Category: Speyside | Page 7 | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

February 18, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Balvenie 12 Doublewood

Dram data:
Distillery: Balvenie
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: around 2014 (Code: D230835)
Age: 12 years
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: 29€
Casks: Bourbon with Sherry finish
Alcohol: 40%
Chillfiltered, added colouring
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: fake amber
The nose delivers what is promised on the label. Dominating ex-bourbon notes enriched by (wet?) ex-sherry casks. Rich and creamy but not overwhelming. Sweet vanilla pudding with tinned, glucose-laden exotic fruits on top. Continue reading “Tasting: Balvenie 12 Doublewood”

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 6, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Speyside 1995 18y by Cadenhead’s

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”

December 9, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Mortlach 1988 25y by Cadenhead’s

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”

October 23, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glentauchers 15y by Cadenhead’s

Glentaucher's 15yo by Cadenhead's — Glentauchers 15yo by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Glentauchers
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1998
Bottled: 02.2014
Age: 15 years
Limitation: 282 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (Miniature)
Casks: Bourbon Hogshead
Alcohol: 55.3%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: Pale straw.
The nose starts off very delicately. You’ve really got to spend your time with this dram, no instant “in your face” aromas. A whiff of alcohol but not as much as you’d expect at 55% ABV. Fresh, green fruits. Continue reading “Tasting: Glentauchers 15y by Cadenhead’s”

September 23, 2014October 7, 2016

Blind tasting: Aberlour a’bunadh batch 25

Dram data:
Distillery: Aberlour
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2008
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: –
Casks: Oloroso Sherry Butts
Alcohol: 60.4%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Another mystery blind tasting of a dram provided by my brother Johannes. Cheers for the challenge! Colour: Amber. The nose is immediately hit by a waft of sherry goodness on the first sniff. Dare I say Oloroso? Continue reading “Blind tasting: Aberlour a’bunadh batch 25”

September 12, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glenlossie 20y by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenlossie
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1993
Bottled: 02.2014
Age: 20 years
Limitation: 252 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (Miniature)
Casks: Bourbon Hogshead
Alcohol: 53.3%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: Straw. The nose is initially very tight and closed up, sweet, dark, woody, “moody”. It gets sweeter over time with very interesting notes coming through. Continue reading “Tasting: Glenlossie 20y by Cadenhead’s”

June 23, 2014July 5, 2017

Tasting: Macallan 1990 by Whiskybroker

Dram data:

Distillery: Macallan
Bottler: Whiskybroker.co.uk
Distilled: 23.01.1990
Bottled: 05.03.2013
Age: 23
Limitation: ?
Price at the time of purchasing: – (sample)
Casks: Hogshead
Alcohol: 34,9%
Uncoloured & Unchillfiltered
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: Dark straw. The nose is rather funny – my first impression was one of rather old, stuffed cupboard – I guess that’s the influence of the cask which let this dram slip under the 40% mark. Continue reading “Tasting: Macallan 1990 by Whiskybroker”

June 20, 2014July 5, 2017

Tasting: Glenfarclas 25

Dram data:

Distillery: Glenfarclas
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 17.03.2009 (lot-nr 314:30BB)
Age: 25 years
Limitation: unknown
Price at the time of purchasing: 85€
Casks: Ex-Sherry
Alcohol: 43%
Most likely chill filtered & natural color
Whiskybase link

(Blind) Tasting notes:
Colour: Amber
Nose: Fresh and fruity. Wild berries, lemon and orange zest, orange juice, canned tangerines, peaches, honey, slight background maltiness. Continue reading “Tasting: Glenfarclas 25”

April 29, 2014October 7, 2016

Tasting: Strathisla 12

Dram data:

Distillery: Strathisla
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 24.09.2013 – code LGS1373
Age: 12 years
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: 32€
Casks: –
Alcohol: 40%
Most likely chillfiltered due to the strength / no colouring added (?)
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
The colour is a reddish copper – I bought this in Germany so the addition of colourant should be noted (not to be found). The nose is fruity fresh (think summer fruit basket), I get fresh vanilla, lemon rind, lemon juice, orange oil, banana, fresh figs, hints of tropical fruits like mango and a slight maltiness. Continue reading “Tasting: Strathisla 12”