SMWS 44.38 (Craigellachie 9 yo 1999/2008)

SMWS 44.38 (Craigellachie 9 yo 1999/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pink gold
61.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, butter, toffee, honey, honeycomb, raisins, treacle.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns watery, very loose.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Apples, chocolate, vanilla, butter, raisins, oak.
Finish: Medium. Oak, chocolate, vanilla, apples.

Comments:

Sweet, some fruit, a little like fruit cake with some wine on the side. Not particularly interesting, slightly too appley. Not objectionable though. Not my type of mouthfeel. 26 November wasn't a good night for whisky.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 35.25 (Glen Moray 10 yo 1998/2008)

SMWS 35.25 (Glen Moray 10 yo 1998/2008)

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

Nose: Peat, butter, smoked ham, toffee, raisins, Brazil nuts, hints of apples.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, volatile, thickens in the mouth.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, mint, vanilla, honey, hints of peat, hints of butter.
Finish: Short. Salty, Brazil nuts, orange peel.

Comments:

You can have too much of a good thing I suppose. There's a really interesting whisky lurking inside this, but it's hidden in folds and layers of Brazil nut. I like Brazil nuts as much as the next man, but having to scrape through to find sweet, fruity and meaty notes underneath is a little frustrating. Shame.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 122.17 (Loch Lomond "Croftengea" 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 122.17 (Loch Lomond "Croftengea" 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - South Highlands
Light gold
58.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, tar, salt ham, smoked chicken, butter, apples, hints of coal.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Smoke, apples, raisins, smoked chicken, soy sauce, butter, hints of lime.
Finish: Long. Smoky, coal, smoked chicken.

Comments:

Peated Loch Lomond (hence branded Croftengea) made in Lomond stills. Tastes a little like roast chicken that sat too long in a coal fire. The hints of lime make me think of Thai food - perhaps a little like pad thai perhaps? Interesting, and quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 7.38 (Longmorn 38 yo 1968/2007)

SMWS 7.38 (Longmorn 38 yo 1968/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sherry, coriander, oak, vanilla, apples, orange peel, hints of black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, thickens slightly in the mouth, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Coriander, chilli pepper, rubber bands, apples, marmalade, hints of brown paper.
Finish: Long. Red grapes, warm, salty.

Comments:

The oldest whisky I've tasted so far (and, given the credit crunch, the oldest whisky I'm likely to taste for a while). Sherry cask matured, with a tang of coriander seed that differentiates it from the best sherried Glen Grants. Very tasty, and unique.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Nikka Whisky from the Barrel

Nikka Whisky from the Barrel

Official bottling
Blended malt
Amber
51.4% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Banana, vanilla, oak, pineapple, camphor, apple, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly oily, thickens in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Musk, camphor, banana, apples, melon, peat, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Long. Warm, chillies, vanilla.

Comments:

I'm not sure whether or not this is a blend or a vatted malt. The soft fruity oaky notes make me plump for the former. But there's a lot of robust stuff under the soft cloak - camphor, hints of chillies, and the muscular olive oil-like mouthfeel. My bottle (it only comes in half litres) gave me great pleasure.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Yamazaki 18 yo

Yamazaki 18 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, raisins, orange peel, custard, cloves, marmalade, grilled pork.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, expands in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peat, orange peel, walnuts, sherry, raisins, bitter melon, black pepper.
Finish: Long. Oranges, bitter melon, peat, ginseng.

Comments:

Voted best whisky in the world in 2008. Even at low strength the spiciness comes through, and there's excellent variety - I almost wrote down coriander seed and cardamom, but realised that they were ghost notes, not even hints. It's not that easy to describe this whisky. Excellent char siu in the nose, reminiscent of five spice powder perhaps?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 78.39 (Ben Nevis 10 yo 1997/2008)

SMWS 78.39 (Ben Nevis 10 yo 1997/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - West Highlands
Amber red
54.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, custard, leather, raisins, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, dry, astringent, tannic.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Oat porridge, dried cranberries, raisins, black tea, mulled wine, hints of citrus.
Finish: Long. Dry, citrus, vanilla, coca cola.

Comments:

For something so young, this has excellent depth of flavour - almost like an aged Glen Grant. Except there's a lot more fruit, and hints of cereal, tea and coca cola. Loaded with leather and butter in the nose too. Very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 77.15 (Glen Ord 21 yo 1987/2008)

SMWS 77.15 (Glen Ord 21 yo 1987/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Peach gold
54.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Custard, butter, hazelnuts, rose petals, vanilla, oranges, walnuts.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Marmalade, custard, hazelnuts, fried eggs, vanilla, tobacco leaf, coconut, hints of cloves.
Finish: Medium. Rose petals, coconut.

Comments:

If you could make crumble out of roses, it would taste like this. Perhaps enhanced a little with some drops of orange oil, and hazelnuts scattered on top. Loaded with custard and other nice eggy flavours!

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 3.142 (Bowmore 18 yo 1990/2008)

SMWS 3.142 (Bowmore 18 yo 1990/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold
58.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Grilled meat, smoke, peat, marmite, carbolic soap, soy sauce, hints of toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Smoke, peat, peanut butter, soy sauce, marmite, grilled meat, caramel, hints of garlic.
Finish: Long. Chillies, peat, soy sauce, black pepper.

Comments:

Interesting, slightly harsh and abrasive Bowmore. I like the notes of marmite and carbolic soap, one of those "madness or genius" combinations (although carbolic soap is poisonous, no?). Lots of soy sauce, grilled meat and black pepper too - very barbecuey.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 19.43 (Glen Garioch 19 yo 1988/2008)

SMWS 19.43 (Glen Garioch 19 yo 1988/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, coca cola, oranges, lemons, brass polish, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, thickens quickly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apples, pears, lemons, orange peel, peaches, pistachios, hints of jasmine.
Finish: Medium. Pears, peaches, hints of smoke.

Comments:

Flowery and fruity, with a punchy tangy sweetness that sits strangely with the high alcohol content and light body. This whisky draws you in, and demands that you drink more. I had another couple of drams just sitting and thinking.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 1.140 (Glenfarclas 14 yo 1993/2008

SMWS 1.140 (Glenfarclas 14 yo 1993/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, raisins, custard, grilled beef, honey, pineapples, peaches, vanilla .
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, slightly watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Hazelnuts, butter, custard, walnut skins, green apples.
Finish: Medium. Lemons, green apples, raisins, vanilla.

Comments:

Green apples, lots and lots of them, combined with meaty, fruity notes, with a slight bitter tang. Interesting, and very unlike those fruitcakey official Glenfarclas bottlings. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 72.20 (Miltonduff 20 yo 1988/2008)

SMWS 72.20 (Miltonduff 20 yo 1988/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Gold, tinge of pink
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange oil, vanilla, cedar wood, lemon zest, hints of garlic, hints of smoked meat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, thickens in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Butter, vanilla, orange peel, cedar, wood ash, lemon zest, Moroccan preserved lemons.
Finish: Medium. Garlic, butter, vanilla, caramel.

Comments:

Fruity, citrusy and sweet, nice smoky notes in the background. Quite tasty, except for the hints of garlic, which spoil it somewhat. Some you win, some you lose.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 64.16 (Mannochmore 23 yo 1984/2008)

SMWS 64.16 (Mannochmore 23 yo 1984/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Grilled meat, grilled skate, smoke, caramel, popcorn, toffee, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, volatile.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Coffee, smoke, cinnamon, vanilla, toffee, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Buttery, lemons, smoke, vanilla.

Comments:

Meaty and smoky, with quite a lot of fish... but slathered in caramel and vanilla! A strange combination, one that doesn't quite work, to my mind. Almost Ardbeggy, but not peaty enough.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 45.25 (Dallas Dhu 33 yo 1975/2008)

SMWS 45.25 (Dallas Dhu 33 yo 1975/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden brown
48.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, tobacco leaf, raisins, vanilla, salt caramel, hints of oak.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, rich, thick, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Coffee, custard, melon, honey, tobacco, strawberries.
Finish: Long. Slightly astringent, chillies, honey.

Comments:

Extremely fine whisky! Honey-laden, slightly spicy, tangy like a Cuban cigar. Perfect body that rolls around on the tongue. I love this. It's one of the best I have ever tasted.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 104.11 (Glencraig 34 yo 1974/2008)

SMWS 104.11 (Glencraig 34 yo 1974/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coffee, raisins, runner beans, cedar, sandalwood, apples.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Salty sour. Coffee, butter, vanilla, starfruit, mango, cloves, chocolate, melon.
Finish: Medium. Citrus, sandalwood, incense, mango.

Comments:

Ooh. Lovely perfumy notes - incense, sandalwood, like a Buddhist temple. Chocolate and mango too, with some other fruits and spice. Very nice indeed. Less perfumy than this one (described to me as "a Sophia Loren whisky") and actually a lot tastier.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.