Glencraig 33yo 1976/2010

Glencraig 33yo 1976/2010

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold 
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, pineapples, pencil lead, wet stones, brown paper, smoke, hints of papayas. With water, pineapples, pencil lead, wet stones, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, static, airy. 

Tasting:  Bitter sour. Pineapples, gunpowder, pencil lead, wet stones, black tea, lemon zest, brown paper. With water, pencil lead, pineapples, cream, hints of gunpowder.

Finish: Long. Vanilla, malted grains, pineapples, orange peel, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Cask 6782. Very sulphurous, very citrusy dram, but curiously, it works. The magic of long aging, perhaps. There are also huge flinty, minerally notes that offset the peat beautifully. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glencraig 40yo 1976/2017

Glencraig 40yo 1976/2017

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale green gold
42.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, green apples, vanilla, pear drops, apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Green apples, vanilla, honey, white grapes, jasmine, apricot jam, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, green apples, lemon zest, apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 4253. I’ve not had Glencraig for a long time, and this one is less floral and perfumy than the ones I’ve had before. It’s a little more robust, with some fruity jamminess that is lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 104.8 (Glencraig 33 yo 1974/2008)

SMWS 104.8 (Glencraig 33 yo 1974/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Light gold
49.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, surgical spirit, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange blossom, cedar wood, brazil nuts.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, watery, loose.
Tasting: Sour. Vanilla, green tea, orange blossom, cedar, brazil nuts, cinnamon, hints of nutmeg.
Finish: Short. Orange blossom, cinnamon, green tea.

Comments:

Styled by the SMWS as "Sophia Loren in a mink coat". Very accurate indeed - floral, fragrant and perfumed. There's a slight astringency on the tongue, with a delicate green tea flavour. Very nice and refreshing, with a touch of Japanese class.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 104.12 (Glencraig 34 yo 1974/2009)

SMWS 104.12 (Glencraig 34 yo 1974/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, plums, apples, lemons, photocopy paper, sandalwood, hints of cedar.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loosens, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Plums, apples, sandalwood, cedar, photocopy paper, tobacco leaf, hints of raisins, hints of lemons.
Finish: Short. Cedar, plums, apples, lemons.

Comments:

Fragrant and perfumed, with a delicate incense-like flavour that is reminiscent of sandalwood. This whisky is classy and refined, with a gentle palate that is everything I have come to expect from Glen Craig. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 104.11 (Glencraig 34 yo 1974/2008)

SMWS 104.11 (Glencraig 34 yo 1974/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coffee, raisins, runner beans, cedar, sandalwood, apples.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Salty sour. Coffee, butter, vanilla, starfruit, mango, cloves, chocolate, melon.
Finish: Medium. Citrus, sandalwood, incense, mango.

Comments:

Ooh. Lovely perfumy notes - incense, sandalwood, like a Buddhist temple. Chocolate and mango too, with some other fruits and spice. Very nice indeed. Less perfumy than this one (described to me as "a Sophia Loren whisky") and actually a lot tastier.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 104.10 (Glencraig 33 yo 1974/2008)

SMWS 104.10 (Glencraig 33 yo 1974/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, vanilla, pear, lemon, cream, butter, hints of sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, chewy, static.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Earl Grey tea, rose, key limes, melon, hints of cloves.
Finish: Short. Orange blossom, passion fruit, jasmine, hints of pear.

Comments:

Tasty, very floral, especially in the finish. The rose, jasmine and orange blossom notes are so clear and ethereal. Excellent refreshing complex stuff. My only gripe is that 45% is almost certainly under-proof, at least, as far as tastiness goes. I don't know if Lomond stills in a distillery count as a separate distillery, but they really shouldn't have been dismantled. Hopefully I can get some more of this before it's too late.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.