
June 12, 2017

More funny Scottish malts, randomly

Stuff with no names, but with ages and/or vintages, as they come, so rather illogically. Blends, singles, blended malts, stuff…

Chinese Zodiac 6 yo ‘Year of the Pig’ (49.5%, Just-Whisky, Speyside, Chinese Zodiac, sherry cask)

Some unknown Scotch single malt from Germany. A micro-bottling, rather for fun indeed, or so it seems. Colour: gold. Nose: all is well and all is right in this malty, medium-bodied (so it seems) malt whisky that’s got just the right amount of sherry, and that cannot not make me think of that family-owned distillery in Ballindalloch. Amber beer, roasted nuts, chestnut purée, some rancio, some cigars, some oranges, some quality. Mouth: super-good. Strawberry jam, marmalade, golden raisins, malted barley, a pinhead of Marmite, and some marmalade again. Nice peppery and slightly clove-y background. Finish: long, spicier. Pepper, nutmeg, puréed chestnuts, bitter oranges, white pepper. Comments: certainly not one bottling ‘for the pigs’! I find this old-style sherried Speysider very good, this session starts well. SGP:561 - 88 points.

Speyside 41 yo 1975/2016 (46.9%, Antique Lions of Spirits, Fino sherry, 230 bottles)

Ah these lovely Moony bottlings… Colour: pale gold. Nose: there, there are flowers, there are fresh fruits, and there’s a complexity that just cannot be found in young whiskies. Astounding soft oils (sunflower), slightly smoked grapefruits, cider apples, ripe gooseberries, blackberries, three cherries, and a drop of old Chartreuse. Well, we knew these casks were just wonderful, so no surprise here, sadly. Sob sob sob… Mouth: hey? It’s a little bizarre this time, excellent for sure, but there’s a wee soapiness that comes a little unexpected. The good news is that that would go away, slowly yet surely. Grapefruits, lemon skin oil, walnut oil, green tea… Finish: medium, a tad green, perhaps. Comments: an utterly stunning nose, one of the greatest this year, and a palate that’s a notch more, well, ‘unlikely’ in my opinion. Now these are the cheapest whiskies, you just nose them, no need to drink them. In short, they’re eternal. SGP:471 (palate) - 88 points.

Ordha 21 yo ‘Rare Cask Reserves’ (47.4%, OB, William Grant, blended Scotch, batch #WS 01/04, 4900 bottles, 2015)

Right, a blend, for the Netherlands, apparently. Those fine people know their whisky, so, high hopes here… Colour: gold. Nose: it’s not the most expressive whisky ever, but it does the job. Croissants and brioche, apple pie, roasted hazelnuts, custard, English breakfast tea… It’s not unlike some very mild bourbon. Excuse me? Yup, without the coconut. Mouth: good for sure. A touch of varnish, then drops of smoked tea and light tea… Wait, the problem is that is nosedives, and there’s almost no middle, as if the grain (Girvan?) had taken over. That’s rather frustrating, because the fruitiness ‘behind’ is quite complex and even interesting. But the body’s weak. Finish: no way. Short, alcoholic and thin. Wood alcohol in the aftertaste. Comments: I’ll never understand this series. Must be me. Obviously me. SGP:440 - 68 points.

Glenalmond ‘Everyday’ (40%, Vintage Malt Whisky Company, blended malt, +/-2017)

This by the makers of the excellent Coopers’ Choice range, and we know good seed makes a good crop. Oh and I absolutely adore the name! Everyday rather than ‘rare’ or whatever, kudos! Colour: gold. Nose: in the style of the much dearer Ordha, just a touch more ‘rough’. Apples, maple syrup, roasted nuts, toasted oak, malt. Very blendy, but nicely so. Mouth: well, it buries the previous blend. Nice malty, orange-y, slightly woody, and slightly caramely/coffee-ish style. Nothing to write home about, but everyday, anytime. Finish: medium, a little bitter and ‘burnt’ this time, not the best part. Loses many points now, because this finish ain’t too nice. Comments: seriously, it’s a fine average blend, more or less of Johnnie Red quality, we’ve just seen worse. SGP:351 – 72 points.

Anchor Bay ’82 Points’ (40%, Lombard, Speyside, blended malt, +/-2016)

I’m serious, the points are already there on the label, in big figures! But they come from the ‘Beverage Testing Institute’, so… Well, let’s check that, while being glad to see something newish from Lombard’s. Colour: straw. Nose: nice, vanilla-ed, barley-y, croissanty (ah-hem, S.), clean, nutty style. Milk chocolate and café latte from anybody else than Starshucks. Mouth: well well well, this is quite nice, malty, mildly syrupy, nutty, well rounded, with apple crumble and orange cake. Good body at 40% vol. almost a miracle. Seriously, this is good. Finish: medium, malty, clean, with more baked apples and a little maple syrup and honey. Comments: well, 82’s a little too high for me, but we aren’t too far away. Some rather solid blended malt. SGP:451 - 79 points.

It seems that we’re recovering…

Paragon (51.4%, Maltbarn, blended malt, sherry, 204 bottles, 2017)

This is meant to be ‘Very Old’. Well, we do trust the excellent people at Maltbarn’s at WF Towers. Colour: amber. Nose: yeah, metal polish, old walnuts, cigars, grandma’s tin boxes, pu-erh tea… This is immediately ten times more complex, and complexity in whisky ought to be cherished and preserved. With water: hazelnut oil and artisan chocolate. Nougat. Mouth (neat): marmalade, tobacco, cinchona, liquorice, pinesap, myrtle, caraway. What’s not to enjoy? With water: perfect. Marmalade, tobacco, ginger liqueur, walnut wine, and… have I already mentioned tobacco? Finish: rather long, grassy, rather smoky, and pretty earthy. Salted marmalade in the aftertaste. Comments: not only a paragon, also a paragon of virtue (now that was too easy, S.) SGP:453 - 88 points.

William Cadenhead 12 yo ‘Batch 3’ (46%, Cadenhead, blend, +/-2017)

Yeah that’s where they pour all the Ardbegs and Lagavulins that no one wants (I’ve heard). And Port Dundas of course. Colour: gold. Nose: it sure works, with soft oils, pastries, apples, nuts, calf leather, and soft dried fruits. It seems that this baby’s rather smoother and easier than last year’s 12 yo. I don’t seem to be able to find the Ardbegness in it, that is, but who cares? Mouth: there’s a little rubber, and a little over-brewed tea, then rather some leather, crushed nuts, and some green oranges. Its not an easy blend that you would quaff while talking European politics with some old friends, I’d even say it’s a little challenging, with this rubbery side… But I believe I like it rather better than last year’s offering. Or am I getting softer? Finish: medium, earthy, nutty, slightly tarry/smoky/salty. Comments: seriously, this 12 got better, and I can’t wait for Batch 4. SGP:352 - 82 points.

Do we have room for more? Wait, I’ve got an idea, let’s put an end to this madness with a peaty note…

Big Peat ‘Special Edition For My German Pals At Finest Spirits In Munich 2014’ (50%, Douglas Laing, blended malt, 108 bottles)

So much for brand control! Seriously, this is fun, well done Douglas Laing (and anyone involved). As usual, this Big Peat contains 95% Port Ellen, the remainder from all other distilleries on Islay. Hey, I might be joking. Colour: the whitest white wine. Nose: we’re navigating between an old hospital (in an Italian soft horror movie) and some kind of oyster bed. This is all immaculate, totally spirit-driven, just wondering about those spirits. Crabs and kelp and fresh almonds, that’s rather CI, but who knows? Mouth: immaculate indeed. Fresh paint, putty, lemon, salt, oysters, tequila (aye, aye). Finish: long, clean, very smoky. Just the aftertaste is a tad too bitter(ish). Maybe… Comments: I don’t know whether this was a joke or not, but if it was, it was a fine one. Excellent, the vatting wiped out all the imperfections. SGP:357 - 87 points.

Agreed, let’s call this a tasting session…

(Und gracias, Günter)

Check the index of all undisclosed or blended whiskies
I've tasted so far