Highlands Archives - Page 3 of 7

Whisky #463: GlenDronach 2003 Single Cask (Oak Barrel Exclusive) 12 Year Old Single Malt

February 28, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

GlenDronach 2003 Single Cask (Oak Barrel Exclusive) 12 Year Old Single Malt (Cask No. 3492). Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 53.8%. Tasted at home, $179 (bottle).

What. A. Day. Is it just me or does anybody else like to reward themselves by splurging on a good bottle of whisky when you’ve gotten something over the line? For me, today was one of those days.

When I’m not reviewing copious amounts of whisky for Whisky a Day, in my day job I lead a team of human factors consultants. Today was the delivery of a huge report for a client, the culmination of the last 7 months’ work. Suffice to say, putting the feet up and celebrating with a full-flavoured cask strength dram was definitely the best way to unwind!

Colour: Molten copper.

Nose: Like shoving your nose into a big handful of sultanas or muscatels. Big juicy dried fruit aromas with some dusty dark chocolate cocoa notes too. The 53.8% ABV gives you a slight tug of the old nostril hairs to give you a nudge to prepare your tastebuds for what’s to come.

Palate: That sugary/salty tang of blackcurrant pastilles. Salted caramel and vanilla – it really takes me back to my childhood. No, I wasn’t smashing whisky when I was in primary school, it just instantly reminded me of chewing on some jersey caramel lollies at my grandparents’ place.

Finish: Slightly salty, oaky tang with some gentle heat that lingers at the front of the mouth.

Comments: Hand selected for The Oak Barrel, my go-to independent bottle shop in Sydney. 12 years in an Oloroso sherry puncheon. What a dram it’s got everything. And do I feel relaxed? It’s so good I’ve now had three drams and I’m feeling very unwound! Highly recommended.

Whisky #459: Glengoyne 12 Year Old Single Malt

February 19, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glengoyne 12 Year Old Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $84 (bottle).

Colour: Hot like a sunrise, Rhonda.

Nose: A zesty nose prickle. Pineapple slices caramelising on a BBQ.

Palate: Like taking a bite into a lemon tart. It’s lemony, a bit sweet, with some biscuit notes.

Finish: Straw and malty notes; lemon frosting or lemon sherbet lollies. Quite a drying mouthfeel as it fades.

Comments: When life gives you lemons, have a Glengoyne 12 Year Old. It’s the dominant flavour, but done in so many ways and very subtle. It’s a great drop – fresh, zesty and very drinkable on a hot summer’s afternoon.

Whisky #452: The MacPhail’s Collection 2002 Glenturret Single Malt

January 23, 2017 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The MacPhail’s Collection 2002 Glenturret Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland . ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $128 (bottle).

Colour: Pale bronze.

Nose: Freshly baked raspberry muffins. Some sweet oaky notes too, like sticking your nose into a Muscat barrel.

Palate: A sweet (think brown sugar), creamy and oaty flavour. It really reminds me of having a hot bowl of porridge on a cold winter morning, drizzled in milk that’s half dissolved the extra spoonfuls of brown sugar you’ve heaped on top when no-one is looking.

Finish: Some more of those delicious oak and dried fruit flavours in the fade; just think raisins and dried cranberries.

Comments: Silky smooth, this is a fantastic drop. It’s got stacks of flavour yet is so easy on the palate at only 43% ABV. Glenturret Distillery lays claim to being one of the oldest in Scotland (I’m not going near that debate with a barge pole, or maybe a caber) so it’s hardly surprising they know a thing or two about producing whisky. They’re not a huge producer having only the one pair of stills, but on the basis of this drop I think I’ll search out a few more Glenturrets.

Whisky #409: GlenDronach Batch 3 Cask Strength Single Malt

May 22, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glendronach Batch 3 Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 54.90%. Tasted at home, $162 (bottle).

Seeing as Saturday was World Whisky Day, I decided that was a good a reason as any to lash out on a new whisky. I got home and cracked it open with intentions of doing my review, but I was enjoying it so much I dared not ruin the moment by over-analysing it. So I sat back, poured a second dram (ok…and a third), and here I am two days later, doing a belated World Whisky Day review.

Colour: Brilliant bronze.

Nose: Buttery toffee, strawberries & cream, raspberry sticks of rock. A tangy raspberry note too; it’s not all sweetness.

Palate: Creamy orange liqueur, sweet oak and hints of chocolate. It’s not the syrupy sherry bomb that one might expect from Glendronach (especially a cask strength release), it’s far more nuanced yet still recognisable.

Finish: A gentle long, warm finish with hints of muscatels, dark chocolate and dried raspberries.

Comments: This really is a whisky you can pour, sit back in a comfy chair, put on some background music and let the cask strength flavours ease your troubles and take your mind off all life’s worries. It’s effortlessly drinkable; full flavoured yet smooth. It’s not a dram for those taking their first steps into the wonderful world of whisky as it’s possibly a little intense. But for those who love the house style of Glendronach or who appreciate a cask strength dram that gradually reveals layers of flavour and aroma with each sip, this is a ripper. Recommended.

Whisky #404: Glengoyne Cask Strength Single Malt

March 27, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glengoyne Cask Strength Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 58.20%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

In honour of my crazy Glaswegian friend Shelly who has her birthday today, I thought it appropriate to review a whisky from one of the closest distilleries to Glasgow. Happy birthday Shell!

Colour: Bright molten toffee.

Nose: Creamy caramel and cocoa; honey on hot buttered toast.

Palate: Malty straw notes duke it out with some creamy tangy lemon cheesecake flavours. It’s a big mouthfeel, oily and luscious.

Finish: Long and full, as you’d expect from a cask strength whisky. Creaming soda and sugary lemon sherbet flavours linger long on the front half of the palate.

Comments: Much like my friend Shelly, this whisky is full throttle and hits you at cask strength. After a few drinks it will no doubt cause you to morph into the loudest and most outrageous member of the party, but that’s ok because it’s your birthday!

This was another one of the whiskies I selected as part of my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge” a little while back, which ticked off the “cask strength” category. It’s been a very enjoyable whisky, with great balance between creamy toffee flavours and some tart citrus notes. This bottle is nearing the end (not in one sitting!), I will definitely be placing an order for another. Recommended.

Whisky #403: Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish Single Malt

March 25, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Finish Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: Deep gold.

Nose: Cooked mash, a hint of honey.

Palate: Rich tangy honey; not as sweet as you might expect, almost a bit of salty citrus, reserved lemon.

Finish: A medium length finish with salty cereal notes in the fade. A touch of cracked black pepper spice too.

Comments: I was intrigued to try a whisky from Tullibardine, a small distillery that produced its first spirit back in 1949 but was closed from 1995 to 2003. After changing hands a few times, it’s now producing a small range of whiskies, most of which aren’t available in Australia.

With this expression having a Sauternes finish I had envisaged there to be more sweet notes on the palate, similar to say a Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or. It’s more savoury and citrusy than expected, a solid and very easy-drinking whisky but not a world beater.

Whiskies #382-387: Scotch Malt Whisky Society Winter Tasting

August 13, 2015 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Whiskies #382-387: Scotch Malt Whisky Society Winter Tasting. Royal Automobile Club, Sydney. $85.

Since Whisky a Day only recently located from Perth to Sydney a month ago, the first SMWS tasting event was locked into the calendar. Excellently hosted by the SMWS Australian Cellar Master Andrew Derbidge, last night’s tasting was an overview of six of the Society’s latest releases.

Whisky #382: 64.54 Sweet and Tart, Subtle and Delicate. 10 year old bottling from Mannochmore Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 56.3%.

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Pine needles, wood chips, and sherbet.
Palate: Tangy lemon, peppery spice, with some cheesecake flavours to round off.
Finish: White pepper with a long, salty tingle and generous warmth around the mouth. Like the sensation of sucking the lemon after you’ve just downed a shot of good tequila. The oily warmth lingers longer than the flavours, but in a comforting way.

Whisky #383: 35.133 Mediterranean Maharaja goes Americana. 20 year old bottling from Glen Moray Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 55.8%.

Colour: Rich honey.
Nose: It’s a very bourbon-ish nose which hits you immediately. Fennel and spiced mead; sweet oaky notes with some time in the glass.
Palate: Spiced honey, cocoa, sultanas and spiced fruit toast.
Finish: Quite a short, drying finish with some savoury biscuit notes.

Whisky #384: 46.25 Soft, Elegant and Intensely Creamy. 21 year old bottling from Glenlossie Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46.4%.

Colour: Pale apple juice.
Nose: Fresh apples in a wet hessian sack. Ok, so I got fresh apples and I separately got some wet hessian notes, but seeing as the tasting was being conducted in the Royal Automobile Club where anoraks abound, I thought I’d better combine the two descriptors and really turn the wankiness up to 11. My eminent whisky tasting neighbour Dave picked up notes like walking past a makeup counter through a department store.
Palate: Baked pears, some sweet caramelised flavours too. A cool, creamy mouthfeel; reminds me of fruit salad atop a freshly baked pavlova.
Finish: Passionfruit syrup and vanilla ice-cream. Very light and delicate.
Comments: This was my favourite whisky if the night. Quite a low ABV for a cask strength bottling, but it’s just so easy to drink and keeps begging you back for more. So much so that I ordered a bottle so I could do precisely that.

Whisky #385: 119.14 Raspberry Imperial Stout. 11 year old bottling from Yamazaki Distillery. Japan. ABV: 53.9%.

Colour: Wow. Deep rich toffee. I started enjoying this one long before I picked up the glass.
Nose: It’s a huge sherry bomb, simply divine. It reminds me a lot of the nose you get from some Glendronach malts, particularly the Glendronach Allardice 18 year old and Glendronach 21 year old. Though it’s more intense and syrupy than you’ll find say on the Glendronach 15 year old.
Palate: Syrupy Christmas cake spice, oily mouthfeel. Yes that sounds quite stereotypical for a malt matured in ex sherry casks, but boy is this a fine example of the style. An amazing drop. Some dark chocolate and cherry notes come through too.
Finish: Paradoxically for a syrupy whisky, the finish is quite drying. Huge legs on the glass.
Comments: In a blind tasting, I would have picked this to be a Speyside malt as it is a fine example of the sherried malts so often produced from that region. Yamazaki have done brilliant work with this one.

Whisky #386: 66.66 Ginger Makes Fred Smile. 10 year old bottling from Ardmore Distillery. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 61.9%.

Colour: Pale translucent copper; almost a rosey tinge.
Nose: Flame grilled steak, salted caramel and smoked salmon.
Palate: Smoked ham hock and beef jerky. It’s smokey with a hint of fruity sweetness; reminds me of a slice of juicy pineapple on the BBQ.
Finish: Super long and sumptuous.
Comments: Matured in a first fill white wine hogshead, which is both quite unusual but also an amazing choice for this malt. I enjoyed it so much I ordered a bottle on the spot.

Whisky #387: 3.234 Scallops Cooked on a Puffer Shovel. 16 year old bottling from Bowmore Distillery. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 57.5%.

Colour: Pure gold.
Nose: Caramel popcorn is the first thing that hits. Orange chocolate and soft straw notes too – like a handful of straw thrown on a campfire.
Palate: Salty blackcurrant pastilles and caramelised bacon. Hmmm, bacon… *drool*.
Finish: A building meaty saltiness with a very long, mouthwatering finish.
Comments: An Islay malt from Bowmore that has been perfectly matched to a refill sherry butt to produce those delicious caramelised meaty flavours. Though I think the nose is the winner here, simply divine. Some would say that there’s lots of smoke here both on the nose and on the palate, and they’d be 100% right…for me the smoke is there in droves, but it somehow takes a back seat to the amazing array of other flavours and aromas that are layered here.

Whisky #376 – SMWS 123.9 The Big Fat Tipsy Wedding

July 3, 2015 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

SMWS 123.9 The Big Fat Tipsy Wedding. 16 year old single cask from Glengoyne distillery, Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 56.6%. Tasted at home, $258 (bottle).

Colour: Rich caramel.

Nose: Golden syrup, honeycomb, dusty bookshelves. My mate Pete had a nose and got blackcurrants, sultanas and muscat.

Palate: Tangy, spicy, orange syrup flavours – think Duck a l’Orange, but with an Asian twist – star anise, cinnamon and cloves. It actually reminds me of Kylie Kwong’s crispy skin duck from her Sydney restaurant Billy Kwong. Fantastic stuff.

Finish: Drying tobacco notes, like the aftertaste of a good cigar.

Comments: Like attending any wedding, your mind drifts to loves you’ve had and lost, those you’ve missed because of unfortunate timing, or those in the wedding party that you wouldn’t mind, ahem, getting to know a little better. Drinking this dram caused my mind to wander, contemplating not just these aforementioned things but also musing at the amazing complexity of this whisky. I also wonder what whisky I will serve at my own wedding some day…surely a top shelf cask strength one at the wedding party’s table, as I’m sure I’ll only marry a woman who is a massive whisky fan!

Three Whiskies with Sirloin & Smoked Cheddar Sauce

June 13, 2015 by Whisky a Day 2 Comments

Three whiskies with sirloin and a smoked cheddar sauce…it’s a mouthwatering way to spend a quiet night in. Long time readers will know that I love my whisky (obviously) but also fine food and cooking, so the step from tasting a Whisky a Day to exploring whisky & food pairings is a logical one.

For this exercise, seeing as I’m a novice at pairing whisky with food I decided to cook one meal and try it with three contrasting styles of whisky to begin exploring what flavours might work together. I’ve got a fantastic cut of sirloin, then I made the sauce using a smoked cheddar from the Margaret River Dairy Company along with some cream and a few other goodies. These are all whiskies I’ve tasted before, which was a deliberate choice as I’m already familiar with each dram and know what to expect, plus I figured to taste a whisky for the first time and consider the food combination as well might be overcomplicating things a little. So without further ado, let’s get tasting!

Gordon & MacPhail Reserve Highland Park 15 Year Old Single Malt – Exclusively Bottled for Dram Full (Cask No. 4255): The fruity vanilla notes get a bit drowned out by the rich smokiness of the cheddar and salty char-grilled goodness of the steak. But surprisingly, they then come through like a wave. Even when taking a sip of whisky while still having some steak and sauce in my mouth to let the flavours really get to know one another, it’s not a comfortable union. It’s almost like the cheese and whisky are playing tug of war for the attention of my tastebuds. When the cheddar cuts through you get more alcohol notes without the whisky flavour. I love this whisky on its own, but it doesn’t really work with the food here.

Edradour 12 Year Old Caledonia Selection: A much better match – the rich sherry and caramel notes of the whisky balance out the sharpness of the cheddar beautifully. It doesn’t have the alcohol heat come through like the Highland Park. The sweetness complements the charring on the steak brilliantly as well. The Caledonia was the only whisky that I had to go back to get a refill…which should indicate how much I enjoyed this combo!

Kilchoman Machir Bay Single Malt: I have to admit I wasn’t quite sure how this combination would go – a char-grilled steak; a sharp aged cheddar sauce; and then the smokiness of an Islay malt. Does it work? Absolutely!! I think that perhaps because the Machir Bay has some slightly sweeter notes compared to other Islay malts, it definitely works with the steak and smokey cheddar combination. I noted in my original review last year that it didn’t have the peatiness or the meatiness of the really great Islay malts, but for this particular setting with some other dominant flavours it actually compliments the steak and sauce beautifully.

Overall comments: I love my steak, usually accompanied by a big ballsy red wine with lots of flavour and rich fruitiness. We’re lucky here in Australia to have some absolute ball-tearers when it comes to red wine, so the notion of having a whisky with a big juicy steak was a step into the unknown. I think the Edradour Caledonia was definitely the pick of the combinations, though the Kilchoman Machir Bay was a close second. Maybe the sweetness and rich, caramelised fruitiness of the Caledonia was akin to some of the bold, fruity red wines I’d usually go for? To test this theory, as always I might just have to continue the research…

Whisky #365 – Glenmorangie Nectar D’or 12 Year Old Single Malt

December 31, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Glenmorangie Nectar D’or 12 Year Old Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at home, $85 (bottle).

Hello old friend…

I did it! So we have arrived at Whisky #365 on the 365th day of the year! As I noted at the start of the year in my “What is Whisky a Day” article, I started the project on January 1st with Whisky #1 – the Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or – as it had been my favourite go-to whisky for quite some time.

I had earmarked it to be my Whisky #365 on December 31st to see a) if it’s still my favourite, and b) how my appreciation and tasting of whisky might have changed through the course of the year. This will be the only whisky I have officially tasted twice over the course of 2014. There may have been a few I unofficially sampled on multiple occasions…just to be sure I got my tasting notes correct, all in the name of scientific research!

Below I have recorded my notes from this tasting of the Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or on December 31st, 2014, but also listed in italics below my observations from my tasting of it as Whisky #1 back on January 1st, 2014. Ok, here goes!

Colour: Rich caramel.

Whisky #1 notes: Caramel. Damn – am I going to be able to come up with 364 other ways to describe the various golden shades of whisky?!

Nose: Burnt caramel, slightly nutty. Sweet vanilla and soft oak notes. A slight nose prickle.

Whisky #1 notes: Fragrant and slightly sweet. Makes you want to dive in and just taste it rather than sniff it all day.

Palate: Smooth entry, rich oily mouthfeel. Butter, honey and vanilla with a soft hint of black pepper.

Whisky #1 notes: Smooth when it first hits the tongue, slowly warming as it fills the mouth. Sweet flavours with some spices, hard to pinpoint exactly what they are. Tastes bloody good though.

Finish: Medium length, sweet honey and spice.

Whisky #1 notes: Lingering sweetness and a warm tingle at the front of the tongue. Leaves a distinct desire to have some more!

Comments: So is it still my favourite? Have my tastes changed? It’s a cracking whisky, I love it. My mate Brett – whom avid readers will know has been one of my trusted whisky tasting lieutenants throughout the year – simply commented that “it never fails, it’s the go-to whisky”. Hard to disagree with you there mate, the Nectar D’Or really is a top drop and amazing value too. After drinking 363 other whiskies this year, I can confidently say that the Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or will forever remain a staple in my whisky collection at home.

It’s hard to say that another whisky is my new favourite, as it’s difficult for a new whisky to take that mantle if I’ve only tried it once through the year. However, I am very pleased that I’m still enjoying the Nectar D’Or so much after having had so many other amazing drams throughout the year – I was a little worried I may have fallen out of love with it.

You’ll have to stay tuned for my wrap-up article early in January collating all the highlights of the Whisky a Day journey to see my ratings of best blend, best value dram, most surprising whisky…and many more. Happy new year to you all, many thanks for your support following Whisky a Day in 2014, it’s been a blast. I will be continuing in 2015 with more whisky tastings and also starting to explore whisky and food pairing, whisky in cooking and other exciting adventures. In the meantime, grab yourself a great dram and have a happy new year!

Slainte,

Todd (aka Whisky a Day)

Whisky #355 – Blairmhor 8 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

December 26, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Blairmhor 8 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. Speyside, Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at my friends Carly & JC’s place, $0.

Colour: Ambery amberish amberosity.

Nose: Honey, vanilla, sweet hessian sacks.

Palate: Smooth, sweet straw-like flavours.

Finish: A dry finish, yet slightly sweet honied notes in a short to medium fade.

Comments: I was really surprised, thought this was going to be a “truly awful” whisky but it was actually ok! Produced from a vatting of up to 20 malts apparently.

Whisky #354 – Sheep Dip 8 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

December 26, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Sheep Dip 8 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at Riverbar & Kitchen (Brisbane), $11.50.

Colour: Light honied amber.

Nose: Smells like fresh straw in a stable. Quite grassy.

Palate: Honied sweetness, some slight herb notes too. Very faint aniseed undertones. Cool oily mouthfeel. My good mate Pete adds that it tastes like compacted fairy floss. Definitely not peaty…or Petey.

Finish: My mate JC has a sip and suggests that it is “threatening butteriness”. Herby fade.

Comments: A very easy blend to drink after 6 hours of imbibing other beverages.

Whisky #349 – Glenglassaugh 1973 39 Year Old Single Malt – The Massandra Connection – Muscat Wine Cask Finish

December 24, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenglassaugh 1973 39 Year Old Single Malt – The Massandra Connection – Muscat Wine Cask Finish. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 44.1%. Tasted at home, $100 (100mL bottle).

Colour: Brassy amber.

Nose: Sweet leather; mixed dried fruits, especially sultanas. Dark toffee notes too. A slight nose prickle which is very tolerable when the whisky has such a top nose.

Palate: Creamed honey and vanilla. Velvety smooth, buttery oily mouthfeel. Wow.

Finish: A super smooth salty-sweet fade, medium length yet a somewhat dryish finish.

Comments: Amazingly delicious, it’s a huge challenge to resist consuming the whole 100mL sample in one sitting. So sublime it’s impossible to make any tongue-in-cheek remarks about this one.

Whisky #343 – Edradour Natural Cask Strength Bourbon Cask

December 21, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Edradour Natural Cask Strength Bourbon Cask. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 57.4%. Tasted at my friend Nathan’s place, courtesy of the whisky fiend himself.

Colour: Pale golden apple juice.

Nose: Nose prickle; lemon sherbet.

Palate: Salty popcorn, some creamy light fruit flavours too. Oily mouthfeel.

Finish: Long tingle all around the front of the tongue and mouth.

Comments: Edradour has been one of the finds of the year for me, I hadn’t come across it before but I’ve been loving exploring their range of malts. I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the other Edradour Natural Cask Strength that I tasted in Glasgow recently, but this one is still quite enjoyable.

Whisky #331 – Old Pulteney 17 Year Old Single Malt.

December 17, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

20/11/14
Old Pulteney 17 Year Old Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46%. Tasted at Purl Bar, £18 (50mL).

Colour: Amber shade 6436 on the Pantone colour chart, according to my interior architecture maestro Rae Rae.

Nose: Smooth earthy straw, blended with incense burning in the background.

Palate: Honied woody notes.

Finish: Sweet cane, woody finish. Medium length.

Comments: After a thousand drinks on my last night in London with two of my bestest but most devious friends Rae and Jimmy, my ability to break down a whisky is slightly impaired. But I would have it no other way, love these guys. Wish we lived in the same city. Wish our friend Aidi was here too!

Whisky #326: Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish Single Malt

December 15, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenmorangie Burgundy Wood Finish Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Purchased from the Glenmorangie Distillery, £5.

Colour: Brassy gold.

Nose: Vanilla, honey and light woody notes.

Palate: Slightly salty honeycomb flavours; a chewy, oily mouth-coating texture.

Finish: A slight prickle on the front of the tongue; spices and pepper in the fade.

Comments: A little disappointing to be honest, it was just not as interesting as I was hoping for from a Glenmorangie extra-matured whisky. Perhaps this is why the Burgundy Wood Finish was discontinued and they’re flogging off miniatures in the distillery visitor’s centre. It’s by no means a bad whisky – in fact it’s quite palatable – it’s just not up to the lofty standards I had expected from what has long been my favourite distillery. Perhaps I was spoilt a bit by tasting the excellent Glenmorangie Taghta a couple of days ago!