Dallas Dhu 1982/2005

Dallas Dhu 1982/2005

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
40% ABV
Mini

Nose: Carrots, rum and raisin, oak, leather, apples, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Beetroot, leather, apples, carrots, hints of peat, hints of caramel popcorn.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, orange peel, carrots, apples.

Comments:

Sweet and vegetal. Not your usual Dallas Dhu, and more than a little savoury. A little like a beetroot salad sprinkled with popcorn. Quite enjoyable, especially after a nice dinner. Pretty decent dessert whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 31.18 (Jura 20 yo 1988/2008)

SMWS 31.18 (Jura 20 yo 1988/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Pale amber
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, vanilla, orange peel, apple, hints of peat, fermented wheat, yeast, hints of vomit.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Violets, vanilla, orange peel, apples, hints of peaches, hints of vomit.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, peanuts, hints of vomit.

Comments:

I know, sounds a little yucky. Vomit? Well, actually the flavour in question is reminiscent of something fermented and slightly off, so maybe vomit isn't the right word. It was certainly what sprang to my mind though. Other than that, the whisky is pretty good, lots of fruit and flowers, with that fermented tang keeping it interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 25.46 (Rosebank 17 yo 1991/2008)

SMWS 25.46 (Rosebank 17 yo 1991/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale pink gold
56.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear, grass, lemon meringue pie, sea salt, hints of cow dung.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns syrupy quickly, egg white consistency.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Spicy, apples, lemon meringue pie, grass, hay, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Medium. Lemons, grass, peaches, pear.

Comments:

Fragrant and inviting - until the slight hints of cow dung and major hints of grass appear. I don't think this is the best example of a Rosebank. It's a little too grassy for me, and maybe a little too salty. Wonderfully light on the tongue though, although it then turns into an interesting consistency for a Lowlands whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 52.18 (Old Pulteney 7 yo 2001/2008)

SMWS 52.18 (Old Pulteney 7 yo 2001/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Straw
66.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, cookie dough, pear, sea salt, salt caramel, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, velvety, thick.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, orange peel, vanilla, peat, apple pie, cinnamon.
Finish: Long. Incense, apple pie, nutmeg, honey, cinnamon.

Comments:

Strong, but very drinkable. No need to add water either. This is not the official Old Pulteney, with its sea salt and maritime character. This is heavy and sweet, with just a little sea salt in the nose to remind me of where it comes from. Fragrant, spicy, and peaty. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 59.39 (Teaninich 25 yo 1983/2008)

SMWS 59.39 (Teaninich 25 yo 1983/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Honey gold
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Minty, honey, apple, pear, peach, vanilla, hints of juniper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, honey consistency.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Earl grey tea, honey, orange peel, apple, salt caramel, leather, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Dumplings, gravy, vanilla, peat, salt caramel.

Comments:

Fruity and a little savoury. Nice hints of leather, almost chewy with this consistency. Maybe a little like chewing someone's old leather belt, slathered with jam (doesn't sound very appealing, I know)? Nice notes of dumplings and gravy in the finish. It may sound weird, but it really isn't.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 95.9 (Auchroisk 18 yo 1990/2008)

SMWS 95.9 (Auchroisk 18 yo 1990/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
54.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cookie dough, vanilla, lime, leather, oil of wintergreen, hints of garlic.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, quite volatile.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Vanilla, honey, lime, peanuts, hints of garlic.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, cookie dough, vanilla.

Comments:

A little like key lime pie, maybe eaten under some eucalyptus trees... until the hint of garlic. It's not unpleasant, just a little jarring. And that's enough to throw this whisky off slightly. I would drink it again, just not when there's so much else available.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 97.16 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

SMWS 97.16 (Littlemill 18 yo 1990/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale orange gold
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, apples, rum and raisin, honey, orange peel, oak, hints of banana.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, static.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Vanilla, apples, honey, bananas, orange peel, oak, hints of chillies.
Finish: Short. Peanuts, orange peel, peaches, honey.

Comments:

Lovely, lovely whisky. If there's a flaw, it's that the finish is too short. Sweet and tangy, with just a little hint of spice, and so much going on in it. It's the kind of whisky I would save for the birth of my first child...

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 122.19 (Loch Lomond "Croftengea" 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 122.19 (Loch Lomond "Croftengea" 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - South Highlands
Pale gold
50.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, molasses, smoke, HP sauce, hints of peat, hints of banana.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, holds together, thickens quickly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Smoke, grilled ham, lemon, peat, pears, hints of magic marker.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, smoke, peat, honey, hints of lemon.

Comments:

Croftengea, peated Loch Lomond, a rare pleasure that I discovered too late. There's a lot going on in this particular one - sweet, savoury and something tangy in the nose, lovely meaty notes i the taste. Then turns bitter and smoky. Very unusual, and very tasty.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Heaven Hill 10 yo

Heaven Hill 10 yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Pale red gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Banana, coca cola, cookie dough, raisins, strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Light body, quite loose, static.
Tasting: Sweet. Strawberries, coca cola, bananas, hints of chocolate, hints of black tea.
Finish: Short. Sweet, caramel, coca cola.

Comments:

Slightly medicinal, which is good for this, because it brings to mind coca cola, and maybe black tea. Very sweet, with great notes of strawberries and something milky which could be chocolate, or maybe chocolate chip cookies. Tasty, but a little weak. Somehow though, I think this wouldn't be as good at a higher strength.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fighting Cock 6 yo

Fighting Cock 6 yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Banana, grilled meat, pear, ginseng, raisins, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Pear, grilled meat, bitter gourd, orange peel, hints of peat.
Finish: Medium. Bitter, oak, pear.

Comments:

Now this is real bourbon! It's even got a great redneck name... but, more importantly, excellent meaty, slightly bitter notes that complement the sweet fruity bourbon flavours (from the rye in the mash, perhaps?). And bottled at a good strength too. Seriously good whisk(e)y.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.