24 drams till christmas 2016 #4: Arran 1996-2013 17 yo Bourbon cask #547

Arran 1996-2013 17 yo Bourbon cask #547

Arran 1996-2013 17 yo Bourbon cask #547Dram data:
Distillery: Arran
Bottler: official bottling
Distilled: 17.06.1996
Bottled: 10.09.2013
Age: 17 years
Limitation: 202 bottles
Cask: Ex-Bourbon (barrel?)
Alcohol: 52.4%
unchillfiltered and uncoloured
Whiskybase link

One thing I like about the Arran distillery is their twice-yearly release of official single cask bottlings at very affordable prices. This is one of them – from a few years back. What intrigued me to buy it back then was the extremely dark colour for an ex-bourbon whisky…

Tasting notes:
Colour: amber
The nose is perhaps not the most typical Arran profile, thanks to the “freak cask”, but it’s certainly a good one! Right off the start we’ve got a light citrus on caramel and almost smoky toasted chocolate-covered toffee with creme brulee (now that’s a first for me, don’t beat me up about the spelling, please!). There are also tropical fruits – dried mango and papaya with lychees but also apricots and physalis. A hint of oak and slight cask spices in the background. Light-ish, as is the Arran style, but sophisticated and fruity, very nice! On to the palate! Continue reading “24 drams till christmas 2016 #4: Arran 1996-2013 17 yo Bourbon cask #547”

Share this post

Tasting: Abhainn Dearg NAS Single Malt

Abhainn Dearg NAS Single MaltDram data:
Distillery: Abhainn Dearg
Bottler: Original bottling
Distilled: 2008(?)
Bottled: ?
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Single Cask
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Now that the blog’s moved to the new domain and the new server, let’s find something interesting to review for the “first” post on the new site. How about this one? A single malt from the only distillery on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides? A rather low-key and rarely mentioned farm distillery with a homemade setup! I finally tracked down a mini in Speyside this year! Info on it is hard to come by – the website describes it as the inaugural bottling (no other miniature available?) and the mini itself mentions it’s a single cask bottling. Without any further info I’ll have to classify it as NAS of unknown vintage… Well, let’s crack it open and have a wee nose and taste!

Tasting notes:
Colour: 
pale white wine
The nose opens on a light whiff of alcohol, quite fresh – minty – with a touch of vanilla, custard and a very noticeable background oak note which I can only describe as new oak press board in a joiner’s workshop – strange, but interesting! There’s also a light citrus-like note, something along the lines of a mix of slightly older limes and tangerines. with a slice of ginger thrown in for good measure. Very fresh and light overall, but no off notes as can often be found in very young 3yo whisky. Continue reading “Tasting: Abhainn Dearg NAS Single Malt”

Share this post

Nosing, tasting and casting my vote for the #ArranWhiteStag second release

Nosing, tasting and casting my vote for the #ArranWhiteStag second release

Nosing, tasting and casting my vote for the #ArranWhiteStag second releaseThree drams of Arran Malt, sent to 20 panel members, all to be tasted completely blind, in a quest to choose which one will become the second “White Stag” release. This will be a single cask bottling of Arran whisky, exclusive for the members of the (free!) White Stag club. I was chosen as one of the panellists and now face the hard task of choosing my preferred sample. All drams were tasted on the same evening at the same time – first the nose of all three drams, then palate and finish afterwards. Hey, you’re here for the whisky, so let’s get going!

Sample 1

Info: Single Sherry Butt No. 96/1320 filled on 17th September 1996. 54.5% abv. 3 votes overall
Colour: 
copper gold
The nose opens on what I love about Arran. Perfect dram to start with! Light fruits (red apples, sweet pears), orange juice, orange peel, the signature is there. It’s also getting a bit tropical with mango and sweet pineapple. Progressing into darker berries with a slightly bitter note of cracked berry seeds on light, fragrant oak. Delicate, yet with a substance in the background provided by the cask. Continue reading “Nosing, tasting and casting my vote for the #ArranWhiteStag second release”

Share this post

24 drams till Christmas tasting #23: Arran Amarone Finish NAS

Arran Amarone Finish NAS

Arran Amarone Finish NASDram data:
Distillery: Arran
Bottler: Original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2013
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Amarone finish
Alcohol: 50%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: amber with cherry juice
The red wine finish is very apparent on the nose! An initial blast of fresh citrus fruits (ripe oranges and tangerines) with red fruits (cherries, brambles, strawberries, cassis) and cask spices (allspice, cloves). Initially I was not a fan, the freshly opened bottle was a tad too young, but it improved greatly with oxygenation. Adding a tablespoon of water and time in the glass helps to bring out the fruits even more.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #23: Arran Amarone Finish NAS”

Share this post

24 drams till Christmas tasting #21: Jura Prophecy NAS

Jura Prophecy NASDram data:
Distillery: Jura
Bottler: Original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2014
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Limousin oak
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light amber (coloured, what a shame!)
You can smell the spitting distance to Islay on the nose! Peat smoke, the phenolic kind, dominates on first contact. Salted toffee, heather, spent ground coffee, cocoa beans, malt syrup and vanilla-infused palm honey with star anise and cinnamon from the Limousin oak. The advertising says the “finest and rarest aged” whiskies were used, but that doesn’t mean anything.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #21: Jura Prophecy NAS”

Share this post

24 drams till Christmas (blind) tasting #16: Arran Quarter Cask distillery exclusive

Arran Quarter Cask distillery exclusive

Arran Quarter Cask distillery exclusiveDram data:
Distillery: Arran
Bottler: Original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014-ish
Age: NAS
Limitation: 438 bottles
Casks: quarter cask finish
Alcohol: 52,8%
unchill filtered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Blind tasting notes:
Colour: light gold
The nose is initially on the light side, getting darker and richer as time passes. 40-43% ABV would be my guess. We’ve got vanilla, honey, heather, a hint of toffee, baked apple with brown sugar, sweet flowers, fragrant oak, slight spices and dried fruits (raisins) in the background.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas (blind) tasting #16: Arran Quarter Cask distillery exclusive”

Share this post

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

(Undisclosed) Talisker 10 yo by Adelphi

(Undisclosed) Talisker 10 yo by AdelphiDram 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)”

Share this post

Tasting: Scapa 12 yo (bottled ca. 2000)

Scapa 12 year old (2000s)Dram data:
Distillery: Scapa
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2000
Age: 12 years
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 40%
chill filtered; most likely coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
fake orang-ey gold
The nose starts off light with a malty sweetness. Lots of malt sweetness, actually, also some dusty cardboard (but in a pleasant way). Continue reading “Tasting: Scapa 12 yo (bottled ca. 2000)”

Share this post

Tasting: Tobermory 20 yo 1994 by Cadenhead’s

Tobermory 20 yo 1994 by Cadenhead's

Tobermory 20 yo 1994 by Cadenhead'sDram data:
Distillery: Tobermory
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1994
Bottled: 2015
Age: 20 years
Limitation: 570 bottles
Casks: sherry cask
Alcohol: 57,8%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
amber
The nose starts with a quite strong mixture of alcohol and sulphur notes (I don’t mind sulphur as long as it’s not taking over, which it isn’t in this case). Oak spices, caramel, cocoa and hints of dried dark fruits in the background, but this baby needs a bit of water for further dissection. Three espresso spoons to a 25 ml measure seems about right. Ah yes, a classic european oak ex-sherry cask nose, none of this polished, vanilla-laden designer stuff from American oak casks we see so much of these days… Aged to a point where the cask spices take over the sherry influence – but don’t mistake it for being over-the-top woody, it isn’t at all, just the european oak flexing its muscles, that’s all. Continue reading “Tasting: Tobermory 20 yo 1994 by Cadenhead’s”

Share this post

Tasting: Talisker 10-11yr 1999 – 2010 Distiller’s Edition

Talisker 1999 - 2010 Distiller's Edition


Talisker 1999 - 2010 Distiller's EditionDram data:
Distillery: Talisker
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: 1999
Bottled: 2010
Age: 10-11 years
Limitation: –
Casks: Amoroso Finish
Alcohol: 45,8%
chillfiltered?; coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
red gold (with a fake tan)
Amoroso is a PX-sweetened style of Oloroso sherry – let’s see what carried over from the casks into the whisky: The nose opens with – indeed – a noticeable influence from sweet sherry, but it is not overdone, integrating well into the Talisker style. What else? Continue reading “Tasting: Talisker 10-11yr 1999 – 2010 Distiller’s Edition”

Share this post
Cookie Consent with Real Cookie Banner