May 1, 2014

The little sessions, two 1997 Aultmore

This could be interesting, as we’ll first have a ‘full bourbon’ Aultmore, and then one that was finished in fresh American oak. That may underline the effects of new oak… Or not, let’s see…

Aultmore 14 yo 1997/2012 (54.8%, James MacArthur, bourbon wood, cask #3592)

Colour: straw. Nose: it’s a very ‘regular’ barleyish Speysider, with plenty of apple juice, pears, vanilla, orange juice and touches of varnish and bubblegum. Ultraclassic naked youngish Speyside malt whisky. I you like that style, you’ll like this. With water: becomes very fresh and very orchardy. Apple and quince juice! Nothing unusual, but it’s all nice. Mouth (neat): exactly the same as on the nose when neat, bubblegum, pears, pineapples, apples, oranges and vanilla, with a little white pepper and cinnamon, then maple syrup. Sweet and easy, although the oak’s white pepper tends to become a little too big for my taste. With water: barley water and apple juice with a dash of white pepper and maybe hints of dessert grapes. Finish: medium length. Same flavours, with an oak that gets a little louder again towards the aftertaste (cinnamon). Comments: I find this very, very enjoyable, but I might not remember it tomorrow. Ha. SGP:541 - 82 points.

Aultmore 16 yo 1997/2013 (53.5%, Exclusive Casks, fresh American oak finish, 298 bottles)

Colour: pale gold. Nose: it is, indeed, a better polished and rounder version, although there aren’t that many differences. Pears and pineapples, sweet barley, acacia honey, vanilla, hazelnuts, marshmallows and what seems to be a little fresh sawdust, but that part stays relatively elegant. Very easy nose. With water: same whisky as above this time, all on garden fruits. It seems that the oak got tamed. Mouth (neat): this time the oak really feels, and makes this baby a little bitter, gingery and acrid. A lot of cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg. After a few minutes, things rather improve, with more fruits, especially oranges. With water: works better with water, the fruits come out more and the oak’s acridness is backing away. Finish: medium length. Sweet barley , apples and sawdust again, with some capsicum in the aftertaste. Comments: it’s always a little hard not to take a whisky’s pedigree into account when tasting it, in this case you ought to feel new oak. I did. SGP:561 - 79 points.

Check the index of all Aultmore I've tasted so far

	April 2014
	Favourite recent bottling: Glendronach 20 yo 1992/2013 (51.8%, OB, Taiwan, oloroso sherry butt, cask #1159, 220 bottles) - WF 92 Favourite older bottling: Clynelish 1972 (61.5%, Cadenhead for Oddbins, cask #5643, early 1990s) - WF 92 Favourite bang for your buck bottling: Moidart 10 yo (46%, Cadenhead, Scotch blended malt, +/-2013) - WF 87