Tag: tasting | Page 14 | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

January 13, 2016October 7, 2016

Tasting: Caol Ila 1995 20 yo by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 10.2015
Age: 20 years
Limitation: 564 bottles
Casks: Butt
Alcohol: 57.7%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: white wine
Seems like yesterday since I last tasted a refill-Butt 20-ish Caol Ila. I was very fond of the last one so there’s certainly no harm in trying another! The nose is… rather gentle and delicate, actually. Very little alcohol despite nearly 58% ABV with a light and delicate peat smoke – almost a Bowmore-ish flowery note (burning lavender and violets?). Slightly damp cotton candy, diluted honey, almost faded Italian orange blossoms, citrus juice with bits and peel, an oak board in a florist’s shop and highland honey so faint you’re wondering if the bees made it through the summer. Continue reading “Tasting: Caol Ila 1995 20 yo by Cadenhead’s”

December 24, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #24: Bunnahabhain 1988 24 yo by Signatory Vintage

Dram data:
Distillery: Bunnahabhain
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Distilled: 10.10.1988
Bottled: 30.07.2013
Age: 24 years
Limitation: 588 bottles
Casks: refill Sherry Butt
Alcohol: 55,9%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: amber
How fitting! A 24 yo single malt whisky to conclude the 24 drams till Christmas series! This better be a good one for a great finish or I’ll have to extend it to 25 days… The nose starts off slightly alcoholic but there’s greatness underneath! Classic European oak sherry cask matured whisky – post Paxarette! Spices up front – cloves, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg. The cask is strong with this one (excuse the Star Wars pun…), no oaky notes, just letting the spices talk. Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #24: Bunnahabhain 1988 24 yo by Signatory Vintage”

December 23, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #23: Arran Amarone Finish NAS

Dram data:
Distillery: Arran
Bottler: Original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2013
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Amarone finish
Alcohol: 50%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: amber with cherry juice
The red wine finish is very apparent on the nose! An initial blast of fresh citrus fruits (ripe oranges and tangerines) with red fruits (cherries, brambles, strawberries, cassis) and cask spices (allspice, cloves). Initially I was not a fan, the freshly opened bottle was a tad too young, but it improved greatly with oxygenation. Adding a tablespoon of water and time in the glass helps to bring out the fruits even more.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #23: Arran Amarone Finish NAS”

December 22, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #22: Double Barrel Highland Park + Bowmore 10 yo

Dram data:
Distillery: Highland Park / Bowmore
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2009
Age: 10
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
The nose is very light and gentle – quite surprising, to be honest. One would expect greater, bolder things. Light and fragrant peat smoke with burning lavender in the mix, a slight perfume note, vanilla pudding where the cook was very stingy with the sugar and the vanilla, the same cook also overly diluted the honey with sugar water (again, being stingy with the sugar) and had just a pinch of coconut and ripe pineapple left.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #22: Double Barrel Highland Park + Bowmore 10 yo”

December 21, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #21: Jura Prophecy NAS

Dram data:
Distillery: Jura
Bottler: Original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2014
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: Limousin oak
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light amber (coloured, what a shame!)
You can smell the spitting distance to Islay on the nose! Peat smoke, the phenolic kind, dominates on first contact. Salted toffee, heather, spent ground coffee, cocoa beans, malt syrup and vanilla-infused palm honey with star anise and cinnamon from the Limousin oak. The advertising says the “finest and rarest aged” whiskies were used, but that doesn’t mean anything.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #21: Jura Prophecy NAS”

December 20, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #20: Glen Ord 1997 15 yo by Archives

Dram data:
Distillery: Glen Ord
Bottler: Archives
Distilled: 04.1997
Bottled: 04.2012
Age: 12
Limitation: 64 bottles
Casks: Hogshead 800083
Alcohol: 54,2%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
The nose suggests a refill hoggie, slightly restrained yet fragrant and fruity-sweet. Vanilla, pear juice, malt extract, peaches, sweet grapes, white chocolate and a slight hint of sweet perfume with a layer of alcohol and citrus on top. A summer dram.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #20: Glen Ord 1997 15 yo by Archives”

December 19, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #19: Laphroaig 1990 19 yo by A.D. Rattray

Dram data:
Distillery: Laphroaig
Bottler: A.D. Rattray
Distilled: 29.03.1990
Bottled: 30.06.2009
Age: 19
Limitation: 203 bottles
Casks: refill ex-Bourbon #2239
Alcohol: 56%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
Dirty, peaty, smoky Islay as we love (or hate…) it on the nose! Phenolic peat smoke, damp oily rags used to wipe down a puffers’ engine, cigarette ash and iodine wound disinfectant paired with a lemon-infused get-well-tea in the Bowmore hospital. Oh and a eucalyptus shrub as a twisted gift for the patient thrown in for good measure! Salty too – licking sea-stones at the Laphroaig pier.

Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #19: Laphroaig 1990 19 yo by A.D. Rattray”

December 18, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #18: The Good Spirits Co. Cask 23 blend batch 9

Dram data:
Distillery: – (blended malt)
Bottler: The Good Spirits Co.
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2013
Age: youngest malt is 7 yo
Limitation: –
Casks: unknown, “living cask” for vatting
Alcohol: 57%
unchillfiltered; natural colour

Tasting notes:
Colour: red gold
The nose is initially quite alcoholic – this batch had a load of young high-octane Glentauchers added. Vanilla, light honey, heather, citrus, coconut, eucalyptus and a grassy, green note. Feels a tad young. On the palate the load of high-strength young whisky is immediately noticeable as well. As the alcohol and initial dryness passes the dram is mouth-coating and pleasantly oily. Bourbon-matured Glentauchers, I’d say, but the exact proportions of Glentauchers to other malts are unknown.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #18: The Good Spirits Co. Cask 23 blend batch 9”

December 17, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #17: Bladnoch 2001 11 yo lightly peated Sherry cask 280

Dram data:
Distillery: Bladnoch
Bottler: original bottling
Distilled: 16.11.2001
Bottled: 25.06.2013
Age: 11 years
Limitation: –
Casks: Sherry cask #280
Alcohol: 55%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: amber
The nose, although it is not a triple distilled whisky, is initially that of a typical, light, fruity, sherried Lowlander. Slightly alcoholic (no wonder at 55% ABV and 11 years of age), with a noticeable citrus note, diluted dark fruit puree, spices (allspice and cloves), dried orange peel, molasses and fruit bread. Getting darker and more interesting as time passes on. But, wait, what’s that?
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #17: Bladnoch 2001 11 yo lightly peated Sherry cask 280”

December 15, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #15: Caol Ila 1993 21 yo by A.D. Rattray

Dram data:
Distillery: Caol Ila
Bottler: Dewar Rattray
Distilled: 19.07.1993
Bottled: 11.08.2014
Age: 21 years
Limitation: 311 bottles
Cask: Refill Butt 11144 (Part)
Alcohol: 56,8%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: white wine
The nose has an astonishing amount of peat smoke left for a 21-year-old dram! Peat smoked salted herring with tang, cigar ash, burning hard wood and latex gloves on much more mellow sweet notes of cake icing with a dash of lemon, honey and malt extract with vanilla pudding. Hm… the label says “sherry butt” – probably american wood and 3rd fill, so there’s no trace of sherry left.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #15: Caol Ila 1993 21 yo by A.D. Rattray”