Balvenie Classic, OB, 43%, B:1980. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose:  Rich, intense, smooth, juicy, sweet, on humus, some mushrooms, tangerine, honey, some peat smoke and a hint of parsley. A version close to the founder’s reserve from the same period, with some extra intensity and complexity. With time, the notes of eucalyptus are stronger.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, spicy, slightly salty, on eucalyptus, wood extracts, tangerine, old peat smoke, heather and some humus. The finish is medium, spicy, floral, mineral, on heather, some old wood smoke, tangerine, slightly bitter, on some light notes of apples and humus.
Impression: A rather robust and a stronger sherry influence than the Founder’s reserve from the 1980s.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C3

Balvenie Doublewood, 17 YO, OB, 43%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Clean, oaky, floral, slightly fragrant, rather sweet, nutty, with some toffee, leather, vanilla, heather and tangerine.
Taste: Smooth, juicy, sweet, floral, with lots of heather, honey, some leather, light notes of fudge, spices, raisins and some chocolate. The finish is medium, rather thick and on the same flavours as on the palate.
Impression: A rather sweet and round notes of Balvenie with milk chocolate. The influence of the sherry is rather well integrated.
Rating: 13/20 FP:E2

Balvenie Founder’s reserve, OB, 43%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very smooth, sweet, juicy, slightly mineral and peaty, on honey, heather, tangerine, some humus and aromatic smoke.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, mineral, on humus, some eucalyptus, mushrooms, peat smoke, and tangerine. Lovely. The finish is medium, sweet, mineral, and slightly spicy, on humus, some mushrooms, peat smoke, heather and tangerine. Diluted, it becomes spicier.
Impression: A delicious old fashioned and slightly peaty Balvenie, with austere and mineral notes, probably with a fair proportion of refill sherry cask. I really enjoy this style of whiskies.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C3

Balvenie Single Barrel, 12 YO, OB, 47.8%, B: 2013, cask 12758. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Clean to very clean, slightly floral and dusty, oaky, on vanilla and some heather. With time, it becomes rounder and more on honey (flower).
Taste: Clean, oaky to very oaky, on heather, honey, vanilla and some lemon. The finish is medium, clean, oaky, fragrant, slightly floral, on heather, vanilla and some ginger.
Impression: A modern whisky, with a rather strong oaky-vanilla influence and mild heathery notes. A younger and more modern version of the previous 15 YO Single Cask
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Springbank 1970 Local Barley, 23 YO, OB, 46%, B: 1993, cask 1767. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, mineral, smoky, peaty, slightly malty, with round sweet fruity notes, including some melon and mango.
Taste: Very smooth, sweet, juicy, fruity, on pineapples, some coconut, exotic fruits and on peat smoke. The finish is long, smooth, round, sweet, juicy, on melon, banana, some salt, sea spray, soot and mineral notes. Dilutes, it becomes more mineral and peaty and austere as well.
Impression: An excellent Springbank, smoother and slightly less complex than the 1966 Local Barley. Interestingly, with some water, the profile of the whisky changes markedly, becoming more mineral and peaty.
Rating: 17/20 FP:B3

Springbank 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Farmy, smoky, intense, oaky, slightly maritime, with some winey notes (Port?) and aromatic notes.
Taste: Intense, oaky, floral, slightly fragrant, salty, maritime, slightly peppery, on wet wood, some farmy notes, diesel smoke and a touch of toffee. aThe finish is medium to long, rather dry and winey, salty, smoky, oaky and slightly farmy, with light maritime notes.
Impression: A nice and farmy version of Springbank, maybe slightly drier and more winey than the previous edition?
Rating: 15/20 FP:C3

Springbank 12 YO bottled for Auxil, OB, 46%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Smoky, mineral, slightly maritime and peaty, with some soot, smoke and austere flavours. A very nice and old fashioned Springbank.
Taste: Salty, mineral to very mineral, smoky, peaty, tarry, with some soot, ashes, pepper and nice complex austere peaty notes, as well as some sea spray, diesel smoke and light citric notes. Diluted, the finish becomes slightly more citric, salty and with liquorice.
Impression: A very good mineral, austere and peated old Fashioned Springank. A style that I enjoy very much
Rating: 16/20 FP:A4

Springbank 35 YO Millenium, OB, 46%, B: 2000. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Thick, complex, fruity, smoky, on mirabelle jam mixed with tangerine and papaya, as well as some eucalyptus.
Taste: Salty, smoky, peaty, slightly mineral, with some strawberries, tangerine, melon, papaya, eucalyptus, all flavours perfectly blended and keeps changing and evolving over time. The finish is long, with the same aromas as described above. Nicely mellow.
Impression: A superb expression of Springbank, from a flawless sherry cask, with the sherry influence in harmony with the peaty smoky notes of Springbank.
Rating: 19/20 FP: F5

Old Pulteney 21 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, maritime, on sea breeze, seaweeds, some chocolate and light floral notes. Rather different from the 17YO.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, salty, maritime, slightly citric, with some tangerine, orange and a hint of smoke. A version with apparently more sherry influence than the 17 YO. The finish is medium to long, slightly smoky, salty and citric, with some leather, chocolate and seaweeds.
Impression: A version with a stronger sherry influence than the 17 YO, more on chocolate and tangerine. Two different products but of the same high quality. Good and enjoyable stuff.
Rating: 15/20 FP: E2

Old Pulteney 17 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Maritime, slightly smoky, on sea breeze, ginger and some humus. Nice.
Taste: Salty, slightly waxy, lemony and mineral, oaky, with a hint of toffee and on maritime notes. The harbour of wick is not far away. The finish is medium to long, complex, slightly mineral, briny, waxy and citric, with a hint of smoke, some seaweeds and a hint of toffee.
Impression: A very nice slightly austere and maritime whisky, with a good depth and strong personality. Smells and taste good the sea in Northern Scotland.
Rating: 15/20 FP: C2

Old Pulteney Navigator, OB, 46%, B: 2013 ref 18/910. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Young, malty, simple, slightly maritime and on vanilla.
Taste: Very young, sweet, sugary, slightly salty, on vanilla and some fudge. The finish is short, sweet, very young, sugary and on vanilla.
Impression: A whisky that taste rather, more like a new make than a mature single malt and without the salty coastal notes that I enjoy in the Old Pulteney. It is not unpleasant, but not my style. Sorry. One of the first if not the first without any age statement. Released to commemorate the sponsoring of a yacht in the Clipper Round the World Race
Rating: 08/20 FP: A1

Octomore 2004 The Beast II 167 ppm Futures, OB, 60.5%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very peaty, slightly dry, farmy, tarry, on cow and horse stable, ashes and soots. Simpler and not much peatier than the Port Charlotte.
Taste: Dry to very dry, young, rather immature, with strong oaky notes, sawdust, peat, manure, seaweeds, wet socks and tarry notes. Diluted, it falls apart and taste like peated water. The finish is rather short, young, sweet, peaty, slightly farmy and maritime.
Impression: As a young whisky made with heavily peated barley, I was expecting a peat blast, but got rather disappointed. It was sweeter than expected, clean simple and unidimensional. I enjoyed the first official releases from Octomore better and in terms of peat intensity, the Port Charlotte Port Matured was delivering more. This is probably due to the fact that this Octomore was bottled too young (to my opinion). At 400 euros the bottles, my choice is quickly made between this Octomore and the Port Charlotte Port Matured.
Rating: 07/20 FP: A8

Port Charlotte SwissLink 007 Port Matured, 10 YO, Alexander Weine, 60.6%, D:2003, B: 2013, cask 646, 341 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very peaty and tarry, ashy, maritime, intense, farmy (stables), oncreosote and soot, with a slight sugary sweetness.
Taste: Starts on a mixture of sweet sugary, intense farmy(stable) and dirty flavours, then moves to intense peaty, tarry and ashy flavours, some seaweeds, soot and phenolic flavours. The finish is long, slightly dry, very peaty, tarry and ashy, with some phenols, maritime notes and a faint sweet-sugary sweetness and winey notes
Impression: A very peaty, intense, tarry and farmy Port Charlotte, with a surprisingly light influence for the Port Cask, sweetening probably some excessive dry and tarry notes. A muscular Port Charlotte without compromise. Excellent.
Rating: 16/20 FP: D9

Bruichalddich X4 Futures 2006, OB, 64.6%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Very light, immature (new-make), young, farmy, dirty, floral and on cheap perfume. Not so much to my taste.
Taste: Light, sweet, sugary, hot and spirit, immature, on freshly crushed barley and some bitter floral notes. Let’s add quickly some water. Diluted, it becomes cleaner, less spirity but remains young and immature, with not much flavours excepted some vanilla and freshly crushed barley.The finish is short, dry, spirity, with some apple and pear drops, some manure and light fragrant notes.
Impression: An immature, young and spirit whisky, that would require at least a couple of years to gain in complexity. Tastes almost like high ABV white rums or vodka.
Rating: 05/20 FP: A1

Mortlach 1966, Jas Gordon, 40%, B: 1987. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Intense, floral, very thick, smoky, on leather, fresh rubber, polish, beeswax, figs, raisins and orange.
Taste: Mellow, very round, smoky, slightly floral, chewy, on chocolate, leather, bloody orange, tangerine, some humus, bold peat smoke and light smooth and round rubbery notes. The finish is long, chewy, rich, intense, heavily sherried, very complex, on peat smoke, chocolate, tangerine, blood orange and some woody notes.
Impression: An old Mortlach thich and intense, with a gorgeous influence from the sherry cask.
Rating: 18/20 FP: I3

Ledaig 7 YO, The Whisky Exchange, 59.4%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour:  Old gold-amber
Nose: Very peaty, intense and tarry, slightly meaty and maritime, on BBQ, smoked ham, some seaweeds and sweet fruity undertones.
Taste: Sweet, salty, slightly young, intense, peaty, smoky, very tarry, slightly maritime, on smoked and dry ham, seaweeds, orange, spices, cumin, damp earth and some seashells. The finish is medium to long, peaty, tarry, ashy, on charcoal, barbecue, seaweeds, sea shells, orange, tangerine, salt and smoked ham. The peaty tarry notes seem to stay forever….
Impression: A very intense, pleasant, well-rounded Ledaig, very peaty and with lingering tarry notes sweetened by the sherry. A young but excellent Ledaig.
Rating: 16/20 FP: E8

Dailuaine 29 YO, The Whisky Exchange, 53.2%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Fruity, mineral, aromatic, smooth, spicy, slightly peaty, on vanilla, melon and smoke.
Taste: Spicy, mineral, fruity, juicy, slightly peaty, on melon, mango, papaya, some tangerine, soft spices and quince. The finish is long, mineral, smoky, slightly peaty, slightly austere, fruity and juicy.
Impression: Woaww, this Dailuaine was a very good surprise. I like the style of the Dailuaine Fauna & Flora very much, but this version is without heavy sherry notes, rather austere and mineral, with some slightly waxy and peaty notes, reminding me somewhat of the old Clynelish distilled at the Brora distillery. Something unexpected in a Dailuaine. I love this one. One of the best whiskies I have tasted this year.
Rating: 18/20 FP: C2

Littlemill 1988, 24 YO, The First Editions, 55.8%, B:2013, 330 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Grassy to very grassy, round, slightly oaky and with some vanilla.
Taste: Intense, spicy, grassy, with some notes of white wine and some vanilla. The finish is medium, grassy, oaky, with some hay, on vanilla and white pepper. Diluted, it becomes grassier and slightly bitter.
Impression: A slightly rougher version than the 1990 BBR cask 16, rather light and on vanilla.
Rating: 14/20 FP: A1

Littlemill 1990, 21 YO, Berry Bros & Rudd, 46%, B: 2012, cask 18. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very grassy, intense, round and with some honey. Delicious.
Taste: Extremely grassy, on starch, some honey, fresh pastries and light notes of cooked fruits from the orchards. The finish is medium to long, smooth, round, very grassy, on honey, some pears and a light bitterness.
Impression: One of the very best Littlemills that I have tasted, with delicious smooth grassy notes. A real treat.
Rating: 16/20 FP: A1

Littlemill 1992, 20 YO, Berry Bros & Rudd, 54.9%, B: 2013, cask 10. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Round, grassy, slightly farmy and smoky, with light juicy and oaky notes. More subtle, lighter and less grassy than the 1990. Diluted, the nose becomes closer to the 1990 cask 16
Taste: Spicy, floral, grassy, slightly peppery and very intense and hot. Let’s quickly add some water. Diluted, the finish is medium, grassy, smooth, slightly soapy, with some mint and light notes of vanilla.
Impression: A nice fresh Littlemill, rather hot and spirit at bottled strength, becoming smoother, more grassy and pleasant once slightly diluted.
Rating: 14/20 FP: A1

Armorik 2002 single cask, 10 YO, OB, 56.1%, B: 2012, cask 3261, 748 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose:  Very meaty, on game, peat smoke, strong spices, tangerine, orange and some freshly tanned leather.  Given time, the notes of game and smoked meat soften and some notes of milk chocolate appear.
Taste: Spicy, peppery, smoky, meaty, on game, leather and oranges. Diluted, it becomes very smooth, on shortbreads, some honey, cooked apples, orange and with some peat smoke. The finish is medium, meaty, peaty, on game, slightly floral, with some orange and spices.
Impression: This is one of my first Armorik and this cask has a strong personality, with strong notes of meat and game, a slight peatiness and some fruity notes. Diluted, it becomes very smooth, on shortbreads. A whisky rather difficult to rate, so try it to make your own opinion.
Rating: 13/20FP: D3

Armorik Double Maturation, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Floral, smooth, juicy, slightly peaty, on fresh oak, spices, some fudge and vegetal extracts.
Taste: Very smooth, on fresh oaky notes, spices, some leather and orange. The finish is medium, fresh, oaky, slightly buttery, winey and creamy, very smooth, with some spices and a touch of orange.
Impression: Matured in oak from Brittany and finished in sherry casks, notes of fresh/virgin oak are very noticeable and gives a nice freshness and smoothness to the whisky, while the sherry seems to give some additional spiciness and notes of orange. A well-made whisky, easy and enjoyable to drink.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D2

Tullibardine 25 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smooth, mellow, floral, with some honey, leather, vanilla, some treacle, figs and dried apricots.
Taste: Rich, intense, slightly floral and fragrant, on dark chocolate, some menthol, honey, violet, vanilla and some toffee. The finish is medium, peppery, floral, slightly bitter and grassy, on tobacco leaves, some honey, polish,  bitter orange, wet wood and tannins.
Impression: A very intense, rich and oaky Tullibardine, with smooth grassy and honey notes. The new range of Tullibardine shows a nice consistency in the style and high quality product. Not only the packaging better, but it seems like the cask selection has improved.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D1

Tullibardine 20 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Very smooth, on flour, slightly floral, herbal and grassy, with some melon, honey and vanilla. Pleasantly rounded and complex.
Taste: Very smooth, oaky, floral, slightly grassy, on vanilla, honey, some violet, dried apricots, a zest of orange and some menthol. The finish is medium to long, grassy, with some bitter caramel, black pepper, liquorice, apricots, honey and floral notes.
Impression: A smooth, well rounded and rich Tullibardine, slightly spicier than the younger versions.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C1

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish, OB, 43%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: gold
Nose: Fresh, round, malty, intense, floral, with a dry sweetness, raisins, some humus and winey notes.
Taste: Floral, slightly grassy and fragrant, on toffee, fudge, honey, some violet, sultanas and dry-sweet winey notes. The finish is medium, floral, grassy, on honey, humus, some wet wood, white pepper and a slight roughness.
Impression: A rather sweet Tullibardine, more oaky than the 500 and slightly rougher as well.
Rating: 12/20 FP:D1

Clynelish 1997, 16 YO, A.D. Rattray, 56.4%, B: 2013, cask 6525. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, slightly mineral, clean, on almonds, marzipan and freshly backed pastries.
Taste: Intense, oaky, slightly rough, peppery, slightly farmy, on mustard and some citrus. The finish is medium, oaky, peppery, slightly rough and once diluted, it becomes slightly sweeter and fruitier.
Impression: Tasted straight, it is a rather peppery and oaky whisky, becomes more fruity and smoother with some water.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

Clynelish 1995, L'esprit du Whisky, 46%. B: 2011, cask 8657, 384 bottles. Price:
Colour: old gold-amber
Nose: Vegetal, round, yeasty, floral, on leather, tannins and rubber.
Taste: Intense to very intense, light to very light, spicy, vegetal, floral, with some leather and toffee, some green apples. Cleaner and lighter than the nose would suggest it. The finish is short to medium, clean, fruity (orchards) and floral.
Impression: A light, clean and floral sherried Clynelish, difficult to recognize tasted blind.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D1

Clynelish 1996 Masterpieces, Speciality Drinks, 56.1%; B: 2013, 351 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Smooth, round, waxy, slightly mustardy and mineral, with some tangerine and austere smoke. Very nice.
Taste: Peppery to very peppery, intense, smooth, waxy, slightly mineral and citric, with some melon, pineapples, mango and vanilla. The finish is long, waxy to very waxy, on white pepper, a hint of smoke, some flintstone and mustard seeds, as well as some tangerine and light notes of grapefruits.
Impression: A nice waxy, citric and slightly mineral Clynelish, smooth and well balanced from a refill sherry cask
Rating: 16/20 FP:C1

Clynelish 1996 Special Whisky Schiff, 17 YO, Acla Selection, 49.7%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Oaky, clean, waxy, on vanilla, mild mustard, some light fruity nice and some pleasant smoothness.
Taste: Clean, oaky to very oaky, waxy, slightly citric and peppery, with some mustard and some sweet fruity notes of melon and guava are progressively appearing, as well as some mineral notes. The finish is medium to long, waxy, slightly oaky, clean, with some white pepper, lemon and other citric flavours.
Impression: The nose is more marked by the wood than the Masterpiece, but cleaner and maybe fresher. In any case, a very good whisky. Suprisingly, the 17 YO version is priced at the same level as the 14 YO (illustrated on the photo).
Rating: 15/20 FP:A1

Tullibardine 500 Sherry Finish, OB, 43%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Smooth, round, malty, floral, rather fresh, with notes of humus, wet wood, spices, some tangerine
Taste: Fresh, juicy, floral, grassy, on honey, melon, some tangerine, orange and light spices. Well rounded and smooth. The finish is medium, smooth, juicy, grassy, on honey, orange, tangerine, some liquorice roots and a touch of white pepper.
Impression: A pleasant, rich, smooth whisky with a heavier body than the previous Tullibardine official releases.
Rating: 13/20 FP:E1

Ardbeg 1976, 25 YO, Silver Seal, 50%, B: 2002, 146 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Farmy, fishy to very fishy, on seawater, parsley, peat smoke, orange juice and some menthol. A rather unusual nose. With time, it becomes more on disinfectant and phenols.
Taste: Sweet, salty to very salty, on tangerine, peach, smoke, tar, seaweeds, phenols, some eucalyptus and pine wax. With some cardboards and chestnuts. The finish is long, fishy, and maritime, on sea spray, tangerine, smoke, disinfectant, seaweeds, almonds, chestnuts and wallnuts.
Impression: A rather special Ardbeg, with a flavour profile rather destabilising (bottle opened for too long?), that I have difficulties to judge.
Rating: 15/20 FP:F5

Ardbeg 1992 Old Particular, 21 YO, Douglas Laing, 48.6%, B: 2013, DL10065, 232 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty, smoky, complex, maritime, with strong notes of disinfectant, subtle rather old-fashioned smoke, some vanilla, light citric notes and a touch of peach.
Taste: Light, dry, peaty, with some bandage, tar, some citric notes, a few drops of peach, on liquorice roots and disinfectant. There are also some menthol and eucalyptus. The finish is long, dry, rooty, oaky, with some old wood, disinfectant, some bandages, eucalyptus, seaweeds, peat, tar and cough syrup. The notes of disinfectant are persistent.
Impression: A good Ardbeg, rather oaky and with pronounced notes of disinfectant close to the ones you could find in Ardbeg from the early 1970s. A good whisky with a rather hefty price tag (750 CHF).
Rating: 16/20 FP:A6

Macallan Ruby, OB, 43%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Intense, smooth, floral, round, slightly smoky, on dark fruits, sultanas, leather, slightly fruity notes, some orange and a hint of burnt sugar. Complex and pleasant.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, with nice mild spices, rich notes of raisins, sultanas, leather, cinnamon, orange, tangerine, tannins and some light peat smoke. Complex. The finish is long, spicy, rich, complex, slightly floral and smoky, on tannins, leather, cinnamon, orange, tangerine, berries and coffee.
Impression: A lovely and complex Macallan, with a strong and nice sherry influence. I really enjoy the Macallan matured in good quality sherry cask and this one fits that definition.
Rating: 16/20 FP:H2

Macallan Amber, OB, 40%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Round, slightly floral, with strong notes of hazelnuts, some yeast extract, nutmeg and some leather. With time, it becomes smoother and more floral. Rather different from the other products from 1824 series.
Taste: Very grassy, sweet, oaky, slightly floral, on vanilla, ginger and starch. It tastes rather young, The finish is short to medium, sweet, grassy, rather young, with some parsley, a hint of ginger and white pepper and a touch of smoke and slightly sour berries.
Impression: A rather young, soft, grassy and slightly thin Macallan. Simple and easy drinking. I enjoyed better its older siblings.
Rating: 11/20 FP:B1

Macallan Sienna, OB, 43%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Smooth, round, slightly floral, with some leather, tannins and on light sweet sherry notes
Taste: Very smooth, soft, slightly light and grassy, with nice spicy notes, on cinnamon, leather, some tangerine, raisins, chocolate and smoke. The finish is medium, smooth, with some bitter chocolate, leather, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Impression: A smooth, slightly creamy and easy drinking. At this strength, the whisky is easy drinking and should appeal to a large public, but some extra depth might have been welcomed.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D2

Royal Lochnagar 2002, 10 YO, Cooper’s choice,  46%, cask 642. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Clean, floral, oaky and on vanilla.
Taste: Juicy, oaky, spicy to very spicy, floral, on vanilla and some pollen, with light grassy and fruity notes of melon. Diluted, it becomes slightly waxy, sweeter and grassier. The finish is medium, floral, slightly sweet and grassy and on vanilla, with a hint of smoke.
Impression: A nice clean and well-made Royal Lochnagar, rather fresh and grassy. It is always to try some Royal Lochnagar, seldom bottled by independent bottlers.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Speyburn 25 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, round, rather mellow and floral, with some orange and tangerine
Taste: Smooth to very smooth, with delicate and subtle notes of tangerine, honey and leather, with light spicy notes and some chocolate. The finish is medium to long, subtle, smooth, rather spicy, slightly bitter, floral, on fudge, chocolate, some high grade leather and plenty of fresh and light floral notes.
Impression: A richer, more intense and complex version of Speyburn than the 10 YO.
Rating: 14/20 FP:F1

Speyburn 10 YO, OB, 40%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, on freshly baked pastries, freshly crushed barley, almond and a touch of heather.
Taste: Very smooth and light, fresh, slightly floral and with some nice malty notes. The finish is short to medium, very smooth, light and slightly floral.
Impression: This is my first Speyburn. This whisky is surprising, with an extreme smoothness, subtle and delicate slightly floral notes. A rather unique whisky, easy to drink and well made.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A1

Kilkerran Work in Progress 5 Sherry, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Smooth, floral, vegetal, slightly smoky and maritime, on yeast extract, fudge and toffee.
Taste: Smooth, vegetal, floral, slightly waxy, on toffee, fudge, some tangerine, old wood, seaweeds, diesel and peat smoke and some coffee. The finish is medium to long, rich, intense, salty, slightly peaty and floral, smoky, salty, with some grapefruit, bitter orange, seaweeds, toffee and coffee.
Impression: A complex rich and old school whisky, with nice austere, salty and citric flavours. Very nice.
Rating: 14/20 FP:E3

Kilkerran Work in Progress 5 Bourbon, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Oaky, smoky, on sea breeze, humus, old wood and some flavours from the Campbletown harbour.
Taste: Intense, salty, maritime, on old wood smoke, spices and some eucalyptus. The finish is medium, slightly bitter, oaky, on tobacco leaves, some old diesel smoke, humus, mushrooms and light mineral notes.
Impression: A good Kilkerran, but I found the sherry version slightly more intense and complex. It is nice to see the maturity improving on a yearly basis.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A2

Tomatin Cu Bocan, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Smoky, peaty, clean, rather simple, slightly floral, farmy and maritime.
Taste: Smooth, peaty, round, sweet, oaky, juicy, and slightly grassy, with some melon and honey. The finish is medium, smooth, sweet, juicy, peaty, slightly grassy and farmy, with some melon and honey.
Impression: A vatting of peated and older non-peated Tomatin resuling in a smooth and sweet medium peated Tomatin.The design of the bottle does not leave you indifferent.
Rating: 12/20 FP:B4

Isle of Jura 1995, 18 YO, The First Editions, 52.8%, B: 2013, 288 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Fresh, malty, round, slightly oaky, juicy and grassy, with light notes of stewed fruits and pastries.
Taste: Light, fresh, floral, juicy, slightly oaky and waxy, with some white pepper, grassy notes, fresh pastries and light smoky notes. Diluted, it becomes spicier and slightly bitter. The finish is medium, light, fresh, oaky, floral, malty, slightly bitter and smoky, on mint, some white pepper and ginger.
Impression: A nice fresh whisky, light, but intense with pleasant waxy notes.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A1

Balblair 1964 Connoisseurs Choice, 20 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%. Price:
Colour:  Amber
Nose: Very floral, smooth and round, light, on jonquils, orange and thin notes of humus. With time, it becomes slightly smoky and on dark fruits.
Taste: Very smooth, mellow, round,  rather syrupy, with a fair dose of redcurrant, some thick smoke, chocolate, orange, humus, tangerine and a few green apples. The finish is medium, slightly floral, on green apples, milk chocolate, tangerine, with some humus and mushrooms.
Impression: A nice syrupy, very smooth, well balanced Balblair with fresh apple notes.
Rating: 16/20 FP:G2

Balblair 1969, 43 YO, OB, 41.4%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour:  Gold
Nose: Smooth, mellow, with sweet fruity notes of quince, melon, on honey, some apples and grassy notes. Very elegant and rather fresh for its age. Diluted, it becomes slightly mineral and coastal, on banana and some pineapples.
Taste: Fresh, grassy to very grassy, with some humus, eucalyptus, honey, melon, leather and a few notes of guava. The whisky is also rather smoky, smooth and mellow. With a few drops of water, some notes of tobacco leaves are released. The finish is medium, slightly citric, grassy and smoky, with some humus, some green apples, melon and pineapples, with a touch of vanilla. On the retro-olfaction, some light coastal flavours can be perceived.
Impression: A very old Balblair, the oldest I have tried so far, smooth and mellow that becomes rather lively with a few drops of water. A very good whisky to enjoy and to savour in the evening with your best friends. Even after 43 years spent in the cask, I haven’t really noticed any woody notes. Well done.
Rating: 17/20 FP:B2

Balblair 2003, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour:  Pale gold
Nose: Fresh, with lots of fresh and green apples, juicy malty notes, some heather honey, vanilla and a twist of lemon.
Taste: Very fresh and juicy, on fruits from the orchards, liquid honey, freshly crushed malt and some green and grassy notes. The finish is medium, starting on slightly green, smoky and bitter (few drops of gentian) notes, before becoming slightly spicy (ginger and vanilla), on green apples and bananas.
Impression: A very different style compared to the 1983, very refreshing and light. Very good.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A1

Balbair 1983 3rd Edition, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Smooth, slightly malty, on liquid honey, apples and some lemon pie. Elegant.
Taste: Fresh, intense, floral, complex, slightly grassy, on menthol, banana, liquid honey, some light spices, green apples and some tropical fruits. The finish is medium to long, slightly grassy, with some tobacco leaves, humus, on honey, lemon grass, green apples and green bananas, a few bits of pineapples and a touch of coffee.
Impression: A very intense and lively whisky. I do not know if this is the effect of the increase abv, but I cannot recall of having tasting such an intense Balblair for a long time. I really enjoyed this one!
Rating: 17/20 FP:C2

Langatun Old Deer 2008, OB, 61.6%, B: 2013, ref L 0713. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Very smooth, winey, spicy, slightly smoky and on raisins.
Taste: Very smooth, winey, malty, and rather young, on tannins and rather strong red wine flavours. The finish is medium, very winey and smooth, slightly soapy, on grapes and a light smokiness.
Impression: A very smooth whisky with very strong notes of wine taking over the character of the distillery. Too winey to my liking. From ex-sherry and Chardonnay wine casks.
Rating: 09/20 FP:F1

Langatun Old Bear 2009, OB, 59.8%, B: 2013, ref L1313. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very smooth, peaty, malty, young, slightly smoky and on freshly sawn wood.
Taste: Young, smooth, rather immature, nutty to very nutty, soapy, winey and rubbery. The finish is medium, smoky, slightly peaty, rubbery, malty and winey.
Impression: A rather winey and rubbery whisky, with a rather disturbing combination of rubbery and peaty notes. Matured in ex-Châteu Neuf du Pape wine casks.
Rating: 08/20 FP:D4

Whisky Castle Terroir, OB, 43%, B: 2011, Price: (70 cl equivalent)
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Very malty, rich, intense, spicy, on grist and some light nutty notes.
Taste:  Spicy to very spicy, young to very young, very malty on rather strong notes of wood fire (burnt beech). The finish is medium, malty to very malty, on chocolate, wood smoke and nuts.
Impression: Produced by the small Swiss distillery of Käsers Schloss, with some chocolate malt  (as for the Glenmorangie Signet) dried with some beech wood and using ingredients locally source (including Swiss oak), this whisky delivers a nice complexity, with a nice spiciness, some smoke and light nutty notes. A rather peculiar but good whisky.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A3

Käsers Castle One Edition, OB, 68%, B: 2011, Price: (70 cl equivalent)
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Malty to very malty, extremely smooth, with some wood smoke (beech) and chocolate. Young.
Taste: Young, very malty, clean, fresh, on pear drops, some nuts and some wood smoke. The finish is short to medium, very malty, with some notes of schnapps, wood smoke and fresh green fruity notes.
Impression: A young whisky with strong green fruity notes complemented by some wood smoke. A rather special whisky.
Rating: 08/20 FP:A2

Slanley Malt Limerick 2001, 11 YO, Adelphi, 57.0%, B: 2013, 235 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very floral, light, smooth, rather rich, slightly oaky, on vanilla and some light yellow fruits.
Taste: Smooth, rich, slightly spicy, with some heather honey and on pollen, with light sweet fruity notes (fruits from the Orchards). The finish is short to medium, rather dry, floral and fragrant, with some tobacco leaves and pollen.
Impression: A very smooth Irish whisk(e)y with fresh floral and pollen notes. A good Irish single malt.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A1

Larks 5 YO, OB, 58%, B: 2009, cask LD93. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Oaky, winey, fresh, smooth, rich, on vanilla, almond paste and very strong oaky notes.
Taste: Rather spirity, rough, immature, smooth, winey, on sawdust, oak, with s slight soapiness. The finis is short to medium, round, very winey. Grassy, oaky and on vanilla.
Impression: A very oaky, round, grassy and winey whisky. Smoother than Scotch Single malts, with a smoothness and cereal notes giving the impression of a drinking a blended whisky.
Rating: 12/20 FP:E2

New Zealand 15 YO Double Wood, OB, 40%, B:2013. Price:
Colour:  Red-amber.
Nose: Very smooth and mellow, round, oaky, slightly winey, grainy and spicy, with some toffee and raisins.
Taste: Very smooth, grainy, winey, on red wine, tannins, freshly pressed raisins, apricots, peach, some mango, dried fruits and light spices. The finish is medium, very smooth, slightly grainy, almost velvety, on red wine, grapes, redcurrant and some leather. Diluted, it becomes even smoother, more on red berries and grapes.
Impression: A rather surprising blended whisky (70% single malt and 30% grain whisky) matured for 6 years in ex-bourbon casks and 10 years in ex-wine barrels. An extremely smooth whisky, with the winey notes contributing to smooth-sweet notes or raisins. An easy drinking and pleasant well-made whisky.
Rating: 12/20 FP:F1

New Zealand 1990, OB, 61.7%, B: 2012, cask 90
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Smooth, floral, with lots of fresh leather and game.
Taste: Intense, oaky, slightly juicy, spicy, rather young and light, on vanilla and pears. The finish is medium, slightly bitter, on tobacco leaves, wood spices, vanilla and pears. Diluted, it becomes smoother and less rough, but lighter as well.
Impression: Although it is over 20 years old, this whisky is suprisingly light, with some bitter notes, closer to a 6-7 years old single malt. Interestingly, the 15 Doublewood seems more mature and with more depth than this one. I would need to taste in the future more of The NZ whisky products to get a better impression of this distillery.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A1

Amrut Peated, Blackadder, 63%, B: 2013. Ref: BA18/2013. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Dry, peaty to very peaty, tarry and with some maritime notes. A nose rather similar to some Islay malts. Very good.
Taste: Very peaty, intense, farmy, slightly meaty and maritime. Rather spirity. Let’s quickly add some water to this one as well. Diluted, the finish seems rather thin at the start, before the nice subtle and complex peaty, farmy and slightly maritime notes develop, with some vanilla and light floral and aromatic notes.
Impression: A very nice peaty and well-made Amrut. If you like the peated Amrut (or peated whiskies), you should not be disappointed by this one.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A7

Amrut Sherry Cask, Blackadder, 62.3%, B: 2013, ref BA17/2013, 236 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Slightly floral with very strong notes of toffee and fudge. Diluted, it becomes rather sharp, more floral and with some fruity notes
Taste: Very strong and spirity. Let’s quickly add some water. Diluted, it become rather grassy, fresh, clean, with nice smooth floral notes, some starch and light notes of pear. Very smooth. The finish is medium, clean, smooth to very smooth, floral, malty, with some toffee and fudge, as well as some light grassy and honey notes.
Impression: A whisky that must be taken with water, unless you want to burn to taste bud. Nosed straight, it is like smelling a bag of toffee and fudge. With water, it opens up and delivers more satisfying flavours.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

Paul John Brilliance, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Malty, slightly grassy, oaky and on vanilla. Well rounded.
Taste:  Very smooth, rather spicy (ginger and white pepper), slightly smoky and floral and with some apples. The finish is rather short and floral, malty, round, on vanilla and some apples.
Impression: Maybe slightly young, but the whisky is rather good, well rounded and with a pleasant flavour profile.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C2

Paul John Edited, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty, round, oaky, with some caramel (carambar), vanilla, tar and smoke.
Taste: Peaty, floral, slightly spirity, fragrant and immature, on apple and pear drops, with faint tarry notes.  Diluted, it becomes younger and rather harsh and oaky. The finish is short to medium, tarry, peaty, oaky, on fresh apples and some vanilla.
Impression: The peaty notes on the nose were lovely, but it taste rather young on the palate. The Brilliance is more balanced.
Rating: 11/20 FP:A5

Karuizawa 1980 Pourquoi faut-il? For La Maison du Whisky, 33 YO, OB, 60.3%, B: 2013, cask 4556, 225 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Very smoky, dry, Pu Ehr tea, spices, some light mineral and meaty notes, dark chocolate, orange and some dried fruits.
Taste: Spicy, rich, intense, slightly peaty, rather dry and mineral, on figs, tannins, old smoke, dark fruits and some flint stone. The finish is very long, rich, spicy, intense, slightly peaty, on dry mineral and austere smoke, figs, tannins, high grade leather, a touch of mocca, some floral notes, walnut and other dark fruits.
Impression: This might not be the most typical Karuizawa, but I really loved those mineral, rather peaty and austere dry sherry notes. Excellent.
Rating: 18/20 FP:H3

Karuizawa 1981 Prendre le rythme For La Maison du Whisky, 31 YO, OB, 60.5%, B: 2013, cask 78, 375 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Floral, rather juicy, smooth, slightly smoky,with some green tea, fruity, on orange,  tangerine and dried and smoked meat.
Taste: Fresh, intense, juicy, spicy to very spicy, on ginger, some floral notes, candy fluff, chocolate and wood polish. The finish is medium, slightly woody, floral, on exotic wood, spicy to very spicy, on ginger, bitter orange, some apples and leather.
Impression: A Karuizawa with a rather moderate sherry influence and some woody notes showing off. It is a very good whisky but it suffers from the comparison with the excellent 1980 cask 4556
Rating: 16/20 FP:F2

Karuizawa Asama, OB, 50.5%, B:2013. Price: N/A
Colour: Amber
Nose: Rich, thick, smooth, intense, on figs, raisins, leather, tannins, orange and chocolate.
Taste: Rich, juicy, slightly waxy, complex, very smooth, fruity, with a hint of honey, on tangerine, orange, some exotic woods and lacquer. The finish is medium, chewy, syrupy, on exotic wood, slightly fragrant and aromatic, on orange, bitter lemon, leather, chocolate and old furnitures.
Impression: A lovely, rich, thick and complex Karuizawa with one extra year of maturation showing a nice improvement over the previous Asama. An affordable and excllent Karuizawa.
Rating: 17/20 FP:H2

Karuizawa for The Whisky Exchange, 31 YO, OB, 60.6%, B:2013 cask 3555. Price:
Colour:  Amber
Nose: Intense, thick, slightly floral, on heavy sherry notes, tannins, exotic wood, dried plums and other dark fruits, some smoke, leather, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Taste: Floral to very floral, thick, slightly bitter and tannic, slightly fragrant, on lacquer, bitter orange, orange, tangerine, some leather, soja sauce and some spicy notes. The finish is medium to long, slightly astringent and woody, floral, on tannins, wood polish, orange, coffee, dark chocolate and some light meaty notes.
Impression: A very smooth Karuizawa, with strong sherry notes and bottled at the right time, before the woody notes become too apparent.
Rating: 16/20 FP:I2

Karuizawa for The Whisky Exchange, 30 YO, OB, 55.8%, B:2013, cask 8606. Price:
Colour:  Gold-old gold
Nose: Very smooth, fruity, on exotic wood, beeswax, old furniture, plums and delicate floral notes.
Taste: Rich, oaky, smooth, mellow,spicy, floral, slightly fragrant, with some ginger, vanilla, soja sauce, plums and wood polish. The finish is medium, oaky, zesty, spicy, on ginger, vanilla, some exotic spices and floral notes.
Impression: A nicely spicy and rather mellow Karuizawa, with a pleasant roundness. Not as fresh and intense as the Karuizawa bourbon cask from last year. A very good whisky, sold out within hours of its release.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A2

Girvan 1964 joint bottling with The Whisky Exchange, 48 YO, The Whisky Agency, 49.5%, B: 2012, 487 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Very smooth, silky, with lots of apricots, on peach, some papaya and other exotic fruits
Taste: Very smooth and silky, grainy, velvety, on peach, apricots, papaya, banana and other exotic fruits, with light wood spices and tangerine. The finish is short to medium, slightly oaky and woody, on liquorice roots, grains, peach, apricots and some walnuts.
Impression: An extremely smooth and pleasant very old grain whisky easy to drink. Some light woody notes can be perceived in the finish, but well contained and not unpleasant. Considering that the official Girvran 30 YO will be priced at £375, this is a good value aged single grain whisky.
Rating: 14/20 FP:G1

Teeling 21 YO Vintage Reserve, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: gold
Nose: Very fresh, with lots of fruits from the orchards, elderberries and some lime tea.
Taste: Very fresh and juicy, on elderberries, a faint waxiness, fruits from the orchards, melon, light spicy notes and a hint of smoke. The finish is medium, very fresh, fruity and on elderberries.
Impression:  A very fresh single malt Irish whisk(e)y from the Cooley distillery with strong and enjoyable sweet notes of elderberries. Dangerously drinkable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A1

Glencadam 1977 Platinum, 34 YO, Douglas Laing, 56.8%, B: 2012, 287 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Smooth, mellow, floral, rich, spicy, on cinnamon, on Glühwein and Christmas cake spices, with a thick sherry influence.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, floral to very floral, slightly mineral, on berries, old dry peat smoke, plums, raisins, some orange and bitter orange, tannins, leather and a touch of eucalyptus. Very complex. The finish is long, floral, and slightly woody, on tannins, leather, dry peat smoke, orange, marmalade, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Impression: The finish is slightly tannic and woody, but on the nose and on the palate, I really enjoyed the complexity of this whisky, as well as the old fashioned style of dry and slightly peat sherried whiskies. A high quality whisky from an often under-rated distillery. The Platinum Old and Rare range is now part of the Hunter Laing company.
Rating: 17/20 FP:H3

Singleton of Dufftown 18 YO, OB, 40%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Light, smooth to very smooth, very floral, round, slightly grassy and nutty, on spices, tangerines, orange and some hay.
Taste: Very juicy, fresh, floral, slightly fragrant and grassy, on fruits from the orchards, melon, tangerine, orange, some honey and oak spices, with a hint of coriander. The finish is medium to long, juicy, fruity, mellow, smooth, rather fresh, with a hint of smoke, slightly grassy, some honey, tangerine, apples, orange and spices.
Impression: A very elegant Dufftown, deliciously smooth, mellow and fruity. A very good product from this distillery. An easy and enjoyable whisky that should appeal to a large public.
Rating: 14/20 FP:E1

Ardbeg Ardbog, 10 YO, OB, 52.3%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, dry to very, peaty, smoky, tarry, some camphor, bandage and vanilla.
Taste: Very dry and smoky, maritime, with some citrus, oaky, on vanilla, some walnuts and TCP. Diluted, it becomes oakier and more on walnuts. The finish is medium, slightly dry, oaky, on vanilla, peat and walnuts.
Impression: The nose is rather dry, while strong notes of oak and walnuts are delivered on the palate. Not as peaty as the regular 10 YO, which I prefer. A version limited to approximately 100,000 bottles.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C6

Ardbeg Uigedail, OB, 54.2%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Intense, smoky, peaty, tarry, maritime, on seaweeds, some light meaty and farmy notes, a touch of leather and a light sherry influence.
Taste: Very intense, peaty, smoky, tarry to very tarry, ashy, maritime, slightly citric, on seaweeds, some leather, camphor and iodine. The finish is medium to long, very peaty and smoky, slightly salty, maritime, with some iodine, camphor, some leather and a touch of sherry notes
Impression: A very intense, peaty and rather complex whisky. The quality of the Uigedail has not decreased over time. Very enjoyable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:C7

Ar3 Elements of Islay, Speciality Drinks, 52.3%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Very vegetal, with strong toffee notes, some peat, seaweeds and disinfectants.
Taste: Peaty, salty, maritime, with strong notes of toffee, on vegetamine, some iodine and disinfectant, with slight rubbery notes. The finish is medium, peaty, salty, with lots of toffee and some vegetal notes.
Impression: A rather young and smooth whisky, with strong notes of toffee coming from the sherry finish. Good, although I am not too found of this combination of toffee and peaty/maritime flavours.
Rating: 13/20 FP:D7

Coilltean 1965, Samaroli, 45%, B: 2006, 594 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Rich, bold, peaty, smoky, intense, on figs, sultanas, humus, high grade leather, tangerine and orange. Very well balanced and smooth.
Taste: Very fruity and round, very smooth, silky, oaky, complex, slightly peaty and smoky, juicy, on leather, tannins, orange, pears and some berries. The balance is superb. The finish is medium to long, smoky, very smooth, with light to medium peaty notes, on leather, tannins, figs, orange, tangerine, some spices and a few drops of honey.
Impression: An impressive blended (malt?) whisky from Samaroli, with all flavours well integrated and complementary, with a delicious sherry influence and aromas reminding me of old Longmorn and Macallan with a dash of more peated whisky. Excellent.
Rating: 18/20 FP: G3

Glenfiddich 15 YO Distillery Edition, 51%, OB: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Fresh, floral, oaky, on apples, vanilla and a few drops of honey.
Taste: Juicy, okay, slightly spicy and floral, on apples, some pears, a touch of honey, vanilla and some ginger. The finish is medium, rich, intense, slightly smoky, floral and bitter. Diluted, it becomes smoother and more on apples and pears.
Impression: An intense and fresh Glenfiddich, rather oaky (modern) and spicy, with a slightly bitter finish.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A1

Big Peat X-Mas Edition 2013, OB, 54.9%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Very peaty, light, oaky, subtle, on phenols and old diesel smoke. The nose suggests a fair proportion of old or very old Islay whiskies (Port Ellen for instance).
Nose: Clean, peaty to very peaty, fresh, with some tar, ashes, seaweeds, camphor, some diesel smoke and TCP, as well as a thin zest of lemon. The finish is long, clean, zesty, peaty, tarry, with some liquorice root and seaweeds.
Impression: A light, clean and heavily peated whisky, with a rather complex peatiness and some maritime influence. Very pleasant.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A6

Bruichladdich 10 YO imported by Samaroli, OB, 58%, B: 1970s. Price:
Colour:  Amber
Nose: Farmy, maritime, slightly peaty and on heavy sherry notes,
Taste: Intense, floral, slightly peaty and dry, on tangerine, cherries and leather, with some bold peaty and maritime flavours gaining in intensity over time, as well as more tropical fruity notes and Swiss milk chocolate. The finish is medium to long, rather thick and syrupy, with a strong peaty and maritime smoky influence, salt, seaweeds, leather, tannins, orange, sultanas and some spices.
Impression: A nice rich and intense Bruichladdich on thick sherry influence and a light peatiness. Very enjoyable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:I3

Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm 2007, OB, 50%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose:  Cheesy (Gruyère), malty, dusty, slightly farmy, oaky, slightly maritime and some woodlands.
Taste: Salty, slightly mineral, maritime, slightly aromatic, with some seaweeds and light diesel smoke flavours and some juicy oaky notes. The finish is medium, malty, fresh, slightly bitter, salty and maritime, with a whiff of smoke, some lemongrass and floral notes.
Impression: It is a pretty young Bruichladdich, but with a nice fresh flavour profile and rather complex considering its age, more satisfying than the Scottish barley and with more body. A very contrasting version to the Scottish barley.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A2

AnCnoc 35 YO, OB, 44.3% B:2012, 1495 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Floral, round, smooth, rather fresh for its age, with some spices and sweet fruity notes. Bolder than the 22 YO.
Taste: Complex, smooth, mellow, fruity, slightly floral and grassy, on melon, exotic fruits, some smoke and tangerine. The finish is medium to long, floral, slightly fragrant and bitter, spicy, fruity, slightly smoky, oaky, on melon and some exotic fruits.
Impression: The finish is slightly too fragrant to my taste, but the nose was most enjoyable and the sweet of tropical fruits on the palate most enjoyable. A well made old whisky rather affordable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E1

AnCnoc 22 YO, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Round, smooth to very smooth, complex, with some smoke, humus, some spices and light grassy notes.
Taste: Rich, spicy, complex, intense, slightly smoky, floral, with some apple and pear drops, cooked apples, melon, mild spices, some grassy notes and other fruity notes. The finish is medium to long, rich, floral, spicy, oaky, intense, slightly grassy and bold, on apples, pears, smoke, cardamom, a touch of nutmeg and some other flavours.
Impression: Compared to the 16 YO, the new 22 YO is considerably more complex, heavier and richer, with lots of depth. A very enjoyable and welcome addition to the range.
Rating: 15/20 FP:E1

AnCnoc 16 YO, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Clean, fresh, oaky, floral, slightly zesty, on vanilla and some apples.
Taste: Spicy to very spicy, rich, juicy, oaky, on freshly pressed apples, a whiff of smoke, freshly crushed barley and some bitter floral notes. Diluted, it becomes rather thin. The finish is similar to the 12 YO, but with more spices.
Impression: A spicier version than the 12 YO, more mature and complex, but also slightly less fresh and fruity. Two different versions of equal quality.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A1

AnCnoc 12 YO, OB, 40%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Smooth, floral, malty, spicy, slightly nutty, with some tangerine and humus.
Taste: Fresh to very fresh, oaky, juicy, malty, on apple and pears juice and some spices. The finish is medium, clean, fresh, juicy, on fruits from the orchards, oaky and some bitter smoke.
Impression: A very fresh and juicy whisky, pleasant to drink, on pear and apple juice. A good refreshing dram.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C1

Bruichladdich The Organic, 5 YO, OB, 46%, B 2010. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Fresh, young, spirity, clean, malty, on toffee, with some oaky and smoky notes.
Taste: Smooth, young, spirity, slightly malty and hot, on vanilla and toffee. The finish is short to medium, malty, on toffee and vanilla.
Impression: For being 5 years old, the whisky has relatively well matured, with some pleasant notes. As for such young whiskies, some extra years of maturation would be needed to appreciate the qualities of the spirit.
Rating: 09/20 FP:A1

Bruichladdich 1993 Oirthir Gaidheal Islay Festival 2009, 16 YO, OB, 53.6%, B: 2009, cask 013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, slightly rough and coarse, malty, floral, with some melon and vanilla.
Taste: Rich, malty, spicy, slightly floral, on toffee, some smoke and seaweeds, as well as some bitter floral notes. Slightly unbalanced. The finish is rather short, slightly mineral, with notes of watermelon.
Impression: A rather unbalanced Bruichladdich with a discreet influence from the refill sherry cask.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C2

Bruichladdich 17 YO Rum cask, OB, 46%, B: 2009. Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Malty, grassy, on coconut, banana, melasse, with other very sweet sugary flavours.
Taste: Light, green, sweet, with a very strong Rum influence. The finish is medium, clean, malty and very sugary.
Impression: It is not a bad product, but the Rum influence is too pronounced to my taste for this "Rumsky".
Rating: 12/20 FP:E2

Bruichladdich Scottish Barley, OB, 50%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Floral, young, on tobacco smoke, toffee, quince and some oaky notes. With time, it becomes very much on toffee and fudge.
Taste: Smooth, floral, slightly spicy, oaky, on toffee, fudge and slight smoky notes. The finish is medium, floral, slightly smoky and fragrant, on toffee and fudge.
Impression: A floral daily dram with strong notes of toffee to sweeten your day. Sligthly too fragrant for me.
Rating:10/20 FP:D1

Octomore 6.1 Scottish Barley 167 ppm, 5 YO, OB, 57%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very peaty, dry, ashy, tarry, farmy and with some seaweeds. With time, it becomes drier and even more peaty.
Taste: Extremely peated, hot, immature, with strong notes of over-infused walnuts shells, tar, iodine and tarry notes. Too much peat and walnuts to distinguish anything else. Diluted, it becomes more on glue and solvents. The finish is short to medium, on solvents, some soap, tar, peat and ashes.
Impression: A very intense, rather immature Octomore with some fragrant off-notes. I enjoyed the previous versions much better. I am struggling with this one.
Rating: 08/20 FP:A9

Port Charlotte Scottish Barley, OB, 50%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold-gold
Nose: Peaty to very peaty, rather sweet, smoky, phenolic and maritime, with some vanilla and oak extracts.
Taste: Oaky, spicy, peaty, maritime, tarry, with some sweetness and vanilla. Seems rather young. The finish is medium, spicy, very tarry, fragrant, floral, peaty, bitter, oaky, with some lavender and geranium.
Rating: A rather fragrant and bitter Port Charlotte that taste rather young. I preferred the previous Port Charlotte.
Rating: 10/20 FP:A7

Pl2 Elements of Islay, Speciality Drinks, 63.4%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Very intense and peaty, clean, maritime, farmy, smoky and very tarry.
Taste: Young, feisty, very peaty, clean, dry to very dry, ashy and very tarry, with some farmy notes. The finish is medium, dry to very dry, very peaty and tarry, with some farmy notes.
Impression: A very clean and rather young but extremely peaty Port Charlotte. A real peat blast! It tasted as peaty as some Octomore. A whisky for Peat freaks.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A9

Port Charlotte 2001, Cooper’s choice, 46%, B: 2013, 400 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty, maritime, smoky, slightly fishy, on seaweeds, tar and diesel smoke. More balanced and less peaty than the Pl2.
Taste: Peaty, maritime, phenolic, with some bandage, seaweeds, herbal notes and menthol. A rather subtle version of Port Charlotte. The finish is medium to long, salty, maritime, peaty, phenolic, on TCP, bandage, peat smoke and seaweeds.
Impression: A nice peaty maritime and phenolic version of Port Charlotte.
Rating: 12/20 FP:A7

Ben Nevis Traditional, OB, 46%, B:2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Peaty to very peat, meaty, farmy, tarry and clean, with light floral notes.
Taste: Very peaty, aromatic, farmy to very farmy, slightly citric, tarry and ashy, with some sea brine and light floral and fragrant notes. The finish is long, dry, tarry, very peaty, slightly citric, floral and fragrant, with a light bitterness and some sea brine.
Impression: A very peaty and intense Ben Nevis, well made and with a peatiness reminding me of the South shore of Islay. If you like very peaty whiskies, then you should give a try to this one!
Rating: 15/20 FP:A7

Tamnavulin 1966, 35 YO, OB, 52.6%, B: 2002, Sherry butt cask 3807, 472 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Nicely floral, very smooth, elegant, with some high quality leather and Christmas spices. With time, it becomes more on fudge and toffee.
Taste: Floral, with sweet and round fragrant notes, on toffee, fudge, leather, cherries and some berries. The finish is medium to long, rich, floral, slightly spicy, with faint notes of cocoa, some fudge and berries.
Impression: A very high quality Tamnavulin, rich and complex, reminding me of the GlenDronach from the early 1970s. Excellent!
Rating: 17/20 FP:G2

Ben Nevis 10 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth, malty, grassy, slightly floral and with some humus and a hint of smoke.
Taste: Grassy to very grassy, malty, bold, robust, spicy, with some humus, tangerine, old bold smoke. The finish is medium to long, grassy, bold, spicy, slightly smoky, with some humus, tangerine and floral notes.
Impression: A rather big, bold and grassy whisky, with a nice sherry influence and some humus. A very good daily dram. Of note, the 10 YO will be repackaged next year.
Rating: 14/20 FP:D2

Glenfarclas Coronation, 1953, OB, 51.5%, B: 2013, 60 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Rich, complex, smooth, floral, on dark fruits, leather, tannins, orange, some old smoke, dark chocolate, some beeswax, maybe a touch of treacle, as well as some exotic fruits. A beautiful nose.
Taste: Surprisingly light and fresh for its age, rich, intense, on tangerine, slight notes of game, with some old bold peat smoke, sultanas, dried and dark fruits, some exotic fruits and berries, with thin vegetal notes. Diluted, it becomes more resinous, slightly winey and on beeswax The finish is long, smooth to very smooth, rather fresh, elegant, rather subtle, with some fruit jam, light floral notes, tangerine, some vanilla, a few berries, some old bold peat smoke, some light vegetal notes and a touch of Swiss milk chocolate.
Impression: This is the oldest whisk I have tasted so far and positively surprised by the quality of this cask. After having spent 60 years in a cask, the whisky remained very fresh without any woodiness that you would expect from such an aged whisky. The nose is excellent, as for the mouth feel. An excellent selection from Sukinhder. The decanter and the price are massive, but the quality of the spirit is really excellent and if you can afford it, then you will not be disappointed by its content.
Rating: 19/20 FP:F2

Glenfarclas Family Cask release X 1962, OB, 40.9%, B: 2013, cask 3247, 138 bottles. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Smooth, round, very fruity, on dried fruits, sultanas, tannins, leather, some old bold smoke and some woody flavours. Slightly more meaty and heavier than the coronation cask.
Taste: Smooth, floral, woody, with lots of sour berries (cranberries juice), slightly bitter, on bitter orange, some tangerine, coffee and old smoke. The finish is medium to long, bitter, woody, astringent, floral, on berries and some burnt wood. Diluted, it becomes more on cough syrup.
Impression: A very old Glenfarclas with rather strong woody notes. Simply too much for me. If you like the old and bitter-sherried whiskies, you might enjoy it.
Rating: 13/20 FP:I2

Glenfarclas 105, 20 YO, OB, 60%. B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Floral, smooth to very smooth, on orange, tangerine, berries, a hint of smoke, some dark chocolate and slighty rubbery notes. Rather light and fresh.
Taste: Light, fresh, smooth, intense, elegant, slightly spicy and juicy, on tangerine and some other fruity notes, as well as a touch of fudge and slight floral notes. Diluted, it becomes more floral and slightly fragrant. The finish is medium to round, with some bitter caramel, tangerine, orange, coffee beans and a touch of dark chocolate.
Impression: A pleasant and round expression of Glenfarclas, rather on the light side, but with a nice freshness. Although it is bottled at 60%, it is not too hot at full strength. I enjoyed this version much better than the NAS 105.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D2

Mortlach 1974 Prenzlow Collection, 28 YO, JWWW, 51.1%. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Oaky, slightly tannic, slightly fruity, on tangerine, honey, with rather strong notes of eucalyptus and fur tree sap.
Taste: Very smooth, mellow, floral, on eucalyptus and some spices. Elegant and subtle. The finish is medium, smooth, mellow, subtle, with some eucalyptus and delicate floral notes.
Impression: A smooth and mellow Mortlach that has lost some its spicy bite to gain in elegance and aromas of eucalyptus. A pleasant variation.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D2

Mortlach 14 YO For Sestante, Gordon & MacPhail, 57%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: On rich sweet sherry notes, without any excessive roundness, some oak spices, old dry smoke, with some peat and mineral residues.
Taste: Dryier than on the nose, with rich, intense sherry notes, rather spicy, oaky, some pepper, orange, tangerine, some mineral and peaty smoke, with an underlying juiciness. The finish is long, dry, smoky, mineral, with some flints, tar, orange, tangerine, old wood, some camphor and menthol.
Impression: A very nice dry, slightly rough, but rather mineral and smoky version of Mortlach. A very good old-fashioned whisky, without many round angles.
Rating: 16/20 FP:E3

Mortlach Speyisde Festival 2013, OB, 48%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Intense, rich, round, spicy, floral, on leather, tangerine, some tannins and a few drops of honey.
Taste: Very smooth, mellow, complex, floral, rich, on mild spices, tangerine, orange, nutmeg, cinnamon, leather and some anise seeds and chocolate. Well balanced. The finish is medium to long, smooth, floral to very floral, slightly spicy and oaky, on tannins, orange and chocolate.
Impression: An excellent Mortlach, deliciously smooth, well balanced and complex. The mouth feel is most enjoyable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F1

Imperial 1970 Connoisseur choice “old brown label”, Gordon & MacPhail, 40%.  Price: N/A.
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Quite smoky, grassy and earthy, slightly meaty and mineral, on old pipe tobacco and some humus.
Taste: Smooth, mineral, earthy, on pipe tobacco, peat smoke and moss, with some sweet gentian and blueberry jam. Rather unusual, but very drinkable. Concerning the finish, it disappears rather quickly, leaving a sensual feeling down your throat.
Impression: A very dram, with a rather unusual flavour profile, but far from being bad. Thank you Serge.
Rating: 16/20

Naked Famous Grouse, OB, 40%, B: 2012. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Very smooth, clean, with round sherry notes of tangerine and orange, with some cinnamon and heather.
Taste: Very smooth, round, slightly grassy, mellow, with some orange, tangerine and some heather and spices (cinnamon). The finish is medium, grassy, slightly grainy, round, with some heather, honey, peach and tangerine.
Impression: The naked grouse is a premium version of the Famous Grouse, matured exclusively in ex-sherry casks. The whisky is rather simple, but extremely smooth and easy drinking and not as bland as other blended whiskies. In conclusion, a good, well made and affordable blended whisky (and the only 100% sherry matured (?) blended whisky that I tasted so far).
Rating: 12/20 FP:F1

Dewar’s Signature, OB, 40%, B:2010. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very smooth, malty, with lots of honey, some nutty flavours and some orange.
Taste: Very smooth, rather fresh, sweet, grassy, malty, on honey and sweet tangerines. The finish is long, rich, very juicy, mellow, sweet, slightly grassy, with a hint of smoke, on tangerine, peach and honey.
Impression: A very nice blended whisky, with a smooth honeyed nose and a pleasant rich and sweet finish.
Rating: 15/20 FP:D4

Chivas Royal Salute 21 YO, OB, 40%, B: 2011. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very smooth, soft, slightly grainy, mellow, slightly grassy and sweet, fresh, with some humus.
Taste: Slightly malty and biscuity, some grassy notes, distant peat smoke and very slight coastal influence, some tobacco leaves, starch, dry apricots and a light sweetness. The finish is medium, smooth, with a slight bitterness, soft and slightly grassy. Fades rather quickly.
Impression: A very well made blend, rather heavy, and smelling “old fashioned” whisky.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C3

Lagavulin 1997 Jazz Festival 2012, OB, 54.5%. B: 2012. Price:
Colour : Gold-old gold
Nose: Round, smoky, peaty, a faint touch of rubber, some seaweeds and round sherry notes. Given time it becomes more tarry and on dark chocolate.
Taste: Smooth, rich, complex, and salty, on tangerine, peat smoke, some seashore, light notes of leather and chocolate. Well balanced. The finish is medium to long, rich, complex, smooth, smoky, peaty, with some tarry notes, sea spray, iodine and seaweeds, as well as some tangerine and a touch of game.
Impression: A lovely whisky, complex and well balanced, with a pleasant combination of peat smoke and a moderate but well integrated sherry influence.
Rating: 17/20 FP:F7

Lagavulin 1995 Feis Ile 2013, OB, 51.0%, B: 2013, casks 1211 and 2916, 3000 bottles. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Smoky, oaky, slightly yeasty, peaty, tarry, with some rubber and chocolate. Slightly oakier and rounder than the Jazz 2012 bottling.
Taste: Smooth, sweet, smoky, on vanilla, salt, faint yeasty and leathery notes, a touch of tangerine and plums, some iodine and sea spray. The finish is medium, oaky, smooth, slightly sweet and tarry, smoky, with some peat, a touch of tangerine and game, some other light juicy flavours and some seaspray. Elegant.
Impression: A slightly drier version than the Jazz 2012, slightly less intense as well, but sharing a similar complexity and balance. A most pleasant whisky and for the first time, the Feils Ile bottling is not anymore a single cask bottling.
Rating: 16/20 FP:F7

Lagavulin 1998 Feis Ile 2012, OB, 55.1%. B: 2012, cask 1716. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Oaky, intense, very smoky, on vanilla, lots of seaweeds, seashells, peat, iodine, cigars and wet wood. It reminds me somewhat of Lagavulin 12 YO cask strength.
Taste: Intense, oaky, smoky, peaty, on gentian, tar, iodine, TCP, salt, seaweeds and on vanilla. The finish is long, intense, smoky to very smoky, with some cigar  smoke, vanilla, tar, iodine, a twist of lemon  and on seaweeds.
Impression: Not easy to guess it came from a refill sherry butt, with pronounced oaky notes and a good dose of vanilla. Rather close to the 12 YO cask strength in style, with a “modern” flavour profile. At full strength, it anesthetise the taste buds efficiently.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C7

Karuizawa 1999 For HST, 14 YO, OB, 61.3%, B:2013, cask 2316. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Rich, intense, smooth, floral, with lots of dark fruits, high grade leather, underlying fruity notes, some plums and exotic wood. Most pleasant. Diluted, it becomes more on roasted coffee beans.
Taste: Intense, floral, slightly fragrant, fruity, on exotic wood, some chocolate, coffee, tannins, nutmeg and cinnamon.  Diluted, it becomes smoother, juicy and fruitier. The finish is medium to long, rich, smooth, intense, fruity, floral, on leather, dark fruits, cinnamon, nutmeg and some green tea extract. Diluted, it becomes smoother, almost silky.
Impression: An impressive rich and intense Karuizawa. Straight, the alcohol is well present and once water has been added, it becomes appreciably smoother. Excellent.
Rating: 17/20 FP:H2

Karuizawa Brilliant Sherry 2000 for Isetan, 12 YO, OB, 60.2%, B: 2013, cask 199. Price :
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Intense, sharp, smooth, oaky, floral, fragrant, with some yellow fruits and some smoke. Diluted, it becomes nicely fruity.
Taste: Oaky, spicy, floral, fragrant, on ginger, vanilla, some light rubbery notes, yellow fruits (Mirabelle) and some smoke. The finish is medium to long, floral, oaky, with lots of yellow fruits (Mirabelle) and on ginger.
Impression: A rather fresh, intense and oaky Karuizawa, with pleasant notes of yellow fruits, mainly mirabelle. Considering the flavour profile of this Karuizawa, I am wondering why it is named “brilliant” sherry. The result is a good whisky, but different from the oldest expressions.
Rating: 14/20 FP:C2

Aberlour 8 YO “squat bottle”, OB, 50%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Sweet, floral, slightly smoky and metallic, on heather, some honey. Rather light and fresh.
Taste: Light, spicy to very spicy, slightly soapy, on heather, honey and some light notes of tangerine and wax. The finish is medium, light, fragrant, slightly bitter, rather smoky and dry, on tobacco leaves, heather, some wax and raisins.
Impression: A good fresh and light Aberlour, with less oaky notes that the current production. It is also smokier.
Rating: 12/20 FP:C2

Aberlour 14 YO Double Cask Matured for La Maison Du Whisky, OB,  58.2%, B: 2008, cask 235 + 8641. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Floral, on leather, tannins, cinnamon, orange, tangerine, cardamom, oriental spices, honey, with nice grassy notes, and some rubber notes.
Taste: Very spicy, peppery, floral, slightly rubbery, creamy, on nutmeg, burnt sugar, toffee, tangerine, orange, and honey. Diluted, it becomes quite rubbery and sulphury. The finish is medium, spicy, on leather, orange, and some light tannins.
Impression: A heavily sherried and spicy Aberlour, rich, thick and very pleasant. More complex and subtle than the A’bunnah.
Rating: 17/20 FP:E2.

Ben Nevis 1966, 25 YO, OB, 54%. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose; Slightly humic and woody, with deep and intense sherry flavours. Velvety. A big old fashioned sherried whisky!
Taste: Very smooth, rich, intense, on tangerine, orange, old smoke and cereals. Very complex. The finish is long, on the same flavours, with some wood and tannins.
Impression: A big powerful and intense complex Ben Nevis, with quite some wood in the finish. If you like the old of sherried whiskies, you will love this one.
Rating: 17/20 FP:H3

Ben Nevis 1971 For La Maison du Whisky, 32 YO, OB, 45.8%, B:2003, cask 1846. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Earthy, mineral, sweet, with some humus, peat smoke and light fruity flavours. Very different from the 1968 Whisky Agency. Very enjoyable.
Taste: Mineral, slightly tarry, sweet, slightly austere, rather light, with some notes of humus, bonfire smoke, pear drops and other fruits. Elegant. The finish is medium, sweet, mineral, on charcoal, humus, pear drops and light tropical fruits.
Impression: An excellent rather mineral and austere Ben Nevis, with a pleasant balance. Most enjoyable. Thank you Stephane.
Rating: 17/20 FP:A4

Caol Ila 1966 for Meregalli, Gordon & MacPhail, 57.2%. Price:
Colour: Dark amber.
Nose: Very spicy (vegetal condiment), peaty, meaty, farmy, on smoked ham, with some old herbs liquor, seaweeds, ripe orange and old leather. A big old and thick sherried Caol Ila.
Taste: Rich, extremely thick, chewy, on old leather, orange, tangerine, rancio and seaweeds. The finish is long, extremely thick and heavy, meaty, on old leather, old bold peat smoke, orange and coffee beans.
Impression: An extremely thick and heavily sherried Caol Ila, with big bold and mineral peat notes. Not a Caol Ila for the faint hearted.
Rating: 18/20 FP:I6

Caol Ila 1996 for La Maison du Whisky, Gordon & MacPhail, 46%, B: 2008, cask 16119. Price:
Colour: Pale gold.
Nose: Smooth, very round, very peaty, maritime, seaweeds, on hemp rope and sea tang.
Taste: Round, salty, slightly sweet, smoky, juicy, with some hemp rope, tar and seaweeds. The finish is medium to long, round, slightly dry, tarry and bitter, very peaty, maritime and on hemp rope. Rather clean.
Impression: A very nice round peaty and clean Caol Ila.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A7

Port Askaig 17 YO, Speciality Drinks Ltd, 45.8%, B: 2009, Price:
Colour: Light gold.
Nose: Clean, very peaty, maritime and on hemp rope. Typical Caol Ila nose.
Taste: Peaty, smoky, quite sweet, with light fragrant notes, on hemp rope and some dried seaweeds. The finish is medium, peaty, smoky, slightly dry, but still with the same sweetness as on the palate.
Impression: A very classical Caol Ila, slightly sweeter than the official bottling and highly drinkable.
Rating: 13/20 FP:A8

Caol Ila 15 YO Golden Decanter, OB (Bulloch Lade), 43%, B: 1980s. Price:
Colour: Straw
Nose: Sweet, peaty, quite fruity, soft, mineral, on quince, peach, apricots and tangerine.
Taste: Quite sweet, peaty, mineral, on cold ashes, citric, on light floral notes, coriander, quince, orange and tangerine. The finish is long, peaty, ashy, tarry, bitter-sweet, on apricots and tangerine.
Impression: A very good Caol Ila, relatively sweet, with some pleasant ashy and mineral notes.
Rating: 17/20 FP:D8

Glen Grant 1972 For Velier, 20 YO, Signatory, 56.1%, B: 1993, casks 6024-5. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Very intense, floral, on tannins, berries and high grade leather. Excellent.
Taste: Very smooth, floral, slightly fragrant, on berries (mainly strawberries), some leather, game and smooth spices and tannins. Complex. The finish is long, tannic and slightly woody, floral, slightly fragrant and bitter, with some coffee, leather, and berries.
Impression: An excellent rich and complex Glen Grant from the 1970s. These old Glen Grant were superb.
Rating: 17/20 FP:I1

Clynelish 12 YO For Edward and Edwar white label, OB, 56.9%, B: early1970s. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Waxy, round, slightly mineral and peaty, with some fresh flavours and a touch of honey.
Taste: Intense, waxy to very waxy, on mustard, melon, some lime, smoke and gentian. The finish is medium, very waxy, citric, bitter, austere, slightly mineral, with some melon, gentian and light notes of camphor and eucalyptus.
Impression: A very waxy expression of Clynelish distilled at the old Brora distillery, rather austere and on gentian. A rather difficult Clynelish.
Rating: 16/20 FP:A2

Clynelish 12 YO  For Edward and Edward Bicolour label, OB, 56.9%, B: 1973. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Fresh, waxy, clean, slightly mineral and smoky, with some Riesling-like flavours and a zest of citrus.
Taste: Clean, oaky, fresh, waxy, mineral, on flint stone, with some mustard seeds, melon, quince and some smoke. The finish is long, mineral, with some melon, quince and anise seeds, as well as some mustard seeds. Diluted, the finish is more on Rieslings.
Impression: A very nice clean, waxy, subtle and mineral old Clynelish (Brora) with some coastal influence.
Tasting: 17/20 FP:A2

Bunnahabhain 1990, 22YO, Villa Konthor, 54%. B:2012. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Rich, intense, spicy, on dry and dark fruits, some tannins, cinnamon, nutmeg and leather.
Taste: Rich, round, spicy, tannic, intense to very intense, on leather, seaweeds, sea spray, cigar smoke, some dark berries, plums and coffee. Complex. The finish is long, chewy, intense, very spicy, tannic to very tannic, slightly woody and bitter, on nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, cloves, coffee, dark chocolate, some plums and sultanas.
Impression: A thick and intense dark sherried Bunna with intense and complex flavours. Most enjoyable.
Rating: 16/20 FP:J2

Bunnahabhain 1973, 40YO, Acla Selection, 46.2%, B: 2013. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smooth to very smooth, mellow, on sea spray, some cigar smoke and a light fruitiness.
Taste: Smooth, mellow, slightly salty and thin, on yellow fruits, heather, some cigar smoke and some lime blossom. The finis is medium, very mellow, on yellow fruits, honey, some sea spray, salt and cigar smoke.
Impression:  A round and mellow Bunna, probably one of the very last cask of Bunna from the early 1970s left. Although it retained a high strength, the flavours were rather light, probably due to its age. A very reasonably priced whisky (about 190 euros) for a 40 YO whisky. Of note, Acla-da-fans is a Swiss retailer.
Rating: 14/20 FP:A1

Laphroaig 1969 For Intertrade, 15 YO, Gordon & MacPhail, 55.3%, B: 1985. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fishy, very maritime, on bold peat smoke, freshly cooked salmon, seaweeds, sea brine. The whole is rather clean with very strong sea water-salmon flavours.
Taste:  Clean, peaty, very salty-fishy and maritime, on fresh salmon, bold peat smoke and seaweeds. Muscular. The finish is long, peaty, very salty, slightly citric and bitter, on iodine and salmon, with a touch of tobacco leaves.
Impression: A very muscular Laphroaig giving the impression of tasting sea water and salmon cooked over a peat fire. A rather difficult (extreme) whisky. Thank you very much Daniel.
Rating: 17/20 FP:C8

LP1 (Laphroaig), Elements of Islay, 58.8%, B: 2012. Price (70 cl equivalent):
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Oaky, smoky, clean, peaty, maritime, medicinal, on iodine, some seaweeds and vanilla.
Taste: Clean, oaky, intense, peaty, smoky, and maritime, on wood spices, some camphor and vanilla. The finish is medium, intense, clean, peaty, smoky, slightly bitter (roots), vanilla and camphor.
Impression: A good intense and “modern” oaky Laphroaig, with intense peaty notes.
Rating: 15/20 FP:A7

Laphroaig 1998, 14 YO, The Whisky Fair, 53.9%, B: 2013, 226 bottles. Price:
Colour: Pale gold
Nose: Oaky to very oaky, peaty, smoky, dry, maritime, on iodine, some camphor, vanilla and lots of smoke.
Taste: Oaky, peaty, smoky, maritime, with a slight smoothness and vanilla. The finish is medium, intense, clean, peaty, smoky, slightly bitter (roots), vanilla and camphor.
Impression: A good modern Laphroaig with very discreet influence of the sherry.
Rating: 15/20 FP:C7

Laphroaig 10 YO, OB, 70 Proof, 26 2/3 Fl OZ, B: 1960s. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Peaty, smooth, strongly maritime, on iodine, lots of seaweeds, camphor, some pineapple and light slightly tropical fruity flavours.
Taste: Thin, peaty to very peaty, smoky, on iodine, some seaweeds, smoke, old wood smoke and light notes of grapefruit. The finish is medium, thin, slightly woody, smoky, slightly medicinal, with old wood and peat smoke. With a long smoky and peaty retro-olfaction.
Impression: The nose was excellent, smooth, peaty and complex, unfortunately rather on the thin side on the palate, probably due to a combination of low strength (40% abv) and long aging in the bottle. A couple of extra abv would have been welcomed.
Rating: 13/20 FP:E5

Springbank 1965, 26 YO, Millroy's, 46%, B: 1992. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smoky, peppery, on juicy malt, peach, melon and other sweet fruits and loukoums.
Taste: Smooth, salty, peppery, maritime, peaty, on juicy malt, melon and peach. The finish is long, round, salty, peaty, smoky, and very sweet.
Impression: A superb and complex Springbank. Thank you Patrick S.
Rating: 18/20

Limerick Slaney Irish Single Malt 1988, 24 YO, Adelphi, 56.8%, B: 2012, cask 10516, 180 bottles. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Very smooth, rich, on apricots, fragrant oranges, orange blossom, tangerine, sweet crushed barley, passion fruits some berries and other fruity notes.
The nose was excellent, somewhat reminding me of the BenRiachs.
Taste: Very smooth, malty, slightly waxy, mellow, on marzipan, almonds, tropical fruits, tangerine, orange, some vanilla and a slight smokiness. The finish is long, waxy, malty, on vanilla, slightly oaky and fruity, with slight aromatic flavours.
Impression: I got a sample from a unknown whisky enthusiast at Limburg (thank you!)  and I was struggling defining the distillery. My thought went for BenRiach, which was the closest from this style, and I was surprised to learn that it came from the Irish distillery of Cooley. The quality of the spirit is excellent and the result is a most pleasant smooth whiskey with very enjoyable fruity notes. Not cheap, but well worth drinking.
Rating: 17/20 FP: C1