full of malty goodness – since 2014
Dram data:
Distillery: Glenglassaugh
Bottler: Official Bottling
Distilled: not before 2008
Bottled: 26.02.2014
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Ex-Bourbon
Alcohol: 50%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: white wine
The nose tells the story of a pretty young, heavily peated dram: The dominating peat smoke (mainland style, campfire-ish) works reasonably well at masking the young character of the malt. Continue reading “Tasting: Glenglassaugh Torfa”
Dram data:
Distillery: Amrut
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: March 2013 / Batch 19
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Price at the time of purchasing: 56€ (yes, I paid too much, it’s usually about 40€…)
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: light-ish amber
The nose is an interesting mixture of known and unknown aromas – a clash of worlds – literally, as Scottish peated barley malt is distilled, matured and bottled in India. The peat is there – not nearly as prominent as in most Islay whiskies it is Highland style peatiness to a level we’re used to seeing in, for example Springbank (maybe a little less). It’s there – but just one flavour component amongst many. Continue reading “Tasting: Amrut Peated”
Dram data:
Distillery: – (blended Malt)
Bottler: Nikka
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2013-2014
Bottle Code: 6/14C441254
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: ca. 40€ (yes, I paid too much at a retail store…)
Casks: –
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: 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:
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: Arran
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2012
Age: NAS
Limitation: 12.000 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: 40€
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: Pale straw.
The nose opens with a lightly peated, fruity fresh first whiff. Very delicate and gentle. The peat is definitely mainland peat – not phenolic and heavy but well-integrated and subtle, yet noticeable. Beneath the peat fresh, summery fruits dominate. Continue reading “Tasting: Arran Machrie Moor – Third Edition”
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”
Dram data:
Distillery: Springbank (Longrow brand)
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2013 (bottle code 13/89)
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: 38€
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered & natural color
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: pale gold. On the nose there is an initial intense smoky note, but it is a bit more refined and not as phenolic as the offerings from nearby Islay, very distinctive. Continue reading “Tasting: Longrow Peated NAS”
Dram data:
Distillery: Blend
Bottler: WM Sanderson & Son Ltd
Distilled: –
Bottled: 1980s? 1990s?
Age: – (probably 3 years)
Limitation: unknown
Price at the time of purchasing: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: doesn’t say! Most likely 40%
Tasting notes:
Colour: Well, E150a reddish-gold. On the nose I get quite a sharp alcoholic first impression with a bit of old glue mixed in. Continue reading “Tasting: VAT 69 Vintage Austrian Import bottle”
Dram data:
Distillery: Ardbeg
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2009 (lot: L9 231)
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: 57€
Casks: french oak + ex-bourbon
Alcohol: 57,1%
Unchillfiltered & natural color
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
The dram has a very nice amber/red-gold colour. On the nose I get an immediate hit of alcohol paired with the very typical, phenolic, punchy Ardbeg peat which people tend to either love or hate – I happen to like it very, very much. Continue reading “Tasting: Ardbeg Corryvreckan”