Author: MaltKlaus | Page 30 | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

February 8, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Ben Nevis 1996-2008 11y by Douglas Laing Mc Gibbon’s Provenance

Dram data:
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Douglas Laing Mc Gibbon’s Provenance
Distilled: Winter 1996
Bottled: Spring 2008
Age: 11
Limitation: –
Casks: Sherry Finished Butt DMG 4236
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: amber
Let’s start with the nose. Did they bottle the right cask? 11 years? Dark, mysterious sherry, leather shoes, caramel cough lozenges, vanilla, almost dried paint, cocoa, medium dark milk chocolate, very dry figs, dates and raisins and an overripe peach. Continue reading “Tasting: Ben Nevis 1996-2008 11y by Douglas Laing Mc Gibbon’s Provenance”

February 4, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Lagavulin 16

Dram data:
Distillery: Lagavulin
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: about 2014. Code: L3324CM000
Age: 16
Limitation: –
Casks: bourbon and sherry
Alcohol: 43%
Chillfiltered, fake colour
Price at the time of purchasing: 45€
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: fake reddish amber
The nose is everything Islay is known for. Initially a welcoming (or off-putting to some…) mixture of iodine peat smoke with sweet caramel pudding. The salt takes a bit of time to fight through, but it appears eventually. After a few minutes in the glass the smokiness settles down and a complex layer of previously subdued aromas appears. Continue reading “Tasting: Lagavulin 16”

February 1, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glenlivet 1996-2013 16y by Signatory Vintage

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenlivet
Bottler: Signatory Vintage Unchillfiltered Collection
Distilled: 13.05.1996
Bottled: 03.05.2013
Age: 16
Limitation: 774 bottles
Casks: First Fill Sherry Butt 79239
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light-ish gold
The nose is odd for a first-fill Sherry Butt. No in your face sherry notes. Hardly any sherry notes at all. This definitely wasn’t a “wet” cask when it was filled – maybe it was even rinsed or steam-cleaned? Hard to tell apart from a 1st fill ex-bourbon cask, to be honest – maybe this was even a Butt made from American oak? Okay, on to the notes now: Quite a bit of alcohol initially. Toffee and caramel pudding with a dash of vanilla (which could indicate European oak but it’s not that obvious…)
Continue reading “Tasting: Glenlivet 1996-2013 16y by Signatory Vintage”

January 30, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Springbank Wood Expression Gaja Barolo 9y

Dram data:
Distillery: Springbank
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: February 2004
Bottled: October 2013
Age: 9 years
Limitation: 11.000
Price at the time of purchasing: 69€
Casks: 4 years refill bourbon, 5 years fresh Gaja Barolo casks
Alcohol: 54.7%
Unchillfiltered, no added colouring
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: dark, golden honey. The nose is noticeably different from the usual ex-bourbon or ex-sherry matured whiskies – the Gaja Barolo casks have done a good job at hiding most of the flavours from the initial ex-bourbon maturation and imparting their own style. Continue reading “Tasting: Springbank Wood Expression Gaja Barolo 9y”

January 28, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Hazelburn 2002-2014 12y by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Springbank (special unpeated triple distillation)
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 2002
Bottled: July 2014
Age: 12
Limitation: 294 bottles
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead
Alcohol: 54,1%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: Red Gold
The nose exhibits the same base character like the official 12-year-old Hazelburn I just tasted prior to this, but with a lot more cask influence. A light and fragrant base with notes of citrus, orange juice, orange oil, grapefruit, pepper, ginger and a dash of brine. Continue reading “Tasting: Hazelburn 2002-2014 12y by Cadenhead’s”

January 25, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Hazelburn 12y

Dram data:
Distillery: Springbank (special unpeated triple distillation)
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: about 2014
Age: 12
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: Gold
The nose is fresh, citrussy, delicate, just as you would expect from a triple distillation, a very rare production process these days. It is, however, only the distillate being light, you can tell it was matured in quality casks adding a nice layer of depth.
Continue reading “Tasting: Hazelburn 12y”

January 21, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glencadam 15y

Dram data:
Distillery: Glencadam
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 09.08.2011
Age: 15
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
The nose is a classic, mellow, highland-style ex-bourbon cask nose. Vanilla pudding with a slice of lemon on top. Continue reading “Tasting: Glencadam 15y”

January 18, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Clynelish 1995 16y by Kintra

Dram data:
Distillery: Clynelish
Bottler: Kintra
Distilled: 12.1995
Bottled: 11.2012
Age: 16
Limitation: 90 bottles
Casks: Refill Sherry Butt 2156
Alcohol: 53,7%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
The nose immediately reminds me of medicine. Well, some might actually call whisky medicine… A spicy, herbal, peppery mixture. Continue reading “Tasting: Clynelish 1995 16y by Kintra”

January 14, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Bunnahabhain 1991 20y by Single Cask Collection

Dram data:
Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Single Cask Collection
Distilled: 02.12.1991
Bottled: 22.08.2012
Age: 20
Limitation: 738 bottles
Casks: Bourbon hogshead 5468
Alcohol: 49,1%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
The nose is light, fragrant, perfumy. A rather shy islander. Sweet orange juice, ginger, ripe pears, red apples with a floral note on top. Continue reading “Tasting: Bunnahabhain 1991 20y by Single Cask Collection”

January 11, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Nikka Pure Malt White

Dram data:

Distillery: – (blended Malt)
Bottler: Nikka
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2013-2014
Bottle Code: 6/14C441254
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: ca. 40€ (yes, I paid too much at a retail store…)
Casks: –
Alcohol: 43%
Most likely chill filtered and artificially coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: honey. Most likely fake.
The nose greets me with a combination of smoke, sweetness and herbal spices. It’s not often I encounter this kind of harmony, but then again this is a blended malt and as such it is designed to be that way. Continue reading “Tasting: Nikka Pure Malt White”