SMWS 26.52 (Clynelish 23 yo 1984/2008)

SMWS 26.52 (Clynelish 23 yo 1984/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Very pale gold
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, brown paper, grapefruit, peaches, pineapples, black tea, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, volatile, quite static.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Black tea, brown paper,lemons, pineapples, peaches, grapefruit, brazil nuts.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, lemons, hints of brown paper.

Comments:

I like to end any tasting session with a peaty Islay, just to remind myself of how good that family of whiskies taste. However, the SMWS was flat out of Laphroaig, Bunnahabhain and Bowmore, so I decided on this one instead. Very refreshing and clean, like munching on some fruit after a meal. Just as satisfying as something peaty!

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 24.106 (Macallan 12 yo 1996/2009)

SMWS 24.106 (Macallan 12 yo 1996/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Orange amber
58.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, potato chips, caramel, raisins, raw latex, hints of tablet, hints of biscuit.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, raw, smooth, hot, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet. Black tea, brown paper, raisins, tablet, biscuit, plums, cinnamon, hints of almonds.
Finish: Short. Cinnamon, plums, tablet No water.

Comments:

Mouth-coating and sweet. This is proper Macallan, and shows what the whisky could be. The official bottlings have less body, and are less rounded in terms of flavour. Great combination of brown paper, Scottish tablet and plums.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 126.1 (Springbank "Hazelburn" 11 yo 1997/2009)

SMWS 126.1 (Springbank "Hazelburn" 11 yo 1997/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Campbeltown
Mahogany rose
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sherry, caramel, red wine, red grapes, raisins, brown paper, tyre rubber, vanilla, rum.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, spicy, hot, thickens quickly, tingles.
Tasting: Sweet. Raisins, red wine, tyre rubber, vanilla, peaches, hints of rose.
Finish: Long. Vanilla, brown paper, honey, tyre rubber.

Comments:

This is amazing whisky! Heavily sherried, better than any brandy I have ever had, yet the rubbery, slightly kippery Springbank character still shows. Excellent indeed. I tried to buy a bottle of this, the first Hazelburn ever bottled by the SMWS, but they were sold out within 3 hours of appearing on the website.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Strathmill 12 yo Flora & Fauna

Strathmill 12 yo Flora & Fauna

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

Nose: Vanilla, honey, raisins, bubble gum, malty beer, strawberries, hints of banana.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns watery, very loose.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, oranges, strawberries, banana, raisins, hints of bubble gum, hints of cedar wood.
Finish: Short. Honey, vanilla, oranges.

Comments:

Easy drinking dram, probably best suited as an aperitif. Not something to be seriously contemplated in a full-blown tasting session perhaps. Pleasant nevertheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Royal Lochnagar Muscat Cask Distiller's Edition (11 yo 1996/2008)

Royal Lochnagar Muscat Cask Distiller's Edition (11 yo 1996/2008)

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, red grapes, plums, apples, honey, vanilla, malty beer, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, loose, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Plums, red grapes, honey, chillies, hints of peaches, hints of peat.
Finish: Short. Oranges, apples, plums.

Comments:

Like plum jam and marmalade in a glass. Sweet, unctuous and velvety. Makes me feel slightly guilty for some reason - like I've been caught spooning jam out of the jar.

Verdict:

I like this.

Maker's Mark Select Black Wax

Maker's Mark Select Black Wax

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sweet banana, honey, ballpoint pen ink, wheat, pear, magic marker, hints of brown paper, hints of strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, turns watery, very loose.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Brown paper, banana, honey, pear, magic marker, cream, vanilla, hints of orange blossom, hints of honey.
Finish: Long. Banana, brown paper, honey, cream, vanilla, strawberry.

Comments:

This is a version of Maker's Mark made for the Japanese market. Shame about that, because this is great bourbon. Smooth, light and flavourful, this is a grade more complex than the regular Red Wax. Very, very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Golden
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, apples, cough mixture, caramel, sea salt, iodine, hints of bacon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warms up, then turns static.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Salt, caramel, peat, smoke, bacon, apples, hints of lemons, hints of oranges.
Finish: Long. Peat, smoke, peanuts, bacon, hints of apples.

Comments:

An incredibly satsifying peaty, sweet whisky. As good as Talisker 18 year old is. This is close to perfect for me. Smoked apple and bacon? Sounds weird but it works awfully well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Jura Superstition

Jura Superstition

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

Nose: Orange juice, lemon sweets, pine, brass polish, raisins, hints of milk chocolate, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, turns astringent, quite static.
Tasting: Sour. Pine, sea salt, lemon sweets, raisins, milk chocolate, brass polish, hints of peat.
Finish: Medium. Chillies, peat, pine, lemon sweets.

Comments:

Jura is quite uniquely piney, I think, but the combination of peat and pine somehow doesn't work too well. Quite run of the mill, a little like a slightly peaty Balvenie, or some other mild light Speyside.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Gentleman Jack

Gentleman Jack

Official bottling
Single bourbon (!) - Tennessee
Buttercup gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, banana, ginseng, peat, brown paper, hints of peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, very loose, very watery, almost gaseous.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Banana, oranges, brown paper, ginseng, vanilla, hints of peaches .
Finish: Short. Brown paper, vanilla, honey, hints of peaches.

Comments:

Very faint flavours, watery and elusive. Not a particularly good ad for Jack Daniel's whisky. Maybe double filtering through all that charcoal removes more flavour than it adds smoothness. This is too smooth.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 62.15 (Glenlochy 26 yo 1980/2006)

SMWS 62.15 (Glenlochy 26 yo 1980/2006)

2006, SMWS
Single malt - West Highlands
Pink gold
59.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, white grape, raspberries, butter, vanilla, honey, hints of peanut.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet. Tobacco, raspberries, white grapes, butter, vanilla, apples, peanuts, hints of peat.
Finish: Short. Peat, tobacco, apples, vanilla.

Comments:

Doesn't go well with water. I do like the tobacco notes a lot (without water). Almost like smelling a Marlboro Lights cigarette.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 62.12 (Glenlochy 24 yo 1980/2005)

SMWS 62.12 (Glenlochy 24 yo 1980/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - West Highlands
Pink gold
60.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, marzipan, raspberries, vanilla, limes, hints of honey, hints of horlicks. With water, raisins, brown paper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns to egg white.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dark chocolate, butter, vanilla, honey, horlicks, hints of lime sherbet, hints of marzipan. With water, brown paper, raisins, hints of almonds, hints of peanuts.
Finish: Medium. Hot, peanuts, limes, vanilla.

Comments:

The horlicks notes are very comforting. Probably an excellent dram to have before going to bed. Very soothing and relaxing.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 44.29 Heaven's Leak (Craigellachie 11 yo 1996/2007)

SMWS 44.29 Heaven's Leak (Craigellachie 11 yo 1996/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Yellow gold
57.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brassy, raisins, orange peel, lemon juice, hints of rhubarb and rum.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loose, turns watery, soft.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange peel, lemons, brass polish, dried coconut, raisins, butter, hints of rum.
Finish: Long. Hot, spicy, rum, lemons.

Comments:

This dram is confusing. It tastes very much like Rosebank, with perhaps a little too much brass. It's not unpleasant, but it's almost metallic, and I don't like that particular flavour too much.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 48.15 (Balmenach 9 yo 1999/2009)

SMWS 48.15 (Balmenach 9 yo 1999/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Gold
61.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, pine, pear drops, magic marker, rhubarb and custard sweets, brass polish, hints of biscuit.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, thickens quickly, hot, volatile.
Tasting: Sour. Vanilla, honey, pear drops, rum and raisin ice cream, rhubarb and custard sweets, biscuit, hints of cedar, hints of lemons.
Finish: Medium. Peaches, plums, rum and raisin ice cream.

Comments:

Doesn't take water awfully well. Nevertheless, undiluted, the brassy fruity notes remind me of Rosebank, although this whisky is a nose smacking full-on beast instead of a gentle creature.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 64.18 (Mannochmore 24 yo 1984/2009)

SMWS 64.18 (Mannochmore 24 yo 1984/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Buttercup yellow
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, pear, almonds, raisins, dried apples, hints of oak, hints of lemons. With water, cinnamon, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, a little watery. With water, turns astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Crème anglaise, raisins, almonds, dried apples, nutmeg, hints of butter, hints of smoke. With water, notes of lemon appear.
Finish: Long. Hot, dried apples, oak.

Comments:

Evokes winter. The dried apples bring to mind a cellar, with frost outside. The hints of smoke reinforce this impression. Definitely a winter dram!

Verdict:

I like this.

Connemara Cask Strength NAS

Connemara Cask Strength NAS

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Ireland
Amber gold
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, oak, red wine, salt caramel, raisins, toffee, maraschino cherries, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, volatile, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Oak, salt caramel, raisins, root beer, dried coconut, lemons, maraschino cherries, peat. With water, much saltier, sea salt, peat, hints of gentle smoke.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, lemons, root beer. With water, coconut, raspberries.

Comments:

Very smooth, and a lot sweeter than the normal Connemara. It's not very subtle - alcohol brings out a lot of the fruitier flavours and rubs them all over with the peat. Enjoyable though. I think this is a whiskey to sip (no water) while listening to rock music.

Verdict:

I like this.

Connemara Single Malt NAS

Connemara Single Malt NAS

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Ireland
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, raisins, pears, white wine, raspberries, hints of white grape.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose, cool.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peat, lemons, white wine, white grapes, hints of pear, hints of peaches.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, lemons, white grapes.

Comments:

My first formally tasted Irish whiskey! I liked this when I had it last, and I like it even more now. Cool, refreshing texture in the mouth, not too alcoholic. The peat is gentle, almost soothing, and nicely underpinned by the notes of grape and pear. Tasty.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dailuaine 25 yo 1974/2001

Dailuaine 25 yo 1974/2001

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Deep gold
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Rum, raisins, dark chocolate, magic marker, red wine, hints of pear, hints of peat, hints of ginger.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, a little astringent.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Peaches, pears, rum, raisins, dark chocolate, sea salt, peat.
Finish: Long. Toffee, pears, dark chocolate.

Comments:

Complex and multilayered. There's a savoury layer underpinning lots of fruity, sweet notes. If there's anything wrong with this, it's that the savoury layer is somewhat one-dimensional. The varied sweet flavours make up for this though.

Verdict:

I like this.

Yamazaki 10 yo

Yamazaki 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Orange gold
40% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Ginger, pineapples, raisins, malty beer, papaya, hints of clove, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, dry, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange juice, pineapple, raisins, cloves, hints of ginger, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Slightly peaty, orange juice, coconut, ginger.

Comments:

Impressively spiced, with nice fruity notes. Very pleasant indeed. Could be more robust, but this is very decent for a 40% ABV whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Moray Classic NAS

Glen Moray Classic NAS

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, white wine, slate, hot rocks, cinamon, hints of chocolate, hints of plums.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns watery, loose.
Tasting: Sour bitter. Citron tart, vanilla, lemons, chinese egg roll, hints of quinine, hints of white wine.
Finish: Medium. Spicy, lemons, hints of vanilla.

Comments:

The bitter notes make this whisky slightly unpleasant. It's drinkable (lots of drinks are drinkable, and being whisky, this is still better than most), but no more.

Verdict:

Not bad.