Glen Esk 12yo (bottled 1980s)

Glen Esk 12yo (bottled 1980s)

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, white grapes, orange blossom, vanilla, dried apricots, dried pears, leather, hints of candle wax, hints of dust. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Candle wax, dried pears, dried apricots, orange blossom, lemon drops, vanilla, celery salt, leather, hints of fresh baked breads. 
Finish: Medium. White wine, dried apricots, white grapes, honey, lemon drops, hints of celery salt, hints of dust. 

Comments: 

This was a lucky find. Very good 1970s distillate, already complex and intense, allied to flavour enhancing old bottle effect. Lots of dried fruits, leather and a whisper of celery salt. Awesome.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hillside 25yo 1970/1995 Rare Malts

Hillside 25yo 1970/1995 Rare Malts

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Pinewood
60% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, pine nuts, tobacco leaf, lemon zest, mint, sea salt, kiwi fruit. With water, peat drops, strawberries, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Pine nuts, leather, kiwi fruit, gooseberries, sea salt, toasted sourdough bread, hints of coffee. With water, sweeter, strawberries, honeydew melon, toasted sourdough, hints of pear drops. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, gooseberries, coffee, mint. 

Comments: 

Bottle 2915. Oof - very strong old Glen Esk, but why do these Rare Malts bottlings have a label recommending 2 parts whisky to 1 part water?? This one is delicious neat, lots of fruit married to some savoury leather. Not as much old bottle effect as the sister bottling. Still delicious though, highly enjoyable. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hillside 25yo 1969/1995

Hillside 25yo 1969/1995

Rare Malts, Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
61.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, leather, prunes, sea salt, stables, dark chocolate, smoke, hints of pears. With water, lemon, vanilla, jasmine, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, sticky, thickens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, smoke, lemon curd, meringue, dark chocolate, raisins, prunes. With water, leather, stables, green tea, honey, jasmine. 
Finish: Medium. Celery, leather, dark chocolate, lemon curd, hints of black tea. 

Comments: 

Hillside is apparently what Glen Esk distillery was once called. This little gem has heaps of old bottle effect, plenty of leather and celery, but has a gentle smokiness wreathed through with lemon, jasmine and dark chocolate. Water opens it up, bringing some farmyard notes, but also green tea and honey.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glen Esk 34yo 1980/2014

Glen Esk 34yo 1980/2014

Rare Old, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Goldenrod
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon, honeysuckle, fresh cut grass, peaches, jasmine. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, astringent, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon drops, peaches, mint, vanilla, figs, hints of white tea. 
Finish: Long. Lemon sherbet, honeysuckle, jasmine, mint, figs. 

Comments: 

Well, this is glorious. Floral, citrusy and sweet, with a luscious jammy note, this is excellent whisky. It's so delicate it could almost be a Speyside, but it's a rare gem from a well-mourned distillery (at least for me).

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glen Esk 14 yo 1982/1994

Glen Esk 14 yo 1982/1994

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk chocolate, pears, green apples, cloves, ginger, hints of leather, hints of grilled lamb.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery round the edges, static.
Tasting: Sweet. Green apples, pears, milk chocolate, cloves, mint, hints of leather, hints of prunes.
Finish: Medium. Green apples, mint, ginger, pears, hints of leather, hints of grilled lamb.

Comments:

Interesting whisky from another closed distillery. This one is sweet smelling, fragrant and tart (but not tasting tart), yet underpinned by something savoury and almost meaty. Grilled lamb? Certainly reminds me of a kebab shop.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Esk 15 yo 1985/2000

Glen Esk 15 yo 1985/2000

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, caramel, plums, prunes, green apples, roses, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Raisins, caramel, plums, prunes, green apples, roses, honey, hints of leather.
Finish: Medium. Chillies, honey, plums, prunes.

Comments:

Something like Chinese sour plums, reminds me very much of Oban 14 yo, except that Oban whisky is saltier. This is more fragrant, and more caramelly sweet. Quite tasty.

Verdict:

I like this.