North Port 15yo 1974/1989 Very Rare

North Port 15yo 1974/1989 Very Rare

Sestante
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark yellow
66.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, peaches, sandalwood, magic marker, fresh baked bread, lemon sweets, peppermint, hints of malted grains. With water, olive oil, lemon sweets, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, sandalwood, olive oil, clay dust, dunnage, malted grains, lemon sweets, hints of papayas. With water, olive oil, lemon sweets, peppermint.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, papayas, sandalwood, olive oil, dunnage. 

Comments: 

Superb whisky, perfectly drinkable at this high strength. Plenty of stone fruit and ily dunnage, with lemon sweets and peppermint. Water brings out a bitter olive oil note and more lemon sweets.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 The Peated

Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 The Peated

Official bottling
Single rye - East Highlands
Dark gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, lemon zest, black pepper, rye bread, coriander, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Vanilla, lemon zest, black tea, black pepper, coriander, smoke, sea salt, peat. 
Finish: Short. Peat, smoke, black pepper, coriander, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Quite herbal, plenty of that peppery rye note, but also married to peat, smoke, lemons and rye bread. Quite balanced, peated rye whisky definitely works. More please.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 The PX

Arbikie Highland Rye 1794 The PX

Official bottling
Single rye - East Highlands
Dark amber 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, turpentine, raisins, pear drops, rye bread, orange blossom, hints of pine needles. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Turpentine, rye bread, orange blossom, sea salt, marmalade, honey, vanilla, black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Orange blossom, black pepper, sea salt, rye bread. 

Comments: 

Quite a chemical tasting whisky, the spicy rye note has been transmuted to oily turpentine and maybe some pine. It’s surprisingly salty, lots of rye bread and sea salt come to the fore in the mouth.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 94.14 (Fettercairn 32yo 1988/2021)

SMWS 94.14 (Fettercairn 32yo 1988/2021)

2021, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Sunshine yellow
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, malted grains, sourdough bread, white grapes, nutmeg. With water, sourdough bread, candle wax, lemon zest, hoppy beer. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, sourdough bread, malted grains, hoppy beer, white grapes, hints of cinnamon. With water, malted grains, candle wax, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Hoppy beer, white grapes, malted grains, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Zesty and estery, lots of cereal notes too. Water opens it up, becomes more malty and waxy. There’s still plenty of lemon and white grapes though, very complex dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fettercairn 40yo 1969/2009 Rare Vintage

Fettercairn 40yo 1969/2009 Rare Vintage

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark amber 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Walnuts, walnut skins, sourdough bread, lemon zest, white grapes, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Sourdough bread, nutmeg, cloves, raisins, lemon zest, walnut skins, malted grains, candle wax, lychees. 
Finish: Long. Blackcurrant cordial, raisins, damson jam, cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Intense and layered, a great example of how aged whisky can taste. Lots of great cereal notes? Overload with a nutty bitterness, with plenty of blackcurrant. Utterly delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fettercairn 30yo 1988/2019 (bottled for C Dully Selection)

Fettercairn 30yo 1988/2019 (bottled for C Dully Selection)

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden
56.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chicken stock, marrowfat peas, vitamin C tablets, malted grains, honey, white pepper. With water, ink, marrowfat peas, honey, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Salty. Chicken stock, marrowfat peas, malted grains, white pepper, chalk, honey. With water, honey, white grapes, chalk, ink. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, fresh baked bread, honey, hints of fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Cask 2007. Quite a savoury whisky, lots of chicken and sweet peas, with a peppery, chalky undertone, especially on the tongue. Very complex, unusual, and quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fettercairn 24yo 1997/2022

Fettercairn 24yo 1997/2022

Fynest Series, Loch Fyne Whiskies
Single malt - East Highlands
Bright yellow
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fennel, camphor, sandalwood, lemon zest, white pepper, malted grains, hay. With water, sandalwood, malted grains, white pepper, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Lemon zest, fennel, mint, malted grains, camphor, fresh cut grass, white grapes, white pepper. With water, camphor, molasses, toast, honey. 

Finish: Long. Mint, molasses, honey, fresh cut grass, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 1903355. Quite herbal but water brings out some savoury hints of roast chicken. Water also cuts the maltiness on the tongue, leaving a lingering fragrance of sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Garioch 1971 for Oddbins

Glen Garioch 1971 for Oddbins

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, camphor, black tea, raisins, sea salt, hints of roast chicken, hints of mustard. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, oily, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Camphor, leather, gentian, raisins, roast chicken, sea salt, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, leather, gentian, camphor, hints of mustard. 

Comments: 

Bitter and herbal to begin with, but leather and raisins take over. There’s some savoury notes as well, and a tinge of the characteristic mustard. Tastes old, which it is, of course.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fettercairn 22yo 1998/2020

Fettercairn 22yo 1998/2020

Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
56.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Gooseberries, lemon zest, magic marker, malted grains, white pepper, hints of camphor, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, gooseberries, cream, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, camphor, grapefruit, white pepper, hints of gentian. With water, vanilla, cream, malted grains, honey. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Cask 3222. Fruity but with a bitter edge, lots of citrus and camphor. The finish doesn’t match the rest of the dram, a little short, although it’s peppery and citrusy.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fettercairn 22yo

Fettercairn 22yo

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, honey, malted grains, vanilla, caramel, rubber bands, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pencil lead, white pepper, honey, rubber bands, leather, pears, gooseberries. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, pears, pencil lead, gooseberries, honey. 

Comments: 

Feinty and fragrant, lots of leather and rubber bands notes, but it’s well integrated with the fruity notes in the background. It all makes for a very complex, layered dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fettercairn 29yo 1988/2017

Fettercairn 29yo 1988/2017

75, Maltbarn
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale green gold
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, gooseberries, lemon zest, yoghurt, ink, iron filings, strawberry laces. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Peat, iron filings, gooseberries, wet stones, ink, lemon zest, pears, hints of roast beef. 
Finish: Medium. Pears, gooseberries, ink, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Fruity, astringent, but retains a bitter, slightly metallic note. There’s a meatiness to this whisky, but it’s delicate and probably present only as a faint note on the back palate.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fettercairn 34yo 1975/2009

Fettercairn 34yo 1975/2009

Old Train Line, Jack Wieber’s Whisky World
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber bronze
48.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, yoghurt, ink, iron filings, fresh cut grass, dried pears, hints of oak. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, raspberries, dried pears, iron filings, fresh cut grass, sarsaparilla, hints of oak. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, raisins, raspberries, cream, ink, iron filings. 

Comments: 

Cask 0297. Quite feinty and minerally, almost metallic. There’s also a herbal edge, grassy sarsaparilla, that fades to raspberries and cream on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glencadam 17yo 2005/2022 Port Pipe

Glencadam 17yo 2005/2022 Port Piper

Official bottling 

Single malt - East Highlands
Dark red 
59% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, raspberry jam, sandalwood, ginger snaps, toast, shortbread. With water, raspberry jam, orange peel, roses, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackcurrant cordial, chocolate, vanilla, cherries, ginger snaps, shortcrust pastry. With water, cherries, orange peel, raspberry jam, shortbread. 
Finish: Short. Shortcrust pastry, toast, chocolate, ginger snaps, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Cask 2788. Posh Ribena! Toasty, fruity and warm, with plenty of ginger biscuits on the nose and on the tongue. Water opens up a floral set of notes, roses predominate. Very nice dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 19.43 (Glen Garioch 19yo 1988/2008)

SMWS 19.43 (Glen Garioch 1988/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands 
Golden, hints of pink
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, cream, candle wax, hay, fresh cut grass, camphor, hints of turmeric. With water, raisins, blueberry jam, honey, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, warm, astringent. 

Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Blueberry jam, hay, fresh cut grass, camphor, mustard, gooseberries, hints of cocoa nibs. With water, mustard, applesauce, blueberry jam, cinnamon, honey. 
Finish: Short. Camphor, candle wax, hay, gooseberries, applesauce, hints of cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Creamy and herbal, and water brings out a lot of fruit. It’s got a bitterness on the tongue that is almost mouth puckering. It’s layered and complex though, with clear delineation between flavours. Very good whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Garioch 10yo Single Highland Malt

Glen Garioch 10yo Single Highland Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber gold

40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, hay, fresh cut grass, tobacco leaf, camphor, mustard, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slippery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, raisins, camphor, mustard, wet stones, hay, black tea, hints of cloves, hints of turmeric. 
Finish: Short. Wet stones, candle wax, black tea, hay, hints of turneric. 

Comments: 

An old official bottling from the 90s. It’s more intense than today’s OBs, tastes like there’s more older spirit in it.  The grassy herbal character is more evident here than in the current OBs too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Garioch 33yo 1978/2012 for Milroy’s of Soho

Glen Garioch 33yo 1978/2012 for Milroy’s of Soho

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
58.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, white grapes, digestive biscuits, leather, honey, gooseberries, hints of cream. With water, honey, malted grains, coffee, hints of digestive biscuits. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toffee, dark chocolate, white pepper, leather, white grapes, gooseberries, coffee, malted grains. With water, honey, white grapes, malted grains, coffee. 
Finish: Long. Gooseberries, honey, coffee, toffee, hints of mustard. 

Comments: 

Cask 10999. Sweet with big bitter notes that come in waves. Water brings out the malty sweetness, less fruity, but still the bitter fragrant notes that taste like coffee. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Garioch 41yo 1978/2020 Handfilled Cask 11002

Glen Garioch 41yo 1978/2020

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden brown
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, mustard, photocopy paper, orange peel, honey, oolong tea, turmeric. With water, honey, chocolate, damson jam, turmeric. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, toffee, orange peel, honey, turmeric, mustard, tobacco leaf. With water, leather, damson jam, tobacco leaf, white grapes. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, orange peel, mustard, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 11002. Fruity and bitter sweet, lots of layered complex notes, it’s a rich and rounded whisky. There’s that characteristic mustard and pungent turmeric note on the nose. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glen Garioch 30yo 1990/2020

Glen Garioch 30yo 1990/2020

Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - East Highlands
White wine 
52.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cotton sheets, white wine, malted grains, yoghurt, white grapes, hints of white pepper. With water, lemon sweets, camphor, mustard, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. White wine, autumn leaves, camphor, white grapes, mustard, cotton sheets, photocopy paper. With water, white wine, white grapes, cotton sheets, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, malted grains, fresh cut grass, hints of yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Cask 20253. Lactic and spritely, lots of tart fruity notes. The mustard is there though, but gentle, more like an earthiness that pervades the whisky. Well layered, but I like the lactic notes less.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Garioch 35yo 1986/2021

Glen Garioch 35yo 1986/2021

Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - East Highlands
Light gold 
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, white grapes, leather, magic marker, pears, camphor, hints of chillies. With water, magic marker, camphor, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, expands, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. White grapes, leather, autumn leaves, mustard, chillies, pears, lohan fruit. With water, sea salt, pears, sandalwood, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Short. Pears, magic marker, white grapes, mustard. 

Comments: 

Cask DL15060. Very herbal and savoury, but there’s plenty of the more bitter and complex sorts of fruits - chillies and lohan- and a touch of the classic Garioch mustard. A slightly disappointing short finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Garioch 23yo 1989/2013

Glen Garioch 23yo 1989/2013

Passenger Liners, Jack Wieber’s Whisky World
Single malt - East Highlands
White wine
54.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ink, white wine, malted grains, white pepper, cream, hints of sultanas. With water, lemon zest, peaches, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Mustard, leather, coffee, white wine, white pepper, tobacco leaf, ink, leather. With water, coffee, mustard, ink, lemon zest, sea salt. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, mustard, coffee, lemon zest, leather. 

Comments: 

Bitter and herbal, but with tantalising hints of sweet fruit here and there. Water brings even more bitterness to the fore, but also some fragrant citrusy lemon. A very nice dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.