
September 16, 2020

Total opposites, a wee bag of Ord

Superb distillate at Ord, not to forget the old Saladin box that made so much high-quality peated malt in the 1960s for many an old glory. Brora and Talisker, anyone? And of course for Glenordie/Glen Ord/Ord.

Ord 10 yo 2008/2018 (57.7%, Cadenhead, Small Batch, 534 bottles)

From two hogsheads. We’re expecting this to be extremely pure and yet a little fat, let’s see… Fully distillate-driven in any case. Colour: white wine. Nose: oh yes, oils and greases, beeswax, lemongrass, wild asparagus, beetroots, a tiny touch of dill… With water: much more branche-y, grassy, rooty, we’re even bordering gentian spirit. Mouth (neat): pure, big, rather thick, with notes of fruity hops, nectarines, a drop of sesame oil, all-flower honey, touches of wine gums, leaves and buds making it drier and leafier… At times it reminds me of white wine brandy (blanche d’armagnac). With water: a little candy sugar, crystallised angelica and pears… Finish : a little more indistinct, as if the sucrosity took over a wee bit. Pear liqueur. Comments: the palate is a little sugary, but the dram is extremely fine.
SGP:651 - 81 points.

Ord 10 yo 2008/2018 (58.3%, Cadenhead, Authentic Collection, bourbon hogshead, 264 bottles)

Colour: white wine. Nose: extremely similar, just a tad less fruity, and perhaps a notch earthier and leafier. Peach leaves. With water: no, both whiskies are almost identical. Mouth (neat): really rich and fat, with notes of cappuccino beyond the pear jam and honeyed brandy-like flavours that we had already found in the Small Batch. With water: this thickish sweetness yet again. Demerara syrup, agave juice, fruit jellies… Finish: rather long and really sweet. Comments: some of the sweetest whiskies I’ve tried this year. The core remains pretty superb, it’s just a bit ‘buried’.
SGP: 751 - 81 points.

Let’s try again with another year…

Ord 13 yo 2006/2019 (53.3%, Cadenhead, Small Batch, 588 bottles)

A vatting of one bourbon HHD and one Madeira HHD (that casks was a 2-year finishing in Madeira). Sounds funny but let’s remain cautious, Madeira may work extremely well from time to time. Colour: white wine. Nose: walnuts, curry, sweet mustard and cigar smoke? That’s Madeira in my book. Old cellar, old barrels and saltpetre as well. With water: menthol cigarettes. Mouth (neat): nice combo, creating something a little more mentholy than usual. Sweet mustard and honey sauce? Or what we call sauce “à la diable”? With water: I can see how the Madeira cask kind of balanced the huge sweetness of this make, but it remains a very sweet, pretty syrupy malt whisky. Finish: rather long, with wee earthy and rooty touches, this time from the Madeira indeed (I suppose). Green peppercorn in the aftertaste. Comments: I would keep the same score.
SGP:661 - 81 points

Let’s leave Campbeltown and fly to… Taiwan, with three very young little octaves that we’ll have upon ascending strengths (we all need order, you understand)… Most probably an integral change of style...

Glen Ord 2015/2020 (60.9%, Or Sileis, Joey Taiwan, refill PX octave, cask #287B, 73 bottles)

Glen Ord 2015/2020 (60.9%, Or Sileis, Joey Taiwan, refill PX octave, cask #287B, 73 bottles)
Refill, that’s good news. Colour: gold. Nose: totally modern style but as often, that works, with some sweet oak everywhere and a moderate amount of raisins from the PX. Other than that, a lot of butterscotch, ‘of course’. With water: touches of menthol and pine resins, plus wee whiffs of iron, old coins, copper pot… Mouth (neat): classic modern STR-style rich and coating malt, well made and reminiscent of café latte and indeed, butterscotch. With water: passion fruits and bananas joining in, for the even better. Modern recipe for modern young malt whisky, done with taste and smartness. Even if you’re not too fond of the concept, you cannot not agree that this is excellent whisky. Finish: long, sweeter, yet balanced and with good earth and sweet spices. Comments: fast whisky as in fast food? Perhaps, but this is so much better than a Big Mac, IMHO. Even dietarily. Kudos.
SGP:651 - 88 points.

Glen Ord 2015/2020 ‘Archer’ (60.9%, Or Sileis, Joey Taiwan, refill oloroso octave, cask #287C, 51 bottles)

Glen Ord 2015/2020 ‘Archer’ (60.9%, Or Sileis, Joey Taiwan, refill oloroso octave, cask #287C, 51 bottles)
Colour: deep gold. Nose: drier, as it should be given that this is oloroso, more on walnuts, cigars, earths, soy sauce, lovage, balsamico, coffee liqueur, touch of wood smoke, chocolate… We’re actually in similar styles as those bloodtubs that Bruichladdich had done around ten years ago. What, you say that’s fifteen years? How time flows… With water: and water works a treat, at that. Fresh herbs, meadows after the rain… Mouth (neat): reeks of smartness. All on coffee this time, which I just adore. Muscovado sugar too, Seville oranges, tiny bits of cloves and caraway, a drop of molasse, a hint of strawberry jam (really), perhaps pear jam… With water: orange marmalade and a little pink pepper. Finish: long, drier, earthier, which is just what’s needed. Comments: what’s troubling at this extremely young age is the complexity that they achieved. I kind of hate it that I like this rather a lot, really. A Pressure Cooker Award for sure.
SGP:561 - 89 points.

Glen Ord 2015/2020 ‘Ninja’ (61.5%, Or Sileis, Joey Taiwan, refill oloroso octave, cask #287A, 71 bottles)

Do they really have ninjas in Taiwan? Seriously, what I always found funny was that our friends in Asia would use their own imagery on their Scotch whisky labels, rather than stags, thistle, tartan, claymores and funny birds with long beaks, as we usually do in Europe. Not sure I would ever use bretzels, sauerkraut, baguettes, berets or storks myself, but there, isn’t it all very charming (as long as they’re not trying to make us believe that any putrid imported rotgut is Yamazaki or Karuizawa)? So, this little ninja… Colour: gold. Nose: completely different, much softer, cleaner, without any big bold sherryness, rather sunflower oil, brioche, shortbread, nougat, vanilla… Hold on, oloroso, really? With water: vanilla paste impregnated with mango and maracuja. More or less. Mouth (neat): oh very good, on a blend of pepper liqueur, coffee, turmeric, walnuts, citrons and lemongrass. This one too oozes of smartness, I’m afraid. And perhaps of Kavalan, if I may. Sweet Dr Swan! With water: sweet oak spices, patchouli, lemon, a little ginger… Finish: long, perhaps a tad drying now. The oak feels a little more, but that’s nothing. Comments: as long as you don’t ask me if Glen Ord is recognizable, I’m happy. So, please don’t.
SGP:661 - 88 points.

Check the index of all Ord we've tasted so far