Whisky-news.com Tasting Notes

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14 Aug 2008
Special Witch 2

Ardmore 1977, Scott’s selection, 58.1%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Smooth, floral, peaty, spicy, round, on honey and with a touch of fruitiness (melon). Diluted, it becomes more peaty and drier.
Taste: Peaty, smoky, oaky, round, mellow and creamy, on ginger bread, vanilla and with some floral notes. The finish is medium, round, mellow, peaty, on vanilla and violet.
General Impression: A good and old mellow mediumly peated Ardmore.
Rating: 16/20

12 Aug 2008
Special Witch 2

Bruichladdich Links Birkdale, 15 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Winey, sweet, smooth, on grapes and strawberries.
Taste: Clean, malty, on grapes and strawberries. The finish is medium, clean, malty and winey (red wine).
General Impression: A good Bruichladdich, malty and with some winey flavours, although is has been matured exclusively in bourbon casks.
Rating: 13/20

10 Aug 2008
Special Witch 2

Benriach 1988 sherry finish, 16 YO, OB, 54.7%, B :2005, cask 802, 675 b. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smoky, grassy, oaky, nutty, and on vanilla.
Taste: Rough, oaky, fruity, on toffee, fudge, vanilla and with some cardboard. The finish is medium, grassy, on toffee and fudge.
General Impression: A correct Benriach, sweet and on toffee, but with the fruitiness not fully developed.
Rating: 12/20

07 Aug 2008
Special Witch 2

Bladnoch 6 YO lightly peated, OB, 58.1%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Pale yellow.
Nose: Alcoolic, sweet, peaty, floral, fragrant, with some hemp rope flavours.
Taste: Peaty, dry, bitter, smoky, slightly mineral, sugary, floral on charcoal, on vanilla and cream fudge. Diluted, it becomes slightly fruity. The finish is medium, bitter-sweet, peaty, with a hint of gentian and sugary notes.
General Impression: Amongst the three very young Bladnoch distilled by the new owners, I have found this one as the most pleasant, with the peatiness giving additional complexity to this whisky. The general character between these 3 bottles is quite similar. With a few years of extra maturation, these Bladnoch might be dangerously drinkable.
Rating:11/20

05 Aug 2008
Special Witch 2

Bladnoch 6 YO Sherry matured, OB, 56.9%, B: 2008, Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Smooth, round, slightly winey, light, floral, on sherry. With time, it becomes richer and more complex.
Taste: Smoky, clean, malty, light, on fresh rubber, toffee and sugar. The finish is medium, bitter, rubbery, clean and malty.
General Impression: A promising Bladnoch, but the fresh rubber notes are a bit to strong to my taste.
Rating: 09/20

24 Jul 2008

Cragganmore 10 YO, OB, 60.1%. D: 1993. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very floral, malty on heather, honey, rose, verbena, and a drop of lemon. Diluted, it becomes soapy.
Taste: Smooth, malty, very floral, on vanilla, coconut and heather. Quite spirity and slightly on cardboard. The finish is short, dry to very dry, slightly bitter and on hay.
General Impression: Have seen better Cragganmore.
Rating:11/20

22 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Highland Park 1995, Gordon & MacPhail, 57.9%, B: 2006, cask 1329, 307 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Floral, meaty, on peat smoke, heather, honey, tangerine and some nice round sweetness.
Taste: Meaty, salty, spicy, rubbery, slightly sulphury, on round peat, cardamom, honey and cinnamon. The finish is long, salty, peaty, round, rubbery and on orange.
General Impression: A good Highland Park, although some rubbery flavours are present.
Rating: 14/20

21 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Highland Park 1986, Scott’s selection, 55.3%, B: 2005. Price:
Colour: straw- gold.
Nose: Light, floral, dry, on heather, honey and hay.
Taste: Salty, peaty, dry, woody, a bit rough, floral, on gentian, vanilla and on liquorice root. The finish is medium, dry, woody, maritime and on liquorice root.
General Impression: A correct Highland Park, although a bit rough.
Rating: 12/20

20 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Inchgower 1988, Scott’s selection, 56.1%, B: 2007, Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Fresh, oaky, very salty, floral and on vanilla. Intense.
Taste: Floral, grassy, oaky, creamy, salty, on vanilla, rose water, crème brûlée and toffee. The finish is medium to long, slightly salty, round, oaky, grassy and floral.
General Impression: A very pleasant and highly drinkable and smooth Inchgower.
Rating: 16/20

19 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Old Pulteney Best Cask of Scotland 1998, Jean Boyer, 43%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Pale yellow.
Nose: Smoky, fishy, salty, strongly maritime, on pear, white wine and with a whiff of diesel.
Taste: Sweet, smoky, salty, maritime, grassy, smooth, on pear and seaweed. The finish is medium, sweet, salty, maritime and on seaweed. With time, it becomes drier (saltier).
General Impression: A highly drinkable and maritime old Pulteney.
Rating: 13/20

18 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Rosebank 1991, Gordon & MacPhail, 54.4%, B: 2008, c. 2095, 196 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Very nice and sweet sherry nose, very fruity, grassy, sugary, on ripped peach, melon, orange and tangerine. Surprisingly complex.
Taste: Sweet, spicy, grassy, fruity, floral, creamy, malty, fresh, floral, on toffee and rucola. Complex. The finish is long, round, sweet, fruity and malty.
General Impression: A deliciously sweet and complex Rosebank.
Rating: 18/20

16 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Glenrothes 1986, The Ultimate for Van Wees, 43%, B: 1994, 425 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Earthy, on spices, toffee and apple cider.
Taste: Eathy, smoky, on old apples and cardboard. The finish is short, round, on toffee and with a hint of smoke.
General Impression: Have seen better Glenrothes
Rating: 08/20

14 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Glenrothes 1990, 17 YO, Clydesdale, 59.9%, B: 2008, 542 b. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Rubbery, intense, malty, on vegetamine, orange and leather. Diluted, it becomes rather yeasty.
Taste: Round, spicy, malty, fresh, rather rubbery, on cloves, cinnamon powder orange, toffee and with some light floral/fragrant aromas. The finish is medium to long, fresh, rubbery, malty, round, spicy, on toffee and treacle.
General Impression: Yes, it is on fresh rubber, but the result is quite pleasant.
Rating: 13/20

12 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Glenrothes 1968, 39 YO, Duncan Taylor, 53.3%, B: 2007, c. 13483, 102 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very nice oaky and fruity flavours, mellow, slightly smoky, and on ripped fruits (peach, apricot and pear).
Taste: Malty, fruity, oaky, on berries, peach, apricot, cigar smoke and fudge. Diluted, it becomes chewy, slightly bitter and soapy. The finish is short to medium, malty, oaky, mellow, fruity, and on banana. Diluted, it becomes more on menthol (tooth paste).
General Impression: A very good and venerable Glenrothes. Stands its age very well.
Rating: 16/20

11 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Glenrothes 7 YO, First Cask, 56.4%, D: 2000, B: 2008, cask 2417, 312 b. Price: N.C.
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Sweet, sugary, clean, malty, rubbery, on toffee.
Taste: Round, slightly yeasty, rubbery to very rubbery, slightly sour and salty, spicy, quite sweet, and slightly sulphuric. The finish is medium, rubbery, round and malty. Clean.
General Impression: If you enjoy clean, rubbery and very sherried whiskies, you might enjoy this one very much.
Rating: 11/20

10 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Glenglassaugh 1983, Berry Bros & Rudd, 46%, B: 2007, Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Fishy, fruity, malty, on porridge, peach, and some tangerine. A rather intriguing nose. Diluted, the flavours are getting “cleaner”.
Taste: Oaky, alcoholic, fruity, grassy, chewy, on wet tobacco leaves and some mild spices. The finish is medium, oaky, grassy and on vanilla custard.
General Impression: A quite pleasant and juicy Glenglassaugh.
Rating: 13/20

09 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Imperial 1982, 25 YO, Signatory, 53.4%, B: 2008, cask 3715, B: 2008, 198 b. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Meaty, nutty, grassy, quite heavy, on leather, orange, apricots and kumquats. Diluted, it becomes more on sherry.
Taste: Malty, oaky, juicy, grassy, slightly citric, minty, on orange, tangerine, kumquats and cooked apples. Rich and complex. The finish is medium, tannic, smooth, minty, on spearmint and orange. Diluted, it becomes slightly bitter, on bier and old cigarette smoke.
General Impression: A surprising and minty Imperial. If you want to try something different, this one might interest you.
Rating: 14/20

08 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Daintier Bull (Tullibardine) 1992, 16 YO, Daily Dram, 54.8%, B: 2008. Price: N.C.
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Clean, very floral, with some light and fruity notes, malty, with some smokiness. Diluted, it becomes rounder and some minty flavours are released.
Taste: Spicy, starchy, malty, clean, fresh, oaky, with some round fruity notes and mint. The finish is medium, clean, malty, on spearmint chewing-gum and pear.
General Impression: Not the most complex whisky, but satisfying, light and enjoyable.
Rating: 13/20

05 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Highland Park 15 YO, The Alchemist, 46%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Dry, peaty, on dry grass and some seaweed.
Taste: Malty, dry, slightly rough-tannic, on peated water, and liquorice root. The finish is long, dry, peaty and on liquorice root.
General Impression: A bit rough and oaky, but with some interesting liquorice root flavours.
Rating: 12/20

04 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Mortlach 1991Sherry, Berry Bros & Rudd, 56.4%, B: 2007. Cask 4227. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very strong sherry notes, round, and full, on vegetamine and dominating burnt matches flavours.
Taste: Sulphury, rubbery, on burnt matches, toffee, orange and vegetamine (yeast extract). The finish is long, very sulphury, on plastic and burnt matches.
General Impression: Too much rubbery and sulphury to my taste.
Rating: 08/20

03 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Linkwood 1989, 18 YO, Adelphi, 55.6%, B: 2008, cask 7323, 590 b. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very nice and smooth nose, on sweet tangerine, orange and peat smoke.
Taste: Juicy malt, on burnt sugar, tangerine, peat smoke, with some leather and grassy notes. Tannic and slightly spicy. Diluted, it becomes spicier (ginger) and on raisins. The finish is medium sweet, round, malty, and on tangerine. Diluted, it becomes slightly dryer.
General Impression: A very enjoyable Linkwood, with a pleasant mouthfeel. From a first fill sherry puncheon.
Rating: 16/20

02 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Arran (Isle of)1996 sherry, 11 YO, Murray McDavid, 46%. Price:
Nose: Very malty, fresh, fruity, on tangerine, with some light floral notes. Diluted, it becomes more malty (on freshly crushed barley).
Taste: Clean, malty, grassy, with a hint of smokiness, some lemongrass, orange and tangerine. Diluted, it becomes slightly citric. The finish is medium clean, malty, fresh, fruity, on tangerine, cooked apples, with slight toffee and bitter notes.
General Impression: A very good summer dram, clean, fresh, with a zest of lemon grass. A very good and non-ACEd Murray McDavid.
Rating: 15/20

01 Jul 2008
Special Witch 2

Rosebank 1991, 17 YO, Clydesdale, 56.3%, B:2008, cask 0192/631, 324 b. Price:
Colour: Pale yellow-straw.
Nose: Very light, fresh, alcoholic, floral, oaky, with some vanilla.
Taste: Light, oaky, rough, floral, fragrant, soapy, with some lactose and window cleaning product with lemon flavours. The finish is short to medium, slightly citric, soapy and rough.
General Impression: A rather soapy Rosebank.
Rating: 09/20

30 Jun 2008
Special Witch 2

Glenmorangie Astar, OB, 57.1%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Straw.
Nose: Very nice fruity notes (peach), with some nice oakiness, spicy, fresh, on tangerine and lime.
Taste: Oaky, spicy, malty, rich, on vanilla and banana. The finish is medium, smooth, oaky, slightly smoky, fresh and satisfying.
General Impression: The presence of the fresh oak is quite present, but it gives a nice fruitiness to this savouring Glenmorangie.
Rating 15/20

29 Jun 2008
Special Witch 2

North of Scotland 1964, 44 YO, Scott’s selection, 44.8%, B: 2008, Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very sweet, on peach, apricots, vanilla custard and some porridge.
Taste: Very sweet and smooth, thick-sirupy, on apricots, peach, porridge, and vanilla custard. Diluted, some bitterness appears. The finish is medium and similar to the taste.
General Impression: A very pleasant and mellow highly drinkable grain whisky.
Rating: 16/20

28 Jun 2008
Special Witch 2

Bladnoch 6 YO Bourbon matured, OB, 57.3%, B: 2008, Price:
Colour: Pale yellow.
Nose: Light, floral, with some tobacco leaves, some grassy notes and anis seeds. Diluted, it becomes more pleasant, with additional fudge and vanilla flavours.
Taste: Alcoholic, sweet, sugary, slightly winey, on grapes, a hint of smoke, some toffee and anis seeds. Diluted, it becomes cleaner, malty and more on vanilla. The finish is short, sweet-sugary, on grapes and with a clean maltiness.
General Impression: A young and promising Bladnoch: clean, fresh, malty, and without the roughness associated with very young whiskies. Needs some water to open up.
Rating: 10/20

27 Jun 2008
Special Witch 2

BenRiach 16 YO Sauternes finish, OB, 46%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Winey, quite dry, on grapes and hay. It needs some time before it becomes rounder and fruitier.
Taste: Dry at the start, then it becomes rounder, more fruity, winey, on grapes, with some sugariness and cardboard. It becomes rounder and smoother with some water. The finish is short, bitter-sweet and winey.
General Impression: Surprisingly for a Sauternes finish, the result is quite dry and benefits from some water. I has just been bottled and should it the shelves shortly.With its intense yellow label, you will notice it quickly.
Rating: 12/20

26 Jun 2008
Special Witch 2

Balmenach 1998 advanced sample, Jean Boyer, 57%, Price: N.A.
Colour: Pale yellow.
Nose: Clean, malty, sugary, on camomile and lime blossom tree, with some grassy notes. Refreshing. Diluted, it becomes more lemony.
Taste: Spicy, alcoholic, floral (summer flowers), on spices, lime blossom tree, camomile, with some sugary sweetness. The finish is short, clean, malty, fresh and floral.
General Impression: It might have benefited from an extra maturation, but this Balmenach is refreshing and a good summer dram. A limited number of bottles will be sold at cask strength, but most of the cask will be sold at reduced strength (43%?).
Rating: 12/20

25 Jun 2008
Special Witch 2

Tamdhu 1973, Gordon and MacPhail, 56.0%, B: 2008, c. 3230, 481 b., Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Earthy, heavy, nicely sherried, with some peaty and meaty notes, on orange, old humid tobacco leaves as well as a touch of vegetamine. Diluted, some flavours of lemongrass are released.
Taste: Round, malty, salty, with a hint of bitterness, a lot of pineapple, on cinnamon, orange, tangerine and leather. It becomes tannic with time. The finish is medium, dry, tannic, rubbery (plastic), on orange and leather.
General Impression: A good Tamdhu, although slightly rubbery and tannic.
Rating: 15/20

24 Jun 2008
Special Witch 2

Tobermory 15 YO, OB, 46.3%, B: 2008 Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Clean to very clean, earthy, with a very fresh sherry nose, on humus, orange, toffee, fudge and treacle, with rubbery notes.
Taste: Rubbery, clean, malty, slightly on cardboard, with some sugary notes and a hint of salt. Diluted, it becomes more rubbery and chewy. The finish is short to medium, clean, round, rubbery and on orange.
General Impression: As of now, the Tobermory 10 YO is discontinued and will be replaced by limited editions of Tobermory in the future. This bottling will be marketed in the next few weeks. This first limited edition offers more complexity than the “old” Tobermory 10 YO, and a good dose of sherry (including fresh rubbery notes). The new packaging (and box) is very attractive.
Rating: 12/20

19 Jun 2008

Glenrothes 1970, 35 YO, Duncan Taylor, B: 2006, 43.5%, Cask 10754. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smoky, then with some aeration it becomes smoother and fruitier (apricots and melon) and on vanilla, but the nose is still not very intense and rather weak. Diluted, it becomes fruitier (pineapple) and more floral.
Taste: Dry, bitter, oaky, fruity (dried apricots), smoky (tobacco), spicy, then it gets smoother, as the melon aromas goes through with some oranges. Diluted, it loses its dryness and bitterness, but it becomes also weaker. The finish is short, dry, slightly bitter, smoky, slightly oaky and on vanilla.
General Impression: This old Glenrothes is not unpleasant, but not a cracker, with the flavours rather weak.
Rating: 14/20

17 Jun 2008

Special Feis Ile 2008

Bunnhabhain 1976 Fino Sherry, 31 YO, Murray McDavid, 48.1%, B: 2008, 1134 b., Price:
Colour: Straw-gold.
Nose: Nice floral notes, fruity (mango, pear and guava), with some sweet and pleasant fino influence and a smooth maltiness.With a hint of smoke and maritime influence.
Taste: Dry-sweet, a bit thin, tannic, smoky, waxy, on pear, peach, melon, and marzipan. Diluted, it becomes more on Turkish delights. The finish is medium, round, sweet, waxy, on ripped peach and melon.
General Impression: It is very rare to find fino-matured Bunnhabhain. This one is very pleasant, but it is becoming a bit thin and tannic.
Rating: 15/20

16 Jun 2008

Special Feis Ile 2008

Caol Ila 1991 Mission Bourbon/Chenin blanc, 17 YO, Murray McDavid ,46%. B : 2008. Price :
Colour : Amber.
Nose : Winey, sugary, slightly rubbery, peaty, with some burnt sugar and tar.
Taste: Has a nice peatiness (like with the peat smoke in a kiln), saltiness and some sweetness. It is a pleasant, round and balanced Caol Ila. Diluted, it becomes saltier and more peated. The finish is long, round, sweet, peaty, tarry, salty, on seafood.
General Impression: The nose is influenced by the wine cask, but on the palate, the combination of a peaty Caol Ila with the wine works well.
Rating: 15/20

15 Jun 2008

Special Feis Ile 2008

Highland Park 1989 Bourbon/ Grenache, 17 YO, Murray McDavid, 46%, Price:
Colour: Red.
Nose: Winey, on grapes, sugar, honey and toffee.
Taste: Dry, fruity, on grapes, berries, honey, heather, slightly creamy, with a light pepper note and some toffee. Diluted, it gets rubbery, sulphury and more on honey. The finish is medium, winey, sugary and toffee.
General Impression: A quite winey Highland Park.
Rating: 10/20

13 Jun 2008

Special Feis Ile 2008

Bruichladdich X4+1 Deliverance, 1 YO, OB, 65.4%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Sweet, smoky, fruity, malty, on vanilla and toffee. A quite nice spirit nose
Taste: Very alcoholic, fruity (pear), immature, with light floral notes. The finish is short, hot, malty, very sweet and on pear.
General Impression: An immature quadruple-distilled spirit (not whisky, since it is less than 3 years old), which shows promises for the future. Was sold for £55 for 500 ml at the Feis Ile 2008 (better buy whisky instead)
Rating: N/A (spirit)

10 Jun 2008

Special Feis Ile 2008

Clynelish 1995 Bourbon/Madeira/Sherry, Murray McDavid, 46%, 2000 b.: Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Sweet, peaty, sugary, winey, on plums and grapes.
Taste: Very sweet and sugary, slightly salty, with a touch of peat and candied sugar. Diluted, it becomes peatier, saltier and more “Clynelish”. The finish is short, salty, dry, with some sugary and grape flavours.
General Impression: A correct, but sweet-sugary Clynelish with a short finish.
Rating: 11/20

08 Jun 2008
Special Feis Ile 2008

Glen Scotia 1992 Bourbon/Rum, 15 YO, Murray McDavid, 46%. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Sugary, syrupy, salty, on Rum, coconut, pineapple and sea shells.
Taste: Lots of coconut, very strong Rum flavours, on strawberries and raspberry marmalade, with some peat smoke. Then it becomes rounder, on custard and on cardamom. The finish is medium, very sweet and sugary, round, and slightly salty.
General Impression: A rather peculiar Glen Scotia with a dominating Rum influence. A hybrid between whisky and Rum.
Rating: 11/20

05 Jun 2008
Special Feis Ile 2008

Lagavulin 12 YO (for the Friends of the Classic Malts), OB, 48%, B:2008, Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber
Nose: Light, floral, minty, meaty, smooth and peaty, with some leather, sherry and orange notes. Not as peaty as you might expect.
Taste: Sweet, malty, peaty, slightly rubbery, quite salty, on orange, with some tangerine and seaweed. Lightly floral and fragrant. The finish is medium, dry, oaky, smoky, malty, slightly rubbery and bitter, with some salted liquorice, grapes, chocolate and burnt sugar.
General Impression: A good Lagavulin, but not as peaty as you might expect, with a rather oaky and bitter-dry finish. Should be available for September, with reserve.
Rating: 14/20

03Jun 2008
Special Feis Ile 2008

Laphroaig Cairdeas, OB, 55%, B: 2008, 3600 b., Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Smoky, nutty, peaty, maritime, slightly tatty, quite sweet, on dried meat and some seaweed.
Taste: Dry, malty, sweet, young,oaky,smoky, with some toffee, seeds, vanilla and coconuts aromas. The finish is short to very short, young, round, peaty, smoky and on toffee.
General Impression: Two casks of 17 YO Laphroaig were vatted with much younger quarter casks (a dozen?). The result is a round, sweet and young peated Laphroaig with a short finish.
Rating: 12/20

02 Jun 2008
Special Feis Ile 2008

Lagavulin 1993 Feis Ile, 15 YO, OB, 52.9%, B: 2008, cask 1403, app. 580 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Superb sherry nose, on orange, tangerine, soft leather, round peat smoke, with a light fragrance contributing to a vibrant flavour.
Taste: Sweet, peaty, salty, maritime, slightly spicy, with some nice orange and tangerine notes, quite waxy and complex. The finish is long, subtle, slightly dry, peaty, smoky, with some salt and mineral flavour notes, but with a rather smooth and creamy feeling.
General Impression: An excellent sherry Lagavulin, sharing some similarities with the 21 YO, although less complex. Again, Iain MacArthur selected a nice cask for the Feis Ile.
Rating: 17/20

30 May 2008
Special Feis Ile 2008

Ardbeg Corryvrekan Committee, OB, 57.1%, B: 2008, 5000 b., Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Spicy, nutty, peaty, maritime, slightly oaky, on grapes and berries. Quite round and smooth. The influence of the French Oak is quite present.
Taste: Spicy (pepper and chilli), nutty, oaky, peaty, quite oily, slightly mineral, a hint of nutmeg, smoked fish, chocolate with some old and bold peat smoke. Rich and quite creamy. Diluted, it becomes slightly rubbery, on grapes, chilli and ginger. Quite spicy. The finish is long to very long, nutty, maritime, with some toffee notes, grapes, and toffee notes.
General Impression: A vatting of casks aged between 6-10 years. Some older casks from the early 1990s and a French Oak maturation were used to create this excellent, complex and spicy Ardbeg.
Rating: 17/20

29 May 2008
Special Feis Ile 2008

Ardbeg Renaissance 1998, 10 YO, OB, 55.9%, B: 2008. Price:
Colour: Pale yellow-straw
Nose: Peaty, maritime, tarry, on hemp rope, with some sweet smoke, pear and some mint.
Taste: Peaty, sweet, slightly floral and bitter, maritime, with some pear. Becomes more peaty with time. Diluted, if becomes lighter, more citric and on lemon, with a nice light freshness. The finish is long to very long, satisfying, very peaty, salty, tarry, on liquorice, wood smoke, and some herb spices. Diluted, it becomes lighter, dryer and more salty.
General Impression: The Ardbeg Renaissance is a very pleasant whisky, not as oily and heavy as the Ardbeg Ten. Not better, but different and enjoyable.
Rating: 16/20

Ardbeg Renaissance 1998 cask selection, 10 YO, OB.
Colour: Pale yellow-straw
Nose: Very peaty, maritime, tarry, quite smooth, light, floral (violet?), on iodine, straw. Dryer and simpler than the final bottling. Diluted, it reminds me of the Ardbeg new make.
Taste: Dry to very dry, peaty, sweet, tarry, on liquorice, pear juice, straw and grilled bread. The finish is clean, long to very long, peaty, smoky, salty, on iodine, dried fish and quite malty.
General Impression: A good Ardbeg, but the whisky is quite young, sweet and malty.
Rating: 15/20

21May 2008

Strathisla 1977, 27 YO, The Bottlers, 43.9%, B:2004, Cask 4472, Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Malty, soft, on Turkish delights and grape juice. Diluted, if becomes more grassy and floral.
Taste: Soft, thin, grassy, slightly spicy, floral, malty, on Turkish delights and cardboard. The finish is medium, soft, creamy, spicy, malty, and on grape juice.
General Impression: A smooth and soft Strathisla, but without much relief, a bit too thin.
Rating: 12/20

19May 2008

Strathisla 1954, Gordon & McPhail, 40%, B: 2006. Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Very smooth and mellow, grassy, juicy, on sweet oranges and tangerines, with some soft leather and peat, pollen, and some Turkish delights.
Taste: Grassy, slightly woody and tannic, resinous, very sweet, with some spiciness, on peat smoke, oranges, tangerines, leather, toffee notes, and some citric presence. The finish is medium, sugary, slightly tannic and woody, round, on toffee, with some very light pollen notes at the end.
General Impression: Made from fresh and refill sherry casks, this Strahisla is quite fresh for its age and the tannic and woody notes are not much more pronounced than in many younger whiskies. I enjoyed it very much and highly drinkable,
Rating: 17/20

16 May 2008

Strathisla Distillery Bottling, 15 YO, OB, D: 1988, B: 2004, 59.3%. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Spirity, floral, dry flowers, very fruity (peach, melon, mango and passion fruits), with some toffee. Diluted, the nose gets soapy and on plastic.
Taste: Sweet and clean malt, smoky, on burnt toffee, berries, with a fruitiness dominated by the bitterness. Diluted, it becomes more floral but also more bitter. The finish is short, bitter dry, with some toffee, coffee beans and fruity aromas (apricots).
General Impression: Starts on a nice and fruity nose, but then moves on to a very bitter aroma profile. If you like bitter whiskies, this should please your palate.
Rating: 13/20

14 May 2008

Strathisla 12 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2005, Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold.
Nose: Some grassy-earthiness, fruity (apricots), juicy malt and some floral notes.
Taste: Malty, slightly bitter, buttery, earthy and with some toffee. The finish is rather short, dry, on malt and toffee, floral (violet), with vanilla and a bitter after taste.
General Impression: A nice structure and body, bitter-sweet. Quite heavy.
Rating: 12/20

11 May 2008

Ardmore 1977 OMC sherry, 30 YO, Douglas Laing, 50%, B: 2007, ref #3514, 427 b. Price:
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Mineral, peaty, meaty, on toffee, grape, chocolate and eucalyptus. Complex and with time it becomes more mineral, peaty and on vanilla. Diluted, it becomes more floral and citric, with a zest of lemon.
Taste: Sweet, resinous, mineral, clean, smoky, peaty, on Genepi (herb alcohol), vanilla and a touch of heather before fruitiness comes through. The finish is round, medium, on vanilla fudge and heater, before the peatiness develops.
General Impression: A nice and old Ardmore, slightly better with some water.
Rating: 16/20

10 May 2008

Ardmore 1990, La Maison du Whisky, 58.5%, B: 2007, Cask 30103, 287 b. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Rounder and more floral than the G&M 1990 at the start, before becoming dry and peaty, with some herb tea flavours.
Taste: Salty, peppery, peaty, floral, citric, with a few drops of honey. The finish is dry, peaty, long to very long, on liquorice, with some mineral smoke aromas.
General Impression: A very good Ardmore, but rougher than the 1990 G&M. Don’t add too much water.
Rating: 15/20

04 May 2008

Ardmore 1990, Gordon & MacPhail, 55.8%, B: c2005, Price:
Colour: Pale yellow
Nose: Peaty, clean, floral, and creamy. Diluted, it becomes more floral and oaky.
Taste: Dry, peaty, salty, on hay and grilled bread. If not for the floral notes, it could be easily mistaken for an Islay whisky. The finish is dry, peaty, slightly bitter, on toffee, roasted coffee beans, and liquorice.
General Impression: A very nice Ardmore, clean and quite heavily peated.
Rating: 16/20

29Apr2008

Aberfeldy 12 YO, OB, 40%, B: 2007, Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Malty, nutty, clean, with some honey, pear and grapes.
Taste: Clean, malty, on vanilla, with some floral notes, a hint of smoke and a zest of orange. The finish is short to medium, malty, clean, on bitter toffee and with a zest of tangerine skin.
General Impression: A nice, clean and pleasant whisky, which deserves some attention.
Rating: 13/20

28Apr2008

Aberlour 18 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Very malty, clean, slightly floral and grassy, round, on honey and with some fruitiness (tangerine, orange and apricots).
Taste: Slightly peppery and salty, malty, juicy, on honey, tangerine, orange, and some bitter toffee. Oily. The finish is short, winey, dry and round at the same time, with some orange skin.
General Impression: A gentle, soft, malty and quite simple whisky, but pleasant.
Rating: 13/20

23Apr2008

Aberlour Cuvée d’Ecosse 15 YO, OB, 43%, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Gold-old gold
Nose: Clean, very malty, grassy, slightly floral, on honey and with some sherry.
Taste: Very malty, clean, slightly rubbery, on honey, some almond and slightly winey. The finish is short, dry, bitter, malty and winey.
General Impression: A good everyday dram.
Rating: 10/20

19Apr2008

Aberlour 1980, 22 YO, OB, 43%. Price:
Colour: Gold
Nose: Quite grassy, fresh, with some tangerine and nice light floral notes on top of some sweetness.
Taste: Juicy malt, honey, with some spiciness and fruitiness (tangerine, peach and some mango), and a hint of smoke. The finish is short-medium, malty, juicy, on bitter smoke and with a nice fruitiness.
General Impression: A pleasant Aberlour, quite rich and fruity.
Rating: 14/20

15Apr2008

Dalmore 1974 for La Maison Du Whisky, 32 YO, OB, 52%, 780 b. Price:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Beautiful sherry nose, round, with a lot of oranges, leather, beewax, a hint of lavender, very intense, beautiful maltiness and a whiff of smoke.
Taste: Malty, spicy, slightly bitter, on oranges, old leather and some toffee. Quite oily. Diluted, gets quite bitter but more on oranges. The finish is slightly bitter and dry, quite thick, round, long and smooth, on orange peel, malt and toffee.
General Impression: A superb nose for this excellent Dalmore with a lot of richness and a delicious sherry influence, not rubbery but slightly bitter.
Rating: 18/20

11Apr2008

Dalmore 1976 Cross Hill, JWWW, 59.9%, B: 2007, 110 b., Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Superbly fruity (melon, orange, tangerine, passion fruit and mango), malty, slightly earthy, with some discreet peat smoke. Diluted, it becomes more fruity.
Taste: Spicy (cloves), slightly earthy, smoky, citric and peaty, with some sweet fruitiness and wet tobacco leaves. Diluted, it becomes more floral, resinous and on orange skin. The finish is long, sweet, earthy, fruity, on tangerine and tobacco leaves.
General Impression: An excellent full bodied Dalmore, powerful, intense, rich and complex.
Rating: 17/20

07Apr2008

Dalmore 1990, 17 YO, Adelphi, 59.7%, B: 2007, Cask 7327 590 b., Price:
Colour: Amber.
Nose: Earthy, malty, fragrant, on humus, bitter caramel and orange marmelade. Diluted, it becomes more on orange.
Taste: Full bodied, earthy, spirty, salty, slightly smoky, malty, on humus, caramel and candied orange. The finish is medium, dry to very dry, earthy, oaky, on humus and liquorice root.
General Impression: A good Dalmore, full bodied, but slightly bitter.
Rating: 13/20

04Apr2008

Bowmore 1989 Limited Edition Bourbon, 16 YO, OB, 51.8%, Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Heavily peated, tarry, with a strong maritime influence and an underlying sweetness. A surprisingly peaty Bowmore.
Taste: Dry, very peaty, salty, on freshly crushed malt, grilled bread and seaweed. The finish is dry, peaty, smoky, very maritime with some sweetness.
General Impression: An excellent recent Bowmore, more peaty than usual.
Rating: 17/20

02 Apr 2008

Bowmore 1996, 10 YO, Berry Bros & Rudd, B: 2006, 46%, casks 26018/9. Price :
Colour: Clear to pale yellow
Nose: Extremely sweet (candy) and smooth, new make-like, very clean, peaty and grassy.
Taste: Extremely sweet, thin, some peat and dried kelp. Finish is short, very clean, with some cereals and extremely sweet.
General Impression: The colour matches the content: very new-make like, very sweet and clean and shows a maturity closer to 10 months than 10 years.
Rating: 08/20

31Mar 2008

Bowmore 1991 Port Matured, 16 YO, OB, 53.1%, Price:
Colour: Red-pinkish
Nose: Spirity, salty, slighty peated and with a Port sweetness (sugary).
Taste: Salty, strong Port influence, very smooth, light, clean, some peat and bitter toffee as well as pineapples. Diluted, strawberry aromas becomes apparent and the saltiness, the peat and the seaweed flavours become stronger. The finish is clean, round, smooth, on Port and pineapples.
General Impression: Surprisingly thin, but round, salty and well equilibrated. For a full maturation in Port Cask, the result is quite impressive, since the Bowmore flavours have not been taken over by the Port.
Rating: 16/20

28 Mar 2008

Bowmore 1972 for Globus, 35 YO, OB, B: 2007. Price:
Colour: Old gold.
Nose: Very sweet and smooth, on juicy malt, tropical fruits (papaya and passion fruits), grape juice and some old peat smoke.
Taste: Peaty, smoky, salty, maritime, sweet and sugary, on melon, water melon and passion fruits. The finish is smooth, with a hint of dryness, on sweet fruitiness, salt and peat smoke.
General Impression: A most pleasant, juicy, and sweet Bowmore, as elegant as the decanter which contains the precious liquid. This Bowmore was bottled exlusively for the Swiss retail chain Globus.Thank you Iain.
Rating: 18/20

26 Mar 2008

Special Whisky Schiff Lucerne

Glen Garioch 1988 Old masters Sherry, 19 YO, James MacArthur, 53.1%, B: 2008, cask 1536. Price:
Colour: Old gold-amber.
Nose: Smooth, round, malty, nicely sherried, on orange, some mild spices, and round peat smoke.
Taste: Smooth, round, slightly grassy, rich and complex, fruity (orange, tangerine, apricots & pineapples), with a hint of peat. The finish is long, round, malty, smooth, silky, and on sherry (orange).
General Impression: One of the best and most equilibrate Glen Garioch, with a sherry in symbiosis with the spirit at a low price. One of the best quality/price bottlings over these last two years.
Rating: 18/20

24 Mar 2008

Caol Ila 1974, 32 YO, Signatory, 55.7%, B: 2007, Cask 12624, 261 b. Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Meaty, peaty, on cold ashes, old bonfire and cigarette smoke, seaweed, iodine, and hemp rope. With a deep, satisfying and complex nose.
Taste: Dry, very maritime, salty, on kelp, iodine, nice oak, old peat smoke and cold ashes, quite mineral, with some wet tobacco leaves and bourbon vanilla. The finish is long, peaty, smoky, maritime and on kelp.
General Impression: One of the finest Caol Ila I have tasted and even better than the 1975 Caol Ila bottled at the same time. It is rich, complex, intense and in the same league as the products distilled during the 1970s in the distillery south of Caol Ila.
Rating: 19/20

14 Mar 2008

Glen Garioch 1985 Sherry for The Whisky Exchange, 16 YO, OB, 51.9%, cask 1585. Price:
Colour: Red.
Nose: Fresh and intense rubbery notes, some spice. Dominated by the sherry. A real sherry monster.
Taste: Malty, spicy (vegetal condiment), very rubbery, on some lavender and geranium bitterness, burnt toffee and coffee. The finish is long, very round, malty and sherried, on orange and rubber.
General Impression: The cask and the whisky are rather flawless, but the intensity of the rubbery and sherry notes are too much to my taste, but should more than satisfy the lover of sherry monsters.
Rating: 14/20

13 Mar 2008

Longrow 18 YO (Advanced Sample), OB, 46%, B: 2008, Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Meaty, peaty, smoky farmy, clean, slightly maritime, some geranium, camphor and ashes.
Taste: Salty to very salty, maritime, peaty, smoky, slightly meaty, with some cold ashes, on liquorice sweets and coconut (pina colada). Rather clean. The finish is long, dry, peaty to very peaty, smoky, on liquorice, with some seaweed and cold ashes.
General Impression: A very good Longrow, mainly from 2nd and 3rd fill sherry casks, sharing several similarities to the Longrows distilled in 1987, although slightly rounder and more on liquorice.
Rating: 17/20

12 Mar 2008

Special Whisky Schiff Lucerne

Longrow CV, OB, 46%, B: 2008, Price:
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Fresh, rather young, meaty, peaty, salty and showing a quite strong resemblance to the new whiskies distilled in the South shore of Islay.
Taste: Dry, malty, oaky, salty, slightly maritime, peaty, with some hemp rope aromas, vanilla and a touch of ginger. The finish is medium, slightly dry, peaty, smoky, salty, very maritime and with some liquorice root.
General Impression: A vatting of Longrow of different age, containing a fair proportion of 6 YO Longrow, but showing a remarkable maturity. More peaty than the Longrow 10 or 14 YO.
Rating: 15/20