Whisky a Day

Whisky #229 – Gordon & Macphail’s Connoiseurs Choice Dailuaine 1995 Single Malt

September 13, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Gordon & Macphail’s Connoiseurs Choice Dailuaine 1995 Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.0%. Tasted at home, $50 (bottle).

Colour: Dark gold. But then holding the glass another way it’s more of a pale gold. Interesting.

Nose: Vanilla mainly, followed by oak. A hint of toffee.

Palate: Thin mouthfeel, but still packs a punch – plenty of rich, spicy flavours and alcohol heat. Oak, a touch of buttery toffee and dried fruit flavours too.

Finish: Medium to long finish, peppery notes dominate as the flavours fade.

Comments: Dailuaine Distillery is relatively unknown for most single malt drinkers (myself included prior to buying this bottle), with the vast majority of it’s production going into blends such as Johnnie Walker (cringe!). I’m happy to report this is a very decent whisky, though not perhaps as enjoyable as the other Gordon & Macphail’s Connoisseur Choice I recently tried, the Arran 1999.

Whisky #228 – Old Pulteney Noss Head Lighthouse Highland Single Malt

September 11, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Old Pulteney Noss Head Lighthouse Highland Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.0%. Tasted at Helvetica.

Colour: Very clear pale straw.

Nose: Beeswax, straw and some lemon. Which sounds interesting, but it’s really not that great.

Palate: Floral hay-like flavours, quite bright. Gentle alcohol warmth.

Finish: Oily mouthfeel, subtle sweetness. Warmth builds, but flavours subside quickly.

Comments: according to my friend Marc it’s more like a “Todd Carney Sauternes, exited as a yeast infection.” Not going to be a crowd pleaser. For me I’d rate it a little higher than Marc’s assessment but it’s only average, I wouldn’t go seeking it out. As a duty free only whisky I’m sure it won’t be hard to steer clear.

Whisky #227 – Talisker Port Ruighe (Port Finished) Single Malt

September 11, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Talisker Port Ruighe (Port Finished) Single Malt. Isle of Skye, Scotland. ABV: 45.80%. Tasted at Helvetica.

Colour: Copper amber.

Nose: My mate Marc picked up notes of a smokey damp pine forest. I got some sweeter toffee notes after a bit of time in the glass.

Palate: Much softer than the Talisker 10. Softer spice, still some smoke but not the fire.

Finish: Medium length, flavour fades from the front of the palate.

Comments: Toy palate, the port finish softens it a little compared to other Talisker offerings. Not all that inspiring however, though it’s certainly not a bad whisky, just middle of the road.

Whisky #226 – Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Single Malt

September 11, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Sushia, $17.

Colour: Bronze.

Nose: Slightly nutty with a hint of sweetness. Much like my Scottish friend Shelly!

Palate: Salted caramel, much more salt than sweetness though. Plenty of oak.

Finish: Spice and cocoa; warm mouthfeel that builds slightly as the flavours fade.

Comments: Not as smooth as the Glenfarclas 15 nor does it have quite the depth of flavour, as you would expect. Not bad, but if this was a horse race and you had to back one, I’d be looking to its stablemate.

Whisky #225 – Royal Lochnagar Distillers Edition Double Matured Single Malt

September 10, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Royal Lochnagar Distillers Edition Double Matured Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Lafayette, $20.

Colour: Amber, leathery brown.

Nose: A very soft perfume, a hint of sherry.

Palate: Toasted malt and sherry notes. Reminds me a little of the Auchentoshan Triple Wood, though it has been a while since I’ve tasted that so I hope my recollection is on the mark.

Finish: Dry; lots of oak. Some dried fruit notes hang around to remind you of it’s heritage.

Comments: Extra matured in old muscat barrels, after having spent its early years maturing in a combination of American oak & ex sherry barrels. I was a little surprised when I had a sip – it shares qualities more associated with sherry matured drams. I love muscat, so the influence from the muscat barrels is not as pronounced as I had hoped. Still a decent drop though.

Whisky #224 – Edradour 12 Year Old Caledonia Selection

September 10, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Edradour 12 Year Old Caledonia Selection. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.0%. Tasted at home, $55 (bottle).

Colour: Luscious deep copper. It’s a beautiful thing.

Nose: Sweet sherry goodness awaits. Mixed dried fruit aromas too.

Palate: Intense sherry and caramel flavours; a perfect balance of sweetness, spices and heat. Oily, syrupy mouthfeel. Amazing.

Finish: Long flavour fade, medium length for the heat. Soft pepper and toffee flavours.

Comments: This expression was apparently created when Edradour asked Scottish singer Dougie Maclean to select a single Oloroso cask and they named it after his most famous song, “Caledonia”. What a load of marketing hogwash.

All that bullshit aside, this is a stunning whisky – it makes me want to drink it all day. For many days on end. It has huge depth of flavour yet with that residual sweetness that makes you want to lick the inside of the glass to make sure you’ve gotten every last little drop. All of this from Scotland’s tiniest distillery, reportedly run by just three guys. Amazing stuff fellas.

Whisky #223 – Drambuie 15 Year Old Speyside Malt Whisky Liqueur

September 9, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Drambuie 15 Year Old Speyside Malt Whisky Liqueur. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at my mate Joel’s place (to wrap up the whisky tasting afternoon).

Colour: Amber gold.

Nose: Some subtle herbaceous notes.

Palate: Sweet honey; syrupy clove flavours.

Finish: Very smooth; some cinnamon notes to finish.

Comments: It’s certainly not as sweet as I had expected. At 43% I guess that shouldn’t surprise, but having only had liqueurs at typically around 20% I guess it’s quite a different beast. Much more towards the whisky end of a theoretical whisky-to-liqueur spectrum. I haven’t had the standard Drambuie liqueur to compare it with, but all in all a fine way to finish up the afternoon’s whisky tasting. The sweetness of the Drambuie 15 is definitely a welcome palate cleanser after all the peat we finished on with the Laphroig PX Cask, Bruichladdich Octomore and Blackadder Smoking Islay Raw Cask (Sherry Cask).

Whisky #222 – Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 6.1 Cask Strength Single Malt

September 8, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Bruichladdich Octomore Edition 6.1 Cask Strength Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 57.00%. Tasted at my mate Joel’s place, $0 (courtesy of my trusted whisky tasting lieutenant).

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: Meaty peat aromas, almost a bit musty.

Palate: Lots of peat & smoke; not as complex as I was hoping. Still a fantastic taste though!

Finish: Campfire smoke, hint of mint maybe? Looooong finish.

Comments: Despite its reputation as the peatiest whisky in the world, it didn’t taste as big and peaty as I had expected. I enjoyed the nose quite a lot, in fact I’m really starting to appreciate the peaty whiskies that also have a charcoal meaty kind of aromas and flavours. The Octomore is an interesting beast, one that I want to explore in more detail. Might have to organise another whisky tasting…around at Joel’s place again of course so I can have some more!

Whisky #221 – Laphroig PX Cask Single Malt

September 7, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Laphroig PX Cask Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 48.0%. Tasted at my mate Joel’s place, $0. (No, this wasn’t just me rocking around to Joel’s place and getting stuck into his whisky, I brought a couple of bottles of my own too!).

Colour: A striking, dark gold.

Nose: Much softer than other Laphroigs; there is a touch of sherry.

Palate: Ah there’s the peat. The sherry notes are lost, but it seems to have softened compared to your average Laphroaig.

Finish: Oaky peat notes. Medium to long finish. Maybe a slight hint of sweetness in the fade, but it’s very subtle.

Comments: The Laphroig PX has undergone triple maturation – firstly in ex-bourbon barrels, then American oak quarter casks, then finally in ex Pedro Ximenez casks. I’m not convinced it adds a lot flavour-wise, but the time in PX casks maybe softens the whisky a little. The PX is generally only available in duty free stores, and while it’s a good whisky I’m not about to book an overseas trip just to pick up a bottle.

Whisky #220 – Great Southern Distillery – Limeburners Barrel M37 Single Malt

September 6, 2014 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Great Southern Distillery – Limeburners Barrel M37 Single Malt. Albany, Western Australia, Australia. ABV: 61%. Tasted at my mate Joel’s place, $0 (Joel’s shout – well it was part of a whisky tasting swap).

Colour: Deep copper.

Nose: Bit of an alcohol prickle, suggests quite a hit to come. Sultana aromas too.

Palate: Candied dried fruit, overshadowed by the big alcohol heat.

Finish: Again the heat dominates, slowly filling your chest as it makes its way down. Long finish, a few meaty flavours in the fade.

Comments: A whisky to put hairs on your chest, bottled at a barrel strength of 61%. Not as refined as the other Limeburners I’ve tried so far (see the M104, M100, M67, M174).

Whisky #219 – Laphroaig Cairdeas Cask Strength Single Malt

September 5, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Laphroaig Cairdeas Cask Strength Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 51.20%.

Colour: Candlelit amber.

Nose: Strong smokey aromas, smoked meaty flavours.

Palate: Short oily smooth entry with hints of sultanas, very quickly fades to some smokey meat & peat flavours.

Finish: Smokey flavours at the front half of the palate, not as powerful as I was expecting – a good thing mind you, smoother. Quite a mouth-warming sensation in the fade.

Comments: Bam – peat bomb. It has more depth of character than other Laphroig’s I’ve had before. I like it.

Whisky #218 – Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt

September 4, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Marquay restaurant, $12.

Colour: Dark gold. Not a bright spark.

Nose: Sweet honey, lemony scents.

Palate: More intense on the palate than I was expecting. Cinnamon, some subtle vanilla, but not a heap of sweetness.

Finish: Warm honey, sweet oak notes. Like many other mainstream single malts, I’ve resisted tasting whiskies like the Glenfiddich 12 as my strategy has been to try and choose some of the more unusual whiskies on offer at each bar and leave the more commonly available ones like the Glenfiddich 12 up my sleeve until the back end of the year when it may start to become challenging to find whiskies I’ve not tried yet. Having not tasted the Glenfiddich 12 for a long time, I was pleasantly surprised that it was as complex as it is – I guess I’d pigeon-holed it as being a common single malt so it must be quite simple. It’s a great malt; it’s certainly not got the depth or complexity of some whiskies I’ve tried this year, but it’s a great value, dependable and available almost everywhere.

Whisky #217 – Penderyn Madeira 41 Single Malt Welsh Whisky

September 4, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Penderyn Madeira 41 Single Malt Welsh Whisky. Penderyn, Wales, United Kingdom. ABV: 41.00%. Tasted at Helvetica, $19.

Colour: Ambery gold.

Nose: Earthy, hay-like; nose drying.

Palate: A bit grassy on the tongue too. Crisp entry, it’s direct – none of this slowly enveloping the palate with syrupy sweetness kind of caper.

Finish: Quite short and thin, somewhat sweet lemon notes to fade.

Comments: My second Penderyn of the year. The first wasn’t overly memorable, this one fares a little better but still I’m not about to go and pick up a bottle of it next time I’m at the bottlo. Why why why Delilah? Because it’s a little disappointing to be honest.

Whisky #216 – Balvenie Port Wood Finish 21 Year Old Single Malt

September 3, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Balvenie Port Wood Finish 21 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Helvetica, $37.

Colour: Deep burnished gold.

Nose: Gorgeous nose. Sticky syrupy toffee with a hint of oak. The softest touch of smoke.

Palate: So smooth on the palate; sweet dried sultanas or muscatelles. A bit buttery but then some nutty tones too.

Finish: Oily mouthfeel, warmth delicately builds, sweet woody & tobacco notes emerge in the fade. I haven’t ever gnawed on a cigar box but imagine this to be like the delicious aftertaste.

Comments: It’s difficult to come up with any smartarse comments when you’re tasting a whisky that you find amazing. Simply a fantastic drop.

Whisky #215 – Tuthilltown Spirits Hudson Manhattan Rye

September 2, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Tuthilltown Spirits Hudson Manhattan Rye. Gardiner, New York State, United States. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, $86 (bottle).

Colour: Deep coppery amber.

Nose: Lots of rye (unsurprisingly). Freshly hewn sawdust. Not a whole heap of other scents that I can detect.

Palate: Smooth and sweet entry, quite an oily mouthfeel. Vanilla aniseed flavours.

Finish: More aniseed and honey, medium length.

Comments: I previously tried the Hudson Baby Bourbon a little while ago and really enjoyed it, so I was keen to try the Hudson Manhattan Rye. I realise they are quite different beasts, but have to admit I much prefer the Baby Bourbon.

Whisky #214 – Glencadam 14 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish

August 30, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glencadam 14 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.0%. Tasted at home, $117 (bottle).

Colour: Pale amber. Surprisingly pale for a whisky that’s spent time maturing in ex sherry casks.

Nose: Sweet sawdust, lemon & vanilla.

Palate: Vanilla, syrupy treacle, with a little bit of pepper

Finish: Oily mouthfeel, sweet fruits, oaky vanilla goodness. Medium length.

Comments: The first dram I tried of this I enjoyed, however I didn’t think it was anything too out of the ordinary. After a second glass however I’m starting to really enjoy this one, it certainly grows on you.