Dram Review: Bowmore The Fèis Ìle Collect1°.n 2018 Aged 15 Years

[52.5%・15 Years Old・Bottled in 2018・Official Bottling・Limited Release of 3,000 Bottles] Nose: Quite salty and herbal from the cask, dense with chocolate dust, vanilla fudge, smoked peanuts and roasted almonds, in time it develops a certain musk from mushrooms and herbs. Palate & Finish: Dried figs and salted nuts, herbal with smoked black tea as the…

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Whisky Review: Signatory Vintage Bowmore 2000 Aged 14 Years Cask Hand Picked by The Whisky Exchange

Style: Fruity and Floral Nose: Smoked ham, squid ink and dry barley mixing with some iodine blots. Followed by a layer of chilli and Sichuan pepper spice which buries a subtle honey mead-tropical fruits sweetness at a lower level. White fruits, nectarines coated with lemon balm gradually emerge, albeit at a lesser form. Mossy and…

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Dram Review: Scotch Malt Sales Bowmore Aged 12 Years

[57.0%・12 Years Old・Distilled Circa 1970s・Bottled Circa 1989・Scotch Malt Sales Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: Happy to say this is not even close to being hot and overwhelming, in fact it is pretty poised and relaxed, sweet peat drawing from the syrupy base as molten salted caramel gracefully flows out. Palate & Finish: Substantial, luscious mouthfeel of sexy…

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Dram Review: Scotch Malt Sales Bowmore Aged 18 Years

[57.0%・18 Years Old・Distilled Circa 1970s・Scotch Malt Sales Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: Boosting an indulgent thickness, chocolate, smoked figs and other mushed Sherry fruits get churned with toffee and caramelised popcorn, stupendously expressive. Palate & Finish: The Sherry influence is phenomenal, fragrant dark fruits carrying this certain sensual saltiness from the cask. The aged Sherry note folds…

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Dram Review: Glen Extra (Springbank) 12 Years Old

[70 Proof・Bottled Circa 1960s・12 Years Old・Robert Watson Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: Grassy with this certain attractive antique style white fruit note. Some burnt toast follows as well as leather and tobacco, some jasmine too before it turns somewhat savoury with grilled capsicum to go with a perfume-y undertone. Palate & Finish: Smooth white fruits along with…

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Dram Review: Springbank 21 Years Old Specially Bottled for Malt House Islay

[54.1%・Distilled in 1997・Bottled in 2018・21 Years Old・Official Bottling for Malt House Islay・Cask No. 118・Single Cask Release] Nose: A proper showing of meaty Sherried Springbank but at the same time it gets evened out by some vibrant light fruits. Quite leathery and malty with some fainter fragrance hanging on, followed by a clean wave of ripe…

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Dram Review: SMWS 27.109 Springbank “Guns on the Grouse Moor”

[58.3%・Distilled in 1998・Bottled in 2015・16 Years Old・SMWS Bottling・Single Cask Release of 738 Bottles] Nose: Perhaps not a surprise for a Springbank matured in a Gorda cask, the nose is driven by meat broth and salted meat, with a tinge of gun powder sulphur in the mix, thick confectionary layer giving an oily sweetness, rounded with…

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Whisky Review: Springbank Calvados Wood 2000 12 Years Old

Style: Crisp, Sweet and Spicy Nose: Kicks off with a fresh and spirited tone, fragrant green apples, kiwi, fruit tarts while coal fire churning gently underneath. A few acidic touches and the spirit/herbal spice is quite fired up and locked up part of the aroma. Shy malt sponge cake gradually opens up with stewed fruits…

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Dram Review: Springbank 18 Years Old (Bottled in 2009)

[46%・Bottled in 2009・18 Years Old・Official Bottling・Limited Release of 7,800 Bottles] Nose: The nose begins with a charming and accomodating dose of dark fruits and some dried fruits, minerals brushed over raisins and berries with discrete hints of wet grassiness and earthiness as well as a faint lace of smoke. Palate & Finish: Pleasing dried fruits…

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Dram Review: Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glen Grant 1948 (Cask No. 2154)

[48.6%・70 Years Old・Distilled in 1948・Bottled in 2018・Gordon & MacPhail Bottling・Cask No. 2154・Single Cask Release of 210 Bottles] Nose: It is remarkable how lively the dram still is!  Honey is laid down in a stately and elegant manner, the floral notes mingle with some Italian herbs as the creaminess from the oak melts into a certain…

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