19/11/2019 A few drams at SA's

detachedblue, SW, ZC, JS and a handful of others join me at SA's for drams and nibbles. As it turns out, a lot of each. :-)

Boom.

Fettercairn 30yo b.2005 (45%, OB The Stillman's Dram, b#000061) (J): nose: juicy peaches, buttercups, mountain-flower honey, pollen and light furniture wax. Spectacular nose that has me entranced already. Mouth: creamy, with a touch of nuts, walnut shells, and cut flowers -- including the bitterness of the flower stems. It has the wonderful texture of manuka honey and would be perfect without that faint-yet-present bitterness. Finish: long, assertive, it is very elegant. More wood and nut shells than the nose suggested, and the gentle bitterness prevents it from becoming legendary -- but that nose is something! 8/10

The GlenAllachie 29yo 1989/2018 (60%, OB Single Cask specially bottled for the UK, Sherry Butt, C#100073, 525b, b#525) (SA): nose: a hefty dose of sherry, in this one, with wood lacquer and nail polish, as well as wood -- quite a bit of it, in fact. Mouth: mellow and coating, it has melted chocolate, squashed cherries and ginger shavings. This is lively, spicy, but woody too. Later on, strawberry or raspberry shows up, which is welcome. Finish: lots of wood, here, with ginger fire, galangal shavings, crushed clove and ground cardamom. The final impression is that of raspberry custard. Nice, though I was probably hoping for better, seeing the pedigree. 7/10

Inchmurrin 9yo 2007/2017 (58.4%, OB Single Cask selected by Michael Henry, Chardonnay Wine Yeast Fermentation, C#5834, 276b) (ZC): nose: bread flour, yeast... I can sense this is about to go all tropical, but it is a bit smothered. Barley sugar, wet paper -- this nose is most particular! Mouth: sweet and soft, silky, even, it has the texture of peach nectar, with the taste of fruity yoghurt. Finish: oh! Fruit is now bursting, tropical, with persimmon and dragon fruit. I am loving this finish! 8/10

Others have Inchmurrin 19yo 1996/2016 (49.5%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 318b) (me), but I skip it.



JR: "Did anyone see Winston Chruchill's 1930 doctor's note?"
Other J: "Bizarrely enough, no."

Mackmyra Skogshallon b.2019 (44.4%, OB Moment, ex-Bourbon ex-Swedish Raspberry Wine Casks, 1511b, b#0875) (SA): nose: super sweet, it has barley snaps, raspberry and sunflower seeds. I fail to take more notes, but I do find it sweet indeed. Mouth: mellow, silky, sweet... it is strangely mildly drying, but crazy silky, with peach flesh and mushroom purée. A texture whisky, this! Finish: very powerful, in a grain sort of way, with lots of soft pastry filling and a distant metallic note. 7/10

Inchgower 38yo 1965/2003 (50.4%, Douglas Laing The Old & Rare Platinum Selection, 432b) (detachedblue): nose: brine, pickled onions, seaspray and burnt caramel. It is a dusty nose, like an old, ancient thing (ZC). An ancient thing akin to prune juice, then, salty prune juice. The second sniff brings dry earth -- ZC finds it dunnage-y, with an earthy sheen. Mouth: big, sherried, dry and salty. JS finds it mushroom-y. A fantastic Oloroso (I guess) number. Finish: long, tainted by the sherry, it is also quite woody, with lots of old wood and leather. This reminds me strongly of the Tobermory 42yo. Good sherry-matured whisky that some will find over the top. 8/10

Kavalan Amontillado (56.3%, OB Solist imported by King Car Germany, C#AM110314029A, 517b, b#068) (SA): nose: sulphury, brine-y, with olive brine, pickle vinegar and... not much else, really. Big and boisterous, yes, but complex, it is not to these nostrils. Mouth: nutty, varnish-y, but also acidic and prickle, with lots of tannins. Finish: huge, coating and everlasting, it has shoe polish, old, polish-y rags, shoe brushes and hair lacquer. Not my thing, this. 6/10

Port Charlotte10yo b.2013 (63%, OB selected by U. Pähler and N. Sparding for www.islayscotchandmore.drittler.de, 312b) (detachedblue): nose: dusty bacon, roasted over a wood fire, crispy bacon. A bit one-dimensional, really. It reminds me why I am seldom enthused by Port Charlotte. Mouth: it tickles the tongue, with mustard-y ham, mortadella and cured Serrano. Finish: big, dusty and brimming with bacon. The finish also sees acidic vinegar, which is less welcome. It is a Trump whisky: huge and orange. Not my style, but decent. 6/10

Mystery sample (JR): nose: it smells like Oloroso, blended with new make, ZC and I agree. Dark, with lots of cardboard. Mouth: big, hairy and leathery, none in a good way. Finish: hairy (as in: akin to ingesting a hairball), inky. Intense, and not my thing at all. JR giggles as he reveals the £19 mystery bottle. Diamond Navy Rum (57%, unknown bottler) 4/10

Port Charlotte 8yo PC8 Ar Dutchas (60.5%, OB, 30000b, b. ca 2010) (SA): nose: very strong, it has horse's hair, leather belts, lots of ink and funk. Mouth: enormous on the palate, chocolate-y, with sink funk and milk chocolate. I find it quite sharp, all in all. Finish: a steamroller dose of ink-y chocolate. Lots. Of. Ink. I am too tired to take decent notes. This is not for me today, despite the seasonal cold outside. Still, I like it better than the other Port Charlotte, tonight. 7/10

Exhausted. Good evening, though!

Not much will remain of those, when we leave

Killer banana bread made by JS