Port Ellen 15th Release 32 yo 1983/2015

Port Ellen 15th Release 32 yo 1983/2015

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber
53.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fish sauce, stewed apples, raisins, leather, pears, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slightly watery around the edges, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Stewed apples, dates, raisins, peat, smoke, leather, hints of pomegranate. 
Finish: Medium. Apples, peat, raisins, salt caramel, hints of pears. 

Comments: 

Rare chance to try something like this! It's amazing. Fruity and drinkable, the peat and smoke are ameliorated by a ton of jammy fruity notes. Pomegranate molasses anyone? The finish is especially magnificent, peaty apples drizzled with salt caramel. Mmmm. Who knew that Islay whisky could be good as dessert?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Braeval 14 yo 2001/2015

Braeval 14 yo 2001/2015

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toast, yoghurt, apples, pears, orange peel, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slightly watery around the edges, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Toast, orange peel, peaches, pears, vanilla, hints of cookie dough. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, orange peel, pears, hints of chocolate. 

Comments: 

Maybe it was my palate reeling after so much fine whisky, but it was hard to pin this one down. Creamy and milky, even yoghurty, but married to a lot of distinctive fruity notes. I could drink a lot of this, it's almost quaffable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathclyde 9 yo 2005/2015

Strathclyde 9 yo 2005/2015

Clan Denny, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber
56.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, brown paper, pears, apples, hints of toast, hints of leather. With water, apples, sesame, shortbread, pie crust. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly oily, tingly, loose. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, raisins, cream, digestive biscuits, apples, hints of yoghurt. With water, raisins, red wine, pie crust, sesame. 
Finish: Long. Cream, raisins, toast, yoghurt, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Cask ref DL 10867. This is long lasting and winey, I don't think anyone would identify this as a single grain on first blind tasting. It's even better with water, as the alcohol burn turns into something toasty, almost savoury, very much like good pie crust. Very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Caperdonich 21 yo 1994/2015

Caperdonich 21 yo 1994/2015

Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Brass
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, fresh baked bread, vanilla, yoghurt, hints of orange blossom. With water, cookie dough, malted grains, custard, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, slightly watery around the edges, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pears, orange juice, lemons,yoghurt, vanilla, hints of cream. With water, custard, malted grains, apples, more vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, lemons, orange juice. 

Comments: 

Cask ref DL 10769. Warm and vanilla-ey, plenty of fruit, especially citrus. Loads of toasty cereally notes as well. This is magnificent whisky. Caperdonich as I remember it has tangy pineapple notes, but here somehow it has been mellowed into sweet custard. The effects of age, maybe?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Kavalan Concertmaster

Kavalan Concertmaster

Official bottling
Single malt - North Taiwan
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, brown paper, chocolate, blackcurrants, peaches, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Blackcurrants, red grapes, raisins, chocolate, mangoes, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, mangoes, coffee, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Port cask matured Kavalan. Loads of blackcurrant, like drinking Ribena mixed in with whisky. Good sherry flavours, plenty of fruit (mangoes and peaches, it's not just the usual red grapes). Young and a bit sulphurous, but otherwise really very good for the price.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenfiddich Excellence 26 yo

Glenfiddich Excellence 26 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, chocolate, vanilla, cola nuts, black tea, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, sticky, slightly chewy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, chocolate, orange peel, raisins, pears, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Pears, chocolate, raisins, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Old Glenfiddich, the oldest in the official range. Lots of pear, but it's overlaid with plenty of sherry influence - raisins, chocolate, etc. There's a slight bitter note that's also fragrant, definitely coffee here. Overall a decent whisky, but somehow tastes younger than it is.

Verdict:

I like this.

Allt-a-Bhainne 18 yo 1996/2014

Allt-a-Bhainne 18 yo 1996/2014

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Lemon yellow
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange juice, lemon zest, brass polish, green tea, hints of cocoa. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, chunky, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour. Peaches, chocolate, green tea, lemon zest, hints of honey. 
Finish: Short. Cookie dough, vanilla, raisins, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Cask 10370. A chameleon whisky, citrusy and fresh on the nose, with just a hint of chocolate. Then on the tongue it becomes sour and fruity, slightly tannic. Once swallowed, the finish is different yet again - sweet and vanilla-laden.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberlour-Glenlivet 19 yo 1995/2014

Aberlour-Glenlivet 19 yo 1995/2014

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: White chocolate, white grapes, black tea, cocoa, lemon zest, hints of jasmine. With water, chocolate, peaches, hints of mango. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, turns slightly watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, malted grains, lemon zest, toast, black tea, hints of condensed milk, With water, more toast, peaches, chocolate. 
Finish: Medium.White chocolate, raisins, toast, hints of condensed milk. 

Comments: 

Sauternes cask, and it shows. Winey and chocolatey, laden with fruit and raisins. A little bit floral on the nose, but this disappears in the welter of fruity malty flavours on the tongue. Good, opens up a bit with water, turns more chocolatey.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benriach 20 yo

Benriach 20 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, black tea, honey, cinnamon, sea salt, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, thickens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, cinnamon, black tea, salt caramel, apples, hints of bananas. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, apples, leather, bananas. 

Comments: 

Fruity and astringent, there's quite a lot of tannic notes in this. Also surprisingly salty sweet, but very bitter on the tongue. Spicy too. Very decently priced for its age - not often you get 20 year old whisky for this much.

Verdict:

I like this.

Guillon Cuvée 42

Guillon Cuvée 42

Official bottling
Single malt - Champagne-Ardenne
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, oolong tea, raisins, milk chocolate, prunes, hints of roast pork. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, turns sticky, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. White grapes, raisins, prunes, blackberries, hints of peaches. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, white grapes, prunes, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Aged in Burgundy casks. This is grapey and rich, but still quite light. Plenty of white grapes (Penderyn like) but allied to a fruitiness and spiciness all its own. I have no idea where this distillery is, or its history, but it produces reasonably good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS G1.13 (North British 36 yo 1978/2015)

SMWS G1.13 (North British 36 yo 1978/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Buttercups
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose:  Cream, vanilla, lemon peel, orange zest, candied figs, hints of coffee. With water, dates, salt caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, sticky, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, chocolate, red grapes, vanilla, coffee, hints of toast. With water, saltier, dates, salt caramel, hints of cornflakes. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, chocolate, cinnamon, toast. 

Comments: 

Grain whisky is the best value drink for money in the whisky world at the moment, I think. Aged single grains don't seem to be popular. More for me. This one wears its age lightly, and is chockful of fruity notes neat. With water, it opens up beautifully, with savoury sweet notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS B4.2 (FEW 3 yo 2012/2016)

SMWS B4.2 (FEW 3 yo 2012/2016)

2016, SMWS
Single bourbon - Illinois
Amber
61.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, black tea, golden syrup, cloves, hints of liquorice. With water, sandalwood, oak, chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, slippery, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, brown paper, cloves, golden syrup, chocolate, hints of chillies. With water, more bitter, black tea, dark chocolate, cherries. 
Finish: Long. Cloves, liquorice, black tea, vanilla. 

Comments: 

More single cask bourbon! This one is spicy, and less bananary at cask strength, Gorgeously sweet, plenty of fruit, and slightly bitter. Good complex flavours, there should be more bourbon like this. I'd pay for it, and you should too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tomatin Legacy

Tomatin Legacy

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Brass
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sour cream, orange peel, leather, hints of wet leaves, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily, astringent. 
Tasting: Sour. Sour cream, raisins, orange peel, walnuts, lemon zest, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, green apples, sour cream, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Aged in virgin oak and bourbon barrels (!). Is this whisky or bourbon? Who cares? It's tart and grapey, but not overly sweet. There's a milky, creamy note, which would be great if there were say a chocolatey bite, but instead it's accompanied by orange peel and other citrus. Decent dram, not a particularly great one.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Evan Williams Single Barrel 10 yo 2004/2014

Evan Williams Single Barrel 10 yo 2004/2014

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
43.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, liquorice, toast, honey, bananas, maple syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Brown paper, condensed milk, desiccated coconut, plums, honey, hints of roast pork. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, condensed milk, roast pork, liquorice. 

Comments: 

I had the 2013 sister release a while back. This one is saltier and sweeter compared to its sister, but has the same savoury roast pork notes. Also plenty of liquorice and fruit, along with sweet notes of condensed milk. I like this better than the 2013 one actually.

Verdict:

I like this.

Paul John Edited

Paul John Edited

Official bottling
Single malt - Goa
Orange gold
46% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Peat, oranges, brass polish, lemons, peaches, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, turns watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Peat, oranges, fresh baked bread, cream, peaches, hints of green olives.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, oranges, lemons, peaches.

Comments:

Lightly peated, fresh and sweet, this whisky has a nice mouthfeel and is quite refreshing. It's a perfect middle ground. Fruity enough to be identified as a Paul John (albeit rather 'Highlander' in style), yet peated just enough to be interesting. Good stuff, look forward to more from this fine Indian distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapa Skiren

Scapa Skiren

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Golden yellow
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, plums, bananas, orange peel, pineapples, hints of mango. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, creamed coconut, mangoes, oranges, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Cardamom, mangoes, creamed coconut, pineapples. 

Comments: 

Fruity and light, the mango notes really come to the fore here. They're a little overpowering though, and it's hard work to discern the other notes hiding behind them. This is decent whisky for its price, which I suppose is fair enough, but it tastes a little... slapdash?

Verdict:

Not bad.

Karuizawa 31 yo Sherry Cask #3555

Karuizawa 31 yo Sherry Cask #3555

Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Mahogany
60.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, golden syrup, vanilla, waffles, red grapes,hints of balsamic vinegar. With water, strawberries, orange blossom, honey, pomegranate molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, hot, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, waffles, red grapes, balsamic vinegar, strawberries, hints of black pepper. With water, more sour, fresh baked bread, golden syrup, pomegranate molasses, hints of preserved walnuts. 
Finish: Long. Waffles, balsamic vinegar, pomegranate molasses, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Cask #3555, bottled for the Whisky Exchange. Despite the incredible colour, this whisky isn't overly sherried, by which I mean there's not an overpowering hit of red grapes. It does taste a lot like a good Pedro Ximenez sherry though (at least in the finish). Plenty of tart sweet concentrated notes (like the pomegranate molasses). Heavy and complex, worth every penny.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.