Author: MaltKlaus | Page 25 | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

June 25, 2015October 7, 2016

NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Macallan 10yo Fine Oak vs. Macallan Gold

Blind Tasting Challenge - NAS vs. age statement

In early 2015 whisky blogger and malt maniac Oliver Klimek set out to do a wide-scale comparison between NAS and age statement expressions, all done blind and with 35 tasters per pair of whisky. The results are very interesting with a near-draw between the entry-level malts and their NAS counterparts. Head over to his site dramming.com for all details on the challenge and the results!

Here are my original tasting notes on the first pair of whiskies: The Macallan 10 yo Fine Oak vs. their NAS Gold edition. All notes are original as written during the blind tasting phase.

A5A: Macallan 10yo Fine Oak
Distillery: Macallan
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014
Age: 10yo
Limitation: –
Casks: Bourbon+Sherry
Alcohol: 40%
chillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
We’re back to the very light and faint noses. Classic style, vanilla, honey, a light creamy pudding note, eucalyptus, glucose-laden tinned fruits, sweet white grapes, dark oranges and faint notes of malt. Getting less fruity and quite a bit more malty as time progresses. Continue reading “NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Macallan 10yo Fine Oak vs. Macallan Gold”

June 24, 2015October 7, 2016

NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Cardhu 12 yo vs. Amber Rock

Here are my original tasting notes on the first pair of whiskies: The Cardhu 12yo vs. their NAS Amber Rock edition. All notes are original as written during the blind tasting phase.

A4A: Cardhu Amber Rock
Distillery: Cardhu
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014-2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Bourbon + toasted oak finish
Alcohol: 40%
most likely chill filtered and coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
The nose opens with a rich and creamy note of vanilla and fruits. Oranges, orange rind, ripe pears, lots of apricots, fully ripe peaches, almost over-ripe Kiwi (including slightly bitter notes of Kiwi kernels), raisins and a top note of ginger. Maybe a very faint note of smoke – 2ppm-ish, but it could also stem from the casks. No european oak notes, though, probably American Oak Ex-Sherry casks? Just pure speculation – it is a blind tasting after all. Continue reading “NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Cardhu 12 yo vs. Amber Rock”

June 23, 2015October 7, 2016

NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Glenlivet 12yo vs. Founder’s Reserve

Here are my original tasting notes on the thirdd pair of whiskies: The Glenlivet 12yo vs. their NAS Founder’s Reserve. All notes are original as written during the blind tasting phase.

A3A: Glenlivet 12yo
Distillery: Glenlivet
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014-2015
Age: 12yo
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 40%
chillfiltered; coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
The nose opens with a delicate, sweet note of vanilla and honey. Summer fruits as well, although subdued. Oranges, sweet pears, red apples, ripe white grapes and a slight spice (ginger?) in the background Continue reading “NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Glenlivet 12yo vs. Founder’s Reserve”

June 22, 2015October 7, 2016

NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Dalmore 12yo vs. Valour

Here are my original tasting notes on the first pair of whiskies: The Dalmore 12yo vs. their NAS Valour edition. All notes are original as written during the blind tasting phase.

A2A: Dalmore 12yo
Distillery: Dalmore
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014-2015
Age: 12yo
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 40%
chill filtered; coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: dark red gold (as fake as can be)
The nose opens initially light and alcoholic. Light vanilla, orange juice, orange rind, green apples, peppermint, with a profound sweetness (molasses and caramelised ginger?) in the background and also a light rubbery note. Getting sweeter and darker as time goes on with dried fruits appearing in the mix. Continue reading “NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Dalmore 12yo vs. Valour”

June 21, 2015October 7, 2016

NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Glen Moray 12yo vs. Port Cask Finish

Here are my original tasting notes on the first pair of whiskies: The Glen Moray 12yo vs. their NAS Port Cask Finish edition. All notes are original as written during the blind tasting phase.

A1A: Glen Moray Port Cask Finish
Distillery: Glen Moray
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2014 – 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Port Cask Finish
Alcohol: 40%
chill filtered; probably coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: pale straw
The nose opens very light and shy. Predominately vanilla (pudding) and honey. Some light fruit notes as well – fresh grapes, red apples, banana chips, freshly squeezed oranges. The alcohol is noticeable (a eucalyptus note) but I wouldn’t put it at more than 40% ABV due to the very light nose, it would benefit from more oomph. The fruity notes fade over time and reveal a more malty side. Continue reading “NAS vs. Age Statement Blind Tasting Challenge: Glen Moray 12yo vs. Port Cask Finish”

June 19, 2015October 7, 2016

Visiting Wolfburn – the most notherly distillery on the Scottish mainland

Wolfburn: Stills (wash still on the left, spirit still on the right)

Who’s heard of Thurso before? Besides those on the way to catch a ferry to the Orkneys? I guess not many. So where exactly is it? Well, it’s a beautiful 2,5 hour drive north of Inverness and the largest most northerly city/town in mainland Scotland with about 9000 inhabitants. And, since 2013, there’s also a whisky distillery (again), Wolfburn, named after and situated besides the place where there once was a distillery by the same name (and using the same water source, the Wolf Burn) in the 1800s . Not much is known about the old distillery, so let’s talk about the new one:

Wolfburn distillery - the sight as you enter the production building — Wolfburn distillery – the sight as you enter the production building

Founded by a private group of investors, including a man from the Caithness area, wherein Thurso lies, it was built in a very short period of time between August 2012 and January 2013, with the first spirit flowing on the 25th of January 2013. To pull all of this off, they hired Shane Fraser, previously production manager at Glenfarclas, to oversee the design, building and running of the place and to this date the distillery is run by Shane and colleague Iain, previously with Balmenach. Continue reading “Visiting Wolfburn – the most notherly distillery on the Scottish mainland”

June 17, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Dailuaine 28y 1983 – 2012 by Archives

Dram data:
Distillery: Dailuaine
Bottler: Archives
Distilled: 23.02.1983
Bottled: 04.01.2012
Age: 28
Limitation: 265 bottles
Casks: Hogshead
Alcohol: 47,3%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
The nose starts off creamy with vanilla pudding, lemon juice, lemon rind, light fruits such as stewed sweet apples, ripe pears, sweet gooseberries and Kiwi. Continue reading “Tasting: Dailuaine 28y 1983 – 2012 by Archives”

June 14, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Lost Spirits Distillery – Bohemian Bonfire French Oak

Dram data:
Distillery: Lost Spirits Distillery
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: unknown
Bottled: 2014/2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: unknown (single cask)
Casks: single French oak cask (ex-wine)
Alcohol: 59%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: deep gold
The nose starts off with alcohol (no wonder at 59% ABV), smoke and a complex multitude of aromas in the background. Let’s stay with the smoke for a bit: It’s unlike anything I’ve ever come across, completely different from what you’re used to in peated Scotches. Continue reading “Tasting: Lost Spirits Distillery – Bohemian Bonfire French Oak”

June 10, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Kilchoman 10th Anniversary Edition

Dram data:
Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: Multi-Vintage 2005-2010
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS (3 years according to the youngest whisky)
Limitation: 3000 bottles
Casks: Bourbon + Sherry
Alcohol: 58,2%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light gold
The nose screams “Islay”, just like most commercial malt bottlings from Kilchoman. An initial blast of peat with notes of iodine, coal fire smoke, tar and smoked seafood. The smoke is the predominant note at first with the alcohol making a strong appearance too – no wonder at 58,2% ABV. Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman 10th Anniversary Edition”

June 3, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Benriach 15y 1996-2011 by Single Cask Collection

Dram data:
Distillery: Benriach
Bottler: Single Cask Collection
Distilled: 12.03.1996
Bottled: 25.08.2011
Age: 15 years
Limitation: 311 bottles
Casks: Bourbon Hogshead 43220
Alcohol: 54,3%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light white wine
The nose is light and shy, probably like a 15-year-old wallflower? Ahem… Moving on. Slightly dusty vanilla pudding, otherwise quite floral – rose petals, hints of violets, some hay as well. Continue reading “Tasting: Benriach 15y 1996-2011 by Single Cask Collection”