Glencadam 25 yo 1982/2007
Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden
51.2% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Leather, iodine, lemons, malty beer, sea salt, molasses, hints of raisins. With water, sweeter, less leathery and salty, pears, magic marker appear.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, thickens.
Tasting: Sour salty. Honey, leather, iodine, vanilla, cream, oats, raisins, hints of molasses. With water, sweeter, more cereally and oaty, raisins really come to the fore.
Finish: Medium. Hot, lemons, iodine, leather, sea salt.
Comments:
Throat-tickling, and salty cereally when neat, but takes water pretty well. I added more than a splash, way beyond my usual two dribbles, and it opened up a lot - much sweeter, a little more like Juicy Pear jelly beans, and more fruity too.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 16 April 2010
Friday, 9 April 2010
SMWS 2.76 (Glenlivet 16 yo 1993/2010)
SMWS 2.76 (Glenlivet 16 yo 1993/2010)
2010, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
56.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Ink, pears, magic marker, coca cola, lemon juice, molasses, hints of thyme. With water, slightly cardboardy, plums, orange peel appears.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, thickens, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Coca cola, pears, molasses, lemon juice, honey, hints of thyme. With water, more sour, plums, cloves appear.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, molasses, pears, coca cola.
Comments:
Quite a chemical bitter nose, but this gives way in the mouth to bitter sweet sour flavours reminiscent of Coke. With water the nose unfortunately doesn't improve, turning a bit cardboardy, but in the mouth the whisky gains fragrance and spice. A strange one.
Verdict:
I like this.
2010, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
56.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Ink, pears, magic marker, coca cola, lemon juice, molasses, hints of thyme. With water, slightly cardboardy, plums, orange peel appears.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, thickens, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Coca cola, pears, molasses, lemon juice, honey, hints of thyme. With water, more sour, plums, cloves appear.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, molasses, pears, coca cola.
Comments:
Quite a chemical bitter nose, but this gives way in the mouth to bitter sweet sour flavours reminiscent of Coke. With water the nose unfortunately doesn't improve, turning a bit cardboardy, but in the mouth the whisky gains fragrance and spice. A strange one.
Verdict:
I like this.
SMWS 16.29 (Glenturret 21 yo 1988/2010)
SMWS 16.29 (Glenturret 21 yo 1988/2010)
2010, SMWS
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
46.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, honey, plums, lemons, cardamom, ginger, cloves, hints of balsamic vinegar. With water, sweeter, bubblegum, five spice powder.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, watery, loose.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, plums, marmalade, cardamom, ginger, cloves, hints of cinnamon. With water, sweeter, more honey, preserved Chinese sour plums.
Finish: Long. Marmalade, ginger, plums.
Comments:
Quite oriental, sweet sour. Like licking ginger preserves and damson jam straight out of the jar. Very tasty and spicy, a great dessert whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
2010, SMWS
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
46.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, honey, plums, lemons, cardamom, ginger, cloves, hints of balsamic vinegar. With water, sweeter, bubblegum, five spice powder.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, watery, loose.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, plums, marmalade, cardamom, ginger, cloves, hints of cinnamon. With water, sweeter, more honey, preserved Chinese sour plums.
Finish: Long. Marmalade, ginger, plums.
Comments:
Quite oriental, sweet sour. Like licking ginger preserves and damson jam straight out of the jar. Very tasty and spicy, a great dessert whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Kilchoman Autumn 2009 Release
Kilchoman Autumn 2009 Release
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Bronze
46% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Peanuts, peat, dates, honey, smoke, butterscotch, hints of soy sauce, hints of mint.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, turns watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, dates, honey, butterscotch, peanuts, mint, hints of fish sauce.
Finish: Short. Oats, dates, cream, peat.
Comments:
3 years old, finished for 3 months in a sherry butt. Sweet, like the new make spirit, this time with hints of savoury notes. The date and butterscotch comes through very strongly, cutting through all that peat.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Bronze
46% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Peanuts, peat, dates, honey, smoke, butterscotch, hints of soy sauce, hints of mint.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, turns watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, dates, honey, butterscotch, peanuts, mint, hints of fish sauce.
Finish: Short. Oats, dates, cream, peat.
Comments:
3 years old, finished for 3 months in a sherry butt. Sweet, like the new make spirit, this time with hints of savoury notes. The date and butterscotch comes through very strongly, cutting through all that peat.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Monday, 5 April 2010
North Port-Brechin 19 yo 1981/2000
North Port-Brechin 19 yo 1981/2000
Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Yellow gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, mushrooms, lemon zest, lemon sweets, orange juice, hints of chillies.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mushrooms, lemon zest, limes, orange juice, chillies, red peppers, hints of oranges.
Finish: Short. Peanuts, mushrooms, limes, red peppers.
Comments:
Quite musty and fungal at the beginning, although this is soon joined by spicy, sweet, citrusy notes. A very brisk whisky, hurries the drinker along, and pretty soon, is all gone...
Verdict:
I like this.
Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Yellow gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, mushrooms, lemon zest, lemon sweets, orange juice, hints of chillies.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mushrooms, lemon zest, limes, orange juice, chillies, red peppers, hints of oranges.
Finish: Short. Peanuts, mushrooms, limes, red peppers.
Comments:
Quite musty and fungal at the beginning, although this is soon joined by spicy, sweet, citrusy notes. A very brisk whisky, hurries the drinker along, and pretty soon, is all gone...
Verdict:
I like this.
Glen Esk 15 yo 1985/2000
Glen Esk 15 yo 1985/2000
Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, caramel, plums, prunes, green apples, roses, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Raisins, caramel, plums, prunes, green apples, roses, honey, hints of leather.
Finish: Medium. Chillies, honey, plums, prunes.
Comments:
Something like Chinese sour plums, reminds me very much of Oban 14 yo, except that Oban whisky is saltier. This is more fragrant, and more caramelly sweet. Quite tasty.
Verdict:
I like this.
Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, caramel, plums, prunes, green apples, roses, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Raisins, caramel, plums, prunes, green apples, roses, honey, hints of leather.
Finish: Medium. Chillies, honey, plums, prunes.
Comments:
Something like Chinese sour plums, reminds me very much of Oban 14 yo, except that Oban whisky is saltier. This is more fragrant, and more caramelly sweet. Quite tasty.
Verdict:
I like this.
Coleburn 21 yo 1979/2000 Rare Malts
Coleburn 21 yo 1979/2000 Rare Malts
Rare Malts, official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
59.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, white grapes, molasses, pineapples, coconut cream, apple juice, hints of limes. With water, sweeter, notes of honey, orange peel appear.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apple juice, pineapples, coconut cream, white grapes, walnuts, black tea. With water, sweeter, notes of honey, molasses, orange peel appear.
Finish: Long. Walnuts, black tea, apple juice.
Comments:
Coleburn single malt is as rare as hen's teeth, but I was lucky enough to find two in a single session! This one is thick and fruity, like a pina colada, except that it fades to bitterness, slightly tannic, at the end. Great indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Rare Malts, official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
59.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, white grapes, molasses, pineapples, coconut cream, apple juice, hints of limes. With water, sweeter, notes of honey, orange peel appear.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apple juice, pineapples, coconut cream, white grapes, walnuts, black tea. With water, sweeter, notes of honey, molasses, orange peel appear.
Finish: Long. Walnuts, black tea, apple juice.
Comments:
Coleburn single malt is as rare as hen's teeth, but I was lucky enough to find two in a single session! This one is thick and fruity, like a pina colada, except that it fades to bitterness, slightly tannic, at the end. Great indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Coleburn 24 yo 1972/1996
Coleburn 24 yo 1972/1996
Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Pineapples, roses, apple juice, honey, cloves, leather, limes, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pineapples, roses, apple juice, plums, limes, honey, cloves.
Finish: Short. Pineapples, plums, limes, cloves.
Comments:
A drink fit for the gods! Tastes very much like mead, perhaps a little less heavy on the honey, and loads more fruit. Extremely good whisky, delicious as an aperitif.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Pineapples, roses, apple juice, honey, cloves, leather, limes, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pineapples, roses, apple juice, plums, limes, honey, cloves.
Finish: Short. Pineapples, plums, limes, cloves.
Comments:
A drink fit for the gods! Tastes very much like mead, perhaps a little less heavy on the honey, and loads more fruit. Extremely good whisky, delicious as an aperitif.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Macduff 16 yo 1989/2005
Macduff 16 yo 1989/2005
Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
59.8% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Malty beer, leather, brine, peanuts, black pepper, hints of iodine. With water, more fragrant, honey, marmalade, hints of molasses.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Peanuts, black pepper, cardboard, vanilla, salt caramel, leather, brine. With water, sweeter, more vanilla, custard, marmalade.
Finish: Long. Iodine, salt caramel, peanuts, vanilla.
Comments:
I don't often drown my whisky in water. Even the 70%+ (!) whiskies that I've had needed a touch, or two touches, from my water jug. This one, however, improved a lot with a large slug of water. It was a better dram at around 40%, or just under, than at nearly 60%. Maybe they took it out of the cask too early...
Verdict:
I like this.
Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
59.8% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Malty beer, leather, brine, peanuts, black pepper, hints of iodine. With water, more fragrant, honey, marmalade, hints of molasses.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Peanuts, black pepper, cardboard, vanilla, salt caramel, leather, brine. With water, sweeter, more vanilla, custard, marmalade.
Finish: Long. Iodine, salt caramel, peanuts, vanilla.
Comments:
I don't often drown my whisky in water. Even the 70%+ (!) whiskies that I've had needed a touch, or two touches, from my water jug. This one, however, improved a lot with a large slug of water. It was a better dram at around 40%, or just under, than at nearly 60%. Maybe they took it out of the cask too early...
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 2 April 2010
Littlemill 16 yo 1991/2007
Littlemill 16 yo 1991/2007
Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden, tinge of pink
43% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Roses, vanilla, honey, gooseberries, ginger, grass, hints of lemons.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, ginger, gooseberries, honey, orange peel, cream, hints of roses.
Finish: Medium. Gooseberries, grass, roses.
Comments:
Light and floral, with a nice herbal, vegetal something that reminds me of gooseberries laced with ginger wine. Refreshing, something to sip while relaxing at the bar, waiting for someone to show up.
Verdict:
I like this.
Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden, tinge of pink
43% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Roses, vanilla, honey, gooseberries, ginger, grass, hints of lemons.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, ginger, gooseberries, honey, orange peel, cream, hints of roses.
Finish: Medium. Gooseberries, grass, roses.
Comments:
Light and floral, with a nice herbal, vegetal something that reminds me of gooseberries laced with ginger wine. Refreshing, something to sip while relaxing at the bar, waiting for someone to show up.
Verdict:
I like this.
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