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31 Dec 10

Auchentoshan 1957, 50 YO, OB, 49.1%, B: 2007, cask 480, 144 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Rich, thick, on fruity notes of orange, tangerine, papaya, passion fruits, with some blackcurrant and peat smoke.
Taste: Rich, thick, fruity, slightly tannic, bold, almost syrupy, oaky, on stewed fruits, blackcurrant and some exotic fruits. Complex, and diluted, some citrus notes (pink grapefruit) are released. The finish is long to very long, with the same notes as on the palate.
General Impression: A beautiful old whisky, rich, intense, complex and with only faint tannic notes. Very well done.
Rating: 18/20 FP:G2

30 Dec 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Clynelish 1972 for La Maison Du Whisky, 38 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 55% B : 2010. Price :
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Oaky, rather light, spicy, slightly peppery and floral, clean, slightly tannic with some citric aromas in the background.
Taste: Spicy, peppery, mustardy (Dijon mustard), citric, very intense, with a whiff of smoke. The finish is medium to long, dry, spicy, waxy and citric.
General Impression: A very good Clynelish, more intense than its 2009 sister bottle, but also drier and more tannic.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C2

29 Dec 10

Clynelish 1972 for La Maison Du Whisky, 36 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 59.4%, B : 2009. Price :
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Waxy, floral, slightly smoky, fruity, mustardy and on elderberries.
Taste: Rich, spicy, mustardy, complex, slightly tannic and on grapes. With time, it becomes spicier and citric (grapefruit and lime). The finish is medium to long, waxy and citric.
General Impression: An excellent Clynelish, rich, complex and with a very pleasant nose.
Rating: 17/20 FP:B2

28 Dec 10

Clynelish 1972, 38 YO, Whisky Fässle, 46.2%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Floral, spicy, rather round and oaky, on vanilla and some elderberry flowers. A rather round Clynelish with the wood contributing to the strong vanilla flavours.
Taste: Light, slightly thin, subtle, citric, slightly waxy and smoky, with some vanilla and melon. The finish is long, woody, slightly dry and citric.
General Impression: A rather woody Clynelish with the spirit struggling against the wood.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B2

24 Dec 10

Clynelish 1972 Private Stock, 38 YO, The Whisky Agency, 45.8%, B: 2010, 134 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Round, waxy, floral, on elderberry and with a faint smokiness and tangerine notes.
Taste:  Citric, smooth, spicy, slightly salty and smoky, subtle, on almond, tangerine, some orange and elderberries. The finish is long, waxy, slightly citric, smoky and slightly peaty.
General Impression: A very elegant Clynelish, maybe not as intense as some recently 1972s Clynelish bottlings, but subtler and slightly more complex. Most enjoyable.
Rating: 18/20 FP:E3

23 Dec 10

Port Charlotte An Turas Mor, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Rich, peaty, intense, maritime, on iodine, old bonfire smoke.
Taste; Light, salty, maritime, on iodine, seawater, with some graphite and peat. The finish is long, mineral, peaty, tarry, ashy, smoky and on liquorice.
General Impression: A very nice, light and complex Port Charlotte. The Port Charlotte has gained a pleasant complexity over the years.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B7

22 Dec 10

Bruichladdich Sherry classic, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: On toffee, fudge, and honey. Very round.
Taste: Rich, spicy, salty, slightly peppery, with some cinnamon, orange, toffee and honey. The finish is medium, salty, slightly smoky and on fudge.
General Impression: A round Bruichladdich, with a lot of toffee and fudge. Slightly one-dimensional.
Rating: 12/20 FP:F2

21 Dec 10

Bruichladdich Laddie Classic, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, sweet, very juicy and with some delicate smoke.
Taste: Light, salty, slightly spicy, juicy, on coconut, vanilla and some smoke. Rather sweet. The finish is medium, salty, slightly maritime and dry, with some smoke.
General Impression: A very juicy, fresh and sweet Bruichladdich, with a very fair proportion of refill casks contributing to the lightness of the whisky and allowing the character of the distillery to be more present. Old style
Rating: 13/20 FP:B2

19 Dec 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Parker’s Heritage Wheated Mash, 10 YO, OB, 43.9%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold - amber.
Nose: Spirity, on apricots, peach, melon and some butter. Rounder and bolder than the other Parker’s Heritage.
Taste: Buttery, on apricots, some green apples, roasted buts, some grass and chocolate. The finish is medium to long, syrupy, sweet, on apples, apricots and melon.
General Impression: A very elegant, creamy, slightly acidic Whiskey. I really appreciated it.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C1

18 Dec 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Parker’s Heritage 27 YO, OB, 48%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold - amber.
Nose:  On treacle, apricots, some wood spices and BBQ sauce. More complex and subtle than the Golden Anniversary bottling.
Taste: Rich, spicy, complex, sweet, on corn and maple syrup, developing over time. Complex. The finish is medium to long, syrupy, sugary, and slightly bitter, on apricots.
General Impression: A very nice Bourbon, complex and highly drinkable. Better with some water.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B1

17 Dec 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Parker’s Golden Anniversary, OB, 50%, B: 2010. 4500 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: On treacle, apricots and cooked cereals.
Taste: Spirity, spicy, syrupy, on ginger, chilli, wax and maple syrup. The finish is short, vegetal, syrupy and sugary.
General Impression: A clean, sharp and spicy Whiskey. I am not very used in tasting Bourbon, therefore the rating below is only indicative.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B1

16 Dec 10

Octomore 3_152 Ochmadh-mor, 5 YO, OB, 59%, B: 2010, 18’000 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Starts on vanilla and dry smoky notes, with some slight maritime and floral influence. It takes some time before the tarry and peaty notes are dominating.
Taste: Salty, peaty, very smoky, slightly ash and on liquorice. The finish is very long, dry, tarry, on dry ashes and lot of dry smoke, with some light mineral smoke.
General Impression: A very dry and extremely smoky Octomore. The smoky notes are considerably stronger than the peaty notes. Not as complex as the Port Charlotte, but more extreme. For the peat and smoke freaks.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A9

15 Dec 10

Kilkerran Work in Progress 2010, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Juicy, sweet, malty and on wood spices.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, oaky, spicy, salty to very salty. The finish is medium, juicy, spicy, with some grapes.
General Impression: A very pleasant, slightly oily, spicy and complex Killkerran from the Glengyle distillery. A nice improvement over the first relase
Rating: 13/20 FP:A2

14 Dec 10

Whisky Schiff Zurich

Kilchoman 2007 Single Cask for the Whisky Schiff, 3 YO, OB, 62.1%, B: 2010 Cask 336/07. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Restrained, peaty and with some fudge.
Taste: Very dry, rough and spirity. The finish is medium, dry, astringent, tarry and ashy.
General Impression: A young, rough and spirity Kilchoman. Not very much to my liking.
Rating: 08/20 FP:A8

13 Dec 10

Whisky Schiff Zurich

Kilchoman Winter Release 2010, 3 YO, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very dry, tarry, ashy and very smoky. Young.
Taste: Very salty, young, on sea water, iodine, tar and seaweeds. Rather sweet.  The finish is short to medium, ashy, smoky and tarry.
General Impression: A very smoky version of Kilchoma for the first version signed by the new distillery manager, John Maclellan.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A7

12 Dec 10

Whisky Schiff Zurich

Highland Park 12 YO Saint Magnus Edition 2, OB; 55.0%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: On vegetamine, yeast extract, some rubber, toffee and burnt seaweeds.
Taste: Peaty, salty, very maritime, on burnt rubber and some sulphur. The finish is long, bitter, rubbery and sulphury.
General Impression: Not my style of Highland with its intense flavours of burnt tyres and matches. I liked the first version very much, but this one is a different beat, with probably a fair proportion of first fill sherry casks.
Rating: 08/20 FP:H5

11 Dec 10

Whisky Schiff Zurich

Port Ellen 1983, 27 YO, Signatory, 59.0%, B: 2010, cask 517, 608 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Round, maritime, on bonfire smoke, seaweeds, vanilla and a mixture of fudge and light rubber notes.
Taste: Very salty, round, fragrant, maritime. Diluted, it becomes more mineral and citric. The finish is medium, round, smoky, salty, slightly bitter and tannic.
General Impression: A very good Port Ellen, quite round, but showing some woody influence.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B6

10 Dec 10

Port Ellen 1978 10th Annual Release, 31 YO, OB, 54.6%, B: 2010, 3000 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Delicate, maritime, peaty, on seashells, graphite, some citrus and ashes.
Taste: Mineral, slightly citric, maritime, smoky, peaty, on cold ashes and graphite. Complex. The finish is long, mineral, slightly dry and citric, ashy and complex.
General Impression: I just loved this Port Ellen and the interplay between the mineral peaty notes and the citric-bitter flavours, like for instance the best old Glen Garioch. My favourite annual release so far.
Rating: 19/20 FP:B6

09 Dec 10

Balblair 1976, OB, 46%, B:2009. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Malty, smooth, floral, round, on heather, tangerine, with some orange and a hint of smoke.
Taste: Sweet, very smooth, on juicy malt, tangerine and some heather honey. The finish is medium to long, slightly bitter, dry, with a hint of toffee, tangerine, and honey.
General Impression: Very old Bablair are becoming rare. This one is not only of the last of the 1970s, but it is also very good!
Rating: 15/20 FP:F1

08 Dec 10

Balblair 1991, OB, 43%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fresh, oaky, slightly fruity, round and on heather.
Taste: Fresh, oaky, slightly floral and sweet, with some honey and cooked apples. The finish is medium to long, thicker than expected, fruity, slightly spicy and on toffee.
General Impression: A nice made and satisfying dram.
Rating: 13/20 FP:C1

07 Dec 10

Balblair 1966, 38 YO, OB, 44%. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Mellow, round, strong sherry notes, and on leather.
Taste: Quite oaky, spicy, on tangerine, orange and menthol. The finish is quite short, relatively dry, on tangerine, orange and a lot of berries.
General Impression: A plesant Balblair, quite thick and mouthcoating. Thank you Pierre.
Rating: 16/20

03 Dec 10

Balblair 1990, 20 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 53.7%, B: 2010, sherry butt 166, 587 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Intense, rich, on toffee, caramel, chocolate, orange, honey, with light floral notes.
Taste: Very smooth, rich, complex, on walnuts, nutmeg, cloves and other spices, leather, tangerine, and some honey. The finish is long, slightly dry, rich, nutty, spicy, with some heather, honey and pineapples.
General Impression: An excellent whisky, rich, complex, very sherried, but without being rubbery. I enjoyed it very much.
Rating: 16/20 FP:G1

02 Dec 10

Balblair 1989, OB, B: 2003, 46%. Price:
Colour: Gold- old gold
Nose: Very floral (violet), malty, some hay and honey. Quite fragrant and intense nose.
Taste: Malty, bitter, smoky, clean, on honey and with floral notes (violet and jasmine). The finish is of medium length, slightly dry, on bitter toffee, with some vanilla and a zest of orange, with some tobacco smoke.
General Impression: A floral whisky with a nice honey flavour and easy to drink.
Rating: 12/20

01 Dec 10

Balblair 1975, OB, 46%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Creamy, smooth, malty, fruity, with some peat smoke, honey and juicy barley.
Taste: Quite bitter, spicy, on coffee beans, smoke, and dry raisins. The finish is medium, bitter, smoky, spicy, on coffee chocolate.
General Impression:  The nose is pleasantly smooth and fruity, while it is rather bitter and on coffee on the palate.
Rating: 13/20 FP:E2

30 Nov 10

Balblair 1966, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%, B: 2003. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Round, on juicy malt, dry peat smoke, and ripe fruits (peach and tangerine).
Taste: Malty, smoky, very smooth, floral, slightly grassy and floral, and on juicy malt. The finish is medium, creamy, on juicy malt, old peat smoke and ripe fruits.
General Impression: An old Balblair, very smooth and almost silky, with some pleasant peat smoke. Some additional %ABV would have probably revealed more complexity.
Rating: 16/20

29 Nov 10

Balblair 1990 For Switzerland, 20 YO, Adelphi, 48%, B: 2010, 209 b., Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Soft, malty, rich, on honey and some cream fudge, as well as green apples.
Taste: Slightly spicy, soft, on green fruits and some apples. The finish is medium, soft, round, malty, slightly floral, on apples and some honey. Diluted, it becomes more waxy and on bubble gum.
General Impression: A sweet, green and soft Balblair.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

26 Nov 10

Glencadam 1985, 16 YO, Chieftain’s, 46%, Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Floral, slightly earthy and oaky, with some vanilla.
Taste: Oaky, juicy, floral, with a light spiciness and some smoke. Nicely balanced. The finish is medium, floral, grassy, slightly smoky, with some tobacco leaves.
General Impression: A very nice “light” rich and grassy Glencadam, with some heavy “Higlands” notes. Very pleasant.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

25 Nov 10

Springbank 1998 Geigy Cask 4, 12 YO, Adelphi, 51.5%, B: 2010, 253 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Malty, round, with very strong cream fudge flavours, on spices, some sea brine, honey,and chocolate.
Taste: Salty, rather maritime, slightly floral, very rubbery (fresh & high quality rubber), on fudge, chocolate and coffee beans. The finish is medium, slightly salty, on fudge, lots of rubber, spices (cloves), nutmeg and hints of sulphur.
General Impression: A nicely made whisky and pleasant if you like the sherry-rubbery type of whiskies. This is the first of the 3 casks from Dr. R. Geigy bottled by Adelphi for Switzerland.
Rating: 13/20 FP:H3

24 Nov 10

Glencadam 30 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2009. Cask 2355. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Heavy, rich, floral, on raisins, dark fruits  and some good mushrooms.
Taste: Earthy, floral, slightly bitter, on old wood furnitures and mushrooms. The finish is medium and on the same notes.
General Impression: I don’t know if something went wrong with my sample, but this whisky was rather special in terms of flavours and balance.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C2

23 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glencadam 15 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2009, Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Earthy, quite heavy, on cooked apples, cider, with some smoke.
Taste: Sweet, malty, quite spicy (ginger and chilli), then earthy and humic, heavily bodied, with a hint of smoke, fresh apples, fudge and chocolate. The finish is medium, slightly syrupy and creamy, earthy, and on Puh-Er.
General Impression: A very pleasant whisky, contrasting with the 10 YO, giving the impression that a long maturation is needed to Glencadam to fully express itself.
Rating: 14/20 FP: D3

21 Nov 10

Glencadam 10 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2009 Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Light, fresh, grassy, slightly earthy and on apples.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, a bit rough, light in flavours, fresh, on straw, with some bitterness. Diluted, it becomes quite smoky. The finish is medium to long, dry, a bit rough, bitter and on dry grass.
General Impression: A "wild west" whisky in mutation. There are some interesting flavours, but unbalanced.
Rating: 09/20 FP:B3

20 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glencadam 21 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Heavy, oaky, grassy, on cold smoke. Heavier and more “rustic” than the 14 YO. With some heather notes.
Taste: Grassy, floral, juicy, with only a very slight oaky influence, on cold ashes and smoke. Old style. The finish is medium to long, grassy, floral, on tobacco leaves.
General Impression: A very nice example of a “Highland Whisky”. For me, Glencadam produces whiskies that caracterize the Highlands whisky style some 50 years ago. I liked it very much.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B2

19 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glencadam 14 YO Oloroso finish, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Floral, grassy, oaky, with spicy-nutty notes. Not much sherry influence on the nose.
Taste: Spicy, oaky, with some tangerine and orange juice and slightly earthy. The finish is medium, bitter, rubbery and earthy.
General Impression: this finish does not convince me. To my opinion, this creates more unbalance than anything else. I would have much preferred a full maturation in Oloroso casks,
Rating: 09/20 FP:C2

18 Nov 10

Glenlochy 1980 (62.14), 26 YO, SMWS, 52.8%, 121 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Floral, light, slighltly oaky and with some saw dust.
Taste: Light, floral, fragrant, slightly bitter and rough, with some toffee and vanilla. The finish is medium, fragrant and slightly smoky.
General Impression: A decent whisky, but rather rough, that did not succeed in seducing me.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A2

17 Nov 10

Glenlochy 1975 Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2001, 258 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Smooth, light, floral, smoky, with some quince and Mirabelle. Very nice.
Taste: Light, slightly waxy, with light fruity notes and Mirabelle, as well as some honey. Rather complex, with some peat smoke. Subtle. The finish is medium, smooth, slightly peaty and mineral, with some fruits.
General Impression: Compared to the Glenlochy distilled in the 1980s, this one has some nice and delicate peat smoke and slightly heavier.
Rating: 16/20 FP:B3

16 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glenlochy 1982, 27 YO, Signatory, 52.8%, B: 2010. Cask 2649, 265 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Floral to very floral, light, fragrant, with a slight oakiness.
Taste: Light, smooth, fragrant, on honey, heather, with some nuts, smoke and smooth light fruity notes. Diluted, it becomes smoother, slightly waxy and with some citric notes. The finish is medium, waxy-resinous, slightly bitter, smooth, floral, smoky and with some honey.
General Impression: A very pleasant and floral Glenlochy from a long gone distillery.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C2

13 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Flaming Heart 10th Anniversary, OB, 48.9%, B: 2010. 4186 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Nicely smoky and peaty, round and harmonious, with light fresh floral notes.
Taste: Juicy, fresh, peaty, maritime,slightly waxy, with some seaweeds, light floral and sweet fruity notes. Very well made. The finish is long, peaty, smooth, round, floral, with some juicy undertones. Very long peaty retro-olfaction.
General Impression: A very much enjoyable, well made and harmonious whisky. Very good work by Compass Box (John Glaser).
Rating: 16/20 FP:C6

12 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Hakushu Heavily Peated, OB, 48%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Pale gold-gold.
Nose: Clean, polished, with lots of exotic wood, rose and jasmine water, and some clean peat.
Taste: Clean, rather silky (paraffine) and smooth, on dry and clean peat, with with exotic wood, rose and jasmine water. The finish is medium, smooth, floral, and on dry peat.
General Impression: A smooth and elegant Hakushu. Labelled as heavily peated, the peat level is closing to medium peated Scotch single malt. With its smooth silky and floral notes, it offers an interesting contrast to the dry Scotch peated whisky. A very “Japanese” whisky.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C5

11 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Karuizawa 1968, OB, 61.1%, B: 2010, cask 6955, 210 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very smooth, floral, fragrant, with some peat smoke, on sandalwood, tangerine, some tannins and rosewater. Excellent.
Taste: Dry, astringent, floral, on Pu Her, pineapple, tangerine, leather, tannins, and oranges mixed with oriental spices. The finsh is medium to long, dry, tannic, on Pu Her, pineapples, bitter orange and some fragrant aromas.
General Impression: The nose is superb, rich and smooth, as for the previous 1967, but the wood starts to show off afterwards, becoming very astringent.
Rating: 16/20 FP:G3

10 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix, OB, 47.6%, B:2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Floral, light, vanilla, with some honey and fruity notes.
Taste: Smooth, oaky, juicy, floral, fruity, with quite some vanilla, toffee,  and liquorices sweets. Very nice. The finish is medium to long, rich, quite fruity and oaky.
General Impression: The vatting of bourbon and sherry casks works very well and results in a balanced and very enjoyable Glenffidich. If you haven’t tasted a Glenfiddich recently, give a try to this one.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C2

09 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glenffidich 30 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Light, floral, fragrant, round and on hay.
Taste: Smooth, round, floral, on vanilla, with some fudge, tangerine as well as slight smokiness. The finish is medium, round, on vanilla and toffee.
General Impression: The increase proportion of bourbon (first fill?) is very noticeable and contributes to a more oaky and modern style, in line with the new repackaging. Different from the previous and smoother version.
Rating: 13/20 FP:C2

07 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Kilchoman Single Cask, 3 YO, OB, 61.9%, B: 2010, sherry butt 322. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Smooth, young, slightly dry, on peat, toffee and some chocolate.
Taste: Peaty, young, on green fruits, hemp rope and toffee. The finish is medium and on the same notes.
General Impression: An expression rather similar to the cask 211, but with more roundness and toffee.
Rating: 11/20 FP:D7

06 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Kilchoman Single Cask, 3 YO. OB, 61.9%, B: 2010, cask 211/07 Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Smooth, clean, young, with the peaty notes gaining in strength over time.
Taste: Dry, bitter, rather spirity, floral, peaty and maritime. A rather rough whisky. The finish is medium, bitter, dry, peaty, on grapefruit and liquorice root.
General Impression: A rather young and rough expression that I would have preferred to taste in a few years from now.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A7

05 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Kilchoman Summer Release 2010, 3 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price;
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Peaty, dry, on hemp rope, tar, ashes, Very nice and seems much older.
Taste: Oaky, peaty, tarry, with lots of liquorice root, on hemp rope and some seaweeds. Remarkably complex for its age. The finish is medium, peaty, slightly salty, dry, with some seaweeds.
General Impression: A well matured Kilchoman, rather complex and most enjoyable. My favorite Kilchoman so far. Very promising.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B7

04 Nov 10

Bowmore Gold 1964, 44 YO, OB, 42.4% B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Extremely fruity, on exotic fruits, mango, papaya, guava and pink grapefruit. Intense. Diluted, it becomes smokier and maritime.
Taste: Smooth, sweet, fruity, salty, very slightly mineral, slightly smoky, with a slight bitterness, tobacco leaves, tangerine and pink grapefruit. The finish is long, very fruity, on tropical and citric fruits, with a lot of pink grapefruit.
General Impression: These old Bowmore are simply excellent, with an extreme fruitiness. Pure pleasure.
Rating: 19/20 FP:F3

03 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Islay (Bowmore) Prestontfield 1990, Signatory, 50.4%,B:2010, cask 1065, 294 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: A very nice floral, peaty, subtle and quite fruity Bowmore.
Taste: Smooth, juicy, lightly peated, floral, with some sweet fruity notes. The finish is medium, smooth, maritime, salty, on sweet fruity notes.
General Impression: A very good Bowmore, lightly peated, subtle, on sweet fruity notes.
Rating: 14/20 FP:B5

02 Nov 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Bowmore 1994 for LMDW, Berry Bros & Rudd, 56.2%, B: 2009, cask 1686. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Clean to very clean, peaty, maritime, on hemp rope, and pipe smoke.
Taste: Very dry, peaty, salty, rough, with some vanilla. The finish is medium, dry, tarry, bitter, salty, rough, with some vanilla.
General Impression: A very clean Bowmore, from a rather inactive cask. A rough whisky for rough guys.
Rating: 09/20 FP: A7

31 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Bowmore 1998 for LMDW, Signatory, 46%, B: 2010, cask 800191, 756 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Peaty, tarry, maritime, salty, with some fish, on tangerine, leather, and some orange.
Taste: Surprisingly light, fresh, juicy, peaty, maritime, and slightly tarry. The finish is medium, dry to very dry, tarry, rough. Does not stand water very well.
General Impression: A good but rather dry sherried expression of Bowmore.
Rating: 14/20 FP: G6

30 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Bowmore Tempest Batch 2, 10 YO, OB, 56% B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Peaty, very maritime, citric, on seaweeds and a whiff of diesel smoke. Clean. The finish is medium, peaty, citric, on vanilla and liquorice.
General Impression: A very good Bowmore, of the same quality at the first batch, but more on citric notes.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A7

27 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Aberlour A’Bunnadh Batch 29, OB, 59.9%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Malty, spirity, on honey, heather, leather, balsamic vinegar, spices, orange and a clean sherry.
Taste: Round, spicy to very spicy, on balsamic vinegar, cola, fizzy orange drink, leather, honey, heather and sherry. The finish is long, rich, spicy, on cola, orange, and sherry.
General Impression: A very nice A’bunnah, with a clean sherry and lots of spices, giving the impression that some cola extracts have been added.
Rating: 14/20 FP: H1

26 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

White Oak 5 YO, OB, 45%, B: 2010. Price: N.A.
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, oaky, young, on vanilla, with some grass and flowers.
Taste: Light, grassy, juicy, oaky, spicy, creamy, on vanilla and some smoke. The finish is medium, slightly bitter, smooth and oaky.
General Impression: Still young, but very smooth. A very promising whisky from the young Japanese distillery of White Oak.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B1

23 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Balvenie 12 YO Signature batch 3, OB, 40%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Malty, floral, rich , on honey, with some tangerine, grape and a hint of smoke.
Taste: Malty, slightly mineral, on heather, honey, with some cardboard and tangerine. Old style and fresher than previously The finish is medium to long, malty, grassy, on honey and some tangerine.
General Impression: A charming dram, with a nice and slight sherry(?) influence and some freshness giving the impression of an “old-style” whisky.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D2

21 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glenglassaugh Manager’s Legacy 1 “Jim Cryle” 1974, OB, 52.9% B: 2010. 200 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smoky, rather peaty and farmy, with some bitter floral notes (eucalyptus and lavender). Intense, complex, but very different from the Glenglassaugh 30 YO 2nd release.
Taste: Spicy, bitter (pine wax, lavender and eucalyptus). With time, it becomes rounder, smoother, waxy, slightly fruit, with some peat smoke and mineral flavours. The finish is long, dry, bitter, smoky and mineral.
General Impression: A very surprising Glenglassaugh and simply a rather unique whisky. It reminds me somewhat of an old Inchgower from Duncan Taylor, but with a better balance and more complexity. This is a playful, maybe difficult whisky, with a pleasant dry bitterness mixed with some round fruity notes. A whisky worth tasting.
Rating: 17/20 FP:D4

19 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Balblair 1978, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Rich, slightly grassy, on heather, honey, some vanilla, pineapples, and maybe some tangerine.
Taste: Spicy, slightly grassy, on pineapple, some green apples and a touch of leather. Fresh. The finish is medium, fresh, oaky and slightly grassy.
General Impression: I liked very much the 2000. The 1978 is maybe less extreme than the 2000 (in terms of freshness), but it is smoother and more complex.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C1

16 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Balblair 1989, OB, 43%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Rich, grassy, on heather, honey, with some cardboard and sweet fruits.
Taste: Light, fresh, grassy, slightly humic, on heather and some green apples. The finish is short to medium, grassy, and on sweet apples.
General Impression: A light and grassy Balblair, that I have problems to characterize.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B1

15 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Balblair 2000, OB, 43%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Fresh, juicy, slightly grassy, as well as some heather, apricots, peach and some green fruits.
Taste: Fresh, slightly grassy, juicy, on green apples, pears, a hint of smoke and some berries. The finish is medium, very fresh, on green apples and pears, with a light grassiness.
General Impression: What a freshness! I don’t like them young, but this one is a solution of youth.  A different expression of Balblair, very fresh and extremely drinkable.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A1

14 Oct 10

Glen Garioch 1958, 46 YO, OB, 43%, 336 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Smooth, fruity, slightly earthy, with some bold peat, on grapefruit, papaya, guava, passion fruit, as well as some heather and tar. Excellent and keeps developing over time.
Taste: Dry, tarry, earthy, on cold ashes, burn heather, with slight bitter notes of grapefruit, but also with some sweet fruity notes of papaya and guava at the same time, as well as a few drops of passion fruits. Austere, complex, and mineral. The finish is long, mineral, peaty, smoky and bitter.
General Impression: A beautiful old Glen Garioch, with a superb interplay between the austere, peaty, bitter and fruity notes. A rather difficult malt, but I just love it.
Rating: 19/20 FP:B5

13 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glen Garioch 1991, OB, 54.7%, B: 2010, batch N°38. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fresh, clean, oaky, slightly smoky, on heather, with some canned fruits and rather floral.
Taste: Smoky, spicy, floral, rich, intense, slightly citric and bitter, oaky, on vanilla, tobacco leaves and smoke. Rather complex. The finish is medium to long, spicy, oaky, smoky, with some bitter (gentian) notes, as well as with a citric zest.
General Impression: A very good surprise and very different from the 1990 batch: smokier and bitterer. With this batch, we are going back to the old style of Glen Garioch. Very good.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B4

12 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glen Garioch 12 YO, OB, 48%, B: 2010. Price: 
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Fresh, floral, slightly grassy, on heather, vanilla and with some tangerine.
Taste: Smooth, oaky, on freshly cut pears, with some heather, banana, vanilla, and sweet fruits, as well as some spices.  Nicely balanced. The finish is medium, oaky, on vanilla, with some liquorice and floral notes.
General Impression: A more complex, smoother expression than the Founder’s reserve. A charming dram.
Rating: 13/20 FP:C2

10 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Glenmorangie Finealta, OB, 46%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, malty, slightly smoky, with some vanilla, tangerine, orange, and chocolate chips, as well as with some heather.
Taste: On juicy oaky, fresh, light, rather grassy, with some light toffee notes, some sultanas and pears and a hint of smoke. Very smooth. The finish is medium, juicy, oaky, grassy, fresh, light and with some pear drops.
General Impression: A very nice, fresh and juicy Glenmorangie, rather old fashioned but most enjoyable. Some lightly peated barley has been used, but the peat is barely perceptible.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C2

09 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Karuizawa 1975, OB, 61.8%, B: 2010, cask 6736, Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Rich, intense, smoky, slightly peaty, on plums, with some very nice round floral notes and a beautiful oak and sandalwood flavours, mixed with some chocolate and fruits.
Taste: Round, smooth, very sherried, on candied fruits, orange, tangerine, pineapple, some bold peat smoke and crushed barley. The finish is long, round, smooth, nicely sherried and on cardamom.
General Impression: An excellent and flawless Karuizawa, with a beautiful sherry. A real pleasure.
Rating: 18/20 FP:H3

08 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Karuizawa 1976, OB, 63.6%, B: 2010, cask 7817. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Rich, intense, floral to very floral, with just an ounce of peat smoke and some exotic fruitiness.
Taste: Fragrant, floral, slightly dry, spicy (pepper), on exotic wood and spices, with a nice subtle sherry and just a touch of rubber. The finish is medium to long, clean, floral, with some pleasant exotic wood.
General Impression: An excellent and most enjoyable Karuizawa, spicier and slightly more floral than the 1975 vintage.
Rating: 18/20 FP:I3

07 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Lagavulin 12 YO, OB, 56.5%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour:  Gold.
Nose: Very peaty, maritime, on seaweeds, hemp rope, with some sweet citric notes.
Taste: Dry, salty, peaty, slightly metallic, maritime, slightly floral (bitter), on seaweeds, pink grapefruit, tar, cold ashes. The finish is long, peaty, salty, maritime, on pink grapefruit, graphite and cold ashes.
General Impression: Compared to the 2009 release, this forthcoming release is slightly more on citrus fruits and slightly smoother. As good as least year. Lagavulin rarely disappoint.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A6

06 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Isle of Jura 21 YO 200th Anniversary, 44%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Starts on mild spice, then on toffee, hay, some light fragrant floral notes as well as a touch of smoke and grapes.
Taste: Slightly oaky and spicy, salty, floral (violet), slightly winey, on treacle and toffee.  Diluted, it becomes more on toffee, tobacco leaves and white pepper. The finish is medium, round, smooth, malty, with some toffee and floral notes.
General Impression: a round expression of Isle or Jura, with some sweet caramel notes. Quite different from the older 21 YO, more round and complex. A pleasant whisky, from bourbon casks with a finish in a sherry cask from 1963.
Rating: 14/20 FP:E1

05 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Karuizawa 1994 Noh, 15 YO, Drink One, 62.7%, B: 2010, sherry butt 270, 480 bottles.Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very fragrant, on varnished oak, cherries, with some violet, eucalyptus and peat.
Taste: Clean, malty, very round and fragrant, oaky, with some rose water and incense, varnish and leather. The finish is medium, slightly peaty, very round, clean, with some fragrant and floral aromas, as well as cherries. The retro-olfaction is rather dry.
General Impression: A very clean and round Karuizawa, highly drinkable, and reminding me somewhat of the old sherried expressions of the most famous Speyside distillery.
Rating: 15/20 FP:F3

04 Oct 10

Special Whisky Live Paris

Aberlour 12 YO, 48%, Advanced sample. Price: N.A.
Colour:  Gold
Nose: Malty, clean, on heather, honey, a touch of bitter floral notes and some smoke. Intense. Diluted, it becomes more floral and rounder.
Taste: Malty, spicy, slightly oaky, on heather, honey, some smoke and apricots. Diluted, it becomes spicier, more oaky and on vanilla, as well as with some winey notes.The finish is medium, okay, slightly spicy, clean, on heather, with some apricots and vanilla.
General Impression: A barman working at the stand of Aberlour kindly poured me a wee sample of this new Aberlour to be bottled in 2011. The increase of strength is clearly perceptible, with rather intense flavours. The rich oaky and spicy notes are also suggestive of the use of a very high proportion of first fill bourbon casks. In any case, a well made and very enjoyable Aberlour, that should appeal to Aberlour drinkers (and others as well).
Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

03 Oct 10

Auchentoshan 1977, OB, 49%, B: 2010, 240 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: On warm malty notes, with some tangerine, smoke, juicy oak, papaya and guava. Simply lovely. Diluted, some delicate floral notes are released.
Taste: Deliciously sweet and smooth, very fruity, slightly smoky, on tangerine, papaya, and some passion fruits. The finish is long, rich, rather thick, round, very fruity and mellow.
General Impression:  A gorgeous and fruity Auchtentoshan, with a superb balance between the freshness and the complex rich heavy notes. Superb.
Rating: 19/20 FP:F2

 

21 Sep 10

Auchentoshan 1978, 18 YO, 58.8%, B: 1997. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Oaky, spicy, intense, malty, slightly nutty, fresh and on vanilla.
Taste: Rich, nutty, fresh, light, slightly oaky, with some vanilla and sultanas. The finish is medium, malty, spicy and on vanilla.
General Impression: A very nice rich and intense Auchentoshan.
Rating: 14/20 FP: B1

 

19 Sep 10

Glenfarclas 30 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Floral, on Christmas cake, spices, orange, leather, heather, some smoke and marzipan.
Taste: Spicy, oaky, rich, on Christmas cake, spices, orange, tangerine and some leather. The finish is medium to long and on the same notes.
General Impression: A nice old rich Glenfarclas.
Rating: 15/20 FP:H2

17 Sep 10

Glenfarclas 1986 Family Cask, OB, 49%, cask 2919. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very smooth and floral, on camomile and other subtle and smooth herbal infusions.
Taste: Floral, very smooth, slightly grassy?, on Turkish Delights and herbal infusions. The finish is medium, very soft and smooth, herbal and floral.
General Impression: Tasted blind, I would have never recognized it as a Glenfarclas. The Glenfarclas Family cask offers some surprises in terms of flavours.
Rating: 14/20 FP: C3

16 Sep 10

Glenfarclas 1953 Family cask, OB, 53.7%, Cask 486. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Very smooth, slightly peaty, floral, on heather, old peat, tangerine, orange, some cold ashes and some fudge.
Taste: Slightly rubbery and peaty, spicy, tannic, on red fruits, grapefruit, peat, parsley, leather and tannins. Very complex. The finish is dry, tannic, long, bitter, rubbery and on caramel.
General Impression: Very different from the 1952, more rubbery, more sherried and less peaty. Never the less, an excellent Glenfarclas.
Rating: 17/20 FP:G3

14 Sep 10

Glenfarclas 1952 Family Cask, OB, 56.5%, Cask 1712, 110 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Very round, floral, meaty (game), smoky, and on disinfectant. Complex and unusual for a Glenfarclas.
Taste: Smooth, meaty, peaty, dry, tannic, mineral, on wet leather, ashes, tangerine, eucalyptus and disinfectant. The finish is long, dry, tannic, coating, slightly rubbery, on eucalyptus, old smoke and slightly citric.
General Impression: A special Glenfarclas, mineral, peaty and on eucalyptus. Unusual but most pleasant.
Rating: 17/20 FP: E4

11 Sep 10

Glenfarclas 21 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose:  Light, floral, sweet, on vanilla and heather.
Taste: Very sweet and fruity, on vanilla, banana, tangerine and a hint of tropical fruits. The finish is medium, light, sweet, floral, fragrant, fruity, with a slight bitterness.
General Impression: Very different from the 15 YO, lighter, sweeter and containing a certain proportion of fino matured Glenfarclas. This is one of my favorite "daily dram" from Glenfarclas.
Rating: 15/20 FP:F2

 

10 Sep 10

Glenfarclas 1988 Family Cask, OB, 56.3%, Cask 7033. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Intense, rich, fruity, (mango, melon and guava), on round peat and juicy malt. Most pleasant.
Taste: Silky, fruity, smoky, with a hint of bitterness, then the spiciness develops, as well as the fruity-oaky flavours (mango and pineapple). The finish is long, silky, creamy, very fruity, on tangerine, melon and papaya.
General Impression: A most charming and sweet Glenfarclas, rich and complex. Lovely.
Rating: 18/20 FP:C2

09 Sep 10

The Whisky That Cannot Be Named (Glenfarclas?), 50 YO, Adelphi, 53.1%, B: 2003. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose. A superb sherry nose on old leather, beeswax, polished wood, orange, and tangerine, with very pleasant tannins (wax tree) flavours. Smells like an old English lounge with the last whiff of the peat smoke dying away.
Taste: Creamy, oily, rich, complex, peaty, slightly meaty, on orange, tangerine, with some mango, passion fruit and pineapple, old leather and powdered spices. The finish is creamy, slighty dry, on orange, tangerine and very pleasant tannins (leather).
General Impression: Rich, complex, one of the finest Glenfarclas I have tasted, surprisingly riche and intense for its age, with the wood influence very discreet. A tour de force.
Rating: 19/20

08 Sep 10

Clynelish 1999 26.53, 8 YO, SMWS, 61.8%, B: 2008, 241 bottles. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Very clean, fresh, floral, slightly grassy, with some farmy notes and some pear drops.
Taste: Young, clean, sweet, slightly sugary and mustardy, on beeswax, freshly crushed barley and pear drops. The finish is short to medium, very clean, malty, on beeswax, with some vanilla, banana, and pear drops.
General Impression: A very good, sweet, very clean and smooth Clynelish, tasting like a slightly younger version of the Clynelish at the Distillery.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1


Clynelish 1999 26.54, 8 YO, SMWS, 62.8%, B: 2008, 254 bottles. Price:
Probably a sister cask of the 26.53, with the same flavour profile, although slightly more spicy (pepper), with some additional honey and vanilla
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

07 Sep 10

Clynelish 1972, 35 YO, Single Malts of Scotland, 53.7%, B: 2008, Cask 12651, 273 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Farmy, meaty, quite smoky, slightly mineral, with some pollen and sugary fruits.
Taste: Waxy, juicy, quite light, on bitter lemon, with some grape fruits and a mixture of grass and floral notes. The finish is long, peppery, quite light, farmy, with the typical Clynelish bitterness.
General Impression: A very nice Clynelish, with a remarquable nose, but getting a bit old.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C3

03 Sep 10

Kleine Licht (Clynelish). Daily Dram, 11 YO, 56,1%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Peaty, meaty, fragrant, on green banana, vegetamine and with some mineral notes.
Taste: Tannic, woody, alcoholic, grassy, on green banana, with some peat and tobacco smoke, and a light maritime influence. The finish is long, slightly winey, dry, grassy, and on green banana.
General Impression: An unusual whisky, but rather good.
Rating: 13/20

02 Sep 10

Clynelish 1982 The Perfect Dram, 27 YO, The Whisky Agency, 53.9%, B: 2009, 240 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: A very nice nose, quite mineral, fruity, with some pear, honey, heather, apricots, and some juicy oaky notes.
Taste: Smooth, clean, quite light, slightly mineral, quite juicy, with the similar fruity notes than in the nose, with some additional floral contributions, as well as citrus, honey and spices. The finish is long, waxy, slightly creamy, mineral and bitter, with some cold ashes, citric fruits and a thread of smoke.
General Impression: A beautiful old fashioned-like Clynelish, light, and nicely juicy.
Rating: 18/20 FP:D3

 

01 Sep 10

Linkwood 1984, 26 YO, Bladnoch Forum, 53.2%, B:2010, cask 1625, 264 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, very floral, slightly citric, rather light and on honey heather.
Taste: Very smooth, floral, very spicy, on ginger, vanilla, heather, with some wood and tobacco smoke, as well as some peach. The finish is medium, smooth, floral, and spicy.
General Impression: A very smooth and nice Linkwood. Not very complex, but enjoyable.
Rating: 13/20 FP:C3

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