Tag: 13 years | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

August 22, 2018August 22, 2018

Tasting: Longrow Open Day 2018 13 yo Refill Port

Dram data:
Distillery: Springbank
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: February 2005
Bottled: 14.05.2018
Age: 13 years
Limitation: 1096 bottles
Casks: Refill Port
Alcohol: 58,7%
uncoloured / unchillfiltered
Whiskybase link

Longrow. The heavily peated spirit produced at the quirky Springbank distillery in “wee toon” Campbeltown. Bottled for their 2018 whisky festival. What could possibly go wrong…?

Tasting notes:
Colour: red gold
The nose has a slight alcoholic punch to it at the beginning – no wonder, looking at the strength. Beneath the alcohol rich, dark goodness awaits. We’ve got dried dates, dried figs, dried plums and a few raisins on top served on a spicy, peat smoked oak platter garnished with allspice, cloves, tangerine peel and ginger. The slightest whiff of sulphur came and went quickly, a bit longer lasting is a whiff of the Campbeltown dunnage warehouse funkiness (some might call it dark chocolate…). Rather lovely start. Let’s move on to the palate!

Continue reading “Tasting: Longrow Open Day 2018 13 yo Refill Port”

June 30, 2016October 7, 2016

Tasting: Teeling The Revival Vol. II 13 yo Calvados finish

Dram data:
Distillery: most likely Cooley (undisclosed)
Bottler: Teeling
Distilled: 2002
Bottled: 2016
Age: 13 years
Limitation: 10.000 bottles
Casks: 12 years ex-bourbon, 1 year Calvados casks
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered; uncoloured

Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: golden white wine
Calvados-matured/finished whisk(e)y is a very uncommon thing. Apart from a Springbank, which I really liked, and sadly didn’t review, I don’t think I’ve ever had another. Until today, that is, tasting this Irish whiskey by the Teeling company, finished for a year in Calvados casks after an initial 12-year bourbon maturation. What do I expect? A few apple-ish notes and perhaps spices from the French casks (if they used French oak, that is…) Let’s stick the nose in! Light, with a whiff of alcohol (though that might be the glass with the very narrow opening) and, yes, light “continental European” fruits. Ripe red apples, red, juicy pears, also baked apples stuffed with cinnamon sugar and a clove or two, slightly grassy apple peel, cake frosting with a splash of lemon, mixed tinned fruits in glucose syrup.

Continue reading “Tasting: Teeling The Revival Vol. II 13 yo Calvados finish”

August 27, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glendalough 13 yo

Dram data:
Distillery: undisclosed
Bottler: Glendalough
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: 13 years
Limitation: –
Casks: ex-bourbon
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: honey
The first sniff is very biscuity on the nose – sweet shortbread with vanilla sugar on top, to be exact. Behind the biscuits are notes of fudge, ripe red apples and pears, peaches, lemon drops, lemon flowers. Continue reading “Tasting: Glendalough 13 yo”

July 26, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glenfarclas 2001 13y for Whisky Circle Pinzgau

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Bottler: bottled for Whisky Circle Pinzgau
Distilled: 18.10.2001
Bottled: 26.01.2015
Age: 13 years
Limitation: – (shared cask)
Casks: Oloroso Sherry Cask
Alcohol: 51,5%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: honey
The nose starts off dark and mysterious. Wood honey, thick sherry, roasted cocoa beans, dried figs and dates, raisins, roasted walnuts, the faintest whiff of smoke, and a mixture of spices – cloves and wet cinnamon. The (slight!) smoky and spicy notes also remind me strongly of the classic Glenfarclas 15 – it’s rare to find the distillery character, some of which I’m guessing stems from the direct-fired stills, so clearly defined in an independent bottling. Continue reading “Tasting: Glenfarclas 2001 13y for Whisky Circle Pinzgau”

April 22, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Arran Tweet Tasting, including: Sauternes Finish / 18yo limited edition / UK exclusive 13yo / 1st White Stag bottling

On the 22nd of April 2015 whisky geeks on twitter followed the call from Steve Rush (@TheWhiskyWire) and @ArranWhisky to taste four different drams from the beautiful distillery on the Isle of Arran under the Hashtag #ArranWhisky
Thanks everyone involved for the great time and organising the event – looking forward to the next tweet tasting!
You can find detailed tasting notes on all the drams we tasted on the night below. (The 18yo tasting notes are a bit expanded from my original review on this site, no need to completely rewrite them 😉 )
Also see my travel report here for more information about the distillery. Continue reading “Tasting: Arran Tweet Tasting, including: Sauternes Finish / 18yo limited edition / UK exclusive 13yo / 1st White Stag bottling”

March 22, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Bowmore 13y 2001 by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Bowmore
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 2001
Bottled: 10.2014
Age: 13
Limitation: 270 bottles
Casks: Bourbon Hogshead
Alcohol: 56.6%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
The nose opens with a mixture of typical Bowmore medium-strength peat smoke, vanilla, cooling peppermint (from the noticeable alcohol), lemon, a hint of white pepper, and, of course, the flowery violet note found in most modern Bowmores. Continue reading “Tasting: Bowmore 13y 2001 by Cadenhead’s”