27/11/2025 St Andrew's Day Whisky Tasting

JS and I are lucky enough to be invited to another Cask Trade event -- this time in the swish Mall Galleries.

We arrive on the late tip and socialise a lot. We try to make the whiskies count.

Dailuaine 40yo 1983/2023 (54%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, 1/2 x Sherry Butt, C#701, 297b, b#017, W&M484)

Nose: it has a touch of metal, some shoe polish and membrillo spread on soft leather. Perhaps we spot strawberry coulis too.
Mouth: figs, dark quince paste, dried dates and a lick of leather. It is fairly sweet, but mostly dark -- dark dried figs, prunes and a twist of the black-pepper mill.
Finish: long, generous and fruity, it has a dried-fig paste mixed with orange rinds and a dark chocolate spread. The second sip brings a woodier note of teak plane shavings and toasted sourdough.
Comment: this is pretty good, even if JS is less taken. Hard to accept the price-to-quality ratio, though, whatever the price may be. Considering Wilson & Morgan packaged this in a classy decanter, it is probably not cheap (looking around, RRP ~2400 EUR). 8/10

Tullibardine 18yo 2007/2025 Mellow Melon (54.4%, Highlander Inn Maggie's Collection exclusively bottled for Friends With Drams, C#27, 100b)

Nose: suede and all sorts of leather-processing products, whatever solution they use to soften the hides, for example. Then, we have colour crayons and wax. Further nosing brings a whiff of unexpected sea air -- unless it is from a fast-flowing river. In any case, it is vapourised water droplets.
Mouth: Bright and waxy, reminiscent of apricot or nectarine skins, it still does not shake off its leathery side entirely.
Finish: long and fruity, with a fistful of hay and balls of ginger-cat hair.
Comment: tasty! 7/10

Ardnamurchan 5yo 2019/2025 (58.1%, Cadenhead, Oloroso Cask, 636b)

Nose: wood glue, walnut stain, carbonyl. Later on, we have decaying-wood dust and soot. Later yet, we find some plastic and a Bulgomme table protector.
Mouth: oily in texture, it is cola-like in taste, pumped with liquid gingerbread. It is at once mellow and powerful, which is odd.
Finish: earth, flat cola, crushed bay leaves and green peppermint, followed by dried twigs of lemongrass. It is a long, cola-driven finish.
Comment: my favourite, so far. 8/10

JS: "Sooty sausages? Is that a euphemism for what happens in a gay club?"
tOMoH: "Chimney-sweeping is what happens in a gay club."

Pulteney 11yo b.2025 (46%, Cask Trade Cask & Crust, Refill Barrel, C#504182)

Nose: ooft! this is cheesy. Gouda, Maredsous, Tomme des Pyrénées, Port Salut. Remarkable. The last time I met such a cheesy profile was with an Ardmore by the Thompson Bros. and it was not the same sort of cheeses at all. This has a drop of blue ink too that does not change the fact this is mostly the playground of Tomme des Pyrénées, with a whisper of smoke and some subtle farm-y peat.
Mouth: dry, squeaky as a halloumi and a bit rough, really.
Finish: a lick of wood polish and the plastic/wax skin around a medium-soft cheese (Port Salut, Tomme des Pyrénées, Maredsous, young Gouda).
Comment: what an oddball! Interesting, good, terrible... Everyone will have their opinion. The one thing it is not is boring. 6/10

Ben Nevis 15yo b.2025 (46%, Cask Trade Cask & Crust, Refill Barrel, C#900024)

Nose: peaches and cosmetic powder. tOMoH certainly did not expect such a tantalising fruitiness from something of this age.
Mouth: mellow, fruity, it has peaches and cosmetic powder again.
Finish: very fruity once more, peachy, it has the warmth of a reliable sheepskin rug.
Comment: lovely surprise! 8/10

Glengoyne 1997/2024 (46.3%, Malts of Scotland 20, Sherry Hogshead, C#MoS25033, 180b, b#176)

Nose: earthy fruits, dried dates, dried figs, empty coconut shells. The second nose injects smashed dark strawberries into the mix.
Mouth: it switches the light off, here. Dark mushrooms, cola, dried figs. The second sip adds berries -- smashed strawberries, blackcurrants, perhaps blueberries too, mildly bitter and earthy.
Finish: this finish is so earthy! Mushrooms in soil, porcini powder, which presents a subtle bitterness. It is a long finish, earthy and berry-laden at second gulp (myrtles, blackcurrants, blackberries). Repeated quaffing introduces rotting wood and cork. They are discreet, yet some may be bothered by them.
Comment: delicious... in small doses. 8/10

We are booted out along with everybody else. Actually, we were allowed inside far longer than most.

Thanks, Cask Trade! Great to catch up.

The whole shindig was organiseed
for the launch of this collection

20/06/2024 Celebrating 5 years of Cask Trade

Our good friends at Cask Trade are celebrating a milestone anniversary. This year, the event takes place at Watches of Switzerland. That is right: rich with the knowledge that their chocolate is inferior, the Neutrals have decided to focus on cuckoo clocks. It is called portfolio diversification.

Tonight's shindig is a good opportunity to look at things that indicate the time of the day (sometimes inaccurately, for lack of adequate setting) priced between ~300 GBP and ~372,000 GBP. Indeed, one can buy a watch for the price of a four-bed, 300m² house in Huy. Almost certainly, those who buy that sort of gadgets think the same of us whisky geeks buying bottles for considerable sums too. Each to their own.

SA's welcome speech

But enough with those considerations! tOMoH and JS are here for the whisky. The delicious canapés appeal to me more than the watches.

Just like last year, we are standing and socialising, so notes are brief.

Mortlach 9yo 2013/2023 Friday Night (48.8%, Wellwood Star Simply Whisky, ex-Sherry Butt, 389b)

Nose: fragrant and perfume-y, it is a slap of late-spring lavender with a dash of rose water. In the long run, makeup appears, such as blush powder.

Mouth: marshmallow and boiled sweets. That comes closer to violet boiled sweets by the second, which is to my taste.

Finish: warming and perfume-y, it may even display delicate fruits.

Comment: excellent starter. 7/10

Caol Ila 40yo 1981/2021 (58.4%, Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection, Refill Hogshead, C#6411, 129b)

Nose: fishing nets, kelp drying on a sunny shore, mature-cheese rind, old scrolls and ink, mercurochrome, bandages, embrocation -- phwoar!

Mouth: chargrilled pineapple, toasted banana slices, and barbecued peach slices. There are coastal elements on show too, namely fishing nets full of tropical fruits, and then there is gauze. And what power! This is no feeble forty year-old.

Finish: long, powerful, comforting. It boasts more gauze and bandages, mentholated embrocation, and ash. That last point imparts a soft bitterness that stops it achieving top score... just!

Comment: wonderful. 9/10

Auchentoshan 15yo 2007/2023 (54.6%, The Stewart Whisky Company Stiùbhart Single Cask Selection, Refill Hogshead, C#4153, B#009, 310b)

Nose: mellow, it is a mix of sweets (marshmallow) and flowers. Surely, that is lavender-scented marshmallow, then.

Mouth: mellow again, it acquires a wine-y note, after a few seconds. Nothing overpowering, just a lingering decaying-grape touch.

Finish: long, warming, and a lot woodier than expected. We have old corks, bookshelves and dusty chairs.

Comment: nice enough. 7/10

Glenrothes 27yo 1996/2023 (51%, Hannah Whisky Merchants Lady of the Glen, Hogshead, C#4153, 160b, b#06)

Nose: fruity, berry-laden, this has stewed fruits, hot strawberry jam, then candied orange rinds.

Mouth: more stewed goodness -- blackcurrant jam, smashed blush oranges, and lingonberry compote. We find rancio at second sip, and it is gently drying, with mild Virginia tobacco.

Finish: oh! yes, marmalade and currant compote.

Comment: this one is the big (pleasant) surprise of the evening. 8/10

Linkwood 10yo 2013/2023 (51.1%, Hannah Whisky Merchants Dalgety, First Fill and Second Fill ex-Oloroso Casks, C#301178+301173, 551b, b#216)

Nose: this is a meaty one, with cured ham and leather, a tannery after sundown, when all the workers have gone home for the day. It is not sickly, but powerful all the same. That slows down over time, and allows pastry to come through. JS finds it a soapy nose.

Mouth: big, feisty, aggressive. A slap of roast beef, and a sprinkle of horseradish sauce.

Finish: lots of red berries, purple chewy sweets, and heat. We find less meat here, thankfully, but that heat! Cured ginger in all its power.

Comment: the weakest of the night. It will no doubt have its supporters, but it is not really for me. 6/10

Glentauchers 8yo (61.2%, Chorlton Whisky, Sherry Hogshead, 291b)

Nose: an avalanche of peanuts, punctuated by cashews and skinned Brazil nuts. Peanut oil, plasticine... It smells so oily! A touch of wine-y meat attempts to pierce through that layer of nuts -- unsuccessfully. JS insists on honey, then, out of nowhere, we see cheese rind.

Mouth: here too, the nuttiness is incredible; thick, coating, oily, and rounded off with a drop of tannic red wine. Lastly, it offers Mon Chéri pralines.

Finish: peanut oil, honey, dark maple syrup, cherry liqueur, old corks on liqueur decanters, berry liqueur augmented with melted chocolate. It is more and more wine-y, with time, though it remains oily too.

Comment: this one, I chose because of the label (love those medieval-style drawings), and it turns out to be another good pick by Chorlton. 7/10

At the same time, JS has Ardnamurchan 6yo 2015/2022 (60.4%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Barrel, 228b, 22/152), which we had last year.

Nice night out. We meet all sorts of people from different backgrounds, many we would normally not run into. It makes for some interesting conversations. And the whiskies were good. Happy anniversary, Cask Trade!

28/06/2023 Cask Trade's Night of Whisky Appreciation

Our good friends at Cask Trade are hosting the preview of the Phillips' 20th Century to Now collection, which is being auctioned in a couple of days. Why would they do that? Well, to cross-pollinate, probably: whisky enthusiasts will be exposed to paintings and sculptures that they might otherwise be unaware of, and art buffs will have a chance to try whiskies offered by a company that sells casks. It is a good way to bring investors from two separate worlds together.

But enough with those considerations! tOMoH and JS are here for the whisky. The art pieces are a nice visual support only. The delicious canapés represent more of a pull for me.

By the way, we are standing and socialising, so notes are brief.

Indiana Rye Whiskey 4yo b.2022 (56.7%, Cadenhead World Whiskies, Oak Barrel, 240b, 22/56): nose: tree-bark syrup, Irn Bru, an odd sort of wood glue, but also melting rubber. Without claiming familiarity with Rye whisk(e)y, this is in line with what little I know of that category. Mouth: ginger and nutmeg power this intense Irn Bru concoction. That said, there is also orange wine and dill (JS). Finish: this kicks like only American whiskeys do; bright, sharp, and long-lasting, it leaves a quaint blend of dill and orange wine in the mouth. 7/10

Ardnamurchan 6yo 2015/2022 (60.4%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Barrel, 228b, 22/152): nose: immensely peaty -- dry peat, with crusty earth and smoked ham, rather than any cattle-ranch shenanigan, or maritime nuances. Mouth: it is much more palatable than the nose suggested, displaying Cotton Candy grapes trampled into mud. Past the initial and fairly mellow impression, it also gains a hefty dose of red-chilli powder. Hardly surprising, considering the ABV. Finish: long and warming, it stops just short of being fiery. 7/10

Bunnahabhain 40yo 1980/2020 (45.2%, Gleann Mór Rare Find, Refill Sherry Butt): nose: timid banana purée, squashed raspberries, and nail-varnish remover. Perhaps we also pick up stem ginger, in the long run, though it is delicate. Mouth: it seems mellow, with a creamy texture that carries steamed plantain and caramel flan. Finish: long, quaffable, a conveyor belt of smashed banana and delicious custard, augmented with a drop of Irn Bru. 8/10

Ben Nevis 8yo 2013/2022 (57.1%, Regent Street Cask Bottlers, Octave, C#3114): nose: plasticine, cake dough, toothpaste. It gains in sweetness and minty character with time, and there is a whiff of rose petals and mild coffee too. Mouth: marzipan-y and Cognac-y in equal measures at first, it opens up to hot pineapple paste and delicate stem ginger. Finish: long, assertive, characterful, without being a hairy mess, like so many Ben Nevises. Souped-up white wine, lychee shavings, and rose petals in a cup of joe. 7/10

Speyside 23yo 1992/2015 (56.8%, Milroys Soho Selection, ex-South African Fortified Wine French Oak Butt, C#1, 300b): the initial whiff is big, hairy, musky in an animal way, and obviously powered by a boisterous wine cask. That disappears after ten minutes, though Patras wine makes a later appearance. In the meantime, we have ginger powder sprinkled on custard. Why would you? Well, because it works. It has a drop of heady perfume too that is pleasant indeed. Papier mâché is next, before the nose eventually lands on custard. Mouth: creamy, custard-y, yet spicy too. Only a couple of seconds on the tongue and it starts shining. It is not long before burnt toffee rocks up. Finish: massive, ripe with unsubtle rancio, fortified wine, and hair balls. Further sips have toffee, which makes the whole easier. This deserves 7/10, but the complexity and bonkers aspects push me to give it 8/10

Cambus 32yo 1988/2021 (45.1%, Regent Street Cask Bottlers, Bourbon Hogshead): nose: tinned pineapple in custard, apricots, and peaches. It smells enticing, yet I will not go further for fear of jeopardising tomorrow with a headache.

Glenrothes 20yo 1997/2018 (54.4%, Master of Malt, Refill > Oloroso Hogshead > Octave, 95b, b#33): released in 2023, this is one of MoM's rebottlings of Boutique-y whiskies, presumably. Nose: it is a buttery one -- a modern Glenrothes, yet it does not lack in the pepper department either. There are even crushed juniper berries. Smashed strawberries come later on. Mouth: big and hot, full of cured ginger and hot cranberry compote. The spices become almost unbearable, so hot they are -- like biting into peppercorns, or juniper berries. Finish: buttery, spicy, even hot, it is showered in herbs (oregano, sage), and dried-chilli flakes. 7/10

Union 5yo b.2022 (58.4%, Cadenhead World Whiskies, Bourbon Barrel, 258b, 22/203): first Brazilian whisky, here -- yay. Nose: astonishingly peaty, musky, loaded with silt and mud cakes. Mudflats, river banks. It is not particularly refined, but I know many people will love this profile. Mouth: surprisingly approachable, it quickly adds a fiery galangal paste to an otherwise plasticine-like texture. This is chewy and a half, like mud cakes on steroids. When the spices calm down, not much occurs, bar all the mud. Finish: muddy, boggy, peaty, and a little ashy. Here too, it is rather unsubtle, but it does the trick like a young Staoisha, even if it is not really my preferred style. The second sip brings about cured meat. 6/10

What a nice opportunity to try confidential bottlings and admire artworks!

07/10/2019 Six whiskies with Charles Maclean

Tonight is the official launch of Cask Trade, a company that intends to provide casks of whisky to a varied clientele. The audience is made of investors, collectors, enthusiasts and everything in between. Little press that I can recognise and few bloggers, if any. The founder of the company (SA) and tOMoH happen to be on friendly terms, hence my being graciously invited. I do not believe said founder is aware of the existence of this blog, so it hardly seems an commercially-motivated move.

Now the disclaimers are out of the way, the evening starts out with SA presenting the company, its ethos and its mission, then switches to a tasting of six cask samples -- casks owned by the company and, presumably, up for grabs. Charles Maclean is the celebrity who has been invited to present this, joined by Colin Hampden-White.

I make a mental note that this is the first tasting I attend that is (co-)hosted by Maclean, despite having seen him countless times at festivals.
SW is here with me. JS was invited, but she has a clashing meeting. With Gwyneth Paltrow. You could not make it up.

The whiskies, then.

The label has a mistake, yes.
It is from 1978.

Glenlivet 40yo 1978/2019 (41.7%, Cask Trade cask sample, Bourbon Hogshead, C#13523, gauged at 115b): the presenters underline that most tastings would culminate with the oldest, most expensive and most desirable whisky, something that often falls flat for two reasons: 1) old whiskies tend to be low in alcohol and more subtle in taste; saving them for last sees them compete with much more powerful and youthful predecessors; 2) when bumped into dram number six, an old whisky finds tired taste buds in one's mouth. So we have this dram first, tonight. Nose: soft and delicate, it has the subtle grapes of an old brandy, perhaps sawdust, sandalwood (Maclean) and dried bramble. It is really shy. Mouth: amazingly soft, it soon starts fizzing on the tongue with some gentle spices (crushed cloves). Rehydrated, dried cranberries appear, custard powder and droplets of Alka-Seltzer, maybe. The wood is in check, if present. Finish: blackberry cough drops and very little wood: crushed bay leaves and a minute quantity of liquorice. This one is elegant and complex. I like it. Later, I will try one big gulp, chew on it for a long time and swallow it whole. That way, it becomes much more assertive, without the fierceness of a higher ABV -- interesting experience. 8/10

Aberlour 26yo d.1989 (51.1%, Cask Trade cask sample, Bourbon Hogshead, C#11040, gauged at 274b): not sure when the sample was drawn; clearly several years ago. Nose: putty, toothpaste, crushed-mint paste, meadow-flower stems (just the stems), then quite a kick of alcohol. Wax (neither candle nor furniture, though), pencil lead and crayons. Mouth: oooh! This is lively. It has some ginger shavings and hot apple pie. Later on, it turns waxy as hell. Finish: a bit green, here, strangely enough The alcohol is less well-integrated, with cut plants and dandelion stems. The second sip brings out sticky toffee pudding. Much later on, it turns out better, though it remains a bit bitter, behind the wax. 6/10

Charles Maclean puts on a monocle to read a label. I had never seen a monocle in the wild!

Glen Moray 9yo 2008/2017 (57.1%, Cask Trade cask sample, Bourbon Barrel, C#5796, gauged at 149b): nose: a pastry shoppe, with overripe pear, flan, vanilla pudding, then hard plastic. Mouth: similar notes of pastry; it has hot, sugar-sprinkled  apple turnover fused with warm croissant crust, lemon zest, and heat. Water helps integrate it more; the alcohol bite cools off. Finish: a touch more pepper, now, but the pastry is still glowing, augmented with a pinch of herbs (hawthorn and oregano). Water seems to mess up with the balance and turn the finish into alcohol-soaked chocolate. 7/10

Fettercairn 10yo 2008/2019 (56.6%, Cask Trade cask sample, Bourbon Barrel, C#5755, gauged at 227b): nose: lemon peel and white chocolate (SW, who loves white chocolate), lemon sage. It becomes very fruity, after a short while. Mouth: full-on white chocolate, now, with lashes of melted Mon Chéri praline thrown into it. It has a rather noticeable spiciness (galangal and crushed bay leaves) that is not overpowering in any way. Finish: huge, fruity at first, then becomes a little less impressive, with unripe-peach flesh. Much later on, it turns mellow and waxy, with plasticine and Blue Tack. 7/10

North British 12yo 2006/2019 (52.1%, Cask Trade cask sample, Sherry Hogshead, C#818392, gauged at 271b): nose: pastry ahoy, of course, with custard and unbaked croissant dough, as well as nougat. Mouth: big, it is reminiscent of the nose, with more croissant dough and crushed strawberry with some white pepper. Typical grain, not much altered by the sherry maturation -- a n-th refill, perhaps? Finish: paper paste, thick custard, flan. Very good. I like it. 7/10

Bunnahabhain 10yo 2009/2019 (56.2%, Cask Trade cask sample, Oloroso Sherry Butt, C#900034, gauged at 705b): nose: well, it is a huge sherry cask, with lots of wood varnish and a frankly meaty side as well. It does not dodge the sulphury note, yet it is tame. None of those notes are shouting too loudly, but they are all there. Mouth: big and chocolate-y, it has Mon Chéri and shovelfuls of earth. In fact, it is earthy, this! Finish: super-long, earthy and lightly meaty. Again, it does not try to hide its Oloroso maturation. This is not my personal favourite, but I can see people going mad for it. 6/10

An interesting selection and a very pleasant evening. Best wishes to Cask Trade!