Blogging, one whisky at a time
Style: Fruity and Smoky Nose:Sumptuous hay smoke, malt syrup with a good dose of shell fish on the nose. Sea salt rubbing on kombu, fish sauce and minerals, the peat element is surprisingly maritime-driven, I don’t think the distillery is anywhere near the sea, no? Down a layer reveal sugary tropical fruits. Melons and dried…
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[53.5%・18 Years Old・Distilled in 1979・Bottled in 1997・Clydesdale Bottling・Cask No. 5967・Single Cask Release of 222 Bottles] Nose: The heavy cowshed presence is surprising, hints of coal smoke, apple wood incense lingering above a wholesome, oily base of overripe pears, honey and malt. Traces of iodine, white pepper and aged ginger cubes vaguely surface from the background.…
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Style: Delicate and Fruity Nose:Pear and peach aroma intertwining gracefully at the front, delicate and pleasantly sweet. Followed by a subtle mash of assorted fruits – tropical, orchard, throwing in a bit of citrus and even forest berries. Caramel lightly drizzling on honeycomb, while peppermint and juniper berries forming a high overtone. Barley echoes softly…
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[46.5%・36 Years Old・Distilled in 1980・Kinko Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: Stylistically very much a Japanese style Sherried whisky, poached fruits wrapped in rice paper, with cinnamon dust and date syrup dressed atop. There is also an aged furniture vibe to things, and later on becoming slightly toasty, with some fine aromas from mango and passion fruit sauces…
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Style: Red fruits and Oaky Nose:Sweet, round ruby grapes march in majestically with figs, strawberries, hawthorns, bay berries and plums lining neatly on the side. Light dedemara syrup and butterscotch rounding up the sweetness nicely. Varnish and freshly shaved timber sweep in, while a deeper umami tone lurking quietly in the shadow. Youthful chili spice…
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[51.8%・37 Years Old・Distilled in 1972・Bottled in 2010・The Whisky Cask Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: Heartwarming aromas of lemon butter, beeswax and egg custard getting heated up an elegant white floral note brings about notes of toasted almond and newly sanded white oak. Palate & Finish: A generous oily honey sweetness makes for a warm delivery, the equivalent…
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[43.0%・14 Years Old・Distilled in 1974・Bottled in 1988・Sestante Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: A stroll along the rocky beaches of Islay on a cool morning. Oyster shells and seaweed washing ashore with a mild layer of sooty ash that brings out a sugary note. Palate & Finish: Sweet flowing lemon butter drizzled with coarse sea salt, the taste…
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Style: Citus-y and Complex Nose:Lemon peel, Sprite lightly mixed with peppermint schnapps to give a satisfying warmth. Mineralic and coastal peat echoing a gentle whisper. Orange confectionaries sprinkled with citrus salt. Barley scattered around carelessly while a thin layer of wax coated around the core. Light pencil shavings and floral fragrance sitting at the bottom.…
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[57.3%・20 Years Old・Bottled in 2019・Official Bottling・Limited Release of 1,819 Bottles] Nose: The Sherry theme is noticeably heavy right from the get go with a whiff of spirit intensity coming across as rather strong. Toffee crisp adding to the weight with some poached fruits adding to the mix in time. Quite oily at first but develops…
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Style: Fruity, Complex and Elegant Nose:Gentle entrance of lemon citrus, while herbal notes beaming positively at the front. Orange drops, baked fruits, coriander (?), yellow flowers, a touch of tar and tropical fruits all carefully weaving together to give a subtle, beautiful and complex secondary layer, which is quite the reverse of what the “modern”…
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