Ardbeg Supernova Stellar Release (2009)
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Green gold
58.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon juice, peat, smoke, sea salt, leather, hints of vanilla. With water, caramel, peanuts, butterscotch, iodine, preserved lemons.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peat, lemon juice, smoke, vanilla, white grapes, peanuts. With water, peanuts, salted lemons, iodine, hints of limes.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, lemon juice, sea salt, fresh cut grass.
Comments:
I finally got to taste this magnificent whisky! It's a classic Ardbeg, if you add water, but I prefer it neat. It's austere and simple, smoke peat, lemon, some sweet floral notes. I'd say it's my favourite Ardbeg so far, along with Lord of the Isles.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Wednesday, 27 February 2019
Craigellachie 9yo 2009/2018
Craigellachie 9yo 2009/2018
Small Batch, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Light gold
55.1% ABV
Tiny taste
Nose: Mushrooms, soy sauce, white pepper, carrot cake, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter. Mushrooms, carrots, leather, soy sauce, sea salt, hints of lemon.
Finish: Medium. Smoke, peat, mushrooms, leather, lemon juice.
Comments:
Well, this is earthy and mushroomy, with plenty of salty, bitter notes. It's unlike any Craigellachie that I've ever had, and I had to double check to make sure this wasn't a Bunnahabhain. Thanks to Ciaran for the sample.
Verdict:
I like this.
Small Batch, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Light gold
55.1% ABV
Tiny taste
Nose: Mushrooms, soy sauce, white pepper, carrot cake, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter. Mushrooms, carrots, leather, soy sauce, sea salt, hints of lemon.
Finish: Medium. Smoke, peat, mushrooms, leather, lemon juice.
Comments:
Well, this is earthy and mushroomy, with plenty of salty, bitter notes. It's unlike any Craigellachie that I've ever had, and I had to double check to make sure this wasn't a Bunnahabhain. Thanks to Ciaran for the sample.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tomatin 36yo
Tomatin 36yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Tiny taste
Nose: Papaya, dried mango, orange peel, apple juice, hints of sandalwood
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, turns watery, loose.
Tasting: Sweet. Dried mango, toffee apples, orange peel, vanilla, orange blossom, jasmine.
Finish: Long. Lime juice, dried mango, vanilla, orange blossom, jasmine.
Comments:
Incredibly floral, intensely fruity, sweet whisky. The flavours blend so well into each other, in a way that only comes with great age. I was very lucky to taste this, and even luckier to get a second taste after I spilt my first one. Thanks very much to Eddie for both tastes.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Tiny taste
Nose: Papaya, dried mango, orange peel, apple juice, hints of sandalwood
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, turns watery, loose.
Tasting: Sweet. Dried mango, toffee apples, orange peel, vanilla, orange blossom, jasmine.
Finish: Long. Lime juice, dried mango, vanilla, orange blossom, jasmine.
Comments:
Incredibly floral, intensely fruity, sweet whisky. The flavours blend so well into each other, in a way that only comes with great age. I was very lucky to taste this, and even luckier to get a second taste after I spilt my first one. Thanks very much to Eddie for both tastes.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
291 Single Barrel Bourbon (Aspen Stave Finished)
291 Single Barrel Bourbon (Aspen Stave Finished)
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Colorado
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, red wine, balsamic vinegar, orange peel, cardboard.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, loose, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Balsamic vinegar, raspberries, cookie dough, sandalwood, white pepper, hints of cotton sheets.
Finish: Long. Sandalwood, raspberries, iron filings, white pepper.
Comments:
Spicy, sweet, fragrant - this bourbon hits all the right notes, but the edges of the flavours are somewhat harsh, even slightly metallic. This needs some aging, I would guess it's maybe 3 years old.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Colorado
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, red wine, balsamic vinegar, orange peel, cardboard.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, loose, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Balsamic vinegar, raspberries, cookie dough, sandalwood, white pepper, hints of cotton sheets.
Finish: Long. Sandalwood, raspberries, iron filings, white pepper.
Comments:
Spicy, sweet, fragrant - this bourbon hits all the right notes, but the edges of the flavours are somewhat harsh, even slightly metallic. This needs some aging, I would guess it's maybe 3 years old.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tamdhu 11yo 2007/2018
Tamdhu 11yo 2007/2018
Provenance, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Light gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, raisins, white wine, fresh cut grass, hints of marzipan.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. White grapes, orange blossom, fresh cut grass, butter, fresh baked bread.
Finish: Long. White grapes, raisins, cream, butterscotch.
Comments:
A nice, light, summery whisky to go with an unseasonably warm spring. It's a real shame about climate change, but sometimes whisky helps to lift the gloom, if only for a little while.
Verdict:
I like this.
Provenance, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Light gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, raisins, white wine, fresh cut grass, hints of marzipan.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. White grapes, orange blossom, fresh cut grass, butter, fresh baked bread.
Finish: Long. White grapes, raisins, cream, butterscotch.
Comments:
A nice, light, summery whisky to go with an unseasonably warm spring. It's a real shame about climate change, but sometimes whisky helps to lift the gloom, if only for a little while.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 20 February 2019
Karuizawa 1999-2000 Cask Strength 10th Edition
Karuizawa 1999-2000 Cask Strength 10th Edition
Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Mahogany
60.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, cloves, apricots, chocolate, honey, hints of liquorice. With water, aluminium foil, black tea, fresh baked bread, more chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, warming, airy.
Tasting: Sweet. Cloves, chocolate, apricots, raisins, pears, hints of black tea, hints of chillies. With water, black tea, apple juice, aluminium foil, pears.
Finish: Long. Nutmeg, black tea, chocolate, fresh baked bread, raisins.
Comments:
This has been vatted, perhaps from a couple of casks. Nevertheless, it's classic Karuizawa, with plenty of chocolate, raisins, and cloves. Water opens it up, with wonderful notes of fresh baked bread on both the nose and the finish. I'm very, very lucky to be able to have another magnificent whisky from this distillery.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Mahogany
60.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, cloves, apricots, chocolate, honey, hints of liquorice. With water, aluminium foil, black tea, fresh baked bread, more chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, warming, airy.
Tasting: Sweet. Cloves, chocolate, apricots, raisins, pears, hints of black tea, hints of chillies. With water, black tea, apple juice, aluminium foil, pears.
Finish: Long. Nutmeg, black tea, chocolate, fresh baked bread, raisins.
Comments:
This has been vatted, perhaps from a couple of casks. Nevertheless, it's classic Karuizawa, with plenty of chocolate, raisins, and cloves. Water opens it up, with wonderful notes of fresh baked bread on both the nose and the finish. I'm very, very lucky to be able to have another magnificent whisky from this distillery.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Old Pulteney Huddart
Old Pulteney Huddart
Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, sea salt, peat, salted lemons, hints of butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, slightly watery.
Tasting: Sour. Sea salt, salted lemons, apples, butterscotch, white grapes, hints of raisins, hints of white wine.
Finish: Short. Apples, lemon zest, sea salt, hints of peat.
Comments:
I've wanted to taste Old Pulteney's relaunched range for some time now. This is a decent start. Good salty, sour classic Old Pulteney notes.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, sea salt, peat, salted lemons, hints of butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, slightly watery.
Tasting: Sour. Sea salt, salted lemons, apples, butterscotch, white grapes, hints of raisins, hints of white wine.
Finish: Short. Apples, lemon zest, sea salt, hints of peat.
Comments:
I've wanted to taste Old Pulteney's relaunched range for some time now. This is a decent start. Good salty, sour classic Old Pulteney notes.
Verdict:
I like this.
Frisky Whisky Craigellachie 8yo 2002/2010
Frisky Whisky Craigellachie 8yo 2002/2010
Frisky Whisky, John Milroy
Single malt - Speyside
Chinese tea
60.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Salt caramel, candied pineapples, raisins, vanilla, honey. With water, sweeter, salt caramel, butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, vanilla, pineapples, dulce de leche, hints of milk chocolate. With water, sweeter, butter, chocolate, salt caramel.
Finish: Long. Dulce de leche, oolong tea, milk chocolate, honey.
Comments:
A cracker of a Craigellachie, this fairly young whisky nevertheless has great complexity. The slightly salty, sweet butteriness goes incredibly well with the luscious candied pineapple notes. A little water goes a long way here, not too much.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Frisky Whisky, John Milroy
Single malt - Speyside
Chinese tea
60.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Salt caramel, candied pineapples, raisins, vanilla, honey. With water, sweeter, salt caramel, butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, vanilla, pineapples, dulce de leche, hints of milk chocolate. With water, sweeter, butter, chocolate, salt caramel.
Finish: Long. Dulce de leche, oolong tea, milk chocolate, honey.
Comments:
A cracker of a Craigellachie, this fairly young whisky nevertheless has great complexity. The slightly salty, sweet butteriness goes incredibly well with the luscious candied pineapple notes. A little water goes a long way here, not too much.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Friday, 15 February 2019
Westland Cask 724
Westland Cask 724
Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Amber red
57.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Mint, plums, cough mixture, fresh cut grass, hints of soy sauce. With water, lemon zest, green apples, sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, slightly oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Plums, cough mixture, cinnamon, hay, toast, hints of soy sauce. With water, sweeter, raisins, camphor, green apples.
Finish: Long. Black tea, sea salt, cinnamon, red grapes.
Comments:
Intense, spicy, unctuous single malt. Very strong but also very drinkable. With water, it opens up, becoming more tart, and more herbal. Smells like an old herbal remedy my mother used to give me, for bruises.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Amber red
57.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Mint, plums, cough mixture, fresh cut grass, hints of soy sauce. With water, lemon zest, green apples, sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, slightly oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Plums, cough mixture, cinnamon, hay, toast, hints of soy sauce. With water, sweeter, raisins, camphor, green apples.
Finish: Long. Black tea, sea salt, cinnamon, red grapes.
Comments:
Intense, spicy, unctuous single malt. Very strong but also very drinkable. With water, it opens up, becoming more tart, and more herbal. Smells like an old herbal remedy my mother used to give me, for bruises.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Highland Park Dark 17yo
Highland Park Dark 17yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber red
52.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, vanilla, strawberries, leather, black tea, hints of white grapes.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, astringent, warm.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, black tea, red grapes, apples, hints of wood smoke.
Finish: Long. Black tea, red grapes, mint, hints of white grapes, hints of leather.
Comments:
The sister bottling to the Light, it's very similar, but for much more intense fruitiness. The herbal, woody aromas in the finish of the Light have been transmuted by the sherry cask into mint and black tea. This is very nice whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber red
52.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, vanilla, strawberries, leather, black tea, hints of white grapes.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, astringent, warm.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, black tea, red grapes, apples, hints of wood smoke.
Finish: Long. Black tea, red grapes, mint, hints of white grapes, hints of leather.
Comments:
The sister bottling to the Light, it's very similar, but for much more intense fruitiness. The herbal, woody aromas in the finish of the Light have been transmuted by the sherry cask into mint and black tea. This is very nice whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
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