31/07/2018 Blind tasting at Cadenhead's

Under the impression this is going to be the August outturn, ten-or-so of the regulars show up for a blind tasting of old and new, with some unreleased stuff thrown in for good measure. SW knows how to welcome guests. So well, in fact, that we are all offered a mystery sample bottle. To boot, Cameron McGeachy joins the lot, halfway through the evening.

On to the show.

The food has had a face-lift

Dram #1
Nose: citrus-y, it has lemon drizzle and green-tea bags. Mouth: fresh, with mint, tarragon and fennel (the official notes got that spot on, despite SW's gently deriding them). Finish: dried apple shavings, dry wood. This is good. Lots of guesses, all wrong. Glenrothes-Glenlivet 21yo 1996/2018 (50.9%, Cadenhead Small Batch, 3 x Bourbon Hogsheads, 990b) 7/10

Dram #2
Nose: ample and floral, it is rich and complex, which hints at a rather old whisky. Mouth: powerful, acidic, though still flowery. Finish: big, powerful, acidic and chocolate-y. Nice again. Linkwood-Glenlivet 30yo 1987/2018 (57.2%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Refill Sherry Butt, 480b) 7/10

Dram #3
Nose: nutty, with apricot stones, including some shards of fruit flesh. Mouth: a bit flinty and green, drying and very acidic. Young? Finish: soft, fruity, floral. Apricot, peach and peach again. Good, if sometimes a bit green. Linkwood-Glenlivet 11yo 2006/2018 (59.3%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogshead, 294b) 7/10

Cunning to put a young Linkwood after the old Linkwood. It confused everyone.

Glenallachie-Glenlivet 25yo 1992/2018 (56%, Cadenhead Small Batch, 2 x Bourbon Hogsheads, 540b): somehow, this one is not poured blind. Nose: raisins, green grapes and fruit soda. Mouth: big, muscular, brimming with dark grapes. Finish: more fruit, as well as some gently drying wood. This proves the most popular tonight, with MSo reminding the party at every subsequent dram that he liked this one best. Only JS is not so enthusiastic. 8/10

Dram #5
Nose: dry vine, then it opens up to reveal... bread. Olive bread, to be precise. Mouth: tickles, with gentle fruit and Cayenne pepper. Finish: now, the fruit explodes, with tinned pineapple and juicy grapes. Several guesses, including rum. All incorrect. Cognac Grande Champagne Grosperrin 32yo b.2018 (52.8%, Cadenhead Cognac, 384b) 7/10

Dram #6
Nose: hay, a lawn, after six weeks of drought. The second whiff has light peat smoke. Mouth: warm, it has straw and a veil of smoke, here too. Finish: finally, I understand why everyone else finds it so smoky; lots of peat and soot, at this stage. The reveal is a surprise, because I have had this many times, but do not recognise it anyway. Kilkerran 8yo (55.7%, OB, b.11/2017) 7/10

Ladyburn 43yo (unknown ABV, Sirius cask sample, Sherry Cask Finish): another non-blind one. No point calling: it is not available. Nose: strawberry custard on shortbread, custard-cream biscuits, Mouth: mellow and soft, sweet, it has a gently drying, dunnage-warehouse touch that I like. Finish: sugar tart, flan pie, caramelised sugar and... a hint of smoke! Very nice. 8/10

Dram #8
Nose: embers, coal dust, lots of peat smoke, old tools in the garden shed, engine oil, diesel. Mouth: more oily engines, diesel, smoke and old tools. Finish: consistent with the nose and the mouth, it has more peat, smoke, engines etc. Rather nice, this. The English Whisky Company 8yo b.2018 (61.9%, Cadenhead World Whiskies, Bourbon Hogshead, 228b) 7/10

Longrow 18yo b.2017 (46%, OB, 17/150): this became available again, after the company found cases of it that had never been paid for by the business that had ordered them. Nose: blackcurrant, or cherries, in fact, and soaked cork. Mouth: rancio, wine-soaked cork and grape pips. Finish: similar notes -- rancio, wine-soaked cork, grape skins and pips. Nice, but it suffers from the sequence. The English was much stronger and smokier, smothering this one. 7/10

SW pours Macduff 29yo 1989/2018 (55.1%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Refill Sherry Butt, 390b) to all who want it. I have had enough for tonight.

Nice little session. The cheeses were the highlight for me, but all the drams were good too.