full of malty goodness – since 2014
Dram data:
Distillery:Â Glencadam
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 09.08.2011
Age: 15
Limitation: –
Casks:Â –
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”
Dram data:
Distillery:Â Clynelish
Bottler:Â Kintra
Distilled: 12.1995
Bottled: 11.2012
Age: 16
Limitation: 90 bottles
Casks:Â 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”
Dram data:
Distillery:Â Bunnahabhain
Bottler:Â Single Cask Collection
Distilled:Â 02.12.1991
Bottled:Â 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”
Dram data:
Distillery:Â – (blended Malt)
Bottler:Â Nikka
Distilled:Â –
Bottled: ca. 2013-2014
Bottle Code: 6/14C441254
Age: NAS
Limitation:Â –
Price at the time of purchasing: ca. 40€ (yes, I paid too much at a retail store…)
Casks:Â –
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”
Dram data:
Distillery: Speyside
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: July 2014
Age: 18
Limitation: 738 bottles
Casks: 1 Sherry butt & 1 hogshead
Alcohol: 62,8%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: Red gold / light amber
The nose is… overwhelming at first. Yes, the alcohol is definitely noticeable. Sweet cough lozenges, caramellised ginger sticks, orange oil, rubber, wood spices and dark fruit puree in the background. Continue reading “Tasting: Speyside 1995 18y by Cadenhead’s”
Dram data:
Distillery: Littlemill
Bottler: Archives
Distilled: 10.1989
Bottled: 02.2014
Age: 24 years
Limitation: 178 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (sample)
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead #42
Alcohol: 53%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: pale gold.
The nose is alive and kicking, it doesn’t seem like a 24-year-old dram at the first glance. Definitely not a first-fill cask, which emphasises the distillery’s character. A wee bit spirity, freshly mown grass, hay, clove, white pepper, real bourbon vanilla pods, hints of citrus, apples, malt and a slightly dusty note in the background. Continue reading “Tasting: Littlemill 1989 24y by Archives”
Dram data:
Distillery: Ardmore
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2011-ish
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: Quarter Cask Finish
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, coloured
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: Gold. Not too unnatural looking, I guess this is a case of using E150 to create batches consistent in colour.
Ah yes, this is a peated malt indeed. The nose immediately gives it away. Not too much smoke and not too little. I’d put this at Longrow ppm levels. Mainland peat too, it’s more of the bonfire than the iodine, phenolic Islay style. But what else is there besides the peat smoke? Continue reading “Tasting: Ardmore Traditional Cask”
Dram data:
Distilleries: undisclosed
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 06.07.2011
Age: 12 years
Limitation: unknown
Price at the time of purchasing: ca. 35€
Cask: –
Alcohol: 40%
Chill filtered / Coloured
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: The usual artificial amber from too much E150(a).
On the nose it is smoky, all right. That’s the first impression I get. What kind of smoke? I’m guessing Islay by the hints of phenols and iodine. However before I really get to nose it, the smoke has already disappeared into the background, mingling with sweeter notes lying underneath. Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss Peat Chimney 12y”
Dram data:
Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: 28€
Casks: multiple (quarter, PX, European – fresh American oak finish)
Alcohol: 40%
Chill filtered, probably uncoloured
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: pale gold.
The nose screams “Islay” long before the glass has even reached your nostrils. The distinctive peat smoke immediately hits you once the cork is off the bottle. Let’s get a bit closer to the nose then. It’s Laphroaig, all right, all the necessary components are there: The signature iodine smoke, brine, salt, clams, seaweed. Continue reading “Tasting: Laphroaig Select”
Dram data:
Distillery: Mortlach
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1988
Bottled: July 2014
Age: 25
Limitation: 576 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (sample)
Casks: Sherry Cask
Alcohol: 56,8%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: golden amber
The nose immediately emits lots and lots of dark, mysterious, moody character. I don’t usually visually depict a malt, but this is an old, wise, yet loving and caring old man sitting in his leather armchair. Weird how our sense of smell can bring up these kinds of visual images. Continue reading “Tasting: Mortlach 1988 25y by Cadenhead’s”