Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask 11yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Bright gold
44.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Tobacco leaf, leather, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of sour cream.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, turns watery, airy.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Gooseberries, white grapes, malted grains, leather, hints of coffee.
Finish: Medium. Menthol, white grapes, coffee, gooseberries, hints of white grapes.
Comments:
Double Cask DC0107. This one is a little funky on the nose, with a bit of sour ferment. Again, more green fruits, grapes and leather on the tongue. Very good, although not stellar.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 11 November 2020
Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Single Tawny Cask 10yo
Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Single Tawny Cask 10yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Bright gold
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, damson jam, petrichor, peaches, white grapes.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slightly astringent, syrupy, warm.
Tasting: Sweet. Damson jam, white grapes, greengages, chocolate, wet stones.
Finish: Medium. Damson jam, petrichor, white grapes, barbecue, gooseberries.
Comments:
Barrel TD0324. The port cask finish seems to have imbued this whisky with an earthy character, like earth after rain and chalky wet stones. Again, highly enjoyable and utterly delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Bright gold
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, damson jam, petrichor, peaches, white grapes.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slightly astringent, syrupy, warm.
Tasting: Sweet. Damson jam, white grapes, greengages, chocolate, wet stones.
Finish: Medium. Damson jam, petrichor, white grapes, barbecue, gooseberries.
Comments:
Barrel TD0324. The port cask finish seems to have imbued this whisky with an earthy character, like earth after rain and chalky wet stones. Again, highly enjoyable and utterly delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Sullivan’s Cove Special Single Cask 11yo
Sullivan’s Cove Special Single Cask 11yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
45.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, greengages, gooseberries, dried apricots, orange peel, candle wax.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, airy.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Orange peel, greengages, dried apricots, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, hints of autumn leaves.
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, autumn leaves, gooseberries.
Comments:
Barrel TD0214. I feel this might be the dram most emblematic of the distillery character. Heaps of stone fruit, apricots and greengages, along with gooseberries that create this impression of an abundant harvest in an orchard. Lovely stuff.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
45.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, greengages, gooseberries, dried apricots, orange peel, candle wax.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, airy.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Orange peel, greengages, dried apricots, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, hints of autumn leaves.
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, autumn leaves, gooseberries.
Comments:
Barrel TD0214. I feel this might be the dram most emblematic of the distillery character. Heaps of stone fruit, apricots and greengages, along with gooseberries that create this impression of an abundant harvest in an orchard. Lovely stuff.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Old and Rare 18yo
Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Old and Rare 18yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
White wine
49.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Apples, toffee, orange peel, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of cucumber.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, loosens slightly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apples, toffee, cucumber, brass polish, green tea, fresh baked bread.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, fresh baked bread, cucumber, gooseberries.
Comments:
Barrel HH0296. This whisky has lots of stone fruit, now gooseberries, alongside apples and plenty of bread on the finish. The underlying cereal notes are very attractive, and to my mind, the key reason why this tastes so good.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
White wine
49.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Apples, toffee, orange peel, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of cucumber.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, loosens slightly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apples, toffee, cucumber, brass polish, green tea, fresh baked bread.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, fresh baked bread, cucumber, gooseberries.
Comments:
Barrel HH0296. This whisky has lots of stone fruit, now gooseberries, alongside apples and plenty of bread on the finish. The underlying cereal notes are very attractive, and to my mind, the key reason why this tastes so good.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Single Bourbon Cask 13yo
Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Single Bourbon Cask 13yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Sunshine yellow
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, honey, mint, banana bread, green tea, barley sugar, hints of malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, drying, warm.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Green tea, barley sugar, peaches, mint, pineapples.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, hazelnuts, honey, peaches.
Comments:
Barrel TD0165. Fruity and light, heaps of stone fruit and tannins. Very luscious on the tongue, plenty of flavour. Very good whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Sunshine yellow
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, honey, mint, banana bread, green tea, barley sugar, hints of malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, drying, warm.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Green tea, barley sugar, peaches, mint, pineapples.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, hazelnuts, honey, peaches.
Comments:
Barrel TD0165. Fruity and light, heaps of stone fruit and tannins. Very luscious on the tongue, plenty of flavour. Very good whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Tuesday, 10 November 2020
Glenrothes 10yo 2004/2014
Glenrothes 10yo 2004/2014
Old Malt Cask, Hunter Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber gold
50% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Raisins, damson jam, black tea, vanilla, Demerara sugar, hints of menthol.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black tea, raisins, damson jam, walnuts, candied oranges, salt caramel.
Old Malt Cask, Hunter Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber gold
50% ABV
Sampler
Nose: Raisins, damson jam, black tea, vanilla, Demerara sugar, hints of menthol.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black tea, raisins, damson jam, walnuts, candied oranges, salt caramel.
Finish: Long. Menthol, salt caramel, raisins, damson jam, candied oranges.
Comments:
Cask #/H1 ref 10764. This is a sample bottle that’s sat on my shelf for a while. It’s quite pungent, mentholated and sweet. Highly enjoyable, and very drinkable. No water needed with this one whatsoever.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Comments:
Cask #/H1 ref 10764. This is a sample bottle that’s sat on my shelf for a while. It’s quite pungent, mentholated and sweet. Highly enjoyable, and very drinkable. No water needed with this one whatsoever.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Tuesday, 3 November 2020
Linkwood 12yo Galil Mountain Wine Finish
Linkwood 12yo Galil Mountain Wine Finish
DS Tayman
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Fresh cut grass, fresh baked bread, raisins, starfruit, white grapes, peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, airy, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, white grapes, fresh cut grass, starfruit, sage, green tea, hints of ginseng.
Finish: Medium. Fresh cut grass, sage, honey, green tea.
Comments:
Youngish Linkwood, quite herbal and grassy. There’s some sweetness in there, presumably from the wine cask, as well as tropical fruit. It’s a decent dram for the price, but I’m not sure the wine finish adds much.
Verdict:
I like this.
DS Tayman
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Fresh cut grass, fresh baked bread, raisins, starfruit, white grapes, peaches.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, airy, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, white grapes, fresh cut grass, starfruit, sage, green tea, hints of ginseng.
Finish: Medium. Fresh cut grass, sage, honey, green tea.
Comments:
Youngish Linkwood, quite herbal and grassy. There’s some sweetness in there, presumably from the wine cask, as well as tropical fruit. It’s a decent dram for the price, but I’m not sure the wine finish adds much.
Verdict:
I like this.
Braeval 19yo 1998/2018
Braeval 19yo 1998/2018
Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber rose
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Brown paper, cocoa powder, vanilla sponge, red grapes, hints of cloves, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, cool.
Tasting: Sweet. Cocoa powder, red grapes, cloves, fresh baked bread, candied oranges.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, candied oranges, ginseng, raisins, hints of aluminium foil.
Comments:
Cask 93961, port cask Braeval. Sweet and meaty, with more than a hint of fruity Christmassy chocolate. Excellent winter dram, almost like mulled wine.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber rose
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Brown paper, cocoa powder, vanilla sponge, red grapes, hints of cloves, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, cool.
Tasting: Sweet. Cocoa powder, red grapes, cloves, fresh baked bread, candied oranges.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, candied oranges, ginseng, raisins, hints of aluminium foil.
Comments:
Cask 93961, port cask Braeval. Sweet and meaty, with more than a hint of fruity Christmassy chocolate. Excellent winter dram, almost like mulled wine.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Speyburn 28yo 1989/2018
Speyburn 28yo 1989/2018
Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, white grapes, watermelons, sea salt, malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Watermelons, white grapes, peat, tobacco leaf, apples, lemon zest, hints of allspice.
Finish: Medium. Allspice, lemon zest, white grapes, leather.
Comments:
You don’t see Speyburn very often, much less an old one. This one is excellent stuff, aromatic, quite intense and fruity, with notes of gingery allspice underlying it. I enjoyed this, very rare chance to taste spirit from this distillery.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, white grapes, watermelons, sea salt, malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Watermelons, white grapes, peat, tobacco leaf, apples, lemon zest, hints of allspice.
Finish: Medium. Allspice, lemon zest, white grapes, leather.
Comments:
You don’t see Speyburn very often, much less an old one. This one is excellent stuff, aromatic, quite intense and fruity, with notes of gingery allspice underlying it. I enjoyed this, very rare chance to taste spirit from this distillery.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Macduff 30yo 1990/2020
Macduff 30yo 1990/2020
Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
48.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, menthol, blackcurrant, honeycomb, carrot cake, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black tea, menthol, carrot cake, honeycomb, raisins, kiwi fruit.
Finish: Long. Menthol, black tea, raisins, carrot cake.
Comments:
Cask DL13918. This is heavily sherried single cask Macduff, reasonably similar to the 30 year old Glen Deveron, but more intense of course. It’s rather like a delicious cough mixture, tingly and mentholated, and it certainly opens up one’s passages.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
48.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, menthol, blackcurrant, honeycomb, carrot cake, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black tea, menthol, carrot cake, honeycomb, raisins, kiwi fruit.
Finish: Long. Menthol, black tea, raisins, carrot cake.
Comments:
Cask DL13918. This is heavily sherried single cask Macduff, reasonably similar to the 30 year old Glen Deveron, but more intense of course. It’s rather like a delicious cough mixture, tingly and mentholated, and it certainly opens up one’s passages.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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