Tasting: Benromach 1998 20th anniversary bottling

Benromach 1998 20th anniversary bottling

Benromach 1998 20th anniversary bottlingDram data:
Distillery: Benromach
Bottler: official bottling
Distilled: 1998
Bottled: 2018
Age: 19-20 years
Limitation: 3000 bottles
Casks: 1st fill oak casks
Alcohol: 56,2%
uncoloured / unchillfiltered
Whiskybase link

20 years ago, Gordon & Macphail brought back Benromach distillery and started distilling again. To commemorate this occasion, they bottled a 20th anniversary edition of 19-20 yo whiskies, made during the first year the distillery was back up and running. Just 3000 bottles are available (400 at the distillery) and should be hitting stores at the time of posting in spring 2018. Since the distillery sent over a sample for a tweet tasting it would be a shame not to do proper tasting notes. Let’s dive in!

Tasting notes:
Colour:
 red-gold
The nose has a bit of an alcoholic kick at first. This will work nicely with a bit of water, but let’s stay with “neat” for a while! There’s the tiniest hint of signature Benromach smoke paired with pepper and citrus – and then the fruits appear – strawberries, strawberry-flavoured gummy bears (is there such a thing?), red apples and red pears, condensed apricot juice with flower petals on top (no FWP!). A nice balance between cask and spirit, not overdone on either side. Time to add a few drops of water! Ah! That worked wonders, unearthing a hint of earthiness and a hint of oak, balancing out the whisky. A rock-solid, well-made dram. Let’s check the palate!  Continue reading “Tasting: Benromach 1998 20th anniversary bottling”

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24 drams till Christmas 2016 #21: Laphroaig 1998 17 yo by Cadenhead’s

24 drams till Christmas 2016 #21: Laphroaig 1998 17 yo by Cadenhead's

24 drams till Christmas 2016 #21: Laphroaig 1998 17 yo by Cadenhead'sDram data:
Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1998
Bottled: November 2015
Age: 17
Limitation: 192 bottles
Casks: bourbon hogshead
Alcohol: 56,2%
unchillfiltered and uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Indie Laphroaig seems to have become scarcer and scarcer these past years – especially older whiskies in their teens or above. Cadenhead’s to the rescue!

Tasting notes:
Colour:
 pale white wine
The nose is typically Islay. Well-matured, refill-cask, heavily peated Islay whisky. Peat smoke, the usual phenolic kind with dirty bandages and iodine, soot, ash and well-used machine oil. Behind all that smoke, a salty sweetness creeps in – salted toffee on custard served on clamshells with lemon drizzled on top. Maybe a green apple is involved as well. The power of great refill casks, allowing the spirit to shine, just rounding out the edges. On to the palate:

Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas 2016 #21: Laphroaig 1998 17 yo by Cadenhead’s”

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Tasting: Benrinnes 14 yo 1998 – 2013 by Mc Gibbon’s Provenance

Benrinnes 14 yo 1998 - 2013 by Mc Gibbon's Provenance

Benrinnes 14 yo 1998 - 2013 by Mc Gibbon's ProvenanceDram data:
Distillery: Benrinnes
Bottler: Mc Gibbon’s Provenance
Distilled: Winter 1998
Bottled: Spring 2013
Age: 14
Limitation: –
Cask: Sherry Butt 9632
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
light gold
The nose opens with a noticeable sweet and dry sherry influence. There’s also vanilla, citrus, light caramel with a hint of menthol and an earthy background note. Continue reading “Tasting: Benrinnes 14 yo 1998 – 2013 by Mc Gibbon’s Provenance”

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