Macduff 11yo

Macduff 11yo

Hepburn’s Choice, Langside Distillers
Single malt - Speyside 
Yellow gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, lemon sweets, malted grains, grapefruit, hints of camphor, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick, expands slightly.  
Tasting:  Salty sour. Lemon sweets, malted grains, fresh baked bread, sea salt, hints of dried pears. 
Finish: Medium. Walnuts, fresh baked bread, malted grains, hints of dried pears. 

Comments: 

Quite a savoury whisky. There are tart, and even slightly sweet notes, but it’s really sea salt, malty walnuts and some camphor. I liked it, it was unusual and not your usual Macduff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glengoyne 10yo 2008/2019

Glengoyne 10yo 2008/2019

Hepburn’s Choice, Langside Distillers 
Single malt - South Highlands
Pale silvery gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, cooked rice, cream, hints of leather, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, cooked rice, sultanas, cream, green apples, hints of rhubarb. 
Finish: Short. Walnut skins, leather, malted grains, green apples. 

Comments: 

Now it’s unusual to have an unsherried Glengoyne, and this one is young to boot. But it’s got a decent level of complexity, with grain and cereally flavours predominating. The finish is leathery, tart and bitter, brief but intense.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenburgie 11yo 2008/2019

Glenburgie 11yo 2008/2019

Hepburn's Choice, Langside Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Orange pink
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, stroopwafel, chocolate, butterscotch, camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Oranges, chocolate, red grapes, vanilla, raisins, butterscotch, hints of walnuts. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla sponge, red grapes, burnt sugar, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

This is a lovely young Glenburgie, bright, fruity and sweet. Lots of alluring dessert notes, and a slightly bitter hint of burnt sugar at the end, like the top on a creme brulee. Very refreshing, and a great starter dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Auchroisk 9yo 2009/2019

Auchroisk 9yo 2009/2019

Hepburn's Choice, Langside Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, sour cream, red grapes, white pepper, lemon zest, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, vanilla, cookie dough, strawberries, hints of cream. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, rolled oats, cookie dough, cream, vanilla. 

Comments: 

This whisky is sweet and luscious. It tastes like strawberries and cream (even slightly soured cream), with cookie dough. There's a cereally note in the background as well, like rolled oats. The combination of flavours is highly unusual, and very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenrothes 7yo 2011/2019

Glenrothes 7yo 2011/2019

Hepburn's Choice, Langside Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Burnt toffee, shortbread, malted grains, brown papers, hints of roast pork, hints of petrol. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Orange zest, wet dog, hay, burnt toffee, vanilla, hints of peanuts. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, peanuts, burnt toffee, hay. 

Comments: 

Not your usual Glenrothes. This very young whisky has the characteristic toffee notes, but there's something meaty, something farmyard, and something fermented, very like engine exhaust on the nose. The farmyard bit resolves into wet dog on the tongue, but in quite a pleasant way.

Verdict:

I like this.