Glenlossie 8yo 2017/2026

Glenlossie 8yo 2017/2026

Octave, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Golden 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, white chocolate, elderflower, malted grains, magic marker, honey, vanilla. With water, cream, magic marker, pears, surgical spirit. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White chocolate, magic marker, pears, elderflower, cream, honey, hints of malted grains. With water, cream, pears, elderflower, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, orange peel, burnt sugar, elderflower. 

Comments: 

Floral and caramelly, and outstanding dram. Lots of spirity, feinty notes appear once water is added. But there’s an intrinsic sweetness and richness to this, quite like white chocolate.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Holyrood 3yo 2021/2025

Holyrood 3yo 2021/2025

Single Cask, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, malted grains, orange peel, nutmeg, photocopy paper, brown paper, hints of tobacco leaf. With water, orange peel, lemon curd, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Green tea, peaches, photocopy paper, brown paper, sandalwood, nutmeg, fresh baked bread. With water, photocopy paper, peaches, lemon curd, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, nutmeg, sandalwood, cornflakes, hints of nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Cask 12150. Quite citrusy and weighty, lots of layered flavours with a good degree of intensity. Water brings out a dry paperiness and more lemon curd, as well as stone fruit. A good dram, a fine example of young whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Banff 38yo 1975/2013

Banff 38yo 1975/2013

Tantalus, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold 
49.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, bananas, meringues, peaches, fresh cut grass, white chocolate, dark chocolate, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Leather, celery, peaches, pineapples, vanilla, bananas, hints of tobacco leaf. 

Finish: Long. White chocolate, dark chocolate, tobacco leaf, leather, meringues. 

Comments: 

Cask 1028. Lovely old Banff, lots of old bottle effect. It’s so leathery the fruity notes are somewhat obscured. But they still come through, and there’s also a lovely white chocolate note, followed by bitter dark chocolate. Very nice, just the sort of old dram I love.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenury Royal 22yo 1984/2006

Glenury Royal 22yo 1984/2006

Rarest of the Rare, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, roast chicken, barley sugar, fresh baked bread, sea salt, apples, chalk, soy sauce. With water, pears, lemon zest, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh baked bread, chalk, hints of lemon zest. With water, lemon zest, white grapes, pears, hints of lavender. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, white grapes, barley sugar, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 3046. Floral and light, with a little bit of old bottle effect, this Josh is spectacular. Lots of underlying, slightly feinty and sulphurous notes, but these are gentle and complement the floral fruit. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenlochy 24yo 1980/2005

Glenlochy 24yo 1980/2005

Rarest of the Rare, Duncan Taylor 
Single malt - Western Highlands
Copper gold 
61.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: White chocolate, white pepper, galangal, leather, roast pork, lemon zest, magic marker, sea salt. With water, magic marker, fresh baked bread, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, nectarines, galangal, white pepper, vanilla, fresh baked bread, magic marker. With water, fresh baked bread, vanilla, nectarines, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, leather, white chocolate, nectarines, hints of roast pork. 

Comments: 

A meaty herbal, sweet and fruity Glenlochy. Very complex, it needs time to open up, nearly 30 minutes, to develop to its full range of flavours. Lots of floral notes as well, plenty of galangal.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Drumblade 10yo 2008/2019

Drumblade 10yo 2008/2019

Dimensions, Duncan Taylor
Teaspooned malt - Lowlands
Green gold
54.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, yoghurt, brass polish, honey, golden syrup, overripe figs, hints of white pepper. With water, barley sugar, lemon sweets, malted grains, olive oil, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, expands, loosens. 

Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon sweets, pineapples, golden syrup, white pepper, gingerbread, hints of butterscotch. With water, lemon sweets, olive oil, malted grains, hints f tomato purée. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon sweets, yoghurt, pineapples, white pepper, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Cask 14900062. Drumblade is teaspooned Alisa Bay. It’s got a sweet, slightly peppery flavour, like olive oil. Water brings this note forward. It’s also got heaps of citrus. Quite tasty, and rather unique.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathmill 22yo 1990/2013

Strathmill 22yo 1990/2013

Dimensions, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
54.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, green tea, brass polish, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, fresh baked bread, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, hot, slippery. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Fresh baked bread, sea salt, brass polish, green tea, orange peel. With water, honey, fresh baked bread, raisins, green tea, caramel, hints of butterscotch. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, fresh baked bread, sea salt, honey, lemon sweets. 

Comments: 

Cask 4242. Rather tart and green Speyside whisky. It sweetens up a great deal once a few drops of water are added. A nice salty tannic finish, something quite rare and enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Linkwood 26yo 1990/2017

Linkwood 26yo 1990/2017

Dimensions, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber
45.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, lemon sweets, chocolate, leather, peanut butter. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, mouth coating.  
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Chocolate, lemon sweets, fresh baked bread, greengages, barley sugar, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Short. Lemon sweets, fresh baked bread, barley sugar, honey, toffee.  

Comments: 

Cask 5046. This whisky is like chocolate covered toffee greengages. I did argue with Marco and a fellow patron as to whether it was apples rather than greengages, but we had to agree to disagree in the end! Very pleasant indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Brora 27yo 1981/2009

Brora 27yo 1981/2009

Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Sunshine
51.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, leather, green tea, winter melon, smoke, dried pears, sea salt, tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, leather, hay, peat, sea salt, orange peel, tobacco leaf, hints of dried apricots, hints of smoke. 

Finish: Long. Leather, green tea, orange peel, hay, sea salt. 

Comments: 

As usual, I get a frisson of excitement when tasting Brora. I never know when the last dram I have of it will be, thought maybe I might taste some of the ‘new’ Brora eventually. Early 80s Brora is sweeter than earlier makes, and this one is no exception. Lots of sweet fruit alongside savoury peat, and a herbal edge to boot. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dallas Dhu 29yo 1981/2010

Dallas Dhu 29yo 1981/2010

Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peppermint, watermelon rind, white grapes, fresh cut grass, sweet peas, hints of dried pears. With water, kiwifruit, watermelon, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, warm, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour. Watermelon rind, white grapes, white pepper, fresh cut grass, pomeloes, hints of lemons. With water, lemon zest, malted grains, leather. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, lemons, fresh cut grass, dried pears. 

Comments: 

Cask 388. I like Dallas Dhu, it’s always a treat, and the whiskies tend to age very well. This one is no exception, lots of fruit and vegetal notes, as well as a fair bit of old bottle effect.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aultmore 8yo 2008/2017

Aultmore 8yo 2008/2017

The Octave, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Brass
53.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, barley sugar, brass polish, vanilla, hints of kiwifruit. With water, sandalwood, cinnamon, barley sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon sweets, soursop, green tea, barley sugar, white grapes, hints of vanilla. With water, more lemon sweets, white grapes, dust. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, black pepper, white grapes, barley sugar. 

Comments: 

Excellent cask strength Aultmore, lots of barley sugar, which to me is the typical note for this distillery (also many other distilleries in Speyside!). With water, it loosens, and more fruit notes appear. I really enjoyed this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Port Dundas 34 yo 1973/2007

Port Dundas 34 yo 1973/2007

Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor
Single grain - South Highlands
Amber rose
54.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut, banana, salt caramel, vanilla, honey, corn syrup, hints of cherries, hints of brine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, volatile, static.
Tasting: Sweet. Cherries, banana, coconut, honey, brown paper, hints of brine, hints of salt caramel.
Finish: Long. Brown paper, cherries, banana, hints of grilled fish.

Comments:

I've made a new discovery. Grain whisky and sherry go really well together. This one is full of interesting things, especially a spiky hint of grilled fish in the finish. Very good indeed.

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.

Imperial 9 yo "Battlehill"

Imperial 9 yo "Battlehill"

Battlehill, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, magic marker, soy sauce, apples, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemons, pears, raspberries, strawberries, hints of rose. With water, more rose, sweeter notes, more floral.
Finish: Short. Rose, pears, peanuts.

Comments:

Decent dram, if a bit young and spirity. Mellowed with water, lots of fruit and rose. My first Imperial - I like.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenlivet 37 yo 1970/2007

Glenlivet 37 yo 1970/2007

Rare Auld, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
51% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hint of peat, musk, hint of smoke, oak spice, apples, grapefruit.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, full, thick, smooth, syrupy.
Tasting: Sweet. Peaches, sour plums, raspberry jam, overripe fruits.
Finish: Long. Peanut skins, orange peel, spiced barley.

Comments:

Cask ref 2018, 163 bottles. Excellent old Speyside. It's not easy to get something this old and at such a good drinking strength too. I think I bought this for an excellent price; not selling it - the fruit is too tasty, and very enticing with the slight hints of peat and smoke...

Verdict:

I like this a lot!