh and light, malty and on apricots.
General Impression: A very smooth and pleasant Linkwood, light, fresh and floral, without any off-notes. A very good summer dram.
Rating: 16/20
Linkwood 1973 The Perfect Dram, 36 YO, The Whisky Agency, 49.9%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, very floral, juicy, with some camomile, beeswax and some light fruity flavours.
Taste: Spicy, oaky, floral, grassy, slightly smoky, with some melon and honey. Well balanced. The finish is medium to long, smooth, grassy, on beeswax, some apples and on light floral notes.
General Impression: Probably the best Linkwood I have tasted so far, well balanced, complex and very enjoyable.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C3
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Hedonism Maximus, 29 YO, Compass Box, 46%, B: 2008. 1500 b. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Sweet, round, on cereals (rye and corn), toffee, vanilla and strong apricot flavours. Taste: Slightly rubbery and chewy, grassy (green leaves), apricots, cereal mash with some varnish flavours. The finish is medium to long, on sun dried apricots, vanilla, cereals and toffee. General Impression: A vatting of grain whiskies distilled at Invergordon and at Cameronbrige from first fill bourbon cask resulted in this good and pleasant whisky, quite spirity in spite of its 46%. Rating: 12/20 |
Whyte and Mackay 21 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Quite peaty and smoky, on charcoal, with some oily and floral notes, as well as some fruity notes (pears).
Taste: Light, sweet, sugary, on bold peat smoke, pear drops, liquorice and some leather. The finish is medium to long, smooth, sweet, on pear drops and porridge.
General Impression: An interesting blend, with quite some influence from Islay and Campbeltown whiskies (?), with the grain whisky presence detected mainly in the finish.
Rating: 14/20 FP:E4
Johnnie Walker Blue Label, 40%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, very mellow, on hay, with a hint of smoke.
Taste: Very mellow, fruity, slightly peaty and tarry, on tangerine, orange, mango, with some saltiness. The finish is medium, mellow, sugary, on pear drops, apricots, and porridge.
General Impression: A well made blend, mellow and very easy to dink. Harmonious. Might benefit from a few extra %abv
Rating: 13/20 FP:F3
Bunnahabhain 1968 Auld Acquaintance, OB, 43.8%. Price: 
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Smooth, smoky, very fruity, on melon, guava, papaya, passion fruit and banane flambée.
Taste: Smooth, smoky, round, mellow, with some tropical fruits, aromatic herbs, leather, tangerine, with a twist of lemon and salt. The finish is medium, very smooth, salty, with some bitterness and on tropical fruits.
General Impression: An excellent Bunnahabhain from excellent sherry casks. After having tasting it, I understand better why is this bottle so dear to Bunnahabhain enthusiasts.
Rating: 18/20 FP: G3
Bunnahabhain 1978, 27 YO, Signatory, 54.9%, cask 2541, 493 bottles, Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Malty, maritime, very smooth, on sweet sherry notes, orange and fudge.
Taste: Salty, maritime (sea kelp), spicy, malty, round, smoky, oily, bitter and on Turkish delights. The finish is medium, round, salty, smoky, with a nice sherry influence.
General Impression: A very smooth dram well balanced.
Rating: 16/20
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Bunnahabhain 14 YO Port Wood Finish, OB, 53%, B: 2008, 1220 b. Price: Colour: old gold Nose: Fresh, clean, sweet, sugary, quite floral (primavera) and smoky. Taste: Salty to very salty, sweet, spicy (chilli and ginger), slightly soapy, sugary and malty. The finish is medium, oaky, dry, while remaining some sweetness. General Impression: A clean Bunnahabhain, with a nicely integrated influence of the Port wood. Not overly complex and needs some water to open up. Rating: 13/20 |
Bunnahabhain 1979 Old Malt Cask Sherry, 20 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Very strong but smooth sherry influence, on tannins, cinnamon, leather and high grade rubber.
Taste: Malty, salty, maritime, spicy (chilli and ginger), on rubber, tannins, and some menthol. The finish is medium to long, smooth, mellow, on toffee, spices, rubber and seaweeds.
General Impression: A very nice and heavily sherry Bunnahabhai , smooth and pleasant. From an excellent sherry cask contributing to a smooth but not overly rubbery influence.
Rating: 16/20 FP: J3
Bunnahabhain 1967 Sherry, 38 YO, Duncan Taylor, 40.8 %, Cask 3328. Price:
Colour: Amber:
Nose: Rich, on Christmas cake, sweet tropical fruits, orange, tangerine, peat smoke and seaweeds. Very nice.
Taste: Spicy, slightly salty and maritime, mellow, malty, on tangerine, fruits and some tannins. The finish is medium, dry, tannic, bitter and slightly rubbery.
General Impression: A very nice Bunnahabhain, with an excellent nose, unfortunately getting rather woody in the finish.
Rating: 17/20 FP: H3
Bunnahabhain 1977, 29 YO, Martin’s, 43%, B: 2007. Price: N.A.
Colour: Pale gold-gold.
Nose: Smooth, malty, quite smoky and floral (violet).
Taste: Salty to very salty, smooth, oaky, smoky, slightly fruity, and on seaweeds. The finish is medium, rather malty and smoky, floral, with a nice fruitiness.
General Impression: A nice smooth and quite smoky Bunnahabhain.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D3
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Bunnahabhain 25 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2008. Price: Nose: Very smooth, slightly smoky and maritime, on soft leather, old furniture, orange, tangerine. Taste: Slightly soapy and citric, smoky, slightly maritime, tannic, bitter and salty, on toffee, leather, candied sugar, cigar leaves, orange and tangerine. The finish is quite long, smooth, quite tannic, on orange and tangerine. General Impression A venerable Bunnahabhain , with a pronounced sherry and woody influence. Rating: 15/20 |
Bunnahabhain 1997, 10 YO, Signatory, 59.2%, B: 2008, cask 5362, 568 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Peaty, round, oaky, on leather, tannins, orange, tangerine, with some floral notes.
Taste: Very peaty, farmy, maritime, on seaweeds, orange, tangerine and spices. The finish is long, peaty, rich, spicy, maritime and on orange skin.
General Impression: A very good Bunnahabhain, richer and more complex than the Adelphi bottling.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D8
Bunnahabhain 1966, 40 YO, Celtic Heartlands, B: 2006, 40.1%. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Starts on very nice creamy and fruity flavours, lots of ripe exotic fruits (guava, mango and passion fruits), grapes, juicy malt, honey, slightly nutty, with a whiff of peat smoke and a touch of woodiness.
Taste: Lots of milk chocolate, fudge, some saltiness, juicy malt, some woodiness and smoke, Rum-like aromas, grapes and fruits (mango and candied oranges). The finish is of medium length, silky, slightly tannic, on grapes, peat smoke, toffee and coffee.
General Impression: A remarkable and complex nose, with a nice delivery of the flavours, but with a finish slightly behind my expectations. For being 40 years, the woodiness is remarkably contained. Thank you Pierre N.
Rating: 17/20
Bunnahabhain 1977, 29 YO, The Whiskyfair, B: 2007, 45.1%, 108 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Huge coconuts flavours, some pineapple, ginger and camomile, with light melon fruity notes. Rather unusual for an old Bunnahabhain and smells like a pina colada.
Taste: Malty, oily, spicy to very spicy, slightly soapy, woody, on grapes, Genepi (Alp herb s schnapps), with some fruity notes (pears and peach). The finish is of medium length, tannic, dry, woody and on schnapps (Genepi).
General Impression: This whisky has passed its prime age and has started to fade.
Rating: 10/20 
Bunnahabhain 1968, 38 YO, Duncan Taylor, B: 2006, 42.1%, cask 7010 Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose; Very nice exotic fruitiness (pineapple, guava and mango), some good oak wood, a touch of cream fudge, some smoke and sweet barley. Diluted, the nose gets more floral.
Taste: Very sweet and smooth barley, oaky, thin, then becomes smoky, with some toffee and a hint of eucalyptus. The finish is quite long, smoky, very smooth, malty and on exotic fruits.
General Impression: A very good Bunnahabhain, extremely smooth, with a beautiful nose, but with a quite thin body.
Rating: 17/20
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Bunnahabhain 1979, 27 YO, Single Malts of Scotland, 49.5%, B: 2008. cask 11688. 222 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Smooth, on juicy malt, ripe tropical fruits and some bold peat smoke. Taste: Malty, slightly okay and peaty, salty, on pollen, hay, seaweeds, mango, melon, peat smoke and a hint of berries. The finish is long, rich, spicy, slightly oaky and peaty, with some tropical fruitiness. General Impression: An excellent pick from SMOS, with this superb and powerful Bunnahabhain. Not surprisingly, this whisky sold out very quickly. Rating: 17/20 |
Bunnahabhain 1997, Adelphi, 59.6%, B: 2007, cask 5262, 597 b., Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Young, fresh, very peaty, sweet, clean, with some fusel oil and crispy malt.
Taste: Malty, crispy, very peaty, fresh, young, with some sweetness and tarry notes. The finish is long, peaty, sweet, smoky, tarry, maritime and on smoked fish.
General Impression: A nice, quite young, sweet and heavily peated Bunnahbahain.
Rating: 13/20 FP: C8
Bunnhahbhain Pedro Ximenez for Feis Ile 2010, 18 YO, OB, 51.4%, B: 2010, 384 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Malty, very clean, on toffee, fudge, with some tangerine. Very much like the liquid library with slightly more complexity.
Taste: Floral, round, relatively complex, nicely balanced, on tangerine, toffee and fudge. Not sugary at the nose would have suggested it. The finish is medium to long, floral, on lavender, thyme, and other flowers, with some tangerine and orange.
General Impression: A very nice rich and quite complex Bunnhahbhain.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F1
Bunnhahbhain 2001 Liquid Library, 8 YO, The Whisky Agency, 54%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very round, with a lot of sherry, caramel, toffee and fudge.
Taste: Sugary, slightly floral, on treacle, toffee, and fudge cake. The finish is long, sticky, on fudge and treacle.
General Impression: A very peculiar Bunnhahbhain, but very enjoyable too, with a lot toffee and fudge and no off-notes. If you like fudge, you should not miss this one. If not, give it a try and you would not be surprised. Very good price value.
Rating: 14/20 FP:G1
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Lagavulin 1994 Feis Ile 2010, OB, 52.7%, B: 2010, cask 3210, 528 bottles. Price: Colour: Old gold. Nose: Smooth, peaty, maritime, subtle, almost delicate, with a velvety sweetness from the sherry. Taste: Light, sweet, fruity, slightly dry, on tangerine, Mirabelle, apricot, with a lingering peat smoke and tar. Subtle and complex. The finish is long to very long, dry, ashy, with some light sweet and fruity notes. General Impression: A rather sharp contrast when compared to the "At the distillery". The Feis Ile is a subtle and complex as the "At the distillery" is muscular and intense. Two different Lagavulin, but both equally good. Rating: 17/20 |
Lagavulin "Whisky is people", 14 YO, Regensburger Whisky Club, circa 51%, B: 2008. Price: N.A.
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Peaty, maritime, slightly floral, on seaweeds and some tar.
Taste: Spicy, peaty, oaky, salty, on vanilla, with some smoky notes, on tangerine and some nuts. Diluted, it becomes more floral and on coffee. The finish is medium to long, balanced, peaty, salty, and slightly maritime,
General Impression: A very nice and well balanced Lagavulin, matured or finished in a Pedro Ximenez sherry cask.
Rating: 15/20 FP C6
Pirates (Lagavulin), 10 YO, Jack Wiebers, 57.8%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Pungent, intense, on vanilla, with strong vanilla flavours and some diesel smoke.
Taste: Peaty, salty, maritime, clean, with some light floral notes, on marzipan and vanilla. The finish is medium to long, peaty, maritime, on vanilla and toffee.
General Impression: A very nice Lagavulin, with a strong oaky influence. Very likely from a first fill bourbon cask.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A7
Lagavulin At the Distillery, OB, 52.5%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Peaty, maritime, rich, intense, on wet seaweeds and wood, and tar. Very good. Diluted, it becomes slightly citric.
Taste: Maritime, salty, on coconut, vanilla, tar, seaweeds and spices. Nicely balanced. The finish is long, peaty, smoky, on tobacco leaves, tar, graphite and maritime flavours.
General Impression: An excellent muscular and intense Lagavulin. A very nice treat indeed.
Rating: 17/20 FP:E6
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Glendronach 1975, 34 YO, Dun Bheagan, 47.8%, B: 2009, cask 1704, 226 bottles. Price: Colour: Old gold. Nose: Slightly peaty, fruity, sweet, rich, mellow, on peach, tangerine, orange, with some light grassy notes. Taste: Juicy, rich, complex, on strawberries, raspberries, tangerine, and peach, with a nice underlying peat smoke, with quite some spices, including cinnamon, and a touch of cocoa. The finish is long, mellow, sweet, fruity, and slightly peaty. General Impression: A very well made Glendronach, very mellow and most enjoyable. Excellent. Rating: 18/20 |
GlenDronach Grandeur, 31 YO, OB, 45.8%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very sherried, on orange, peat, old wood, blueberries, and some wild berries.
Taste: Surprisingly sweet, very round, on cherries, cocoa, some peat, with a touch of leather. The finish is medium, slightly dry and spicy, on cherries, dark chocolate and some tannins.
General Impression: The bottle is beautiful, with an excellent content. The whisky might not be the most complex one, but the drinkability is very high.
Rating: 17/20 
FP:F3
18 Jul 10
Glengoyne 1997 The WitC's Bottling, Jean Boyer, 57.5%, B: 2009. 46 bottles. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Fresh, young, on heather, honey and vanilla custard. Very clean.
Taste: Very clean, spirity, on toffee, barley and vanilla. The finish is short, fresh, clean, young, on vanilla and apples.
General Impression: This whisky has spent approximately 12 years in a cask, but the influence of the wood has been minimal, resulting in a whisky, that has preserved its character. Some might not like and some might really enjoy it.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A1
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Glengoyne 12 YO, OB, 57.2%, B: 2009. Price: Colour: Old gold. Nose: Clean, malty, with a touch of rubber and rather spirity at full strength. Taste: Clean to very clean, smooth, silky, with some parsley, on tangerine, orange, and sunbathed barley. The finish is medium to long, smooth, slightly fruity and winey, on tangerine, orange and some spices, and maybe some strawberries. General Impression: A very smooth, silky and malty Glengoyne, highly drinkable. Rating: 14/20 |
Glengoyne 21 YO, OB, 43%. B: 2009, Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Smooth, mellow, rich, on leather, orange, honey and some cocoa.
Taste: Mellow, smooth, on honey, malt, some leather and tannins, oranges and spices. The finish is medium to long, slightly tannic, rich, dry, on orange, rubber and walnut.
General Impression: A very heavily sherried Glengoyne, made from good sherry casks.
Rating: 14/20 FP:H1
Glengoyne 1996 Old Malt Cask, 11 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2007, Ref 3617, 328 bottles. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Clean to very clean, smooth, slightly grassy and with a few pear drops. Young.
Taste: Smooth, sweet, young, malty. The finish is short, clean, young, and sweet.
General Impression: A Glengoyne from an inactive cask.
Rating: 08/20 FP:A1
Glengoyne 16 YO Scottish oak finish, OB, 43%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, on honey, toffee, caramel, oak, and wood spices.
Taste: Smooth, milky and spicy. The finish is medium, smooth, spicy and on honey.
General Impression: The Scottish oak contributes to some extra spiciness on top of the smooth and clean Glengoyne caracter.
Rating: 12/20 FP:D1
Glengoyne 40 YO, OB, 45.9%, D: 1968, B: 2009, 250 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, very mellow, on delicious hand made toffee, banana, some tangerine, orange, Christmas cake, cocoa, with some grassy and eucalyptus notes.
Taste: Oaky, slightly grassy and woody, on toffee, some old smoke, some spices, cocoa and a touch of eucalyptus. The finish is medium to long, mouthcoating, slightly spicy, dry and grassy, with some tangerine, banana, cocoa and eucalyptus.
General Impression: A smooth, very mellow Glengoyne, on banana, grassy and a subtle sherry influence. The wood starts to show off, but it remains discreet and well mastered. The bottle and its case are magnificent, as well as its price (over £3,500). Thank you very much Misako.
Rating: 17/20 FP:F2
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Glengoyne 8 YO, OB, 43%, B: 1970s. Price: N.A. Colour: Straw. Nose: Smooth, on juicy malt, with some spices, slightly soft, smoky and mineral, with a hint of fruitiness. Taste: Smooth, malty, juicy, slightly bitter, with some hay and melon. Diluted, it becomes slightly peppery. The finish is medium, smooth, quite smoky, malty and sweet. General Impression: A very nice smooth and juicy Glengoyne, slightly more smoky than current bottlings. Rating: 13/20 |
Glengoyne 1972 The Perfect Dram, 37 YO, The Whisky Agency, 57%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Suprisingly fresh and fruity, on green apples, fresh barley, some juicy oak, with some dates and a light grassiness. With time, some flavours of aromatic herbs (herbes de Provence) are released.
Taste: Spicy, spirity, clean, milky, fresh, with a touch of bitterness and oak, some toffee and old smoke. Rather complex. The finish is medium, round, milky, clean, with a very nice oakyness and some toffee.
General Impression: After 37 YO spent in a cask, this whisky has retained all its freshness. If you like old Glengoyne, this one won't disappoint you. Slightly different from the version bottled at 63.5%, but both a very good.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C1
Glengoyne 1972 The Perfect Dram, 37 YO, The Whisky Agency, 63.5%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very fresh, slightly smoky, smooth, mellow, on banana, marzipan and some light sweet fruits. Diluted, it becomes more on vanilla milkshake.
Taste: Spirity, clean, fresh and on apples. Let's quickly ad some water to release the fruits, peaches, apricots, dates, with some fresh barley, vanilla and a slight oakyness. Not a hint of peat. The finish is medium, milky, on vanilla, with some toffee.
General Impression: A very nice Glengoyne, with an excellent nose. Needs some water!
Rating: 16/20 FP:C1
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Caol Ila 1980, 30 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 53.3%, B: 2010, 264 bottles, cask 4684: Price: Colour: Light gold-gold. Nose: Peaty, maritime, tarry, slightly dry and on vanilla. It gains in complexity over time. Taste: Dry, peaty, on hemp rope, with some soft citric notes, tar, coal, ashes and some seaweeds. The finish is long to very long, drying, peaty, tarry to very tarry, citric, salty and maritime. General Impression: An excellent old peaty, citric and very expressive Caol Ila. Rating: 17/20 |
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Caol Ila Feis Ile 2010, OB, 61.9%, D: 1999, B:2010, cask 305646. Price: Colour: Old gold. Nose: Very peaty, maritime, clean, tarry, ashy, on seaweeds and sea shells. Very intense. Taste: Peaty, salty, tarry, ashy, with a slight tangerine sweetness, on seaweeds, chocolate and some liquorice. Diluted, it becomes sweeter and ashier. The finish is medium to long, peaty, tarry, maritime, ashy, with some tangerine. General Impression: A Caol Ila heavily peated, with rather strong tarry notes. Quite different from the round and sweet Feis Ile 2009 and share more similarities to the Manager's choice. Very well done. Rating: 17/20 |
Caol Ila 1983 The Perfect Dram (Refill sherry), 26 YO, The Whisky Agency, 55.3%, B: 2009, 240 bottles.Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Maritime, rich, on old damp peat and hemp rope, some tangerine, orange and seaweeds. The flavours are subtle and take time to appreciate.
Taste: Mineral, peaty, slightly spicy, oaky, with some toffee and chocolate, tangerine, orange and some seaweeds. Subtle and complex. Diluted, it becomes saltier and slightly citric. The finish is medium, maritime, salty, peaty, slightly fruity, dry and tarry.
General Impression: An elegant Caol Ila, with the sherry contributing to elegant, subtle and complex notes. Very good.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F6
Caol Ila 1979, 30 YO, Carn Mor, 59.5%, B: 2009, cask 4603. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Peaty, round, with some seaweeds and a lot of vanilla.
Taste: Dry to very dry, spicy, slightly bitter and winey, maritime, on wet tobacco leaves and some pepper. The finish is long, dry, peaty and bitter.
General Impression: A nice Caol Ila, but the prolonged maturation in the cask has contributed to some bitter and woody flavours.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C7
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Bowmore 1966 Peerless, 36 YO, Duncan Taylor, 43.26%, B:2002, cask 3306, 201 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold. Nose: Extremely fruity, with lots of papaya, on mango, passion fruits, guava, kiwi and banana. Very refreshing and with a touch of smoke. Taste: Extremely fruity as on the nose, with some peat smoke, salt, diluted pink grapefruit, spices and a touch of gruyere. The finish is long, smoky, maritime and very fruity. General Impression: A real fruit basket, extremely fruity and bringing you back to a tropical beach. Rating: 18/20 |
Imperial 1996 NC2, Duncan Taylor, 53.6%, B:2009. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Fresh, light, on hay, with some dry and grassy flavours.
Taste: Dry to very dry, on dried grass and flowers, on cloves, with a light oaky fruitiness. The finish is medium to long, on dry grass, with some toffee.
General Impression: Not a bad whisky, but too dry to my taste.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A1
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Glen Albyn 18 YO Dumpy, Cadenhead's, 46%, Price: N.A.
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Chieftain's Choice Highlands (Longmorn) 1964, 50%, Chieftain's. Price: N.A. Colour: Gold-old gold. Nose: Smooth, very fruity, syrupy, with some wax tree, elderflower syrup, white peach and lime-flower tea. Taste: Oaky, round, smooth, fresh, quite spirity, on elderflower, lime-flower tea, some aromatic herbs and a touch of anis. The finish is long, fresh, resinous, on pine tree, aromatic herbs and lime-flower tee. General Impression: A very smooth, elegant and fresh Longmorn offering an interesting combination of refreshing flavours. Rating: 17/20 |
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Glen Albyn 21 YO, Gordon & Macphail, 40%, Price: N.A. Colour: Old gold. Nose: Rich, thick, smoky, rather earthy and fruity, on old plums liquor and some floral notes. Taste: Mineral, sweet, smoky, juicy, oaky, with some Flintstone and ashes, as well as elegant floral notes and old pipe smoke. The finish is medium to long, rich, metallic, oaky and smoky. Diluted, it becomes slightly woody. General Impression: A rustic, old fashioned and very pleasant whisky. Rating: 16/20 |
Royal Lochnagar 1972, 37 YO, The Whisky Fair, 50.7%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: On beautiful oaky and grassy notes, almonds, vanilla and some soft floral notes.
Taste: Juicy, oaky, slightly spicy, on vanilla, almonds,wallnuts, some toffee and some light floral notes. The finish is medium to long, creamy, round, mellow, with a light spiciness.
General Impression: A lovely, smooth and mellow Royal Lochnagar. An easy and highly drinkable whisky that I appreciated very much.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C1
Springbank CV, 46%, OB, B: 2010 Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Peaty, farmy, salty, fresh, young,
Taste: Salty to very salty, maritime, young, sweet, smoky, with some coconut and fresh barley. The finish is medium, dry, salty, fresh, on hay, fresh barley, some ashes and smoke and dried fish.
General Impression: The Longrow CV was a pleasant surprise. This Springbank CV is in the same leagueRating: 14/20 FP:A5
Springbank 12 YO, 54.6%, OB, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Lots of toffee, on vanilla, fresh barley and some smoke.
Taste: Intense, salty, smoky, on fresh rubber and some strawberries. The finish is medium, rubbery, smoky and salty.
General Impression: A nicely made whisky but too rubbery for me. Made from 60% fresh sherry casks and 40% refill sherry casks
Rating: 12/20 FP:C4
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Port Ellen 1982 Château Yquem finish Mission, 27 YO, Murray McDavid, 48.6%, B: 2010. Price: Colour: Light gold. Nose: Peaty, very maritime, with some tar and lots of seaweeds. Taste: Peaty, dry to very dry, tarry, salty, with some sultanas, lot of seaweeds and cold ashes. The finish is very long, very dry and tarry, peaty, with some dried sultanas and seaweeds. General Impression: A very peaty, dry, tarry and maritime Port Ellen. The Chateau Yquem influence is discreet and well integrated. The driest Port Ellen I have ever tasted. Rating: 17/20 |
Springbank 1965, Murray McDavid, 46%. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, fruity, maritime, salty, smoky, on tangerine and orange.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, slightly dry, very salty, maritime, on peat smoke, sweet fruits, some flintstone and leather. Diluted, it becomes smoother and even more balanced. The finish is long to very long, mineral, peaty, smoky, fruity, slightly dry, salty, slightly maritime and an stewed sweet fruits.
General Impression: A very smoky, mineral and deliciously fruity Springbank. A very nice treat.
Rating: 18/20 FP:G5
Springbank 25 YO, OB, 46%, B:2006. Price:
Colour: Old gold- amber
Nose: Floral, heavily sherried, malty, on grapes and with some soft and round peat. It needs some water to become richer, more complex and quite maritime.
Taste: Smooth, malty, salty to very salty, slightly earthy, on grapes, oranges and tobacco smoke. It starts to show some sign of age. Diluted, it gets very salty, maritime, smoother and rounder. The finish is of medium length, woody, dry to very dry, bitter, on toffee, liquorice and lots of grapes.
General impression: This was a vatting of several casks, the youngest being 25 YO and most of the others 30 YO and more. This age is reflected in the whisky.
Rating: 14/20
Springbank 1971, 35 YO, The Whisky Fair, 59%, B: 2007, 239 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Deliciously sweet and juicy, smoky, on melon, papaya, peat smoke and a nice oaky fruitiness.
Taste: Salty, spicy, smoky, peaty, on grapefruit, melon, papaya and tangerine. Very complex. The finish is long, spicy, salty, peaty, smoky, with a nice fruitiness.
General Impression: A superb old Springbank, peaty, salty, with a charming sweetness.
Rating: 18/20 FP:E5
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Springbank 12 YO 100 Proof Sykes, OB for Samaroli, 57.1%, Price: N.A. Nose: Smoky, peaty, maritime, with some nice mineral notes. In the same league as the 10 YO 55.6%, but with more intensity and the sherry contributing to some extra fruitiness and complexity. Taste: Very mineral, maritime, salty, very smoky, on seaweeds, tobacco and peat smoke, some leather, sweet stewed fruits, on orange, tangerine and some tropical fruits (mango, papaya, guava). The complexity is impressive. The finish is long to very long, rich, complex, very salty, on sweet fruits and peat smoke. General Impression: Considered by several whisky enthusiasts, as on the best single malt ever bottled, its reputation is well deserved. A superb whisky with a stunning complexity. A pleasure to drink. Thank you Diego. Rating: 20/20 |
Springbank 1970, 36 YO, Signatory, 53.1%. B:2006, Sherry butt 1629, 461 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Nutmeg, soja sauce, spices, oranges, leather and a whiff of smoke.
Taste: Very juicy malt, oranges, some apricots, spicy and maritime, smoky, with a whiff of tobacco. Very pleasant and complex. The finish is relatively dry and bitter, long, with a strong sherry influence, spicy, maritime and smoky.
General Impression: The texture of this Springbank is extremely pleasant, with a rich and complex flavour profile, but the nose is slightly behind. Thank you Alexandre.
Rating: 17/20
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Springbank 1972 Private Bottling, OB, 46%, cask 759, 242 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold. Nose: Intense, rich, fruity, smoky, peaty, maritime, salty, with some diesel and ashes. Taste: Very salty, on pineapples, lots of vanilla, seaweeds, oak and tobacco smoke. The finish is long, dry to very dry, bitter, oaky to woody, very dry and on pipe smoke. General Impression: A rather dry and bitter Springbank. Rating: 15/20 |
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Springbank 10 YO, OB, 55.6 GL (%), Price: N.A: Colour: Pale gold. Nose: Smooth, juicy, fresh, smoky, clean, peaty and smoky. Taste: Smooth, juicy, fresh, slightly fruity and grassy, mineral, slightly tarry, salty, and smoky. A classical, but very well balanced Springbank. The finish is long, sweet, fresh, peaty, slightly maritime, salty and mineral. General Impression: An excellent old Springbank, clean, fresh and mineral. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Grazie Diego. Rating: 19/20 |
Fragment of Scotland Islay (Ardbeg) 1973, Samaroli, 57%, B: 1988. Price: N.A.
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very intense, very peaty, farmy, maritime, on seaweeds, seashells, tar and old ashes. Beautiful.
Taste: Very maritime, salty, rich, complex, peaty, very intense, on seaweeds, sea shells, iodine and some farmy notes. A robust ardbeg. The finish is long to very long, peaty, salty, maritime, on liquorice root and "cachou" candies.
General Impression: A very intense and rich Ardbeg, more powerful and heavier than the products distilled in 1972.
Rating: 19/20 FP: A8
Ardbeg 1975 Old Malt Cask, 25 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2000, 702 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very peaty, very maritime, rather light and floral, on seaweeds, liquorice, tar, with some citric notes and an ounce of sweetness.
Taste: Peaty, very mineral, on flint stone, tar, cold ashes, rather dry, maritime, subtle and complex, with the sherry contributing to some sweet but also dry notes at the same time. The finish is long, peaty, dry, bitter-citric, maritime, with some iodine and seaweeds.
General Impression: An excellent Ardbeg, but rather extreme, Not for the faint hearted.
Rating: 19/20 FP:D8
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Ardbeg 1974, 19 YO, Single Malt Circle, 55.1%, B: 1993, cask 4377. Price: N.A. Colour: Gold. Nose: Very floral, zesty, light, peaty, clean, on disinfectant, seaweeds and seashells. Taste: Very salty and maritime, peaty, with lots of disinfectant, slightly soapy, tarry, slightly bitter and on liquorice. The finish is very long, peaty, bitter, floral, very maritime, on TCP, some oak, with some lime. General Impression: A very good Ardbeg , but slightly too citric and on disinfectant to my taste. Reminding me of the famous 1972 OB for Velier. Rating:17/20 |
Ardbeg 1974 Provenance for Asia, OB, 55%, B:2000. Price: N.A.
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose; Rich, peaty, very complex, on chocolate, freshly hand made toffee, tangerine, orange and high-grade leather. Superb balance.
Taste: Very peaty and maritime, tarry, mineral, on toffee, chocolate, orange, tangerine and seaweeds. Smooth, complex and balanced. The finish is very long, peaty, maritime, on old peat and wood smoke, with some tar and cold ashes, on flint stone, and chocolate.
General Impression: Not the most extreme or intense Ardbeg, but the balance is simply superb. A beautiful Ardbeg. I love it. Thank you very much Patrick S.
Rating: 20/20 FP:F7
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Ardbeg 1973, 17 YO, Dun Eideann, 55.4%, B: 2001, Cask 3933. Price: N.A. Colour: Amber. Nose: Very intense, complex, very maritime, on seaweeds, charcoal, tangerine, orange and some old bold peat smoke. Superb. Taste: Very intense, salty and maritime, peaty, smoky, on iodine, seaweeds, disinfectant, kippers, tangerine and menthol. The finish is long to very long, slightly tannic and bitter, maritime, salty, and on strong sherry notes of first grade. General Impression: A very sherried and very peaty expression of Ardbeg, very well balanced and most enjoyable. Lovely. Rating: 19/20 |
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Ardbeg 1972 Old Malt Cask for Alambic Classique, 28 YO, Douglas Laing, 48.8%, B: 2001. Price: N.A. Colour: Pale gold-gold. Nose: Oaky, dry to very dry, tarry, with some old seaweeds and diesel. Taste: Oaky, dry to very dry, citric, ashy, tarry, maritime and on old seaweeds. The finish is long, peaty, maritime, oaky, slightly soapy and on seaweeds. General Impression: A rather dry and oaky expression of a 1972 Ardbeg. Rating: 17/20 |
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Ardbeg 1975, 25 YO, Bloomsbury Spirit, 58%, B: 2001. Price: N.A. Colour: Old gold-amber. Nose: Meaty, peaty, intense, maritime, on iodine and seaweeds. Harmonious. Taste: Very intense, very salty, tarry, strong maritime flavours, on ashes, seaweeds, disinfectant, some orange and tangerine. Very nice. Diluted, it becomes more maritime, on tobacco smoke and cardboard. The finish is long, very peaty, juicy, tarry, on liquorice, tangerine and some dry wood. General Impression: An excellent old Ardbeg, intense, salty, complex and very maritime. Rating: 18/20 |
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Ardbeg 1974 150th Anniversary, 18 YO, Cadenhead's, 57.7%, B. 1992. Price: N.A. Colour: Gold-old gold. Nose: Very intense, with a lot of diverse maritime flavours. Complex. It give the impression of breathing the air in the pier of the distillery. Taste: Big, very peaty, mineral, on flint stone, with some sweet and juicy oak, on subtle peat smoke, ashes, and a few drops of peat. Very complex and rich. The finish is long to very long, peaty, very mineral, and on cold ashes. General Impression: A superb, complex and powerful Ardbeg. Rating: 19/20 |
Special Islay Malt (Ardbeg) 2000, 10 YO, Alambic Classique, 59.4%, B: 2010, Sherry cask 10424. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very peaty, very maritime, on strong iodine notes, seaweeds, wood smoke and a hint of sweetness.
Taste: Very peaty and spicy, on liquorice root, seaweeds, seashells, wood smoke and a hint of sweetness. The finish is medium to long, smoky, peaty, maritime, with some iodine and tar.
General Impression: A very intense, peaty and maritime Adbeg, with the sherry contributing to some welcomed sweetness. Very good.
Rating: 16/20 FP: F8
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Ardbeg "Ardbeggedon" 1972 Old Malt Cask for the PLOWED, 29 YO, 48.4%, Douglas Laing, B: 2001, 227 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold. Nose: Very maritime, on old wet seaweeds, sea shells, old peat smoke, slightly citric, farmy and tarry, on cold ashes and sea brine. Taste: Peaty, salty, very maritime, complex, with light bitter floral and citric notes, on bold peat smoke, seaweeds and seashells. The finish is long, dry, peaty, very maritime, tarry, on old seaweeds, some liquorice and iodine. Diluted, it becomes drier and more tarry. General Impression: A very classical Ardbeg from 1972, light and very maritime. Rating: 18/20 |
Glen Garioch 1989, 20 YO, Alambic classique, 55.1%, B: 2009, cask 9475, 168 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Round, oaky, very floral, with some canned fruits.
Taste: Sweet, malty, with a slight spiciness, floral, fragrant, some canned fruits and peat. The finish is medium to long, mouth coating, smooth, peaty and sweet.
General Impression: A very nice, round and sweet Glen Garioch.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D4
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Glen Garioch 1970, OB, 50.6%, Cask 11. Price: Colour: Gold-old gold. Nose; Smooth, rich, syrupy, smoky, fruity, quite peaty, on ripe fruits. Becoming more complex over time. Taste: Sweet, fruity to very fruity, floral, oaky, rich, juicy, quite peaty, on sultanas and some light roasted nuts. The finish is long, rich, thick, sweet, fruity, peaty and on sultanas. General Impression: The smoothness of the Glen Garioch associated with the peat and the sweet fruits work very well. Excellent. Rating: 17/20 |
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Glen Garioch 1971, 59.6%, Samaroli, 2280 bottles. Price: N.A. Colour: Amber Nose: An explosion of peat and sherry, meaty, mineral, on ashes, burnt wood, chocolate, coffee beans and fruit jam. Excellent. Taste: Rich, thick, very peaty and complex, floral, on chocolate, berries, tangerines, coffee and fruit jam, with the mineral ashes and burnt wood flavours developing over time. The finish is long, on the same flavours as on the palate, with a hint of rubber at the end. General Impression: This legendary bottling is well worth its reputation, with an explosion of flavours in every direction. From that I have read, the whisky is only 8 years old. The complexity is impressive. A superb whisky. Rating: 19/20 |
Brora 1981, 27 YO, Duncan Taylor, 53.8%, B: 2008, cask 1427, 349 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very smooth, grassy, slightly maritime, on hay, some peat smoke and a touch of grapefruit.
Taste: Citric, salty, with some mild spices and light fruity notes. The finish is long, smooth, oily, grassy, with some very nice fruity and iodine flavours.
General Impression: A very nice grassy Brora.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C4
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Brora 1981, 26 YO, Dun Bheagan, 46%, B: 2008, cask 1526, 648 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Very grassy and oaky, fruity, very round and with some heather. Taste: Light, fresh, smooth, grassy, slightly spicy and salty, with some seaweeds and smoke. Diluted, it becomes more grassy, lighter and more on mustard seeds. General Impression: A very nice, fresh, rather light but very enjoyable Brora. Reminding of some Clynelish from the early 1970s. Ratinge: 16/20 |
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Brora 1981 Platinum, 28 YO, Douglas Laing, 58.1%, B: 2009. 120 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold Nose: Smoky, on game and slight farmy notes, with some fruity flavours (schnapps), old wood and peat smoke and some sea brine. Diluted, it becomes rather sulphury. Taste: Salty to very salty, on seaweeds, iodine, some game and burnt rubber. Rather rubbery. Diluted, it becomes more mineral, slightly fresher and slightly tarry. The finish is long, slightly tannic, rubbery, bitter, with some citric fruits and orange. General Impression: A rather fruity Brora, but also more smoky than most Brora distilled in the 1980s. The sherry (rubbery) influence is surprisingly strong, while the influence of the cask had only marginal effects on the colour. However, I appreciated these mineral-grassy aromas and its complexity. A Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde. Rating: 15/20 |
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Brora 30 YO Annual Release, OB, 53.2%, B: 2009. 2652 bottles. Price: Colour: Pale gold. Nose: Very peaty, floral, slightly farmy and bitter, smoky, with some old seaweeds. Taste: Peaty, floral, slightly bitter and tarry. The finish is medium to long, peaty, slightly farmy and woody. General Impression: The first time I tasted it just after opening the bottle, the nose was very peaty and intense, while the floral notes seemed to have developed over time. A very good Brora, but I enjoyed better the earlier versions. Rating: 16/20 |
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Inchgower Manager's choice 1993, 15 YO, OB, 61.9%, B: 2009, cask 7917, 564 bottles. Price: Colour: Amber. Nose: Fresh, rubbery, salty, on old seaweeds. Very maritime and slightly sulphury. Taste: Soft, salty, slightly smoky, rich, on coffee liquor, some rubber, cloves, tangerine and seaweeds. The finish is medium to long, rich, on mild spices, with a touch of salt and smoke. General Impression: I tasted it the first time shortly after the opening of the bottle and a second time, a couple of weeks afterwards. The intensity of the rubbery flavours decreased, but still too much to my liking. Never the less, this is a good, rich and mellow whisky. Rating: 15/20 |
Ledaig 1972, 37 YO, Alambic Classique, 48.1%, B: 2009, Oloros butt 10722. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Round, peaty, maritime, on game, seaweeds, treacle, sultanas and with a light fruity juiciness.
Taste: Salty, rubbery, on red berries, plums sauce, peat and seaweeds. Diluted it becomes more smoky and less rubbery. The finish is long, rich, thick, rubber, leather, tannins and peat.
General Impression: A nice Ledaig, sharp and peaty, but too rubbery to my taste.
Rating: 15/20 FP:H7
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Ledaig 21 YO, James MacArthur, 54.2%, B: 1994. Price: N.A. Colour: Gold-old gold. Nose: Sharp, peaty, mineral, on iodine, seaweeds and ashes. Taste: Dry, salty, on iodine, camphor, peat, seashells, seaweeds, on cold ashes and some grapefruit. Diluted, it becomes more expressive and on tobacco smoke. The finish is long, peaty, mineral, sharp, dry, on ashes, smoked fish and seaweeds. General Impression: An excellent peaty and sharp Ledaig. Very plesant. Rating: 17/20 |
Caol Ila 1984, 25 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 54.1%, B: 2010, cask 5388, 265 bottles. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Clean, very peaty, salty, maritime, slightly farmy and on tobacco smoke.
Taste: Very salty, maritime, intense, peaty, oily (green olive), with some seaweeds, citric flavours and tobacco smoke. The finish is medium, peaty, salty, farmy, oily, and slightly tarry.
General Impression: A very nice, salty and oily Caol Ila.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C6
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Caol Ila 1978 20th Anniversary, Samaroli, 50%, B:1998. Price: Colour: Straw. Nose: Peaty, rather sweet, clean, slightly mineral and on ripe citric fruits. Very nice. Taste: Very salty, sweet, with a certain woody- dryness, some cardboard, citrus and pink grapefruit. The finish is long, peaty, sweet and citric. General Impression: A salty, sweet-citric Caol Ila. Rather atypical, but most enjoyable. Thank you Max. Rating: 18/20 |
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Caol Ila Manager's Choice 1997, 12 YO, OB, 58%, B: 2009. Bodega Sherry European Oak cask 14185 Price: Colour: Old gold. Nose: Very peaty, sharp, very intense and maritime, with a lot of seaweeds and some iodine. Quite impressive. Taste: Very peaty, farmy, slighty tarry, complex, on ashes, disinfectant with a nice integration of the sherry contributing to a touch of sweetness. The finish is long, on peat, seaweeds, disinfectant and iodine. General Impression: The Caol Ila Manager's Dram was an impressive whisky. Its legacy, the Manager's choice is in the same category. Does it worth the price? I let you decide. Needless to say that I really enjoyed it. Rating: 18/20 |
Dailuaine Manager’s choice 1997, OB, 58.60%, B:2009, cask 8476, 564 bottles.
Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Round, creamy, floral, with lots of vanilla, ginger, spices and some fruity notes.
Taste: Malty, sweet, floral, mellow, on almond, vanilla, spices, with some melon and tangerine. The finish is medium to long, sweet, round, malty, slightly smoky and fruity and on vanilla custard.
General Impression: An excellent round, mellow, rich and creamy Dailuaine.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C2
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Kilchoman Single Cask for Germany, 3 YO, 60.5%, D: 2006, B: 2010. Cask 363/03 Price: Nose: Peaty, creamy, on vanilla, toffee, seaweed and wood smoke. Harmonious. Taste: Oily, peaty, on toffee, peat, lemon juice, some milk chocolate and vanilla. The finish is medium to long, rather light, on wood and peat smoke, lemon juice, a hint of liquorice, seaweed and a few pear drops. General Impression: A very nice Kilchoman showing a good maturity, more complex and matured than the Spring release. Rating: 12/20 |
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Kilchoman Spring Release, 3 YO, 46%, B: 2010. Price: Nose: Very peaty, young, slightly fragrant, maritime, on seaweed, fresh wood and slightly citric. Taste: Light, oily, slightly citric, on peat smoke, some raisins and wood spices. The finish is medium, oily, peaty, maritime, on lemon, with a twist of orange and fresh vanilla. General Impression: A slightly more subtle and woody version than the Autumn release. Kilchoman keeps maturing and progressing. Rating: 11/20 |
Highland Park 1990 for Travel Retail, OB, 40%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose. Slightly maritime, on honey, bold peat smoke, heather and with some tangerine. The sweetest and smoothest expression of the new releases.
Taste: Spicy, almost peppery, on tobacco and peat smoke, with some liquorice and liquorice root. Quite complex. The finish is medium to long, slightly woody, on tangerine, orange, some spices and liquorice root, as well as on tobacco and peat smoke.
General Impression: A nice expression, with a quite rich and thick finish.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D4
Highland Park 1994 for Travel Retail, OB, 40%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Clean, slightly fragrant, on vanilla, with some pear, peat smoke and maritime aromas.
Taste: Soapy, clean, peaty, salty, maritime, with some seaweeds and fish. The finish is clean, medium to long, quite rich, maritime, on vanilla, fudge and peat smoke.
General Impression: Slightly more complex than the 1998. Otherwise, quite similar. Do not add too much water. Thank you Misako.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B5
Highland Park 1998 for Travel Retail, OB, 40%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smoky to very smoky, peppery, maritime, clean, slightly heathery and strong vanilla flavours. Diluted, it becomes even more on vanilla.
Taste: Clean, slightly smoky and fragrant, on vanilla, with some seaweeds and peat smoke developing over time. The finish is clean, short to medium, with some heather and honey and rich vanilla flavours.
General Impression: A clean Highland Park with a strong vanilla flavour. Diluted, it becomes a vanilla bomb. Thank you Misako.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B5
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Bruichladdich Swisslinks 1 2003, 6 YO, Alexander Weine, 63.9.0%. B: 2009, cask 254 Price: Colour: Gold. Nose: Malty, fresh, slightly winey and farmy, on wood spices and some smoke. General Impression: A young, but harmonious and well made Bruichladdich. Rating: 13/20 |
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St-Magdalene Connoisseur's choice 1964, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%. Price: N.A. Colour: Old gold-amber. Nose: Very rich, very humic and earthy, smoky, on old wood furniture, beeswax, bloody oranges and some bitter floral notes (lavender and sage). Taste: Smooth, earthy, on tannins, old tobacco and peat smoke, some lavender and honey from South of Europe, some old wood and burnt sugar. Diluted, it becomes sweeter, on tangerine and orange, as well as less earthy. The finish is long, tannic, on leather, bitter floral notes and bloody oranges. General Impression: An old St-Magadelene, very different from the 1980s products, with strong earthy and sherry notes, with some floral influence of thym and lavender. Not an easy malt, but I really liked it. Rating: 18/20 |
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Dailuaine 1966 dumpy, 13 YO, Cadenhead's, 80 proof, B: 1979. Price: N.A. Colour: Gold. Nose: Fresh, smoky, floral, slightly mineral, clean and with some pollen. Taste: Light, fresh, spicy, slightly smoky and floral, grassy, with some green apples. The finish is medium, light, fresh, slightly peaty, grassy and on apples. General Impression: A light, fresh and nice whisky. Maybe not very complex, but very satisfying. Rating: 13/20 |
Isle of Jura 10 YO, OB, 40%, 1980s. Price: N.A.
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very malty and spicy, with a hint of sea breeze and a lot of caramel.
Taste: Smooth, malty, slightly spicy and a hint of salt. The finish is short to medium, smooth, slightly salty and on caramel.
General Impression: A correct Isle of Jura, with a good dose of caramel.
Rating: 09/20 FP:D1
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Lochside 1981 for La Maison Du Whisky, Gordon & Macphail, 56.1%, B: 2009, 199 bottles. Colour: Gold-old gold. Nose: Rich, slightly floral, with some marzipan, smooth, and on nice fruity notes of tangerine, melon, mango and some honey. Taste: Smooth, mellow, slightly spicy and floral, with light malty notes, on pastry and rather fruity. The finish is long, smooth, mellow, slightly spicy and smoky, with some almond pastry. General Impression: One of the best recent Lochisde, well balanced, smooth, mellow and very enjoyable. Rating: 16/20 |
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Lochside 1965 Connoisseur's choice, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%, Price: N. A. Colour: Old gold. Nose: Very fruity, rich, thick, oaky, slightly floral and grassy, with some peat smoke and almond, on peach, apricots, melon and watermelon. Taste: Rich, salty, spicy, slightly peppery, fruity, with some peat smoke and caramel. The finish is medium, thick, syrupy, spicy, oaky, fruity, slightly mineral and ashy, with some walnut. General Impression: A most satisfying rich and complex Lochside, rather heavy. Rating: 16/20 |
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Bunnahabhain 1978, 30 YO, The Bottlers, 52.8%, B:2009, cask 7586. Price: Colour: Gold. Nose: Maritime, mineral, on diesel smoke, old seaweeds, with quite some peat smoke and some bitter and quince notes. Taste: Smooth, very grassy, smoky, mineral, on strong tobacco notes, anis seeds, and nice round fruity flavours. A nice interplay between bitter, smoky and fruity notes. Diluted, it becomes more bitter and smokier. The finish is medium, round, sweet, salty, maritime, with some fruity notes. General Impression: An excellent mineral and smoky Bunnahabhain. Rating: 17/20 |
Bowmore 1972 Waldhaus am See, 36 YO, Signatory, 44.6%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Some wild game, peat smoke, leather, tangerine, orange, heather, with some maritime flavours. Rich and intense.
Taste: Very salty, maritime, slightly mineral, tarry, ashy, with a good dose of peat smoke, on tangerine, orange, heather and a hint of rubber. The finish is long, slightly dry, peaty, salty, on tangerine and tobacco smoke.
General Impression: An excellent smooth and mellow sherried Bowmore.
Rating: 18/20 FP: H6
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Bowmore 1968 Millennium Edition, 31 YO, Signatory, 44%, B: 1999, cask 3820, 252 bottles. Price: Colour: Gold. Nose: Smooth, mellow, very fruity, on mango, papaya, passion fruit and a hint of peat smoke. Excellent. Taste: Start on smooth floral notes of linden blossom, with a lingering dry peat smoke, then it becomes slightly spicy, with subtle notes of guava, mango, and papaya. Extremely complex. The finish is long, smooth, subtle, slightly peaty and fruity. Diluted, it becomes more smoky. General Impression: A superb Bowmore, with the typical fruity notes of a 1968 Bowmore. Subtle and very complex. Very good. Rating: 19/20 |
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Bowmore 1969, 32 YO, Duncan Taylor, 41.2%, B: 2002, cask 6087, 234 bottles. Price: Colour: Old gold. Nose: Smooth to very smooth, floral (camomile), slightly peaty, round, with a thick juiciness developing progressively. Taste: Smooth, juicy, fruity, peaty, thick, slightly dry, on peach, mango, guava. With some water, it becomes heavier and more fruity. The finish is long, dry, peaty, fruity, thick, juicy and slightly drying. General Impression: An excellent old Bowmore, fruity, but also thick and drying. Rating: 17/20 |
Springbank 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Clean, malty, slightly smoky, on tangerine and blood orange, with some slight farmy notes.
Taste: Clean, salty, slightly spicy and earthy, on nutmeg, with some smoke, tangerine, orange and some chocolate. The finish is medium to long, on treacle, milk chocolate, orange and some nutmeg.
General Impression: A very round and clean Springbank, with a good proportion of sherry?
Rating: 15/20 FP:F3
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Springbank 12 YO "black and white label", OB, 43 % GL, B: 1980s. Price: N.A. Colour: Gold. Nose: Smoky, peaty, tarry, ashy, mineral, slightly bitter and austere. Very nice! Taste: Mineral, ashy, salty, maritime, spicy, on peat smoke, some citric fruits and almond, with some pineapple and melon. Complex. The finish is long, peaty, smoky, ashy, mineral and austere. General Impression: An excellent peaty, mineral and ashy Springbank, very much to my taste. Rating: 19/20 |
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Glendronach 1988 Authentic collection, 10 YO, Cadenhead's, 61.3%, B: 1999. 426 bottles, Price: Colour: Gold. Nose: Rich, intense, floral, round, slightly peaty and grassy. Diluted, more on toffee. Taste: Rich, creamy, spicy, floral, full bodied and on peat smoke. Diluted, it becomes very much on toffee and vanilla custard. The finish is long, rich, creamy, floral, spicy, slightly grasy and smoky, with some honey. General Impression: A very nice rich and intense Glendronach. Rating: 16/20 |
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Port Ellen 1978 for Alambic Classic Old Malt Cask, 57.4%, Douglas Laing, B: 2004. Price: Colour: Pale gold-gold. Nose: Light, very floral, slightly soapy, peaty, with some melon and jelly fruits, as well as some farmy and salty notes. Taste: Light, smooth, floral, medium peated, slightly citric, on tobacco smoke, melon, mango and with some bitterness. Diluted, it becomes smoother, fruitier and more okay. The finish is medium to long, smooth, fruity, with some peaty bitterness. General Impression: A surprisingly smooth and fruity Port Ellen, not very peaty. Rating: 16/20 |
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Port Ellen 12 YO, James MacArthur, 62.7%, B: 1980s. Price: N.A. Colour: Old gold. Nose: Round, peaty, quite floral, mineral and tarry, with only slight maritime flavours. Taste: Very peaty, dry, citric, then it becomes fruity, on pineapple and papaya, with some round grassy notes and slightly tarry notes, as well as some old seaweeds. Diluted, it becomes more intense, citric, salty and on pepper. The finish is long, dry, peaty, round, and slightly mineral, on crystallized citric fruits with a long and complex development. Diluted, it becomes drier, more peaty and bitter. General Impression: An excellent Port Ellen, rather different from the current bottlings, getting dangerously explosive once diluted. Superb. Rating: 19/20 |
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Ardbeg Rollercoaster Committee, OB, 57.3%, B: 2010, 15,000 bottles. Price: Colour: Old gold. Nose: Maritime, slightly young, peaty, on seaweeds, tar and some pear drops. Taste: Very oaky, spicy, round, salty, tarry, maritime, with a light fruitiness and on vanilla. The finish is medium, maritime, peaty, round and on vanilla. General Impression: A good Ardbeg, with the influence of the first fill bourbon cask well present. A modern whisky. Thank you Bernhard. Rating: 14/20 |
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Ardbeg 1994, 15 YO, Cadenhead's, 55.7%, B: 2010, cask 1058, 273 bottles. Price: Colour: Straw. Nose: Peaty, farmy, round, maritime, rich, and on sea weeds. Taste: Peaty, salty, maritime, round, slightly tarry, on iodine, liquorice root and a hint of bitterness. The finish is long, peaty, maritime, tarry, on iodine and seaweeds. General Impression: A very nice and classical Ardbeg, rounder and more farmy than the sister bottling (56%). Rating: 16/20 |
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