Glentauchers 1990 10 yo (1990/2001)

Glentauchers 1990 10 yo (1990/2001)

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Beer, sweet cream, bitter Chinese herbs, berries. Hint of grass.
Mouthfeel:Medium body, starts watery, thickens.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Barley, malty, hoppy beer, peanuts, eucalyptus oil.
Finish: Long. Warm, cayenne pepper, peanuts, hint of hops.

Comments:

This one was actually bottled by Gordon & Macphail - it's a semi-official bottling, done with the blessing of the distillery. Quite cereally, with an unusual bitter note for a Speyside. Strange finish, makes me want to explore other expressions from this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Talisker 10 yo

Talisker 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands (Skye)
Golden
45.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, white pepper, sherry, toffee, butter fudge, hint of smoked meat.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, smooth, thick, luscious.
Tasting: Salty bitter. White pepper, cayenne pepper, peaches, cream, butterscotch.
Finish: Medium. Sour cream, peat, walnut skin.

Comments:

Starts out the same as its older cousin, with the meaty, peaty, sweet notes. But it then gets more bitter and more salty, with lots of pepper. Can't say I prefer the 18 yo to this - it's more interesting than pleasurable. Great mouthfeel though.

Verdict:

I like this.

Rosebank 1992 Cooper's Choice (1992/2005)

Rosebank 1992 Cooper's Choice (1992/2005)

Cooper's Choice, Vintage Malt Whisky Co.
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, butter, labneh, malt, Horlicks, lemon, hint of rose, hint of hibiscus.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, viscous, expands in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemon sherbert, spiced barley, brassy, metallic, hint of rhubarb and custard sweet.
Finish: Medium. Tea, lemon curd, cashews.

Comments:

Surprisingly heavy and creamy for a Rosebank. There's just a hint of the summery rhubarb and custard character. Not easily available anymore - I had to buy a dram of this at a restaurant. Thought it was definitely underpriced.

Verdict:

I like this.

Old Pulteney 12 yo

Old Pulteney 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Sweet sherry, caramel, malty beer, liquorice, cream, hint of fruit.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, viscous, wet, foggy.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Cream, almond nougat, cane sugar, spiced barley, hint of blackberry.
Finish: Long. Cayenne pepper, sea salt, honey.

Comments:

"Foggy" and "wet" mean that the whisky is highly liquid and mouth-coating; it seems to expand into vapour once it comes into contact with the heat of the mouth. Great mouthfeel. The taste isn't bad either - a good combination of sweet and savoury notes. I particularly like the tantalising hints of fruit lurking in it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Compass Box Oak Cross

Compass Box Oak Cross

Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Dailuane, Teaninich, Clynelish
Straw
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, cream, butter, peanuts, oak spice.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, very smooth, slightly watery.
Tasting: Sweet. Barley, beer, oak spice, heather honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, apples.
Finish: Short. Intense toast, marmalade.

Comments:

The result of an oak-aging experiment conducted by Compass Box. It's a blend of whiskies aged in French sessile oak and American white oak. The newly blended spirit was then aged further in American oak barrels with French sessile oak barrel tops. Loads of flavours - it tastes a little that some Talisker might have sneaked in...

Verdict:

I like this.

Cardhu Special Cask Reserve CS/CR.07.0

Cardhu Special Cask Reserve

Official bottling
Single malt - SpeysideGolden40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, sherry, honey, butter, tea, hint of roast chicken.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, thick, full, heavy body, syrupy, luxurious.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, nutmeg, butterscotch, overripe pears, apricots.
Finish: Short. Sour apples, bitter oats, camphor.

Comments:
Cask ref #CS/CR.07.04 - I think this is a later bottling (2004). Made from specially selected "very old casks". Is the buttery note rancio? I can't tell. Maybe - there's some roast chicken flavour here that could very well be it. Very rich and sweet, highly enjoyable. Some sherry monster, this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!

Glenlivet 37 yo 1970/2007

Glenlivet 37 yo 1970/2007

Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
51% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hint of peat, musk, hint of smoke, oak spice, apples, grapefruit.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, full, thick, smooth, syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet. Peaches, sour plums, raspberry jam, overripe fruits.
Finish: Long. Peanut skins, orange peel, spiced barley.

Comments:

Cask ref 2018, 163 bottles. Excellent old Speyside. It's not easy to get something this old and at such a good drinking strength too. I think I bought this for an excellent price; not selling it - the fruit is too tasty, and very enticing with the slight hints of peat and smoke...

Verdict:

I like this a lot!

Longmorn 16 yo

Longmorn 16 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oak, lemons, thyme, beer, cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, syrupy, medium body, very pleasant.
Tasting: Sour. Grapefruit, lemons, bubble gum, hint of rose, hint of soap.
Finish: Medium. Toast, slight hint of fruit.

Comments:

Decent Speyside. The packaging is pretty snazzy too. It's also a fairly generous ABV for an official bottling - Chivas gets it. Not many independent bottlings out there though.

Verdict:

I like this.

Royal Lochnagar 9 yo 1998 (1998/2007)

Royal Lochnagar 9 yo 1998 (1998/2007)

Provenance, Douglas Laing
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaty, hint of smoke, pencil leads, grilled beef, apple sauce.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Toast, lemon curd, malted barley, red fruits, sour plums.
Finish: Short. Peaches, slightly salty.

Comments:

Interesting combination in the nose - a little wild-tasting I think. Gets more mellow in the mouth (must be because the whisky is young). Nice meaty notes, but it's like having a steak placed in front of you and then having it whisked away.

Verdict:

I like this.

Yoichi 15 yo

Yoichi 15 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Hokkaido
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Musky, bubble gum, strawberry, plum, sour mash.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, medium body.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apples, cinnamon, saffron, oak.
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, cloves, walnuts.

Comments:

First foray into Japanese whiskey! Very fruity and spicy - they must have used some good casks for this one. A little bourbony at the beginning, but maybe that's a Japanese characteristic. Slight reminder of ume in the nose, but without the salt. Not as Japanese as Oban (?!). New bottling, with a line drawing of the distillery on the label.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberlour 10 yo

Aberlour 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tea, hint of smoke, strawberries, malt, caramel, bread, honey.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, smooth, refreshing.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Fruity, cherry brandy, salted popcorn, red fruits.
Finish: Short. Sour cherries, plums, melons.

Comments:

Very tasty indeed. Classic Speyside - fruit, cereal, made interesting by the slight hints of smoke and salt. Probably the most worthwhile malt price wise. It's less than 25 pounds (as well as free at WhiskyLive!).

Verdict:

I like this.

Port Ellen 25 yo 1982/2008

Port Ellen 25 yo 1982/2008

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islay
White wine
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, coconut, soya sauce, salted popcorn.
Mouthfeel: Heavy, thick, syrupy, velvety.
Tasting: Salty. Cigar smoke, peat, oranges, peanuts, horse dung.
Finish: Long. Fried onions, walnut skins.

Comments:

Refill butt 4112, 589 bottles. This is lovely stuff. Oh why did they close this distillery?! Great savoury spectrum of flavours - fried onions, soy sauce, salted popcorn. Heavenly (even the horse dung is good, I now know what "clean" manure flavour refers to). Excellent indeed. I bought a bottle which I'm going to husband very carefully.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!

Mackmyra Preludium 06

Mackmyra Preludium 06

Official bottling
Single malt - Gastrikland
Straw
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, spirit, sour mash, pears, pine, juniper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly watery, refreshing.
Tasting: Salty. Hint of smoke, hint of peat, coffee, gin, lime, cloudberries, pork sausage.
Finish: Short. Spicy, freshly squeezed lime juice.

Comments:

Made with barley dried over juniper and peat fire, there's no mistaking its Swedish origins. There are even cloudberries in the tasting! The theme for this release of Mackmyra (the age statement ones come out next) is "Swedish smoke". Oh yes, it's Swedish smoke alright, almost ginny.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenkinchie 1992 Distiller's Edition (1992/2007)

Glenkinchie 1992 Distiller's Edition (1992/2007)

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Light gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hint of chlorine, lime juice, fresh apples, butter.
Mouthfeel: Syrupy, medium body.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Tangy, hazelnut syrup, nutmeg, light lemon sorbet.
Finish: Short. Malty, apples, pears.

Comments:

Very good indeed! The slight chemical notes go very well with the abundance of fruit. The whisky is also more substantial, quite heavy for a Lowlander. I think the nuttiness might have been something harsher before being mellowed by the aging. Nice stuff, this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!

Clynelish 1991 Distiller's Edition (1991/2006)

Clynelish 1991 Distiller's Edition (1991/2006)

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hoppy beer, toast, oaky spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried fruits, pineapple jam, cloves. Spice rack whisky.
Mouthfeel: Very smooth, static, medium body.
Tasting: Sweet. Hibiscus, key limes, figs, pineapple jam, bread, toast.
Finish: Short, sweet, cinnamon, toast, fig jam. Has bags of "sandwich" character.

Comments:

One of Diageo's Distiller's Editions, finished in Oloroso Seco casks. 46% isn't bad, but I think this might have benefited from an even higher strength. Tried it with water - lost the floral notes, but kept the toast and fruit. Definitely better when it's more complex.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenkinchie 12 yo

Glenkinchie 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
White wine
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon, violets, other cut flowers, beer, malt, hint of hops.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, full, light body.
Tasting: Sweet. Lemon, creamy vanilla, hint of leather, hint of new plastic.
Finish: Short. Warming, sweet peanuts.

Comments:

Light and slightly chemical. Because of the latter, not as refreshing as I thought it might be. Interesting nonetheless, although I think that the combination turns out, in the end, to be a little like the artificial lemon flavouring you get in Lemsip. Rosebank has artificial lemons in it as well, but it's different - evokes summer, rather than medicine...

Verdict:

I like this.