Tag: whisky | Page 15 | MaltKlaus' Daily Drams

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.

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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.
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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?
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December 16, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas (blind) tasting #16: Arran Quarter Cask distillery exclusive

Dram data:
Distillery: Arran
Bottler: Original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014-ish
Age: NAS
Limitation: 438 bottles
Casks: quarter cask finish
Alcohol: 52,8%
unchill filtered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Blind tasting notes:
Colour: light gold
The nose is initially on the light side, getting darker and richer as time passes. 40-43% ABV would be my guess. We’ve got vanilla, honey, heather, a hint of toffee, baked apple with brown sugar, sweet flowers, fragrant oak, slight spices and dried fruits (raisins) in the background.
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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.
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December 14, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #14: Tomatin 14 yo

Dram data:
Distillery: Tomatin
Bottler: original bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 03.04.2014
Age: 14 years
Limitation: –
Casks: Port finish
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: reddish gold
The nose is a summery fruitbomb, opening with vanilla-infused red fruits on Demerara sugar. Which red fruits? strawberries and raspberries, successfuly bringing the warm feeling of summer back on this cold and dreich December day. The fruit garden in the glass must be in close proximity to a vineyard – there are notes of grape skin and sweet grapes as well as a hint of oak and just a trace of spices paired with a note of thick, old balsamico di Modena.
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December 13, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #13: Glenturret 2001 – 2015 by G&M

Dram data:
Distillery: Glenturret
Bottler: Gordon & Macphail
Distilled: 2001
Bottled: 23.09.2015
Age: ca. 14 years
Limitation: –
Casks: sherry casks
Alcohol: 43%
(most likely)chill filtered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: amber
The nose is unmistakably sherry influenced – there’s no mention about the casks being used on the label so we can only guess, but it’s a safe bet! The vanilla does point into the direction of either American oak sherry casks or a second maturation. Type of sherry? Could be a sweet Oloroso or a PX. So, we’ve got sweet-ish sherry notes, vanilla, ripe cherries, raisins, condensed orange juice, caramel, hints of toffee, wax and just slight spices – more like ginger than European oak oriental spices.
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December 11, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #11: Benriach 12 yo

Dram data:
Distillery: Benriach
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: ca. 2015
Age: 12 years
Limitation: –
Casks: Oloroso and PX
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: dark honey
The label says “matured in sherry wood” and the nose agrees! Medium intensity, rather dry sherry notes (dry-ish Oloroso?) meet red fruits (cherries, plums), oranges with zest, raisins (+sweetness), caramelised ginger, and mixed spices – allspice, cinnamon and cloves. Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #11: Benriach 12 yo”

December 9, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #9: Tomintoul Peaty Tang NAS

Dram data:
Distillery: Tomintoul
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: 04.03.2014 (14/02072)
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 40%
chill filtered; coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: light gold
The nose starts with a quite noticeable level of fragrant peat smoke – quite sweet (malt sweetness mixed with brown sugar) and mingled with notes of vanilla, custard, heather, sweet flowers and orange blossoms. Quite light and pleasing, designed not to overwhelm.
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December 8, 2015October 7, 2016

24 drams till Christmas tasting #8: Strathmill 1995 19 yo by Cadenhead’s

Dram data:
Distillery: Strathmill
Bottler: Cadenhead’s
Distilled: 1995
Bottled: 10.2015
Age: 19 years
Limitation: 264 bottles
Casks: ex-bourbon / ex-Chateau Lafitte since 2009
Alcohol: 55.1%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: honey
The nose is… different on first sniff. Slightly alcoholic and summer fruits (strawberries). Is this some sort of finishing? Doesn’t say on the miniature so let’s check online. Ah yes, there you have it, matured in a Chateau Lafitte (sic!) red-wine cask since 2009 (roughly six years). Thought as much. Thank god the wine finish isn’t overdone, it is still a light spirit from most likely an initial x-fill bourbon cask kindly nudged into a different direction without killing it. Now that’s established we can go back to nosing, shall we?
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #8: Strathmill 1995 19 yo by Cadenhead’s”