Blair Athol 29yo 1988/2017

Blair Athol 29yo 1988/2017

No Tie Required, The Whisky Agency
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
51.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, white pepper, wet stones, peaches, cream, hints of aluminium foil. With water, lemons, peaches, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Wet stones, chalk, malted grains, cream, barley sugar, white pepper, lemon zest, hints of pears. With water, malted grains, wet stones, lemons, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Cream, barley sugar, wet stones, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite a sweet dram, but there’s some complex earthiness, almost a chalky minerally flavour along with the malty notes. Water brings out the maltiness along with a citrus zing.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Coleburn 26yo 1983/2009

Coleburn 26yo 1983/2009

Fossils, The Whisky Agency
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold, hints of pink
49.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White peaches, malted grains, guavas, sandalwood, vanilla, brass polish, white pepper, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, mouth coating, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Soor ploom sweets, malted grains, white peaches, camphor, sandalwood, tamarind, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Brass polish, white peaches, guavas, tamarind, sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Fruity, tangy and malty whisky. Very pleasant mouthfeel, thick, almost chewy. On the tongue lots of floral spicy notes appear, with a nice little peppery bite at the end. Delicious stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Garioch 25yo 1989/2014

Glen Garioch 25yo 1989/2014

Earth Flying, The Whisky Agency
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale yellow
50.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cocoa nibs, molasses, musk, dark chocolate, orange peel, brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, expands slightly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Brass polish, dark chocolate, cinnamon, orange peel, damson jam, tarragon, hints of cream. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, damson jam, vanilla, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

This Geery is sweet and chocolatey, with some feinty edges and a nice tarragon note on the tongue. No water for this one, it’s right on the edge for me, and is very skippable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenury Royal 37yo 1973/2011

Glenury Royal 37yo 1973/2011

Nectar, The Whisky Agency
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
43% ABV
Half dram

Nose: Black tea, honey, coffee, apples, lanolin, chocolate, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, oily, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, chocolate, lanolin, plums, coffee, apples, hints of green olives. 
Finish: Long. Apples, coffee, chocolate, honey, black tea, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Now that I look at my tasting note, it seems a bit sparse. But that wasn't what the whisky was like at all. It was a surprising combination of sweet, bitter, herbal and... farmyard? Yes, definitely a hand cream note, from when people used to put wool oil into the stuff. And a long glorious finish, with a little tang of peaches at the end to lift a dense, bitter sweet aftertaste.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.