28/10/2024 Lagg

Lagg 5yo 2019/2024 (60.5%, OB Distillery Exclusive, B#7, C#LG19/0997, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Cask): nose: a punch of peat. We have hot ink, seal wax, melted over hot embers, fishing nets so dry they turn crusty and crispy, barbecued oysters, and, underneath all that, an earthy lick of forest floor, or petrichor. Deeper nosing gives more barbecued goodies, less discernible, but more earth-crawlers than seafood. The second nose offers a stack of books, kept in a black bin bag in the sun. Lastly, we have grilled skewers of diced white fish, yellow peppers, and chunks of fruits. Mouth: the palate blends ashy barbecue leftovers, lichen-y eau-de-vie, and an almost grain-like green sweetness à la Port Dundas. Young Caol Ila comes to mind, for some reason. The strength is noticeable, not detrimental. We then have quince, lichen, and dried saxifrage, as well as limestone, all ground to a dusty pulp, and mixed together. The second sip has a briny seawater feel to it, yet it is also sweet, in a roasted-calamansi way. Perhaps we find dried rosemary too. Roasted or grilled citrus is more pronounced as time goes on. Finish: not sure it is still quince, but orchard fruit, certainly, and limestone too. It is not far from quarry dust, borderline chalky. It is also warming! Lingering in the aftertaste is smoked-apricot compote. The second gulp gives a clear algae vibe, both fresh- and seawater algae, topped with a sprinkle of lemon juice. It remains fresh and fruity, while pushing barbecued fruits and seaweed. And could that be grilled pineapple rings wrapped in clingfilm? As unusual as it may read, it is! So young, and very good already. How promising! 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, MR)

27/10/2024 Horror films

For some reason, we always end up doing a tasting just before Halloween, though not always with the same people. This year's the theme is a little stricter in that it focusses on films in the horror genre, not just horror more broadly.

JS, BA and PS join me for a spooky afternoon.

Boo!

The soundtrack: Tangerine Dream - Sorcerer

JS presents: The Shining

Glenturret 1966/1987 (43%, OB ceramic decanter, 500b): nose: a very characteristic smell of vinegar and cardboard that is also sharply mineral. Mouth: behind a clear fruitiness (currants and prunes), we find a pronounced bitterness -- not horrible, but persistent. Finish: more currants, raisins, prunes. It is drying like a white wine, and, if it is not an easy dram, it is a pleasant starter. Full notes here. 7/10

PS: "Horror is not the genre I would decide to watch first. In fact, it is not the second, third, or fourth either. I don't think it's even in the top ten."
JS: "What is your favourite genre, then? Sci-fi?"
tOMoH: "Porn, obviously!"
PS: "You're both wrong. Porn sci-fi. The classic Mission to your Anus."

I tell the group how, during the morning run, I had a flash of inspiration, and thought we should have a Caledonian, for Apo-Cally-pse Now, with its famous monologue "The horror. The horror."

JS: "Have you watched Game of Thrones?"
BA: "I watched it from a distance, for a while, then I was distracted by a shiny thing, or something."
tOMoH: "Was it a bottle of Glenturret d.1966?"

The soundtrack: Various - Best Beats 2

JS presents: Prince of Darkness, and BA presents: Necessary Evil (which is not a film, but good enough a link).

StilL 630 1yo Presence of Darkness (40.5%, OB Beer Collaboration Series VII, Oak Barrels, B#2, b#524): nose: weird fruits (BA), draffy notes (PS), bins of damp cereals (PS), tutti frutti, Irn Bru, and candied papaya in cereals. Some glue too, perhaps, though it is not a particularly-grainy profile in the traditional sense. Closer to a Rye whiskey, if anything. Mouth: so silky, a cocktail of orange and peach juices turn into orange peels. Finish: oh! it is filled to the brim with orange and tangerine peels, as well as fruit juice. Lovely as ever. Full notes here. 7/10

vs.

Wire Works Necessary Evil Finish (51.3%, OB, First-Fill Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels/Thornbridge Brewery Imperial Stout Finish, B#2, issue#05-210842-26): nose: it is strangely similar to the StilL 630, in that it has chemical fruits and cereals, candied papaya or pineapple cubes, and Irn Bru. Beer casks, eh? Hoppy fruits (BA). Mouth: it is a little more stripping on the tongue, with dry wood, splintered cinnamon bark, dusty planks, leather and orange rinds so dried they crack on their own. Finish: big, it has a mound of dried citrus peels ground into dust, some ginger powder, and cinnamon, as well as dried lemon-or-lime wedges. Very good. It does turn numbing, in the long run, but manages to remain rather nice. 7/10

BA [about his cask, currently at Bimber]: "We saw it, and it had leaks at every seam. The guy took it and emptied it back into the tank, then gave it to Dariusz -- or whatever his real name is, -- because he has a flamethrower -- obvs.

The soundtrack: Zanias - Ecdysis

BA [about Wire Work]: "My cask went there, not just because they said yes, but also because I like them."

tOMoH presents: The Isle (of Jura)

Isle of Jura d.1976 (57.5%, Harleyford Manor for Geoffrey Folley, b.1980s): nose: musty, fusty (PS), animal, with some faded leather, and a kind of shampoo, if one knows to look for it. Mouth: very soapy on the palate (BA), soft, sweet, then soapy indeed. Doesnae bother me, though. Finish: a blend of sweet and soapy. Full notes here. 7/10

The soundtrack: Subskan - Drawback

BA presents: Kill Devil (not a film either, but sufficiently evil for the occasion).

The Arran Malt The Devil's Punch Bowl (52.3%, OB Limited Edition, Bourbon Barrels & Sherry Butts, 6660b, b.2012): powerful, it takes a while to open up. Then, we have lozenges, cinnamon sweets, and dried pineapple wrapped in suede. The second nose has some sort of berries that I cannot identify with certainty. Mouth: we have bold blush-orange segments (devoid of any pith), and a little rubber bitterness. It gets fruitier with time, with elderberry and snowberry, as well as a dollop of scented plasticine. Finish: long, powerful, but balanced. JS calls it benign. "Like the best kind of tumours -- benign," says PS. It provides a lingering numbness, and an overall plasticine-y feel that I really enjoy. Pesky Arran. Always effortlessly good. 7/10

BA: "I did a tasting in Cambridge. It all went wrong."
tOMoH: "?"
BA: "I did the tasting, they said: 'Come to the pub.' I went to the pub, started drinking, continued drinking, and missed my train. I said: 'Oh! shit.' The guy said: 'No problem: there is a Travelodge down the road.' I booked a room for £70, and continued drinking. Then I woke up in front of the police station."
tOMoH: "?"
BA: "[On the way to the hotel,] I stopped on a bench to have a cigarette, fell asleep, and woke up with dew dripping off my nose."
tOMoH: "I think there's a lesson, there: smoking is bad."

PS presents: Saw MIII (the latest in the franchise). Teh lolleZ.

G8.8 26yo d.1990 Botanic gardens and a sawmill (58.7%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 122b): "Apologies in advance," PS said when he put the bottle on the table, earlier, aware that Cambus does not like me. Nose: ester-y, metallic, then very fruity. White peach, white plum, Korean pear, and a drop of vanilla essence. I can smell that it is not going to be one of the Cambuses that agree with me, but I enjoy the nose. For the sake of scientific research, let us continue. Mouth: soft, mellow, loaded with vanilla and mint crumbles that walk towards the Boule-Magique side of things. Finish: mellow, minty vanilla, mint custard, smashed white fruits (peaches, plums, pears), and milk chocolate. I only have a sip, to avoid the headache. Will it work? To a point: tomorrow, I will have no headache, but a tongue completely stripped. Catastrophe mostly averted through careful risk management. 7/10

The soundtrack: Various - Dark Pleasures

PS presents: Is this a damson I see before me? because every horror film has a damson in distress. Flippin'eck! PS is on fire, today.

6.29 10yo d.2008 Is this a damson I see before me? (59.2%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 61b): nose: juicy plum, dark-chocolate-covered jellies, Śliwka Nałęczowska (Polish chocolate-coated prunes). It strips the nostrils a bit, but behind the abrasiveness, we find waxy fruits (physalis, Mirabelle plums), crayons, and bread dough. Mouth: Penderyn (PS), packets of Opal Fruits (or Starburst, as they are now known) smack one on the back of the head (PS). I find it drying, with crayons and soaked cinnamon sticks. Finish: a lovely plasticine drop, and cinnamon sticks, marinated in peach juice. It has a minty, cinnamon-y Boule Magique aftertaste too. 8/10

Did someone say limited?

tOMoH presents: The Wicker Man(nochmore).

The Wickermannochmore

BA and PS's eyes light up. They thought of using the Wicker Man, but could not find anything to create the link. The penny did not drop when they saw the wicker basket, earlier.

As expected, the cork breaks.

tOMoH [looking for a replacement cork]: "Wow! The cork hole is so big."
PS: "I have no polite comment to make."
tOMoH: "I found one that fits."
PS: "I have no polite comment to make."

The soundtrack: Various - Zone Mix Z

Speyburn 25yo 1977/2004 (62.5%, OB Single Cask, C#1859, b#379, L4 476 G7): the age statement makes no sense. Nose: it is obviously powerful. Tobacco, a waft of smoke, dried crusty mud, then fleshy peaches, armchairs in a smoker's living room, smoked completely encrusted in the upholstery. Waxy-fruity thing (BA), waxy-lemony (PS), flowery-waxy (BA). On the late tip, royal-blue ink comes out too. Mouth: austere, mineral, it has flint and tobacco, lichen and fleshy fruits -- peach tatters and a lick of peach stone, wrapped in smoke. Even later, we detect fermented pears and Russet-apple peelings. Finish: like a UK government, this offers more of the same austerity; tobacco, quarry chippings, ground peach stones. Excellent. Looking forward to revisiting this. 8/10

vs.

Mannochmore 18yo b.1997 (66%, OB The Manager's Dram, Refill Casks, 1800b, b#1207): nose: phwoar! This one roars too. Wild and hot, yet it does not lack in the sweet-shoppe department. Boiled sweets, chewy or not (here I come / you can't hide), and melted caramel leap out. Mouth: an assault on the gums at first, it reveals crystallised sugar, then rock salt, bone-dry lichen, and dried citrus zest. Finish: boiled sweets once more, Gummibärchen (yellow, rather than any other sort), Haribo Cola Bottles, and a slight touch of hay. Very strong, it presents a mild liquorice-y bitterness. The finish is juicier than the palate, with more boiled sweets and liquorice allsorts. 8/10

The soundtrack: Various - Body Rapture and Various - Techno-Club Part I (The Ultimate Techno Mix)

Excellent afternoon, ripe with surprising, off-the-beaten-path drams, and questionable humour.

21/10/2024 Caperdonich

38.22 25yo d.1992 Love letters on linen paper (51%, SMWS Society Cask imported by Spirits Imports, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 270b): nose: what a nose! A blend of yellow fruits and pollen, propolis and furniture polish. Pan-fried cut peaches topped with cracked black pepper, Mirabelle plums, and barbecued nectarines sprinkled with ginger powder, smashed physalis, and more and more polish -- car polish dominates, now, so discernible, in fact, that one can smell the steel underneath it. Closing one's eyes, one gets a whiff of new-car interior, with plastic-resin dashboards and synthetic seats. Oh! it is not particularly noble a scent, but a comforting one all the same. The second nose seems jammier and more metallic, a pot of stewing fruits with a ladle bathing in it, and a spoonful of cocoa powder. Given time, cured physalis reaches the nostrils. Mouth: on the palate, it is a clear explosion of yellow fruits -- peaches, nectarines, Mirabelle plums, physalis. Chewing gives a very-soft bitterness, which hints at those fruits' stones. There is also a gentle note of tobacco smoke that comes closer to light cigarettes than to cigars or a pipe. That said, the fruits are quick to come back; it really is a juicy-fruity number-and-a-half. The second sip starts off juicier yet, then turns acidic and drying to a point. We have cinnamon powder, powdered milk, and distinct peppermint, Boule Magique style, supported by juicy peach and a spoonful of honey. Finish: the logical continuation of the above, the finish presents the same fruits in a jam format, and just a dollop of polish. It is at its bitterest here, however, part steel, part leaves, part fruit stones. Nothing unpleasant; just a mild and fresh bitterness. Milk chocolate rocks up towards the death. The second gulp doubles down on the chocolate: it now takes the form of chocolate milk topped with a drizzle of caramel. I hoped for this to be good, but it is unexpectedly excellent. 9/10 (Thanks, TC)

15/10/2024 A couple of drams at the Port Askaig Hotel

Bunnahabhain 17yo Mòine Triple Cask Finish b.2023 (52.6%, OB Fèis Ìle 2023, American Oak & First-Fill Oloroso & Rum, 1740b): lightly muddy and ashy, with dried-out raisins 8/10

Jura 15yo 2008/2024 (55.5%, OB Distillery Cask for Fèis Ìle 2024, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, C#1605, b#023): dry white wine turns into toffee and butterscotch, with white pepper on top 8/10

11/10/2024 Longmorn

Longmorn Centenary 25yo (45%, OB, b.1994): nose: it feels rather shy, today, antique mahogany furniture and wooden salad dishes, more than anything. That is soon joined by Fino sherry and a relish of some sort, too subtle to be onion, not sweet enough to be fig. Deeper inhaling decodes the enigma: it is candied orange rinds. That then unlocks a bolder fruitiness, with lychee and rambutan, as well as unripe carambola. Say, this is turning rather appealing, is it not? Next up is the freshness of mint paste, then smashed persimmon, leaves and all, and pink grapefruit. I want to say pink-grapefruit-scented washing-up liquid, but firstly, it is not soapy, and secondly, it is not a Benriach. Come to think of it, when this was distilled, Longmorn and Benriach were operating in tandem... Over time, a gentle flowery fragrance takes off too: magnolia, chamomile, purple primrose. The whole remains subdued, certainly not a boisterous young lad. The second nose has gorgeous, spongy pandoro. It is spongy to the point of juiciness. Wait! Scratch that: raisins do appear for a panettone-like experience. Crusty white bread just out of the oven (oooh!), warm brioche, in that sweet golden spot that most bakers miss (overdone brioche is not so nice), and unsweetened apricot turnovers. Later yet, we have cucumber peelings floating in peach nectar. Last, but not least, pomelo zest is sprinkled on top of it all. Mouth: it has a vaguely-green acidic attack, closer to pomelo than to lime, and it is a trifle leafy, perhaps -- citrus foliage, you know. The most-modest chewing reveals a generous fruitiness, however: lime zest, pomelo segments, unripe kumquat, bergamot, sudachi. For full transparency, it also presents a drop of shampoo, similar enough to the citrus that it is easily overlooked. At the second sip, the afore-mentioned acidity becomes a near-plastic-y taste, closer to oilskin than fruit. Oh! it works well; it is simply quite different. Movement in the mouth brings up yellow maracuja, yuzu, satsuma, calamansi, and a lick of a yellow rubber glove used to zest lemons. Reads weird? Tastes great! Finish: a fruity custard topped with crushed mint crumbles. It is a long, comfortable finish, warming, not big, that leaves the tongue all silky from the milky texture (lukewarm vanilla milkshake, to be precise). The second gulp pushes forward a greater fruity acidity. We have smashed papaya, pineapple chunks, persimmon, fleshy peach. It is still as milky, with a nuance of burnt sugar in the far back, and growing pink grapefruit, towards the death. I thought it was less impressive at first sip, but it is a masterpiece that grows on you. All the same, maybe it is the circumstances, maybe it is the consequence of spending ten years in an open bottle, but I am less floored by it than previously. Phantastic whisky all the same. 9/10

07/10/2024 Strathisla

Strathisla 1999/2010 Here Come The Rain Again (46%, La Maison du Whisky Belgique, C#45530, 247b): yes, there is a missing 's'. Nose: youthful, lively spirit, pumped with cereals on dusty concrete floors. Oats, barley, maize stored in heaps in a countryside warehouse. One would struggle to imagine the picturesque setting of one of the oldest surviving distilleries in Scotland, from this nose; it really is a mix of cereal dust and builders rubble -- not that there is anything wrong with that, mind. With some insistence, perhaps we can spot a shovelful of fertilised soil (that would be a whiff of manure, then) and cereal pulp, as if the cereal dust had been wetted with murky water or mud. Slowly but surely, that mud cooks on a fire of herbs, and produces a gentle smoke, entirely unexpected. The second nose has quarry dust or concrete chippings, the airborne dust on a construction site, and smoked-cereal dust. To make it less austere, we also have a bowl of warm corn flakes, topped with lovage seeds. Later on, after-shave lotion (not balm) springs up. Mouth: mint crumbles, custard, smoked cereals. It is fresh, creamy, maybe a little bitter. We find aniseed, fennel seeds, lovage seeds, caraway seeds, mint sweets (the ones in a transparent-blue wrapper from the 1980s), and pouring custard alright. In fact, the creamy texture is well worth a special mention. The second sip is in line, yet it adds a dark-brown fudgy, chewy protein bar (nākd.) Chewing revives the minty side, this time crème de menthe with a dash of oat milk. Further sips are spicier, with cloves, black cumin, and a few grains of ground black cardamom. It is not all spices, however: at some point, we come back to a malt barn in the summer, with its cereal dust. Finish: it stays custard-y until the end. Smoke and bitterness have now disappeared, while mint sweets are much more subdued. On the other hand, vanilla custard -- nay! ice cream, is there for all to taste, melted in the cup, creamy and lush. The second sip seems fresher, mintier. It has less custard, if still some, and introduces star anise. Earthier with every sip, though never earthy -- it is toasted spices we see, such as cumin, ground coriander, and whole cloves to complement lovage seeds and mint sweets. 7/10

04/10/2024 Arran

Isle of Arran 3yo 1995/1998 (60.3%, OB, 1000b, b#102): initially rather neutral, with a dusty hay barn emptied of its hay, this hints at berries too, without really getting there. It does (not really) open up to give dusty wooden flooring or shelves (birch or acacia), and old fudge or faded butter cake in wooden boxes. One's imagination may pick up Virginia tobacco, a faint mint-or-menthol whiff, and burnished copper. The second nose has acrylic paint (Dulux emulsion matt), apple peels, drying on the cutting board, and colour pencils. With water, it falls in line behind honey-coated cereals (honey pops). It retains hay, this time hay bales, yet that is clearly in the background. Suddenly, there is a small explosion of planter flowers -- pansies, tagetes, primroses -- and peach skins. Mouth: burnished-copper dust is more-easily discernible, here, and comes with dry apple pips, dried apple slices, and heaps of dust. Stale honey, spread on rock-hard bread, all covered in dust. Chewing gives out faded toffee, chewy, dusty, almost tasteless, topped with WD-40. Indeed, it has a growing lubricant feel, the longer it stays on the palate. The second sip is an odd mix of honey, acrylic paint, and liquid white glue (wood glue seems likely), augmented with a dash of apple juice and WD-40 (or Décaltou, for those who know). Water cools it down, renders it milkier, and allows orchard fruits to come out more (mostly apples). It does retain a solvent note, WD-40 or furniture polish in a spray can. Finish: the kick is bold, yet not the aggression one may expect from such a high ABV. A couple of seconds post swallowing, it shouts an immense minty sweetness à la mint crumbles. Then, it is a blend of lubricant (WD-40) and cleaning agent, which makes it at once stripping, fresh, and solvent-y, veering towards cellophane and fresh paint. Retro-nasal olfaction catches apples by the basketful (Golden Delicious, Cox, Honeycrisp), crisp, acidic, with a mild sweetness. The second gulp starts off juicier, then brings a boatload of white-wood planks slathered in honey. Behind that is an undeniable heat, however, reminiscent of dusty radiators from the 1970s, painted over twice, then left alone for three-or-four decades to gather a crust of dust. It is only at this point that the strength becomes obviously dangerous: too much of this will probably make for a sore head. And then, apple slices and pips re-join the dance. With water, it turns all nutty, teeming with almond cream, Brazil-nut body butter, coconut oil, even, and hazelnut spread, slightly bitter, yet creamy nonetheless. Lingering at the death, we find toasted pine cones, which is always pleasant. Positively-interesting whisky. 7/10 (Thanks, EG)