Amrut Kadhambam
Official bottling
Single malt - Bangalore
Amber
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, pears, red grapes, chocolate, orange peel, hints of chillies.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, thickens slightly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Brown paper, red grapes, chocolate, raisins, hints of raspberry jam.
Finish: Long. Brown paper, red grapes, raisins, hints of toast.
Comments:
Kadhambam means 'mixture' apparently. This is a mixture of peated and unpeated Amrut, but it's fair to say that the sherry influence of the cask has overpowered most of the peat. Besides a hint of toast in the finish, it's all jammy, chocolatey sherry notes. This is good stuff though.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Thursday, 25 August 2016
Ma1
Ma1
Elements of Islay, Specialty Drinks
Single malt - Islay
Golden
54.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, apricots, cookie dough, vanilla, tangerines, hints of peat. With water, applesauce, pink peppercorns.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, slightly fizzy.
Tasting: Sour. Burning leaves, apricots, tangerines, lemon zest, hints of vanilla. With water, pink peppercorns, applesauce, tangerine marmalade.
Finish: Long. Burning leaves, tangerine marmalade, peat, lemon zest, vanilla.
Comments:
Margadale, which Ma stands for, is apparently what we call peated Bunnahabhain. This wasn't too peaty though, gentle hints of burning leaves maybe. That note overlays jammy fruit, with touches of vanilla, and with water, turns slightly peppery and spicy.
Verdict:
I like this.
Elements of Islay, Specialty Drinks
Single malt - Islay
Golden
54.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, apricots, cookie dough, vanilla, tangerines, hints of peat. With water, applesauce, pink peppercorns.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, slightly fizzy.
Tasting: Sour. Burning leaves, apricots, tangerines, lemon zest, hints of vanilla. With water, pink peppercorns, applesauce, tangerine marmalade.
Finish: Long. Burning leaves, tangerine marmalade, peat, lemon zest, vanilla.
Comments:
Margadale, which Ma stands for, is apparently what we call peated Bunnahabhain. This wasn't too peaty though, gentle hints of burning leaves maybe. That note overlays jammy fruit, with touches of vanilla, and with water, turns slightly peppery and spicy.
Verdict:
I like this.
Ledaig 18 yo 1997/2016
Ledaig 18 yo 1997/2016
Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - Islands
Light gold
55.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, raisins, chocolate, maraschino cherries, ink, panko breadcrumbs. With water, oranges, caramel, cherry jam.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, sticky, syrupy .
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, cherry brandy, ink, chocolate, iron filings. With water, cherry jam, candied oranges.
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, cherry brandy, ink, hints of coffee.
Comments:
Cherry bomb! This tastes like ginja, the Portuguese cherry brandy. There are only a few whiskies that taste like that. I'm lucky to have found this one. It's metallic and inky on the tongue, with floral notes of maraschino. Delicious, turns jammy with water.
Cask #643023.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - Islands
Light gold
55.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, raisins, chocolate, maraschino cherries, ink, panko breadcrumbs. With water, oranges, caramel, cherry jam.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, sticky, syrupy .
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, cherry brandy, ink, chocolate, iron filings. With water, cherry jam, candied oranges.
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, cherry brandy, ink, hints of coffee.
Comments:
Cherry bomb! This tastes like ginja, the Portuguese cherry brandy. There are only a few whiskies that taste like that. I'm lucky to have found this one. It's metallic and inky on the tongue, with floral notes of maraschino. Delicious, turns jammy with water.
Cask #643023.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Friday, 19 August 2016
Teerenpeli 10 yo
Teerenpeli 10 yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Southern Finland
Gold, tinge of green
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, chocolate, grapefruits, cream, malted grains, hints of cotton sheets.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily, slightly sticky.
Tasting: Salty sour . Chocolate, cotton sheets, grapefruits, white grapes, rolled oats, hints of peanuts.
Finish: Medium. White grapes, rolled oats, vanilla, lemon zest.
Comments:
It's taken me a while to get round to another one of these, from Southern Finland. This is an older expression. It's tart and slightly sticky, complementing those sour notes with a comforting veil of freshly laundered cotton sheets, even a tad cardboardy (but in a good way). Plenty of tart fruits on the tongue and the finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Southern Finland
Gold, tinge of green
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, chocolate, grapefruits, cream, malted grains, hints of cotton sheets.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily, slightly sticky.
Tasting: Salty sour . Chocolate, cotton sheets, grapefruits, white grapes, rolled oats, hints of peanuts.
Finish: Medium. White grapes, rolled oats, vanilla, lemon zest.
Comments:
It's taken me a while to get round to another one of these, from Southern Finland. This is an older expression. It's tart and slightly sticky, complementing those sour notes with a comforting veil of freshly laundered cotton sheets, even a tad cardboardy (but in a good way). Plenty of tart fruits on the tongue and the finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Smögen 3 yo 2011/2015 (Cask 20/2011)
Smögen 3 yo 2011/2015 (Cask 20/2011)
Official bottling
Single malt - Bohuslän
Golden
60.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, smoke, blueberries, toffee, vanilla, hints of orange peel. With water, lemon zest, stewed apples, blueberries.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, oily, warming.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange peel, chocolate, toffee, vanilla fudge, peat, hints of stewed apples. With water, sweeter, chocolate, salt caramel, blueberries.
Finish: Long. Stewed apples, vanilla, tamarind, hints of lemon zest.
Comments:
Oof. This is pretty uncompromising, and to tell you the truth I wasn't looking forward to it. But it's quite good, with notes of orange peel and blueberries wreathed through with smoke. Quite a sour finish though.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Bohuslän
Golden
60.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, smoke, blueberries, toffee, vanilla, hints of orange peel. With water, lemon zest, stewed apples, blueberries.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, oily, warming.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange peel, chocolate, toffee, vanilla fudge, peat, hints of stewed apples. With water, sweeter, chocolate, salt caramel, blueberries.
Finish: Long. Stewed apples, vanilla, tamarind, hints of lemon zest.
Comments:
Oof. This is pretty uncompromising, and to tell you the truth I wasn't looking forward to it. But it's quite good, with notes of orange peel and blueberries wreathed through with smoke. Quite a sour finish though.
Verdict:
I like this.
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Redbreast 15 yo
Redbreast 15 yo
Official landing
Single malt - Southern Ireland
Gold, tinge of green
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, raisins, lemon zest, brown paper, rhubarb and custard sweets.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, oily.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange peel, raisins, brown paper, dark chocolate, lemon zest, apricots.
Finish: Short. Dark chocolate, raisins, lemon zest, apricots.
Comments:
Finishing the Redbreast official bottling trinity! I've had the 12 and the 21, and this is the last one. It's fruity like the others, a bit more chocolatey and raisiny perhaps. Plenty of fruit and chocolate in the finish too.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official landing
Single malt - Southern Ireland
Gold, tinge of green
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, raisins, lemon zest, brown paper, rhubarb and custard sweets.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, oily.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange peel, raisins, brown paper, dark chocolate, lemon zest, apricots.
Finish: Short. Dark chocolate, raisins, lemon zest, apricots.
Comments:
Finishing the Redbreast official bottling trinity! I've had the 12 and the 21, and this is the last one. It's fruity like the others, a bit more chocolatey and raisiny perhaps. Plenty of fruit and chocolate in the finish too.
Verdict:
I like this.
Strathclyde 28 yo 1987/2015
Strathclyde 28 yo 1987/2015
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Salt caramel, chocolate, coffee, orange peel, magic marker, hints of soy sauce.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, oily, volatile.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Coffee, magic marker, soy sauce, lemon zest, hints of coffee.
Finish: Short. Coffee, magic marker, lemon zest, hints of cinnamon.
Comments:
Cask no DL 10982. Another aged grain, and like the previous one, it has picked up a lot of savoury, and in this case, slightly bitter notes from the wood. Soy sauce, coffee, even some cinnamony spiciness. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Salt caramel, chocolate, coffee, orange peel, magic marker, hints of soy sauce.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, oily, volatile.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Coffee, magic marker, soy sauce, lemon zest, hints of coffee.
Finish: Short. Coffee, magic marker, lemon zest, hints of cinnamon.
Comments:
Cask no DL 10982. Another aged grain, and like the previous one, it has picked up a lot of savoury, and in this case, slightly bitter notes from the wood. Soy sauce, coffee, even some cinnamony spiciness. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Garnheath 41 yo 1974/2015
Garnheath 41 yo 1974/2015
Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold
48.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Ink, pear drops, magic marker, vanilla, wood polish, hints of chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, airy, smooth.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Pear drops, magic marker, brown paper, coffee, apricot jam, hints of fresh baked bread.
Finish: Short. Chocolate, honey, apricot jam, pear drops.
Comments:
Cask no DL 11029. A rare find this, Garnheath! I thought my chance to taste Garnheath had gone for ever. Aged grain is so wonderful, light and estery, yet it's picked up savoury notes from the long aging in the wood. Still plenty of fruity notes though.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold
48.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Ink, pear drops, magic marker, vanilla, wood polish, hints of chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, airy, smooth.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Pear drops, magic marker, brown paper, coffee, apricot jam, hints of fresh baked bread.
Finish: Short. Chocolate, honey, apricot jam, pear drops.
Comments:
Cask no DL 11029. A rare find this, Garnheath! I thought my chance to taste Garnheath had gone for ever. Aged grain is so wonderful, light and estery, yet it's picked up savoury notes from the long aging in the wood. Still plenty of fruity notes though.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Blair Athol 18 yo 1995/2014
Blair Athol 18 yo 1995/2014
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark gold
48.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butterscotch, orange peel, honey, cinnamon, maraschino cherries, hints of beeswax.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warming, tingly, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, candied winter melon, vanilla, whipped cream, hints of beeswax.
Finish: Medium. Mint, orange peel, maraschino cherries, brown paper.
Comments:
Cask no DL 10457. This one is fruity and spicy, candied fruits really. Candied oranges, maraschino cherries, even candied winter melon. And beeswax. A very bold and brassy Highlander. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark gold
48.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Butterscotch, orange peel, honey, cinnamon, maraschino cherries, hints of beeswax.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warming, tingly, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, candied winter melon, vanilla, whipped cream, hints of beeswax.
Finish: Medium. Mint, orange peel, maraschino cherries, brown paper.
Comments:
Cask no DL 10457. This one is fruity and spicy, candied fruits really. Candied oranges, maraschino cherries, even candied winter melon. And beeswax. A very bold and brassy Highlander. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Wednesday, 6 July 2016
Braes of Glenlivet 25 yo 1989/2014
Braes of Glenlivet 25 yo 1989/2014
Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, roast pork, condensed milk, nutmeg, apricots, pears, hints of chillies.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose, airy.
Tasting: Sour bitter. Apricots, pears, apple juice, nutmeg, hints of cucumbers.
Finish: Long. Leather, coffee, apple juice, toast.
Comments:
Meaty on the tongue, plenty of fruit. Tart and spicy, eventually fades away to toasty leather and coffee in the finish. It's not the most fantastic whisky in the world, sometimes stuff gets bottled because it's a bit rare and most of the whisky goes into blends.
Verdict:
I like this.
Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, roast pork, condensed milk, nutmeg, apricots, pears, hints of chillies.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose, airy.
Tasting: Sour bitter. Apricots, pears, apple juice, nutmeg, hints of cucumbers.
Finish: Long. Leather, coffee, apple juice, toast.
Comments:
Meaty on the tongue, plenty of fruit. Tart and spicy, eventually fades away to toasty leather and coffee in the finish. It's not the most fantastic whisky in the world, sometimes stuff gets bottled because it's a bit rare and most of the whisky goes into blends.
Verdict:
I like this.
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