Category: Tasting Notes | Page 18 | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

October 28, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Kavalan Solist Sherry NAS 20cl bottle

Dram data:
Distillery: Kavalan
Bottler: original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 18.04.2014
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Old ex-solera Sherry Casks
Alcohol: 57%
Unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: mahogany
Finally on my table and in my glass – the much talked-about Kavalan Solist Sherry Oak whisky. Time to find out what all this hype is about! The nose opens with a noticeable alcoholic note – no wonder at 57% ABV. Underneath the alcohol are intense ex-sherry aromas from supposedly real 20-year-old ex-solera system sherry casks! Don’t even bother looking for the distillery character – that’s a dry sherry cask driven dram! Right, about 10 minutes have passed now – the alcoholic note moved a bit to the background, so let’s see what we can get: Very intense! Full-on! In-your-face! Lots of dried dark fruits, mostly dates and figs but with a dry sherry note on top. Continue reading “Tasting: Kavalan Solist Sherry NAS 20cl bottle”

October 25, 2015October 7, 2016

Blind Tasting: McClelland’s Islay NAS (undisclosed Bowmore)

Dram data:
Distillery: Bowmore
Bottler: McClelland’s (Morrison Bowmore)
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2014 (code L142025)
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 40%
Chillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
Oh, a blind tasting! I love blind tastings! Let’s see what we’ve got here! The nose opens on the fruity and sweet side. Heather honey, caramelised orange peel, vanilla pudding powder, candy floss, baked red apples with cinnamon, cloves and demerara sugar. Mellow oak notes in the background too – I think this dram is in its early to mid teens. Continue reading “Blind Tasting: McClelland’s Islay NAS (undisclosed Bowmore)”

October 21, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: (Undisclosed) Talisker 10 yo by Adelphi (Fascadale Release 2)

Dram data:
Distillery: Most likely Talisker
Bottler: Adelphi (Fascadale Release 2)
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2010
Age: 10 years
Limitation: 3746 bottles
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: hay
An independently bottled Talisker. Don’t see that too often. Let’s see what it’s like! The nose opens with peat smoke and brine, white pepper, the typical chili catch note combined with quite a bit of fresh menthol and some chalk (scallop shells?)
Continue reading “Tasting: (Undisclosed) Talisker 10 yo by Adelphi (Fascadale Release 2)”

October 18, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Benromach 10 yo 100 proof

Dram data:
Distillery: Benromach
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014
Age: 10 years
Limitation: –
Casks: 9 years ex-bourbon, 1 year ex-sherry
Alcohol: 57%
Probably unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: amber
The nose opens with quite a lot of alcohol – not surprising looking at the strength at 57% ABV – 100 British proof. After the alcoholic note fades down a little we can find fragrant peat smoke, dark european wild-fruit sweetness, ground coffee- and cocoa beans and slightly burnt toffee. Continue reading “Tasting: Benromach 10 yo 100 proof”

October 14, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Benromach 10 yo

Dram data:
Distillery: Benromach
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 10.04.2014
Age: 10 years
Limitation: –
Casks: 9 years ex-bourbon, 1 year ex-sherry
Alcohol: 43%
Probably chill filtered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: deep red gold
The nose opens with a mixture of fragrant, light peat smoke (the malt is peated to 10-12 ppm) and sherry influence. Quite astonishing, how only one year in (presumably fresh) Oloroso butts has taken control over the spirit but not getting too loud. Continue reading “Tasting: Benromach 10 yo”

October 11, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Caol Ila 1984 30 years Rum Cask Finish by Riegger’s Selection

Dram data:
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: Riegger’s Selection
Distilled: 04.1984
Bottled: 23.10.2014
Age: 30
Limitation: 360 bottles
Cask: Rum Cask Finish
Alcohol: 56,2%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
In the glass is a (hopefully) nice Caol Ila from the mid-80s, distilled at a time, when many distilleries sadly closed down forever during the last big downturn of the Scotch industry. Let’s get started! The nose is surprisingly fresh from the get-go! I haven’t looked up the details but I guess this was at least a 2nd fill cask. Alcohol, salt spray, a slight hint of menthol, citrus peel and -juice, industrial cleaner (hey, what?) all mixed together with earthy, dirty peat smoke and a whiff of cough lozenges. Continue reading “Tasting: Caol Ila 1984 30 years Rum Cask Finish by Riegger’s Selection”

October 7, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Wemyss The Hive NAS Blended Malt

Dram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
The nose opens up with waxy honey, vanilla, creamy baked apples with cloves stuck in them, slight sandalwood and cinnamon. The honey note is really dominant – this dram is aptly named! Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss The Hive NAS Blended Malt”

October 4, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Wemyss Spice King NAS Blended Malt

Dram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour

Tasting notes:
Colour: reddish gold
The nose starts with vanilla, lingering honey and orange peel. There are also black pepper, chocolate, coffee, a tiny amount of peat smoke and some brine. Hang on, where are the eponymous spices? Let’s investigate further!
Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss Spice King NAS Blended Malt”

September 29, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Wemyss Malts Kiln Embers Limited NAS

Dram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: 12.000 bottles
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
Kiln embers, they call this. Double the Islay malt content compared to the peat chimney. Well, let’s find out and let me stick my nose in! Yep, ashy peat smoke, but restrained. A gentlemanlike version of the brute Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength tends to be. More accessible and mass-compatible, if you like, without being weak. Right, what else do we get? Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss Malts Kiln Embers Limited NAS”

September 16, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Mackmyra Midnattssol NAS

Dram data:
Distillery: Mackmyra
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: Birch sap wine cask finish
Alcohol: 46,1%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:dark gold
It’s apparent from the first nose that this is not you usual malt whisky. Does it nose like whisky? I’m not entirely sure, but it is intriguing! Sweet and herbal treesap, freshly rubbed birch leaves on syrup with a bit of vanilla mixed in, dried oranges, orange oil, ripe banana, mango skin and a (pleasant!) note of herbal cough syrup prepared with Demerara sugar. Continue reading “Tasting: Mackmyra Midnattssol NAS”