Glenallachie-Glenlivet 16 yo 1992/2009

Glenallachie-Glenlivet 16 yo 1992/2009

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Pale green
60.8% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Cream, peanuts, pears, limes, vanilla, hints of balsamic vinegar. With water, savoury, more peanuts, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, a little fizzy, turns airy.
Tasting: Sour salty. Pears, limes, cream, peanuts, hints of chillies, hints of balsamic vinegar. With water, sweeter, saltier, honey, hints of peat.
Finish: Short. Chillies, balsamic vinegar, pears, peanuts.

Comments:

Immensely fruity, and tart at its bottled strength. However, once water is added, it turns sweet savoury, with plenty of honey-roasted peanuts. Delicious, but could perhaps have aged a little more.

Verdict:

I like this.

Four Roses Single Barrel

Four Roses Single Barrel

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, brown paper, bananas, cream, hints of mint, hints of butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, loosens in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Vanilla, brown paper, bananas, cola nuts, mint, hints of butterscotch.
Finish: Long. Vanilla, cola nuts, brown paper, mint.

Comments:

Not much of a nose (I had to work really hard to detect the aromas) but my goodness, this is heaven on the tongue. Really sweet savoury, with a delicious flavour reminiscent of cola nuts. Awesome sipping bourbon.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 27.105 (Springbank 13 yo 2000/2013)

SMWS 27.105 (Springbank 13 yo 2000/2013)

2014, SMWS
Single malt - Campbeltown
Chestnut
53.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, ginger, strawberries, honey, coffee, hints of chillies. With water, creamier, strawberries, coffee.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingles, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet. Ginger, cream, honey, coffee, strawberries, cod liver oil, hints of chillies, hints of toast. With water, creamier, leather, wood polish.
Finish: Medium. Toast, ginger, cream, coffee.

Comments:

A choice forced on me by the fact that the whiskies I was really interested in weren't available. A good substitute nevertheless, I've not had a Springbank in a while. This one is atypical, none of those harsher, peatier notes, instead awash with fruit, coffee and toast.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 100.10 (Strathmill 8 yo 2005/2013)

SMWS 100.10 (Strathmill 8 yo 2005/2013)

2014, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
60.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, apples, white wine, vanilla, hints of brown paper, hints of tobacco leaf.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, turns watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour . Pears, apples, white wine, vanilla, hints of tobacco, hints of pine.
Finish: Long. White wine, vanilla, hints of apples.

Comments:

White wine in colour, white wine by nature. Fruity and light, some resiny notes. Almost not whisky at all, and surprisingly stable in its lack of development. I left this for a good 20 minutes, and it didn't change very much. Adding water didn't change it either.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenugie 33 yo 1977/2011

Glenugie 33 yo 1977/2011

Signatory, Cask Strength
Single malt - Eastern Highlands
Russet
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hazelnuts, red wine, cherries, red grapes, mead, hints of orange peel. With water, cream, roses, orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery.
Tasting: Sour. Cherries, hazelnuts, red grapes, mead, roses, hints of orange peel. With water, sweeter, cream, milk, roses, orange peel, cloves.
Finish: Long. Mead, cherries, hazelnuts, cloves.

Comments:

Heck of a sherry monster, this one. A delectable combination of mead, wine, Cointreau and scotch. That sherry cask sure did the whisky justice, as we will never see its like again.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenglassaugh Revival

Glenglassaugh Revival

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, honey, sherry, salt caramel, walnut.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns light, airy, loose.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, apples, cotton candy, salt caramel, walnuts, hints of bread.
Finish: Long. Salt caramel, bread, honey, apples.

Comments:

Revival indeed - the first whisky released from Glenglassaugh distillery after its resurrection from the dead in 2008. It's so easy drinking and pleasant that I am reminded of the Corpse Reviver cocktail - hair of the dog, made from gin, lemon juice, triple sec, Lillet and absinthe. Good as that is, this is better. As a hangover cure, since good whisky never gave anyone hangovers...

Verdict:

I like this a lot.