Redbreast 21 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Southern Ireland
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Magic marker, pears, leather, apple juice, oats, hints of grilled pork.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, slippery, slightly water around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Magic marker, pears, apples, quince jelly, oats, hints of smoky bacon.
Finish: Short. Chillies, apples, vanilla, hints of quince jelly.
Comments:
Older version of the Redbreast range. This one is appley and volatile, huge magic marker notes, followed by meaty, slightly savoury flavours. Great cooked fruit and cereal on the tongue too. Excellent stuff.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 3 May 2016
Caperdonich 30 yo 1982/2012
Caperdonich 30 yo 1982/2012
Director's Cut, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, tinge of rose
50.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, orange blossom, rhubarb and custard sweets, pears, honey, hints of strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingles, hot, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, honey, fresh baked bread, red peppers, pears, hints of nutmeg.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, nutmeg, honey, rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of red peppers.
Comments:
Another old Caperdonich (there aren't many young ones). This one is redolent of orange peel, and rhubarb and custard sweets. Heavy, sweet and lovely. Huge spicy notes on the tongue and the finish, with intriguing hints of red peppers.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Director's Cut, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, tinge of rose
50.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, orange blossom, rhubarb and custard sweets, pears, honey, hints of strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingles, hot, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, honey, fresh baked bread, red peppers, pears, hints of nutmeg.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, nutmeg, honey, rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of red peppers.
Comments:
Another old Caperdonich (there aren't many young ones). This one is redolent of orange peel, and rhubarb and custard sweets. Heavy, sweet and lovely. Huge spicy notes on the tongue and the finish, with intriguing hints of red peppers.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Sunday, 1 May 2016
Glenfiddich 12 yo
Glenfiddich 12 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, chocolate, orange peel, pears, hints of coffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, syrupy, slightly chewy.
Tasting: Sweet. Red grapes, chocolate, orange peel, marshmallows, hints of pears.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, marshmallows, pears, raisins.
Comments:
Very sherried, plenty of red fruit and chocolate. Also something gelatiney on the tongue, marshmallows, perhaps. Decent entry level dram from Glenfiddich, the range is looking in good shape these days.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, chocolate, orange peel, pears, hints of coffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, syrupy, slightly chewy.
Tasting: Sweet. Red grapes, chocolate, orange peel, marshmallows, hints of pears.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, marshmallows, pears, raisins.
Comments:
Very sherried, plenty of red fruit and chocolate. Also something gelatiney on the tongue, marshmallows, perhaps. Decent entry level dram from Glenfiddich, the range is looking in good shape these days.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Port Ellen 15th Release 32 yo 1983/2015
Port Ellen 15th Release 32 yo 1983/2015
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber
53.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Fish sauce, stewed apples, raisins, leather, pears, smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slightly watery around the edges, airy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Stewed apples, dates, raisins, peat, smoke, leather, hints of pomegranate.
Finish: Medium. Apples, peat, raisins, salt caramel, hints of pears.
Comments:
Rare chance to try something like this! It's amazing. Fruity and drinkable, the peat and smoke are ameliorated by a ton of jammy fruity notes. Pomegranate molasses anyone? The finish is especially magnificent, peaty apples drizzled with salt caramel. Mmmm. Who knew that Islay whisky could be good as dessert?
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber
53.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Fish sauce, stewed apples, raisins, leather, pears, smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slightly watery around the edges, airy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Stewed apples, dates, raisins, peat, smoke, leather, hints of pomegranate.
Finish: Medium. Apples, peat, raisins, salt caramel, hints of pears.
Comments:
Rare chance to try something like this! It's amazing. Fruity and drinkable, the peat and smoke are ameliorated by a ton of jammy fruity notes. Pomegranate molasses anyone? The finish is especially magnificent, peaty apples drizzled with salt caramel. Mmmm. Who knew that Islay whisky could be good as dessert?
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Braeval 14 yo 2001/2015
Braeval 14 yo 2001/2015
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
48.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toast, yoghurt, apples, pears, orange peel, hints of peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slightly watery around the edges, cool.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Toast, orange peel, peaches, pears, vanilla, hints of cookie dough.
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, orange peel, pears, hints of chocolate.
Comments:
Maybe it was my palate reeling after so much fine whisky, but it was hard to pin this one down. Creamy and milky, even yoghurty, but married to a lot of distinctive fruity notes. I could drink a lot of this, it's almost quaffable.
Verdict:
I like this.
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
48.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toast, yoghurt, apples, pears, orange peel, hints of peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slightly watery around the edges, cool.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Toast, orange peel, peaches, pears, vanilla, hints of cookie dough.
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, orange peel, pears, hints of chocolate.
Comments:
Maybe it was my palate reeling after so much fine whisky, but it was hard to pin this one down. Creamy and milky, even yoghurty, but married to a lot of distinctive fruity notes. I could drink a lot of this, it's almost quaffable.
Verdict:
I like this.
Strathclyde 9 yo 2005/2015
Strathclyde 9 yo 2005/2015
Clan Denny, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber
56.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, brown paper, pears, apples, hints of toast, hints of leather. With water, apples, sesame, shortbread, pie crust.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly oily, tingly, loose.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Red grapes, raisins, cream, digestive biscuits, apples, hints of yoghurt. With water, raisins, red wine, pie crust, sesame.
Finish: Long. Cream, raisins, toast, yoghurt, brown paper.
Comments:
Cask ref DL 10867. This is long lasting and winey, I don't think anyone would identify this as a single grain on first blind tasting. It's even better with water, as the alcohol burn turns into something toasty, almost savoury, very much like good pie crust. Very good indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Clan Denny, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber
56.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, brown paper, pears, apples, hints of toast, hints of leather. With water, apples, sesame, shortbread, pie crust.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly oily, tingly, loose.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Red grapes, raisins, cream, digestive biscuits, apples, hints of yoghurt. With water, raisins, red wine, pie crust, sesame.
Finish: Long. Cream, raisins, toast, yoghurt, brown paper.
Comments:
Cask ref DL 10867. This is long lasting and winey, I don't think anyone would identify this as a single grain on first blind tasting. It's even better with water, as the alcohol burn turns into something toasty, almost savoury, very much like good pie crust. Very good indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Caperdonich 21 yo 1994/2015
Caperdonich 21 yo 1994/2015
Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Brass
57.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemons, fresh baked bread, vanilla, yoghurt, hints of orange blossom. With water, cookie dough, malted grains, custard, hints of toast.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, slightly watery around the edges, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pears, orange juice, lemons,yoghurt, vanilla, hints of cream. With water, custard, malted grains, apples, more vanilla.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, lemons, orange juice.
Comments:
Cask ref DL 10769. Warm and vanilla-ey, plenty of fruit, especially citrus. Loads of toasty cereally notes as well. This is magnificent whisky. Caperdonich as I remember it has tangy pineapple notes, but here somehow it has been mellowed into sweet custard. The effects of age, maybe?
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Brass
57.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemons, fresh baked bread, vanilla, yoghurt, hints of orange blossom. With water, cookie dough, malted grains, custard, hints of toast.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, slightly watery around the edges, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pears, orange juice, lemons,yoghurt, vanilla, hints of cream. With water, custard, malted grains, apples, more vanilla.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, lemons, orange juice.
Comments:
Cask ref DL 10769. Warm and vanilla-ey, plenty of fruit, especially citrus. Loads of toasty cereally notes as well. This is magnificent whisky. Caperdonich as I remember it has tangy pineapple notes, but here somehow it has been mellowed into sweet custard. The effects of age, maybe?
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Kavalan Concertmaster
Kavalan Concertmaster
Official bottling
Single malt - North Taiwan
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, brown paper, chocolate, blackcurrants, peaches, hints of coffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet. Blackcurrants, red grapes, raisins, chocolate, mangoes, hints of black tea.
Finish: Short. Black tea, mangoes, coffee, hints of peaches.
Comments:
Port cask matured Kavalan. Loads of blackcurrant, like drinking Ribena mixed in with whisky. Good sherry flavours, plenty of fruit (mangoes and peaches, it's not just the usual red grapes). Young and a bit sulphurous, but otherwise really very good for the price.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - North Taiwan
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, brown paper, chocolate, blackcurrants, peaches, hints of coffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet. Blackcurrants, red grapes, raisins, chocolate, mangoes, hints of black tea.
Finish: Short. Black tea, mangoes, coffee, hints of peaches.
Comments:
Port cask matured Kavalan. Loads of blackcurrant, like drinking Ribena mixed in with whisky. Good sherry flavours, plenty of fruit (mangoes and peaches, it's not just the usual red grapes). Young and a bit sulphurous, but otherwise really very good for the price.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
Glenfiddich Excellence 26 yo
Glenfiddich Excellence 26 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, chocolate, vanilla, cola nuts, black tea, hints of coffee.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, sticky, slightly chewy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla, chocolate, orange peel, raisins, pears, hints of coffee.
Finish: Medium. Pears, chocolate, raisins, orange peel.
Comments:
Old Glenfiddich, the oldest in the official range. Lots of pear, but it's overlaid with plenty of sherry influence - raisins, chocolate, etc. There's a slight bitter note that's also fragrant, definitely coffee here. Overall a decent whisky, but somehow tastes younger than it is.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, chocolate, vanilla, cola nuts, black tea, hints of coffee.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, sticky, slightly chewy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla, chocolate, orange peel, raisins, pears, hints of coffee.
Finish: Medium. Pears, chocolate, raisins, orange peel.
Comments:
Old Glenfiddich, the oldest in the official range. Lots of pear, but it's overlaid with plenty of sherry influence - raisins, chocolate, etc. There's a slight bitter note that's also fragrant, definitely coffee here. Overall a decent whisky, but somehow tastes younger than it is.
Verdict:
I like this.
Monday, 25 April 2016
Allt-a-Bhainne 18 yo 1996/2014
Allt-a-Bhainne 18 yo 1996/2014
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Lemon yellow
48.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, orange juice, lemon zest, brass polish, green tea, hints of cocoa.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, chunky, syrupy.
Tasting: Sour. Peaches, chocolate, green tea, lemon zest, hints of honey.
Finish: Short. Cookie dough, vanilla, raisins, lemon zest.
Comments:
Cask 10370. A chameleon whisky, citrusy and fresh on the nose, with just a hint of chocolate. Then on the tongue it becomes sour and fruity, slightly tannic. Once swallowed, the finish is different yet again - sweet and vanilla-laden.
Verdict:
I like this.
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Lemon yellow
48.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, orange juice, lemon zest, brass polish, green tea, hints of cocoa.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, chunky, syrupy.
Tasting: Sour. Peaches, chocolate, green tea, lemon zest, hints of honey.
Finish: Short. Cookie dough, vanilla, raisins, lemon zest.
Comments:
Cask 10370. A chameleon whisky, citrusy and fresh on the nose, with just a hint of chocolate. Then on the tongue it becomes sour and fruity, slightly tannic. Once swallowed, the finish is different yet again - sweet and vanilla-laden.
Verdict:
I like this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)