Tamnavulin 18 yo 1990/2008

Tamnavulin 18 yo 1990/2008

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

Nose: Peat, rubber, peaches, musk, raisins, driftwood, sea salt, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, watery, volatile.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peaches, peat, driftwood, raisins, sea salt, orange peel, hints of oats, hints of smoke.
Finish: Long. Peat, driftwood, walnut skins.

Comments:

Smells chemical, although it's not harsh. Lots of subtle, deeply laid peach flavours, overlaid with sea salt, peat and smoke. Not particularly refined whisky, instead robust and earthy, unusual for a Speyside.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenturret 10 yo

Glenturret 10 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, peanuts, limes, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, watery, loose Sweet sour.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peat, raisins, strawberry jam, lemon zest, limes, oats, hints of peanuts.
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, orange peel, lemon zest.

Comments:

Light and refreshing! Very cool, almost cold on the tongue. This whisky is great with ice, no mixers required. Delicious aperitif.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 29.64 (Laphroaig 18 yo 1989/2008)

SMWS 29.64 (Laphroaig 18 yo 1989/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Amber
54.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, sherry, grilled fish, raisins, hints of tarry rope.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, slippery, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, smoke, cinnamon, raisins, grilled fish, sea salt, honey, hints of tarry rope.
Finish: Medium. Warm, raisins, peat, chillies.

Comments:

Sherried Laphroaig doesn't come along very often, and I'm usually grateful when it does. I find this a little too sweet though, but that's probably the peat-head in me having too much say. This is a very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 7.39 (Longmorn 38 yo 1968/2007)

SMWS 7.39 (Longmorn 38 yo 1968/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
51% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, cloves, cinnamon, plums, prunes, hints of walnuts.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Sweet. Raisins, oranges, plums, orange peel, prunes, vanilla, honey, cinnamon, hints of walnuts.
Finish: Long. Raisins, walnuts, cinnamon, oranges, honey.

Comments:

Sweet and sherried, with great structure and body. A whisky at the pinnacle of perfection. I could drink this all night long, without water, because that's surely as good as it gets.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 105.10 (Tormore 21 yo 1983/2005)

SMWS 105.10 (Tormore 21 yo 1983/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Orange amber
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, orange peel, marmalade, aniseed, molasses, raisins, hints of fennel. With water, sweeter, more oranges, orange peel, coriander seed.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange peel, molasses, oranges, raisins, lemon zest, aniseed, hints of fennel. With water, sweeter, orange peel, coriander seed.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, molasses, raisins, walnut skins.

Comments:

Smells a little bitter, with marmalade notes in the nose that didn't bode well. Very different on the tongue though, filling and satisfying, with a slight bitter note. The sort of whisky you have instead of dinner.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 45.20 (Dallas Dhu 31 yo 1975/2007)

SMWS 45.20 (Dallas Dhu 31 yo 1975/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
49.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, peaches, plums, honey, vanilla, hints of apples, hints of brine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, clumps together.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pineapples, plums, peaches, apples, orange peel, cloves, hints of brine.
Finish: Medium. Pineapples, brine, honey, peaches.

Comments:

Tangy and more than a little tropical. Lots of fruit, very estery, with a slight hint of salt that is pretty attractive. You don't get many whiskies like this often. This was the unanimous favourite of the evening.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Four Roses Yellow Label

Four Roses Yellow Label

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Golden
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Pears, apples, brown paper, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, magic marker.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pears, apples, cinnamon, honey, brown paper, chocolate.
Finish: Medium. Pears, apples, banana, cinnamon.

Comments:

Pleasant, drinkable bourbon. Ultimately though, a little too light and bland. I prefer robust, strong spirits. I could drink this one all day in front of the TV though. Maybe that's what it's been made for.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 93.31 (Glen Scotia 16 yo 1992/2008)

SMWS 93.31 (Glen Scotia 16 yo 1992/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Campbeltown
Golden
65.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, peat, smoke, roast pork, tobacco leaf, peaches, hints of plums.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, iodine, peat, smoke, plums, leather, roast pork, grilled fish, tobacco leaf.
Finish: Short. Iodine, peat, honey, tobacco leaf.

Comments:

Very medicinal, yet I get the feeling that I'm being a bit naughty when I'm drinking this. It's probably the very high alcohol content, as well as the tobacco flavours. It's like smoking in a hospital. None of this prevents the whisky from being absolutely delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 81.14 (Glen Keith 13 yo 1994/2007)

SMWS 81.14 (Glen Keith 13 yo 1994/2007)

2007, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Orange gold
60.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, sponge cake, honey, milk, butter, raisins, cinnamon, black tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, static, loose.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, brown paper, vanilla, sponge cake, cinnamon, milk, cream, butter, black tea.
Finish: Long. Walnuts, cream, butter, vanilla.

Comments:

High tea whisky! Reminds me of eating sponge cake with a cup of tea handy. Very gentle, despite the strength. This whisky is almost bland, and very delicate indeed. Handle with care, don't add too much water.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 69.10 (Glen Albyn 25 yo 1979/2005)

SMWS 69.10 (Glen Albyn 25 yo 1979/2005)

2005, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, pears, vanilla, plums, honey, hints of prunes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Chocolate, raisins, pears, plums, prunes, honey, hints of heather.
Finish: Long. Warm, chocolate, raisins, prunes.

Comments:

Lovely and sweet, gentle and light, and above all, rare. Absolutely delicious whisky, tastes surprisingly like Drambuie.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.