Dram Review: Karuizawa Noh 21 Years Old (Cask No. 6149)

[63.6%・21 Years Old・Distilled in 1994・Bottled in 2016・The Number One Drinks Company Bottling・Cask No. 6149・Single Cask Release of 380 Bottles] Nose: Quite malty on the nose at first but then the peat cuts in assertively and perhaps somewhat unexpectedly early.  Honey, heather and dry herbs follow, in time the dram grows smokier with a distinct dirty…

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Dram Review: Karuizawa Noh 15 Years Old (Cask No. 2326)

[62.2%・15 Years Old・Distilled in 2000・Bottled in 2015・The Number One Drinks Company Bottling・Cask No. 2326・Single Cask Release of 495 Bottles] Nose: The nose is quite pungent, heavily handed on the malt, butter and honey. The vanilla note is quite prominent with some toasted nuts and almond butter as well, gets quite bread-y, raisin bread in particular.…

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Dram Review: Ardbeg Twenty Something

[46.3%・23 Years Old・Bottled in 2017・Official Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: The peat is mild and melted into a pool of oil diesel, fumes and smoke.  Faintly Sherried and slightly milky, there’s some iodine in there but perhaps it’s a tad metallic as well. Palate & Finish: Vanilla, chocolate and Sherried fruits, the delivery is not too dramatic,…

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Spirit Review: Archie Rose Six Malt Spirit matured in 100L Apera Sherry Cask for 18 months

Nose: Powerful spice, but the core aroma is surprisingly gentle on the nose. Soft but determined dark/red fruits notes, raisinets uplifted by an herbal overtone. Orange drops and black currants. There are still glimpses of raw new make malt syrup notes here, but some rough edges have been polished off. Palate: Red fruits with an…

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Dram Review: Samaroli The Glenlivet 1976

[45.0%・25 Years Old・Distilled in 1976・Bottled in 2001・Samaroli Bottling・Cask No. 5521・Single Cask Release of 648 Bottles] Nose: Ahhh, this is nice, soft English toffee, Muscovado sugar, and buttero leather; red tea with just a bit of gingery kick.  Beautifully Sherried in such a manner that embodies the characters of Italian independent bottling as the malt moves…

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Whisky Review: The Glenlivet Archive 21 Years of Age Batch 0414N

Style: Rich and Fruity Nose: Starts with a faint whiff of gunpowder, leading to poached pears and black currants. Ginger spice shoots through all layers, berries compote lightly dipped in honey vanilla milk, whereas soft oatmeal trail tracing at the back. A nice fragrant fruity core, unfortunately maybe it is slightly tainted by sulphur. Palate:…

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Whisky Review: Artist #5 Glenlivet Aged 40 Years by La Maison du Whisky

Style: Sherry and Oaky Nose: Floral nectar crystallizing nicely at the front, sugared cranberries adding an extra sweet touch to the aroma. Early oak presence as we have generous amount of saw dust tipped and stirred into the mix. Sherry notes drilled into the core, ripe red mangoes underlined by chilli spices. Coconut shreds, a…

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Whisky Review: The Glenlivet XXV Batch 0115B

Style: Fruity and Spicy Nose: Round red fruits-citrus sweetness wrapping around fresh ginger slices on the nose. Barley husk sprinkling over a layer of vanilla agar agar pudding. Hints of earthy five spices. Aroma nicely sharpened, sweet and refreshing, quite nice. Palate: Red cherries and red currants taking on a strong ginger-lemon gust and fly…

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Dram Review: Berry Bros & Rudd Glenlivet 1973 Aged 38 Years Cask Ref. 10658

[48.6%・38 Years Old・Distilled in 1973・Bottled in 2012・Berry Bros & Rudd Bottling・Cask No. 10658・Single Cask Release] Nose: Beautiful aromas of fruity nectar, vanilla and ripe banana peels swirling together with minerals as tame mahogany and a lager note continue to develop in a stately manner. Palate & Finish: Red tea and juicy cherries unfolding out of…

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Spirit Review: Archie Rose Six Malt New Make

Nose: Youthful malt syrup with grassy edges. Marshmallows, caramel and chocolate cookie dough developing on top of subtle fruitiness. Distinct carrot cake and earthy nutmeg notes coming forward towards the end. Palate: Vibrant confectionaries fruits sweeping across and transmute to drier chocolate barley husk on the palate. Abundant ester fruits – mostly oranges, nicely placed…

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