Arran 12 yo 1996/2008

Arran 12 yo 1996/2008

Single Malts of Scotland, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islands
Straw
57.4% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, smoke, oats, roast pork, dried apples, glace cherries.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, smoke, roast pork, dried apples, orange peel, hints of lemons.
Finish: Medium. Oats, raisins, dried apples, hints of apples.

Comments:

Meaty and sweet, smoky and rich. This is a great winter whisky, reminds me of cold windy days, and the rivers of fire flowing through my chest as I drink it. As a winter warmer, there's nothing better.

Verdict:

I like this.

Rosebank 16 yo 1991/2007

Rosebank 16 yo 1991/2007

The Whisky Society, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Lowlands
Bright yellow gold
56.1% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon sweets, honey, brass polish, chocolate, ginger, orange peel, hints of peat. With water, turns peppery and more gingery, lighter, less intense.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Rhubarb and custard sweets, honey, lemon sweets, lemon zest, chocolate, ginger, chillies, hints of tobacco leaf, hints of lavender. With water, turns saltier, marmalade appears, more gingery and papery.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, orange peel, lemon sweets, hints of peat.

Comments:

The Whisky Society is an ongoing series bottled by Specialty Drinks Ltd, the great chaps behind the Whisky Exchange. This whisky is the only Rosebank so far. It's intense, complex and fully-flavoured, and full of the rhubarb-and-custard sweet notes that mark out the Rosebanks that I love the most. It's a tad strong, although it slips down so smoothly you wouldn't realise it. But add a few drops of water, and it opens up, turns lighter, and loses some of its sweetness. I still can't decide whether I like it better neat or diluted.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Deanston 12 yo Unchillfiltered

Deanston 12 yo Unchillfiltered

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
46.3% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Peanuts, chillies, lemon zest, hoppy beer, pear drops, hints of engine exhaust.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Peanuts, vanilla, engine exhaust, brine, lemon zest, oats, hoppy beer, hints of balsamic vinegar.
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, peanuts, hoppy beer, vanilla.

Comments:

It's not often that a small distillery with one or two official bottlings produces magnificent whisky. There's often a reason why they send most of their spirit to blends. Deanston however, is the exception to the norm. The flagship 12 yo bottling is very intense and tough - the sweet fruity flavours are simply not there. Instead there's vanilla, beer, medicinal tasting lemon zest, and more than a touch of diesel exhaust. Very feisty whisky, benefits from being left alone for a little while after being poured.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenmorangie Distillery

Glenmorangie Distillery
Tain
Ross-shire IV19 1BR

North Highlands, Scotland - Active

Flavour profile

Glenmorangie is, to me at least, the quintessential Highlands whisky. I associate the Highlands with robust whisky replete with intense bold flavours, tending to be on the sweet side, but occasionally containing big whiffs of peat and smoke. The Glenmorangie range is quite diverse in its range of flavours, as the official bottlings have mostly been finished in different ways, but even so, there are several common flavour elements running through them.

From the Wordle below, the most common flavour is vanilla, followed by condensed milk. Then a trio of chocolate bar flavours - chocolate (of course), raisins, and honey. Most of these flavours come from the finishing casks I think. Unfinished Glenmorangie (at least the couple I've had) has vanilla, is quite cereally and slightly biscuity. However, except for the vanilla, the finishing casks tend to overwhelm these flavours and replace them. There is one exception however - Glenmorangie Astar, where the whisky has been aged in American oak. It's loaded with vanilla, biscuit, some cereal elements, and surprisingly, smoke.


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

Glenmorangie 10 yo - good
SMWS 125.20 - good
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban - very good
Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or - very good
Glenmorangie Lasanta - good
Glenmorangie 18 yo - very good
Glenmorangie Astar - very good


Distillery history

Founded in 1843 by William Mathesen, who was formerly a partner at Balblair distillery. The distillery was part sold to Macdonald & Muir and Durham Ltd in 1918. The new owners kept the name of the distillery (Glenmorangie Distillery Co) in the company name. In 2004, the luxury company LVMH bought the distillery. The distillery was silent from 1931-1936 and again from 1941-1944.

Glenmorangie is part of Baillie Nicol Jarvie and Highland Queen. After the LVMH takeover the range was revamped, with the flagship Glenmorangie 10 yo being rebranded as the Original, and a number of quite delicious finished expressions being introduced (with some existing ones also being rebranded). There aren't very many indie bottlings, although the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (part owned by the same parties) have a few casks now and then.

Potted distillery facts

Water source: Springs from the Tarlogie hills, a source of hard water
Washbacks: Six, stainless steel, 48,500 litres each
Wash stills: Four, long and reflux bowl neck, 11,400 litres
Spirit stills: One, long and reflux bowl neck, 8,200 litres
Spirit still Lyne arm: Almost a right angle
Production per year: approximately 3,000,000 litres

- The Scottish Whisky Distilleries, Misako Udo

Glenburgie 10 yo

Glenburgie 10 yo

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Red brown
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, red wine, burnt sugar, marmalade, honey, cloves, hints of redcurrants, hints of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Walnuts, brown paper, red wine, raisins, cloves, toast, hints of marmalade, hints of redcurrants.
Finish: Short. Chillies, cloves, walnut skins, marmalade.

Comments:

I finally managed to get my grubby paws on a Glenburgie, which is to say, not the Glencraig whisky distilled in Lomond stills at the Glenburgie distillery. I guess those count as a different distillery altogether. This one is very different from Glencraig - rich, sherried, sweet and flavoursome. It reminds me of mulled Madeira or port, bursting into an intense, short finish that's quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 33.68 (Ardbeg 9 yo 1998/2007)

SMWS 33.68 (Ardbeg 9 yo 1998/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Pale yellow green
57.4% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Dark chocolate, black tea, sandalwood, honey, lavender, peat, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, smooth, oily.
Tasting: Salty. Lemons, brine, honey, black tea, dark chocolate, smoke, peat, leather.
Finish: Long. Lemons, chocolate, sandalwood, black tea, hints of smoke.

Comments:

A very very lightly smoky Ardbeg. In fact, it's hard to tell that it is Ardbeg in the first place! But the usual Ardbeg flavours of honey and chocolate are present in abundance, together with fragrant sandalwood and black tea. A interesting and unusual dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ledaig 8 yo 1997/2005

Ledaig 8 yo 1997/2005

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islands
Light yellow
50% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Smoke, peat, mushrooms, engine exhaust, orange peel, honey, hints of redcurrants.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, syrupy, slightly oily.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, peat, mushrooms, orange peel, honey, vanilla, redcurrants, leather.
Finish: Medium. Honey, peat, vanilla, mushrooms.

Comments:

Ledaig is the name under which peated Tobermory is marketed. I'm amazed by this particular one - it's heavy, rich and complex, all that with just 8 years in the cask. There's an earthy mushroomy note that in wine, would mean you'd have to send back the bottle, but in whisky, well, it's just delicious. Been on a roll lately, this is just the latest in a sequence of top drams.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Macallan 18 yo

Macallan 18 yo

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

Nose: Raisins, caramel, marmalade, strawberries, honey, brown paper, roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, thickens, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Brown paper, marmalade, strawberry jam, honey, raisins, mint, hints of roast pork.
Finish: Long. Honey, lemons, oranges.

Comments:

Mmmm... a brandy-like sherried monster (I did check to make sure it wasn't brandy, embarassingly enough). In addition to the waves of caramelised concentrated fruit, there are some very appealing roast meat notes in the nose and on the tongue. Excellent whisky, lifts my opinion of Macallan.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Edradour 12 yo Dougie Maclean's Caledonia Selection

Edradour 12 yo Dougie Maclean's Caledonia Selection

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
46% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, brown paper, chocolate, mint, camphor, oranges, cinnamon, hints of cedar.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Raisins, brown paper, mint, lemons, grapefruit, vanilla, hints of lavender.
Finish: Long. Vanilla, lemons, mint, raisins.

Comments:

A new series from Edradour. The cask was selected by musician Dougie Maclean. He's got good taste - the whisky is heavier than I expected from an Edradour, with lashings of chocolate and mint in the nose. This disappears on the palate, becoming more citrusy and minty, even slightly chemical. Brilliant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 53.137 (Caol Ila 17 yo 1992/2009)

SMWS 53.137 (Caol Ila 17 yo 1992/2009)

2010, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Dull gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brine, smoke, peat, wet stones, white pepper, pineapples, cotton sheets.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Sour salty. White pepper, lemons, smoke, peat, wet stones, cotton sheets, brine, hints of soy sauce, hints of tobacco.
Finish: Medium. Lemons, wet stones, chalk, brine.

Comments:

Very striking and memorable. A little harsh (stony, flinty flavours), with great subtlety and complexity. Also tastes more like a vatting of Talisker and Ardbeg than Caol Ila. The flavours I associate with Caol Ila are almost absent. Very, very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 63.24 (Glentauchers 19 yo 1989/2009)

SMWS 63.24 (Glentauchers 19 yo 1989/2009)

2010, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
52.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, raisins, cream soda, mothballs, honey, hints of vanilla, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, watery, loose, turns astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, raisins, cream soda, mothballs, peat, black tea.
Finish: Medium. Raisins, black tea, orange peel.

Comments:

Loaded with fruit and tannins. It's quite chemical, and a little mouth puckering. Not something very common, this whisky. It's light and flavourful, with some slightly unpleasant flavours. But those add to the complexity, which I like.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 4.125 (Highland Park 8 yo 1999/2007)

SMWS 4.125 (Highland Park 8 yo 1999/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Yellow gold
60.6% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Camphor, cardamom, pineapples, oranges, lemons, honey, butter, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, oily, smooth.
Tasting: Sour. Honey, camphor, oranges, leather, peat, butter, hints of tobacco leaf.
Finish: Long. Leather, honey, oranges, peat.

Comments:

A very spicy, fruity Highland Park, with an especially strong camphor taste. It's a little hard to drink because of that - I associate camphor with a strong-smelling Chinese herbal remedy my mother swore by for bruises. But since whisky is medicine (according to some old Irish bloke), maybe I should just shut up and chug it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Jim Beam Black 8 yo

Jim Beam Black 8 yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconuts, vanilla, honey, bananas, caramel, cotton candy, hints of bubble gum.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, slick, loose.
Tasting: Sweet. Coconuts, vanilla, bananas, caramel, lemon juice, hints of brown paper, hints of bubble gum.
Finish: Long. Lemon juice, brown paper, bananas, coconuts.

Comments:

Not as much banana as I'm used to in my bourbon, much more coconut. Quite light, and I had to work hard to find the flavours. This whisky is sweet, on a number of different levels, and rewards some introspection.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardbeg Corryvreckan

Ardbeg Corryvreckan

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Copper gold
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, tarry rope, chocolate, brine, smoke, lemons, caramel, hints of iodine. With water, less briney, turns citrusy and fresh.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, smooth, slick.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Chocolate, lemons, smoke, peat, iodine, marmalade, tobacco, tarry rope. With water, sweeter, more orangey, hints of strawberries appear.
Finish: Long. Chillies, iodine, chocolate, brine.

Comments:

Ardbeg is gorgeous with chocolate. This particular expression takes that taste experience to new heights. It's chockfull of the usual Ardbeg flavours - chocolate, peat, smoke - and adds citrus, brine and iodine. A little water loosens it up and brings out sweetness, but I'm still undecided as to whether I like it neat or diluted.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 73.37 (Aultmore 17 yo 1992/2009)

SMWS 73.37 (Aultmore 17 yo 1992/2009)

2010, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, cardamom, cinnamon, cardboard, brown paper, hints of honey, hints of hops.
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, watery, loose.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Bananas, cinnamon, plums, cardboard, brown paper, hops, apples, oats.
Finish: Medium. Bananas, apples, plums.

Comments:

Jamie Oliver has a muesli recipe where he adds grated apple and banana slices to home made muesli. It's good - fruity and satisfying. This whisky tastes a little like that, except that there's a lot of apple, banana and plum, and relatively little oats. Egg nog muesli?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 100.9 (Strathmill 11 yo 1998/2009)

SMWS 100.9 (Strathmill 11 yo 1998/2009)

2010, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
58.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, lemon zest, grape juice, sponge cake, hints of almonds.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, oily, slightly sticky.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, vanilla, grape juice, sponge cake, almonds, custard, milk.
Finish: Medium. Bitter, toffee, grape juice, almonds.

Comments:

Fruity, milky, and smells like someone baked a cake in the room. There's a curious bitter note running through the taste and lingering in the finish. Ever had vanilla sponge and a glass of wine? Me neither, but this reminds me of that.

Verdict:

I like this.

North Port-Brechin 20 yo 1970/1990

North Port-Brechin 20 yo 1970/1990

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Bananas, raisins, hoppy beer, toast, brown sugar, hints of smoke, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, bananas, cedar wood, smoke, driftwood, hoppy beer, hints of sea salt, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Short. Walnut skins, smoke, bananas, hints of sea salt.

Comments:

Pretty hard to track down online. I don't know for sure if this is 20 years old (and indeed, whether it was bottled in 1990) as it tastes too old for just 20 years of wood aging. Very robust, bitter and smoky, with a bourbony banana scent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.