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| Hi, this is one of our (almost) daily tastings. Santé! |
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June 12, 2018 |
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Wee fights, today Kilkerran 8
vs. Hazelburn 8 |
Upon special request… Agreed, some weird request… But are we going to start this with the Kilkerran? Or the Hazelburn? Perhaps the OB first… |
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Kilkerran 8 yo (55.7%, OB, 2017) 
Indeed it’s a scandal that I haven’t tried this wee Glengyle instantly, that is to say just when it came out. I owe you the humblest amends… Colour: white wine. Nose: it’s always quite striking that Kilkerran would be so close to Springbank, style-wise. Wet chalk, mud, soot, old tools, grandpa’s garage, fern, carbon, pine liqueur, chartreuse, tar… With water: amazing muddy, herbal sootiness. Leaven, new baguette, yeast, mushrooms… Mouth (neat): immaculately perfect young malt, one of the best they make beyond Hadrian’s Wall. Shoe polish, lime juice, green olives, earth, candlewax, a touch of yuzu… Oh go to hell, Kilkerran! With water: and stay there! Finish: long, getting more lemony, which just works in any finish. Comments: I know a friend who had thought he would get Kilkerran, while his dear wife had purchased a bottle of Kilbeggan instead. Last I checked, they’re not even divorced yet.
SGP:363 - 91 points. |
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Hazelburn 8 yo 2007/2016 (54%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon hogshead, 162 bottles) 
Late again? Who’s late again, who? But agreed, anything from Springbank’s bottled by Cadenhead shouldn’t quite be called ‘an independent bottling’, but let’s not obsess over details, if you please… Colour: full gold. Nose: there, this is Serena vs. Venus, really. This Hazelburn being a tad lighter, more ‘grainy’ in a way, lighter despite a heavier wood, but also meatier, perhaps a tad more sulphury, and quite truffle-y. Notes of rotting fruits in the background. With water: lovage, Maggi, miso, umami! Mouth (neat): rather weird now. Bubblegum, coffee liqueur, Red Bull, praline, chicory, sweet onions, Ovaltine, honeydew… As we used to say when the Internet was still free, wazzat? Very savoury. With water: more chicory, pipe juice, bouillon, and last century coconut liqueur. Finish: long, leathery, savoury, umami-y. Comments: one of the first times when instead of having a classic bourbon maturation, you feel they’ve actually rather blended malt and bourbon – of course they have not. It is a weird(ish) feeling, and actually, some of the older official Karuizawas were a bit like this. Bizarre, thus rather interesting.
SGP:462 - 80 points. |
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