Auchentoshan 25yo 1992/2017 (44.8%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Barrel, 198b): nose: grape and cherry juice. Mouth: boiled sweets, honey and flowers. Finish: boiled sweets again, fruit, powdered sugar. It has a gentle bitterness towards the end. Some find it good... for an Auchentoshan. Unfair, I say. This will remain my favourite of the new outturn, tonight. 8/10
Invergordon 43yo 1973/2017 (51.3%, Cadenhead Single Cask 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Barrel, 222b): this came out last month, but there is an open bottle and it is kindly offered -- who are we to refuse? Nose: fruity pastry, polished wood and caramel. Mouth: superb balance, with roasted wood and toasted coconut. Finish: lovely pastry and a hint of metal. Good grain, though I think I was expecting more out of something of that age. 8/10
Glenturret 29yo 1987/2017 (42.1%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 150b): this is the one I am most looking forward to. There has not been a Glenturret for a while, and the latest few I have had were spectacular -- remember the Rattray one, last year. What will this give? Nose: wine-y at first, it soon opens up to reveal ripe fruit (raspberries and yellow plums). Mouth: soft and mellow. The quantity I get does not allow me for very abundant notes, I am afraid. Finish: very gentle, delicate, subdued. Apple compote and pear juice. Good, once past the wine-y nose (JS hates that), but it seems very subtle. Perhaps too subtle. Is the sequence at fault? 7/10
Glen Scotia 25yo 1992/2017 (44%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 186b): the party was called in to decide on the order, and it is a little puzzling to me. Nae bother. Nose: fruit in cow dung. Definitely cow dung. Farmyard, then liquorice. Mouth: liquorice allsorts aplenty, here. Finish: more liquorice allsorts. The nose is interesting (for countryside lovers), the rest is meh if, like myself, one does not care for liquorice. Still rather funny. 6/10
Ben Nevis 18yo 1998/2017 (50.2%, Cadenhead Rum Cask 175th Anniversary, Rum Cask, 210b): nose: muddy fruit, then mint, basil... and more mud. Mouth: dusty, with crushed, dried leaves. Finish: more dust, earth and weird fruit. More interesting than really enjoyable, but it is pleasant enough. 6/10
Ord 21yo 1996/2017 (55.7%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 252): lots of puns about this being served in the wrong Ord-er, and how one can Ord-er it online as early as tomorrow. Nose: mint chewing gum. The green ones. Mouth: peppermint chewing gum. Finish: very, very minty. Not for me, this. A bit of a one-trick pony. At the same time, if one loves minty chewing gum, this is the One. 5/10
Aberfeldy 21yo 1996/2017 (54.6%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 270b): nose: rancid butter, wine turning into vinegar, then sugary water. Mouth: acidic, with lemon gone wrong. Finish: hard, acidic, lemon-y, it has a slightly redeeming hint of custard lingering in the finish. 5/10
Glen Keith 42yo 1973/2015 (45.8%, Cadenhead Cask End, Bourbon Hogshead): a sample from the vaults, and one that many tonight have not tried. Good to have this opportunity. Nose: buttercups, chamomile, pineapple chamomile, hay, and a touch of leather. Mouth: honey, daffodils, pineapple chamomile. Finish: long, with flowers, yellow-flesh fruits and ginger. This is great. It would likely score better in different circumstances. 8/10
Glenburgie-Glenlivet 24yo 1993/2017 (53%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Refill Claret Hogshead, 216b): my second-most anticipated dram tonight. After trying the wonderful 25yo "shop label," for which notes will appear on this blog in the future, I am impatient to find out if this similar beast is as good. 'Similar' is a strong word; after all, and despite the Authentic Collection label, this is a wine maturation. Nose: ample, it has buttery fruit, melting pears, roasted hazelnuts and pastry. Mouth: soft, silky with a pinch of white pepper, it also has a touch of hay and pillow-y feathers. Finish: dark-chocolate mousse. Completely unexpected. Wow. This is very nice. 8/10
Tomintoul 11yo 2006/2017 (57.2%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Barrel, 240b): it seems odd to me to finish with a non-peated eleven-year-old, but fine. Let us go with the will of the people. Nose: Menthos freshness and oak -- lots of both. Mouth: nutty and nougat-y, ginger-y, peppery. Finish: hot, with ginger and too much wood for me. 4/10 |
| Cosy around the table |
Various samples are produced, namely a Linlithgow, a Glen Mhor and a couple of Port Ellens (thanks to the kind donors). I take no notes.
Talking about a recent-ish Malts of Scotland Port Ellen;
JS: "Where do you buy your Malts of Scotland from?"
OF: "Scoma and others. I bought it right before Brexit."
JS: "Of course. Now it costs twice as much."
Great little session, with lots of silly nonsense.
