SMWS 64.17 (Mannochmore 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 64.17 (Mannochmore 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
54.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cedar, watermelon, butternut squash, strawberries, grapes, lemon sweets.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, volatile, loosens in the mouth.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Lemon sweets, watermelon, vanilla, macadamia, hints of cedar.
Finish: Long. Honey, cedar, watermelon.

Comments:

Quite refreshing, at least the watermelon bit. Very different from the last Mannochmore, which was peated to some extent. This one is fragrant and fruity, a little perfumy, in fact. Enjoyable, as a dram to start the evening.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 18.27 (Inchgower 23 yo 1985/2008)

SMWS 18.27 (Inchgower 23 yo 1985/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden yellow
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cake, butter, cherries, rum and raisin, marmalade, glace fruits.
Mouthfeel: Light body, metallic, thickens quickly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Brass polish, rum and raisin, cake, cinnamon, hints of honey.
Finish: Medium. Honey, marmalade, rum and raisin.

Comments:

Very pleasant. I like the rum and raisin notes - they come out very clearly, along with lots of other tasty sweet things. Not very complex, but a tasty way to start an evening of dramming.

Verdict:

I like this.

Suntory Hibiki 17 yo

Suntory Hibiki 17 yo

Official bottling
Blended malt
Golden brown
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Soy sauce, raisins, oatcake, apricots, cucumber, hazelnuts, hints of peat, hints of sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Light body, water, expands.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Malty beer, apricots, raisins, hazelnuts, soy sauce, butter.
Finish: Medium. Butter, apricots.

Comments:

Mmm... flavour explosion! Very fruity, with some soy sauce notes that create a savoury counterpoint, overlaid with butter. If there is a weakness it's the finish, which is a little short and slightly too buttery. Great whisky, I don't care if it's a blend.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Blair Athol 12 yo 1993/2005

Blair Athol 12 yo 1993/2005

Provenance, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden yellow
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, peaches, leather, orange peel, rosehips, malty beer, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Coffee, leather, malty beer, raisins, walnut skins, white grapes, peaches.
Finish: Long. Coffee, raisins, leather, walnut skins.

Comments:

Sweet and fruity. Nice notes of coffee in the taste and finish, with walnut skins to provide and accentuate some bitterness. Could do with a little more strength, then it would really taste like rum and raisin...

Verdict:

I like this.

Braeval 8 yo

Braeval 8 yo

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
50% ABV
Mini

Nose: Vanilla, barley sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, christmas pudding, cookie dough, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens in the mouth, egg white.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Coffee, orange peel, cinnamon, vanilla, cookie dough.
Finish: Short. Coffee, vanilla, orange peel.

Comments:

Lousy packaging - the bottle started leaking before I got home! The smell was glorious though, Christmas pudding, all manner of sweet spice and orange peel, and even a little chocolate chip cookie. The nose however promised more than the taste delivered. The mouthfeel and taste gave away how young this whisky was.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 44.38 (Craigellachie 9 yo 1999/2008)

SMWS 44.38 (Craigellachie 9 yo 1999/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pink gold
61.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, butter, toffee, honey, honeycomb, raisins, treacle.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns watery, very loose.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Apples, chocolate, vanilla, butter, raisins, oak.
Finish: Medium. Oak, chocolate, vanilla, apples.

Comments:

Sweet, some fruit, a little like fruit cake with some wine on the side. Not particularly interesting, slightly too appley. Not objectionable though. Not my type of mouthfeel. 26 November wasn't a good night for whisky.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 35.25 (Glen Moray 10 yo 1998/2008)

SMWS 35.25 (Glen Moray 10 yo 1998/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pink gold
59.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, butter, smoked ham, toffee, raisins, Brazil nuts, hints of apples.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, volatile, thickens in the mouth.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, mint, vanilla, honey, hints of peat, hints of butter.
Finish: Short. Salty, Brazil nuts, orange peel.

Comments:

You can have too much of a good thing I suppose. There's a really interesting whisky lurking inside this, but it's hidden in folds and layers of Brazil nut. I like Brazil nuts as much as the next man, but having to scrape through to find sweet, fruity and meaty notes underneath is a little frustrating. Shame.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 122.17 (Loch Lomond "Croftengea" 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 122.17 (Loch Lomond "Croftengea" 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - South Highlands
Light gold
58.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, tar, salt ham, smoked chicken, butter, apples, hints of coal.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Smoke, apples, raisins, smoked chicken, soy sauce, butter, hints of lime.
Finish: Long. Smoky, coal, smoked chicken.

Comments:

Peated Loch Lomond (hence branded Croftengea) made in Lomond stills. Tastes a little like roast chicken that sat too long in a coal fire. The hints of lime make me think of Thai food - perhaps a little like pad thai perhaps? Interesting, and quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 7.38 (Longmorn 38 yo 1968/2007)

SMWS 7.38 (Longmorn 38 yo 1968/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sherry, coriander, oak, vanilla, apples, orange peel, hints of black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, thickens slightly in the mouth, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Coriander, chilli pepper, rubber bands, apples, marmalade, hints of brown paper.
Finish: Long. Red grapes, warm, salty.

Comments:

The oldest whisky I've tasted so far (and, given the credit crunch, the oldest whisky I'm likely to taste for a while). Sherry cask matured, with a tang of coriander seed that differentiates it from the best sherried Glen Grants. Very tasty, and unique.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Nikka Whisky from the Barrel

Nikka Whisky from the Barrel

Official bottling
Blended malt
Amber
51.4% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Banana, vanilla, oak, pineapple, camphor, apple, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly oily, thickens in the mouth.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Musk, camphor, banana, apples, melon, peat, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Long. Warm, chillies, vanilla.

Comments:

I'm not sure whether or not this is a blend or a vatted malt. The soft fruity oaky notes make me plump for the former. But there's a lot of robust stuff under the soft cloak - camphor, hints of chillies, and the muscular olive oil-like mouthfeel. My bottle (it only comes in half litres) gave me great pleasure.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.