Another grainy day


January 9, 2017

Another grainy day

Indeed we’re seeing more and more old grains coming out there and there, as if it was more financially interesting to issue them as single grains rather than as constituents in old blends. But that won’t prevent us from starting with session with a blend. A blended grain, that is…

Golden Grain 1964/2016 (50.3%, The Cooper’s Choice for True - Whisky, blended grain, bourbon cask, cask #1301)

How come does it have a cask number if it’s a blend, you may wonder? Well this baby was blended at birth, which means that the new makes were blended prior to filling the cask. Typical Ben Nevis/Lochside technique, so this might be, indeed, a blend of Ben Nevis and Lochside grain whiskies. Colour: gold. Nose: very soft and vanilla-ed, as expected, but with also a little fresh varnish and very nice whiffs of high-end green tea, so it’s not only some oak-flavoured ‘silent’ spirit. Other than that, we do also have the usual white chocolate, praline, and even Nutella. And indeed a lot of custard. Doesn’t feel ‘old’ as such. With water: it’s the delicate tea-ish side that comes out, while any excessive vanilla and coconut are falling into line. Mouth (neat): really neat, sweet, and fruity. A cassata ice cream, sweet croissants (croissants shouldn’t be sweet, but there), jelly babies, and once again a lot of custard. Plus a little coconut from the oak. With water: gets a little liqueury. Sweets. Finish: medium, fruity, light, with an oak that remains well-mannered. Comments: cask #1301 wasn’t the most active cask ever, was it? This baby could as well have been 15 or 20 years old. I cannot not think of Havana Club, but of course this is more complex. SGP:631 - 87 points.

Garnheath 42 yo 1974/2016 (44.5%, Douglas Laing, Xtra Old Particular, cask #11209, 130 bottles)

Only Douglas Laing seem to have these old casks of the ultra-rare Garnheath from Moffat. Remember 1974 has been the distillery’s penultimate year. Colour: pale gold. Nose: this time we’re really all on white chocolate, custard, coconut cream, café latte, with perhaps a few drops of kirsch in the café latte. Which they won’t do at Starbuck’s would they. Mouth: you really feel the ‘columns’, it’s some light and narrow spirit, and only the cask did do a little work here. Now it was a very good cask for sure, these notes of coconut liqueur and custard are rather lovely. Also some gingerbread and perhaps Jaffa cakes, as well as some maple syrup. Finish: medium, very easy, smooth, with just a touch of grass in the aftertaste. Comments: some old grain that’s totally breakfasty. And certainly very good, should I enjoy grain whisky, I’m sure I’d love this. SGP:630 - 85 points.

Let’s find a young one…

Port Dundas 12 yo 2004/2016 (58.8%, North Star Spirits, 318 bottles)

Port Dundas too got closed, around five years ago. So this is silent spirit from a silent distillery. Shhh… ;-) Colour: white wine. Nose: in a way, there’s more happening in a youngster such as this one, because it’s still got a lot of grassy varnish and even some kind of earthiness. So perhaps not Cuban rum this time, rather aguardiente or something. With water: sipping a pina colada while mowing your lawn. Mouth (neat): unusual, to say the least. Some kind of tequila matured in lemon wood, with a feeling of pine resin and a very oily coconuttiness. Really fun, and perhaps rather un-whisky. With water: sherbets and grasses on a bed of lemon peel and grated coconut. Finish: unexpectedly long, but also a little more spirity. Comments: as good as young grain whisky can get in my book. What would Becks think? SGP:540 - 84 points.

And an older one again…

Invergordon 43 yo 1972/2016 (48.9%, Phil & Simon Thompson, cask #37, 218 bottles)

Apparently, not one of those very sherried old Invergordons. Colour: gold. Nose: rather delicate, beehive-y, with honey, beeswax, and pollen. Rather goes on with cake-y notes, caramel pie, fudge for sure, and then more complex notes of quince jelly and, perhaps, mullein flower syrup. Yes, I swear to Odin that there is some mullein flower in there. Mouth: really creamy and sweet, but rather with some marzipan, chocolate, and various herbal teas this time. Chamomile, plus a very discreet varnishy side. In fact it reminds me of those Austrian Mozartkugeln, do you know them? A little cider too, which adds freshness and zestiness. Finish: medium, and rather spicier. Ginger and cinnamon cakes, as well as our beloved quince jelly again. More tea tannins in the aftertaste, that’s the oak speaking out. Comments: very few grain whiskies make it to 90 in my book, but this time, we were very close. Old and easy, sounds like a song by the Stranglers, doesn’t it. SGP:641 - 88 points.

(And thank you, Paul)

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