Glen Garioch 21 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: gold.
Nose: Smooth, malty, slightly peaty and on honey.
Taste: Round, quite spicy, with a certain dose of peat smoke, slightly earthy and juicy, and on floral notes. The finish is medium, oaky, oily, slightly smoky and with some bitter caramel.
Impression: A good whisky, easy to drink and enjoyable.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C3

Glen Garioch 15 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Clean, malty, floral, on honey with some smoke.
Taste: Malty, round, fragrant and slightly peaty. The finish is medium, floral, slightly fragrant and on bitter caramel.
Impression: A correct daily dram, but I prefer the youngest version bottled at this period.
Rating: 11/20 FP:C3

Glen Cawdor 1976, Samaroli, 57%, B: 1990, 960 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Intense, peaty to very peaty, slightly floral, dry and aromatic, with light farmy notes.
Taste: Intense, peaty, dry, aromatic, smoky, rooty, and rather complex. The finish is very long, intense, peaty, dry, tarry, slightly floral, a hint of spearmint and some soot. Complex.
Impression: A beautiful whisky from Samaroli, with an excellent combination of peat and aromatic flavours. Glen Cawdor was the name usually employed by Samaroli for Springbank, but this one was rumoured to be a Glen Garioch. Considering the flavour profile, it is very close to the Glen Garioch 1975 that I have tasted so far, and I would indeed vouch for Glen Garioch. In any case, a delicious Glen Garioch, sorry a Glen Cawdor ;-)
Rating: 19/20 FP:A7

Yoichi 1987 for La Maison Du Whisky, 23 YO, OB, 59%, B: 2010, sherry butt 112814, 477 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Clean, polished, with some hay and smoke. Not very expressive.
Taste: Peaty, on Mirabelle, salt, menthol, fresh oak, some varnish and exotic wood, white peach and corn flakes with nuts. In the back, there are some rose water and exotic floral notes. Subtle, nicely balance, but the sherry influence is more than discreet. The finish is medium to long, on dry peat, varnished and exotic wood and slightly astringent.
Impression: A very nice made whisky, rather clean and thus limiting the pleasure.I enjoyed better the previous Yoichi selected for the Maison du Whisky.
Rating: 13/20 FP:C4

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 YO, OB, 40%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Round, very floral and creamy, soft.
Taste: Creamy, round, on vanilla custard and with a light spiciness. The finish is short to medium, round, floral and on honey.
Impression: A soft and round whisky, well-made but not as complex at the 17 YO.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B2

Nikka Pure Malt 17 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very soft, round, silky, with some dry peat smoke and honey.
Taste: Soft, round, creamy, milky, slightly floral and peaty, mellow, and with some spices (ginger). The finish is medium, round, soft, floral, rather peaty, with some honey and incense.
Impression: A very nice soft well rounded whisky, with a dash of peat.
Rating: 13/20 FP:C3

George T. Stagg, OB, 71.5%. B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold-brown
Nose: Very smooth and round, on treacle, orange, some peach, pecan nuts and nutmeg, with some fudge and sweet woody notes.
Taste: Very intense and burning. Let’s quickly add some water: smooth, with lots of pecan nuts, maple syrup, charcoal, orange, tangerine, vanilla and some apricots. The finish is medium to long, sweet, sugary, on maple syrup, orange, pecan and some smooth spices.
Impression: A remarkably complex, smooth and well rounded whisk(e)y, with pleasant spicy notes.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A1

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac, OB, 66.2%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Old gold-brown
Nose: Spicy, oaky, with some vanilla, milk and on peach and apricots. Nice spicy notes from the Rye.
Taste: Spicy, peppery, with some orange, pecan nuts, slight floral notes as well as some vanilla and milk chocolate. The finish is medium to long, on rich and diverse spicy notes, some pecan nuts and some orange.
Impression: A very nice rye whiskey, nicely spicy and balanced.Thank you Lukas.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A1

Woodford Reserve, OB, 43.2%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Smooth, on cooked cereals, some apricots, vanilla, maple syrup, orange and some cinnamon.
Taste: Sweet, slightly floral and fragrant, with some malty notes, on orange and tangerine, with some light spicy notes. The finish is medium, smooth, with some vanilla, coconut, and cinnamon and light notes of tangerine and milk.
Impression: A pleasant bourbon, rather light and fragrant, without the heavy notes of treacle or maple syrup that you would expect from a bourbon. Made from pot stills.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B1

Jack Daniel’s select, 50%. B: 2012, Ref 10m4639. Price:
Colour: Old gold-brown
Nose: Sweet, sugary, on maple syrup, orange, treacle and some toffee.
Taste: Spicy, zesty, on orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, pecan nuts, treacle, vanilla and maple syrup. The finish is medium, on maple syrup, with strong notes of pecan nuts and zesty oranges.
Impression: A slightly richer and more complex Jack Daniel’s than the standard N°7, with more notes of orange.
Rating:11/20 FP:A1

Tomintoul 2000 Heavily Peated liquid library, The Whisky Agency, 49.7%, B: 2011, 219 bottles. Price:
Colour: colourless
Nose: Very peaty and farmy, slightly meaty, very smoky, tarry, ashy, aromatic and some oak.
Taste: Slightly sweet, peaty to very peaty, aromatic, floral, with a touch of seaweeds and slightly meaty flavours. The finish is medium, peaty, sweet, aromatic, smoky and tarry.
Impression: A pretty peaty and aromatic Tomintoul, with a limited wood interaction that results in some sweet new-make like flavours.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A8

Hanyu Ichiro’s malt 2000 Ace of Clubs, OB, 59.4%, B: 2012, cask 9523 503 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very smooth, floral, fruity, on lilac, exotic wood, some orange and dried fruits. Diluted, it is very round and smooth, with some treacle.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, spirity (almost burning). With water, it becomes oakier, with some exotic wood, light fragrant floral and buttery notes, with some tangerine and orange. The finish is medium, very smooth, slightly oaky and spicy, with a light astringency and some exotic wood.
Impression: A very smooth, sublte and very enjoyable, sadly, one of the last cask to be bottled.
Rating: 15/20 FP:F1

Tomatin 1967 Director’s cut, 45 YO, Douglas Laing, 51.6%, B: 2012, cask 9315, 175 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Smooth, floral, round, with some almonds, dried fruits, oranges, some woodlands and a touch of smoke.
Taste: Very smooth, mellow, spicy, fruity, on orange, tangerine, frangipane, dried fruits, some cooked cereals, light grassy notes and some humus. The finish is very long, very smooth, mellow, on humus, cooked cereals, tangerine, orange and some candied fruits.
Impression: A very smooth and mellow whisky, melting on the tongue and leaving an excellent mouth feel. Excellent.
Rating: 16/20 FP:G2

Ardbeg 1974, Samaroli, 59%, B:1983 Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very tarry and peaty, maritime, thick, on iodine, some rancio, leather, dark fruits and some soot.
Taste: Very intense, hot, peaty, maritime, oaky, tarry on iodine, some disinfectant, rancio, dry sherry and eucalyptus. The finish is long, mineral, tarry, ashy, with strong notes of disinfectant and on maritime flavours.
Impression An extremely intense and hot Ardbeg, delivering a good punch and with a rather medicinal finish.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A9

Tobermory 1972 Jewels of Scotland, Lombard,  46%, B : 2004. Price:
Colour : Pale gold
Nose :  Very peaty and smoky, maritime, slightly meaty, with some wet wood, seaweeds, charcoal and light coastal and seashells notes.
Taste : Salty to very salty, ashy, peaty, coastal, sligthly meaty, light notes of old Gruyère cheese and some wet tobacco leaves, some fish and seashells, with some round and zesty notes. Diluted, there are some slightly sweeter fruity notes of tangerine. The finish is long to very long, peaty to very peaty, slightly mineral, on linseed oil, tar and some maritime flavours.
Impression : A very charming peated Tobermory (i.e., Ledaig) with nice ashy and maritime flavours, not too far from some Islay or famous peated Highland whiskies from the same vintage.  A most pleasant whisky.
Rating : 17/20 FP:A8

Tobermory 10 YO, OB, 46.3%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Lots of toffee, clean, sweet, slightly young and on sea breeze, with a hint of diesel smoke.
Taste: Smooth, sweet, slightly young, fresh and thin, with some delicate maritime and coastal flavours, some salt and on toffee. The finish is short to medium, sweet, slightly salty and maritime, with some toffee and a hint of liquorice roots. Diluted, it becomes sweeter and younger.
Impression: This Tobermory is better crafted than the earlier Tobermory in the old green dumpy bottle. It remains rather simple and seems younger than it is, but enjoyable never the less.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A1

Tobermory1972 Private Stock for Moon Import, 33 YO, OB, 49%, 960 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Peaty, maritime, slightly medicinal, on morels, leather, seaweeds, nutmeg.
Taste: Salty, maritime, on seaweeds, some soap, diesel smoke, morels, leather, tannins, high grade rubber and peat smoke. The finish is medium to long, on leather,  coffee, rubber, seaweeds, some tar and peat smoke.
Impression: A nice Tobermory, with some pleasant peat smoke and rather strong rubbery and coffee notes in the finish.
Rating: 17/20 FP:J4

Ledaig 20 Years, OB, 43%, B: 1999. Price:
Colour: Gold –old gold,
Nose: Nice round peat flavours, slightly mineral, meaty, clean, on crystallized fruits and smoked fish.
Taste: Dry, very floral (lilac, lily of the valley), peaty, smoky, salty, with some sweet fruitiness. Diluted, it becomes dryer, more peaty and smoky. The finish is medium, round, waxy, on crystallized fruits and some peat.
Impression: A quite pleasant Ledaig, which benefits from the adjunction of a few drops of water.
Rating: 14/20

Ardbeg 1967 Pale Oloroso, 28 YO, Signatory, 53.7%, B: 1995, cask 575, 548 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very peaty, intense, rich, complex, mineral, slightly ashy and tarry, with nice medicinal flavours, camphor, some iodine, seaweeds and light fruity notes. With time, it becomes even more complex and smoother. Delicious.
Taste: Maritime, salty, smooth and slightly sweet, maritime, smoky, with beautiful peaty notes, some disinfectant, a light rubbery touch, some raspberries, marzipan and camphor. The finish is long, maritime, rubbery, salty, slightly medicinal and peaty, with some nuts and some bitter orange.
Impression: An excellent whisky, with beautiful peaty and fruity notes and a slightly rubbery moutfheel.
Rating: 18/20 FP:F7

Ardbeg 1974, Signatory, 51.3%, B: 1998, cask 654, 260 bottles.
Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Peaty, maritime, with some iodine, disinfectant and lots of seaweeds.
Taste: Very peaty, intense, slightly maritime, tarry, ashy, mineral, on camphor, iodine, lots of seaweeds and some dried meat. Very good! The finish is medium to long, peaty, with strong and diverse maritime flavours, lots of disinfectant and some camphor.
Impression: A very nice, intense, very peaty and maritime Ardbeg, with strong medicinal flavours in the finish.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A7

Ardbeg 1966. Moon, 46%, B: 1987, cask 2443, 264 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Deliciously peaty, mineral, smoky, slightly ashy and medicinal, with some eucalyptus, seaweeds, disinfectant, camphor, humus and bold peat smoke.
Taste: Salty, smoky, maritime, on tobacco leaves, seaweeds, disinfectant, bandages, camphor, humus, some dried meat, a touch of coffee, some leather, slightly bitter oranges and some tar. The finish is long, mineral, medicinal, on peat smoke, disinfectant, some tar, seaweeds, humus (old wet wood) and camphor.
Impression: The nose was excellent, rich, with some beautiful peat smoke, while it became more on medicinal notes on the palate, with a rather smooth delivery of peat smoke, as well as some old wet wood. A very good antisceptic!
Rating: 18/20 FP:B6

Ardbeg 1966, Moon, 46%, B: 1987, cask 2445, 264 bottles Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Much cleaner than the cask 2443, drier, lighter and with strong flavours of disinfectant.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, slightly citric, on disinfectant, iodine, camphor, bandages, seaweeds and some peat smoke. Very close to the Ardbeg distilled in 1972 (or the reverse). The finish is long, intense, slightly salty, spicy and hot (some chilli), on peat smoke and plenty of disinfectants. Diluted, it becomes more aromatic and on camphor
Impression: The contrast with the cask 2443 is interesting, since the cask 2445 had a less expressive nose, but a more intense delivery on the palate, with strong medicinal notes.  Difficult to say which one is better.
Rating: 18/20 FPD6

Ardbeg 1966, Moon, 46%, B: 1987, cask 348, 360 bottles, Price:
Colour: Amber-black
Nose: Thick, intense, dry, peaty, on leather, some game, humus, orange, tangerine, disinfectant, camphor, tannins, roasted coffee beans, and some fruity notes.
Taste: Rich, dry, bitter, fishy, maritime, peaty, on coffee beans, rubber, leather and lots of tannins, cinnamon, roasted nuts, as well as some marmalade, dark chocolate and light salty notes. The finish is long, tannic, slightly astringent, salty, and maritime, bitter, on dried meat, with some medicinal notes, coffee, nuts and dark chocolate.
Impression: This is a big, intense and dry sherried Ardbeg, with a very nice complexity and a strong sherry influence, but slightly too astringent and bitter to my taste. I prefer the other 1966s Ardbeg from Moon.
Rating: 17/20 FP:J6

Ardbeg 1972, 28 YO, Kingsbury, 49.2%. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Very medicinal, peaty, on iodine, TCP, seaweeds, some light notes melon and vanilla.
Taste: Peaty, medicinal, with some game, tar, lemon juice, seaweeds, sea shells and light notes of spearmint. The balance is very impressive and the whisky most complex. The finish is long, very medicinal, maritime, with some lemon juice and peat smoke.
Impression: A very nice Ardbeg, with an impressive balance. Not overly peaty, but harmonious, on peat, disinfectant and medicinal flavours.
Rating: 19/20 FP:A6

Bowmore 1981, 28 YO, OB, 49.6%, B: 2010, 402 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very oaky, smooth, slightly smoky, floral, with some violet and farmy-humic notes, as well as some plums and Mirabelle.
Taste: Bitter, floral, on violet, geranium, sweet fruits and some off-notes. The finish is medium to long, slightly smoky, bitter and very floral.
Impression: The nose is correct, but then the whisky becomes very floral and on the mouth as well. A “good” example of the “violet” period. A bottle better kept sealed.
Rating: 08/20 FP:B3

Bowmore 1956, OB, 43%. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Peaty, smoky, slightly dry, mellow and with some tropical fruits. Less fruity than the 1966, but with the beautiful, dry and complex bold peaty notes of the Bowmore from the 1950, a style that I really enjoy.  Given time, the tropical notes are slightly more pronounced. Complex.
Taste: Salty, maritime, slightly medicinal, with some iodine, seaweeds, chocolate, tropical and juicy fruits, papaya, some pineapples, leather, cocoa, humidor, mango, and some aromatic herbs, and much more. Amazingly complex. The finish is long, creamy, slightly maritime, fruity, with some chocolate and a nice waxiness enveloping the palate and the throat, bold and slightly dry peat smoke.
Impression: An impressive whisky, amazingly complex, waxy, peaty, slightly citric and with superb fruity notes. I just wished it was bottled at slightly higher in ABV to deliver the final blow. Well, if you can ever a wee taste of this one, do not hesitate and really take the time to enjoy this experience.
Rating: 19/20 FP:D3

Bowmore 1966, OB, 43%. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smooth, with some bold peat smoke, very fruity and rather syrupy, with very strong notes of exotic fruits.
Taste: Slightly thin, salty, maritime, with some citric notes, slightly grassy and honey notes, with some slightly diluted tropical fruits.  The finish is medium, slightly thin, salty, maritime, with some peat smoke, tropical fruits and light notes of tobacco leaves.
Impression: The nose was excellent, with the rich and diverse tropical fruity notes that you would expect from a 1966’s Bowmore. However, once on the palate, the flavours were rather thin and maritime. The sample was from a full and freshly opened, therefore it seems like the whisky was thin not due to fading/ageing in the bottle. With more intensity, I would have it scored probably significantly higher.
Rating: 16/20 FP:D3

Bowmore 1963 Anniversary, 30 YO, OB, 50%, B: 1993. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Peaty, smoky, slightly maritime and with rather strong iodine/camphor notes, on dark fruits, some dry and slightly meaty sherry, as well as some leather.
Taste: Rich, salty, fruity, peaty, smoky, maritime, medicinal, with nice tropical fruity notes, some leather, chocolate, coconut and spices. Complex. The finish is long, salty, slightly citric, on bold peat smoke, some light notes of leather, rich tropical fruits, coconuts, and some medicinal flavours.
Impression: A most pleasant Bowmore, more peaty, salty and medicinal than the 1964s Bomwore. Tasted like a mix of 1956/7  and 1964 Bowmore. Well, with products of such quality, no wonder why old Bowmore are so sought after.
Rating: 19/20 FPG5

Black Bowmore Final (3rd) Edition 1964, OB, 49%, Price:
Colour: Amber-Black
Nose: Thick, slightly smoky and peaty, on dry sherry, some old leather, dried and dark fruits, some wallnuts and coffee. Rather heavy and surprisingly, with only a fraction of the exotic fruity notes present in the first edition.
Taste: Rather dry, on rancio, orange, some tropical fruits, leather, roasted coffee beans, some game, cinnamon, nutmeg and wallnuts. The finish is medium to long, woody, on rancio, walnut, bitter orange, cinnamon, nutmeg and coffee.
Impression: Tasted head to head with several Bowmore from the 1960s, including the Black Bowmore First Edition, it was a rather deceptive Bowmore, dry, woody, tannic and with strong walnut flavours and little fruity notes. It is not really up to the legend of the first edition and the one I enjoyed the less of the Trilogy (Black, White and Gold). I was happy to have tasted it, without having to pay for a full bottle.
Rating: 15/20 FP:J3

Black Bowmore 1st Edition 1964, OB, 50% Price:
Colour: Amber-Black
Nose: Thick, intense, smoky, on bold peat smoke, dark and dried fruits, strong notes of exotic fruits (mainly passion fruits, mango and papaya), some Pecan nuts, cherries and chocolate. Excellent,
Taste: Soft, creamy, on chocolate, some liquorice, rancio, roasted almonds, coffee, peat some and thick fruity notes, including cherries, guava, passion fruits, leather and other flavours. The finish is long, thick, syrupy, slightly salty and maritime, peaty, with lots of milk chocolate and exotic fruits. Diluted, it becomes fruitier, slightly dry and with some rancio
Impression: This is indeed an excellent rich, mouth coating whisky, with strong creamy, chocolate, exotic fruits and peat smoke. Straight, it is very almost, almost too much, and a few drops of water improve the final results.
Rating: 19/20 FP:I4

Port Ellen 1982, 30 YO, Chieftains, 50.1%, B:2012, cask 1518, 308 bottles. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Smooth, rather mellow, medium peated, oaky, with some vanilla, iodine, maritime flavours and some smoke. Rather soft.
Taste: Salty, oaky, maritime, mellow, slightly mineral and farmy, on iodine and some seaweeds. The finish is medium, oaky, maritime, smoky, slightly farmy and medicinal, with light notes of tobacco leaves. Diluted, it becomes more intense.
Impression: A nice smooth and mellow Port Ellen, rather maritime and mildly peated.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A5

Port Ellen 1981, 19 YO, The Bottlers, 60.4%, B: 2000. cask 1549. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Clean, peaty, smoky, tarry, slightly ashy and maritime.
Taste: Peaty, smoky to very smoky, maritime, on toffee, seaweeds and some hemp rope, with light floral notes. The finish is medium to long, salty, maritime, smoky, peaty, on toffee and some notes of rubber. There is a strong and long retro-olfaction on peat smoke.
Impression: A very good, intense Port Ellen, very smoky and with some good old rubbery notes.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A7

Port Ellen 1975, 24 YO, Signatory, 43%, B: 1999, cask 1769. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, peaty, maritime, slightly oaky and with some wet wood.
Taste: Rather bold, on wet wood, peat smoke, some maritime flavors as well as some fishy notes. The finish is long, on wet wood, wet cigar leaves and smoke, some camphor and wet seaweeds.
Impression: A very enjoyable Port Ellen with pleasant cigar and wet wood flavours. Diluted, it becomes rather salty.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A7

Brora 1976 Platinum, 30 YO, Douglas Laing, 55.1%, B; 2007, 104 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose:  Mellow, round, slightly smoky, peaty, austere and herbal, with some mint, eucalyptus, then it becomes smokier, peatier, on ashes, some charcoal and slightly meaty flavours.
Taste: Very peaty, smoky and intense, mustardy, peppery, meaty (some game), with some tangerine, tar, ashes, BBQ, a twist of bitter lemon, some light floral and coastal notes.
Impression:  A very nice, intense, peaty, rich and well balanced Brora, with some meaty and rather mustardy. Sadly, only a couple of Brora distilled in 1976 have been bottled. It needs some time to breath before revealing its full flavours.
Rating: 18/20 FP:C6

Brora 1981, 30 YO, Chieftains, 50%, B: 2012, cask 1525. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smooth, smoky, round, slightly peaty and waxy, with a light touch of honey and sweet tangerine, as well as soft and mild spices and a touch of aromatic herbs.
Taste: Sweet, rich, slightly fragrant, mustardy, on orange, tangerine, some mint and eucalyptus, as well as some pepper and dry smoke. The finish is medium to long, waxy, peppery, slightly dry, oaky, with some tangerine, bitter orange and mustard seeds.
Impression: A rather midly peated Brora, peppery, with some bitter and rather thick sherry notes. Heavier and mellower than the 1981 from signatory.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F3

Brora 1981, 19YO, Signatory, 43%, B: 2000, butt 1081, 625 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty, smoky, intense, peppery, with some sea breeze, wax and some light notes of tangerine.
Taste: Mustardy, intense, smoky, peaty, salty, with some seabreeze, some light sweet notes of melon, with some tar, charcoal and grass.  The finish is long, intense, peppery, oaky, waxy, with some ginger, mustard, peat smoke as well as some bitter lemon and tangerine.
Impression: A very nice Brora, rather austere, but intense, peppery, with a nice smokiness. A very enjoyable Brora from the 1981 vintage.
Rating: 17/20 FP:D5

Bruichladdich 1966 Prenzlow, JWWW, 44.3%, B: 2002, 120 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: On superb tropical and fruity notes, on peach, papaya, mango, passion fruits, with a hint of round peat smoke. Well balanced.
Taste: Creamy, slightly syrupy, with some peat smoke and a basket of exotic fruits. The finish is medium to long, rather thick, slightly smoky, with a basket of exotic fruits.
Impression: A deliciously fruity and complex Bruichladdich, flawless and simply delicious.
Rating: 19/20 FP: D4

Bruichladdich 1970, 31 YO, OB, 44.2% B: 2002. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Starts extremely fruity, on passion fruits and mango, quite floral, from a very good selection of bourbon casks, with a very nice roundness.
Taste: Salty, fruity (mango, passion fruits, guava), some oak and smoke, on sweet wine and toffee. Slightly oily. Quite fragile. The finish is silky, salty, on soft peat, soft sweet malt, very fruity notes (mango, passion fruits and guava).
Impression: An excellent old and fruity Bruichladdich, with a body slightly fragile (or was it because it was the end of the bottle)? Thank you Pierre.
Rating: 17/20

Bruichladdich Penny Black, 21 YO, Moon Import, 46%, B: 1989. Price:
Colour :  Amber
Nose : Very sweet, on bloody oranges, tropical fruits, slightly salty notes, as well as some round peat smoke.
Taste : Very sweet, juicy, with some peat smoke, lots of tropical fruity, guava, papaya, tangerine, some grapefruits, cocoa, seaweeds and tannins. Slightly maritime. The finish is long, rich, sweet, salty, slightly peaty, mineral and meaty, with some seaweeds, cocoa and rich tropical fruits.
Impression : A rich Bruichladdich with intense tropical fruity notes and rather mineral sherry notes. Very enjoyable !
Rating : 17/20 FP: H3

Bruichladdich 1990 Director’s cut, 21 YO, Douglas Laing, 57.1%, cask 8937. Price:
Colour : old gold-amber
Nose :  Oaky, spicy, with some ginger, tangerine, cumin and leather.
Taste : Intense, spicy, salty, maritime, oaky,  slightly floral, with some liquorice, tangerine, some smoke, slightly tarry and ashy aromas. Diluted, some notes of tobacco leaves and grapefruit are released.
Impression : A rather intense and spicy version of Bruichladdich, on liquorice and with a rather mineral-meaty  moderate sherry influence.
Rating : 14/20 FP: E3

Talisker 12 YO (Dailuaine-Talisker), OB, 43%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Sweet, fruity, slightly peaty and smoky, some fruits from the orchards, with light mineral and maritime notes. Smooth, balanced and deliciously juicy.
Taste: Salty, maritime, peaty, smoky, rather sweet, juicy and slightly peppery. The finish is medium to long, sweet, juicy, oaky, slightly maritime, mineral and peaty, with nice sweet flavours.
Impression: I really enjoyed this Talisker, light, sweet, subtle, maritime and with succulent peaty and mineral flavours.
Rating: 16/20 FP: A5

Talisker Storm, OB, 45.8%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Round, oaky, “modern”, peaty, smoky, slightly mineral and tarry, with a zest of lemon and maritime flavours.
Taste: Salty, rather juicy, oaky, on vanilla, some tangerine, melon, pears, peat and some maritime flavours. The finish is medium to long, round, peaty, salty, slightly maritime, with some toffee and a fair dose of vanilla.
Impression: A very good Talisker, sweeter than the regular 10 YO, peatier but also much less peppery. Made with refill and rejuvenated oak casks. A nice addition to the range.
Rating: 15/20 FP: A4

Teaninich 1973, 40 YO, The Whisky Agency, 42.0%, B:2013, 213 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, on eucalyptus, pine and some light fruity and exotic flavours.
Taste: Sweet, slightly sugary, on melon, pine, some eucalyptus, pineapple, banana, other tropical flavours and a thin thread of peat smoke. The longer you keep it in the mouth, it becomes sweeter and fruitier. The finish is long, very fruity, with a hint of tobacco smoke and quid.
Impression: A surprisingly sweet Teaninich without a single blemish of age, with excellent fruity notes. The flavours are different, but we are not too far from the fruitiness of the BenRiach 1976s.
Rating:  16/20 FP: A2

The Glenlivet Alpha, OB, 50%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very smooth, mellow, slightly sweet and sugary, with some light notes of peach and pears, a light smokiness, becoming fruitier with time (some syrupy and tropical fruits). At first, it seems like notes of young (slightly immature) whiskies are released before moving to old ripe and slightly syrupy but rather intense fruity notes, with a fair dose of tropical fruits, some humus and bold peat smoke.  A sharp contrast to the Kilimanjaro.
Taste: Very smooth, mellow, almost silky, with rich notes of mango, banana and passion fruits, as well as some old bold peat smoke, some light grassy notes and honey. The finish is long, mellow to very mellow, smooth, silky, with rich and abundant flavours of tropical fruits and a hint of mint.
Impression: Well, there has been a lot of mediatic buzz around this new Glenlivet, without any age statement (surprising for a company campaigning for “age” is better”). Based on the colour and flavour profile, there seems to have a lot of ex-bourbon casks, with eventually a couple of sherry casks. On the nose, there seems to be some sweet sugary notes of young whiskies (<10 YO) before deep and rich fruity notes are released. On the palate, this is a deliciously sweet and fruity whisky, with little oaky or floral notes that you would encounter with the 12 or 15 YO Glenlivet.
I am not in the secret and do not know what is inside, but it tasted like if a good dose of very old Glenlivet was thrown in the mix. Regardless of what is inside, it is an excellent whisky that I enjoyed very much and ranks amongst the best Glenlivet I have tasted. The price of £99 or $120 (according to the PR) seems fair (this is only my opinion)
Rating: 18/20 FP:C2

The Glenlivet Kilimanjaro, 15 YO, OB, 58.2%, B: 2011, cask 16242. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, floral, slightly smoky, with some heather, vanilla and faint fruity notes.
Taste: Intense to very intense, floral, slightly malty, rich, on vanilla, heather, some honey and toffee. Well balanced, with some light notes of apples and pears. The finish is medium to long, slightly spicy, aromatic and smoky, with some ginger, liquorice roots, vanilla and heather. Diluted, it becomes smoother, slightly sweeter and with more diverse fruity flavours. Peach comes out of mind. There is a rather strong honeyed retro-olfaction
Impression: A very nice and well balanced Glenlivet, offering a certain complexity and gaining in smoothness with some adjunction of water.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A3

Kilchoman 2008 for Belgium / The Nectar,  4 YO, OB, 60.5%, B: 2013, cask 390/2008. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very peaty, oaky, maritime, tarry, on seaweeds, some iodine, hemp rope and ashes, with a few drops of lemon.
Taste: Very peaty, dry to very dry, spicy, peppery, intense to very intense, maritime, with some seaweeds, on tar and BBQ. The finish is long to very long, very peaty, intense, maritime, slightly salty, with some iodine, hemp rope, liquorice roots, charcoal, ashes and seaweeds.
Impression: A rather impressive ex-bourbon Kilchoman, very intense and peaty and most enjoyable. Its cleanliness allows a good delivery of the intense flavours. Tasted blind, I would have given twice its age, considering its maturity.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A8

Kilchoman 2007 for Belgium / The Nectar, 5 YO, OB, 59.3%; B:2013, cask 455/2007. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Peaty to very peaty, strongly maritime, tarry, on seaweeds, some game, leather, mild spices, orange and hemp rope.
Taste: Very peaty,  peppery, very intense, citric, dry, farmy, meaty, with light floral and fragrant notes, on game, some dried fruits, slightly bitter oranges, seaweeds, game, leather and some tannins. The finish is long to very long, very peaty, maritime, farmy, slightly meat, tarry, with some charcoal, dark and dried fruits, dry smoke, seaweeds, hemp rope and some leather.
Impression: A very good heavily peated Kilchoman with a dry sherry influence and strong maritime flavours. The maturity and complexity of the whisky is rather impressive. Well done.
Rating: 14/20 FP:G7

Longrow 2001 for the Springbank Whisky Society, 10 YO, OB, 53.9%, B: 2011, sherry butt. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Peaty, very smoky, with some yeast extract, toffee and fudge.
Taste: Creamy, with lots of toffee, some fudge, peat smoke and salty notes, as well as touch of rubber and some yeasty notes. The finish is medium to long, peaty, salty and plenty of toffee, with some rubber and sulphur.
Impression: This Longrow tasted like toffee made with salted butter and peat. Not much to my liking I am afraid.
Rating: 08/20 FP:F6

Longrow 1974 Sherrywood Natural Strength for Samaroli, OB, 56%, B: circa 1987. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Peaty, smoky, sweet, with some harbour flavours, old bold peat smoke, orange, tangerine, some seaweeds, tar and coal.
Taste: Salty, peaty to very peaty, rather sweet and mineral, smoky, on tangerine, orange, some mint, spices, harbour flavours and some other sweet fruity notes. The finish is medium to long, slightly citric, on old peat smoke, some salt, liquorice, tar, ashes, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, light maritime notes and some spices.
Impression: A delicious Longrow, pleasantly peaty, with some austere “harbour” flavours, a citric bite and some sweet fruity notes. Subtle, complex and most enjoyable.
Rating: 18/20 FP:G6

Springbank 1965 Local Barley, OB, 50.4%, B: 2001, cask 7. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Smooth, juicy, mellow, sweet, fruity, with some mineral peat smoke, some salt and maritime flavours, peach, papaya, guava, some apricots and other tropical fruits. Most pleasant.
Taste: Salty, spicy, maritime, sweet to very sweet, fruity, with some seaweeds, peat smoke, guava, papaya, passion fruit, some bananas, fragments of coconuts, tangerine and other fruits. Very complex and balanced. The finish is long, sweet, fruity, slightly syrupy, salty and maritime, with some peat smoke and rich and diverse tropical fruits.
Impression: A deliciously sweet, fruity and complex whisky, with subtle salty and peaty flavours that are well balanced. Simply lovely. A whisky that I really enjoyed savouring. This was my first Springbank local barley and I could get easily to it!
Rating: 18/20 FP:D4

Springbank 1969, Dun Eideann, 51.6%, B: 1997, butt 2381. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Rich, intense, thick, on dark cherries, old leather, coal, tar, ashes, dry peat smoke, game and some walnut.
Taste: Rich, intense, thick, fishy, on game, smoked salmon, some seaweeds, iodine, salt, peat smoke, cherries, plums, leather, tannin, some spices and other maritime flavours. Diluted, it becomes fruitier, with some mint and chocolate. The finish is long, thick, syrupy, with some walnut, game, dark and dried fruits, salt, tar, cocoa and rather intense fishy notes.
Impression: An intense and thick Springbank, with mineral peat smoke and strong fishy notes. An old fashioned whisky with a strong personality.
Rating: 17/20 FP:H5

BenRiach 1976 for The Netherlands, OB, 42.6%, B: 2013, cask 3042, 42.6%, 173 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Intense, sweet, fruity to very fruity, with nice tropical fruits flavours. Slightly juicier and more on banana than the whiskysite.nl version.
Taste: Fruity, spicy, slightly oaky, on pineapples, passion fruits and a few drops of pear. The finish is medium, smooth, fruity and slightly thin.
Impression: A nice BenRiach, with the nicest nose of the 3 BenRiach 1976 bottled this year and a nice mouth feel. It is however slightly thin, although not as thin as the cask 3012.  These 1976 BenRiachs are getting thin and tired.
Rating: 15/20 FP:B4

BenRiach 1976 for the Whisky Fair, 36 YO, OB, 49.3%, B: 2013, 195 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Sweet, mellow to very mellow, with some bold peat smoke and tropical fruits.
Taste: Oaky, juicy, smooth,  on pineapple, some light mineral peat smoke flavours, a few drops of pear juice, guava, papaya and some banana. The finish is medium to long, oaky, with some wood spices, slightly mineral, rather juicy and on tropical flavours.
Impression: A very nice BenRiach, becoming slightly thin, on nice juicy and oaky flavours, as well as on tropical fruits. However, the tropical fruit basket flavours are not as intense as the earlier expressions of BenRiach from this legendary vintage.
Rating: 16/20 FP:B4

Oban 1969, 32 YO, OB, 55.1%, B : 2002, 6000 bottles. Price:
Colour : Gold
Nose :  Maritime to very maritime, intense, slightly mineral and salty, coastal, with some seaweeds, old wet wood, citrus and a whiff of smoke. Diluted, the nose becomes fresher.
Taste : Rich, oaky, juicy, on seaweeds, peat smoke, some lemon and tangerine, seabreeze, almonds, diesel smoke, and other light and diverse maritime notes. Intense. Diluted, it becomes much smoother, saltier and more subtle. The finish is long, intense, smoky, coastal, citric to very citric, slightly bitter and fruity. Diluted, the bitterness fades and it becomes smoother.
Impression : A very nice, fresh and intense Oban, with strong coastal notes and becoming very smooth once diluted.  Very pleasant !
Rating : 17/20 FP:B3

Oban 19 YO Manager’s Dram, OB, 59.24% Price:
Colour : Gold
Nose : Oaky, with some seabreeze, vanilla, some slightly green almond and pear. Slightly austere.
Taste : Spicy to very spicy, peppery, with some juicy oak, melon and pineapples.  The finish is medium to long, rather sweet and maritime, with some pineapple, melon, a touch of almond and pears. Diluted, it becomes saltier and with some salmiak.
Impression : A rather subtle Oban, with a nice balance between the salty, spicy, austere and sweet sugary notes.
Rating : 16/20 FP:A3

Oban 12 YO, OB, 43%, B : 1980s. Price:
Colour : Gold
Nose :  Oaky, round, slightly maritime and peaty, fresh, juicy, on sea breeze and a squeeeze of melon.
Taste : Sweet, sugary, slightly salty, on juicy oak, melon, kiwi and some honey. Diluted, it becomes saltier. The finish is medium to long, slightly peaty, mineral and salty, on honey, some pink grapfreuit, melon and some sea breeze.
Impression : A very nice round and juicy Oban, slightly more peaty and sweeter than the current 14 YO,
Rating : 16/20 FP:D3

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 5, OB, 50.10%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour : Amber
Nose :  Sweet, smooth,  rich, on honey, light floral notes, raisins, dried fruits, soft and mild spices.
Taste : Very smooth, rich, complex to very complex, floral, on sweet fruity notes, orange, tangerine, sultanas, honey,  heather, nutmeg, cinnamon, butter scotch and some exotic wood. Diluted, it becomes even smoother, with some exotic fruits. Delicious ! The finish is long, velvety, very smooth, melllow, on honey, nutmeg, some cloves, tannin, cocoa, and exotic wood.
Impression : An excellent and deliciously smooth Balvenie, with a rich and smooth sherry influence. One of the nicest Balvenie I have tasted.
Rating : 18/20 FP:E2

Glendronach 1970 Prestonfield, 18 YO, The Higlander, 43%, casks #542-558. Price:
Colour : Amber
Nose : Intense, rich, floral, on dark and red fruits (cherries, raspberries and others), some tannins and leather.
Taste : Oaky, slightly floral, on milk chocolate, some physalis, strawberries, honey and light notes of humus.  Rather peculiar. The finish is medium, slighly astringent and tannic, with some sour berries.
Impression : The nose was most pleasant, slightly more meaty than the 1968, but the palate was very different, more sour and with lighter sherry influence than suggested by the nose.
Rating : 15/20 FP:H1

Glendronach 1968, OB, 43%. Price:
Colour : Amber
Nose :  Very smooth, round, slightly floral, on red berries, dates, figs, sultanas and an underlying very sweet and mellow fruitiness, with a thread of peat smoke.
Taste : Very smooth (close to a liqueur), mellow, round, complex, with light floral notes, some berries, tannins, leather, cocoa, some cherries, a thin thread of peat smoke and a light minerality. Diluted, it becomes sweeter, with some peach, apricots and exotic fruits. The finish is medium to long, with some fudge and red berries, slightly floral, with some round tannins, a touch of cocoa and some spices. Some light woody notes.
Impression : A lovely Glendronach, deliciously smooth, well balanced and complex. With some extra abv, it would have probaly gained some more depth.
Rating : 17/20 FP:H1

GlenDronach 1993 for La Maison du Whisky and The Nectar, 19 YO, OB, 53.2%, B : 2012, cask 12, 623 bottles. Price :
Colour : Amber
Nose :  Round to very round, floral, on oak, vanilla, some toffee, roses and dark sherry.
Taste : Fresh, intense, fruity to very fruity, on cocoa, some faint rubber, fudge, tangerine, orange, some berries and nice round floral notes. The finish is  medium to long, floral, fruity to very fruity, on berries, tangerine, orange, some cocoa, strawberries and honey.
Impression : A very smooth well rounded and fruity Glendronach,
Rating : 16/20 FP:G1

GlenDronach 2002 Virgin Oak the Nectar, 10 YO, OB, 57.1%, B : 2012, cask 4530, 298 bottles. Price:
Colour : Gold
Nose : Juicy to very juicy, floral, sweet, on honey, lime blossom tree and some slightly sour berries.
Taste : Spicy, oaky, rich, intense, slightly creamy, on vanilla, some freshly pressed fruits and berries, melon, some honey and grass. The finish is medium, slightly floral, on vanilla and rich honeyed fruits. Very sweet and sugary.
Impression : A very nice « candied » whisky with sweet sugary notes and a very nice smoothness.
Rating : 15/20 FP:A1

Arran 1996, 16 YO, The Maltman, 46%, B :2013, Sherry cask 1094. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Malty to very malty, with some light notes of yeast, tangerine, orange and a twist of lemon.
Taste: Malty to very malty, intense, very fruity, on orange, tangerine and exotic fruits. Very good.  The finish is medium to long, malty, deliciously smooth and fruity, on orange, tangerine, passion fruits and light notes of spices and leather (tannins).
Impression: A very good whisky, very smooth and on most pleasant fruity notes, including passion fruits.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F1

Glenlossie 1984 for Waldhaus am See, 27 YO, Signatory, 57.9%, B:2012, cask 2532, 504 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Intense, rich, spicy, floral, slightly oaky, with some leather, cinnamon, cloves, humus and orange.
Taste: Very intense, floral, slightly rubbery, spicy to very spicy, on cinnamon, leather, tannins, on orange and nutmeg. The finish is medium to long, very intense and round, on fresh rubber,  eather, spices, marmalade and a touch of spearmint.
Impression: A very old but surprisingly intense and fresh Glenlossie, very nicely rounded and on zesty orange skin. Very good !
Rating: 16/20 FP:I1

Bunnahabhain 1976 for the Whisky Schiff Acla da Fans, The Perfect Dram, 48.8%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Mellow, smooth, sweet, on tobacco, some seaweeds, smoke, tangerine and a light fruitiness.
Taste: Light, salty, smoky, complex, slightly maritime and mineral, with some seaweeds, sweet fruity notes and a touch of coca. Smooth and mellow.  Diluted, it becomes slightly more mineral and subtle. The finish is medium, sweet, mellow, maritime to very maritime, slightly salty, with some seaweed and sweet fruity notes, including light notes of citrus.
Impression: A very nice mellow Bunnhahabhain, with pleasant maritime and some sweety flavours. Subtle and fairly priced.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F2

Karuizawa 1984 Cocktail, OB, 59.3%, B; 2012, cask 7975, 445 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Intense, floral, slightly fragrant, on cherries, some cocoa powder, tangerine, orange, some exotic fruits, dates and some red berries. Very different from the 1981, lighter, fresher and juicier, but less smoky, complex and balanced. More expressive.
Taste: Intense, spicy, floral, fragrant, on vanilla, honey, some cloves, nutmeg, cooked apples, some melon, cocoa, slightly sour berries and tangerine. Very fruity. The finish is medium, intense to very intense, slightly rough and aggressive, oaky, with some sawdust, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, eucalyptus, sandalwood, and pecan nuts. Diluted, it becomes immediately smoother, rounder and fruitier, while still remaining strong oaky notes.
Impression: A sweet and fruity expression of Karuizawa, intense, with stronk oaky notes. It definitely requires some water.
Rating: 15/20 FP:G1

Karuizawa 1981 Cocktail, OB, 55.8%, B: 2012, cask 162, 584 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose:Very smooth, floral, rich, complex, slightly smoky and peaty, on cherries, dates, sandalwood, tangerine, incense and mild spices (tannins).
Taste: Intense, spicy, floral, fragrant, on leather, orange, tangerine, fresh floral notes, strawberries, some cherries, a touch of cocoa, some melon, kiwi and apples. The finish is medium to long, smooth, fruity, on cinnamon, spices, honey, some berries, kiwi, melon, raspberries and strawberries, some cocoa, light fragrant and floral notes, as well as some sandalwood and some faint medicinal notes. Diluted, it becomes even smoother.
Impression: After nosing a deliciously smooth, rich and complex nose, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a complex, round, smooth and well-balanced whisky, with only faint tannic notes. With some water added, it becomes even smoother and almost too drinkable. A delicious and fruity experience.
Rating: 18/20 FP:G2

Karuizawa Tokyo International Bar Show 2012, OB, 61.7%, B:2012, cask 7698. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Oaky, spicy, tannic, on leather, some eather, sulphur and yeast extract. Rougher and more oaky than the cask 2562.
Taste: Smooth, spicy, floral, fragrant, on frangipane, orange, some rubber and light yeast extracts. Fruitier than the cask 2562. The finish is medium, very smooth, floral, fruity, on orange, tangerine, some rubbery notes and light yeasty notes.
Impression: A more fruity and slightly less sulphury and rubbery version than cask 2562.
Rating: 13/20 FP:G1

Karuizawa Tokyo International Bar Show 2012, OB, 61.6%, B: 2012, cask 2562. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Smooth, mellow, on honey, frangipane, some vegetamine, leather, sulphur and rubber.
Taste: Sweet, spicy, intense, floral, with some exotic fragrance, orange, rubber and some yeast extract. Rather round. The finish is medium to long, slightly drying, smooth, on orange, some rubber and yeast extracts. Diluted, it becomes unpleasantly bitter.
Impression: A smooth Karuizawa with stong rubbery and sulphury notes. Sorry, but this is not for me.
Rating: 11/20 FP:H1

Caperdonich 1994, 18 YO, warehouse 8, 62.8%, B: 2010, cask 88853, 278 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Slightly oaky and floral, clean and rather discreet.
Taste: Oaky, juicy, smoky, slightly mineral, aromatic and grassy, with some honey and melon. With time, it becomes fruitier with some faint spices and tobacco notes. The finish is medium, oaky, bitter, floral, slightly grassy and aromatic, with some citrus and toffee. Diluted, it becomes more on lavender.
Impression: The nose was rather promising with its juicy and fruity notes, but then it becomes rather floral and fragrant,  almost excessive once some water has been added.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A3

Deanston 1995, 13 YO, Warehouse 8, 60.8%, B: 2008, cask 1952, 546 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Malty, oaky, spicy, floral, rather clean and slightly spirity. Diluted, more on fresh apple and pears.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, oaky, malty, floral, slightly grassy, soapy and aromatic, with some melon, heather, and honey. The finish is medium, oaky, spicy, slightly aromatic and with some heather.
Impression: A pleasant, floral, oaky and spicy Deanston.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A1

Longmorn 1985, 27 YO, The First Editions, 48.3%, B: 2012 ES013/02 Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Smooth, mellow, oaky, juicy, with some honey, rather fresh, with some juicy berries (mainly polar berries), some heather and a faint smokiness. Most pleasant.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, slightly grassy, fruity, on heather, melon, some eucalyptus, berries, honey and light notes of humus. Diluted, it becomes slightly spicy and on wet tobacco leaves. The finish is medium to long, smooth, mellow, slightly grassy and aromatic, with some berries, a hint of eucalyptus, melon and other round and sweet fruity notes.
Impression: A very nice and fruity Longmorn of the highest quality. One of the nicest bourbon-matured Longmorn that I have tasted far.
Rating: 17/20 FP:B2

Miltonduff 1982, 30 YO, The First Edition, 48.3%, B: 2012, cask ES 015/03. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Grassy to very grassy, fresh, floral, on melon, honey, fruits from the orchards and exotic fruits.
Taste: Very grassy, floral, smooth, mellow, with some eucalyptus, honey and humus. The finish is medium to long, smooth, round, mellow, grassy, with a faint bitterness, some light tobacco flavours and some honey.
Impression: A very smooth and grassy Miltonduff, with a pleasnt complexity. Very good value and a nice example of a very good Miltonduff.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C1

Ben Nevis 42 YO, The Maltman, 40.6%, Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Grainy, malty, very smooth and mellow, on cereals and smooth sherry notes.
Taste: Grainy, malty, very smooth and mellow, grassy, on cooked cereals, smooth and round notes of tangerine, with some honey, orange and melon. The finish is medium and on the same flavours.
Impression: labelled as single malt, it is always difficult with the Ben Nevis to exclude that it was blended at source, considering the extreme smoothness of this whisky and strong notes of cereals.  Ben Nevis single malt is also very smooth and we will certainly never know the thruth. In any case, this Ben Nevis is very plesant, easy drinking, with much blemish of age.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E1

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 3, OB, 50.3%, B. 2012, 1800 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Rich, intense, malty, on heather, honey, some peat smoke, dry fruits, sultanas, nuts. Complex.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, malty, slightly floral, spicy, on heather, some peat smoke, high grade leather, some beeswax, on dry fruits and honey. Rich and complex. The finish is medium, rather dry and nutty, with some floral notes, on treacle, heather, a thread of smoke and chocolate. Diluted, it becomes drier, tannic, with some bitter woody notes.
Impression: The nose is most pleasant and it slides on the tongue like silk. However, on the finish, it becomes slightly wood and tannic, more than to my liking. This batch was exclusive to the US market.
Rating: 14/20 FP:F2

Cardow 1962 dumpy, 23 YO, Cadenhead's, 46%, B: 1985. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very fresh, malty, sweet, slightly mineral and peaty, with some tangerine and on orange juice.
Taste: Slightly salty, rather spicy, grassy, on heather, honey, herbs, with some orange, and tangerine. Very nice. The finish is long, smooth, rather sweet, slightly mineral, grassy and slightly floral.
General Impression: Independent bottling of Cardow (better known as Cardhu) are very rare. This version is most pleasant, highly drinkable, with a gracious spiciness. Excellent.
Rating: 17/20FP: E3

Cardhu 1982, 22 YO, OB, 57.8%, B: 2005, 3600 bottles. Price:
Colour:  Gold-old gold.
Nose: Floral, very smooth, with some whipped cream, barley, heather honey and some discreet citric notes. Diluted, it becomes lighter, richer and subtler.
Taste: Oaky, very smooth, slightly citric and spicy, on heather, vanilla, and with some fruity flavours. Diluted, it becomes lighter, subtler and some notes of coconut and pineapples are released. The finish is medium, very smooth, malty, on heather, with some vanilla.
General Impression: Straight, this whisky characterized by its big smoothness, but once the water is added, the whisky starts to express itself and the subtle and complex flavours are released. The transformation is quite impressive and welcomed.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C2

Cardhu 18 YO, OB, 40%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Light, fresh, malty, slightly earthy and spicy, with some chestnuts, vanilla, crushed barley and orange.  A different whisky from the 15 YO: much lighter and maltier.
Taste:  Light, fresh, malty, slightly bitter, floral to very floral, fragrant, and oaky, with some light notes of tangerine and orange blossom. The finish is medium, rather heavy, slightly bitter and oaky, with some humus and butterscotch
Impression: A lighter version than the 15 YO, slightly more subtle, fragrant and floral as well. These two new additions to the Cardhu range offer some new alternative to the many whisky enthusiasts enjoying the single malt from this distillery.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C2

Cardhu 15 YO, OB, 40%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Rich, malty, nutty, juicy, oaky, and with some orange and toasted or roasted wood.
Taste: Spicy, slightly peppery and on ginger, oaky, on toasted wood, vanilla, orange, tangerine, barley, slight soapy notes and roasted nuts. Diluted, it becomes heavier, slightly bitter and winey, with some horseradish. The finish is medium, nutty, spicy, on ginger, roasted oak and vanilla.
Impression: A rather heavy and nutty version of Cardhu, with quite some spicy notes. A different style from the 12 YO.
Rating: 11/20 FP:D2

Johnett 2008, OB, 42%, B: 2012 Price:
Colour: Straw Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, slightly farmy and spicy, with sweet notes.
Taste: Rather spicy and winey, sweet, with light oaky and aromatic notes. More robust than the 2007 and less sweet. The finish is short, slightly winey, malty, sweet, with some spices and light aromatic herbs.
Impression: The second release from Johnett is rather different from the first one, more robust, spicy and malty, with a shorter finish. It appears younger than the 2007 and thus less matured.
Rating: 09/20 FP:A1

Johnett 2007, OB, 42%. Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: On sweet and juicy malt, extremely smooth and clean, with some William’s pears. Diluted, it becomes slightly spicy and winey, with light peppery notes.
Taste: Extremely smooth, sweet and juicy, clean, malty, with some freshly pressed Williams pears. The finish is medium, extremely smooth, sweet and juicy, with some pears.
Impression: An atypical whisky, much smoother than anything I have tasted so far, and with a fruitiness close to some schnapps. Distilled in Holstein copper stills only once (with a narrow cut) and matured in chestnut cask that previously held red wine (Pinot noir), reduced to 42% with mountain spring water and matured in mountain caves, it is not completely unexpected to have something special (you can watch a small movie about the production process here : http://www.johnett.ch/en/maturing.php). Rating is thus not straightforward, but I enjoyed this one very much, thanks to its extreme smoothness and fruitiness. Drinkers of Schnapps should really enjoy this one, but it would appeal to traditionnal whisky drinkers looking for something new and fresh.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Bladnoch 1990, 21 YO, First Editions, 58.3%, B: 2011, cask E005/01. Price:
Colour: Pale gold-gold
Nose: Fresh, floral to very floral, light, with some vanilla, a touch of ginger and smoke.
Taste: Light, very floral and fragrant, intense, with some tobacco quid and some bitter smoke.  Diluted, it becomes lighter, more malty, floral and on straw-like flavours.
The finish is medium to long, intense and hot, on vanilla, some lemon twist, some floral and fragrant notes. Let’s quickly add some water: the finish becomes smoother, lighter, malty, on a field bathed by the summer sun. Some lemony retro-olfactions.
Impression: A very intense Bladnoch that requires some water, if you want to preserve your taste bud. A nicely made Bladnoch reminding me of the cask strength Rosebank for Zenith.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A2

Ayrshire 1974 for Waldhaus am See, 38 YO, signatory, 50.8%,  B: 2012, cask 2604, 124 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Mellow, round, sweet, herbal, oaky, on vanilla and ripe bananas.
Taste: Very mellow, sweet, fruity, grassy, on tropical fruits, mango, guava, banana, a slight smokiness, some wood and light spicy notes. The finish is medium to long, mellow, grassy, on honey, banana, tropical fruits, some cinnamon and other slightly tannic and woody notes. Diluted, it becomes slightly soapy.
Impression: A very appealing nose, an excellent mouth impression, with the age slightly showing off in the finish, better to drink neat. Good to some Ladyburn bottled again. Heavier  and rounder than the previous Ayrshire from Signatory.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A1

Highland Park 1959, 21 YO, OB, 43%, B:1980. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: On old bold peat and wood smoke, slightly mineral, complex, very resinous, with some humus, eucalyptus, candied oranges and a light seabrine.
Taste: Rich, complex, very fruity (orange and tangerine), aromatic, mineral, with some menthol and eucalyptus, bold peat smoke, wet wood and humus and a good dose of heather honey.The finish is long, waxy-resinous,  aromatic, with some cocoa, tangerine, orange, heather, humus, a touch of leather and some bold peat smoke.
Impression: An excellent bold, resinous Highland Park, with a very seducing texture and complexity. A pleasure to drink.
Rating: 18/20 FP:D4

Inchmurrin 1973 for La Maison du Whisky, Gordon & MacPhail, 44.3%, B : 2010, cask 3380, 156 bottles. Price:
Colour : Old gold.
Nose : Round, very grassy, slightly malt, with some starchy-fruity notes as well as some humus.
Taste: Very grassy, very round, with some mild spices and candied ginger, mint and watermelon. Nicely balanced and fruity. The finish is medium to long, round, very grassy, with a hint of old smoke as well as cashew and mint.
Impression: A very round, grassy and well structure single malt from a rarely seen distillery.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C3

Inchmurrin 21 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, juicy, oaky, with some ginger, vanilla and freshly pressed fruits from the orchards.
Taste: Floral, very malty, with an abundance of toffee, some fudge, ginger, black pepper and oak. The finish is medium to long, very peppery, with some ginger and toffee.
Impression: A suprisingly peppery and pleasant Inchmurrin.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Inchmurrin 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Round, oaky, malty, slightly floral, with some barley and apples.
Taste: Grassy, juicy, oaky, malty and on honey, with some light floral notes. Very sweet. The finish is medium, oaky, juicy, grassy and malty.
Impression: A very nice oaky and juicly, with pleasant grassy note.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

Inchmurrin 15 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Sweet, round, with lots of toffee, some barley and vanilla.
Taste: Oaky to very oaky, bitter, on caramel, some barley, vanilla and fragrant floral notes. The finish is medium, dry, bitter, floral, with some toffee. Diluted, it becomes closer to the 12 YO, but with more toffee.
Impression: A rounder version than the 12 YO with more toffee as well. A correct whisky.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A1

Inchmurrin 12 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, oaky, floral, on sweet barley and some vanilla.
Taste: Sweet, oaky, slightly grassy and floral, with some ginger, honey and oak spices. The finish is medium to long, oaky, juicy, with some pear and apple juice, sweet barley, tobacco leaves, light grassy and honey notes.
Impression: A fresh and very juicy whisky, smooth and enjoyable.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

Glen Scotia 21 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, spicy, oily, with some toffee and floral notes.
Taste: Round, oaky, oily, slightly salty and a lot of toffee. The finish is medium, oaky, slightly floral (chamomile) and on toffee.
Impression: A round version of Glen Scotia, with strong toffee notes.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B2

All these new Glen Scotia are now bottled at 46%, matured exclusively in bourbon casks, not chill filtered and without caramel. I have enjoyed particularly well the 10 and 16 years, two juicy and fresh versions and slightly less the rounder, spicier and more mellow the two oldest versions. I had no older 14 or 12 YO Glen Scotia (the Dumpy or the previous 12 YO in the yellow tube), but I have the impression that they are slightly lighter (less oily) and old fashioned than the former versions.

Glen Scotia 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Yeasty, round, nutty, on toffee and some light bitter herbal flavours.
Taste: Round, slightly floral, oaky, oily, on toffee and slightly salty. The finish is medium, round, oily, slightly bitter and aromatic, with a touch of smoke.
Impression: A good rounded and balanced version.
Rating: 13/20 FP:B2

Glen Scotia 16 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour:  Gold
Nose: Smoky, slightly mineral and floral, on sea brine, diesel smoke and vanilla.
Taste: Juicy, oaky, fresh, oily, slightly fruity, spicy and aromatic, on vanilla, honey and some harbour flavours. The finish is medium to long, oily to very oily, salty, on vanilla, toffee and some smoke.
Impression: A very nice oily, smoky and intense Glen Scotia, rich in flavours.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A3

Glen Scotia 12 YO, OB, 46% B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Close to the 10 YO, but rounder and slightly more complex
Taste: Oily, oaky, spicy, on toffee, some smoke, slightly aromatic and with a hint of eucalyptus and grapefruit. The finish is medium, oaky, slightly spicy, oily, on vanilla and some grapefruit.
Impression:A drier version than the 10 year old, slightly spicier but with a shorter finish.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A3

Glen Scotia 10 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour:  light Gold
Nose: Slightly briny, fresh, slightly smoky, on vanilla and some diesel smoke.
Taste: Oily, fresh, slightly salty and smoky, with sweet juicy oaky notes, some melon, lemon and other light fruity notes. The finish is medium, oaky, oily, with honey, vanilla and some freshly press fruits.
Impression: A very pleasant light, refreshing and juicy Glen Scotia with a welcomed oiliness.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A3

Longmorn 1963, 33 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%, B: 1996. Price:
Colour: Deep old gold
Nose: Slightly smoky and peaty, fruity to very fruity (passion fruits, mango, peach and tangerine), on berries (strawberries, raspberries and bramble) and nice soft oak.
Taste: Very smooth and mellow, on juicy malt, soft round peat smoke, wet tobacco leaves, toffee, fruits (mango, passion fruits, orange and tangerine) and some berries. The attack in the finish is slightly dry and spicy, then comes the peat, the smoke and the fruits. The finish is of medium length.
Impression: A surprisingly peaty Longmorn, very fruity, but a bit weak and would have benefited from some extra strength (at least 43%).
Rating: 16/20

Longmorn 1972 for La Maison du Whisky, 34 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, B: 2006, 45%, cask 1088.  Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Heavily sherried nose, on plumps, old leather, beewax, shoe polish, with floral (violet) notes, on ripe oranges, chocolate and grapes.
Taste: Thick, oily, with a beautiful sherry influence, spicy (ginger and pepper), on ripe oranges, leather, toffee, burnt sugar, coffee beans and black berries. Rich, complex, with a hint of woodiness. The finish is bold, spicy, slightly dry, long, on bitter toffee and coffee, good rubber and oranges.
General impression: An excellent heavily sherried Longmorn, with a hint of woodiness, with slightly less finesse than the 2001 bottling.
Rating: 17/20

Longmorn 1974 20th Anniversary, Samaroli, 50%. B: 1988, 540 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Rich, sweet, fruity, quite smoky, on berries, peat smoke, with some coffee, humus, tangerine and orange.
Taste: Quite light, fruity, zesty (almost lemony), on blueberries, blackcurrant, tangerine, with some leather and coffee. The finish is medium to long, fruity, zesty, slightly dry and woody.
Impression: A very nice Longmorn, fruity and surprisingly zesty and quite docile. Thank you very much Max.
Rating: 17/20 FP:G3

Cragganmore  1997, 15 YO,  Warehouse 8, 46.0%, B: 2012, cask 1504. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Light, fresh, floral to very floral, with light notes of almond and honey.
Taste: Very soft, honey, with some syrupy white wine, rucola and nutty-spicy flavours. The finish is medium, floral to very floral, on white wine, some spices and honey.
Impression: A rather floral and slightly bitter-aromatic Cragganmore, rather different from the standard official bottling. Slightly rough to my liking.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A2

Glen Mhor 30 YO, Cadenhead’s, 54.1%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Grassy, smooth, on rucola, some starch, smoke and oak.
Taste: Grassy, slightly starchy, mellow, with some melon and some slightly old fruits, as well as some humus. The finish is medium, mellow, on hops and beer, with some starchy and smoky notes, as well as some humus.
Impression: An old mellow Glen Mhor with notes of humus and hops. Smells like old books.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C2

Glen Garioch 21 YO, Master of Malt, 48.8%. B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Very pale straw
Nose: Young, fresh, intense, sweet, on vanilla and peat smoke.
Taste: Round, malty to very malty, on grist, dry meat, some tar, old ashes, cow stable and other farmy and aromatic notes. The finish is medium, dry, on aged cheese, dry meat, farmy notes and light peaty, ashy and smoky flavours.
Impression: A rather difficult whisky, very farmy and on strong notes of dried meat. An original but pleasant whisky. Maybe not for everyone’s taste.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A4

Glen Garioch 1997 batch 12 for Travel Retail, OB, 56.2%,B:2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Light, clean, malty, floral, fresh to very fresh, with some fruits from the orchards.
Taste: Clean to very clean, fresh, floral, fragrant, on vanilla, some fresh almonds, honey and heather. The finish is medium, clean, floral, on vanilla, fresh almonds, heather honey, some frangipane, and sweet barley. Diluted, on strong notes of sweet barley.
Impression: A very clean and fresh Glen Garioch, on sweet barley and tasting rather young. A rather sharp contrast to the Glen Garioch 1995. For sale in travel retail and at the distillery.
Rating: 12/20 FP: A1

Glen Garioch Liquid Library 1991, The Whisky Agency, 52.5%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour:  Straw-pale gold.
Nose: Fresh, floral, slightly oaky and juicy, on honey and a faint smokiness. Soft.
Taste: Spicy, oaky, on juicy oak, some smokiness, light aromatic flavours, some heather, honey and floral notes. The finish is medium, round, rather spicy and oaky, aromatic, with light notes of gentian and other floral flavours. Diluted, it becomes smoother, slightly more floral and with stronger honey notes.
Impression: A good floral and honeyed Glen Garioch, with a light smokiness. A pleasant  whisky to drink,
Rating: 14/20 FP:A2

Littlemill 21 YO, Cadenhead’s, 55.2%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Fresh, light, clean, floral, oaky and with some lemon.
Taste: Intense, slightly rough and oaky, zesty, lemony, floral, slightly fragrant and spicy, with some hay and old tobacco leaves. Diluted, there are some farmy notes. The finish is medium, intense, fresh, floral, fragrant, on rucola, lemon and hay.
Impression: A very intense, rough and lemony Littlemill. It seems much younger than it is with and exhuberant intensity. Not an easy one.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Littlemill 1989 Whiskyschiff 2012, 23 YO, The Perfect Dram,  52.70%, B: 2012, 202 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Fresh, floral, grassy, on hay and some oak. Light, intense and well balanced.
Taste: Intense, floral to very floral, spicy, grassy, on juicy oak, some vanilla, light sweet fruity notes and a whiff of smoke. The finish is medium, oaky, floral to very floral, grassy, lemony, with some fruity notes.
Impression: A middle aged Littlemill of high quality, intense and fresh.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A1

Lagan Mill, Cooper’s Choice, 56.1%, B: 2012, cask 9142. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Round, peaty, slightly meaty, maritime, intense, with strong wood smoke flavours, some seaweeds and tar.
Taste: Peaty, round, with some citrus, orange, seaweeds, some light seashells and ccocoa flavours, as well as iodine and fishy notes. The finish is medium, round, rather mellow and oaky, with some vegetamine, tangerine, iodine, seaweeds, tar and vanilla.
Impression: A slightly youngish sherried Lagavulin, with round oaky notes and pleasant maritime flavours.
Rating: 13/20 FP:E6

Ardbeg 17 YO, OB, 40%, Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose; Nice maritime notes married with a delicious delicate bold peat smoke characterize this whisky. Rather light.
Taste: Tarry, salty, peaty, with some aromas of fish and drying seaweeds, bonfire smoke, a touch of burnt juniper bushes, smoke, light flavours of iodine and other disinfectant. The finish is medium to long, peaty, on iodine, disinfectant and maritime flavours.
Impression: This Ardbeg 17 YO was unique in the Ardbeg range and a favourite of many whisky enthusiasts resulting from the vatting of heavily peated “normal” Ardbeg and lightly peated Ardbeg (“Kildalton”). The result is a charming peated and harmonious Ardbeg, well balanced and to my opinion, much better than its “replica”, the Ardbeg Blasda.
Rating: 16/20 FP:B6

Ardbeg 1972 Old Malt Cask, 28 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2000, 222b. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Peaty, maritime, on old bold peat and wood smoke, iodine, disinfectant, seaweeds and a hint of toffee.
Taste: Peaty, maritime, salty, on peat smoke, seaweeds, seashells and oak. The finish is long, peaty, oaky, with a slight woody influence, on wet smoke and seaweeds, tar and liquorice root.
General Impression: A very  good and typical Ardbeg from 1972, but the wood influence is getting noticeable.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A7

Ardbeg Supernova SN10, OB, 60.1%, B: 2010. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Young to very young, fresh, clean, very peaty, farmy, with some pear drops.
Taste: Young, dry, maritime, with some pear drops. A bit rough. The finish is medium, peaty, salty, maritime, and very clean.
Impression: A very peaty, clean and young Ardbeg. If you like them young and (very) peaty, you will like it. If not, wait for a few years.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A9

Ardbeg Uigedail L7 325, OB, 54.2%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Intense, peaty, rather clean, maritime, with some camphor, iodine, tar, spearmint and some citrus. With some aeration, it becomes more on chocolate and toffee.
Taste: Clean, fresh, peaty to very peaty, salty, on iodine, tar, diesel smoke, coal, ashes, some spearmint, iodine, TCP and some citrus. The finish is long, peaty, tarry to very tarry, ashy, with some kippers, seaweeds, soot, slight citric notes, wood smoke, iodine and dry oaky flavours.
Impression: Elected as « Jim Murray’s 2009 World Whisky of the Year »  this Uigedail  was indeed very good and did not disappoint. It is a complex, intense and well balanced peaty whisky. The Uigedail is considered by many as the best of the Ardbeg range. Since I tasted the first two batches of Uigedail,  I was really nice to taste it again. Although the first two versions, might have been slightly more complex, the balance in this one seemed slightly better. Thank you Raphael.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C8

Talisker Manager’s choice 1994, 14 YO, OB, 58.6%, B: 2009, bodega sherry butt 7147, 582 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Round, oaky, peaty, slightly dry and tarry, on toffee, some light yeast extracts and a touch of rubber.
Taste: Slightly rubbery, floral, with light winey notes, salt, pepper, some smoke, seaweeds and sea brine. The finish is medium, dry, peppery, slightly winey, oaky to very oaky, slightly rough and smoky.
Impression: A rather difficult Talisker, with rather strong oaky notes, while the sherry notes are faint and rather winey. Not too much to my liking.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A5

Talisker 18 YO, OB, 45.8%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, slightly smoky and salty, on sea breeze and light phenolic flavours.
Taste:  Light, fresh, on juicy oak, vanilla, some white pepper, peat smoke, some camphor, seaweeds and light fishy notes. The finish is medium to long, light, oaky, spicy, slightly peppery, smoky and with light peaty notes.
Impression: A lighter and less peppery version than the regular 10 YO, but rather fresh and elegant. A different flavour profile compared to the 10 YO or the North.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A4

Talisker North, OB, 57%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peat, smoky, salty, briny, with some seaweeds.
Taste: Dry, salty, peppery, very spicy, with some chili, almonds, seaweeds, camphor and iodine. Diluted, it becomes extremely peppery. The finish is long, peppery, hot, smoky, peaty, with some roasted oak chips, seaweeds and a touch of tar,
Impression: A very nice hot and intense Talisker with comparable peppery notes to the 10 YO, but slighly cleaner younger.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A5

Talisker At the Distillery Only, OB, 53.9%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Clean, farmy to very farmy, slightly maritime, round, oaky, on vanilla, toffee and milk chocolate.
Taste:  Salty, peppery to very peppery, intense, peaty, oaky, with some vanilla, seaweeds, iodine and some ashes. The finish is long, oaky, with some toffee, on vanilla, fish, iodine, seaweeds, tar, salt and some peat smoke.
Impression: Tasted together with the latest 25, 30 and 35 YO Talisker, the nose is different, much more farmy with strong oaky notes. This Talisker tasted pretty much like a cask strength and version of the Talisker 10 YO with a strong oaky influence (modern whisky). If you enjoy the regular 10 years old as much as I do, you will enjoy this one very much.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A5

BenRiach for The Craigellachie Hotel, 28 YO, OB, 57.6%, B: 2005, cask 8079, 144 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Mellow to very mellow, rich, slightly peaty, with a huge fruitiness, on juicy and sweet tropical fruits (e.g., mango, papaya).
Taste: Slightly spicy, mellow, with some light mineral and peaty smoky notes, on rich and intense fruity notes pineapple, mango, guava, melon and papaya). The finish is medium to long, rather heavy and syrupy, slightly peaty and smoky, with strong fruity notes.
Impression: The BenRiach distilled in 1975 and 1976 have a huge and lovely fruitiness. This one does not make exception, complement by a most pleasant peatiness. Excellent.
Rating: 18/20 FP:C4

BenRiach 1976 Pedro Ximenez finish, 35 YO, OB, 54.1%, B: 2012, cask 5316, 204 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Fruity to very fruity, thick, syrupy, oaky, on tropical fruits (guava, papaya and mango) with some heather and light floral notes.
Taste: Oaky, spicy, round, vegetal, thick, chewy, on wood chips, some tropical fruits, toffee, floral notes and vanilla. The finish is medium, on wood spices, oak chips, vanilla, some ginger, slight bitter and floral notes, with tropical notes of moderate intensity. Diluted, it becomes rather citric and woody.
Impression: A rather harsh BenRiach 1976, with a pleasant and thick nose on tropical fruits, becomes rather oaky and woody on the palate, with some astringency in the finish (walnut-like). There are better 1976 around. The sherry influence is modest.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C3

BenRiach 1990 Tawny Port Finish, 22 YO, OB, 53.4%, B: 2012, cask 2596, 624 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Oaky to very oaky, clean, on vanilla, some saw dust, peat and light farmy notes. With time, light sugary notes are released. Dilute, the Port influence grows stronger and floral notes are released.
Taste: Clean, oaky, peaty, slightly sugary and winey, on vanilla and some light Port influence. The finish is medium, oaky, clean, peaty, on vanilla, some oak spices and winey influence.
Impression: If you like clean and oaky (modern) medium peated whisky, with an elegant influence of Port wine, then you should enjoy this one very much. Even though I am usually not very fond of Port finishes, it works well in this whisky. Very good.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A5

BenRiach 1995 Single Cask for Switzerland, 17 YO, OB, 56.7%, B: 2012, cask 1768, 160 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty, smoky, tarry to very tarry, ashy, dry, complex, slightly farmy and aromatic.
Taste: Very tarry and dry, ashy, farmy, earthy, on aromatic and floral peat smoke. Very intense. The finish is long, subtle, very peaty, smoky, aromatic, dry, ashy to very ashy, tarry, earthy, with a twist of bitter lemon and some spices.
Impression: A very peaty and tarry BenRiach, very expressive and complex. It has been a while since I tasted such a heavily peated and pleasant BenRiach. Excellent.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A8

BenRiach 1996 Single Cask for Switzerland PX finish, 19 YO, OB, 53.1%, B: 2012, cask 5613, 293 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Very fruity, floral, sweet, smooth, with some dark fruits, orange, leather and cola. Slight notes of wood polish.
Taste: Sweet, oaky-spicy, floral, with some sweet fruity notes, some dark fruits, berries, cola and vanilla. The finish is medium, syrupy, slightly bitter and rubbery, on dark fruits, some sour berries, tangerine, cocoa, leather and light floral and honey notes. Diluted, it becomes first on sweet and pleasant tropical notes, before becoming bitter, fragrant, slightly astringent and on coffee beans.
Impression: Tasted right after opening the bottle, the whisky was rather rubbery. Tasted again several weeks afterwards, these notes almost disappear and replaced by notes of cocoa and cola, with the oak from the bourbon cask still speaking rather loud.
Rating: 14/20 FP:E1

Ledaig 10 YO, OB, 46.3%, B:2012. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Very peaty and farmy, meaty, salty, maritime, with some toffee and seaweeds. Most pleasant.
Taste: Peaty, smoky, very farmy, oaky, fragrant, with lots of seaweeds, on charred oak and vanilla. The finish is medium, peaty, very ashy, on liquorice roots, farmy very smoky and on seaweeds.
Impression:  A very peaty and smoky whisky, rather simple, but with a good intensity and a certain sweetness making it enjoyable.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A7

Strathisla 1970, 42 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 43%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Very fruity and smooth, rich, intense, on tangerine, orange, some beeswax, heather, guava, some light eucalyptus and old furniture flavours.  Remarkable.
Taste: Smooth, slightly salty and tannic, fruity, on orange, tangerine, some honey, eucalyptus and old leather, with a faint smokiness. The finish is medium, smooth, tannic, astringent and bitter, on walnut, tangerine, orange and leather.
Impression: The nose is deliciously smooth and fruity, with a surprising intensity, complemented by a very pleasant smooth mouthfeel, before becoming rather tannic and astringent (walnut shells) on the finish. A complex and pleasant whisky.
Rating: 15/20 FP:G2

Benromach Peat Smoke Phenol Level 53PPM 2004, OB, 46%,  B:2012. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Clean, young to very young, very peaty, smoky, dry, and tarry, with some vanilla.
Taste: Initially sweet, then it becomes drier, smokier, slightly oaky and juicy, on vanilla, tar, some hemp rope, spearmint, and violet. The finish is medium, dry, tarry, ashy, peaty, smoky, with some violet , vanilla, and spearmint. Rather young.
Impression: A clean dry peaty and smoky Speyside whisky, with light aromatic flavours. Rather pleasant, but I would not some additional complexity.
Rating: 11/20 FP: A8

Benromach 30 YO, OB, 43%, B:2012. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Round, smooth, soft, floral, on honey, some pollen and some mellow sweet fruity notes. A sharp contrast to the Organic.
Taste: Mellow, smooth, slightly spicy, with sweet fruity notes of tangerine, peach. Creamy. The finishis medium to long, spicy, slightly peppery, with a touch of pink grapefruit, peach, guava, sweet liquorice, raisins, some smoke, vanilla, chocolate, and a faint fragrance.
Impression: A smooth and slightly peppery version Benromach, on a rather sweet and soft side. Elegant and enjoyable to drink.
Rating: 14/20 D2 Benromach distilled by the current owners (Gordon & MacPhail)!  
Rating: 14/20 FP: D2

Benromach Organic Special Edition, OB, 43%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty, smoky, gristy, slightly oily-waxy, fruity, fresh, and intense
Taste: Light, malty to very malty, on coarsely grounded barley, peat smoke, burnt wood, oily, some gentian, slightly aromatic, with some cream and fragrant notes. The finish is short to medium, clean malty, peaty, fragrant, aromatic, on charred oak and vanilla.
Impression: For a whisky younger than 10 years of age, the whisky is very rich and complex, with intense peat smoke and aromatic flavours. Furthermore, after tasting, I was surprised to discover that it was bottled at 43%, since the flavours intensity very high. Watch out in the future for the next releases of Benromach distilled by the current owners (Gordon & MacPhail)!  
Rating: 14/20 FPA6

Blue Hanger 6th Edition, Berry Bros & Rudd, 45.6%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Peaty, salty, vegetal, round, smooth, with some rubber and maritime flavours.
Taste: Fruity, salty, vegetal, with some cold ashes, rubber, light floral notes, seaweeds and sweet fruity notes. The finish is medium, round, vegetal, on toffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, seaweeds, some tar, peat and a mixture of fragrance and rubber. Diluted, it becomes more floral, saltier and more fragrant.
Impression: A good whisky with some nice rounded sherried and vegetal flavours, slightly too rubbery and fragrant to my taste.
Rating:12/20 FP:F3

Glenrothes 1988, OB, 43%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Oaky, malty, dry, floral, slightly fragrant, on vanilla, a touch of toffee and butterscotch. Rather clean and balanced. With time, strong honey notes are released.
Taste: Fresh, fragrant, soft, floral, rather juicy, with light fruity notes, honey, vanilla and end of spring flowers. Rather rich and complex. The finish is medium, round, floral, fresh, oaky, on honey, some butterscotch and loads of vanilla.
Impression: A soft, smooth, floral and fragrant Glenrothes with age contributing to some roundness. A round and pleasant version of Glenrothes.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

Glenrothes 1998, OB, 43%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour:  Gold.
Nose: Fresher, lighter and more simple than the 1988, with more toffee and butterscotch.
Taste: Floral, slightly fragrant, with strong notes of fudge, some honey and vanilla. Over time, it becomes very fragrant. The finish is medium, floral, very fragrant, rather light, oaky and with some fudge.
Impression: A very fragrant version of Glenrothes. A nicely made and light whisky, slightly too fragrant to my taste. Of course, this is a matter of taste and If you like Glenrothes, you will enjoy is lightness and pleasant floral notes.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B1

Glenfarclas 1963 Family Cask VII, OB, 50.4%, B: 2012, cask 179, 154 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Rich, woody, slightly floral, on thick and dark fruits, berries, leather, chocolate, figs, sultanas, some peat smoke and spices (cinnamon and cloves).
Taste: Rich, thick, slightly syrupy, tannic and astringent, complex, with lots of spices (cinnamon and other aromatic spices), berries, dark chocolate, some humus and old leather. The finish is medium to long, woody, tannic, bitter, astringent, on bitter orange, dark chocolate, leather, cinnamon, cloves, walnuts, and light floral notes. Diluted, it becomes very astringent and bitter.
Impression: The nose is excellent, rich and complex and the same flavours are delivered on the palate. The almost 50 years spent in the cask are revealed in a rather astringent, bitter and woody finish. If you enjoy the old tannic sherried whiskies, then you should be delighted with this one. This was slightly too much for me.
Rating: 15/20 FP:J2

Elements of Islay BW1 (Bowmore), Speciality Drinks, 52.9%, B: 2012, Price: (70 cl equivalent)
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Peaty, tarry, salty, briny, maritime, sweet to very sweet, on dry peat, peach, mango, tangerine, and sweet oranges. Diluted, some pleasant notes of pink grapefruit are released (in the Bowmore Gold style).
Taste: Peaty, tarry to very tarry, intense, clean, zesty, slightly rough and salty, with some seabreeze and sweet fruity notes of tangerine, peach, orange and mango progressively developing. Diluted, it becomes more citric, with rather strong notes of pink grapefruit. The finish is medium to long, peaty, tarry to very tarry, rather dry, smoky, with some ashes, lemon, seaweeds, salts and some other fruity notes. There is a long tarry and clean peaty retro-olfaction. Diluted the finish becomes more citric (bitter lemon and pink grapefruit).
Impression: An intense, young, peaty and tarry Bowmore of high quality, with a twist of bitter lemon and sweet fruity notes on the nose mainly. Very enjoyable. I do not know the age of the whisky, but I am always impressed by the quality of its whisky, probably distilled between the mid 1990s or in the 2000s.
Rating: 15/20 FP: D6

Deanston Virgin Oak, OB, 46.3%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very fresh, oaky, on vanilla, and freshly harvested barley.
Taste: Fresh, light, on apples, honey, fresh vanilla, with light spicy notes and freshly harvested barley. Sweet and with some fudge. The finish is short to medium, with some caramel, heather, honey, slightly spicy and malty.
Impression: Some might call it a simple whisky, but it is very fresh, straightforward, well made and simply enjoyable.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Deanston 12 YO, OB, 46.3%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Round, malty, intense, on honey, apples, some light fragrant and floral notes, as well as some faint rubbery notes?
Taste: Malty, sweet, slightly nutty and on toasted wood, with some burn sugar, barley and some honey. The finish is medium, rather rich, with some humus, honey and fragrant and floral notes.
Impression: A heavier version that the virgin oak, more rounded and smoother. It is a matter of personal preferences, but I enjoyed the simplicity and freshness of the Virgin oak.
Rating: 11/10 FP:C1

GlenDronach 1971, 41 YO, OB, 47.9%, B: 2012, cask 1247, 529 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Fruity to very fruity, slightly floral, thick, on tangerine, orange, cherries, some fig, some old peat smoke and heather. Very pleasant.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, slighty sweet, fruity to very fruity, on tangerine, sweet tropical notes, some heather and milk chocolate. Elegant and well balanced. The finish is medium to long, very smooth and mellow, slightly tannic and woody, with some wild berries, cherries, milk chocolate, tangerine, orange and some light floral notes. Diluted, it becomes more fruity.
Impression: A most pleasant GlenDronach. The previous 1971 were rather tannic and astringent, but these notes are rather discreet in this bottling compared to the previous versions and it is surprisingly smooth and fruity. A very enjoyable and drinkable GlenDronach.
Rating: 17/20 FP:G2

GlenDronach 1993 for UK, 19 YO, OB, 54.2%, B: 2012, cask 487, 673 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Intense, meaty to very meaty, slightly vegetal, on burnt matches, burnt sugar and thick dark fruity flavours. Diluted, it becomes more on burnt matches and sugar.
Taste: Vegetal, spicy to very spicy, rather sweet and sugary, rubbery, on dark berries, some sulphur, vegetamine, cloves, bitter orange, tangerine, caramel and some floral and fragrant notes. The finish is long, bitter to very bitter, astringent, fragrant, floral, some aromatic herbs, very dark chocolate and some figs.
Impression: An archetypal sherry monster. If you like your whiskies with an extreme sherry influence and enjoy the sulphury and bitter sherry notes, then you will love this one. This is not the type of GlenDronach that I enjoy.
Rating: 09/20 FP:J2

Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve 2007, OB, 46%. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Intense, round, spicy, rich, on ripe fruits, apricots, bananas, melons, red berries and dough.
Taste: Rich, intense, on melon, spices, ripe fruits, apricot, peach, banana, some grapes and dark fruits on top of a smooth and soft body. Nicely fruity and with some cinnamon. Diluted, it becomes spicier and more winey.
Impression: The Select reserve was a slightly spicier version of the standard Jameson. The Rarest Vintage is definitely a spicier and fuller version of Jameson and the influence of the fortified wine (Port) is noticeable. The Gold reserve has a very different profile, but I enjoyed both equally.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D1

Jameson Gold Reserve, OB, 40%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very smooth, soft, grainy, on fruits from the orchards, cereals and a touch of sherry. Sweet.
Taste: Very smooth, sweet, soft, on honey, some tangerine, light grassy notes, on cereals and some apricots. Silky. The finish is short to medium, very smooth, sweet, soft and silky, on grains, some apricots, peach, tangerine and liquid honey.  Some oak spices in the finish. Diluted, it becomes smoother, slightly more grainy and loses some complexity.
Impression: A very smooth and soft whisky, with pleasant sweet notes and a silky texture. Maybe not the most complex whisky, but the overall mouth feel is excellent and the product dangerously drinkable.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D1

Jameson Select Reserve small batch, OB, 40%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Intense, spicy, oaky, some humus. With time, it becomes very grainy and slightly bland.
Taste:  Very smooth, light, fresh, clean, on pears, some light grassy notes and on cereals. The finish is short, smooth, sweet, with some light spices and cereals. Diluted, it becomes very grainy.
Impression: The nose was rather interesting at first nosing, being slightly spicier than the gold, but then the grainy notes are getting stronger over time and once you swallow it, the grainy notes are dominating, with some light spicy notes. Slightly more complex and richer than the standard Jameson.
Rating: 08/20 FP:A1

Midleton 1973, 30 YO, OB, 56%, B: 2004, cask 4122. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very smooth, rich, complex, with some cedar wood, light floral and fragrant notes, with a hint of sweetness. Delicious.
Taste: Rich, smooth, with some soft spices, light malty notes, complex, slightly floral fragrant, dry and nutty, with some delicate cedar wood, with light notes of tangerines and some spicy notes coming from the Port pipes used for the final maturation. The finish is medium to long, smooth, mellow, spicy, slightly fragrant, floral and dry.
Impression: An excellent pure pot still whiskey from the old and defunct Midleton distillery, resulting from a vatting of ex-bourbon and sherry cask with a final maturation in port pipe. To be more precise, several casks were vatted together to produce a 27 YO Midelton bottled for the millennium and a proportion of the whiskey was left for a further maturation until it reached 30 years of age.
Since this is my first very old Pure Pot Still whiskey, I will not compare it with younger version of Pot Still whiskies (e.g., Power’s John Lane). Anyhow, this whiskey was excellent and a pleasure to taste.
Rating: 18/20 FP:C1