SMWS 9.39 (Glen Grant 33 yo 1972/2006)

SMWS 9.39 (Glen Grant 33 yo 1972/2006)

2006, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
51.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cognac, oak, raisins, rubber bands, black pepper, nectarines, brown paper, hints of cayenne pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Christmas pudding, oak, brandy, glace cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg, apples, hints of peanuts.
Finish: Long. Coffee, apples, oak.

Comments:

Excellent old sherry monster. Tastes very similar to the DL OMC bottling I got for my birthday. There are slight differences - this one is more peppery and appley - but the lovely brandy, rubber band notes are exactly the same.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 73.26 (Aultmore 25 yo 1982/2008)

SMWS 73.26 (Aultmore 25 yo 1982/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
55.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, figs, salt caramel, black pepper, blueberries, hints of seaweed.
Mouthfeel: Light body, expands in the mouth, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Oak, sherry, oranges, chocolate, raisins, brazil nuts. Water brings out more fruity notes - mango, kiwifruit, among others.
Finish: Long. Oak, leather, peaches, peanuts.

Comments:

Quite fruity and complex. After tasting 2 other whiskies in quick succession before this one, I probably wasn't able to appreciate it properly, particularly after adding water. Slightly salty too - add a little peat or smoke and it would be extremely delicious.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 26.56 (Clynelish 8 yo 1999/2008)

SMWS 26.56 (Clynelish 8 yo 1999/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Straw
61.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, sea salt, cheddar cheese, brass polish, limes, hints of mint.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sour salty. Lemons, lemon meringue pie, salted popcorn, mint, hint of olive oil.
Finish: Medium. Warm, chillies.

Comments:

Not very Clynelish-ey, at least to me. There are the lemon and brass notes I associate with this distillery, but they are quite muted. The whisky is surprisingly salty too. I would have thought this was an unpeated Caol Ila, perhaps, if there were such a thing. Very young and fiery.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 50.34 (Bladnoch 15 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 50.34 (Bladnoch 15 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, butter, peaches, chocolate, blueberries, floral lightness.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, quite smooth.
Tasting: Sweet. Bread, cookie dough, grassy, chocolate, lettuce, lemons. With water, sweeter and more savoury, like a good carrot cake.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, grapefruit.

Comments:

Light and subtle, this. Instantly identifiable as Lowlands, even though this is my first dram from this distillery. Gets more rough and heavy with water though, a little less enjoyable in my opinion.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balvenie Distillery

Balvenie Distillery
Dufftown
Keith
Banffshire AB55 ADH

Speyside, Scotland - Active

Flavour profile

I would consider Balvenie the quintessential Speyside - sweet, fruity, and not too heavy (but not too light either). For me, it's a benchmark malt, what I measure other Speysides against.

Balvenie is quite fruity, with lots of oranges (this seems to be consensus) and apricots (not really consensus). I think it's also got a fair bit of vanilla, although this flavour element is quite unobstrusive and is usually underlying the fruit. It's pretty ubiquitous though. There are lots of caramel notes going on too (do they add caramel to their official bottlings?) - caramel itself, dulce de leche, butterscotch, in the Wordle below.



All the Balvenies I've tasted so far are here.

Balvenie 12 yo Double Wood - good
Balvenie 15 yo Single Cask 1990/2006 - good
Balvenie 21 yo Port Wood - good

Distillery history

Founded in 1892, by William Grant. It was originally supposed to be called Glen Gordon. It's still owned by William Grant today. It's never been silent, according to the information I have.

The original 2 stills were added to in 1957, again in 1965 and again in 1971. An entirely new distillery, Kininvie, was constructed on Balvenie's premises in 1990. This distillery supplies malt for the Grant's blends, freeing up more Balvenie malt for bottling as single malt. There are many official bottlings, with the 12 yo DoubleWood the most popular.

Potted distillery facts

Water source: Springs from the Conval Hills
Washbacks: Ten, Oregon pine, 50,000 litres each
Wash stills: Four, reflux bowls neck, 2 are 12,729 litres each, 2 are 9,092 litres each
Spirit stills: Five, reflux bowls neck, 12,729 litres each
Spirit still Lyne arm: nothing unusual
Production per year: 5,000,000 litres a year

- The Scottish Whisky Distilleries, Misako Udo

SMWS 85.19 (Glen Elgin 8 yo 1999/2008)

SMWS 85.19 (Glen Elgin 8 yo 1999/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
62.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, raisins, salted egg (Chinese style), ham, rice, cream, hints of cinnamon. Water moderates the salt and brings out the raisins.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Scottish tablet, plums, oranges, stewed rhubarb, oat bread, hints of pineapple. Water brings out more tablet, much sweeter.
Finish: Long, sour, aluminium foil, stewed rhubarb.

Comments:

A little warm and tingly, due to the alcohol content, but quite tasty in the mouth. I do like Scottish tablet, and it's certainly an unusual note in whisky, in my limited experience. The stewed rhubarb provides an interesting counterpoint. However, the harsh metallic finish is a little off-putting.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 23.59 (Bruichladdich 14 yo 1993/2008)

SMWS 23.59 (Bruichladdich 14 yo 1993/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Gold
52.1% ABV
Dram]

Nose: Sour plums, brine, vodka, tomato, lemons, grapefruit.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, expands in the mouth.
Tasting: Sour salty. Lemons, hazelnuts, white pepper, plums, sea salt, apples, hints of peat. Water brings out plums, prunes and apricots.
Finish: Medium. Plums, cotton candy, sea salt.

Comments:

One of the very lightest Islays I have ever had. Almost could be mistaken for a Lowlands whisky, except for the slight hint of peat. Very fruity too, with no smoke at all. Quite refreshing and enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 73.28 (Aultmore 15 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 73.28 (Aultmore 15 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, orange peel, varnish, oak, raisins, hints of raspberry jam. Water brings out lots of peach and magic marker.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, sweet.
Tasting:Sweet. Oranges, raspberries, cherries, oak, pears, raisins, hints of peat. Water brings out magic marker (but no peach!).
Finish: Medium, magic marker, raisins, peanuts.

Comments:

Quite tasty, and lots of chemical notes with diluted with water. Reminds me of pear drop sweets, only just that little too strong. One of the sweeter, more luscious Speysides.

Verdict:

I like this.

Littlemill 16 yo 1990/2006

Littlemill 16 yo 1990/2006

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw
50% ABV
Mini

Nose: Lemon sweets, peat, roast chicken, chocolate, hints of rose, hints of lavender.
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, watery, volatile.
Tasting: Sour salty. Lemons, oat biscuits, butter, white grapes, orange peel.
Finish: Long. Light, lemons, gooseberries.

Comments:

DL Cask #2930. On nosing, doesn't smell like a Lowlands whisky, much less a Littlemill. Quite meaty, yet floral. However, the meaty notes disappear in the mouth, and it's wonderfully refreshing and light. Very, very nice. They really shouldn't have closed this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!

SMWS 116.13 (Yoichi 23 yo 1985/2008)

SMWS 116.13 (Yoichi 23 yo 1985/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Hokkaido
Dark gold
51.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, smoke, peat, soy sauce, bacon, hints of spiced apple, hints of butter.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, smooth.
Tasting: Bitter. Oranges, smoke, peat, peaches, pineapples, raisins, bacon. Water transforms the oranges into orange peel, a little more volatile and oily to the tongue.
Finish: Long. Smoke, salted peanuts, oranges.

Comments:

Another sweet and savoury whisky. It's very unlike the official Yoichi, being a lot more smoky and meaty. Almost like a good Bowmore, except there's a fairly obvious hint of pineapple. It's a good reminder that Japanese whisky has a character all of its own.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 3.136 (Bowmore 10 yo 1998/2008)

SMWS 3.136 (Bowmore 10 yo 1998/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Amber
58.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, sherry, roast chicken, soy sauce, hints of white grape.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Roast chicken, fried onion, orange peel, lemon sweets, caramel, smoke, hints of peat.
Finish: Medium. Peat, orange peel, caramel.

Comments:

Very savoury and sweet, just the way I like my whisky. Soy sauce, fried onion and roast chicken reminds me of roast chicken rice (it's been ages since I've had that). Quite fruity too, wreathed in caramelised sugar and sweet smoke.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 48.13 (Balmenach 19 yo 1989/2008)

SMWS 48.13 (Balmenach 19 yo 1989/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
52.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, lemon sweets, green apples, kiwifruit, hints of starfruit, hints of gooseberries.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, static.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Oranges, lemons, green apples, bitter chocolate, hints of chilli.
Finish: Medium. White vinegar, mint, quinine, hints of aniseed.

Comments:

Very harsh and astringent, almost vinegary. This was certainly not what I'd expected at all! I think I could learn to appreciate this whisky on its own merits, but because I was expecting a light, sweet-sour Speyside, it simply didn't agree with my tastebuds. Whisky is really a mood thing.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Caol Ila Distillery

Caol Ila Distillery
Port Askaig
Islay
Argyll PA46 7RL

Islay, Scotland - Active

Flavour profile

The Wordle below doesn't fully reflect my impression of Caol Ila. Yes, there's smoke and peat, but the major flavour element besides those is soy sauce, then maybe lemons and honey. For me, behind the smoke and peat Caol Ila whisky is usually sweetness and light veiled in a savoury, umami, salty cloak. The word "soy sauce" should be bigger.

All 5 flavour elements are prominently displayed in the Wordle. I suppose Caol Ila whisky wouldn't be Ileach if it didn't have at least a little smoke and peat, but it doesn't have a little, it has quite a lot! That big "smoke" word is very appropriate.



All the Caol Ilas I've tasted so far are here.

Caol Ila 16 yo 1991/2007 cask strength - very good
Caol Ila 12 yo - good
Caol Ila Cask Strength NAS - good
SMWS 53.115 (Caol Ila 15 yo 1991/2007) - very good

Distillery history

Founded by Hector Henderson in 1846. Henderson sold just 6 years later, and the distillery eventually passed through a succession of owners to United Distillers (eventually Diageo) in 1992. The distillery was silent from 1930-1937, 1941-1945 and 1972-1974.

As one of 7 or more distilleries on Islay, the malt from Caol Ila used to almost entirely be used in Johnnie Walker. This was so until 2002, where Diageo "promoted" Caol Ila to Classic Malt status, and began to sell official bottlings. There are even some unpeated official bottlings available now. Unfortunately, due to the expansion in production, almost all Caol Ila whisky is now matured on the mainland.

Potted distillery facts

Water source: Loch Nam Ban
Washbacks: Eight, larch, 60,000 litres each
Wash stills: Three, normal neck, 35,345 litres each
Spirit stills: Three, normal neck, 29,549 litres each
Spirit still Lyne arm: Nearly 5 degrees descending
Production per year: 3,500,000 litres

- The Scottish Whisky Distilleries, Misako Udo

Bowmore 17 yo

Bowmore 17 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, peanuts, leather, tyre rubber, peat, hints of smoke, hints of steamed fish.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly gritty.
Tasting: Sour. Peat, tyre rubber, grapefruit, lemons, butter, new plastic, hints of black tea, hints of sherry.
Finish: Long. New plastic, leather.

Comments:

This Bowmore has been discontinued and replaced with a new range, so this is something of a last chance to taste it. Quite a chemical nose, with an interesting fishy hint somewhere. Also very chemical in the mouth, with some slight whiffs of sherry relieving it. Decent whisky, but difficult to get to know I suppose.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Strathmill 40 yo 1963/2003

Strathmill 40 yo 1963/2003

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, leather, sherry, sandalwood, pears, toast, hints of smoke, hints of shoe polish.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, warm.
Tasting: Sweet. Pears, magic marker, peat, leather, peanut skins, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Long. Sandalwood, oranges, tea, candied winter melon.

Comments:

Cask #617, 444 bottles. Very interesting nose. The smell of tea smacked me in the nose, followed by sandalwood and a little smoke - burning incense, perhaps? Great leathery peaty notes in the taste, followed by more sandalwood and candied winter melon, something very Chinese in the finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glen Ord 12 yo

Glen Ord 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, butter, oranges, pears, raisins, oak, hints of smoke, hints of tyre rubber.
Mouthfeel: Light body, very volatile, foggy.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Oranges, peat, lemons, balsamic vinegar, brine, sherry, hints of metal polish.
Finish: Medium. Salty, lemons, brine.

Comments:

Very light body, almost insubstantial in the mouth, despite the low-ish alcohol percentage. Some very salty notes in the taste, combined with something metallic and chemical. Preserved Moroccan lemons in the finish, although not quite as well-combined as with some other whiskies.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arran Single Cask 7 yo 1996/2004

Arran Single Cask 7 yo 1996/2004

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands (Arran)
Green gold
57.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rose, custard, condensed milk, bubble gum, chocolate bon bons, hints of toast.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens in the mouth, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. White grapes, kiwifruit, rose, chocolate, condensed milk, hints of butter. More fruity with water, the rose notes become more prominent.
Finish: Short. Minty, kiwifruit, hints of salted fish.

Comments:

Something of a chameleon, this whisky. Starts out sweet and floral like a Lowlands, then becomes quite fruity, with big flavours, very Highland, and ends with a little fishy twist - and that is how you know it's an Islander. Very tasty variety of fruit and sweet things in the nose and mouth.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Edradour 30 yo 1973/2003

Edradour 30 yo 1973/2003

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Gold
53.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, custard, raisins, oranges, sherry, marmalade, hints of violets, hints of chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens fast, slightly syrupy, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet. Marmalade, rose, grass, sherry, condensed milk, hints of violets.
Finish: Long. Cedar, rose, marmalade, mint.

Comments:

Butt #97, bottle #346 of 539. Andrew Symington, the current owner of the distillery, found and bought back 3 casks of 30 yo Edradour from an independent bottler. This is one of the resulting bottles. Very light, classic Edradour mint and grass, allied to a thick layer of sweet fruit. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Highland Park 25 yo

Highland Park 25 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands (Orkney)
Amber
48.1% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Malty beer, raisins, peat, molasses, soy sauce, honey, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick, velvety.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Peat, vanilla, sugar syrup, sherry, apples, roast pork, hints of smoke, hints of metal polish.
Finish: Long. Mint, peat, sweet chilli sauce.

Comments:

Wow. Everything I like in a whisky - sweet savoury flavours with a hint of smoke, thick, velvety mouthfeel, long but interesting finish. Highly recommended, although it loses out to the 18 yo in terms of value for money.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 77.14 (Glen Ord 20 yo 1987/2008)

SMWS 77.14 (Glen Ord 20 yo 1987/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Gold
59.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk chocolate, butterscotch, pear, raisins, rose, hints of lavender.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, velvety, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet. Butterscotch, raisins, pears, oranges, melon, hints of chilli, hints of hazelnuts.
Finish: Medium, fades quickly, hazelnuts, pears, tea, oranges.

Comments:

Very floral, fruity and smooth. Less sweet that it smelt, which was a slight surprise, but great mouthfeel. Weak finish, lingering, and teasing a little, because the faint fruit notes tantalised me into taking another sip. Easy drinking, despite the strength, and doesn't take water well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Balblair Distillery

Balblair Distillery
Edderton
Tain
Ross-shire IV19 1LB

North Highlands, Scotland - Active

Flavour profile

My impression of Balblair is that it's chockful of fruit. Quite a lot of "yellow fruits" (as opposed to red fruits) - pineapple and lemon - and some floral elements that vary from whisky to whisky, and consequently I can't pin down. The fruit tends to be quite sharp, and the whisky quite tangy.

Slightly chaotic Wordle here, but it shows pineapples, apricots and lemons as major flavour elements. That's accurate for the 2 official bottlings that I've tried, at least, but for the Balblair 40 yo, there was a lot less fruit than more usual sherried whisky elements.


All the Balblairs I've tasted so far are here.

Balblair 1997 9 yo (1997/2007) - good
Balblair 40 yo 1965/2007 - very good
Balblair 1989 17 yo (1989/2007) - very good

Distillery history

The first licence was obtained by John Ross in 1790, but there had been distilling on Balblair farm for about 40 years before that. The distillery stayed in the Ross family until 1894, when it passed into the hands of one Alexander Cowan, and eventually to Allied Domecq, who then sold Balblair to Inver House Distillers. The distillery moved at some time early in its history, but it kept the same ownership, and moved only a short distance.

The distillery was silent from 1911 to 1948. In February 2007, all 8 age statement bottlings were discontinued and replaced with 3 vintage bottlings, 1979, 1989 and 1997.

Potted distillery facts

Water source: Allt Dhearg, 4 miles from distillery.
Washbacks: Six, Oregon pine, 22,000 litres each.
Wash stills: One, normal Dumpy neck, 19,093 litres.
Spirit stills: Two, normal Dumpy neck (old one no longer in use), the one in use is 11,044 litres, and the old one is 8,182 litres.
Spirit still Lyne arm: Almost a right angle
Production per year: 1,300,000 litres.

- The Scottish Whisky Distilleries, Misako Udo

SMWS 24.101 (Macallan 23 yo 1985/2008)

SMWS 24.101 (Macallan 23 yo 1985/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
52.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, bitter chocolate, caramel, vanilla, whipped cream, hints of cranberries.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, loose, static.
Tasting: Sweet. Oak, vanilla, walnuts, orange peel, cinnamon, honey, hints of red grapes, hints of cranberries.
Finish: Short. Vanilla, caramel, marmalade.

Comments:

Lots and lots of oranges, almost like a Balvenie, except that the oranges are fresher, less peel. They are also mixed with sweet vanilla cream - like a creme anglaise. Lots of oak and wood in the taste, slightly nutty. So much wood that it's difficult to discern the flavours. At least the nose is great.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 7.36 (Longmorn 38 yo 1968/2007)

SMWS 7.36 (Longmorn 38 yo 1968/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Amber red
53.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, custard, figs, dried apricots, caramel, honey, hints of anise.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly astringent, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, mint, apricots, sherry, custard, hints of prunes.
Finish: Short. Mint, cool, chilli.

Comments:

It's been a long time since I had a Longmorn, and a while since I've had the sadly discontinued 15 yo. This one had a lovely, dark, syrupy colour - something that promises sherry, fruit and thick smooth whisky. Well, 2 out of 3 isn't bad I suppose. Surprisingly minty too, with a delicious chilli hit in the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 69.14 (Glen Albyn 28 yo 1979/2008)

SMWS 69.14 (Glen Albyn 28 yo 1979/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Northern Highlands
Pale orange gold
57.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, oranges, honey, sherbet, raspberry jam, hints of bacon, hints of strawberry.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raspberry jam, bubble gum, vanilla, corn bread, kiwifruit, cucumber, hints of lemon, hints of cookie dough. Water makes the cucumber more obvious, quite refreshing, really.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, raspberry jam.

Comments:

Very complex, and not a little confusing. It's hard to describe. Neat, there's a lot going on the mouth, as can be seen by the long tasting note. Upon adding a little water, it became more vegetal and refreshing. It's a shame this distillery was closed (isn't it always?). This is my first Glen Albyn, and if it is representative of what whisky there is left, I'm sure I'll be a little wiser after every dram...

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 93.30 (Glen Scotia 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 93.30 (Glen Scotia 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Campbeltown
Golden
64.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tar, sea salt, lemons, pears, sandalwood, hints of peat, hints of incense.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, volatile, foggy.
Tasting: Bitter. Sandalwood, rattan, chocolate, celery, pears, hints of bitter gourd, hints of incense.
Finish: Medium Pears, sandalwood, lemons.

Comments:

It's scarily drinkable at 64%. The high alcohol content ensures the whisky evaporates in the warmth of the mouth, releasing many wood odours. I don't mean oaky whisky - this one tastes fragrant and woody. It's challenging. The folks at the SMWS labelled this "Liquid Courage".

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 97.12 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

SMWS 97.12 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, rose, popcorn, vanilla, white chocolate, magic marker, hints of peach. Water brings out ginger, and some harsh sour notes, almost vinegary.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slightly syrupy, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pineapples, peaches, lemons, limes, hints of butter, hints of vanilla. In contrast to the nose, water brings out soft buttery cookie dough.
Finish: Short. Fades quickly, pineapples, walnut skins.

Comments:

I would characterise this as a whisky that plays hide and seek with the taster, especially upon adding water. Neat, the nose is estery and chemical, and in the mouth it softens to fruity, citrus flavours. With water, the nose is sour and gingery, but softens to sweet dairy in the mouth. Very complex and interesting.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenmorangie 10 yo

Glenmorangie 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Northern Highlands
Pale gold
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Hops, malty beer, lemons, apples, oats, hints of chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, static.
Tasting: Sweet. Apples, oat bread, lemon zest, peanuts, hints of cinnamon.
Finish: Short. Oat bread, vanilla, egg yolks.

Comments:

This used to be Glenmorangie's flagship bottling, and has now been discontinued in favour of a NAS expression, called "The Original". Apparently the first few batches of the Original are the same as the old 10 yo, but of course in the future this may well not be the case. The whisky is likely to get younger. This 10 yo is slightly oaky, hence the vanilla in the finish, and is otherwise notable for some quite tasty apples in the mouth.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 53.115 (Caol Ila 15 yo 1991/2007)

SMWS 53.115 (Caol Ila 15 yo 1991/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
White wine
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, toffee, lemons, soy sauce, pear, roast chicken, hints of peat, hints of iodine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Salty sour. Smoke, peat, butter, coconut, tamarind, green beans, hints of lemons, hints of oranges.
Finish: Medium. Blue cheese, smoke, roast chicken. Water brings out a little more soy sauce.

Comments:

Some regulars at the SMWS were hovering around this bottle at the bar, so I asked for a dram. Lovely! Typical Caol Ila smoke and sweetness, followed by very meaty, tasty, savoury notes. Lots of roast chicken and some green beans, and ending in a cracking finish of blue cheese, which is unique in my (very limited) experience. I really enjoyed this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 35.22 (Glen Moray 10 yo 1998/2008)

SMWS 35.22 (Glen Moray 10 yo 1998/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
59.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, apples, caster sugar, cinnamon, lemons, hints of brass polish.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens in the mouth, slightly fizzy.
Tasting: Sour. Sherry, oat bread, nutmeg, apples, spiced barley, lemons, hints of custard apple, hints of pastry.
Finish: Medium. Lemons, orange crush.

Comments:

Apple pie! The SMWS tasting notes describe this one as "apple pie and lemon sherbet", which is very apt. The finish is quite spectacular, tastes like Fanta Orange. I think it's not sweet enough though - spoils the apple pie image slightly. Nevertheless, a pretty decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 30.55 (Glenrothes 15 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 30.55 (Glenrothes 15 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
57.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, butter, tea, green beans, oats, hints of peanuts.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, quite static.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Kiwifruit, sherry, brazil nuts, salted peanuts, bubble gum, hints of sea salt. Water brings out notes of toffee and red grape.
Finish: Long. Toffee, chilli.

Comments:

Quite a varied whisky, with lots of fruit and nut going on in it. The official tasting notes describe this as "very pink", tasting of lots of pink things, but all I got was a faint whiff of bubble gum. Quite salty, surprisingly.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 37.28 (Cragganmore 19 yo 1986/2005)

SMWS 37.28 (Cragganmore 19 yo 1986/2005)

SMWS 2008
Single malt - Speyside
Pink gold
58.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, tamarind, sour plums, cinnamon, nutmeg, hints of chilli, hints of rose.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Butter, rose, tamarind, plums,hints of oranges, hints of lemons.
Finish: Long. Orange juice, red grape juice.

Comments:

The kind folks behind the bar at the SMWS let me try a sister 18 yo as well before settling on this one. Fragrant and fruity. I like the not so subtle hints of rose in the nose, which suddenly exploded into my mouth as I took a sip. Very nice, heavy mouthfeel. A real pleasure to drink.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Benrinnes 30 yo 1973/2004

Benrinnes 30 yo 1973/2004

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malty beer, raisins, oak, lemons, limes, caster sugar, butter, hints of oats.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Peat, leather, sherry, oak, butter, white grapes, hints of figs and smoked chicken.
Finish: Short. White grapes, kiwifruit, lemon.

Comments:

Very fragrant - the lemon, lime and sugar in the nose make it smell a little like 7 Up. At the Holly Bush pub in Hampstead, this is offered as a digestif, but doesn't appear to have been very popular. It's not that sweet, I suppose, with some of the tasting notes slightly savoury. Still, a very nice, lightly peated Speyside.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 54.26 (Aberlour 11 yo 1996/2008)

SMWS 54.26 (Aberlour 11 yo 1996/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, tinge of rose
60.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, custard, egg yolks, marmalade, treacle, black tea, hints of liquorice.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, smooth, oily.
Tasting: Sweet. Custard, sponge cake, chocolate, orange peel, raisins, dried apricots, hints of matches.
Finish: Medium. Custard, cinnamon, hints of malty beer.

Comments:

Wow! Very sweet, pastry-like, lots of dessert-ey things going on. I like the dried fruit, almost like the official bottlings of Aberlour. A little water turns this one medicinal, notes of iodine. I know Jim Murray hates sulphur, but in the right whiskies and in the right proportions it's actually quite tasty. This is one of those whiskies.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!

SMWS 36.39 (Benrinnes 11 yo 1996/2008)

SMWS 36.39 (Benrinnes 11 yo 1996/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
60.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, pears, white grapes, white chocolate, butter, oak, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens in the mouth, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peat, cookie dough, custard, egg yolks, raisins, hints of white wine, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Pears, apples, custard.

Comments:

Lots and lots of eggy notes - custard, cooked egg yolks, etc etc. Water turns it pleasantly minty (ever so slightly...). Very drinkable Speyside, despite the strength. I liked the hints of smoke and peat lurking underneath everything, very mysterious. Quite an interesting dram for my first foray into Benrinnes single malt.

Verdict:

I like this.