Speyside

Whisky #450: SMWS 44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive

1 Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

SMWS 44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive. 11 year old single cask single malt from Craigellachie Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 56.3%. Tasted at home, $179 (bottle).

Watching the cricket on a summer’s afternoon, what more appropriately named whisky could there be other than “44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive” from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society!

Colour: Australian gold.

Nose: Floral; freshly snapped branches. Some faint, sweet lemony notes too.

Palate: So light and easy to drink. Lemon meringue, lemon sherbet sweets – the kind that give you a burst of sherbet when you’ve sucked through the hard lemon sweet outside. Spiced honey, water crackers and freshly cracked black pepper.

Finish: A zesty tang, becoming a little saltier as the flavours fade.

Comments: This whisky was going down quicker than an Australian batting collapse. Fresh, flavoursome and bucket-loads of flavour – absolutely drinkable on a hot summer’s day. I find Craigellachie whiskies generally to have lots of fresh floral and forest scents and flavours, while being extremely smooth and easy to drink (almost a cool sensation on the palate). This one certainly continues in that vein, recommended.

Whisky #449: 1996 Duncan Taylor NC2 Glentauchers 15 Year Old Single Malt

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

1996 Duncan Taylor NC2 Glentauchers 15 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46.0%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

This was another one of the whiskies from my “Rebuilding a Whisky Collection – The $1000 Challenge” a little while back. As I was draining the final dram from the bottle, I realised that I’d yet to do a review…clearly I’d been enjoying this one. Not all in one sitting mind you…

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: Sweet pineapple chunks, fresh baked lemon cake, pine needles.

Palate: Toasted malty and notes balance out beautifully with honey. Like biting into some seeded toast with honey and butter slathered on top.

Finish: Sweet brown sugar notes fade first, leaving a slightly nutty and woody finish. A salty tang as it fades away.

Comments: Light and delicate, this was very enjoyable. The type of dram you can easily sip without thinking about, or just as easily sit down and analyse in more detail (if you were so inclined). Very decent value at $100 for the bottle, I’d happily grab another.

Whiskies #439 & #440: The Glenlivet Showdown – Guardians’ Chapter Single Malt & Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_8235.jpgIt’s time for a Glenlivet showdown! In the blue corner…The Glenlivet Guardians’ Chapter Single Malt, while in the red corner we have The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch No. FF0115). Let’s get ready to rummmmmmble!

Whisky #439: The Glenlivet Guardians’ Chapter Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 48.7%. Tasted at home, $100 (bottle).

Colour: Deep caramel.

Nose: Almost a bit tannic – like nosing a gutsy, yet dry red wine. Fresh and grassy with some mildly astringent alcohol vapours that give the nose a bit of a prickle.

Palate: Very direct – a burst of concentrated dried apricots down the centre of the tongue along with some peppery spice. Not the oily, creamy mouthfeel typically associated with many sherry influenced whiskies.

Finish: A drying, sherried finish. Some slightly bitter citrus flavours (think blood oranges) along with dry woody notes. A medium to long finish.

 

Whisky #440: The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch No. FF0115). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.8%. Tasted at home, $130 (bottle).

Colour: Pale gold.

Nose: Honey and sweet biscuity notes. Fresh pinecones.

Palate: Tangy and zesty; salty yet a sweetness too. Like sucking on a lemon sherbet sweet. Rich and warming, this is a whisky you can really sip and savour.

Finish: Long – this one hangs around for a while. A warm citrus buzz on the front half of the tongue.

Overall comments: The Guardians’ Chapter was a limited release of only around 2,000 cases. It was selected by The Glenlivet Guardians…basically their registered fan base. Aged in American oak and former Oloroso sherry casks, Glenlivet sent the Guardians three sample whiskies to choose their preferred one for bottling. This is their choice.

The Glenlivet have always made some fantastic whiskies, and the Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength Single Malt is certainly up there as one of the better ones I’ve tried. However, the Guardians’ Chapter Single Malt was a little disappointing – it’s not that it’s a poor whisky, far from it – it’s just that next to the Nàdurra First Fill Cask Strength it gets left in the shade. I’m always partial to a cask strength dram and the Nàdurra First Fill ticks all the boxes – bucketloads of flavour, full mouthfeel, great balance and complexity, not to mention the satisfying warmth and buzz that come from a high ABV whisky. It just feels like a much “cleaner” dram than the Guardians’ Chapter which was a little thin and tannic for my tastes.

I know which one I’ll be grabbing next time…though given the rate at which the Nàdurra First Fill seems to be emptying itself, that may be sooner rather than later!

Whisky #438: The Singleton of Dufftown Spey Cascade Single Malt

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_8212.jpgThe Singleton of Dufftown Spey Cascade Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at my aunt & uncle’s place, $52 (bottle).

It’s a stinking hot day in Brisbane, I’m visiting family for the weekend. Given the hot weather, another quite light dram is on the cards today – light both in flavour profile and ABV. It’s a summery whisky.

Colour: Syrupy gold. “Amber – like the insects stuck in amber from Jurassic Park”…says my sister with both her movie and fashion taste stuck in the 90s.

Nose: Dried apricots, quite light. Dad got fresh bandaids – the old fella may be onto something here.

Palate: Thin on the palate, cooked mash and cereal flavours abound. Quite a dry mouthfeel.

Finish: Spicy; think white pepper. Dad described the sensation as being like having a spearmint breath mint followed by having a few mouthfuls of cool water. With some liquorice thrown in.

Comments: It’s light, it’s simple. It’s the kind of whisky that doesn’t command too much attention, which is a good thing when the day is so hot and humid you have to consciously think about preventing the sweat from dripping off your brow into your glass. It’s pretty affordable too – a half decent quaffer, but it’s not going to win any awards or keep your interest for too long.

Whisky #434: Signatory Vintage Glen Elgin 1995 19 Year Old Single Malt

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_8033.jpgSignatory Vintage Glen Elgin 1995 19 Year Old Single Malt (The Un-Chillfiltered Collection). Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46%. Tasted at home, $116 (bottle).

Colour: A glimmer of the weekend, a bright beacon of light shining through the glass. Geez it’s been a long week.

Nose: Fresh nougat, freshly sawn timber. A slight nose prickle.

Palate: Crisp mouthfeel as you take the first sip; slightly peppery yet with some oaky vanilla notes. Drier rather than creamy, but smooth to start.

Finish: Strawberry jam on fresh white toast. The mouthfeel is quite dry to finish, yet has some lingering sweetness. Medium length.

Comments: A great balance – loads of flavour if you fancy unpicking the layers, yet smooth and easy drinking with enough of a flavour and ABV punch if you just want to kick the feet up after a brutal day/week at work and relax with some music in the background. Leave me alone world, I’ve got to unwind. Delightful.

Whisky #430: The Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve Single Malt

1 Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_7974.jpgThe Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at home, $130 (bottle).

Continuing the theme of peated whisky, for Day 4 of Peat Week I’ve again chosen a slightly different style of peated whisky…a Speyside peated expression from Glenrothes. It’s not actually peated spirit, but rather the whisky was finished by maturing for a short time in ex Islay casks. 

Colour: Dull gold, unpolished.

Nose: A very light nose; oaky lemon notes, but it’s extremely subtle. Also quite fresh – a bit like when you tear off some fresh leaves from a plant.

Palate: Juicy mouthfeel with a biscuity sweetness. Like taking a bite of an Arnott’s Nice biscuit, the ones with the sugar on top. Some citrus flavours too, like a ripe juicy mandarine.

Finish: Some gentle smoke finally appears, but again it’s very light. A drying, woody finish.

Comments: It’s quite lightly peated, in fact I found myself almost searching for some peat at times just because I know it’s a peated whisky. If you’re looking for a big, peaty, smokey whisky – these are not the drams you’re looking for. But as a slightly different twist on your typical Speyside style, it fits the bill. I’m not convinced that at $130 it presents great value, but it is certainly a very easy drinking whisky. Though I’d be much more inclined to grab a bottle of Monkey Shoulder at $55 a bottle for a somewhat similar flavour profile (but without the peat). It’s ok, but unfortunately doesn’t reach any great heights.

Peat Week! 7 Days of Peated Whisky

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_7936.jpgIt’s Peat Week here at Whisky a Day! 7 days of peated whisky.

It’s been a rainy Sunday here in Sydney, one of those long lazy afternoons that you just don’t want to finish. Not because it’s been a particularly spectacular day, but mainly because it’s been a relaxing day that is soon to be cut short by the notion of heading back to work again tomorrow morning!

So with the last vestiges of cool weather lingering, I thought it the perfect excuse to have a peated dram. Which led me to think – bugger it, why not have a whole week of peated whisky? Exploring a few different styles of peated whisky?

To a lot of people, peated whisky equates to whisky from the island of Islay in Scotland. While there are many fine examples of peated whisky from Islay, I thought it would be interesting to also explore a few peated whiskies produced in other regions around Scotland as well as a little further afield.

So here’s this week’s lineup…

Some Australian whisky to start as we explore the peated range from Limeburners. Closely followed by the recently released (and much anticipated) Lagavulin 8 Year Old to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Lagavulin distillery. The Johnnie Walker Double Black then gets a call-up, highlighting that it’s not just single malts that get all the peat. Moving across to Speyside where we’ll dabble in some Glenrothes, followed by zipping back west to the Isle of Skye to sample the Talisker Storm. Then it’s back to the home of peaty whisky – Islay – for the Bowmore 18 Year Old, before finishing off the week in style with a very rare Port Ellen 30 Year Old bottled by Douglas Laing.

So strap in your tastebuds, slip into those comfy slippers and turn off the fire alarms…it could get a little smokey in here this week.

Whisky #424: Mortlach Special Strength Single Malt

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_7913.jpgMortlach 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)

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_7905.jpgKininvie 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

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_7846.jpgBack 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.

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

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

Whisky #415: Aberlour 2005 White Oak Single Malt

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_7172.jpgAberlour 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

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

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

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_6842.jpgGlenfiddich 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 #407: Glenfarclas 30 Year Old Single Malt

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_6710.jpgGlenfarclas 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 #399: The Balvenie Single Barrel First Fill 12 Year Old Single Malt

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_6470.jpgThe 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 #397: SMWS 39.108 Baked Alaska

Leave a Comment
FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

img_6450.jpgSMWS 39.108 Baked Alaska.  10 year old single cask from Linkwood Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 61.7%. Tasted at The Clock Hotel’s Whisky Room, $0 – a welcome dram to celebrate Dram Full Sydney’s 2nd birthday.

Colour: Pale golden straw.

Nose: An amorphous nose, it seems to change in waves with different flavours each taking turns at coming to the fore. Light and fruity on the nose, yet quite sweet.  Chunks of dried pineapple. My Dram Full compatriot Garry described it as like orange brûlée. On top of the fruity notes, other aromas include ginger nut biscuits and caramelised condensed milk.

Palate: Sharp thin grassy notes on the front of the palate, as the waves of sweetness break like a bow wave around the outside of the mouth, leaving a syrupy coating. Creamy sweet mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium length yet a warming mouthfeel. Tingles on the front gums as the flavours linger on the mid palate.

Comments: The nose really reminded me of a Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or, yet more intense and focused. A Nectar reduction perhaps? This Linkwood certainly didn’t drink like a whisky at around 61% ABV, it was much smoother yet packed a big punch in terms of flavour, aroma and length. Which is what you want from a whisky.

A gathering of whisky fiends from Dram Full Sydney to celebrate Dram Full’s 2nd birthday. We are very fortunate in Sydney to have Andrew Derbridge, Cellarmaster & Director of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Australia (not to mention author of a fantastic whisky blog Whisky & Wisdom), as one of the main driving forces behind Dram Full in Sydney. Andrew very generously brought along this SMWS bottling for us Drammies to have a welcome drink before we got stuck into the Clock Hotel’s extensive range of whiskies. A cracking night was had, fantastic to catch up for an informal drink and meet other whisky fiends and talk bullshit about all things whisky.