Glenglassaugh Fledgeling XB

Glenglassaugh Fledgeling XB

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Very pale gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, white wine, wheat, orange peel. With water, more wheat, hay.

Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, smooth, tingly.

Tasting: Sour. Oranges, bananas, wheat, hints of vanilla. With water, grassy, hay. 

Finish: Medium. Bananas, vanilla, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Not really whisky yet of course, this is just 1 year aged spirit. But quite fragrant and pleasant for all that. Good tangy flavours, strong hint of banana (like bourbon) with some nice orange peel in the background. Takes a little water, opens up and becomes quite grassy, slightly sweeter perhaps.

Verdict:  

I like this.

SMWS 73.44 (Aultmore 30 yo 1982/2011)

SMWS 73.44 (Aultmore 30 yo 1982/2011)

2011, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Red gold
53.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, oak, hints of raspberries.

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, mouth coating.

Tasting: Sweet. Oak, raisins, raspberries, chocolate, hints of chillies. 

Finish: Long. Chocolate, raspberries, orange peel.

Comments:

I found some old tasting notes. What the heck, might as well put them up!


This one was near to hand when I wanted something sherried and sweet, just a nice pre-Christmas treat. It did its job, but it didn't nearly taste its age. Adequate, but not really satisfying.

Verdict: 

Not bad

SMWS G5.3 (Invergordon 18 yo 1993/2011)

SMWS G5.3 (Invergordon 18 yo 1993/2011)

2011, SMWS
Single grain - North Highlands
Copper
65.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, raisins, marmalade, sesame seeds, oak, dried coconut, peaches, prunes, bananas. With water, lemons, cranberries, dried limes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, hot, loose.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Vanilla, raisins, marmalade, peaches, dried coconut, dried limes, cranberries, bananas. With water, more sour, peaches, brown paper, lemon juice.
Finish: Long. Marmalade, prunes, vanilla, bananas.

Comments:

Very sweet on the tongue, almost something I'd associate with bourbon or rum. Water brings out some tarter notes, this takes splashes of water as opposed to drips. Very complex, and eye-wateringly strong!

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 99.13 (Glenugie 31 yo 1980/2011)

SMWS 99.13 (Glenugie 31 yo 1980/2011)

2011, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
48.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, molasses, quince jam, pineapple, tobacco leaf, orange peel. With water, sweeter, strawberries, peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loose.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Quince jam, orange peel, tobacco leaf, molasses, leather, charcoal. With water, peaches, salt.
Finish: Long. Orange peel, quince jam, pineapple, charcoal.

Comments:

I won't pass up old Glenugie easily (is there any other type?). Very fruity, lots of sweet savoury descriptors, but there are weird bitter notes in the taste and the finish. They don't detract from what is a pretty complex whisky though. Maybe this should have been bottled a little earlier?

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS G8.1 (Cambus 1989/2011 21 yo)

SMWS G8.1 (Cambus 1989/2011 21 yo)

2011, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Straw
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pine, vanilla, strawberries, lychees, hints of cherries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pine, strawberries, raisins, melons, hay, hints of freshly mown grass.
Finish: Long. Bitter, black tea, pine, melons, strawberries.

Comments:

Starts promisingly, with a nice barrage of sweet fragrant fruit. First surprise - it's quite heavy! Pleasant on the tongue too, with vegetal grassy notes and pine coming to the fore. But the finish is bitter and tough, obscures the nice fruity flavours. Shame.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Millburn 16 yo 1966

Millburn 16 yo 1966

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

Nose: Butter, raisins, smoked pork, orange peel, mint, camphor.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loose, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, smoked pork, chocolate, butter, smoke, camphor, hints of cinnamon.
Finish: Long. Raisins, chocolate, butter, orange peel, mint.

Comments:

Oldie but goodie. Sweet and luxurious, with a smoky, spice, savoury bite. Something of an apothecary's cabinet. A small weakness in the mouthfeel - if this whisky was thick and sticky and rolled about the tongue it would be perfect. I was very lucky to acquire this sample.

Verdict:

I like this.

Littlemill 12 yo

Littlemill 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, vanilla, honey, yoghurt, new mown grass.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, orange peel, chocolate chips, vanilla, honey, straw.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, chocolate chips, orange peel, honey.

Comments:

Well, it's good to be back, after nearly 6 months off the whisky! While I have to go sparingly from now on, I can at least enjoy a dram occasionally. This little sample bottle is quite a tasty little treat from the dwindling Littlemill stock. Quite light, with sweet yet fresh flavours. There's a curious grassy twist on the nose that dries out a little on the tongue, reminding me of hay or straw. A nice one to come back to!

Verdict:I like this.