Scapa 16 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, orange peel, lemons, white grape, hints of peat, hints of rose.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet. Peanuts, peat, orange peel, lemons, pear.
Finish: Short. Peanuts, white grape, peat.
Comments:
Nice - lightly floral, fruity and sweet. I think this is an improvement over the old Scapa 12 and 14 yos. I like this a lot indeed, and even though it's a bit understrength, it's definitely still a winner (although maybe the traditionalists won't say so!).
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Old Pulteney 17 yo
Old Pulteney 17 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Buttercup yellow
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, raisins, grass, salt caramel, green apples, hints of melon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, static, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet. Chocolate, grass, peat, salt caramel, buttercups.
Finish: Medium. Peat, chocolate.
Comments:
Very different from the other Old Pulteneys. Less salty, with a lot of apples - puts me in mind of meadows rather than the sea. Maybe a little peat just to remind me of where this comes from.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Buttercup yellow
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, raisins, grass, salt caramel, green apples, hints of melon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, static, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet. Chocolate, grass, peat, salt caramel, buttercups.
Finish: Medium. Peat, chocolate.
Comments:
Very different from the other Old Pulteneys. Less salty, with a lot of apples - puts me in mind of meadows rather than the sea. Maybe a little peat just to remind me of where this comes from.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Port Ellen 30 yo 1978/2009
Port Ellen 30 yo 1978/2009
Old & Rare Platinum, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islay
Pale straw
52.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, pear, peat, smoke, peanuts, smoked fish, hints of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickens, refreshing.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, peat, vanilla, honey, smoked fish, butter, peanuts.
Finish: Long. Bitter, walnut skins, smoked fish, peanuts.
Comments:
Lovely old Port Ellen - although maybe I'm biased because this is exactly as old as I am! Nice smoked fish as usual, with a lovely bitter walnut note underpinning it. And vanilla, surprising how well the flavour melds in with the rest.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Old & Rare Platinum, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islay
Pale straw
52.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butter, pear, peat, smoke, peanuts, smoked fish, hints of vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickens, refreshing.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, peat, vanilla, honey, smoked fish, butter, peanuts.
Finish: Long. Bitter, walnut skins, smoked fish, peanuts.
Comments:
Lovely old Port Ellen - although maybe I'm biased because this is exactly as old as I am! Nice smoked fish as usual, with a lovely bitter walnut note underpinning it. And vanilla, surprising how well the flavour melds in with the rest.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Old Pulteney 21 yo
Old Pulteney 21 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Salt caramel, butter, rice, seaweed, fried eggs, peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Salty. Butter, fried, eggs, seaweed, peat, chocolate, hints of raisins.
Finish: Medium. Peat, seaweed, salt caramel.
Comments:
Very salty, almost too savoury. But it's manageable, and the raisins give just enough of a hint of whiskiness. Very maritime, and in some ways more than a little Japanese. Reminded me of katsu-don, that dish of breaded fried pork, egg and onions on rice.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Salt caramel, butter, rice, seaweed, fried eggs, peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Salty. Butter, fried, eggs, seaweed, peat, chocolate, hints of raisins.
Finish: Medium. Peat, seaweed, salt caramel.
Comments:
Very salty, almost too savoury. But it's manageable, and the raisins give just enough of a hint of whiskiness. Very maritime, and in some ways more than a little Japanese. Reminded me of katsu-don, that dish of breaded fried pork, egg and onions on rice.
Verdict:
I like this.
Miyagikyo 10 yo
Miyagikyo 10 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Woodsmoke, tyre rubber, butter, biscuit, caramel, orange peel, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, expands, fresh.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Grass, rubber, cherries, toffee, orange peel, tobacco leaf .
Finish: Long. Salty, toffee, rubber.
Comments:
Like a good Clynelish, with that biscuity, slightly woody note. But this one has tobacco and a lot of orange peel, and some hints of Dalmore in that it's quite rubbery. Tasty, even if it is a little chemical.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Woodsmoke, tyre rubber, butter, biscuit, caramel, orange peel, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, expands, fresh.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Grass, rubber, cherries, toffee, orange peel, tobacco leaf .
Finish: Long. Salty, toffee, rubber.
Comments:
Like a good Clynelish, with that biscuity, slightly woody note. But this one has tobacco and a lot of orange peel, and some hints of Dalmore in that it's quite rubbery. Tasty, even if it is a little chemical.
Verdict:
I like this.
Mackmyra 4 yo 1st Edition
Mackmyra 4 yo 1st Edition
Official bottling
Single malt - Gastrikland
Pale gold
46.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Gin, chocolate, peanuts, apples, hints of pencil lead.
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, static, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Nutmeg, chocolate, peanuts, apples, gin, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, chocolate.
Comments:
Batch 2008-03. Not quite like the Mackmyras of old (?), the Preludium series, which tasted a lot of juniper. This one is more oaky and chocolatey, much more like Scotch. Which detracts a little from it in my view, because the hints of gin and juniper were what made this whisky very interesting.
Verdict:
Not bad.
Official bottling
Single malt - Gastrikland
Pale gold
46.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Gin, chocolate, peanuts, apples, hints of pencil lead.
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, static, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Nutmeg, chocolate, peanuts, apples, gin, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, chocolate.
Comments:
Batch 2008-03. Not quite like the Mackmyras of old (?), the Preludium series, which tasted a lot of juniper. This one is more oaky and chocolatey, much more like Scotch. Which detracts a little from it in my view, because the hints of gin and juniper were what made this whisky very interesting.
Verdict:
Not bad.
Hakushu 12 yo
Hakushu 12 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Straw gold
43.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Grass, butter, lemons, orange peel, seaweed, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, water, volatile.
Tasting: Salty bitter. Orange peel, lemons, caramel, hazelnuts, meringue, sea salt.
Finish: Short. Sweet, peaty, lemon zest.
Comments:
I'm not sure I get Japanese whisky... yet. Previously it seemed that Japanese whiskies married salty and sweet in a way that was quite obvious, in your face even, with the saltiness overlaying the sweetness, rather than the other way around (as with Scotch). This one, however, seems to be all salty, with just a few fragrant hints of fruit, fruit oils, and slightly sweet things.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Straw gold
43.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Grass, butter, lemons, orange peel, seaweed, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, water, volatile.
Tasting: Salty bitter. Orange peel, lemons, caramel, hazelnuts, meringue, sea salt.
Finish: Short. Sweet, peaty, lemon zest.
Comments:
I'm not sure I get Japanese whisky... yet. Previously it seemed that Japanese whiskies married salty and sweet in a way that was quite obvious, in your face even, with the saltiness overlaying the sweetness, rather than the other way around (as with Scotch). This one, however, seems to be all salty, with just a few fragrant hints of fruit, fruit oils, and slightly sweet things.
Verdict:
I like this.
Glenfarclas 43 yo 1965/2008
Glenfarclas 43 yo 1965/2008
Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sherry, honey, grape, oak, peat, caramel.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, unctuous, syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet. Oranges, honey, red grapes, oak, peat, raisins, butter, hints of cookie dough.
Finish: Long. Honey, sherry, red grapes.
Comments:
Labelled, not "Glenfarclas", but "probably Speyside's finest distillery". Well, this whisky is certainly very fine - quite like an old sherried Glen Grant, but without the rubber band / brandy notes. Lots and lots of red grapes and wine, great syrupy body too.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Caperdonich 36 yo 1972/2008
Caperdonich 36 yo 1972/2008
Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
54.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Salty, fermented grain, orange peel, lemons, grass, grilled meat, cheddar.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick.
Tasting: Sweet. Cheddar, grilled meat, lemons, grass, orange peel, marshmallows.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, honey, marshmallows.
Comments:
Excellent old whisky. Not sure how much more there is left of this stuff - probably not much. I feel privileged to taste it. Smells savoury, but it was sweet on the tongue, although much of the grilled meat notes remained. Beautiful.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
54.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Salty, fermented grain, orange peel, lemons, grass, grilled meat, cheddar.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick.
Tasting: Sweet. Cheddar, grilled meat, lemons, grass, orange peel, marshmallows.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, honey, marshmallows.
Comments:
Excellent old whisky. Not sure how much more there is left of this stuff - probably not much. I feel privileged to taste it. Smells savoury, but it was sweet on the tongue, although much of the grilled meat notes remained. Beautiful.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ben Nevis Single Cask 12 yo 1997/2009
Ben Nevis Single Cask 12 yo 1997/2009
Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Deep rose
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, butter, honey, port, sherry, peanuts, toffee, condensed milk.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickened slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Butter, peanuts, honey, condensed milk, tea, hints of toffee.
Finish: Medium. Tea, peanuts, honey.
Comments:
One of the new offerings available at Whisky Live 2009. Matured in port pipes, it's a lovely rose colour. Quite sweet, with hints of good things like honey and toffee and butter. Hard to discern any fruit, but otherwise quite enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Deep rose
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, butter, honey, port, sherry, peanuts, toffee, condensed milk.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickened slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Butter, peanuts, honey, condensed milk, tea, hints of toffee.
Finish: Medium. Tea, peanuts, honey.
Comments:
One of the new offerings available at Whisky Live 2009. Matured in port pipes, it's a lovely rose colour. Quite sweet, with hints of good things like honey and toffee and butter. Hard to discern any fruit, but otherwise quite enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this.
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