John Crabbie Peated Virgin Oak Cask Matured

John Crabbie Peated Virgin Oak Cask Matured

John Crabbie
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sea salt, vanilla, oak chips, peat, smoke, sour cream, hints of farmyard. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, peat, smoke, raisins, dried apricots, cream, hints of sour cream. 
Finish: Long. Oak chips, smoke, soot, peat, sea salt. 

Comments: 

Quite harshly peated, but underneath there’s a gentle, light, slightly oily distillate with notes of vanilla and apricots. Decent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Crabbie 22yo Orkney Single Malt

Crabbie 22yo Orkney Single Malt

Crabbie
Single malt - Islands
Copper orange
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marmalade, mint, menthol, lemon sweets, honey, brass polish, leather, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, marmalade, honey, toffee apples, brass polish, wet stones, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Medium. Rhubarb and custard sweets, brass polish, orange peel, lemon sweets. 

Comments: 

A very marmalade-y, fruity Highland Park. The peatiness is just a whisper, manifesting itself in some menthol and brass polish in the finish. A very pleasant dram, wouldn’t have guessed it was Highland Park if I’d hadn’t been told.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Crabbies 30yo

Crabbies 30yo

Crabbies
Single malt - Speyside
Dark red
48.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, red grapes, peat, strawberries, hints of black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, warming, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, pears, white grapes, kiwi fruit, strawberries, hints of peat. 
Finish: Long. Kiwi fruit, peat, white grapes, hints of cucumber. 

Comments: 

That this is peated, 30 year old Macallan is an open secret. It's unusual though, very fruity, chockful of grapes (both red and white) and both white fruits and red fruits. It's not as intense as other sherry bombs, instead it's subtle and gentle, and warming.

Verdict:

I like this.