Scapa 16 yo

Scapa 16 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, orange peel, lemons, white grape, hints of peat, hints of rose.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet. Peanuts, peat, orange peel, lemons, pear.
Finish: Short. Peanuts, white grape, peat.

Comments:

Nice - lightly floral, fruity and sweet. I think this is an improvement over the old Scapa 12 and 14 yos. I like this a lot indeed, and even though it's a bit understrength, it's definitely still a winner (although maybe the traditionalists won't say so!).

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Old Pulteney 17 yo

Old Pulteney 17 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Buttercup yellow
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, grass, salt caramel, green apples, hints of melon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, static, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet. Chocolate, grass, peat, salt caramel, buttercups.
Finish: Medium. Peat, chocolate.

Comments:

Very different from the other Old Pulteneys. Less salty, with a lot of apples - puts me in mind of meadows rather than the sea. Maybe a little peat just to remind me of where this comes from.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Port Ellen 30 yo 1978/2009

Port Ellen 30 yo 1978/2009

Old & Rare Platinum, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islay
Pale straw
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, pear, peat, smoke, peanuts, smoked fish, hints of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickens, refreshing.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, peat, vanilla, honey, smoked fish, butter, peanuts.
Finish: Long. Bitter, walnut skins, smoked fish, peanuts.

Comments:

Lovely old Port Ellen - although maybe I'm biased because this is exactly as old as I am! Nice smoked fish as usual, with a lovely bitter walnut note underpinning it. And vanilla, surprising how well the flavour melds in with the rest.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Old Pulteney 21 yo

Old Pulteney 21 yo

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

Nose: Salt caramel, butter, rice, seaweed, fried eggs, peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Salty. Butter, fried, eggs, seaweed, peat, chocolate, hints of raisins.
Finish: Medium. Peat, seaweed, salt caramel.

Comments:

Very salty, almost too savoury. But it's manageable, and the raisins give just enough of a hint of whiskiness. Very maritime, and in some ways more than a little Japanese. Reminded me of katsu-don, that dish of breaded fried pork, egg and onions on rice.

Verdict:

I like this.

Miyagikyo 10 yo

Miyagikyo 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Woodsmoke, tyre rubber, butter, biscuit, caramel, orange peel, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, expands, fresh.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Grass, rubber, cherries, toffee, orange peel, tobacco leaf .
Finish: Long. Salty, toffee, rubber.

Comments:

Like a good Clynelish, with that biscuity, slightly woody note. But this one has tobacco and a lot of orange peel, and some hints of Dalmore in that it's quite rubbery. Tasty, even if it is a little chemical.

Verdict:

I like this.

Mackmyra 4 yo 1st Edition

Mackmyra 4 yo 1st Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Gastrikland
Pale gold
46.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Gin, chocolate, peanuts, apples, hints of pencil lead.
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, static, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Nutmeg, chocolate, peanuts, apples, gin, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, chocolate.

Comments:

Batch 2008-03. Not quite like the Mackmyras of old (?), the Preludium series, which tasted a lot of juniper. This one is more oaky and chocolatey, much more like Scotch. Which detracts a little from it in my view, because the hints of gin and juniper were what made this whisky very interesting.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Hakushu 12 yo

Hakushu 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Straw gold
43.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Grass, butter, lemons, orange peel, seaweed, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, water, volatile.
Tasting: Salty bitter. Orange peel, lemons, caramel, hazelnuts, meringue, sea salt.
Finish: Short. Sweet, peaty, lemon zest.

Comments:

I'm not sure I get Japanese whisky... yet. Previously it seemed that Japanese whiskies married salty and sweet in a way that was quite obvious, in your face even, with the saltiness overlaying the sweetness, rather than the other way around (as with Scotch). This one, however, seems to be all salty, with just a few fragrant hints of fruit, fruit oils, and slightly sweet things.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenfarclas 43 yo 1965/2008

Glenfarclas 43 yo 1965/2008

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

Nose: Sherry, honey, grape, oak, peat, caramel.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, unctuous, syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet. Oranges, honey, red grapes, oak, peat, raisins, butter, hints of cookie dough.
Finish: Long. Honey, sherry, red grapes.

Comments:

Labelled, not "Glenfarclas", but "probably Speyside's finest distillery". Well, this whisky is certainly very fine - quite like an old sherried Glen Grant, but without the rubber band / brandy notes. Lots and lots of red grapes and wine, great syrupy body too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Caperdonich 36 yo 1972/2008

Caperdonich 36 yo 1972/2008

Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
54.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Salty, fermented grain, orange peel, lemons, grass, grilled meat, cheddar.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick.
Tasting: Sweet. Cheddar, grilled meat, lemons, grass, orange peel, marshmallows.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, honey, marshmallows.

Comments:

Excellent old whisky. Not sure how much more there is left of this stuff - probably not much. I feel privileged to taste it. Smells savoury, but it was sweet on the tongue, although much of the grilled meat notes remained. Beautiful.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ben Nevis Single Cask 12 yo 1997/2009

Ben Nevis Single Cask 12 yo 1997/2009

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Deep rose
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, butter, honey, port, sherry, peanuts, toffee, condensed milk.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickened slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Butter, peanuts, honey, condensed milk, tea, hints of toffee.
Finish: Medium. Tea, peanuts, honey.

Comments:

One of the new offerings available at Whisky Live 2009. Matured in port pipes, it's a lovely rose colour. Quite sweet, with hints of good things like honey and toffee and butter. Hard to discern any fruit, but otherwise quite enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aultmore 13 yo 1996/2009

Aultmore 13 yo 1996/2009

Provenance, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, oranges, grass, brine, pickles, hints of pine, hints of hay.
Mouthfeel: Light body, refreshing, thickens to egg white consistency.
Tasting: Sour salty. Vanilla, lemons, orange, brine, cucumber, hints of honey.
Finish: Short. Cucumber, pine, honey.

Comments:

Has the same sort of refreshing character that a glass of Pimm's and lemonade does! Nice cucumber notes, hints of sweetness, and a lot of citrus fruit, overlaid by pickle juice... Not bad, could be quite an interesting summer tipple.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 48.6 (Balmenach 16 yo 1989/2005)

SMWS 48.6 (Balmenach 16 yo 1989/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
54.0% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, peaches, roast chicken, chips, orange peel, hints of peat, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, turns syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Chips, roast chicken, orange peel, petrol, vanilla, hints of peaches, hints of smoke.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, petrol, vanilla, orange peel.

Comments:

Roast chicken and chips, definitely. This was also the SMWS label on the bottle. But other than that, there's masses of fruit, vanilla, and maybe some petrol (vaguely unpleasant) in the finish. Interesting, enjoyable, but not great.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 66.28 (Ardmore 10 yo 1998/2008)

SMWS 66.28 (Ardmore 10 yo 1998/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramelised peanuts, raisins, milk chocolate, cornflakes, vanilla, rotting meat, hints of marijuana, hints of sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, a little volatile.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Leather, cornflakes, marijuana, milk chocolate, rubber, hints of rare steak, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, cookie dough, leather.

Comments:

Smells like the inside of an Amsterdam cafe, with chocolate brownies, cereal and pot... In the mouth, the chocolate mutates to leather, with a little smoke, but the pot notes still dominate the taste. Very unusual!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 50.37 (Bladnoch 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 50.37 (Bladnoch 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pink gold
60.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marzipan, brass polish, rhubarb, lemon sweets, hints of lime, hints of meringue.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly astringent, watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemon sweets, lime, vanilla, rhubarb, hints of almonds, hints of caramel, hints of broccoli.
Finish: Short. Astringent, peanuts, lemons, rhubarb.

Comments:

Tart, fruity, and slightly vegetal. Light and watery, with a slight bite on the tongue (battery acid? It's too nice to be that). A little nutty, but mostly tart. Rhubarb tart? Exactly that in more ways than one.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 30.59 (Glenrothes 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 30.59 (Glenrothes 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brass polish, lemons, toffee, salt caramel, vanilla, hints of aluminium foil.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, metallic, astringent, thickens.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Lemons, dark chocolate, walnut skins, bitter gourd, hints of vanilla, hints of aluminium foil.
Finish: Bitter walnut skins, orange peel.

Comments:

A little bit too metallic to be tasty. Very unusual Glenrothes, very unusual whisky for that matter. Other than the pervasive aluminium foil notes, it's bitter, hinting at being sweet, but never gets there.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Campbeltown Loch NAS

Campbeltown Loch NAS

Official bottling
Blend
White wine
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Brass polish, kippers, lamb's wool, plums, butter, peat, hints of coal smoke, malted beer.
Mouthfeel: Light body watery, loosens up fast.
Tasting: Sour. Peat, lemons, plums, butter, kippers, mint, hints of vanilla, hints of smoke.
Finish: Long. Chillies, mint, smoke, hints of lemons.

Comments:

Oh, this has a lot of Springbank in it, loads of lamb's wool, wreathed in a little coal smoke. Even plummy notes. But it's tempered with lemons and mint, with a hint of spiciness in the finish. I wish this was stronger.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 37.43 (Cragganmore 15 yo 1993/2008)

SMWS 37.43 (Cragganmore 15 yo 1993/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Red rose
60.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, plums, coca cola, demerara sugar, hints of raisins, hints of apples. With water, gets more chocolatey, more apples.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, turns slightly watery.
Tasting: Sweet. Plums, coca cola, roast ham, cloves, cinnamon, raisins, hints of rum, hints of chocolate. With water, gets sweeter, more chocolate, stewed plums
Finish: Long. Sweet, plums, coca cola.

Comments:

A little like cherry coke perhaps? Or Nigella Lawson's coke-braised ham? Quite interesting, without water. Once the water is added it becomes more familiar, with more chocolate and fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 29.70 (Laphroaig 11 yo 1996/2008)

SMWS 29.70 (Laphroaig 11 yo 1996/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
White wine
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, seaweed, apples, peat, smoke, wood, hints of lemons.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, peat, apples, pears, lemons, peanuts, sea salt, seaweed, hints of vanilla.
Finish: Long. Smoke, tobacco leaf, apples.

Comments:

Makes me think of hard, crunchy smoked red apples! Very maritime, although the salt is curiously missing on the palate - it's hard to describe, ghostly briney notes are the best that I can do. The appley notes mask quite a lot of other flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 121.24 (Arran 5 yo 2002/2008)

SMWS 121.24 (Arran 5 yo 2002/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Amber
61.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, vanilla, apples, orange peel, rubber, salt caramel, hints of sulphur.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Chillies, butter, tablet, rum and raisin, salt caramel, orange peel, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Sweet, sherry, toffee, rubber.

Comments:

Wow. Surprisingly drinkable at this strength, needs no water at all! Very sweet, a bit rough around the edges, but loaded with spice and fruit. Reminds me of very good Caribbean rum, with just a hint of peat prodding me into remembering that this is Scotch.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 10.63 (Bunnahabhain 11 yo 1997/2008)

SMWS 10.63 (Bunnahabhain 11 yo 1997/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
White gold
56.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, vanilla, hazelnuts, toffee, oranges, hints of smoke, hints of grilled beef. With water, nose turns medicinal, sweeter, with cinnamon and hints of cough mixture.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns milky, thickens fast.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peat, smoke, raisins, hazelnuts, orange peel, toffee, hints of cinnamon, hints of vinegar. With water, turns sweeter, lemons, oranges and toffee appear.
Finish: Long. Smoke, peat, orange peel, tobacco leaf.

Comments:

Very peaty for a Bunnahabhain! The peat obscures quite a lot, although it isn't unpleasant. This whisky is excellent with water, as it opens up to reveal a lot of fruity, sweet, pungent notes. very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 77.16 (Glen Ord 21 yo 1987/2008)

SMWS 77.16 (Glen Ord 21 yo 1987/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Pale gold
55.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Violets, rhubarb, lemon sweets, cinnamon, sausages, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, tingly.
Tasting: Sour. Toffee, lemons, cinnamon, orange peel, hints of pear, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Warm, toffee, salt.

Comments:

A little meaty and sour, with some interesting spicing going on. But not a particularly pleasant whisky, although not unpleasant either. I found it a little hard to get excited about. But it's not bad.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 27.72 (Springbank 12 yo 1996/2008)

SMWS 27.72 (Springbank 12 yo 1996/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Campbeltown
Sunny gold
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, green apple, peat, kippers, caramel, hints of raspberries.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loose, watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Caramel, lemons, green apples, peat, kippers, wool, hints of rhubarb, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Sour, caramel, raspberries.

Comments:

Quite a fruity Springbank, despite the typical kippers, peat and wool coming through. A little tart for my taste, with rhubarb (compote?) and green apples quite abundant. Pretty enjoyable - and quite interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dallas Dhu 1982/2005

Dallas Dhu 1982/2005

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
40% ABV
Mini

Nose: Carrots, rum and raisin, oak, leather, apples, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Beetroot, leather, apples, carrots, hints of peat, hints of caramel popcorn.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, orange peel, carrots, apples.

Comments:

Sweet and vegetal. Not your usual Dallas Dhu, and more than a little savoury. A little like a beetroot salad sprinkled with popcorn. Quite enjoyable, especially after a nice dinner. Pretty decent dessert whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 31.18 (Jura 20 yo 1988/2008)

SMWS 31.18 (Jura 20 yo 1988/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Pale amber
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, vanilla, orange peel, apple, hints of peat, fermented wheat, yeast, hints of vomit.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Violets, vanilla, orange peel, apples, hints of peaches, hints of vomit.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, peanuts, hints of vomit.

Comments:

I know, sounds a little yucky. Vomit? Well, actually the flavour in question is reminiscent of something fermented and slightly off, so maybe vomit isn't the right word. It was certainly what sprang to my mind though. Other than that, the whisky is pretty good, lots of fruit and flowers, with that fermented tang keeping it interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 25.46 (Rosebank 17 yo 1991/2008)

SMWS 25.46 (Rosebank 17 yo 1991/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale pink gold
56.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear, grass, lemon meringue pie, sea salt, hints of cow dung.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns syrupy quickly, egg white consistency.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Spicy, apples, lemon meringue pie, grass, hay, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Medium. Lemons, grass, peaches, pear.

Comments:

Fragrant and inviting - until the slight hints of cow dung and major hints of grass appear. I don't think this is the best example of a Rosebank. It's a little too grassy for me, and maybe a little too salty. Wonderfully light on the tongue though, although it then turns into an interesting consistency for a Lowlands whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 52.18 (Old Pulteney 7 yo 2001/2008)

SMWS 52.18 (Old Pulteney 7 yo 2001/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Straw
66.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, cookie dough, pear, sea salt, salt caramel, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, velvety, thick.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, orange peel, vanilla, peat, apple pie, cinnamon.
Finish: Long. Incense, apple pie, nutmeg, honey, cinnamon.

Comments:

Strong, but very drinkable. No need to add water either. This is not the official Old Pulteney, with its sea salt and maritime character. This is heavy and sweet, with just a little sea salt in the nose to remind me of where it comes from. Fragrant, spicy, and peaty. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 59.39 (Teaninich 25 yo 1983/2008)

SMWS 59.39 (Teaninich 25 yo 1983/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Honey gold
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Minty, honey, apple, pear, peach, vanilla, hints of juniper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, honey consistency.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Earl grey tea, honey, orange peel, apple, salt caramel, leather, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Dumplings, gravy, vanilla, peat, salt caramel.

Comments:

Fruity and a little savoury. Nice hints of leather, almost chewy with this consistency. Maybe a little like chewing someone's old leather belt, slathered with jam (doesn't sound very appealing, I know)? Nice notes of dumplings and gravy in the finish. It may sound weird, but it really isn't.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 95.9 (Auchroisk 18 yo 1990/2008)

SMWS 95.9 (Auchroisk 18 yo 1990/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
54.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cookie dough, vanilla, lime, leather, oil of wintergreen, hints of garlic.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, quite volatile.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Vanilla, honey, lime, peanuts, hints of garlic.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, cookie dough, vanilla.

Comments:

A little like key lime pie, maybe eaten under some eucalyptus trees... until the hint of garlic. It's not unpleasant, just a little jarring. And that's enough to throw this whisky off slightly. I would drink it again, just not when there's so much else available.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 97.16 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

SMWS 97.16 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale orange gold
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, apples, rum and raisin, honey, orange peel, oak, hints of banana.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, static.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Vanilla, apples, honey, bananas, orange peel, oak, hints of chillies.
Finish: Short. Peanuts, orange peel, peaches, honey.

Comments:

Lovely, lovely whisky. If there's a flaw, it's that the finish is too short. Sweet and tangy, with just a little hint of spice, and so much going on in it. It's the kind of whisky I would save for the birth of my first child...

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 122.19 (Loch Lomond "Croftengea" 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 122.19 (Loch Lomond "Croftengea" 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - South Highlands
Pale gold
50.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, molasses, smoke, HP sauce, hints of peat, hints of banana.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, holds together, thickens quickly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Smoke, grilled ham, lemon, peat, pears, hints of magic marker.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, smoke, peat, honey, hints of lemon.

Comments:

Croftengea, peated Loch Lomond, a rare pleasure that I discovered too late. There's a lot going on in this particular one - sweet, savoury and something tangy in the nose, lovely meaty notes i the taste. Then turns bitter and smoky. Very unusual, and very tasty.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.