Scotland Archives - Page 8 of 22

Whisky #424: Mortlach Special Strength Single Malt

September 18, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Mortlach Special Strength Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 49%. Tasted at home, $120 (500mL bottle).

Colour: Light caramel.

Nose: Some sweet malty notes, a touch of lemon. But a little underwhelming to be honest.

Palate: Like how I imagine I approach the dance floor, it’s a smooth and cool entry. Others no doubt will have a different view! There’s a rich spiciness; toffee and pepper notes dance on the tongue. Muscatels and caramel fudge.

Finish: Quite a long warm tingle on the front of the palate with a long, drying mouthfeel to finish.

Comments: The nose didn’t suggest too much, but the palate is where this whisky is at. Quite pleasant, though as a travel retail exclusive (i.e. only available from duty free stores) I wouldn’t suggest planning an overseas trip for the sole purpose of grabbing a bottle.

Overall, it’s quite an easy drinking whisky with some nice flavours, the kind of dram you can pour and enjoy without thinking too deeply about it. And sometimes that’s just the kind of whisky you feel like, one that doesn’t require your full attention.

Whisky #423: Kininvie 17 Year Old Single Malt (Batch 001)

September 11, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Kininvie 17 Year Old Single Malt (Batch 001). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46.2%. Tasted at home, $155 (375mL bottle).

No comments about the size of the dram compared to the size of the bottle (in my defence it’s only a 375mL bottle!)…it’s just been one of those weeks. Dave Brubeck Quartet and Sonny Rollins are the soundtrack this Thursday evening, it’s time to unwind.

Colour: Solid gold.

Nose: Honey and floral notes. Sweet and rich.

Palate: Subtle sweetness, malty biscuits with a hint of lemon sherbet.

Finish: A drying, tangy sensation on the front of the palate. Medium length.

Comments: Phenomenonally easy to drink. So much so that I got distracted from doing this review and emptied my glass without realising. Better pour another bucketo of whisky…

Perfectly balanced in terms of ABV and flavour, this is a whisky that will appeal to a broad spectrum of whisky drinkers. Distilled in 1996, then matured for 17 years in a combination 80% American Oak, 20% Sherry Cask. The Kininvie 17 is a travel retail exclusive…and good enough to start planning my next overseas trip so I can pick up another bottle. Recommended.

Whiskies #420 & #421: The Strathisla Showdown – Strathisla 12 Year Old Single Malt & SMWS 58.16 Margarita Cocktail

August 24, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Back when I was choosing whiskies I’d never tried before as part of my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge”, I chose the Strathisla 12 Year Old Single Malt for a couple of reasons. It seemed cracking value for money and fit the bill as the quaffable, go-to whisky for the collection. Strathisla is also the distillery that comprises the base of Chivas Regal, which makes for an interesting anecdote when serving a whisky to friends who visit or those who are starting their whisky journey – everybody has heard of Chivas! I’m also not going to serve a whisky novice some really pricey whisky as they may not appreciate it. That’s why we all need a quaffable whisky in our collection which is also great drinking in its own right to share with anyone who visits.

There’s not many Strathisla bottlings around, yet most whisky drinkers would have consumed some as part of a Chivas. So having recently ordered another Strathisla bottling, this time from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, I thought why not compare both side by side.

Whisky #420: Strathisla 12 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at home, $80 (bottle).

Colour: Light caramel.

Nose: A very light nose. Carrot cake, maybe a hint of orange marmalade. Maybe I’m clutching at straws.

Palate: Very smooth entry, oily mouthfeel. Some cooked vegetable and tasted cereal notes balanced by a toffee sweetness.

Finish: Malty notes dominate in the finish, some salty tanginess and warmth on the front of the tongue as the other flavours subside.

Comments: Such an easy drinking dram, though possibly let down a little by such a light nose.

Whisky #421: SMWS 58.16 – Margarita Cocktail. 9 year old single cask whisky from Strathisla Distillery, Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.4%. Tasted at home, $169 (bottle).

Colour: Very pale straw.

Nose: Very malty; like walking into a bakery and copping a hit of both freshly baked bread and half baked loaves.

Palate: A sharp, crisp entry that darts down the middle of your palate. Dominated by malty, cereal notes. Plenty of warmth that gradually builds.

Finish: A long, salty and tangy finish – much like the 12 year old but with more punch. Grassy notes and heat too.

Comments: This is a whisky that gets straight to the point. Almost a bit raw, some real malty, new make-y kind of flavours in here. It really feels like this is one where the cask influence has taken a back seat and let the pure house style shine through. This is Strathisla stripped back, exposed, and ready to be enjoyed.

Overall Comments: Such different whiskies, amazing considering they’ve come from the same distillery. The 12 year old drinks a lot fuller than its 40% ABV, it really seems to have a much bigger flavour profile and mouthfeel than most 40% whiskies. The biggest difference is probably the toffee sweetness in the 12 year old too. At $80 a bottle, it really is cracking value too.

For me, the 12 year old is a much more balanced whisky, whereas the SMWS bottling is quite raw. Whereas a lot of the Society’s bottlings shine due to both the cask and influence of all the many variables from barley through to distillation phases, this one seems to allow the distillery character to bare all to the world. It’s far from my favourite SMWS bottling, but I love it for the fact that it’s quite unique…even from the other Society bottlings which are all obviously quite unique but in different ways. I think that’s almost a triple tautology, but you (hopefully) get what I’m trying to say! Recommend both, but for very different reasons.

A striking colour difference between the Strathisla 12 Year Old (left) and the 9 year old SMWS 58.16.

Whisky #418 – Berrys’ 1997 Arran 17 Year Old Single Malt (Cask Ref. 1)

August 10, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Berrys’ 1997 Arran 17 Year Old Single Malt (Cask Ref. 1). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 46%. Tasted at home, no idea how much I paid…a jet lag impulse purchase when coming through Dubai airport. Not too outrageous if I recall correctly, maybe around $100.

Colour: Olympic gold.

Nose: Light and delicate; pineapple, freshly lacquered timber furniture. Cereal notes too – like sticking your nose into a new box of muesli, some oats along with some light fruity notes.

Palate: A very crisp entry with a light touch on the palate. It feels like it effortlessly glides over your tongue, teasing you with some sweet lemon sherbet and tangy passionfruit notes.

Finish: Medium length with a light salty lemon tang, followed by some honey and white pepper notes to finish.

Comments: I picked up this bottle as I’m a huge fan of Arran whiskies and I thought I’d not tried a Berrys’ bottling of Arran before. As it turns out, quite some time ago with Whisky #284 I had tried a very similar bottling, the Berrys’ 1997 Arran 16 Year Old Single Malt (Cask Ref. 2). The night in question where I tried Whisky #284 turned out to be a rather large one at Whisky & Alement whilst visiting one of my best mates AB in Melbourne, so it’s not a surprise my memory was a little sketchy.

Despite this expression having one more year’s maturation, the brief tasting notes we made that night seem to suggest some similarities between the two releases, hardly surprising given both releases had similar barrel maturations…transferred from bourbon casks to ex Marsala casks during the latter stages of their life in the warehouse.

A nice easy drinking drop that allows some of the Arran house style to shine through whilst also offering something different to the distillery bottled releases.

Whisky #415: Aberlour 2005 White Oak Single Malt

July 14, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Aberlour 2005 White Oak Single Malt (bottled 2015). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at my friend Corey’s place in Montpellier, France, €29 (bottle).

Colour: Golden amber.

Nose: Orange peel and burnt butter. My mate Brett got mainly citrus notes.

Palate: Unlike Brett’s last Tinder date, it’s not very big bodied. Quite light on the palate, there’s some soft toffee notes along with lots of white pepper and oak.

Finish: Peppery spice and biscuit flavours, medium length. A warm tingle lingers longer.

Comments: It’s quite pleasant but definitely not as rich, creamy or fruit driven as many other Aberlours I’ve tried before. Certainly very drinkable, but not as satisfying as some other higher ABV Aberlours. Cracking value for money though, I wish we could get whisky this cheaply in Australia.

But this is a perfect mid afternoon dram, a nice little warm up before heading up to watch the finish of today’s stage of the Tour de France. Not a bad way to enjoy a sunny afternoon in the south of France.

Whisky #414: Glengrant 5 Year Old Single Malt

July 5, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glengrant 5 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at a ridiculously amazing villa in Tuscany, €14 (bottle).

Colour: Like a summer Tuscan sunset…*slap* – no more Tuscan clichés trying to make people jealous that I’m on holiday. Did I mention I’m in Tuscany right now?

Nose: As my good mate Giles remarked, paraphrasing Blackadder – it started badly, tailed off a bit in the middle, and the less said about the end the better. I’m a little more positive, but it’s not outstanding.

Palate: Hairs have risen on Brett’s arms. A little brash upon entry, but not as much as one might expect from such a young whisky. Straw and hay notes, quite light and thin.

Finish: Short to medium length. Gentle lemon, straw and some soft salty tangy notes.

Comments: Exceeds expectations, but to be fair they weren’t high for a 5 year old €14 whisky. A middling, accessible dram that never scales great heights but doesn’t promise to do so.

It’s enjoyable more so for the company that I’m sharing it with, a bunch of 20 good friends out from Australia, America and Germany eating and drinking Tuscany dry for my very good mates Campbell and Giles’ 40th birthdays. Happy birthday you magnificent bastardos!

Whisky #413: Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15 Year Old Single Malt

June 24, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfiddich Distillery Edition 15 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 51%. Tasted at home, $135 (bottle).

Colour: Dirty gold.

Nose: Fresh strawberries, sherbet coated soft serve ice-cream cones, soft vanilla and sweet oak.

Palate: Cool entry, closely followed by a warmth that fills the mouth. Oily mouthfeel. Creamy with a hint of sweet lemon tanginess. Full flavoured – think golden syrup rather than honey; lots of vanilla too.

Finish: A long gentle tingle all around the palate, roof of the mouth as the whisky gently finds its way to warm the chest. This is a winter warmer without being too intense. Honey on hot buttered toast flavours in the fade.

Comments: It’s a bloody cold night here in Sydney, so a whisky with more oomph was required. This one definitely ticks the boxes – bucketloads of flavour, a full mouthfeel and a satisfying warmth that convinces you that you’ve made the right choice to stay inside. Recommended for those without log fireplaces to curl up beside. Actually, recommended for those that do as well – this is good stuff! Keep drinking to ensure you remain warm at all times.

Whisky #412: Signatory 1997 Single Grain Collection North British 18 Year Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky

June 14, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Signatory 1997 Single Grain Collection North British 18 Year Old Single Grain Scotch Whisky. Lowlands, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: Faded apple juice.

Nose: Like walking through a forest on a crisp, cool morning. Geez that sounded a bit wanky. Fresh hay and sawn timber (ok, it’s not a national park), lemon peel, a hint of coconut.

Palate: Light, cool and savoury on the palate. Like biting into a water cracker with a finely balanced piece of cheese – you’re so focused on the texture at first that you’re not quite sure what flavours are dancing around on your tastebuds. Better have another sip…this time there are indeed water cracker notes, along with honey, creamy apricots and some residual husky cereal notes. There’s no malted barley in this, but if you’ve ever been on a distillery tour and been given a few grains of malted barley to bite into…this whisky shares some of those notes and sweetness.

Finish: Medium length, with some vanilla and toasted biscuits. A gentle salty fade with a lemon sherbet tang, a hint of liquorice too.

Comments: Grain whiskies are not uncommon, but single grain whiskies certainly are a much rarer beast. This is only the second single grain whisky I’ve tried, though this is the first one that I remember tasting as the Invergorden The Five – Rich & Extremely Rare Single Grain 47 Year Old Whisky that I once tried was the eighth whisky of a very large night out in Glasgow!

This one is from the North British Distillery just outside of Edinburgh, a grain distillery that produces whisky spirit destined to go into blends such as Johnnie Walker, Cutty Sark and The Famous Grouse. If the quality and complexity of this whisky is anything to go by, I hope North British bring out a few more single grain releases to introduce themselves to a much wider audience. Top stuff.

Whisky #410: Ardbeg Perpetuum Single Malt

May 28, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Ardbeg Perpetuum Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 47.40%. Tasted at home, $35 (100mL bottle split, courtesy of the International Beer Shop in Perth).

Happy Ardbeg Day everyone!! Thought it fitting that I dig up this little beauty which I’ve had kicking around in the collection for 12 months now. The Ardbeg Perpetuum was actually the distillery’s Ardbeg Day release from 2015, commemorating their 200th anniversary. I’ve yet to try their 2016 Ardbeg Day release, “Dark Cove” (Sam Dunn hurry up and send it!), looking forward to getting stuck into that too.

Colour: A very pale straw.

Nose: Delightfully contrasting and complex. There’s a hint of char grilled bacon (hmmm, bacon *drool*), interspersed with raspberry sherbet and lemon crumble. Some very faint smoked trout aromas, sawdust from a freshly lopped tree…honestly the more I nose it the more my mind races to some very un-whisky like descriptions. Impressive stuff.

Palate: A cool, crisp entry with a quick build in flavour and a satisfying warm tingle around the lips and entire front of the mouth (not just the palate). Dark honey combines with meaty and woody notes – like a honeyed lamb skewer that’s been flame grilled on the BBQ.

Finish: The renowned Ardbeg peatiness finally emerges, though it’s more organic flavours rather smokey. The salty tang lingers long, along with some straw and lemon tanginess too.

Comments: It’s more subtle than your typical Ardbeg, and that’s a good thing. I’m a big fan of Ardbeg, but in the past I’ve felt some of their expressions are a little too similar. The Ardbeg Perpetuum is refreshingly different, and it’s a cracking dram. With only 12,000 bottles produced, I wish I’d had the foresight to grab more than just a 100mL bottle split.

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 #407: Glenfarclas 30 Year Old Single Malt

April 16, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

Glenfarclas 30 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $70 (100mL bottle split from Copper & Oak in Perth).

Thought I’d review the Glenfarclas 30 in honour of my old mate Peakey who is soon to be married. Given we’ve known each other for almost 30 years and he’s known to say “thirty” more like “firrrrty”, I thought it appropriate to bust out the Glenfarclas 30 Year Old. Here’s to you Peakey, wishing you & Roxy a happy future together mate!

Colour: Deep copper.

Nose: A smooth, sweet nose – dried fruits and toffee. Honey on hot buttered toast. Sweet lemon sherbet. Every time I take a new sniff it reveals different flavours. Amazing.

Palate: A smooth entry; an oily mouthfeel with flavours that slowly build. The initial mouthful surprises – maybe a burst of blueberries and syrupy charcoal. That might sound a little weird, but it’s actually great. Subsequent mouthfuls have a velvety sweetness with a bold undertone, like some bush honey.

Finish: Buttery toffee, grassy cheesy notes – think honey smothered on grilled haloumi cheese with some fresh herbs. It’s a medium to long finish, such a gradual fade of flavours.

Comments: I really wanted to review this whisky very tongue in cheek, making subtle references to all the crazy “fings” all our mates have gotten up to with Peakey over the past “firrrrty” years or so. But when it came down to it, this is a fantastic whisky that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable, one that could be enjoyed in any situation – a damn fine companion to have by your side for a great night full of good times.

Much like our mate Peakey really.

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.

Whisky #401: The Arran Malt 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch 5)

March 10, 2016 by Whisky a Day 1 Comment

The Arran Malt 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch 5). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 52.9%. Tasted at home, $130 (bottle).

Colour: Rich gold.

Nose: Vanilla, light oak, milk arrowroot biscuits. A touch of lemon rind, hints of honey and a few hay like notes.

Palate: A cool entry, then a salty-sweet cacophony as the malt dances over the palate. Dried candied pineapple chunks; it reminds me of picking out the chunks of dried fruit from a bowl of muesli.

Finish: A strident Arran finish; this is a great example of the house style. Long finish with some hay notes, a satisfying lemon sherbet tingle on the lips and front of the tongue. A few soft hazelnut notes in the fade too.

Comments: Matured in a mix of first-fill sherry butts, second-fill sherry hogsheads and first-fill bourbon casks. This is the whisky that reminds me of why I love Arran distillery – they’re light, they’re fresh, lots of light fruity flavour and they’re not trying to be like any other whisky – they’re just doing their own thing. And it’s fantastic.

Whisky #399: The Balvenie Single Barrel First Fill 12 Year Old Single Malt

March 3, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The Balvenie Single Barrel First Fill 12 Year Old Single Malt (2015 bottling). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 47.8%. Tasted at home, $130 (bottle).

Colour: Crisp apple juice.

Nose: Reminds me of lemon frosted cake icing; sweet and creamy with a citrus tang.

Palate: Fruit juice concentrate – lots of sweetness but intense citrus (mainly orange and lemon) and tangy passionfruit. Medium bodied in flavour, lush creamy mouthfeel.

Finish: The warmth slowly builds, but doesn’t completely take over. Plenty of oak and honied pepper notes in the fade. Medium length.

Comments: It’s the kind of whisky you can pour when you’ve had a hectic day/week/month and you just want to relax. It’s strong enough that it packs some punch and demands your attention, yet the flavours are deliriously tasty that you can slide back into a comfy lounge, put on your relaxation music of choice and let the day’s worries slip away.

Whisky #398: The Arran Malt Lochranza Reserve Single Malt

February 25, 2016 by Whisky a Day Leave a Comment

The Arran Malt Lochranza Reserve Single Malt. Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: Pale brilliant gold.

Nose: Extremely light, to the point where a good swirl of the glass was required to really excite some of the aromas. Some more time in the glass revealed citrus, pine needles and freshly sawn timber notes. It’s all very fresh.

Palate: White peppery spice, vanilla and lemon cheesecake. Quite a dry mouthfeel.

Finish: A salty, drying finish of medium length – though the warmth and tingle around the front and mid palate outlasts the flavours.

Comments: Whilst as a typical Arran it is quite light and a little fruity (citrus driven rather than juicy stone fruits), it’s not as sweet or flavoursome as other malts I’ve enjoyed from them. I’ve got a soft spot for Arran as it’s a newish distillery (relatively speaking, established in 1995) and it was the first distillery in Scotland that I made a beeline for when I visited a while back. They produce some amazing whiskies for such a young distillery, but for me the Lochranza Reserve is ok but far from their best representation of the distillery’s style.