Tag: review | Page 17 | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

October 14, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Benromach 10 yo

Dram data:
Distillery: Benromach
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 10.04.2014
Age: 10 years
Limitation: –
Casks: 9 years ex-bourbon, 1 year ex-sherry
Alcohol: 43%
Probably chill filtered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: deep red gold
The nose opens with a mixture of fragrant, light peat smoke (the malt is peated to 10-12 ppm) and sherry influence. Quite astonishing, how only one year in (presumably fresh) Oloroso butts has taken control over the spirit but not getting too loud. Continue reading “Tasting: Benromach 10 yo”

October 11, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Caol Ila 1984 30 years Rum Cask Finish by Riegger’s Selection

Dram data:
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: Riegger’s Selection
Distilled: 04.1984
Bottled: 23.10.2014
Age: 30
Limitation: 360 bottles
Cask: Rum Cask Finish
Alcohol: 56,2%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
In the glass is a (hopefully) nice Caol Ila from the mid-80s, distilled at a time, when many distilleries sadly closed down forever during the last big downturn of the Scotch industry. Let’s get started! The nose is surprisingly fresh from the get-go! I haven’t looked up the details but I guess this was at least a 2nd fill cask. Alcohol, salt spray, a slight hint of menthol, citrus peel and -juice, industrial cleaner (hey, what?) all mixed together with earthy, dirty peat smoke and a whiff of cough lozenges. Continue reading “Tasting: Caol Ila 1984 30 years Rum Cask Finish by Riegger’s Selection”

October 4, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Wemyss Spice King NAS Blended Malt

Dram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour

Tasting notes:
Colour: reddish gold
The nose starts with vanilla, lingering honey and orange peel. There are also black pepper, chocolate, coffee, a tiny amount of peat smoke and some brine. Hang on, where are the eponymous spices? Let’s investigate further!
Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss Spice King NAS Blended Malt”

September 29, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Wemyss Malts Kiln Embers Limited NAS

Dram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: 12.000 bottles
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: gold
Kiln embers, they call this. Double the Islay malt content compared to the peat chimney. Well, let’s find out and let me stick my nose in! Yep, ashy peat smoke, but restrained. A gentlemanlike version of the brute Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength tends to be. More accessible and mass-compatible, if you like, without being weak. Right, what else do we get? Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss Malts Kiln Embers Limited NAS”

September 16, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Mackmyra Midnattssol NAS

Dram data:
Distillery: Mackmyra
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: Birch sap wine cask finish
Alcohol: 46,1%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:dark gold
It’s apparent from the first nose that this is not you usual malt whisky. Does it nose like whisky? I’m not entirely sure, but it is intriguing! Sweet and herbal treesap, freshly rubbed birch leaves on syrup with a bit of vanilla mixed in, dried oranges, orange oil, ripe banana, mango skin and a (pleasant!) note of herbal cough syrup prepared with Demerara sugar. Continue reading “Tasting: Mackmyra Midnattssol NAS”

September 9, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Kilchoman Feis Ile 2015 bottling

Dram data:
Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: original bottling
Distilled: 22.05.2008
Bottled: 22.05.2015
Age: 7
Limitation: 742 bottles
Cask: 3 bourbon barrels 245, 449, 450
Alcohol: 58,2%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light gold
The nose (neat) opens with the typical, phenolic, slightly medicinal Islay peat smoke paired with brine. Despite the strong alcohol and the still relatively young age (but quite old for a Kilchoman) there are already some mellow vanilla notes paired with sweet cookies and citrus peeking through – growing stronger as the nose adjust itself to the smoke. Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman Feis Ile 2015 bottling”

September 2, 2015October 7, 2016

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

Dram 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”

August 30, 2015October 7, 2016

Tasting: Glann Ar Mor – Taol Esa B2 Heiz Korn NAS

Dram data:
Distillery: Glann Ar Mor
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Sauternes
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: honey
This was matured in Sauternes wine casks, so I expect wine-ey influences and perhaps a bit of a dry note. Let’s see: The first whiff of aroma on the nose is a mixture of sweet and dry notes – gotcha! There’s an undeniable white wine influence, this could even be grappa matured in ex-wine barrels! Continue reading “Tasting: Glann Ar Mor – Taol Esa B2 Heiz Korn NAS”

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”

August 19, 2015October 7, 2016

Blind tasting: Johnnie Walker Double Black

Dram data:
Distillery: – (Blend)
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 40%
chill filtered; coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: fake-looking orang-ey dark gold.
Ah yes, another blind tasting – haven’t done one of these in a while. The only hint I have is that it’s a travel retail 1l-sized bottling. Let’s get going then, shall we?
The nose starts off pretty light and muted at first contact, no way this is bottled at more than 40% ABV. A nose not to offend anyone: A profound generic / honey sweetness paired with vanilla, toffee, orange rind, slight spices (allspice, cinnamon) and perhaps a hint of peat smoke in the background or is the cask fooling my senses here? Continue reading “Blind tasting: Johnnie Walker Double Black”