SMWS 99.13 (Glenugie 31 yo 1980/2011)

SMWS 99.13 (Glenugie 31 yo 1980/2011)

2011, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
48.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, molasses, quince jam, pineapple, tobacco leaf, orange peel. With water, sweeter, strawberries, peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loose.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Quince jam, orange peel, tobacco leaf, molasses, leather, charcoal. With water, peaches, salt.
Finish: Long. Orange peel, quince jam, pineapple, charcoal.

Comments:

I won't pass up old Glenugie easily (is there any other type?). Very fruity, lots of sweet savoury descriptors, but there are weird bitter notes in the taste and the finish. They don't detract from what is a pretty complex whisky though. Maybe this should have been bottled a little earlier?

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS G8.1 (Cambus 1989/2011 21 yo)

SMWS G8.1 (Cambus 1989/2011 21 yo)

2011, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Straw
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pine, vanilla, strawberries, lychees, hints of cherries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pine, strawberries, raisins, melons, hay, hints of freshly mown grass.
Finish: Long. Bitter, black tea, pine, melons, strawberries.

Comments:

Starts promisingly, with a nice barrage of sweet fragrant fruit. First surprise - it's quite heavy! Pleasant on the tongue too, with vegetal grassy notes and pine coming to the fore. But the finish is bitter and tough, obscures the nice fruity flavours. Shame.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Millburn 16 yo 1966

Millburn 16 yo 1966

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Butter, raisins, smoked pork, orange peel, mint, camphor.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loose, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, smoked pork, chocolate, butter, smoke, camphor, hints of cinnamon.
Finish: Long. Raisins, chocolate, butter, orange peel, mint.

Comments:

Oldie but goodie. Sweet and luxurious, with a smoky, spice, savoury bite. Something of an apothecary's cabinet. A small weakness in the mouthfeel - if this whisky was thick and sticky and rolled about the tongue it would be perfect. I was very lucky to acquire this sample.

Verdict:

I like this.

Littlemill 12 yo

Littlemill 12 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, vanilla, honey, yoghurt, new mown grass.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, orange peel, chocolate chips, vanilla, honey, straw.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, chocolate chips, orange peel, honey.

Comments:

Well, it's good to be back, after nearly 6 months off the whisky! While I have to go sparingly from now on, I can at least enjoy a dram occasionally. This little sample bottle is quite a tasty little treat from the dwindling Littlemill stock. Quite light, with sweet yet fresh flavours. There's a curious grassy twist on the nose that dries out a little on the tongue, reminding me of hay or straw. A nice one to come back to!

Verdict:I like this.

Clynelish 14 yo

Clynelish 14 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, five spice powder, pineapples, apples, honey, hints of mint.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, quite static .
Tasting: Sweet sour. Tangerines, pineapples, apples, honey, lemons, hints of mint.
Finish: Medium. Smoke, five spice powder, honey, mint.

Comments:

Smoky and fruity. With Clynelish, I find that the smokiness has a burnt toast quality, but in this whisky, the smokiness has mellowed to something very much like roast pork. I was reminded very much of char siu pork (hence the five spice powder). The tangerine notes on the tongue make this a very appropriate Christmas whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 127.1 (Bruichladdich "Port Charlotte" 8 yo 2001/2010)

SMWS 127.1 (Bruichladdich "Port Charlotte" 8 yo 2001/2010)

2010, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Golden
66.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tar, smoke, peat, burning rope, honey, brine, vanilla, cream.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, oily.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Chillies, smoke, peat, char siu, brine, honey, hints of pears.
Finish: Long. Smoke, peat, brine, pears.

Comments:

Peaty, meaty, rounded in the mouth. A very appetising dram, though not satisfying. Leaves one wanting more, and more, and more. Not very good for me at the moment, but I did manage to keep myself to one. It was a crime to leave some of the dram on the table though.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Royal Brackla 25 yo 1974/2000

Royal Brackla 25 yo 1974/2000

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, lemons, limes, guava, tamarind, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, turns watery, smooth, loosens.
Tasting: Salty sour. Peat, brown paper, limes, guava, tamarind, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Salty, peat, lemons, guava.

Comments:

Tart and refreshing, with the tang of the sea mixed in with refreshing tropical fruits. Something of a cross between whisky and a rum daiquiri. Would be excellent on ice.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lochside 17 yo 1981/1998

Lochside 17 yo 1981/1998

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - East Highlands
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, orange peel, molasses, vanilla, butter, milk. With water, more oranges, strawberries, plums begin to appear.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, airy, smooth.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, black tea, molasses, vanilla, pomeloes, milk, hints of chillies. With water, sweeter, fruitier, plums, strawberries.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, pomeloes, black tea, molasses.

Comments:

Light and tasty, easy drinking with a cool citrus bite. Pomeloes are hard to come by in the UK, and it was a pleasant surprise to taste them in this whisky. It's the closed distilleries that make the tastiest stuff!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Pittyvaich 12 yo

Pittyvaich 12 yo

Official bottling, Flora and Fauna
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, honey, peat, mint, pear, hints of palm sugar.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, turns watery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Oranges, honey, coconuts, mint, chocolate, palm sugar, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Bittersweet, chocolate, oranges.

Comments:

Sweet and luscious, with a great mouthfeel. I had this for dessert, and it was wonderful. I don't get to drink whisky often now, and this opportunity wasn't wasted at all! A great dessert whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Noah's Mill 15 yo 1987/2002

Noah's Mill 15 yo 1987/2002

Willett
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
57.15% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Banana, magic marker, wet stones, cinnamon, palm sugar, brown paper, hints of soy sauce.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, thickens, turns sticky.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Banana, sandalwood, soy sauce, honey, orange peel, cinnamon, mint.
Finish: Long. Banana, honey, cinnamon, pears, mint.

Comments:

Bittersweet, more so than most bourbons, with a savoury note. Fragrant, fruity and slightly herby. From the supposedly defunct Willett distillery, and very very tasty indeed. I wish my health allowed me to drink more.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.