Lowland 10yo 2013/2023

Lowland 10yo 2013/2023

Rare Find, Gleann Mor Spirits
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark amber
63.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, honey, butterscotch, toffee, raisins, condensed milk, brown paper, hints of cloves. With water, milk chocolate, condensed milk, butterscotch, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Dark chocolate, digestive biscuits, butterscotch, coffee, condensed milk, raisins, hints of cinnamon. With water, brown paper, aluminium foil, milk chocolate, black tea. 

Finish: Medium. Black tea, dark chocolate, condensed milk, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

I was told this is Bladnoch. It’s sweet and chocolatey, very Christmassy. Lots of feinty notes then appear when a little (a lot of!) water is added. Great cask, but I can’t tell what the distillate is like.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 17yo 2005/2022

Aberfeldy 17yo 2005/2022

Rare Find Whisky, Gleann Mor Spirits
Single malt - Central Highlands
Yellow gold
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, white pepper, orange peel, pears, vanilla custard, toast, butter. With water, pears, butter, vanilla custard. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pineapples, pears, toast, nutmeg, milk chocolate, vanilla custard, kiwifruit, butter. With water, vanilla custard, milk chocolate, pears. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, milk chocolate, vanilla custard, nutmeg, pears. 

Comments: 

Cask 213. This Aberfeldy tastes of poached pears, redolent of spices, and perhaps a little white wine. It’s also buttery and a little chocolatey, almost a dessert wine in itself. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cooley 19yo 2002/2021

Cooley 19yo 2002/2021

Rare Find Whisky, Gleann Mor Spirits
Single malt - Leinster
Bright gold
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, rhubarb and custard sweets, pear drops, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, hints of vanilla. With water, fresh cut grass, vanilla, autumn leaves, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Rhubarb and custard sweets, brass polish, aluminium foil, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, hints of honey. With water, malted grains, fresh cut grass, autumn leaves, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, fresh cut grass, brass polish, hints of pear drops. 

Comments: 

Quite surprised I’ve not had a Cooley labelled as a Cooley. This one is quite feinty, lots of estery, chemical notes. Water introduces earthy, grassy notes which change its character quite a lot. Lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Old Pulteney 14yo 2007/2021

Old Pulteney 14yo 2007/2021

Rare Find Whisky, Gleann Mor Spirits
Single malt - North Highlands 
Golden
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, preserved lemons, green tea, jasmine, malted grains, hints of barley sugar. With water, malted grains, lemon zest, sea salt, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, apricots, preserved lemons, green tea, greengages, malted greens, hints of stale beer. With water, barley sugar, stale beer, greengages, hints of cumin. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, apricots, green tea, sea salt. 

Comments: 

Cask 700720. Quite fruity for an Old Pulteney. The coastal, saline character has been nearly hidden under the apricots and greengages. Lots of spicy notes are present too, making the whisky taste like preserved lemons. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot

Braes of Glenlivet 27yo 1994/2021

Braes of Glenlivet 27yo 1994/2021

Rare Find Whisky
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber 
53.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Clay dust, peaches, orange peel, dried apricots, vanilla custard. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, loosens slightly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peaches, orange peel, cinnamon, brown paper, vanilla custard, dried apricots, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Peaches, vanilla custard, leather, clay dust, hints of dunnage. 

Comments: 

Cask 165617. Old Braeval, still called Braes, and it’s rich and yet a little dry and dusty. Lots of dried apricots, over-dried, as if they’ve been left in the sun too long. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.