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June 19, 2013 |
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A little tour of the indie Lowlands |
It's hot, it's summer, it's Lowlands time! But instead of lining up several bottlings from the same distillery, we'll rather do a little tour of the region today, which could be enlightening. Some names are becoming rarer, such as St. Magdalene, so it was more than time to do this. Now, it's not easy to quench one's thirst with cask strength whiskies, so let's have a lighter apéritif for starters. We'll then have a bigger Rosebank as the 'broom wagon'. |
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Rosebank 1984/1996 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, Connoisseur's Choice, old map label)  Colour: gold. Nose: pretty simple and ultra-fresh, that is to say fittingly summery. Oranges in all their forms including squash and sweets, some apple juice and just the faintest hints of oak. Maybe also strawberries, even a little fresh mint… Mouth: light but zesty, very easy, very fruity. It’s fruit juice with just a little vanilla. Oranges, green apples, a little vanilla fudge… All easy, all good. Should take ice like a Viking (what?). Finish: short but clean. Traces of salt, which I’ve already encountered in Rosebank, and a little bubblegum in the aftertaste. Comments: you could just sing Vamos A La Playa (ho-ho ho-ho-ho…) Simple pleasures. SGP:531 - 83 points. |
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Bladnoch 22 yo 1990/2012 (50.3%, Liquid Treasures, bourbon hogshead)  Colour: pale gold. Nose: typical combination of fresh apple juice, grapefruits, vanilla and just a little porridge and yeast. A kind of rounder all-vitamin juice, pleasant. More overripe apples and more porridge after ten minutes. Mouth: sweet and sugary, halfway between citrus fruits and sweet or jell-os made out of them (or out their typical molecules ;-)). The lemony part tends to grow bigger, after just one or two minutes, in true Bladnochian fashion. Finish: quite long, zesty, with something oily. Lemon syrup without water. A little cane sugar in the aftertaste and again this feeling of bonbon. Maybe a saltiness too. Comments: we’re really close to sweets and drops – for adults of course. A malt unlike any others, and for that it’s recommended. SGP:641 - 85 points. |
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Littlemill 20 yo 1992/2012 (52.4%, Maltbarn, bourbon)  These are all very good, so why spend time tasting them? For the pleasure, my friend... Colour: straw. Nose: it’s quite amazing how this baby’s close to the Rosebank in style, it’s almost a clone (clones are very fashionable these days, aren’t they?) So again, a wild bunch of citrus fruits, tangerines, oranges, lemons… and maybe also kiwis and a little rhubarb. Touches of vanilla and a little café latte to round this off. White chocolate. With water: water makes it louder and brings added notes of bubblegum. High-end bubblegum. Mouth (neat): perfect, full, creamy, very fruity, a perfect example of this style. Tangerines, kiwis and such. Not much to add, but this is much to my liking. With water: excellent, a whole citrus-driven fruit salad. Finish: medium length, on more or less the same notes, with a lemony signature. Right, rather lime. Comments: I think these batches are unbeatable if you’re into zestiness in whisky. SGP:641 - 89 points. |
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Glenkinchie 19 yo 1987/2007 (54.8%, Cadenhead’s, 234 bottles) Picture, a previous bottling. Indie Glenkinchies are rare! Colour: pale gold. Nose: a much grassier spirit this time, closer to the barley, to gunflints, to rocks… Much less expressive than the previous ones but this straightness is enjoyable. It’s just a shier spirit. With water: lemon-sprinkled porridge, whiffs of old books coming through, very slightly musty. Mouth (neat): indeed, this is rather barley-ish but very pleasantly so. There are more fruits as well this time, but instead of citrus it’s rather cherries, plums, peaches… In other words, another Lowlander that’s appropriately summery. With water: there, the citrus fruits come through now. A Glenkinchie that’s leaning toward both Rosebank and Littlemil, how does that sound? Finish: and once again, it’s the lemon that stands out. Medium length. Comments: this baby’s not without reminding me of the officials among the Annual Releases. Very good and, once again, appropriately summery. SGP:561 - 86 points. |
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St Magdalene 23 yo 1982/2006 (56%, Hart Bros, Finest Collection, USA) I've also accumulated a few St. Magdalenes at 60% vol.+ but we'll have those later on. Colour: straw. Nose: well in the style of St. Magda, that is to say much, much leafier and grassier than the other ones, much more austere, much more on humus, mushrooms, fern, hay, leather… Quite un-Lowlands, if I may say so, but extremely elegant. In the background, whiffs of old roses, eucalyptus and patchouli. Intriguing… With water: oh, it lost the leafiness and became both simpler and fruitier. Marshmallows? Also barley sugar… Nice but less thrilling with water. Mouth (neat): starts a little acrid and very earthy, which is unusual indeed. Gentian, turnips (not joking, Baldrick), lemon, mint and… sorrel? What’s sure is that it’s more lemony than on the nose. Good body. With water: more of all that. Also touches of cinchona, cranberries, blood oranges, pomegranates… After all, it’s a civilised St. Magdalene! Finish: quite long, clean, fruity, fresh and… summery. Comments: one of the most summery St. Magdalenes I could try. Now, I did choose this one on purpose ;-). SGP:461 - 87 points. |
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Auchentoshan 1991/2009 (59.3%, Malts of Scotland, cask #492, Chateau Montrose Finish, 301 bottles)  Even if I'm a sucker for Malt of Scotland's usually brilliant whiskies, and if the distillery's own 'Bordeaux' bottlings were acceptable (around WF 79), I have to say this older offering by MoS has a very scary pedigree. And yes I love Montrose and Saint- Estèphe in general... Colour: gold. Nose: strange, but less strange than I had thought. Orange blossom and cassis, fennel (serious), parsley, then aspirin in water and a lot of orange squash. Okay, it is unlikely, but not quite un-nice so far. With water: a wee soapiness appears. Almond milk, sunflower oil, seeds… That was unexpected. Again, it’s not unpleasant. Mouth (neat): nah, that doesn’t work too well. I think the French oak makes it too spicy and gingery, and that Auchentoshan is too light and fruity a spirit to stand such treatment. With water: doesn’t swim, at all. Bitter spices. Finish: same. Woody. Comments: an excellent 1991 just bottled by Malts of Scotland in 2013 was on a totally different planet (WF 87) but it was a full bourbon version. Ha, Bordeaux and newish French oak in whisky, ça ne marche pas bien ! SGP:371 - 70 points. |
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Rosebank 1978/1991 (58.9%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, #25.4)  One of the very early Rosebanks by The Society. Colour: coffee! Nose: ah, old sherry on old style Rosebank, what’s not to like? Douglas Laing had some old sherried Rosebank ten years ago, and those were splendid. This one is in the same vein, with some wonderful notes of prunes, raisins and old Sauternes mingled with the spirit’s lemon and tangerines, plus quite some mint, camphor and liquorice. Kool cigarettes (unlit!) Superb… With water: s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g. Please call the anti-maltoporn brigade! The complexity is astounding. Mouth (neat): unusual and majestic. It’s very powerful, ultra-zesty and yet kind of silky because of the sherry, with sultanas, old Chartreuse, orange liqueurs, a little earth, tobacco, liquorice… All that is wonderful and I especially like the fact that in no way the sherry masks the distillery’s character. With water: holy featherless crow! Exactly fabulous, this baby would solve the middle-east issues in no time. Finish: best of news, it’s very long. Comments: you know what’s really impressive with this little Rosebank? It’s the fact that it’s both rich and fresh, and that the distillery character remains there despite all this magnificent sherry. I’m in awe, respect to Mr. Hlil and gang. SGP:652 - 94 points. |
PS: Yes, I know, Inverleven is missing. Nothing is perfect.
(with heartfelt thanks to Angus, Konstantin, Olivier and Tim) |
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Today: PROG ROCK. A few distinguihed readers seem to have discovered Christiane Legrand the other day, so I'm posting another fine example of her singing. Performer: Procol Harum. Track: Fires (Which Burnt Brightly) from Grand Hotel. Please visit the website and buy the music... |
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June 18, 2013 |
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Yeah, time to try the new Ardbog - everyone's already tried it anyway, but some friends keep asking me what I think. As usual, comparison should be reason, so we'll first have two 1990s of similar age, so distilled pre-closure and one very young, hopefully uerbernatural 2000 that may help us better detect and describe the manzanilla's impact on the Ardbog. |
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Ardbeg 1990/2001 (46%, Spirit of Scotland) A perfect aperitif at 46% vol. Colour: pale white wine. Nose: the 1990s usually hint at the 1970s at Ardbeg, only with less oily/greasy aromas in my opinion. This is no exception, although there’s a lot of soot and ashes at first nosing, before the whole becomes frankly coastal, with seaweed and iodine. At the fruit department, we’ve rather got fresh almonds, then lemon. Also a little fresh butter. A relatively light and fresh Ardbeg so far. Mouth: the salt strikes first, then we have a combination of lemon juice, smoked almonds and wee touches of plastic or maybe paraffin. That’s far from being unpleasant, having said that. Salted liquorice. Good body. Finish: long and extremely salty, it’s almost like drinking brine. Yeah, or eating tinned anchovies. Comments: it’s maybe not the most balanced Ardbeg ever and it lacks ageing, but it’s very ‘different’ from current offerings so very interesting. For Ardbeg exegetes only? SGP:366 - 85 points. |
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Ardbeg 11yo 1990/2001 (55%, Potstill, Austria) Colour: white wine. Nose: less fresh coastal notes and less lemon, more motor oil and medicinal notes, such as tincture of iodine, mercurochrome, antiseptic… The smoke is more massive too, there’s also a little damp cardboard, coal, burnt fir cones, then more and more pine resin… And a large garden bonfire. Also apple peelings. With water: same, really. Okay, maybe more iodine, fumes… and some intriguing touches of cranberries and mangos arising. Mouth (neat): much more ‘classic’ than the G&M, that is to say sweeter, with the lemons and grapefruits in the front and the smoky stuff rather in the background. I mean smoked salmon, kippers and such. Much to my liking. With water: perfect, just perfect. Pepper, lemon, peated barley, green olives, kippers and basta. That isn’t much but balance is achieved. Finish: very long, brinier. Smoky/ashy aftertaste. Comments: a pretty perfect, very natural young Ardbeg. SGP:458 - 88 points. |
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Ardbeg 2000/2007 (62.6%, Daily Dram & The Whisky Fair) Colour: pale straw. Nose: a very different style, more estery, with more varnish as well, more earth, more roots, dead leaves, olives, brine… Having said that, it’s a little hard to assess because of the very high strength. With water: extreme dryness! Brine, fumes, burnt wood, coal, wet paint, cut grass, black olives, charcoal… Mouth (neat): this baby’s not that different from the Potstill anymore, it’s well the same kind of make, very zesty, with less smoke and, well, phenols than in older Ardbeg (1970s). But it’s very, cough, strong… With water: this is interesting, there are still quite some young fruits, signs of (relative) immaturity (pineapples and pears among others), but it’s already starting to become more complex, with a kind of green smoke, green olives, maybe capers… Finish: long, rough, salty. Samphires. Bitter aftertaste. Comments: rough and restless, very green, with a different kind of smokiness than in the old ones. It’s a greener smoke, in a way. An excellent, but very challenging youngster. SGP:378 - 87 points. |
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Ardbeg 'Ardbog' (52.1%, OB, 2013) So a vatting of ten years old Ardbeg ex-bourbon (60%, I've heard) and ex-manzanilla sherry (I've heard 40%). Not sure it's cask strength, and not too sure the manzanilla wasn't simply a finishing. Remember manzanilla, which I love, is usually pretty extreme, bone dry sherry. Colour: gold. Nose: the very dry sherry is very obvious in this context, that is to say after the ‘X-fill’ versions that we just had. I’m sure it wouldn’t have been this loud, had I tried it ‘solo’. That translates into a combination of fresh walnuts, curry and probably curcuma, which is kind of funny, while the original distillate is a little shier. Having said that, the manzanilla makes it kind of more complex than the others, but also less ‘Ardbeg’. Whiffs of exhaust fumes and tar. With water: ginger liqueur, vanilla and sawdust. Some newish oak comes through. Mouth (neat): the difference is even more striking on the palate. There is some lemon, a sootiness, grapefruits, kippers and such but also these walnuts, this curry again, notes of bitterish liquorice wood, some raw tobacco and something I’m not too fond of because that screams ‘newish oak!’, ginger. With water: indeed, it’s some pretty active oak that does most of the talking. Ginger, curry and other spices. Finish: long, spicy, gingery. Cardamom powder, tannins, coffee beans, maybe hints of bacon. Comments: while the previous ones were distillate-driven, this is rather oak-driven in comparison, and it’s not only the manzanilla that talks. It’s very good whisky – of course – but I still prefer Ardbeg au naturel, if I may say so. SGP:366 - 84 points. |
(With thanks to Konstantin and Marc) |
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June 17, 2013 |
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Tasting three new Braeval aka Braes of Glenlivet |
Braes/Braeval is a bit obscure and certainly not as fashionable as other names, but it isn't Allt-A-Bhainne either. Oh well... |
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Braeval 18 yo 1994/2013 (49.7%, Liquid Library, bourbon barrel) Colour: straw. Nose: sweet, fruity, delicately malty and pleasantly mundane, if I may say so. A fruit salad (apples, peaches, oranges… all that ex-tin) with a little barley water, vanilla and maple syrup. A light but very clean profile, becoming quite bubblegumy after a few minutes. Mouth: clean, sweet and malty, with good body and just the same kind of fruitiness as in the nose. So a fruit salad again but no bubblegum this time. Finish: quite long, rather more on brown sugar and sweet barley syrup. Some caramel and fudge in the aftertaste. Comments: a very easy dram, right in the middle of Scotchmaltness. Goes down a treat, I’d say. SGP:541 - 83 points. |
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Braeval 18 yo 1994/2013 (52.5%, Liquid Treasures, bourbon hogshead, 120 bottles)  Colour: straw. Nose: a grassier, les aromatic variant. A little less fruits and bubblegum for a while but I must say both drops tend to converge after a few minutes. Probably close sister casks. Mouth: once again, we’re close to the Liquid Libray. A little more punch from the higher alcohol, maybe touches of pears this time while there’s rather less fudge… But we’re very close. Finish: rather long, very malty. A funny fizziness on your tongue. Comments: I tend to like the Liquid Library a notch better because it’s… kind of easier! SGP:541 - 82 points. |
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Braeval 23 yo 1989 (54.2%, The Whisky Barrel, Burns Malt, hogshead, cask #1074, +/-2013) Colour: straw. Nose: it's a more violent and, quite bizarrely, more spirity version. It's quite citric too. Aspirin tablets? Lemon squash... Let's see what water will do to it. With water: it's almost a miracle, we now have a mildly smoky herbal liqueur. Spearmint, high-end wulong tea (or blue-green tea)... Beuatiful. Mouth (neat): an unusual one again. Starts with big notes of ale mixed with lemon liqueur, then we have more and more citrus fruits, some parts making me think of Rosebank or Littlemill. A lot of grass, it's a little acrid at this point. Chewing on green tealeaves? With water: not quite a miracle this time but water works indeed. Lemongrass and barley sugar. Finish: rather long, clean and lemony (with water). Comments: I think water is obligatory here but then... SGP:541 - 84 points. |
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June 15, 2013 |
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Tasting two summery Mortlach and a beast |
There are quite some middle-aged Mortlach around and we won't complain. In my experience it's a pretty versatile spirit and it can even be summery. Indeed... |
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Mortlach 16 yo 1997/2013 (51%, Liquid Treasures, bourbon hogshead, 176 bottles) Colour: white wine. Nose: it’s a very clean, pretty un-Mortlach Mortlach if I may say so. The cask must have been quite lazy because we remain close to the barley, with added touches of nectar and dandelions as well as a little fresh rhubarb and gentian roots. The lightest side of Mortlach, without any oily/sulphury tones. It’s a great distillate. Mouth: wow! Wonderfully eau-de-vie-ish, without much wood and yet no immaturity either. Zwetchke and kirsch, I’d say, maybe one to sip with your espresso after a good lunch? Goes on with more barley sugar, corn syrup, light honey… All good stuff. Finish: rather long, clean, with now a little more grass. Absolutely not sweetish. Comments: it’s no big malt and no competition beast either, but it’s lovely to drink. A summery Mortlach? SGP:541 - 85 points. |
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Mortlach 1995/2013 (56.4%, Svenska Eldvatten, 257 bottles) Colour: gold. Nose: very nice, bigger and hotter than the 1997 and that’s not just the higher strength. Vanilla and humus, cider apples, wee touches of manure – very nice in this context – and cigarette tobacco. Say old Camels. A little maple syrup and acacia honey as well. Easy to nose without water. Mouth: excellent! Big, punchy, starting with more wood again, rather obvious notes of agave, some Grand-Marnier, angelica, maybe wee touches of fresh coriander plus spearmint, all that on a bed of green apples and barley sugar. Works very well. Finish: long, less easy/sexy than the 1997 but maybe more profound. Well, I know what I’m trying to say. Comments: Mortlach sure is a great malt when it’s only mildly sherried – yeah, or not sherried at all. And, of course, when it’s heavily and when sherried the sherry’s beautiful! SGP:551 - 86 points. |
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Mortlach 21 yo 1991/2012 (56.3%, Silver Seal, cask #4246, 542 bottles) So yeah, sherry... Colour: full amber. Nose: if you do not like gunpowder, struck matches or the smell of a brand new leather jacket, go your way! ;-). Anyway, what's quite splendid is what's behind that pretty extreme side, that is to say the pipe tobacco, the sultanas, the dried figs, the liquorice and all the fresh parsley. Sulphur? Yes, and not only sulphur from the cask. With water: saltpetre, leather, gunflints, clay... Mouth (neat): VERY chocolaty. Chocolate, kirsch and bitter oranges, always with this leathery side in the background (but close to the front). With water: chicken soup! Beef stock! And a few drops of lemon and orange juices... Finish: long, on the same notes. The aftertaste is a tad grapy. Comments: quite some whisky lovers are very fond of this style, but it's not to everybody's taste. An understatement. As far as I'm concerned, I like it a lot but I had to do some kind of intellectualisation. Oh, forget. SGP:562 - 85 points. |
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June 13, 2013 |
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Tasting three Dufftowners |
There are many distilleries in Dufftown. The active ones are Balvenie, Dufftown, Glendullan, Glenfiddich and Mortlach. Other famous ones that are either silent or demolished were Pittyvaich and Convalmore, not to mention the legendary Parkmore. As for Kininvie, not too sure whether it's working or not these days. Anyway, let's have these three Dufftowners... |
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Singleton of Dufftown 12 yo (40%, OB, +/-2012) Colour: deep gold. Nose: shy, with a little cardboard and teabags (say English breakfast), then quite some hay and a little roasted malt. Wakes up a bit after a few minutes, with now orange peel and just wee whiffs of wood smoke. Very light in any case, so far. After fifteen minutes: much more vanilla fudge and warm butter. Mouth: fudge, caramel, café latte, cappuccino, fudge, caramel, café latte, cappuccino, fudge, caramel, café latte, cappuccino, fudge, caramel, café latte, cappuccino... Was that clear enough? Finish: a little short, on... guess what? Comments: a very decent all-rounder but I think the Singleton of Glen Ord is much more to my liking. SGP:441 - 75 points. |
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Images of Dufftown 1988/2013 'Clock Tower' (53.2%, Malts of Scotland, 254 bottles) What could this be? The two Dufftown distilleries that are never, or very rarely bottled by indies are William Grant's Glenfiddich and Balvenie, so it may be one of those. Or Kinninvie? Who knows... Colour: straw. Nose: very unusual, with big grassy notes and then soot and shoe polish. Cider apples, green grapes, bicycle inner tubes, then quite some porridge sprinkled with lemon juice. Sharp yet kind of locked. With water: fresher and curiously waxier. Fresh barley, overripe apples... Mouth (neat): some pears, both fresh/ripe and as drops, as well as pear jam... And pears sometimes suggest G... Or not. Quite some liquorice too, a little vanilla, sweet barley... It's all firm and quite 'nervous'. With water: pear cake! Finish: medium, fresh, with pears, plums, herbal tea (chamomile) and notes of sponge cake. Comments: I wouldn't swear it's 'G', but this baby's very pleasantly pearish. Now, there are plums too... SGP:541 - 84 points. |
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Mortlach 17 yo 1995/2012 (56.4%, The Whisky Cask, hogshead) I've got a lot of Mortlach yet to taste, we'll try do a very large Mortlach verticale one of these days. Colour: gold. Nose: once again it's a rather grassy one, or is it as much locked as the 'Images'? Freshly broken branches, herbs, maybe mint, apple peelings, maybe one or two fresh white asparagus... With water: more sweet oak, with a bourbony side now. Vanilla and maple syrup galore, all that being pretty nice. Also tobacco and honey arising. Mouth (neat): more body and a bigger oiliness than in the 'Images'. More grass too, even more liquorice, maybe touches of pineapple... With water: good, firm, natural, sweet. I enjoy these hints of beeswax. Quite some apple juice too, a little mint... Finish: of medium length, more barley-ish. Sweet barley that is. A lot of apple juice in the aftertaste. Comments: I quite love this one. SGP:551 - 86 points. |
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Today: FRENCH POP. Performer: Marie Möör. Track: Beau Masque (rare, recorded around 1995, with the stunning sax of Barney Wilen). Please buy Marie Möör and Barney Wilen's music... |
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June 12, 2013 |
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Nine Linkwood in a rough and ready way |
Let's see how far we'll manage to go. Sadly, I haven't got any pre-war Linkwoods anymore, G&M's were superb! But with regards to the apéritif, I think I've got an idea... |
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Linkwood 15 yo (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, licensed bottling, +/-1985) I love the old '100 proof' versions. This one might be lighter... Colour: gold. Nose: hold on, this is pretty impressive. Superb combination of yellow flowers such as dandelions, pollen, light honey, yellow plums and then more ripe plums, quince jelly and even bergamots - make that earl grey tea. Hints of coal smoke as well, very old skool. Lovely, lovely nose. Mouth: nah, what a shame. It's not that it's weak or even tea-ish, it's that it's got these notes of burnt cake and caramel that were often to be found in some whiskies at the time. Kind of blendish, with also a little too much paraffin, lavender and cardboard. Although I have to say it tends to improve, but the caramel remains too loud. Finish: quite short. Toasts and caramel. Geraniumy aftertaste. Comments: Indeed, what a nose! SGP:341 - 72 points. |
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Linkwood 2000/2012 'Summer Orchard' (46% Wemyss Malts, sherry butt, 762 bottles) Refill sherry according to the colour :-). Colour: very pale white wine. Nose: very new-maky but that's no problem since it's very nice new make. No wood, no vanilla, no spices and no herbs, it's all a large bag full of apples, cherries, rhubarb, gooseberries and, indeed, barley and fresh white bread. Yeah, yeah, baguettes... The name was well chosen! Mouth: how fresh and fruity! Many eaux-de-vie, barley water, orange blossom water, apple juice, marshmallows... This one's full of youth and that's an understatement. Finish: of course it's not the longest but it's so clean... Williams pears. Comments: drop vodka, buy this. Serious. SGP:731 - 84 points. |
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Linkwood 1991/2012 (46%, Jean Boyer, Best Casks of Scotland, first fill sherry) My compatriots from Jean Boyer already had some very nice Linkwoods in the past. This one did a great job at the MM Awards 2012. Colour: amber. Nose: Linkwood's floral tones (once it's mature ;-)) mingle very well with a light and fruity sherry and this is a good example. We have cigarette tobacco, dried figs, raisins, a little mint, even a little camphor, very ripe gooseberries and just a little chocolate. Works very well. Some hay as well. Mouth: it's a little kirschier, so to speak, with also a little more leather and cigar tobacco, but the dried figs and raisins remain underneath. A faint flintiness as well, as often in first fill sherry. Finish: medium length, with more spices, especially cloves and nutmeg. A rather smoky aftertaste - that came from the cask. Comments: another lovely one despite the wee touches of sulphur here and there. Loved the raisins. SGP:542 - 83 points. So sherry, you said?... |
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Linkwood 1993/2012 (52.8%, Gordon & MacPhail Reserve for Van Wees, cask #6817, 224 bottles) Colour: amber. Nose: very, very, and I mean very same-ish despite the higher strength and the different vintage. Camel cigarettes, raisins, figs, maybe a little strawberry jam, eucalyptus... With water: lovely whiffs of a northern forest after an autumn rain. That's right, mushrooms but also more dried figs and quinces and dates and raisins. Mouth (neat): excellent! More different from the 1991 this time, this one's rather earthy and rooty, with more mint as well, some earthy tea old pu-erh style, and of course all the raisiny notes that are mandatory in this context. With water: yup. Maybe just a little too much wood/cardboard but I'm sure that would go away, should we have more time. I'm sorry... Finish: rather long, with a little more leather and rather less dried fruits. Black tea. Comments: I think G&M filled some great first fill sherry casks in the last two decades. No flints, no gunpowder. Yup, and no struck matches. SGP:551 - 88 points. |
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Linkwood 1989/2001 (46%, Caledonian Selection, cask #3194)  Not much news from Caledonian Selection/liquid Gold Enterprise these days... Colour: gold. Nose: very typical of the youngish Linkwoods that one could find at the indies' ten years ago or so, that is to say all on chocolate, light toffee, caramel, toasted brioche plus a little floral side. Meadow flowers. Add a few oranges and you get a nice-ish, rather undemanding profile. Nah, it's really nice. Mouth: ah yes, it's one of these flowery Linkwoods. Rosewater and cologne - or rather rose-flavoured Turkish delights - plus millionaire shortbread and something slightly soapy that rejoins the flowery/perfumy side. Also raisins and honey, oriental pastries... Right, that's the rosewater. Finish: pretty long but these perfumy notes tend to become tedious. Comments: some sides were quite great but all this perfume is too much. SGP:641 - 68 points. Let's have a go at another 1989... |
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Linkwood 1989/2004 (58%, NMWL Norway, hogshead, cask #1835, 50cl) Colour: straw. Nose: it does have these hints of roses and maybe dandelions, but the rest is all very typical, with some barley water, overripe apples, orange cake, corn syrup and fresh pastries such as Danishes and, well, croissants au beurre. Mais bien sûr! With water: hay, barley and croissants again. Nothing to write home about but it's still kind of pleasant. Mouth (neat): full, fresh, very sweet and very malty. It's powerful but it's downable if you only take two or three drops at a time. Vanilla and sponge cake plus hints of liquorice allsorts. No geraniums, no lavender, no violets. And no Chanel, Brad. With water: became really good, with more pears and even hints of bananas flambéed. Finish: pretty long, malty. Vanilla and butter pears, a little white pepper and cinnamon in the aftertaste. Comments: not a huge personality but it's so much better than the Caledonian! SGP:541 - 81 points. |
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Linkwood 1984/2011 'Eleanor Whisky' (49.2%, The Whiskyman) Colour: straw. Nose: this is obviously older and indeed it's more delicate, more complex, subtler... It's a good example of what age does to whisky. Time is simply irreplaceable, whatever some impulsive distillers are trying to make us believe these days. But back to this baby, it's wonderfully composed, with some light mead, some light honey (and honeydew), bags of dandelions (I often mention dandelions, they really reek of nectar), a little putty, mint liqueur, orange blossom, earth, fresh mushrooms, maybe a little rainwater... As I said, it's all quite subtle. Mouth: superb! Sure the oak's just a little too loud for my taste - just a little - but other than that, this is a perfect blend of honey, spearmint, Grand-Marnier and maybe even dried litchis. Finish: long, with more oranges this time, while the oak did not become any bigger, even in the aftertaste. Comments: we're bordering perfection. A very elegant Linkwood, just a tad feminine - not unlike Eleanor. Yes, of course that's a huge compliment. SGP:651 - 89 points. Hum, I liked this 1984, let's have another one... |
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Linkwood 28 yo 1984/2012 (48.5%, Whisky-Fässle, bourbon hogshead) Colour: straw. Nose: right, I should stop tasting very similar whiskies together, because as is often the case, we're having a whisky that's so close to the previous one that it's extremely hard to find differences. Maybe added touches of pineapple, and maybe not. Maybe a little more vanilla as well, maybe not. Mouth: honestly, both whiskies are undistinguishable. Right, maybe this one's a notch earthier but we could down three litres of each and still quibble about nuances and variations. That wouldn't be maltoporn, that would be malturbation (you first read that here ;-)). Finish: ditto. Comments: a twin or a shared cask. We won't complain, it's great whisky. SGP:651 - 89 points. Time to tackle the 1970s... |
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Linkwood-Glenlivet 14 yo 1979/1993 (58.5%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection) Yeah yeah, from an oak cask ;-). Many true monsters have been bottled in this 'small white label' series. Colour: mahogany. This screams first fill sherry. Nose: it's so powerful that it's hard to nose. Say kirsch straight from the still and wheelbarrows of flints. With water: calmer but not tamed. Wild unaged eaux-de-vie - yes eau-de-vie needs ageing - but also luscious dried fruits, cigar humidor, old balsamic vinegar, crème de menthe... Really restless and I'm sure bringing it down to 15% vol. wouldn't change much. Right, we won't try that... Mouth (neat): stunning! Sure it's 'in your face' but it's also ridden with old Demerara rum and dark chocolate from the best plantations (no, forget about the last part). So chocolate filled with rum so far... With water: oh, it does not swim too well I'm afraid, it got a little cardboardy and that wouldn't go away. But other than that, all these dried fruits are wonderful, and so are the notes of chicken stock and parsley. Finish: very long. Say more on oranges. Comments: one of these wild beasts indeed. Old style sherry, nothing beats that. I'll go for a shy score because of the way it stands water on the palate. SGP:662 - 90 points.
Good, I have older Linkwoods but I think it would be hard to 'climb' over the 1979. So, dismiss! |
(and thank you, Ivar and Konstantin) |
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Today: JAZZ. Performer (avant-garde lovers ahoy!): François Tusques. Track: Le Musichien. Please visit François Tusques' website and buy his music... |
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June 11, 2013 |
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Another little bag of Glens |
Tasted 'individually', not compared. I still believe that when tasting whisky or spirits or wine, only comparison is reason but I' not saying I'm always reasonable. Oh well... |
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Glendronach ‘Cask Strength’ (55.2%, OB, batch 2, 2013) I haven't got Batch #1 at hand anymore but I sure loved that one (WF 91). Colour: pale amber. Nose: I think the mildly sulphury side is bigger than in batch #1, while it's globally less 'wham-bam-watch-my fruits' as far as I can remember (well I've got my tasting notes), but on the other hand I really enjoy this combination of leather, raisins and tobacco. With water: the sweet side comes to the front. Honey, figs, maybe quinces... Also a little ham, herbs, earth... Mouth (neat): nah, this is quite superb. Rich and perfectly balanced at the same time, without being cloyingly sweetish. It's even kind of zesty and zingy, with all these pink grapefruits that we already found in batch #1. With water: the best part. Lovely honeyed and fruity profile. Finish: long, with much more liquorice. Comments: maybe not as totally stunning as #1 but it's still great in my opinion. What's sure is that it's not identical, where #1 was fruity this one was grassier and reversely. More fun! SGP:552 - 89 points. |
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Glen Scotia 20 yo 1992/2013 (52.1%, Whisky Spirits, Whisky Seasons, April) The Germans have had quite some good Scotias in recent times. Colour: pale gold. Nose: peaty! Not as peaty as Ardbeg of course but the peat smoke is obvious, somewhat Longrowy. Definitely coastal, with seaweed, then brine and raw wool, notes of chalk, lemon, soot, cut grass... A surprise, but good or not? Not too sure yet. With water: not the best swimmer ever, it got very narrow, grassy and kind of dust. Adios! Mouth (neat): very zesty. Peat again, lemon, green spices... It's quite sharp so far. With water: little changes, maybe more liquorice, pepper and lemon? Swims better on the palate. Finish: quite long, mineral, sooty and grassy. Comments: nice but austere, austere but nice. Complicated pleasures... SGP:372 - 80 points. |
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Glenlivet 15 yo 1996/2012 (52.1%, Signatory for The Whisky Castle, first fill sherry, cask #165162, 212 bottles) I think the Whisky Castle in Tomintoul was the first true whisky shop I've ever visited. That was thirty years ago or even more... Kind of. Colour: deep amber. Nose: classic average sherried nose, and when I say 'average', I'm not meaning mundane. So yeah, as classic as sherried whisky can get. Prunes, chocolate, coffee and just touches of game and ham, plus drops of beef stock and a tiny-wee flintiness. Add a little leather. With water: nice touches of green tea, grass and more ham. And walnuts from the sherry. Mouth (neat): fun! This is pretty muscaty this time, which doesn't happen too often. Between Samos and some PX's. Sweeter than expected after the dryish nose, and very good. Quite some liquorice too, bags of raisins... Good body. With water: it's really got something of the old young sherried Macallans from 15 years ago, only with more leather and grass. Finish: long and more on coffee and chocolate. Comments: much to my liking, even if the spirit hasn't got much to say. SGP:461 - 86 points. |
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Glenrothes 1988/2013 'Ginger Spice' (46% Wemyss Malts, sherry butt, 660 bottles) Colour: gold. Nose: it's very different from both the officials and most of the OBs, because the sherry is quite discreet and so are the expected garden fruits. Instead, we have wax, walnuts, grass, paraffin and just touches of orange zests. I have to say it's an unsexy style that I like. Mouth: different this time, with many more fruits, both fresh and in syrup, while the advertised spiciness isn't quite invading. Indeed, I rather get mint and liquorice rather than straight ginger and that's good news to me. Although, indeed, a little ginger tends to emerge after a while, just a little... Finish: medium length. Fruit salad with a few mint leaves and just touches of curry powder. Comments: the problem with these middle-aged Speysiders is that they don't always display much character, but what's sure is that this baby's very loyal and honest. So 'very, very pleasant', but maybe a tad boring. Zzz zzz zzz... SGP:541 - 82 points. |
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June 10, 2013 |
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Tasting two ex-bourbon Strathmill |
There's a little more Strathmill around these days, thanks to the ever-engaging indies. But we'll have only too of them today, both ex-bourbon... |
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Strathmill 21 yo 1990/2012 (54.1%, James MacArthur, bourbon wood, cask #101112)  Colour: gold. Nose: raw and rough, very grassy, aggressive, spirity, cologne-y... Will that do? Seriously, it's a hard one and it even tends to become dusty and new-plastic-like. We're expecting miracles from a few drops of water... With water: whaaah! More plastic, paraffin and... do you remember carbon paper? Mouth (neat): weird. Some parts are nice (the lemon and the barley) but it's still got these notes of burnt plastic. With water: better. Apple juice with a few drops of lemon. Sunflower oil, sawdust. Does not improve much after a few minutes - I'm afraid. Finish: shortish, grassy and dusty. Comments: not much pleasure to be had in my opinion, this what we call a challenging dram. Next time we'll have a great one by James MacArthur - and there are many. SGP:271 - 64 points. |
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Strathmill 36 yo 1976/2012 (46.5%, Jack Wiebers, Old Train Line, bourbon, 210 bottles) Colour: gold. Nose: very shy, but not uninteresting. I get hints of old clothes in an old wardrobe (in an old attic), old potpourri, a little dust, old wood, then almonds, dried flowers, a little olive oil, a little banana skin... It's all whispering but it's very elegant. I'm using my usual nosing glasses (tulips) but I'll try this baby from a cognac 'fishbowl' (aka the 1000 watt amplifier) next time, should be fun. Mouth: there's too much oak, and yet it's very pleasant, which does not happen very often. In fact all that oak translates into quite a lot of coconut liqueur, butter cream and ripe pineapples, which may make this baby the oldest readymade cocktail ever. Arriba! Finish: moderately long, with, this time, hints of curaçao and I swear I'm not making this up. Some kind of mai tai? Comments: it's not often that excessive oak works well, and sometimes heavy coconut and pineapple can wreck an old whisky (and a young one even more so), but I think this one's quite spectacular. Seriously, very good stuff. Oops, forgot to add that there's also quite some café latte. SGP:561 - 87 points. |
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Today: JAZZ. Performer: Abdullah Ibrahim. Track: a fab soulful duet with Carlos Ward on Don't Blame Me. That was on 1983's 'Zimbabwe'. Please visit the website and buy the music... |
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June 7, 2013 |
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Shouldn't we expect a joyful, fresh and uncomplicated fruitiness made in Edderton? I've been to the distillery last week and it was all most pleasant, even if the modernisation of the visitor centre may have erased a part of the place's romantic side - which I had enjoyed so much seven or eight years ago. |
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Balblair 10 yo (40%, Gordon & MacPhail, +/-2005) Colour: gold. Nose: this baby is surprisingly woody at first sniffing, with some sawdust and vanilla, then more honey and apple pie. It's relatively old school, lightly so if you see what I mean. Would rather go on with more fresh fruits and thus in modern 'official' direction. Peaches and gooseberries. Anyway, a nice fresh nose. Mouth: very light this time, but the fruitiness comes out. More apples and oranges this time, then the oak gets louder, with this feeling of sawdust yet again. Some nutmeg and cinnamon too. Finish: quite short, grassier and a little drying. Comments: my definition of a 75-points malt. I think this baby ought to be sipped on ice to tame the surprisingly big woodiness. SGP:341 - 75 points. |
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Balblair 2002/2012 (46%, OB) Colour: white wine. Nose: less oak than in the G&M and more fresh fruits straight away. Naked fruits, I'd say, gooseberries, apples, cherries and touches of Belgian fruity beer, between gueuze and kriek. You know, these Belgian beers that our Belgian friends hate so much ;-). Quite some muesli too. Mouth: fruit galore, with good body and a white-oak profile behind all that. Apple juice, berries, then more chamomile tea and maybe other teas, peaches (and peach skin), then the custard comes more to the front, together with some cinnamon. Wood spices. Finish: medium length, with good balance between the fruits and green spices. Touches of bubblegum. Comments: it's young and not ueber-complex but the fruitiness is most pleasant. Sort of refreshing - and I like the fact that they don't seem to do much wine finishing. Thank you! SGP:441 - 81 points. |
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June 6, 2013 |
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Official Springbank 1963
vs. indie Springbank 1963 |
Proportionally, I believe there used to be more old bottlings on WF in the old days but as new whiskies and bottlers pop out every day, it's true that I tend to taste more new ones - again, proportionally. A shame? Not too sure since some distilleries improved their makes in the latest two decades, but let's not lose all of our good habits and have these two old Springbanks today, even if both are now almost unavailable and vey pricy. Ah, the good old days... |
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Springbank 1963 (46%, OB, tall black label, 75cl, +/-1985) There are various vintages in this series, especially 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965… We’ll soon have the 1975 as well. Colour: full gold. Nose: this is fabulous. Complex right from the start, with this perfectly balanced combination of fruity and phenolic notes that are only to be found in old Highland Parks beside Springbank, in my experience. At random, we have quinces, metal polish, apricot pie, various honeys, wax polish, tobacco, leather, a little brine, liquorice, plums, figs, mint, dates, eucalyptus, camphor, incense, wood and peat smoke, sandalwood, coal… Actually, there’s everything. Glorious and subtle, one of the best from the roaring sixties. Mouth: it’s great that there isn’t much sherry involved as this wonderful palate proves that the venerable distillery recently got back to their older style. All for the better! There’s this very peculiar weirdness that’s so exactly beautiful, with a greasy and oily side, there’s also a lot of brine mixed with lemon juice, some leather, bags of dried fruits, motor oil, a little fudge, herbal teas aplenty, a pleasantly bitter sappiness and then the trademark bitter oranges. Oops, forgot to mention fresh peppercorns. Finish: maybe not the longest ever but it’s got this Chartreusy side that’s so entrancing. Herbal liqueurs and spices plus smoother dried fruits. A wee soapiness in the aftertaste but that’s 100% normal here. Comments: it’s so great that Springbank, together with Cadenhead’s, started to bottle many of their whiskies at 46% so early! True pioneers. SGP:552 - 93 points. |
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Springbank 31 yo 1963/1994 (52.3%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, sherry wood) That’s right, its only a semi-independent Springbank as the old bottlers from Aberdeen have been taken over by J & A Mitchell & Co., owners of Springbank, in 1972. Colour: coffee with bronze hues. Nose: so close, and yet so far from the OB! Heavier, punchier, thicker, maybe less elegant in a way, with more oaky tones, more liquorice, more red fruits and their jams (raspberries, yes!), more Demerara sugar and rums, rather more smoke as well, more sherry obviously, more chocolate… And less elegance. Yet, it’s magnificent. With water: oh yes it is. Fab sherry, with now more mineral notes, flints, Iberico ham, old books, mushrooms (morels?), chocolate, leather polish… Amazing now. Mouth (neat): smashing concentration, with more meat and mint this time, bitter chocolate, a lot of liquid tar, chestnut honey, black raisins, menthol… Then old Demerara rum again and bitter oranges. What a show. With water: you have to get the amount of water right because too much of it will make it drying and, well, wishy-washy, but otherwise we have a superb dry oloroso, with more prunes, oranges, chocolate, liquorice, coffee and cinnamon. Something of some very high-end old Cognacs. Finish: long and very chocolaty. Also coffee ‘improved’ with orange liqueur. Comments: careful with water but otherwise, this baby’s absolutely stunning. I think we forgot to call the anti-maltoporn brigade, haven’t we? SGP:563 - 95 points. |
PS: A blend of both 1963s is orgasmic. |
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Today: PSYCH JAZZ (?). Performer: Mother Gong. Track: Space Tango (from Tree in Fish, 1994). Please visit buy Mother Gong's (and Gong's) music... |
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June 4, 2013 |
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Tasting some of the best of Dalmore |
The rather noisy recent marketing stunts by the brand may well have turned away a good proportion of the whisky geeks (and caught the attention of the general public, wealthy or not) but Dalmore remains a very interesting distillery to visit, not only because of the very unusual flat stills. Indeed, in my experience the spirit can be exquisite! I was there a few days ago and could bring back some 'Distillery Exclusive', time to try it along two other Dalmores. |
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Dalmore 1996/2012 'Cromartie' (45%, OB, 7500 bottles) This one was first matured in bourbon wood, then oloroso sherry casks from Gonzales Byass. Colour: full amber. Nose: chocolate ganache, and plenty of that. It's not exactly winey, there's rather a cognacqy side (rancio) and then the trademark orange marmalade that goes so well with all this chocolate. Becomes more and more complex after a few minutes, with more raisins, figs and very aromatic spices. Cloves and caraway seeds. Also whiffs of old wine cellar, cigarettes. I have to say I like this nose quite a lot. Mouth: rich, almost Port-like, with some black and white pepper right away that connect well with some bitter chocolate, Seville oranges and then more cardamom and cinnamon. Also some liquorice. It's still a notch rough at just 15 or 16 years but the finishing doesn't show as such. Finish: now it does a bit, there's a wee grapey greenness. Nothing too serious though. Comments: a very good surprise. Probably among the best of what you can do with a finishing in wine wood - even sherry wood. SGP:561 - 87 points. |
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Dalmore 1995/2012 'Distillery Exclusive' (57.6%, OB, 650 bottles) This version was 'finessed' - finished - in matusalem shery casks. Colour: full amber. Nose: strong, almost overpowering. I get massive amounts of chocolate, both white and 'milk', plus some very obvious notes of Rivesaltes, including this rancio again. Maybe a little game as well? With water: rounder, smoother, raisiny in a very nice way. More sweet and lush than the Cromartie, more rounded, even curvaceous, so sexier. Ha! Mouth (neat): punchy and rich, not aggressive, fruity (yes, oranges) and only moderately winey. There are some herbs in the background that prevents it from becoming a little cloying or phat. With water: a blend of Nutella and Yquem. Not kidding ;-). Finish: not the longest and again, a grapiness comes out, between apple and, well grape skins. Maybe a slight dustiness too but it's all okay, even if it loses points at this point (well done, S.!). Comments: a notch richer and rounder than the Cromartie. Should go well on some natural vanilla ice cream too ;-). SGP:651 - 88 points. |
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Dalmore 1963/2001 (48.1%, James MacArthur, Old Masters, oloroso sherry, cask #5753) A very rare indie Dalmore that's almost 40 years old! Colour: mahogany. Nose: a-ma-zing. Glorious fruit jams, all of them. Blackcurrants, grapes, strawberries, oranges (natürlich), probably also litchis, prunes, then it gets more floral, with peonies and roses, then we have chocolate - albeit less chocolate than in the OBs -, some tobacco, old sherry, walnuts, wood polish... It's endless and well in line with the old 50 yo 1926, the stunning mother of all these ultra-shiny and very infuriating new old official decanters that are to be found in airports. Stunning nose. Mouth: wwwaaaahhh! One of the richest malt whiskies ever (I think). An hair-rising maelstrom of fruits, chocolate, spices and 'phenolic stuff', with bags of liquorice and pipe tobacco, all that inlaid with crystallised and dried fruits. An impressive masterpiece, please call the anti-maltoporn brigade! Finish: waves and waves of the same flavours, with just a little more green spices, as almost always with this kind of profile. Comments: we're in the very same territories as with the very best old Macallans. Only a slightly greeny aftertaste makes it lose one or two points. SGP:672 - 93 points. |
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Today: CUBAN JAZZ. Performer: Paquito D'Rivera. Track: Chuco. Please visit the website and buy the music... |
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June 3, 2013 |
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A short verticale of Dailuaine |
We'll have three lightly, or even totally unsherried Dailuaines today. It'll be interesting to se if we can still find sulphury tones, not talking about rotten eggs of course. Let's go. |
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Dailuaine 12 yo 2000/2012 (56.2%, Silver Seal, sherry cask, cask #9201, 348 bottles)  Colour: gold. Nose: indeed there are whiffs of struck matches but I have to say they perfectly complement the bags and bags of light dried fruits, muscat raisins, plum jam, figs... It's a light and fruity style of sherry so far, with even quite some vanilla. I cannot not think of some straw wine (vin de paille). With water: it's the malt that comes out, together with more walnuts from the sherry, I presume. Mouth (neat): there are touches of rubber beside all the orangey and raisiny notes, the whole becoming even a little too leafy and grassy for my taste. Schweppes? A little prickly. The rest is very fine, between apple peeling and orange zests. With water: became more 'normal', with more bitter oranges, but the Scweppesy touch didn't vanish. Finish: quite long, on even more bitter oranges. Comments: a big dram. Some parts were quite brilliant (the raisins) but others have been a tad more difficult (the rubber). Not my favourite Silver Seal, but that may be due to the fact that there are so many great ones. Wasn't that too PC? SGP:561 - 79 points. |
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Dailuaine 20 yo 1992/2013 (54.1%, The Whisky Barrel, Burns Malt, bourbon barrel, cask #3127) Colour: white wine. Nose: no matches, this is clean and fruity, full of vanilla, yellow plums, apples, apricots and Balvenie-ish honeycomb. Also touches of marshmallows, great in this context. Maybe the easiest Dailuaine I've ever come across ;-). With water: swims like a champ! Became very aromatic and complex at the same time. Old roses? Patchouli? Incense? Vetiver? Mouth (neat): a syrup! Apple liqueur and liquorice wood, litres of honeydew, touches of cider apples and quite some candy sugar. It's a big dram but it keeps fresh despite the liqueury arrival. Add drops of ginger liqueur. No, glasses of ginger liqueur. With water: excellent. Some kind of Cointreau+ginger liqueur. Fun! Finish: long, all on the same notes. Comments: a great example of how good American oak can make some good Scotch great. Agreed, there are also a lot of examples of just the opposite. SGP:651 - 87 points. |
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Dailuaine 30 yo 1982/2013 (52%, Chieftain's, hogshead, cask #3893, 282 bottles) Colour: straw. Nose: funnily enough, this is ten years older but much akin to the 1992. Maybe it's a notch more on vanilla, and a little less on plums and apricots but otherwise, both profiles are extremely similar. Custard. With water: touches of cooked asparagus, new tyres and new plastic but funnily enough, all that works very well. A characterful old spirit. Mouth (neat): big sweet oak, which works well. Bags of ginger just like in the 1992, white pepper, cinnamon and cardamom. The oak's quite talkative. With water: smoother, rounder, with a lot of American oak, just like in the 1992. Same style, more or less. Finish: long, a tad leafier. A little menthol in the aftertaste. Comments: I really enjoy Chieftain's latest offerings - the ones I could try of course. I'm feeling they're kind of cleaner and straighter than before, despite the obvious newish oak. SGP:561 - 85 points. |
| Pete McPeat and Jack Washback |
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Today: GNAWA. Long time no gnawa music and I've got complains. Not. Performer: Hassan Hakmoun and Zahar. Track: Soutanbi. Please visit their websites and buy their music... |
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June 2, 2013 |
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Tasting two 1990 Aultmore. Night and day, in a way. |
It’s not that Aultmore is such a big name but theses two babies from the very same vintage should be very, say contrasting, as one is quite light in colour while the other one is as dark as the darkest coffee. Quite. |
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Aultmore 22 yo 1990 ‘Attraction’ (52.9%, McNeill's Choice, refill hogshead, +/-2013) Mr McNeill’s quite a character! Colour: straw. Nose: starts just a wee bit sulphury and rubbery (no ‘sherry’ sulphur of course) but it’s soon to turn into a fruitier and sweeter dram, with a combination of ripe apples and marshmallows, a profile that’s quite attractive indeed. More custard and fresh walnuts after that, even fresh asparagus, as well as a little lemon. With water: becomes much fresher, very ‘young fruity Speyside’. Apples and sweet barley, perhaps a little muesli. Mouth (neat): punchy, lemony and bubblegumy, with quite some pepper roaring in the background. Peppered marshmallows? All that is rather unusual, thus interesting. With water: a little more honey but otherwise it does not change much. Sweet barley, apples, white pepper. Finish: a tad short and, as usual, rather drier. Tea. Comments: a very fine typical unsherried Speysider. SGP:441 - 82 points. |
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Aultmore 1990 (57.9%, Jack Wiebers, Brass & Mining Collection, +/-2013) Colour: dark amber/coffee. Nose: extreme chocolaty and coffee-ish sherriness, very dry. Also bags and bags of old walnuts, with a good box of used matches also thrown in. So it’s probably that very polarising style again but I swear there isn’t any cooked cabbage, rotten eggs or straight mercaptan. Honest! With water: same, only with more flints. Also pipe tobacco – and a lot – and soy sauce. Within this specific style it’s quite perfect. Mouth (neat): heavy sherry, leathery and almost as peppery as the McNeill’s. A lot of dry sherry, bitter chocolate, heavy liquorice and unsweetened coffee. Artichoke liqueur. Water should bring out more sweetness… With water: indeed, more sultanas and strong honey (chestnut). Finish: long and very dry again. Coffee, cloves and liquorice wood. Comments: some Glendronachs are like this. Big dry sherry, really to my liking. SGP:362 - 87 points. |
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