Daftmill 12yo 2006/2018 Summer Release (46%, OB): the first Daftmill caused a bit of a stir, earlier this ear, receiving very positive reviews. I can only admire the approach, really: in a world of quick feedback, immediate returns and a constant need for cash, Daftmill was known to me as "that new distillery in Tayside that just started." Then, they release this and I realise that they have been at it for twelve years and have somehow managed to not leak anything in that time: no new-make, no-age-statement, or very-young whisky. They patiently waited for the whisky to mature until it was twelve years of age. The only potential downside to that, of course, is that there is little brand awareness, outside of geek circles. The quality will dictate whether that will correct itself. Nose: light and delicate, it has a whiff of malt, custard and porridge, cut flowers, coconut shavings, chicken-sausage mince, pine needles, soy milk, Chardonnay and a drop of Garnier's Respons shampoo (aka Ultra Doux) with chamomile and acacia honey -- though it has the scent, not the soapiness. All that is tame, almost too discreet. Mouth: remarkably in line with the nose, the mouth has cereals (oats and barley), coconut, blond-hair shampoo, milk with a pinch of ground cardamom, a broth of cut flowers and custard. The texture is gently oily, not too thick, yet also not awfully thin. There is a gentle, acidic touch that balances the whole; unripe-orange pith, unripe-lemon pith. Finish: here too, it is rather consistent, with coconut and cereal in milk, custard, yellow flowers, the freshness of pine needles, a drop of melted milk chocolate and a faint citric note that is really rather pleasant. Well, it was a risky bet to wait all that time before releasing anything, but I can really see this becoming popular. Ideal as an apéritif. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, SW)
Tomatin 30yo (46%, OB, B#1, b.2018): this seems to replace the batches of 36yo, as well as the limited d.1988. Nose: light, ethereal and perfume-y, it has honeycomb and honeysuckle, lilac and gorse, conference pears, a little lichen and ground sage. The second sniff brings out a dollop of mud, and then citrus rises. Mouth: a few drops of grapefruit juice in custard, lovely cereals, peach drops, dried banana slices, lemon drops, a pinch of ground cloves, maybe ground cardamom too -- but one would be wrong to think this is spicy. Mango-and-peach juice. Finish: a bit more action, at last. It still has the custard-y and fruity notes, but this time, it also has a pinch of dry earth added into the mix. Fruity milk, even exotic fruit (carambola), at this stage. However, it is not an exuberant fruit storm; rather a subdued fruit salad, imported into the northern hemisphere. This is very good, but yeah! It does not have the ridiculous fruitiness of batches #1 and #3 of the 36yo. It is closer in style to batch #2. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, SW)
Ardbeg Alligator (51.2%, OB, 11100435): nose: a different ride altogether, innit. It has ink (ooh! As did the 1965 by Cadenhead). lots of ink, in fact, fresh peat, thick and greasy, turf, boggy soil, farmlands after a storm; this is incredibly inky and earthy. I cannot remember it being thus when I first had it. That goes to show circumstance does a lot for one's appreciation of whisky and that is why small samples are not usually a good thing. One only has one shot (or two). Back to the notes: a sawmill in the Adirondacks, with freshly-sawn pine trees. Take it from a bloke who has never set foot in the Adirondacks; I just like the name. It is woody, though. Mouth: boggy and earthy, more than it is inky, on the palate, it delivers more moisture-gorged turf, peat bogs and damp earth -- rubber boots at the ready, folks! Brackish, stagnant water, worms, tar and then some forest fruit: raspberry, wild strawberry, bramble. Raspberry coulis on sticky toffee pudding. Finish: smoke makes its way at last and, unexpectedly, it is very dry. The air in a bothy, around the camp fire; it might be damp outside, but not inside. Hikers are roasting raspberries on the fire. Peat-reek, incense, exotic smoke, embers from exotic-wood logs, wild berries. This sort of makes me like Ardbeg again. Not bad at all. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, MSo) |
| Pot of Lucky Charms landed not far |
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