SMWS 66.26 (Ardmore 23 yo 1985/2008)

SMWS 66.26 (Ardmore 23 yo 1985/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pink gold
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Walnuts, smoke, soy sauce, bitter sweet caramel, sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, cigars, walnuts, lemons, orange peel, demerara sugar, hints of peat.
Finish: Short. Woody, bitter, hints of orange peel.

Comments:

Very smoky for a Speyside. And yet, almost a little too sweet. Still, there's a fair amount of orange peel and other citrus fruit that marries well with the peat and smoke. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 124.1 (Miyagikyo 16 yo 1988/2005)

SMWS 124.1 (Miyagikyo 16 yo 1988/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - West Honshu
Bronze
59.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, cognac, rubber bands, butter, hints of peat, hints of hazelnut.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Apples, peanuts, pears, magic marker, turmeric, hints of lemon juice.
Finish: Long. Spicy, cayenne pepper, salty.

Comments:

I'm beginning to get some of the differences between Japanese whiskey and Scotch. Japanese whisky, to me, has a little more saltiness, married with fruit, like ume, the Japanese salted plums. Scotch is a little more diverse. This Miyagikyo has a great dealt of fruitiness, the requisite salt, plus something quite earthy and pungent - turmeric, maybe. Very interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Port Ellen 25 yo 1982/2008

Port Ellen 25 yo 1982/2008

Independent bottling, Dormant Distillery Co
Single malt - Islay
Golden
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, lemons, oranges, black pepper, hints of kippers.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly oily, thickens.
Tasting: Sour. Smoke, peat, kippers, leather, lemons, peanuts, sea salt, custard, honey.
Finish: Short. Smoke, peanuts, lemons, leather.

Comments:

Very nice indeed. So good that there's no need to add water. Lots of the leathery, fishy character that is says Port Ellen to me. Great mouth feel too. There's not much of this left, have to enjoy whatever I can get!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Brora 26 yo 1981/2007

Brora 26 yo 1981/2007 Signatory Cask Strength

Cask Strength, Signatory
Single malt - North Highlands
Mahogany
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, sherry, rubber bands, cognac, strawberry, coriander.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, oily.
Tasting: Sweet. Oak, vanilla, oranges, raisins, coriander, rubber bands. With water, it gets more fruity - oranges, mainly. Also stronger notes of coriander and some hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Cayenne pepper, black pepper, vanilla.

Comments:

Cask #1520, 391 bottles. A little too much wood in the taste, although the nose was fantastic. Lots of fruit if you look for it, and it's quite peppery and spicy, differentiating it from the very nice aged Glen Grants I've had. It was a little underwhelming though, because of what came before it.

Verdict:

I like this.

St Magdalene 32 yo 1975/2008

St Magdalene 32 yo 1975/2008

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coca cola, raisins, orange peel, lemons, oat bread, hints of soy sauce.
Mouthfeel: Light body, oily, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peanuts, hazelnuts, sherry, prunes, apples, pears, oranges, hints of peat, hints of smoke.
Finish: Long. Coca cola, leather, raisins.

Comments:

Best dram of the night! So good I didn't want to ruin it with water. I loved the slightly biting, very slightly minty coca cola notes, unique in my experience. Fruity and robust without being overpowering, even a little bit of smoke. Not your usual Lowlands whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Dallas Dhu 26 yo 1979/2006

Dallas Dhu 26 yo 1979/2006 Chieftain's Choice

Chieftain's Choice, Ian Macleod
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ginger, white chocolate, soy sauce, strawberries, vanilla, tobacco leaf.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily.
Tasting: Sweet. Cigars, tobacco leaf, ginger, raisins, coriander, orange peel, apples, pears.
Finish: Long. Smoke, molasses, soy sauce, apples.

Comments:

Cask #90721, 348 bottles. The rum finish lends ginger and chocolate to the whisky. It also tastes vaguely of tobacco, quite Cuban. Very tasty indeed, but it took me a while to get into this. I decided against buying the remaining half bottle, as I think I prefer the unfinished Dallas Dhus.

Verdict:

I like this.

Imperial 9 yo "Battlehill"

Imperial 9 yo "Battlehill"

Battlehill, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, magic marker, soy sauce, apples, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemons, pears, raspberries, strawberries, hints of rose. With water, more rose, sweeter notes, more floral.
Finish: Short. Rose, pears, peanuts.

Comments:

Decent dram, if a bit young and spirity. Mellowed with water, lots of fruit and rose. My first Imperial - I like.

Verdict:

I like this.

Rosebank 12 yo Flora & Fauna

Rosebank 12 yo Flora & Fauna

Flora & Fauna, official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, raisins, lavender, lemons, oat bread, sponge cake, caramel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemons, brass polish, strawberries, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Long. Tingly, lemon peel, coconut sweets.

Comments:

Had this at a Royal Mile Whiskies tasting, with the theme "Silent Stills". Light and lovely, although sweeter than I expected. Less lemony and bold than the unofficial Rosebanks. I really like this. They shouldn't have closed this distillery! I believe the bottle was release #12.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Mortlach 15 yo

Mortlach 15 yo

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, tinge of rose
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hazelnuts, vanilla, malt beer, banana, pineapple, hints of sherry.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly watery, thickens quickly.
Tasting: Sweet. Lemon peel, pineapple, banana, vanilla, cotton candy.
Finish: Short. Peanut skin, bitter sweet.

Comments:

This was a bottle that I bought for a friend, on recommendation from the staff at La Maison du Whisky in Paris. It was exactly what they said it would be - fruity, pineappley and sweet. Good introductory bottle. Very enjoyable indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 103.13 (Royal Lochnagar 18 yo 1986/2005)

SMWS 103.13 (Royal Lochnagar 18 yo 1986/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, cloves, cinnamon, soy sauce, roast chicken, oat bread, raisins.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, candied winter melon, toast, brown paper, hints of peat, hints of dates, hints of lo han guo.
Finish: Long. Sour, winter melon, oat bread.

Comments:

I got the last dram in this bottle - it was a bin end, sitting on the bar, going for cheap. It's got some of the oat bread notes that characterise Royal Lochnagar for me, but allied with sweet fruit, almost herbal, and sumptuous roast chicken notes. Not a suitable one to end a tasting session normally, but it was a lucky find.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 93.29 (Glen Scotia 15 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 93.29 (Glen Scotia 15 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Campbeltown
Gold, tinge of pink
64.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, roast ham, dark chocolate, butter, apples, soy sauce, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens in the mouth, oily.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Cayenne pepper, brown paper, apples, runner beans, peat, grass, smoke, hints of roast ham.
Finish: Long. Soy sauce, roast ham, apples, peat.

Comments:

Wow. Very strong, but very drinkable too. No water needed at all. Very meaty and savoury, with lots of sweet things in the nose, particularly apples. Somewhat less on the tongue and in the finish, but lots of that sweet savoury roast ham.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 84.10 (Glendullan 10 yo 1997/2008)

SMWS 84.10 (Glendullan 10 yo 1997/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, black tea, oranges, white grapes, dark chocolate, hints of anchovies, hints of roast chicken.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, volatile, static.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, butter, cinnamon, white grapes, lemons, hints of roast chicken .
Finish: Medium. Sour cream, lemons, roast chicken.

Comments:

Very meaty and savoury, surprisingly so. Reminds me of my mother's roast chicken and potato stuffing. Some fruit lurking around, but it's hidden under wafts of roast chicken and accompanying savoury condiments.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 63.21 (Glentauchers 18 yo 1989/2008)

SMWS 63.21 (Glentauchers 18 yo 1989/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Honey gold
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Boiled sweets, black tea, almonds, butter, coconut, lemons, hints of roast ham.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, expands slightly in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, coconut, lemons, butter cookies, vanilla, black tea.
Finish: Medium. Lemons, vanilla, caramel.

Comments:

Shows no influence of peat, except maybe for the very subtle roast ham in the nose. Lots of butter, vanilla and fruit, just like a pound cake I suppose. Still quite light for a Speyside, tasty indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 22.23 (Glenkinchie 18 yo 1987/2006)

SMWS 22.23 (Glenkinchie 18 yo 1987/2006)

2006, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, sandalwood, black tea, cloves, orange peel, hints of bitter lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Light body, egg white, slippery in the mouth.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Lemons, custard, cloves, oat bread, hints of raisins and lemon thyme.
Finish: Short. Lemons, demerara sugar, sponge cake.

Comments:

Light and perfumed, perfect way to start an afternoon drinking session. A little too sticky in the mouth perhaps, but otherwise a very enjoyable whisky indeed. Reminded me, despite the total absence of any smoke or peat, of the clove cigarettes that people smoke in Indonesia.

Verdict:

I like this.

Royal Lochnagar 12 yo

Royal Lochnagar 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, oat bread, orange peel, cinnamon, hints of peat, hints of cardamom.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickens in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, oat bread, honey, cornflakes, hints of roast ham.
Finish: Medium. Honey, oat bread.

Comments:

Tasty and bready - much like raisin and oat bread rolls. Very more-ish, definitely an aperitif whisky, gets the saliva flowing. I had this before dinner at a restaurant, shame the food didn't match up to the drinks list.

Verdict:

I like this.

Springbank 31 yo 1974/2005 Cask Strength

Springbank 31 yo 1974/2005 Cask Strength

Chieftain's Choice, Ian MacLeod
Single malt - Campbeltown
Light gold
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, tyre rubber, raisins, white chocolate, oranges, fried eggs.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Butterscotch, sheep's wool, raisins, peanuts, peat, heather honey, tyre rubber, brown paper. Water brings out lots of molasses, less butterscotch.
Finish: Long. Peat, honey, molasses.

Comments:

Wow. Very complex and interesting. Not like anything I've ever had before - clearly Springbank is a distillery that creates excellent whisky. Sweet and smoky, even chemical, but in a pleasantly tasty way.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glen Elgin 12 yo Flora & Fauna

Glen Elgin 12 yo Flora & Fauna

Flora & Fauna, official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, raisins, hazelnuts, hints of lavender, hints of boot polish.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, static.
Tasting: Sour. Peat, beer, spiced barley, hints of lavender, peanuts.
Finish: Medium. Slightly astringent, peanuts, hazelnuts.

Comments:

Very nutty, almost chemical. Slight floral flavours in the taste do lift the haze of nut flavours, but it's not that pleasant or interesting. Maybe I had a dram from a dud bottle, although the bottle was opened in front of me, and mine was the first dram poured.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Auchentoshan 1973 29 yo (1973/2003)

Auchentoshan 1973 29 yo (1973/2003)

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark amber red
55.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, cognac, rubber bands, black pepper, peat, apples, rose petals.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, smooth, lightens up in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet. Cognac, red grapes, apple cider, black pepper, brown paper. With water, lots more orange notes - marmalade, orange peel, orange juice.
Finish: Long. Orange peel, watermelon.

Comments:

Cask #793, sherry butt. Full on sherry monster, this one. Very like an aged Glen Grant, but lighter, very smooth, and a little more floral. Very nice fruit and black pepper in the mouth, just like eating strawberries in Italy!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Cardhu 12 yo

Cardhu 12 yo

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

Nose: Raisins, hint of peat, white grapes, caramel, butterscotch, demerara sugar.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, cayenne pepper, raisins, white grapes, strawberries, orange peel, hints of peat.
Finish: Short. Peanuts, raisins, white grapes.

Comments:

This is the Cardhu bottling that replaced the infamous Cardhu Pure Malt (something which wasn't wholly Cardhu spirit, and was rightly pulled by Diageo after massive complaints). Very raisiny and grapey without being too aggressive. Nice fruit and spiciness in the taste. Good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.