Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, peaches, glue, sea coconut, butter, milk, almonds, hints of bananas. With water, turns plummy, saltier, like Chinese preserved sour plums .
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Brown paper, glue, sea coconut, almonds, butter, cream, hints of magic marker. With water, turns sweet salty, then Chinese sour plums again.
Finish: Short. Brown paper, cream, almonds.

Comments:

Batch 54, bottle #4852. Nutty, something chemical in the nose that fades in the mouth. Lovely notes of sea coconut, something which I haven't tasted in all too long. Not too bananary, this bourbon, quite complex with lots of interesting flavours, especially with water. Huge hits of brown paper wrapping the whole thing up.

Verdict:

I like this.

Jura Experimental

Jura Experimental

Indie, Matthew Forrest
Single malt - Islands
Light gold
58.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, peanuts, honey, orange peel, leather, tobacco leaf, hints of pine, hints of raisins. With water, sweeter, tobacco, salt caramel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slightly watery around the edges, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peanuts, peat, honey, leather, tobacco leaf, pine, raisins, hints of new plastic. With water, sweeter, more toffee, salt caramel.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, peat, new plastic, pine.

Comments:

Cask #1125, 705 bottles. This was vatted in 2002, half 3 yo with half 30 yo. It's hard to tell this is a Jura! The characteristic piney notes are very faint on the nose and on the tongue. There's a lot of peat and nuts.

Verdict:

I like this.

Green Spot

Green Spot

Green Spot, Mitchell & Son
Single malt - Southern Ireland
Dark green gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, apple juice, toffee, candied coconut, hints of orange peel, hints of coriander seed.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, static, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet. Apple juice, toffee, lemons, candied coconut, orange peel, hints of lavender.
Finish: Short. Apple juice, coriander seed, lemons.

Comments:

This is pure pot still whiskey, 7 yo vatted with 8 yo, matured in various sherry casks (including oloroso and fino). A bonded whiskey, distilled by Midleton for a bottler, in this case Mitchell & Son of Dublin. It tastes like Copella apple juice turned into a whiskey! Very light, and I think this would be fantastic on ice.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenmorangie Lasanta

Glenmorangie Lasanta

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, sherry, condensed milk, raisins, honey, strawberries, chocolate, hints of roses .
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Sherry, butter, raisins, strawberries, cream, honey, chocolate, red wine, hints of roses.
Finish: Long. Light, honey, sherry, raisins.

Comments:

Sherry matured - tastes like oloroso casks, but possibly a mix. Sweet, but not overly so. Extremely well-balanced whisky (in some others the wood overpowers the character of the spirit, but not here). I like the strawberries and cream, it's appropriate for this time of the year...

Verdict:

I like this.

Eagle Rare 17 yo

Eagle Rare 17 yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Bright amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, brown paper, cinnamon, strawberries, kiwi fruit, hints of tobacco leaf.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickens quickly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Bananas, orange juice, milk, strawberries, kiwi fruit, hints of almonds.
Finish: Short. Strawberries, brown paper, kiwi fruit.

Comments:

Excellent bourbon, thickens quickly in the mouth. Almost chewy! Pleasant fruity notes, particularly kiwi fruit, which I find very unusual in malt whisky, much less in banana-dominated bourbon. Great stuff, this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS G5.1 (Invergordon 34 yo 1974/2009)

SMWS G5.1 (Invergordon 34 yo 1974/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single grain - North Highlands
Amber
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rum, raisins, vanilla, bananas, orange peel, walnuts, magic marker, hints of pears. With water, turns salty, fried bananas.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loosens quickly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Rum, raisins, bananas, orange peel, vanilla, marshmallows, magic marker, pears. With water, fried bananas, salt caramel.
Finish: Long. Orange peel, walnuts, bananas.

Comments:

This is bourbon! Even more bourbony than proper bourbon, with bananas every which way. Raw and peeled, maybe in a banana split (with rum and raisin ice cream, no less), and, when I added water, fried! Lovely, flavourful grain whisky (actually, it's better than most bourbons).

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 59.38 (Teaninich 25 yo 1982/2008)

SMWS 59.38 (Teaninich 25 yo 1982/2008)

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

Nose: Honey, peanuts, juniper, roses, lemons, vanilla, mint, hints of apple.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Peanuts, vanilla, apples, lemons, mint, apples, honey. With water, butter, pears.
Finish: Long. Peaches, apples, vanilla, peanuts.

Comments:

Slightly nutty, lots of mint, floral, and actually quite substantial. I think I could almost drink this for dinner, as it is at once sweet and savoury. There's an impression of fat (butter) which makes this almost chewy in the mouth.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 53.121 (Caol Ila 10 yo 1997/2008)

SMWS 53.121 (Caol Ila 10 yo 1997/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Silvery gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peanuts, orange juice, soy sauce, peat, lavender, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens quickly, hot, volatile.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Peanuts, orange peel, soy sauce, roast pork, butter, hints of lavender.
Finish: Medium. Butter, peanuts, salt caramel.

Comments:

Lots of smoke and peat upon sniffing, but little trace of that in the mouth. Instead the whisky is sweet salty, meaty and fragrant, almost floral. A little sweetness, maybe some citrus sharpness, and this would have seemed like a very good Talisker. I drink Caol Ila for the sweet salty bite of soy sauce, tempered with smoke. This had some, but not quite enough to reach the heights.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 44.26 (Craigellachie 22 yo 1982/2005)

SMWS 44.26 (Craigellachie 22 yo 1982/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
60.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, pears, magic marker, vanilla, apple juice, leather, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens quickly, hot, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet. Plums, pears, vanilla, bread, caramel, leather, peat, hints of new plastic.
Finish: Medium. Plums, butter, bread.

Comments:

60.5% at 22 years old? This cask must have been in the middle of the pile! Lots of bread and caramel, but not quite buttery enough to be described as "stroopwafel", as it is on the bottle. Pleasant and drinkable, a decent dessert whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tobermory 10 yo

Tobermory 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, mushrooms, prunes, peaches, caramel, wet stones, hints of mint.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loosens quickly.
Tasting: Sweet. Wet stones, raisins, mushrooms, peaches, mint, caramel, hints of plums.
Finish: Short. Raisins, mint, caramel.

Comments:

Earthy, but light. Reminds me of a wet, rainy, windy day, one that's not too cold. The mushrooms are redolent of damp in the woods - I know that doesn't sound very appealing, but it really is.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tamnavulin 16 yo

Tamnavulin 16 yo

Secret Bottlings, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Slate, wet stones, paint, raisins, lemons, cream, butter, hints of peaches.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns to egg white consistency.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Salt caramel, raisins, cream, butter, peaches, slate, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Sweet, peaches, cream, raisins.

Comments:

Many thanks to Jonathan and Darren at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society for a taste of this. There's a chemical twist in the nose which Darren identified as Dulux paint. I agree, but think of it more as slate, or warm stones after the rain. There's also a massive hit of peaches throughout the whisky, from nose to mouth to nose again. Pleasant drinking.

Verdict:

I like this.

Singleton of Dufftown 12 yo

Singleton of Dufftown 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, yoghurt, cream, apricots, plums, prunes, vanilla, hints of peat. With water, toffee, butter, caramel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet. Yoghurt, cream, pears, prunes, plums, vanilla, hints of orange peel, hints of red wine. With water, toffee, caramel.
Finish: Short. Prunes, pears, orange peel, red wine.

Comments:

Quite sweet, and the fruity notes are reminiscent of bruised fruit, not fresh fruit. Luscious and rich, although the bruised fruit lends a rather dishevelled, not-quite-hanging-together quality to the whisky. While not tasting great, this whisky certainly evokes some impressions.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Knappogue Castle 1995 (12 yo 1995/2007)

Knappogue Castle 1995 (12 yo 1995/2007)

Knappogue Castle, Castle Brands
Single malt - Northern Ireland
Pale yellow
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, yoghurt, apples, lemon sweets, honey, hints of cranberries.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, a little astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Apples, apple juice, raisins, honey, lemons, cranberries, hints of barley sugar.
Finish: Short. Toffee, caramel, lemon sweets, apples.

Comments:

Light, refreshing and very sweet. Appley, almost cidery in its intensity, and there's a certain tartness in the mouth and in the finish. If Magners Irish Cider were a whisky, maybe it would be like this.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or

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

Nose: Raisins, peanuts, hazelnuts, dried apples, coffee, cream, orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, loosens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Cream, peanuts, hazelnuts, dried apples, coffee, orange peel, hints of prunes, hints of peat.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, dried apples, coffee.

Comments:

Excellent whisky. It's sweet, but not overly so, with subtle spicy notes if dried fruit. Very appley. Complex and interesting, requires some attention. I didn't find this an easy whisky to drink, but it was definitely rewarding.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Bushmills 10 yo

Bushmills 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Northern Ireland
Pale amber, tinge of green
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sherry, condensed milk, yoghurt, raisins, orange peel, hints of plums, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns to egg white consistency.
Tasting: Sweet. Yoghurt, raisins, plums, orange peel, vanilla, hints of lemon meringue.
Finish: Long. Orange peel, lemon meringue, plums.

Comments:

Unusual colour, I had to look carefully to make sure it wasn't the lighting. Fruity, and very sweet. Light notes of fermented milk (yoghurt, curds?), making it interesting. A long, lingering sweet finish, not really to my taste, even though the fruit notes enhance it.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS G4.1 (Cameronbridge 29 yo 1979/2008)

SMWS G4.1 (Cameronbridge 29 yo 1979/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Sun gold
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, apricots, mint, raisins, brown paper, liquorice, oranges, hints of rose.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, volatile, turns watery.
Tasting: Sweet. Apricots, orange, liquorice, brown paper, raisins, rose, hints of lemons.
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, raisins, apricots.

Comments:

Floral, silky and airy. Quite a refreshing, sweet whisky. There are nice notes of brown paper, which bring to mind thoughts of brandy. It's slightly incongruous, because the body of this whisky is pretty far removed from brandy. There's a harsh little astringent tang at the end.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS G3.1 (Caledonian 29 yo 1978/2008)

SMWS G3.1 (Caledonian 29 yo 1978/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Orange gold
60.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, pears, cedar wood, lemons, brown paper, hints of almonds, hints of hazelnuts.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Salty sour. Pears, magic marker, salt caramel, brown paper, cedar wood, lemons, hints of aluminium foil.
Finish: Long. Lemons, cedar wood, magic marker, brown paper.

Comments:

Fruity and tart, with hints of industrial solvents and wood. That may sound a little strange, but this whisky is actually quite tasty. The flavour elements are quite gentle, light even, and there's a nice soft rounded texture that I find a lot in grain whisky. This whisky does show its age a little, there's a little too much wood perhaps.

Verdict:

I like this.

Auchentoshan Distillery

Auchentoshan Distillery
Dalmuir
Clydebank
Glasgow G81 4SJ

Lowlands, Scotland - Active

Flavour profile

Sweet and light, that's Auchentoshan for me. Some nice dessert flavours - raisins, honey, and vanilla dominate, but there's a whole host of other flavours too, floral, fruit and even vegetal. I especially like the slight hint of leather. It's proof that triple distilling doesn't take away all the interesting flavours!

Auchentoshan whisky tends to be light, almost airy on the tongue. It's a pretty good aperitif, and the flavours are ethereal, silky and tend to tickle the palate. The lightness of the whisky also lends itself well to wood maturation. That's certainly where the brown paper (almost brandy-like) comes from, along with the orange peel, and perhaps the lemons too. I suppose too much wood would drown the whisky's characteristics, but I've not found one like that yet.


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

Auchentoshan 10 yo - good
Auchentoshan 1973 29 yo (1973/2003) - very good
SMWS 5.22 (Auchentoshan 9 yo 1999/2008) - very good
Auchentoshan 21 yo - good
Auchentoshan Three Wood - good

Distillery history

Auchentoshan was granted its official licence in 1823, although it may be identical to Duntocher (first mentioned around 1800). It was founded by John Bulloch, passed through the hands of owners named Filshie and Maclachlan, and finally fell into the hands of Stanley Morrison, eventually the owner of Morrison Bowmore. Morrison Bowmore still own the distillery today. It is the only Scottish distillery still making the whisky by triple distillation (where the low wines are distilled twice before being passed to the spirit still for final distillation). The distillery was silent during World War II.

Auchentoshan was a major part of Rob Roy, although production these days is mainly for single malts. There are 6 expressions in the core range - Classic (no age statement), Select (no age statement), the 12 yo, the 18 yo, the 21 yo and the Three Wood (matured in bourbon, oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks).

Potted distillery facts

Water source: Loch Katrine
Washbacks: Four, Oregon pine, 38,000 litres each
Wash stills: One, constricted neck, 17,300 litres.
Spirit stills: One, constricted neck, 11,000-12,000 litres
Spirit still Lyne arm: nearly 5 degrees descending
Production per year: 1,800,000 litres

- The Scottish Whisky Distilleries, Misako Udo

Penderyn Welsh Whisky

Penderyn Welsh Whisky

Official bottling
Single malt - South Wales
Bright gold
46% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Red grapes, Chinese sour plums, sea salt, raisins, leather, star anise, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens quickly, smooth, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, Chinese sour plums, leather, peaches, red wine, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Orange blossom, Chinese sour plums, leather.

Comments:

Madeira matured, possibly around 5 years old. Light, only a little rough, and oddly Chinese. Reminds me of an old sweet shop, with saccharine Chinese sour plums (not salty enough to be Japanese ume). Also reminds me a little of Oban, except that it's not smoky and it's not salty enough. Perhaps this is what Oban would be if it were a Lowlands whisky...

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Kilkerran Work In Progress

Kilkerran Work In Progress

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Grass, lemons, rhubarb and custard sweets, apple juice, hints of oranges.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, a little volatile.
Tasting: Sour bitter. Rhubarb and custard sweets, peat, apple juice, lemons, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Lemons, walnut skins, peat.

Comments:

The first official bottling available from Glengyle distillery. Apparently, around 5 years old. Definitely tastes young, and a little harsh. The lightness and airiness seems to be the type of whisky they're aiming for though. Like a slightly peaty Rosebank, without the brassiness.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS G1.4 (North British 30 yo 1978/2009)

SMWS G1.4 (North British 30 yo 1978/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Pink gold
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, banana, butterscotch, coca cola, vanilla, orange juice, marshmallows.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns to egg white consistency.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Oranges, lemons toffee, banana, coca cola, cinnamon, hints of marshmallows. With water, turns salty, briny, hints of seaweed.
Finish: Long. Lemons, brown paper, marshmallows, coca cola.

Comments:

Pleasantly tangy, with a rounded softness that I've come to associate with grain whisky. Water brings out something unusual, quite salty and heavy on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 4.130 (Highland Park 19 yo 1989/2009)

SMWS 4.130 (Highland Park 19 yo 1989/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Golden
54.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cough mixture, honey, peat, peanuts, pears, sea salt, hints of smoke, hints of seaweed.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, static.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Peanuts, pears, leather, honey, cough mixture, salt caramel, peat, hints of smoke.
Finish: Long. Lemons, pears, peanuts, leather.

Comments:

Briny and marine, with the occasional whiffs of sweet stuff. This is an unusual Highland Park. I particularly like the smoke - it's shy and retiring, not obvious and in your face.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benriach Curiositas 10 yo

Benriach Curiositas 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Pale butter
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Peat, smoke, honey, lemons, bananas, vanilla, hints of cream.
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, smoke, honey, bananas, vanilla, oak, cream, hints of maple syrup.
Finish: Medium. Peat, walnut skins, bananas, oak, cream.

Comments:

A peated expression of Benriach. Quite light despite the peat and smoke, with sweet hints poking through the smoky haze every now and then. Still recognisable as Benriach I think, despite the peat. Very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

North British 13 yo 1990/2003

North British 13 yo 1990/2003

Adelphi Selection, Adelphi
Single grain - Lowlands
Green gold
63.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, brown paper, raisins, marmalade, pears, magic marker, hints of orange juice. With water, orange juice, apple juice, pears.
Mouthfeel: Light body, oily, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Sea salt, brown paper, pears, marmalade, magic marker, hints of honey, hints of peaches. With water, sweeter, apple juice.
Finish: Long. Pears, magic marker, marmalade.

Comments:

Cask #52640, 189 bottles. Very strong, but surprisingly drinkable. Doesn't taste like grain whisky at all, more like a sherry matured single malt.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Pink gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Condensed milk, strawberries, raisins, red grapes, honey, hints of peat .
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, syrupy, viscous.
Tasting: Sweet. Condensed milk, honey, orange peel, strawberries, red wine, toffee, hints of peat.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, honey, orange peel.

Comments:

Matured in port pipes. Sweet, rich and heavy. A proper dessert whisky, as most port matured whiskies are. This is really fruity, and flavourful, very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenfiddich 21 yo Gran Reserva

Glenfiddich 21 yo Gran Reserva

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

Nose: Brandy, brown paper, raisins, sherry, apple, tobacco leaf, hints of chillies, hints of condensed milk.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Brown paper, apples, raisins, oak, tobacco leaf, condensed milk, hints of mushrooms.
Finish: Short. Oak, brown paper, raisins, hints of apples.

Comments:

Matured in Cuban rum casks (no longer available, replaced by the plain old 21 yo). This is a nice oaky expression of Glenfiddich, with the rum casks adding notes of tobacco, and maybe the hints of chillies. I think this would have benefited from being a tad stronger. Still quite tasty, if slightly disappointing.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Dalmore King Alexander III

Dalmore King Alexander III

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, cream, raisins, sherry, marmalade, toffee, chocolate, hints of salt caramel .
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Cream, sherry, cornflakes, raisins, vanilla, marmalade, chocolate, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Short. Chocolate, raisins, cornflakes.

Comments:

Very sherried and very sweet. Nice notes of cream and cornflakes, lacks the usual Dalmore rubberiness. This is a very well blended whisky, made from spirit matured in many types of casks, among them Madeira, bourbon, Marsala, sherry, port, and French wines.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benromach 18 yo

Benromach 18 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, salt caramel, orange peel, glace cherries, peaches, lemons, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns watery, very loose.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peaches, orange peel, cream, vanilla, glace cherries, milk, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Milk, vanilla, orange peel, glace cherries.

Comments:

The most milky, creamy whisky I've ever come across. A breakfast whisky, something that promises lots of sustenance, bulk and nutrition.

Verdict:

I like this.

Auchentoshan Three Wood

Auchentoshan Three Wood

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sherry, raisins, orange peel, honey, brown paper, hints of camphor, hints of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Sweet. Sherry, orange peel, brown paper, malty beer, honey, red grapes, hints of vanilla.
Finish: Short. Orange peel, honey, hints of chillies.

Comments:

Matured in bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks. Sweet and rich - an unusual Auchentoshan. The three wood maturation has put back what triple distilling tends to take away, flavour and depth.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 12 yo

Aberfeldy 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale orange gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mushrooms, raisins, photocopy paper, pears, orange juice, hints of strawberries. With water, opens up with vanilla and lemon notes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peaches, raisins, pears, orange juice, hints of strawberries, hints of mushrooms. With water, vanilla, lemons, hints of grapefruit.
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, raisins, pears.

Comments:

Interesting hints of fungi on the nose. Reminded me of the finest oyster mushrooms, but in a fruit salad instead of a savoury dish. Quite unusual. Like.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 66.29 (Ardmore 23 yo 1985/2009)

SMWS 66.29 (Ardmore 23 yo 1985/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Buttercup gold
51.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, prunes, marmalade, honey, raisins, hints of tobacco, hints of smoke. With water, sweeter, salt caramel appears.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns slightly syrupy.
Tasting: Bitter. Smoked kippers, peanuts, marmalade, honey, pears, tobacco, hints of roast pork. With water, raisins, brown paper, salt caramel.
Finish: Long. Smoked kippers, peanuts, walnut skins, tobacco.

Comments:

Not your usual Speyside - quite smoky and savoury. The taste doesn't deliver on the nose's promises, with very few hints of the sweet notes in the nose apparent on the tongue. It's a lot better with water.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 37.30 (Cragganmore 28 yo 1978/2006)

SMWS 37.30 (Cragganmore 28 yo 1978/2006)

2006, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Bright yellow
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricots, pears, honey, cedar wood, butter, rosemary, hints of lemons, hints of brown paper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apricots, pears, strawberries, rosemary, honey, hints of brown paper, hints of lemons.
Finish: Medium. Apricots, rosemary, lemons, brown paper.

Comments:

Aromatic, like perfume. Lovely apricot notes, luscious and rich. Very tasty whisky, would be an excellent digestif.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 125.20 (Glenmorangie 25 yo 1983/2009)

SMWS 125.20 (Glenmorangie 25 yo 1983/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Sun gold
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, vanilla, marzipan, pears, condensed milk, bananas, caramel, hints of sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly astringent, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, marzipan, pineapples, bananas, condensed milk, brown paper, hints of cherries.
Finish: Medium. Pineapples, pears, condensed milk, watermelons.

Comments:

Sweet and inviting, with nice fruity refreshing notes. Must be pretty good with ice on a hot summer's day. Great depth of flavour.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benriach 12 yo

Benriach 12 yo

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

Nose: Banana, lemons, vanilla, pears, oak, hints of peat, hints of cedar.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cold, static, slightly tingly.
Tasting: Sour. Vanilla, bananas, limes, pears, lemons, hints of brass polish, hints of bleach.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, lemons, bananas, limes.

Comments:

This whisky has a mouthfeel that's cool (and, oddly, comforting). It's like it's already been diluted beyond its optimum ABV. However, it doesn't seem to have hurt the flavours, which are still quite obvious. I think I can already recognise that banana notes are characteristic of this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 39.65 (Linkwood 11 yo 1996/2007)

SMWS 39.65 (Linkwood 11 yo 1996/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
54.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brass polish, lemons, photocopy paper, biscuit, butterscotch, hints of peat, hints of raisins.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, smooth, hot, volatile.
Tasting: Sour bitter. Oranges, lemons, vanilla, butter, peanuts, brass polish, hints of raisins, hints of caramel.
Finish: Medium. Orange blossom, raisins, lemons, hints of chillies.

Comments:

Brash, bold, brassy. A little like a strong Rosebank at the beginning, but then becomes steadily more gentle in the mouth. The orange blossom notes in the finish are quite soft and silky. A whisky that tells a story.

Verdict:

I like this.

Isle of Jura 10 yo

Isle of Jura 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Malty beer, sea salt, salt caramel, pine, peanuts, hints of raisins, hints of plums.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Raisins, pine, plums, salt caramel, peanuts, butter, hints of smoked fish.
Finish: Medium. Raisins, pine, plums.

Comments:

Very easy drinking. Not as woody as I expected. Instead, the whisky possesses a deep, rich sweetness that is very satisfying indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 72.21 (Miltonduff 11 yo 1997/2009)

SMWS 72.21 (Miltonduff 11 yo 1997/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Very pale gold
56% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, lemon cake, rhubarb and custard sweets, caramel, brass polish, hints of carrot juice.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slightly astringent, turns watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Lemons, vanilla, lemon cake, hazelnuts, rhubarb crumble, brass polish, walnut skins. With water, more hazelnuts, macadamias, peanuts.
Finish: Long. Lemons, walnut skins, coffee grounds, caramel.

Comments:

Swings from extremes of lemons to bitter coffee. Silky steel - the whisky doesn't try to hide its strength, not for a moment. It's like being smacked in the mouth and nose. Water improves this, but not all that much.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 1.141 (Glenfarclas 41 yo 1966/2008)

SMWS 1.141 (Glenfarclas 41 yo 1966/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Orange amber
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cream soda, orange peel, vanilla, cinnamon, brown paper, hints of red wine. With water, pears, apples, hints of quince.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, smooth, thickens, syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, raisins, red grape, marmalade, walnuts, brown paper, malty beer, hints of mint and lavender. With water, pear cider, apples appear.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, marmalade, raisins.

Comments:

Sweet, strong and spicy. Delicious, but probably not worth the price I paid for it! Nevertheless, this is a magnificent whisky from a quality distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Benriach 16 yo

Benriach 16 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Pale green
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Banana, hazelnuts, white wine, lemon juice, vanilla, photocopy paper, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, slightly astringent, thickens.
Tasting: Sour. Orange blossom, white wine, banana, peanuts, lemon juice, hints of honey.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, vanilla, lemon juice, white wine.

Comments:

Pleasantly refreshing on a hot summer's day. I dare say this one might be good on ice. It's already Riesling-dry, it's going to be good Riesling-cold.

Verdict:

I like this.