February 26, 2015

A little bag of four Scottish grains

I’ll say it again and again, I’m not a huge fan of grain whisky generally speaking (those blends to which they haven’t even bothered adding malt, as Pete and Jack said), but I’ve had a few that I simply adored. A few…

Invergordon 7 yo 2006/2014 (60.2%, The Whisky Barrel, Burns Malt, Pedro Ximenez sherry Octave finish, cask ##901446B, 79 bottles)

This could be pure madness, ex-sherry butt, finished in a small cask that should have been seasoned with PX… Let’s try to recognise the distillery! ;-) Colour: amber. Nose: rum. Or rather rum blended with armagnac. It is very powerful and burns a bit (haha), so… With water: more rum! I’m positive whisky is almost undistinguishable if you nose this blind, but I find it nicer than many rums. Mouth (neat): powerful again, rather burning because of the high strength, with a creamy mouth feel. A feeling of coffee-schnapps, some marmalade, rum-soaked raisins… Brutal but that’s normal. With water: raisins, kirsch and molasses all over the place. The PX’s sweetness really feels. Finish: long, with a little ginger from the oak. Comments: I find this baby most friendly. Good sweet rum from Scotland! SGP:640 - 80 points.

Another Invergordon…

Invergordon 1988/2014 'Vintage Strawberry Punnet' (46%, Wemyss Malts, barrel, 242 bottles)

There shouldn’t be any sherry in this one. Colour: pale gold. Nose: much lighter than the massive 2006, and with much more American oak, with obvious vanilla, sawdust and, above all and everything, coconut. We’re at a carpenter’s, and I’m not saying this is unpleasant. You may add a fistful of jelly babies. Mouth: as sweet and creamy as some sweet and creamy bourbon, plus a few drops of strawberry liqueur. Really easy, really sweet, and, dare I say, a little childish. Finish: short, sweet, with a few oak spices such as cinnamon. Comments: probably good, but very one dimensional. Not my cup of… malt, but let’s not be too harsh. SGP:730 - 75 points.

Strathclyde 32 yo 1980/2012 (54.2%, Duncan Taylor, Dimensions, cask #1499, 123 bottles)

Colour: gold. Nose: more silent, more discreet. I wouldn’t say I’m getting much, apart from whiffs of warm custard and maybe marshmallows. What I enjoy is what’s not there, such as those dreadful heavy notes of coconut. I also seem to find touches of pineapple. With water: lovely, water works a treat. Tinned fruits aplenty, with no dominating smells (yeah, vanilla, coconut, sawdust…) Mouth (neat): very sweet again, oily, liqueur-y and bonbon-like. Spanish manzana verde liqueur, plus pleasant notes of tangerine. Maybe a little Fanta too. Hum… With water: no, it’s to my liking. More tinned and fresh fruits. So a fruit salad. Finish: not the longest ever but its clean and balanced, and not too sweet. A little caraway in the aftertaste. Comments: we’re starting to talk. SGP:541 - 82 points.

Port Dundas 35 yo 1978/2013 (59.2%, Douglas Laing, Director's Cut, refill sherry hogshead, 360 bottles)

Diageo’s Port Dundas was closed in 2010. Colour: full gold. Nose: this is something else, it’s not ridden with oak at all, rather full of oranges and honey, with even a little wax and almonds. And lemon-flavoured marzipan, perhaps. Very pleasant, fresh and aromatic nose, with even a wee feeling of litchis and/or gewürztraminer. With water: sure there’s more sawdust, but I may also find a few phenols – so to speak. A kind of maltiness, but remember there is a little malt in any grain. Not sure that’s what I’m feeling here, though. Mouth (neat): I find this very good, citrusy, fresh, clean, even zesty, without any dullness. Oranges, a little barley sugar, drops of limoncello. All fine – and you do not feel the years. With water: oh, strawberries and marzipan! And some café latte, fudge, orange zests… Finish: not very long but very clean, citrusy, very pleasant. This, is grain that I enjoy mucho. A great bottling by Douglas Laing. SGP:641 - 89 points.

Check the index of all grain whiskies I've tasted so far