Inverleven 31yo 1977/2008

Inverleven 31yo 1977/2008

Cask Strength, Signatory
Single malt - Lowlands
Light amber
47.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, pencil lead, wet stones, raisins, white grapes, honey, hints of plums. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Camphor, wet stones, raisins, honey, lohan fruit, pencil lead, orange peel, pears. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, pears, pencil lead, lohan fruit, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 3606. Leathery and minerally with bitter herbal accents. Very Chinese - lots of oriental fruit and the requisite orange and pear. Plenty of honey as well, it’s quite sweet. A very good dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blair Athol 29yo 1989/2019

Blair Athol 29yo 1989/2019

Cask Strength Collection, Signatory Vintage
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale gold, hints of pink
50.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, mangoes, white pepper, wet stones, creamy lemon zest, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, wet stones, lemon zesty ginseng, cream, white pepper, coffee. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, cream, gentian, white pepper, mangoes. 

Comments: 

Cask 3427. A beautiful fruity and minerally nose, but on the tongue, it’s surprisingly bitter and peppery. Lots of herbal bitterness that lingers onto the finish, alongside gentle peppery spice.

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. 

Millburn 17yo 1983/2001

Millburn 17yo 1983/2001

Unchillfiltered, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Pale yellow
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vitamin C tablets, lemon zest, almonds, walnuts, malted grains, gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Candle wax, lemon zest, vitamin C tablets, malted grains, leather, petrichor, hints of peat. 
Finish: Long. Leather, candle wax, lemon zest, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Cask 1538. Waxy and tart, with slightly chalky fizzy flavours. There’s a little earthy zing on the finish, with a gentle wispy peatiness. No water required, just enjoy the long lemony finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Keith 30yo 1991/2020

Glen Keith 30yo 1991/2020

Cask Strength Collection, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Golden brown
50.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Camphor, honey, oak, raisins, white pepper, sandalwood, white grapes, hints of hay. With water, apricot jam, gooseberries, hints of tyre rubber. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, expands, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, raisins, cough syrup, brown butter, white grapes, sandalwood, fresh cut grass, white pepper. With water, camphor, sandalwood, gooseberries, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, white grapes, white pepper, brown butter, hints of apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 73658. Herbal, grassy and honeyed. Water brings out fruity, jammy notes. It’s still grassy on the tongue as well as the nose. Beautiful long finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenburgie 40yo 1963/2003

Glenburgie 40yo 1963/2003

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber 
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, pencil lead, desiccated coconut, cream, raisins, cloves, dates, white pepper. With water, desiccated coconut, pomegranate molasses, honey, hints of gunpowder. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, astringent, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, desiccated coconut, dried cherries, dried cranberries, honey, dates, cream, white pepper. With water, raisins, pomegranate molasses, desiccated coconut, dried cranberries. 
Finish: Long. Pencil lead, leather, white grapes, honey, hints of gunpowder. 

Comments: 

Sweet and sherried, but with an odd tang of coconut, a flavour I associate more with grain whisky. There’s heaps of dried fruit, and water opens that up even more, as notes of pomegranate molasses begin to appear.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie 15yo 1974/1990

Balvenie 15yo 197/1990

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Bright yellow
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, gooseberries, papayas, white grapes, raisins, malted grains, hints of orange peel. With water, pear drops, malted grains, orange peel, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, gooseberries, damson jam, malted grains, cocoa nibs, black pepper, cloves, hints of orange peel. With water, pear drops, fresh baked bread, winter melons, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Long. Winter melons, cloves, malted grains, vanilla, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Leathery and rancio, lots of old dusty notes. It’s estery and cereally, the fruit notes are starting to break down. Very complex and layered, a single session dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenburgie 25yo 1995/2021

Glenburgie 25yo 1995/2021 Cask Strength Collection

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
54.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cotton candy, lemon sweets, butterscotch, roast chicken, yoghurt, lemon zest, hints of applesauce. With water, lemon sweets, lemon zest, yoghurt, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. White grapes, lemon sweets, papayas, cotton candy, gooseberries, yoghurt, white pepper, hints of roast chicken. With water, white grapes, gooseberries, lemon sweets, white pepper. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, white grapes, lemon sweets, papayas. 

Comments: 

Casks 6528 and 6582. Fruity, lots of sweet notes, yet not very sweet. There’s a slight earthiness, even savouriness here, that seems to come from the age. Initially quite meaty, but this faded with time, and water.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glencraig 33yo 1976/2010

Glencraig 33yo 1976/2010

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold 
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, pineapples, pencil lead, wet stones, brown paper, smoke, hints of papayas. With water, pineapples, pencil lead, wet stones, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, static, airy. 

Tasting:  Bitter sour. Pineapples, gunpowder, pencil lead, wet stones, black tea, lemon zest, brown paper. With water, pencil lead, pineapples, cream, hints of gunpowder.

Finish: Long. Vanilla, malted grains, pineapples, orange peel, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Cask 6782. Very sulphurous, very citrusy dram, but curiously, it works. The magic of long aging, perhaps. There are also huge flinty, minerally notes that offset the peat beautifully. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Jura 27yo 1989/2017

Jura 27yo 1989/2017

Cask Strength Collection, Signatory
Single malt - Jura
Pale amber 
58.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, raisins, red grapes, peanuts, roast chicken, milk chocolate. With water, lemon zest, brass polish, smoke, peanuts. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, thickens, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peanuts, brass polish, leather, raisins, milk chocolate, lemon zest, hints of orange peel. With water, malted grains, lemon zest, orange peel, raisins. 
Finish: Short. Smoke, peanuts, lemon zest, raisins. 

Comments: 

Cask 30743. Surprisingly sweet Jura, I often find them quite savoury. Instead, this one is sweet sour, lots of feinty fruit. The peat is barely a whisper, mainly manifesting itself in a leathery note. Water frees it up, however, whiffs of smoke start to appear.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dallas Dhu 31yo 1979/2010

Dallas Dhu 31yo 1979/2010

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
58.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, fresh cut grass, malted grains, roast chicken, pear drops, green tea, hints of mushrooms. With water, roast chicken, fresh cut grass, lychees, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, hot. 

Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, gooseberries, pear drops, fresh cut grass, white grapes, hints of green tea. With water, gooseberries, lychees, watermelons, pear drops, malted grains. 

Finish: Long. Gooseberries, white grapes, pear drops, malted grains, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Cask 1385. Very complex whisky, lots of fruit, a little meaty chicken, some grass and a big dollop of malt. Lots of very distinct notes, yet it’s quite subtle with no flavour predominant. The finish is very long, fruity and herbal.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Coleburn 19yo 1981/2001

Coleburn 19yo 1981/2001

Unchillfiltered, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside

Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, milk chocolate, orange peel, wet stones, cream, butterscotch, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, thickens, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Pineapples, papayas, cream, white pepper, sandalwood, malted grains, butterscotch, milk chocolate, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, wet stones, raisins, butterscotch, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

More chocolatey and milky than its sister bottle, the tropical fruit notes are less in evidence here. But that fragrant wood is here too, this time chocolate and butterscotch covered. Very nice whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blair Athol 26yo 1973/2000

Blair Athol 26yo 1973/2000

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
57.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, raisins, malted grains, milk chocolate, marshmallows, honey, peaches, hints of orange peel. With water, milk chocolate, leather, fresh cut grass, marshmallows. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, mouth coating, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peaches, apricot jam, malted grains, milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, honey, black pepper, hints of strawberry jam. With water, black pepper, cocoa nibs, strawberry jam, hints of cloves, hints of roast pork. 
Finish: Long. Apricot jam, milk chocolate, marshmallows, vanilla, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Cask 5016. Sweet and jammy stuff, very spicy, lots of bitter cocoa notes. Very complex, multi-layered, with some grassiness on the nose. Amazing stuff, with a whisper of old bottle effect.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenury Royal 30yo 1973/2004

Glenury Royal 30yo 1973/2004

Vintage Collection, Signatory 
Single malt - Eastern Highlands
Dark gold 
49.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, cocoa nibs, honey, orange peel, black tea, coffee, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, turns watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, cocoa nibs, coffee, raisins, orange peel, greengages, hints of honey, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Cocoa nibs, black tea, raisins, candle wax, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 6860. Bitter sweet and raisiny, lots of complicated complexities, like greengages and honey. It’s subtle yet bitter sweet, very unusual and interesting. An hour a dram whisky. Brilliant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Banff 23yo 1976/2000

Banff 23yo 1976/2000

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Bright yellow
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, white grapes, apples, white pepper, fresh cut grass, kiwifruit, honey, hints of grapefruit. With water, magic marker, apples, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, hints of turmeric, hints of horseradish. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Apples, white pepper, lemon zest, grapefruit, white chocolate, fresh cut grass, hints of cinder toffee, hints of basil. With water, honey, magic marker, fresh cut grass, hints of horseradish. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, white chocolate, fresh cut grass, honey, apples. 

Comments: 

Cask 2249. Spicy and fruity, with some interesting notes of horseradish and turmeric. It’s unusual, maybe it’s old bottle effect, but a very specific one. It’s also quite tart with a sweet finish, magnificent stuff. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenugie 27yo 1976/2003

Glenugie 27yo 1976/2003

Vintage, Signatory 
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale yellow
51.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Candle wax, pears, papayas, kiwifruit, barley sugar, greengages, white grapes, hints of white pepper. With water, greengages, white grapes, lemon zest, custard apples, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, warm, tingly, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. White pepper, clay dust, white grapes, candle wax, barley sugar, lemon zest, custard apples. With water, lemon zest, white grapes, custard apples, Demerara sugar. 
Finish: Long. Candle wax, barley sugar, papayas, clay dust, leather. 

Comments: 

Cask 2700. Fruity, slightly spicy, and a little dusty, this tastes old. Lots of stone fruit, and custard apples, which is a relative of the soursop. Some surprisingly waxy notes in the finish too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Linkwood 42yo 1974/2017

Linkwood 42yo 1974/2017

Cask Strength Collection, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Green gold 
40.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, candle wax, toffee apples, cinnamon, orange peel, cream, barley sugar, honeysuckle, hints of lilac. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Toffee apples, red grapes, orange peel, candle wax, cloves, greengages, fresh cut grass, hints of lilac. 
Finish: Long. Candle wax, greengages, barley sugar, lilac, honeysuckle. 

Comments: 

Cask 8440 + 8441. It’s barely whisky and the angels have taken a lot. But it’s still fruity and spicy, if not quite as bright as younger Linkwoods. It’s a little too old, but still very, very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenflagler 24yo 1972/1997

Glenflagler 24yo 1972/1997

Silent Stills, Signatory
Single malt - Lowlands
Bright gold
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, leather, celery salt, bananas, lemon zest, honey, hints of smoke. With water, white grapes, lemon zest, carrot cake. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, celery salt, lemon zest, honeydew melons, kiwifruit, shoe polish, hints of nectarines. With water, honeydew melons, kiwifruit, nectarines, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Kiwifruit, celery salt, lemon zest, hints of shoe polish. 

Comments: 

Cask 228444. Finally found another dram of this unicorn distillery. Lots of kiwifruit and melon, with some chemical bitterness (probably OBE). It’s nicer than it’s non-cask strength siblings. Complex and demanding dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dailuaine 24yo 1997/2022

Dailuaine 24yo 1997/2022

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
57.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, sandalwood, fresh baked bread, peaches, apple juice, honey. With water, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, cedar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, slippery, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Apple juice, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, white wine, vanilla, golden syrup. With water, black tea, cocoa nibs, raisins, cedar wood. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, white wine, fresh baked bread, vanilla, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Cask 7764 + 7765. Sweet and honeyed, but also spiced. The ABV is rather high, and it takes water very well. Good cask, I’m not sure I can taste the distillate so much.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Laphroaig 25yo 1997/2023

Laphroaig 25yo 1997/2023

Symington’s Choice, Signatory
Single malt - Islay

Amber
52.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, yoghurt, peat, leather, raisins, honey, hints of germolene. With water, raspberries, peat, sea salt, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, airy, loosens, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, peat, yoghurt, orange peel, sea salt, germolene, driftwood smoke, hints of wasabi. With water, raspberries, peat, sea salt, germolene. 
Finish: Long. Wasabi, yoghurt, leather, honey, cooked rice. 

Comments: 

Cask 3372. Leather and medicine, but with a tangy raspberry hit. Some slightly mustardy notes on the finish. Good stuff, but perhaps a tad unbalanced. And it’s not the good sort of unbalanced either, although it’s almost perfect.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.