Ledaig 12yo 2007/2019
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islands
Amber
48.4% ABV
Tiny taste
Nose: Peat, leather, dried apricots, raisins, red grapes, hints of sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, warm, slightly slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Leather, dried apricots, orange peel, smoky bacon, driftwood, hints of raisins.
Finish: Long. Dried apricots, smoky bacon, brown paper, leather, hints of black tea.
Comments:
Cask DL13707. Delicious, lots of dried fruit and smoke, but undeniably under proof. I think Ledaig is best when it's cask strength, north of 50%, and this expression is a little below that. Still, it's good, it's just not as great as I've come to expect from Tobermory's peated juice.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 27 February 2020
Mackmyra Gront Te
Mackmyra Gront Te
Official bottling
Single malt - Gastrikland
Pale amber
46.1% ABV
Tiny taste
Nose: Peppermint, honey, cocoa powder, vanilla, green tea, hints of raisins.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, warming, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, green tea, apple juice, vanilla, cinnamon, hints of pine.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, pine, apple juice green tea.
Comments:
This is an interesting cask finished Mackmyra. The sherry cask that aged this was seasoned with an infusion of green tea leaves in sherry. I cadged this off a little sample bottle (thanks Eddie) and I was blown away. Very nice, highly complex, and it's picked up the green tea flavour that the cask seasoning was meant to achieve.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Gastrikland
Pale amber
46.1% ABV
Tiny taste
Nose: Peppermint, honey, cocoa powder, vanilla, green tea, hints of raisins.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, warming, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, green tea, apple juice, vanilla, cinnamon, hints of pine.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, pine, apple juice green tea.
Comments:
This is an interesting cask finished Mackmyra. The sherry cask that aged this was seasoned with an infusion of green tea leaves in sherry. I cadged this off a little sample bottle (thanks Eddie) and I was blown away. Very nice, highly complex, and it's picked up the green tea flavour that the cask seasoning was meant to achieve.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Balmenach 13yo 2004/2018
Balmenach 13yo 2004/2018
Hidden Spirits Whisky Co
Single malt - Speyside
Dark yellow
51.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, rhubarb and custard sweets, pear drops, vanilla, orange peel. With water, lemon zest, cotton sheets, lemon sweets.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, static, tingly.
Tasting: Sour. Lemon juice, lime juice, green tea, green apples, vanilla, hints of cinnamon. With water, sweeter, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, Battenberg cake.
Finish: Medium. Lemon juice, vanilla, pear drops, green apples.
Comments:
Cask BL418. Another gem from Hidden Spirits, and yes, I killed the bottle. It's pretty sour, lots of tart things, with some spicy notes. It opens up well with water, turning sweeter, and slightly herbal, a particular fragrance that I associate with freshly laundered cotton sheets. Very nice whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hidden Spirits Whisky Co
Single malt - Speyside
Dark yellow
51.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, rhubarb and custard sweets, pear drops, vanilla, orange peel. With water, lemon zest, cotton sheets, lemon sweets.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, static, tingly.
Tasting: Sour. Lemon juice, lime juice, green tea, green apples, vanilla, hints of cinnamon. With water, sweeter, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, Battenberg cake.
Finish: Medium. Lemon juice, vanilla, pear drops, green apples.
Comments:
Cask BL418. Another gem from Hidden Spirits, and yes, I killed the bottle. It's pretty sour, lots of tart things, with some spicy notes. It opens up well with water, turning sweeter, and slightly herbal, a particular fragrance that I associate with freshly laundered cotton sheets. Very nice whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Springbank 21yo 1993/2015
Springbank 21yo 1993/2015
Brothers' Reserve, Lockett Bros
Single malt - Campbeltown
Sunshine yellow
49.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, peanuts, lemon zest, almonds, honey, dried limes.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, warm, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Leather, petrol exhaust, lemon juice, honey, lime zest, hints of pear drops.
Finish: Medium. Lime zest, almonds, honey, pear drops.
Comments:
Indie Springbank, bottled by a whisky / wine shop in North Berwick. This is surprisingly lively, I tend to associate older Springbank with deeper flavours, less citrus, more red fruit. But this one retains the huge citrus notes, ethers, and the slightly burnt hydrocarbon sweetness that I associate with young Springbank.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Brothers' Reserve, Lockett Bros
Single malt - Campbeltown
Sunshine yellow
49.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, peanuts, lemon zest, almonds, honey, dried limes.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, warm, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Leather, petrol exhaust, lemon juice, honey, lime zest, hints of pear drops.
Finish: Medium. Lime zest, almonds, honey, pear drops.
Comments:
Indie Springbank, bottled by a whisky / wine shop in North Berwick. This is surprisingly lively, I tend to associate older Springbank with deeper flavours, less citrus, more red fruit. But this one retains the huge citrus notes, ethers, and the slightly burnt hydrocarbon sweetness that I associate with young Springbank.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Wednesday, 26 February 2020
Teaninich 12yo 2006/2019
Teaninich 12yo 2006/2019
Hidden Spirits Whisky Co
Single malt - North Highlands
Silvery
51.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon sweets, barley sugar, leather, honeydew melons, rhubarb and custard sweets, pears, white grapes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, cool, static.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes, pears, hints of barley sugar.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, pear drops, lemon sweets, barley sugar.
Comments:
Cask TH619. My second expression from this Italian bottler, and I was very impressed - the whiskies this bloke (and it is, I think, a very small operation) manages to find are very good indeed. This one is sweet with lots of citrus and fruit notes, and an intense tannic bite on the finish.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hidden Spirits Whisky Co
Single malt - North Highlands
Silvery
51.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon sweets, barley sugar, leather, honeydew melons, rhubarb and custard sweets, pears, white grapes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, cool, static.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes, pears, hints of barley sugar.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, pear drops, lemon sweets, barley sugar.
Comments:
Cask TH619. My second expression from this Italian bottler, and I was very impressed - the whiskies this bloke (and it is, I think, a very small operation) manages to find are very good indeed. This one is sweet with lots of citrus and fruit notes, and an intense tannic bite on the finish.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Strathmill 20yo 1997/2017
Strathmill 20yo 1997/2017
Mackillop's Choice, Angus Dundee Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
59.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, malted grains, raisins, cinnamon, orange peel, candle wax. With water, raisins, salt caramel, chocolate, red grapes.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, turns watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Cocoa powder, candle wax, orange juice, cinnamon, butterscotch, raisins, hints of black tea. With water, sweeter, black tea, vanilla, honey, hints of lemon zest.
Finish: Long. Cinnamon, raisins, vanilla, hints of cloves.
Comments:
Cask 4112. I've never had a Mackillop's Choice until now, and I have to say that it did not disappoint. It was sweet, a little waxy, and very spicy. Lots of lingering spice notes, and a little hook of citrus at the end, just teasing, on the tongue. Very nice whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Mackillop's Choice, Angus Dundee Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
59.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, malted grains, raisins, cinnamon, orange peel, candle wax. With water, raisins, salt caramel, chocolate, red grapes.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, turns watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Cocoa powder, candle wax, orange juice, cinnamon, butterscotch, raisins, hints of black tea. With water, sweeter, black tea, vanilla, honey, hints of lemon zest.
Finish: Long. Cinnamon, raisins, vanilla, hints of cloves.
Comments:
Cask 4112. I've never had a Mackillop's Choice until now, and I have to say that it did not disappoint. It was sweet, a little waxy, and very spicy. Lots of lingering spice notes, and a little hook of citrus at the end, just teasing, on the tongue. Very nice whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Nikka Pure Malt Red
Nikka Pure Malt Red
Official bottling
Blended malt
Amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, malted grains, barley sugar, orange peel, hints of raisins.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily, chunky.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, white pepper, barley sugar, vanilla raisins, hints of cola nuts.
Finish: Short. Cola nuts, raisins, vanilla, honey.
Comments:
This expression, too, is being discontinued. So I decided to say goodbye to an old friend. It's sweet and full of barley, but also has a little spicy edge. It's really good value whisky, clear and distinctive flavours, and if any bottles survive the next twenty years, the old bottle effect will make it amazing.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Blended malt
Amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, malted grains, barley sugar, orange peel, hints of raisins.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily, chunky.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, white pepper, barley sugar, vanilla raisins, hints of cola nuts.
Finish: Short. Cola nuts, raisins, vanilla, honey.
Comments:
This expression, too, is being discontinued. So I decided to say goodbye to an old friend. It's sweet and full of barley, but also has a little spicy edge. It's really good value whisky, clear and distinctive flavours, and if any bottles survive the next twenty years, the old bottle effect will make it amazing.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 14 February 2020
Bunnahabhain 28yo 1990/2019
Bunnahabhain 28yo 1990/2019
Single Malts of Scotland, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold
44.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: White chocolate, vanilla, peat, condensed milk, smoked bacon.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, cool, airy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla, white chocolate, leather, honey, condensed milk, peat, ginseng, fresh cut grass, hints of rubber.
Finish: Long. Ginseng, black tea, fresh cut grass, vanilla, hints of lemon zest.
Comments:
Cask 7727. Thanks Eddie for the dram. This aged Bunnahabhain is special. It's chocolatey and buttery, like the best Ardbegs, but the peat is gentle, and there's very little smoke. There's something slightly chemical on the tongue, but it isn't harsh. It's really complex - many many layers, lots of flavour notes - and it all fades to a slightly bitter, herbal finish.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Single Malts of Scotland, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold
44.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: White chocolate, vanilla, peat, condensed milk, smoked bacon.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, cool, airy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla, white chocolate, leather, honey, condensed milk, peat, ginseng, fresh cut grass, hints of rubber.
Finish: Long. Ginseng, black tea, fresh cut grass, vanilla, hints of lemon zest.
Comments:
Cask 7727. Thanks Eddie for the dram. This aged Bunnahabhain is special. It's chocolatey and buttery, like the best Ardbegs, but the peat is gentle, and there's very little smoke. There's something slightly chemical on the tongue, but it isn't harsh. It's really complex - many many layers, lots of flavour notes - and it all fades to a slightly bitter, herbal finish.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Nikka Pure Malt Black
Nikka Pure Malt Black
Official bottling
Blended malt
Amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, condensed milk, raisins, green tea, caramel, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, cool.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, butterscotch, sea salt, leather, honey, overripe damsons.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, raisins, sea salt, caramel, leather.
Comments:
Nikka are discontinuing this, although I don't know why. Perhaps there was more aged whisky in this blend than people thought. In any case, it was a good idea to try it while there was still some available. It's lightly peated, lots of sweet notes, and some umami somewhere as well. Quite an enjoyable dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Blended malt
Amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, condensed milk, raisins, green tea, caramel, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, cool.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, butterscotch, sea salt, leather, honey, overripe damsons.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, raisins, sea salt, caramel, leather.
Comments:
Nikka are discontinuing this, although I don't know why. Perhaps there was more aged whisky in this blend than people thought. In any case, it was a good idea to try it while there was still some available. It's lightly peated, lots of sweet notes, and some umami somewhere as well. Quite an enjoyable dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Hakushu 18yo
Hakushu 18yo
Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Copper
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, sultanas, pine needles, tinned peaches, honeydew melons.
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, cool, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Pine needles, white grapes, birch wood, tinned peaches, autumn leaves, hints of lemon zest.
Finish: Short. White grapes, green tea, marmalade, lemon zest.
Comments:
An old Hakushu expression, now discontinued. I missed it the first time around, and was lucky to find some again. It's characteristically herbal, alpine even, allied with lots of fruit notes. Perhaps a bit understrength - I would have appreciated a higher ABV. But a real treat even so.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Copper
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, sultanas, pine needles, tinned peaches, honeydew melons.
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, cool, slightly watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Pine needles, white grapes, birch wood, tinned peaches, autumn leaves, hints of lemon zest.
Finish: Short. White grapes, green tea, marmalade, lemon zest.
Comments:
An old Hakushu expression, now discontinued. I missed it the first time around, and was lucky to find some again. It's characteristically herbal, alpine even, allied with lots of fruit notes. Perhaps a bit understrength - I would have appreciated a higher ABV. But a real treat even so.
Verdict:
I like this.
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