The Famous Grouse

The Famous Grouse

Official bottling 
Blended malt
Amber
40% ABV 
Dram

Nose: Oranges, toffee, icing sugar, grilled meat, honey, hints of chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, thickens. 
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Oranges, honey, chocolate, lemon zest, milk, hints of smoke, hints of quinine. 
Finish: Short. Quinine, oranges, milk, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and sweet, yet not delicate at all. It's robust, even muscular, and on the tongue there's a sort of heavy bitterness that lingers through into the finish. It's hard-drinking whisky, it doesn't slip down easily, but is rewarding for all that.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 26.96 (Clynelish 10 yo 2003/2014)

SMWS 26.96 (Clynelish 10 yo 2003/2014)

2014, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Honey 
61.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk, cream, apples, walnuts, honey, hints of olive oil. With water, bread, savoury, tomatoes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, chewy, warming. 
Tasting: Sweet. Lemon zest, cream, apples, walnuts, honey, hints of olive oil. With water, more savoury, tomatoes, nuttier. 
Finish: Long. Cream, lemons, apples, pineapples, bread. 

Comments: 

Oof - somewhat young, and somewhat strong. Needed more water than the customary dribble to get it to develop. Still, an atypical Clynelish, water brings out a tartness and savouriness that suggests tomatoes and nuts. Rather interesting.


Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 25.65 (Rosebank 22 yo 1991/2014)

SMWS 25.65 (Rosebank 22 yo 1991/2014)

2014, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, papayas, lemon zest, rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of ginger. With water, bread, apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, spicy, warming. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peach, mint, papayas, rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of apples, hints of ginger. With water, turns more savoury, bready, stewed apples. 
Finish: Long. Rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, mint, ginger. 

Comments: 

Mmm. Lovely, lovely Rosebank, full of the typical rhubarb and custard notes I've come to associate with this distillery. This is peak drinking quality. The stuff must be running out; best taste it if you can.


Verdict:

I like this a lot.
 

Glen Garioch 'West Highland Line' 12 yo

Glen Garioch 'West Highland Line' 12 yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Mint, chocolate, leather, oats, hints of cherries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thins, turns watery, smooth. 
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Leather, oats, cherries, chocolate, coffee, hints of butterscotch. 
Finish: Short. Leather, oats, chocolate. 

Comments: 

I don't know whether this is a different whisky from the old Glen Garioch 12 yo, but, as that's no longer available, I suppose this is my last best chance of trying it. Quite fruity, with a good range of flavours, and superbly easy to drink. Yum.

Verdict:

I like this.

Paul John Brilliance

Paul John Brilliance

Official bottling  
Single malt - Goa
Dark gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, honey, vanilla, hay, bread, hints of apple. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, watery. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Cream, honey, hay, walnuts, peanuts, hints of apple. 
Finish: Long. Bread, cream, honey, peanuts. 

Comments: 

Cereally, nutty, creamy. The phrase 'bread of heaven' came to mind. This is tasty whisky, and complex for its age (apparently 4-5 years old). This is what tropical aging creates. More, please.

Verdict:

I like this.

Penderyn Madeira Finish

Penderyn Madeira Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - South Wales
Golden
46% ABV 
Dram

Nose: Oranges, apricots, caramel, vanilla, white grapes, hints of white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, creamy, thickens. 
Tasting: Bitter sour. Apricots, caramel, vanilla, white chocolate, white grapes, white wine. 
Finish: Medium. White chocolate, white grapes, white wine. 

Comments: 

White everything! The madeira cask clearly imparts the winey notes, but the white chocolate and the fruit were surprises. Very tasty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 94.4 (Fettercairn 24 yo 1989/2013)

SMWS 94.4 (Fettercairn 24 yo 1989/2013)

2013, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Light gold
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, freshly cut grass, hazelnuts, brass polish, apricots. With water, red peppers, hay. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, turns syrupy. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Milk, hazelnuts, orange zest, apricots, brass polish. With water, salty, hints of olive oil, grass. 
Finish: Medium. Apricots, orange zest, hints of chillies. 

Comments: 

Complex and confusing, a bit of a mess if I'm honest. My own tastebuds and nose aren't in the greatest tasting shape, but I suspect this whisky really has a lot going on.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Spirit of Asama 2nd batch

Spirit of Asama 2nd batch

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Honshu
Dark amber 
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, apples, cherries, plums, hints of brown paper, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, tingly. 
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Apples, cherries, plums, vanilla, hints of pears, hints of leather. 
Finish: Long. Apples, vanilla, plums, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Fruity, a little leathery. This is Karuizawa without the sherry influence. Anything from the distillery is a treat, and this is a special one. Shame the bottles are so overpriced. Thanks to the Mizuwari Whisky Bar for a little sample, fresh from an unopened bottle.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hakushu Bourbon Barrel

Hakushu Bourbon Barrel

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Honshu
Golden 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Banana, vanilla, lemon zest, orange blossom, wet stones, hints of brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, expands, turns watery. 
Tasting: Sweet. Lemon zest, vanilla, bananas, orange blossom, wet stones, brass polish. 
Finish: Medium. Orange blossom, bananas, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Minerally and slightly metallic. Long, sweet banana from the bourbon cask, but still quite wild. This is an odd whisky - it's one of the few I've encountered that tastes exactly like it smells.

Verdict:

I like this.

Chichibu Port Pipe

Chichibu Port Pipe

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Red
57.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, white chocolate, red grapes, cream, hints of vanilla. With water, sweeter, more grapes, strawberries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery, tingly. 
Tasting: Sweet. Red grapes, plums, cherries, strawberries, vanilla, white chocolate. With water, sweeter, honey, raisins, more strawberries. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberries, plums, red grapes, white chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, this is a sugar bomb. It might have benefited from further aging. Utter delicious as is, a few more years might have smoothed off the rough edges.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.