Scotland Archives - Page 19 of 22

Whisky #102 – The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask

June 21, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask (cask #990). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 56.4%. Tasted at Helvetica, $0 – another birthday beverage from Brett & Gordy.

Colour: Deep sherry copper colour.

Nose: Dried muscatelles; sweet muscat-like scents. Also a bit earthy.

Palate & finish: Yet again I have been thwarted by Brett, Gordy and this leaky whisky glass. In the name of research, I shall have to revisit this dram. As a scientist though, a repeated measures test design is the only methodology that is suitable here…

Comments: The nose was very complex, much more interesting than the other drams we’ve tasted tonight. Helvetica bar manager Jason reliably informs me it was a 1996 distillation which was specially made for 2012 Tokyo bar show.

Whisky #101 – Longrow 7 Year Old Gaja Barolo Wood Single Malt

June 21, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Longrow 7 Year Old Gaja Barolo Wood Single Malt. Campbeltown, Scotland. ABV: 55.80%. Tasted at Helvetica, $0 – birthday beverage courtesy of my mate Brett.

Colour: Like a varnished timber floorboard.

Nose: Creamy peat. Like the smell of a campfire the morning after as you stick your head out of the tent with a whisky hangover.

Palate & finish: Obviously I was enjoying the birthday festivities, as my notes here were as empty as the whisky glass which seemed to have developed a leak somewhere…

Comments: I didn’t know that Barolo was a variety of Italian red wine. Would not have picked this for having spent time in ex-wine barrels (it had 1.5 years, after having spent 5.5 years in refilled bourbon barrels). The peat is quite strong & dominates any flavours that may have been imparted by the Barolo casks.

Overall, quite a neat dram but not a standout – there are better examples from Longrow in my opinion (e.g. Longrow Red Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 11 Year Old).

Whisky #100 – Longrow CV Single Malt Scotch Whisky

June 21, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Longrow CV Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Campbeltown, Scotland. 46.0%. Tasted at Helvetica, $0 – birthday beverage courtesy of my mate Giles.

Colour: Orangey gold.

Nose: Lots of peat, expecting a big mouthful of smoke.

Palate: Definitely smokey & peaty, bit softer than the nose suggests. Not too salty.

Finish: Almost a bit of a minty aftertaste, but still plenty of smoke. Like you’ve just smoked a cigar at the end of the night then brushed your teeth before heading to bed. Minty, but you can still taste the smoke.

Comment: I’m not sure why they’ve called it CV, maybe because it’s a selection (a veritable resumé if you will) of Longrow whiskies? They’ve combined some 6, 10 and 14 year old Longrows in here, matured in a variety of barrel sizes.

Whisky #98 – Balvenie Cuban Selection 14 Year Old Single Malt

June 16, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Balvenie Cuban Selection 14 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.0%. Tasted at home, $130 (bottle).

Colour: Deep golden honey.

Nose: A little more abrupt than I was expecting; a fair whiff of alcohol along with some orange peel notes.

Palate: Lots of vanilla and sweet oak. Much smoother than the nose suggests. Lots of flavour complexity, gentle spices and a bit of peppery heat at the front of the palate.

Finish: Sweet spices, not too much heat. Flavours stick around longer than the warmth, especially the sweet notes.

Comments: As a keen ~~pirate~~ sailor with a penchant for a nice rum, I was rattling my cutlass with excitement to crack open this bottle that has spent some final time maturing in barrels that previously held Cuban rum. I really liked it, especially the palate (not so much the nose). It’s not a world-beater but certainly a great whisky to have in the collection at home which offers something a little different to others.

I was perhaps expecting something a little more unusual, I would have expected the extra maturation in rum barrels to have a more significant impact on the whisky’s flavour profile, making it sweeter especially. In hindsight, maybe I was expecting some more spiced rum flavours coming through, but perhaps given that Cuban rum tends to be lighter than other Caribbean rums it’s perhaps not so surprising.

Whisky #97 – Johnnie Walker Green Label Pure Malt Scotch Whisky

June 15, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Johnnie Walker Green Label Pure Malt Scotch Whisky. Kilmarnock, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Canton Lounge, $17.

Colour: Golden amber.

Nose: Mandarin peel (definitely not Cantonese peel).

Palate: Soft peaty & briny flavours. Plenty of spice and some dried fruit flavours; very smooth.

Finish: Gentle spice and a bit of pepper lingers at the front of the tongue. Quite dry and clean, a medium to long finish.

Comments: A lot more character than other Johnnie Walkers, the Green Label is certainly the best offering from the vast Johnnie Walker stable that I’ve tried. Perhaps because I normally gravitate to single malts, particularly the fuller flavoured ones with lots of flavour complexity and spices, so your typical Johnnie Walker blend just doesn’t really do it for me.

I had heard that the Johnnie Green was once known as a “vatted malt”, but that this term has now been replaced by the more correct “blended malt”. This is supposed to differentiate this type of whisky as being a blend of single malt whiskies, rather than a blend containing inferior and cheaper grain malts.

The Johnnie Walker Green Label has been discontinued, which explains why some bottles has been fetching some surprising prices online. In my opinion it’s a shame it is no longer made, it never pretended to be a world-beating whisky but it’s probably the most under-rated Johnnie Walker offering around. If you can get your hands on a bottle, it will be good for drinking, but dare I say in time it might make a good investment as the last supplies dry up.

Whisky #94 – Glenfiddich Malt Scotch Whisky Liqueur

June 13, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfiddich Malt Scotch Whisky Liqueur. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%.

Tasted at home, $0, courtesy of my cousins Trudi & Marcus.

Colour: Golden viscous honey.

Nose: Surprisingly strong alcohol feints. Some oak and grain aromas.

Palate: Not as sickly sweet as I was expecting, though still some soft syrupy sensations. Amazing alliteration also. Cloves and cinnamon are probably the main flavours, though neither is really jumping out at you.

Finish: There’s definitely some sweetness I was expecting in the finish, along with a hint of cinnamon. Oily, creamy mouthfeel.

Comments: On a spectrum of whisky at one end and liqueur at the other, it definitely (and somewhat surprisingly) leans more towards the whisky side. Overall it’s ok, but it’s not as unique a drop as I was hoping for.

Whisky #93 – Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Single Malt

June 14, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40.0%. Tasted at a Mad Men themed party, $0 courtesy of my friend Katy.

Colour: A deep rich gold.

Nose: Well…it’s here where things go a little awry. Shortly after my friend Katy poured me a dram of the Glenfiddich 18, I met a gorgeous young lady whose stunning looks and conversation completely distracted me from the important business of whisky tasting. Being a Mad Men themed party, we consumed many more whiskies through the evening and into the wee hours, but alas (well, at least for you dear reader) I was totally distracted and neglected to make many observations at all. Of the whisky.

I am looking forward to re-tasting the Glenfiddich 18, at which point I will endeavour to update these tasting notes with something a little more insightful than tales of other nocturnal endeavours…

Whisky #92 – Linkwood 12 Year Old Single Malt

June 11, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Linkwood 12 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Helvetica, $29.

Colour: Pale amber.

Nose: Wow, like sweet smoke from a campfire. Not a peaty kind of smoke, more like when you burn some green leaves & branches on a fire.

Palate: More peat on the palate than the nose suggests, but it’s not the mouthful of ash like some Islay malts, a little more subtle. A little nutty, a bit like having a bite of Swiss cheese. No holes in this though.

Finish: Medium length, not as much heat as the Cadenhead’s Dalmore I had a few minutes ago.

Comments: I hadn’t heard of Linkwood previously, perhaps unsurprising as the majority of their production goes into blends. So having happened upon a more unusual dram I took the chance to try it, as I’m sure it will get progressively more difficult to find unique whiskies I’ve not tasted as the year progresses. I’d say it’s priced more for its rarity, but I’m very glad I tried this one – would definitely give it another run.

Whisky #91 – Cadenhead’s Dalmore 24 Year Old Single Malt

June 9, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Cadenhead’s Dalmore 24 Year Old Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 46.60%. Tasted at Helvetica, $30.

Colour: A really pale gold, which really strikes you through the clear bottle.

Nose: Soft leather & toasted grains.

Palate: Subtle sweet honey flavours, like biting into a piece of hot buttered toast with honey on top.

Finish: Dry; gentle warmth that fills the mouth & hangs around for a while like eating a very mild chilli. Not saying it’s hot, just trying to describe the warmth. Toasted bread flavours linger on the palate too.

Comments: A lot more flavour intensity than I was expecting, especially as it’s matured for 24 years, was expecting it to be a lot softer and smoother. Not a bad thing mind you, I like my whisky more full flavoured. And with a hint of sweetness as this one does, it makes me a very happy man. Highly rated!

Whisky #88 – Talisker 2013 Distillers Edition Double Matured Single Malt

June 8, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Talisker 2013 Distillers Edition Double Matured Single Malt. Isle of Skye, Scotland. ABV: 45.80%. Tasted at my place, $125 (bottle).

Colour: Burnt nectar.

Nose: Apart from the initial whiff of self-loathing & regret from drinking too many whiskies last night, the nose here is more pleasant – subtle oak, smoke & sherry notes, but the strong alcohol feints dominate.

Palate: Lots of smoke & my mate Mahesh got plenty of ash flavours. Could it be the lingering taste of that sneaky cigarette he had earlier when his lovely wife Katie wasn’t looking? Shhhh! 😉 It’s not quite as spicy as the Talisker 10, but still plenty of heat. A slightly smoother entry, the sherry influence is there but it’s not a huge sherry bomb, more of a subtle persuasion from the sherry barrels. Certainly a rich, intense kind of flavour profile overall though.

Finish: Very long; the heat lingers through the mouth and also makes its way down the throat as you swallow, warming the whole body.

Comments: Distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2013, double matured in ex-Amoroso sherry casks. It’s definitely a big whisky, undeniably a Talisker, another real ‘winter warmer’ kind of whisky.

Whisky #87 – Bowmore Legend Single Malt

June 8, 2014 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

Bowmore Legend Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 40.00%. Tasted at my place, $0 – courtesy of my mate Gordy.

Colour: Brilliant gold.

Nose: Peat, lots of peat and band-aids.

Palate: Oily mouthfeel, but quickly dries. Clean entry, briny.

Finish: Peppery smoke & heat gradually fills the mouth, medium length flavour, warmth hangs around a little longer.

Comments: Gordy, much like the whisky – legend! Overall though it’s a solid Islay dram, nothing too out of the box though.

Whisky #83 – Benromach Cask Strength Single Malt, Distilled 2002

June 6, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Benromach Cask Strength Single Malt, Distilled 2002. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 60.3%. The Royal, $16.

Colour: Like a glass of pale, watered down apple juice.

Nose: Hint of peat, bit of smoke.

Palate: Salty; heat quickly fills the mouth. Complex flavours, but a bit too much heat to really enjoy them.

Finish: Heat overpowers the flavours that try to linger. Like wearing some nice aftershave to a date and the bloke at the table next to yours has bad BO, totally overwhelming your efforts.

Comments: Surprising to find so much complexity in a whisky that is so clear. Further evidence that you shouldn’t solely judge a whisky by its colour.

Whiskies #80-81 – Wemyss Malts: The Hive 12 Year Old Blended Malt & The Spice King 12 Year Old Blended Malt

June 5, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Wemyss Malts: The Hive 12 Year Old Blended Malt (ABV: 40.00%), Speyside, Scotland; & The Spice King 12 Year Old Blended Malt (ABV: 40.00%), Highlands, Scotland. Tasted at Whisky Live 2014.

Well I’ve made my way to the Wemyss blended whiskies now from Highlands and Speyside. I have to say after having the peaty whiskies from Isle of Jura, my palate is absolutely shot.

The Heemes, – sorry I mean the Wemyss (I can’t even speak properly now!) – The Wemyss ‘The Hive’ which is their Speyside blend – it’s called The Hive because it’s got honey-like tastes to it. Nup – I couldn’t tell it. Either I’ve had too many whiskies today, or my palate is goooooone after all the peat.

Similarly for ‘The Spice King’ which is the Highlands blend – it’s just not happening for me. The nose, the palate, everything is just gone – the palate…yeah nup. Nothing left in the tank folks, over and out.

I guess it just goes to show that if you’re heading to a whisky tasting event, you really need to plan out your whisky tasting strategy for the day. I think I did reasonably well on that front, with the Wemyss blends the only whiskies I would have preferred to have had at an earlier stage.

Whisky #79: 1999 Isle of Jura Boutique Barrels XU Bourbon Cask Strength Single Malt

June 5, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

1999 Isle of Jura Boutique Barrels XU Bourbon Cask Strength Single Malt. Isle of Jura, Scotland. ABV: 55.00%. Tasted at Whisky Live 2014.

Sampled: Isle of Jura 10 year old (ABV: 40.0%); 1995 Isle of Jura Boutique Barrels JO Bourbon Cask Strength (ABV: 56.5%); Isle of Jura Superstition (43.0%); Isle of Jura Prophecy (ABV: 46.0%); Isle of Jura 1999 Boutique Barrels XU Bourbon Cask (ABV: 55.0%).

Well the pick was certainly the smokey, meaty BBQ smell and flavour of the 1999 Isle of Jura Boutique Barrels XU Bourbon Cask at the end of the table (far right of picture). The 1995 vintage was ok, obviously the further up the line we worked the peatier they got.

But really, the last two (right of picture) were the only ones that I was really interested in. The Jura Prophecy was starting to get a bit more character, probably due to the fact it was finished in some oloroso sherry casks. There was a noticeable step up in peat too.

But the 1999 Boutique Barrels XU Bourbon Cask was definitely the pick of the Juras on offer here.

Whisky #78 – The Ultimate Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Mystery Speyside 1966

June 4, 2014 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The Ultimate Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Mystery Speyside 1966. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43.30%. Tasted at Whisky Live 2014, $32 (half nip) from the ‘Old & Rare’ bar.

Undisclosed “mystery Speyside”. It’s a Glenfarclas, but an independent bottling from The Ultimate Whisky Company. Distilled in 1966, bottled 04/10/2012. Bottle no. 102 of 182.

Well the Glenfarclas 1966, I’ll first throw it open to the floor (i.e. my whisky fiend mates)…what do we think boys? “Pretty damn good.” “Fucking sensational” added another. It’s almost as old as my mate Canning…to which he added “almost as old as my older brother”. Younger brother don’t you mean mate? 😉

For me, it had some delicious soft flavours of muscatels and sultanas, but not too strong. It was very subtle, very smooth, kinda sweet and syrupy. Bit of a fruity sort of nose and a lovely, smooth well balanced finish – not too strong in spice or heat, a very drinkable whisky (to put it mildly!). Much like the Glenrothes 1969 The MacPhail’s Collection, I guess it comes as no surprise that these amazing flavours are going to be extremely complex yet very smooth and subtle having spent 46 years in a barrel. Another amazing dram!

Whisky #77 – Glenrothes 1969 – The MacPhail’s Collection

June 4, 2014 by Whisky a Day 3 Comments

Glenrothes 1969 – The MacPhail’s Collection. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at Whisky Live 2014, $32 (half nip) from the ‘Old & Rare’ bar.

“Like liquified Christmas pudding”. My favourite whisky so far of the Whisky a Day project.

Distilled in 1969 and only bottled in 2008 by Gordon & MacPhail. This had a beautiful dark colour, that’s what most attracted me to this bottle at the ‘Old & Rare’ bar at Whisky Live. Darker than my ex-girlfriend’s heart.

I was expecting a really strong, Christmas cake sort of flavours based on the amazingly complex and sweet nose. Stunning aromas. However I was expecting the flavours to be a little more intense based on the nose. Beautiful, beautiful flavours though, just not as full or intense as the aromas had gently teased. Very smooth to sip, almost syrupy. An excellent finish too, with a fair bit of spice (flavours) but definitely no alcohol heat – perhaps unsurprising it was so velvety having spent so much time maturing in the barrel. A beautiful, smooth, and frankly stunning whisky.

Definitely the best whisky I’ve had so far – not just at Whisky Live but the best I’ve had so far across the Whisky a Day project. And that’s not something I say lightly, as I believe it’s difficult to really get to know a whisky (especially a malt as complex as this one) from only one dram. But this is such a standout in my book, amazing. If I could get my hands on a bottle of this I would, although I shudder to think of the price. It was a privilege to have tried it.