Blogging, one whisky at a time
[48.5%・20 Years Old・Distilled in 1965・Bottled in 1985・Intertrade Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: The nose boosts a marvellous curation of chocolate sponge cake, cherry jam, red tea and roasted capsicum. Aged ginger and ground cinnamon bringing out the luminousness of the Sherry casks as aged leather soothes the boldness. In time, the ashy core of the dram begins…
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[55.6%・11 Years Old・Distilled in 1998・Bottled in 2009・Official Bottling・Cask No. 2763・Single Cask Release of 270 Bottles] Nose: Quite a relaxed, but certainly not shy dose of maritime peat, brine-y with some coffee beans, just a tinge on the sharp side with the cedar shoe trees. Dry twigs and wet mud on a herbal base, but still…
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[48.0%・48 Years Old・Distilled in 1965・SMWS Bottling・Single Cask Release] Nose: Rich honey with a beautiful and transcending polished wood note indicative of its age, undoubtedly a result of a deep imprint of the oak over the years, certainly in a class of its own. It has this armagnac like earthiness with the richness of syrup cured fruits…
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[45.0%・21 Years Old・Distilled in 1986・Bottled in 2007・Gordon & MacPhail Bottling・Limited Release of 1860 Bottles] Nose: On the nose it’s black forest sponge cake made with fine vanilla grain and a couple of mint leaves to dress, so soft it feels like falling on a bed of cotton. Despite the sherry influence though the maritime note…
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[50.2%・NAS・Official Bottling・Limited Release of 2,700 Bottles] Nose: Sweet mahogany on the nose, the fragrant note is so smooth it simply skids through, followed closely by a gentle honeyed woodiness. Toasted spices adding to the depth with just a touch of cinnamon sprinkled upon a brush of vintage sherry inspired acidity. Palate & Finish: The sweetness…
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[55.6%・NAS・Bottled Circa. 2015-2016・Official Bottling・Single Cask Release] Congratulations to Kavalan for yet another successful year at the World Whiskies Awards. I had the fortune to taste a sample of this along with the Moscatel and the Manzanilla casks, and whilst all are delicious, I have to say this one was by far the most complex though…
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[43.0%・10 Years Old・Ocean Whisky Bottling] Nose: A whiff of packed raisin fructose arrives initially on the nose, surrounded with nips of pears, figs and wood chips. There is an understated layer of malt and vanilla cream, just enough in dosage that it adds to the depth but not so much that the tone gets weighted…
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[40.0%・Distilled in 1982・Gordon & MacPhail Bottling・Limited Release] How gorgeous are those legs? Nose: Barley sugar with a waxy undertone. A classic Highland dram that celebrates the lightness of whisky crafting back when times were simpler. Honey with a light hint of candied ginger, pear sweets with a hint of smoke that lingers on the backend.…
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[51.0%・Distilled in 1986・Bottled in 2009・Cask No. 6B 0021・Official Bottling・Single Cask Release] Nose: Balsamic vinegar reduction laced on poached red apples that are fully ripen, with a creamy maltiness within. There is a stunning shrine woodiness, something that only develops after years of quiet maturation in a mizunara cask. Palate & Finish: Intertwining sweetness on the…
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[57.8%・NAS・Bottled Circa. 2015-2016・Official Bottling・Single Cask Release] Nose: Melted vanilla ice cream on the nose with the rich, concentrated fruitiness from dried Filipino mango slices. The White oak note forms a bridge for the fruitiness to transition to a salty note. A direct and bold approach without unnecessary detours. Palate & Finish: A big and sturdy…
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