25/04/2026 The Whisky Fair (Day 1 -- Part 3)

Glenmhor (43 GL, OB imported by Cantine Cairella)

Nose: hints of barley do not eclipse a rather-austere profile, all in all -- wet cardboard and dust. Fortunately, tOMoH likes that.

Mouth: cereal-y and fruity to a point. It has a good portion of citrus served on cardboard (grapefruit segments) and roasted apple slices.

Finish: bigger than expected for the modest ABV, it continues with roasted apples and grapefruit segments.

Comment: love these old-school Highlanders. This one is a rarely-seen example to boot.

Score: 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, EG)

A new stand? Who is manning it? KCF!

Macduff 18yo 2007/2026 (48.9%, Scout Drinks, Hogshead, C#800220, 210b)

Nose: toffee followed by purple berries, honey-glazed gooseberries and physalis.

Mouth: sandy and fruity, it has a bitter profile, with unsweetened mixed peel and orange peels.

Finish: very orange-y and sweet, now. Marmalade, mixed peel, mint crumbles covered in orange juice.

Comment: this is good. Finishing the second sip after another couple of other drams, I downgrade my score.

Score: 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, KCF)

Hi PT.

Highland 49yo 1976/2026 (45.1%, Thompson Bros. specially bottled for Dornoch Castle, Hogshead, C#SR26050, 140b)

Nose: FRUIT! Peaches and mangoes the loudest. What a smack in the face.

Mouth: mango juice with an uncharacteristic dryness. Mind you, it is not abrasive or anything.

Finish: long, fruity, teeming with peaches, persimmons, apricots and mangoes.

Comment: phwoar! I would love to spend more time with this.

Score: 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, PT)

What does one try to follow that? Oh!...

Bowmore 1969/1979 (56.2GL / 98.8° Proof, OB imported by Fecchio & Frassà, Sherry Cask)

Nose: earthy-fruity, this is immediately insahne. It is maracuja and chikoo fallen into mud.

Mouth: that surreal fruitiness makes me emotional effortlessly. It has got earth, rancio, fine Rhine sand and wheelbarrows full of tropical fruits.

Finish: and here are the Bowmore eyes. This is at the confluence of earth, mud, salty beach sand and unreal tropical fruits. Carambola, dragon fruit, snakehead fruit, longan, chikoo...

Comment: another one with which I would like to spend hours (as I did in 2016). No time today, but this is an obvious masterpiece, even in these circumstances.

Score: 11/10 (Thanks for the dram, EG)

Glenugie 23yo 1981/2005 (61.9%, Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare imported by Va.Ma, Sherry Butt, C#5155, 516b, b#194)

Nose: precious wood, lacquer, shoe polish, black leather belts, dark nuts (Brazil, Kluwak).

Mouth: as expected, not much of the Glenugie character subsists, here, but what an outstanding Sherry maturation! Shoe polish, leather sofas, chocolate blended with wood lacquer.

Finish: long, earthy, it has prunes, raisins and currants aplenty, but also beef stock.

Comment: woah! It suffers from the sequence (what would not), which is reflected in the score.

Score: 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, EG)

Hi AH! Hi VW!

Rittenhouse 4yo 1944/1948 Straight Rye (100 Proof, OB)

Nose: this is unmistakably a Rye, full of Irn Bru and sweetened iron juice, then floor polish. And is that a whisper of smoke?

Mouth: full and sweet, it has more Irn Bru and lemonades made with various citrus.

Finish: subtle, sweet and orange-y. Irn Bru still prevails, though.

Comment: the label tells us that Continental Distilling Corp. made this at Registered Distillery, which is a bit of a daft name, you will agree. Not sure how AH determined the dates, here, but how special to try something from 1944! Remember not a single Scottish distillery was producing at the time.

Score: 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, AH)

Planters Ozark Highlands (57%, OB Family Reserve, B#High Ground, b#039, b. ca. 2026)

Nose: drier and dirtier, it still has the Irn Bru and iron that come with the rye. Follow smoke, swarf and burnt metal filings.

Mouth: creamy, orange-y notes. Satsumas now take over and push the iron into the shadow.

Finish: big, full of orangeade, lemonade and but a faint lick of iron.

Comment: these two seem to be on a mission to convert the world to Nobleton (they brought some last year). One can understand why; it is good.

Score: 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, AH and VW)

Ben Nevis 29yo 1996/2026 (48.1%, Scout Drinks, Hogshead, C#1558)

Nose: cut mangoes and smashed longans. This is really fruity.

Mouth: fruity Sprite or Fanta, bold and sparkly. More sipping makes this fruity as fook, with mango, tangerine and more longan.

Finish: soft and creamy like a mango yoghurt enhanced with smashed papaya.

Comment: so many Ben Nevis 1996 on display, today. This may just be my favourite.

Score: 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, KCF)

The clock is ticking. Let us visit Kirk Barleycorn, since he will not be here tomorrow.

Benriach 1996/2026 (46.7%, Malts of Scotland Rare Casks handselected & exclusively bottled for The Whisky Dreamers, Bourbon Hogshead, C#MoS26016, 236b, b#96)

Nose: fruity pastry, turnovers, pies. It smells like it could have a whiff of smoke too, which is unexpected.

Mouth: warm, fruity, it has crusty turnovers to kill for.

Finish: long, full of pastry again, mostly pineapple turnovers, now.

Comment: another cracking selection by The Whisky Dreamers.

Score: 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, Kirk)

Kirk Barleycorn: "If I understood correctly, you are a big fan of Talisker…"

tOMoH: "I have a love-hate relationship with Talisker. I only like it at forty years or older, or distilled in the 1950s or earlier. But I appreciate the gesture, and the bottle you are holding is very good. dom666 let me try it a while (many years) ago."

Talisker 25yo 1975/2001 (59.9%, OB Natural Cask Strength imported by United Distillers & Vintners Lausanne, 6000b, b#1089)

Nose: it is strong and peppery, ripe with saline, maritime notes. Behind that, we detect some smoke straight from the industrial revolution.

Mouth: indeed, lots of peppery smoke cloak juicy fruits. The second sip has a drying mineral touch.

Finish: long and hairy, it has dusty boilers, in a smoky room. It ends with a pinch of soot and bitter crushed seashells.

Comment: undeniably quality, but this is not my favourite type of Talisker.

Score: 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, Kirk)

Strathisla 1989/2024 (45%, Malts of Scotland Rare Casks handselected & exclusively bottled for The Whisky Dreamers, Sherry Hogshead, C#MoS25027, 110b, b#89)

Nose: well, it clearly has chocolate, then berries (blackberries, blueberries), then white fruits behind that: green grapes, lychees, white peaches. Even later, currants rock up.

Mouth: dry and earthy, here are lots of raisins, prunes, dried currants. It is also quite strong. When the taste buds wake up, we have a medicinal note and it becomes woodier too.

Finish: a soft, earthy touch, some precious wood without the bitterness and a lingering fruitiness -- namely currants and raisins.

Comment: delicious.

Score: 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, Kirk)

It is almost over. for the day JS leaves. I decide I have to at least say hello to the Swissky Mafia. PG produces his Emergency Banff and tells me how he just established the In-Between Banff Club. We are at the end of the main event and about to enter a masterclass. It seems fitting to have an in-between Banff.

Banff 23yo 1979/2002 (46%, Ian Macleod Chieftain's, Hogshead, C#476/499, 708b)

Nose: initially farm-y, it soon emits a lot of fruits, starting with apples and pears, then moving towards dark grapes. It takes on an earthier profile shortly thereafter.

Mouth: unmistakably Banff, if has mustard, hay or straw, porridge. It grows drier and drier, yet remains fruity throughout.

Finish: soft and fruity, it is overflowing with plump apricots.

Comment: amazing.

Score: 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, PG)

Time to run to the tasting.

04/09/2025 September outturn preview at the SMWS

MD of the Swissky Mafia is in town and is quite excited: he has been an SMWS member for many years, but he was never around for an outturn preview. Tonight, JS managed to book us a table. This time, it is far from the table where PS, YM and DW sit, which means we will have limited interactions with them.

5.131 22yo 2003/2025 Blissfully lost (52.8%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 188b)

Nose: marzipan and horsepower. This smells surprisingly close to a grain, the alcohol purified to a degree few malt distilleries reach. Of course, distillery number 5, Auchentoshan is triple-distilled, which explains. Past the (neutralish) alcohol, we spot cinnamon, ginger, plums and chewy sweets. MD finds glue, on the other hand, another note that many associate with a grain whisky.
Mouth: it is a bit green, weirdly enough. Lime peels, tree bark... Yes, this is bitter and a little acidic. Not in a bad way, but it will deter some. It turns woody upon chewing. Water mellows it out without changing the profile much.
Finish: long, warming, intense. It has tart fruits and chewy wood, mulch or cork.
Comment: I was looking forward to this one, hoping it would be a fruity extravaganza, but I find it just okay. 7/10

4.353 13yo d.2009 Lavender honey and chimney lobsters (62.8%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogsheads finished in 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 242b)

Nose: it is pretty farm-y, with mud patties, farm paths and muck. It also has a whiff of chewy violet sweets. With water, it opens up and turns more vanilla-y. Custard Cream biscuits.
Mouth: smoked sweet citrus, such as Buddha's hand, calamansi, kumquat. Phwoar! How delicious is this? MD finds it a soft bitterness, however. Water increases the citrus-y feel, makes it more acidic.
Finish: glowingly warm, close to burning, it offers baked cherimoya and metal-filing-laced tangerines. Water makes it a tad too acidic for my taste. It loses its balance.
Comment: I enjoy this a lot. Strikingly, just as I start tasting it, Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again plays in the room. And as we all know, the opening sequence of the video is shot in front of the Old Man of Hoy, on Orkney, the very archipelago where this whisky was made. 8/10

4.397 19yo d.2005 The old man and the sea (59.5%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogsheads finished in Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 301b)

Nose: this is much more sherried in an animal way, with musk and old leather, wine-stained belts and game bags. Maybe dust and confectionary sugar too. The second nose brings more faded leather, augmented with cured prunes.
Mouth: rancio. It is sweeter than elderberry, yet we find some berries alright -- cured strawberries, in all likelihood. It is fairly fiery, a hay bonfire, sprinkled with currant juice. The second sip adds a good dose of crushed chilli.
Finish: very rich and full (MD), it has currants and some papier mâché-like paste made of macerated hay. JS finds the chilli too strong, which is disturbing, considering her usual affinity for that. Water unleashes vegetal goodness such as dried-flower stems and dried hay topped with custard powder.
Comment: clearly, Eurythmics would be even better playing now than alongside the previous dram (something to do with the Old Man, you know?), but I am a slow drinker. This is the one I was most excited to try tonight, and I am a smidge disappointed. It is good, but I prefer its younger sibling. 8/10

36.204 13yo d.2009 Truly an outlander (57.5%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogsheads finished in 1st Fill ex-Rum Barrique, 258b)

Nose: coffee-scented sweets. Mokatine would be the obvious, but it is not as in-your-face. This is thick a smell, like a thick soup -- a sweet one. Chocolate milk erupts on the second nose with studs of dried peach and dried papaya.
Mouth: sweet and mineral (a fistful of beach pebbles), it is also fairly fruity, offering crystallised orange and candied papaya cubes. A tame bitterness appears upon chewing.
Finish: long, warming and fruity, here are more crystallised fruits, chiefly orange segments. The second gulp is creamy, unctuous as chocolate custard.
Comment: another cracking Benrinnes. The distillation date suggests it is a reissue of an older bottling that they sat on for a couple of years. 8/10

1.295 13yo 2012/2025 Dance in the air (58%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel finished in 2nd Fill ex-Oloroso Hogshead, 197b)

Nose: cherimoya, candied cherries. The latter becomes very prominent, almost heady, soft, sweet, chewy and fragrant.
Mouth: pine needles and sap, and a pine-flavoured gel, Chewing confirms and adds a desiccating lick. The second sip is woodier, drying.
Finish: long and fruity. Here are fresh cherries surfing on an almost-medicinal feel -- as in: numbing; not the taste so much. The second gulp is darker, it has more cherries.
Comment: a nice offering from a distillery I usually overlook. 7/10

6.83 17yo 2007/2025 Chewy-textured meanderings (53.6%, SMWS Society Cask Two to One, ex-Bourbon Hogsheads finished in 1st Fill Spanish Oak Oloroso Hogshead & 1st Fill American Oak Oloroso Hogshead, 409b)

Nose: fresh and sharp, with spearmint, apple peels and Haribo Bananas. Green citrus comes out upon repeated nosing.
Mouth: dried pineapple rings, tulip petals, papaya cubes and blond tobacco. The second sip is more stripping, citric and sharp, though that is balanced by a nice custard.
Finish: big, fruity (dried fruit). That turns more to orange peels at second gulp.
Comment: distilled on MD's birthday anniversary, it is another good one. 7/10

19.92 20yo 2003/2023 Illicit toast (55.6%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 171b)

Nose: grape sweets, blueberry muffin, fluffy blueberry pancakes (of the thick, American kind). This is certainly on the blueberry tip, with added cinnamon gratings, then recently-polished Chesterfield sofas.
Mouth: round and plump, it has booze-soaked plums. The second sip is a tad duller.
Finish: bay leaves and cinnamon gratings are carried by a current of currants and blueberries. There is a soft, numbing lick of cardboard towards the death.
Comment: winner! 8/10

112.138 17yo 2008/2025 A warm fuzzy crowd pleaser (57.2%, SMWS Society Single Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogshead finished in 1st Fill ex-Bodega PX Barrique, 237b)

Nose: this shouts fruits, nectarines and plums. There is some shoe polish too, and a maritime touch reminiscent of Barbour grease on a boat. Plums come back, discreetly but surely.
Mouth: thick, bold, a bit wine-y. The second sip has intense sweets (Monkey Balls, for those who know, a type of citric-powder-coated, cherry-flavoured hard candy). Indeed, this is plenty citric.

Finish: very-ripe papaya (MD). Nectarines mixed with blueberries and plums.
Comment: delicious. A strong 8/10

Next up is the 115.

MD: "I love anCnoc distillery."

Here is something one does not hear every day. 

115.38 10yo 2004/2025 The seven ages (61.2%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogshead finished in 1st Fill ex-Bodega PX Barrique, 294b)

Nose: this is pretty neutral to start with. Rubbing alcohol, maybe? Actually, it is a little medicinal, come to think of it: gauze, straps and shortbread. If it cannot be cured with shortbread...
Mouth: it starts out comfy, then turns quite drying. Chewing reveals boozy berries (elderberries, blackcurrants, dried cherry slices) and some cinnamon bark. It gets even more drying upon repeated sipping, adding dust and a mushroom-y aspect.
Finish: long, cinnamon-y, numbing and also creamy.
Comment: this is not the Basque Country, but it is good. 7/10

MD [asking if he can buy the Basque Country]: "Can I Basquet it?"

A Secret Orkney Distillery 25yo 1999/2024 (52.4%, East Village Whisky Company, Hogshead, 78b)

Nose: refined smoke, smoked lemons, dried flowers.
Mouth: juicy, it has just a pinch of heather petals. Soon enough, it is all hot and spicy.
Finish: very smoky, acrid and inky, at this stage.
Comment: this is good too. 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, MD)

Distillery 4 Rare Release 20yo 2003/2023 Take me to the chippy (54.7%, SMWS In celebration of the Highland Whisky Festival 2024, Refill ex-Bourbon, HTMC & Oloroso (ex-Islay) Hogsheads, 924b)

Comment: longer notes here. This is still staggeringly good, today, with a tropical finish jumping out of nowhere. 9/10

115.29 32yo 1991/2024 Visions of the Basque Country (47.4%, SMWS The Vaults Collection, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 152b)

Comment: glad to try this again and confirm our impression from last month. Head and shoulders above everything else we have tried today. 9/10

The staff produce a sheet with two whiskies that should have been in the outturn list but were somehow left out, complete with incorrect prices and all.

24.188 16yo 2008/2025 Flamenco fruitcake (62.5%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Oloroso Butt finished in 1st Fill ex-Oloroso Hogshead, 307b)

Nose: dark chocolate, strong leather and strong alcohol. Once that last item calms down, we have prunes and seared mushrooms, Maggi sauce, which, MD adds, means a slight sulphury note of matchsticks.
Mouth: mellow in texture, it is also hot. Burning heat, red chillies and Scotch bonnets.
Finish: long, invasive, it is partly redeemed by the introduction of raisins and dried dates.
Comment: I still cannot understand the hype around Macallan. This is just decent. 6/10

13.114 15yo 2010/2025 A Hansel and Gretel gingerbread house (59.6%, SMWS Society Cask, finished in 1st Fill ex-Bodega PX Barrique, 222b)

Nose: meaty in a way that does not agree with me. Meat on the bone, soaked cork. It also has a slightly-medicinal touch.
Mouth: tea-like, bitter. Not unbearably so, but it is not for me. Wine-soaked cork again and prunes.
Finish: yeah, this is woody, bitter. Prunes show up again, which helps a little.
Comment: not my thing. 5/10

Caol Ila 30yo 1982/2012 Fourth Release (51.2%, Archives, Bourbon Hogshead, C#758, 207b)

Nose: so inky! This is 1974-Ardbeg territory, with ink-stained fishing nets, hot water bottles and warmed (microwaved) blankets.
Mouth: soft and fresh, it has citrus and, while I try to identify those, oyster mushrooms come up unexpectedly, doused in ink.
Finish: it is incredibly inky again. India ink, black as night.
Comment: special juice that is hard to beat. 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, MD)

53.484 14yo 2011/2025 Burn a sprig of rosemary (56.8%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 171b)

Nose: drying fishing nets, cockles, mussels, wet sand and mud patties.
Mouth: sea water, mussels, mussel compote (if you know, you know), whelks and periwinkle paste.
Finish: powerful, reliable, it dishes out sand, ink, crustaceans and molluscs, tarry sands and candyfloss.
Comment: this is excellent. It is also fantastic to see it hold its own after its venerable ancestor. 8/10

MD: "The only problem [with Caol Ila] is that, between 13-14yo and 20yo, it's wasted years. What should they do? Bottle it now, or wait another twelve years?"

After taking a while to count how many drams we are entitled to and how much each one is, we never get to try 153.4 we had selected. I will only realise tomorrow. That said, they are closing shop, we leave last again, or almost, and I certainly have had enough to drink for one night. Also, they likely undercharged us for the Basque Country, so no complaint other than we did not keep track as well as we should have.

Solid outturn.

03/08/2025 Mini tasting

Following a series of flakages, only OB and JS make this one. We do away with a theme and go for samples and miniatures. OB regrets that he only brought top-shelf stuff, with no consideration for a balanced series. How selfish. I fill in with more-modest stuff.

Strathmill 11yo 1985/1997 (43%, Signatory Vintage, Oak Cask, C#2342, 2460b, b#95, 97/617) (me): OB declares it "not unpleasant, despite a soft soapy touch." He admits that said soapy touch is lost between the garlic from his lunch and the toothpaste he used to get rid of the garlic. JS finds it an excellent starter. My notes are here.

Macduff 17yo 1978/1996 (43%, Signatory Vintage, Sherry Butt, C#6643, 1320b, b#79, 96/1247) (me): I like this perhaps even more than last time. It is very citrus-y, acidic-sweet, ripe with pomelo. Full notes here.

Bunnahabhain 40yo 1973/2013 (46.2%, Acla da Fans Acla Selection, Refill Butt, 167b) (OB): nose: pineapple turnovers, loudly and clearly. Stunning nose, this: it is a total fruity debauchery, with cubed papaya, mango slices (dried and fresh), then sharpish citrus, including the zest mingling with a pinch of sawdust. The second nose presents woodworm-riddled cupboards and dusty staves. JS detects Mulino Bianco's Tenerezze. Spot on. Mouth: concentrated fruit yoghurt. Here are peach, mango, mangosteen, banana, pomelo, calamansi, cherimoya and a smashed mix of buttery mango and avocado. Chewing reveals just how creamy this is. It is acidic too, as if augmented with a drop of orange juice. It is big on the palate, by the way, especially considering the modest ABV. The second sip is chewier, with clay soon overtaken by fruits again. Finish: long, acidic and fruity. We find the same suspects here: pineapple, banana, peach, calamansi, papaya. This time, they are joined by Chinese gooseberry and chikoo. The second gulp is in line. We now detect the knife that has cut all those fruits; it is faint, yet present. This is a masterpiece. I compare it to the incredible Cambus 40yo. It is not as extraordinary, but not far off. 9/10

Poit Dhubh 30yo b.2006 (43%, Pràban na Linne 30th Anniversary Edition, b#230) (me): OB notes that the Sherry, although present, is not intrusive. It is well made. My notes are here.

The BenRiach 33yo 1976/2009 (51.6%, OB Limited Release Bottling specially selected and bottled for La Maison du Whisky, Hogshead, C#3551, 191b) (OB): nose: pineapple-and-mango turnovers. A deeper sniff adds a caramelised layer, almost smoky (I did rinse my glass, so I cannot blame the Poit Dhubh). It is wider and wider, bolder and bolder, and introduces more and more pastry and choux dough than one can shake a Glencairn at. There is surprisingly little of the trademark pink grapefruit, but it is there alright. The mouth ends up faintly metallic too, tin and aluminium. Tantalising nose. The ABV seems to increase at the second nose. On the late tip, we discover green-pepper shavings and mango powder. Mouth: ooft! It flows like pouring honey, and then, the fruity ride begins. Mangoes and peaches so ripe they melt on the tongue. The second sip adds cherimoyas, pulped pineapple and mint lozenges. The mint in question is subdued, sweetened, and just an accompaniment for the fruits. Finish: this leaves me speechless. A couple of slaps make me recover my senses, and I will mention squashed yellow fruits, some from the tropics, such as mangoes, others such as peaches. It also has those large pink-and-white marshmallow tongues and a minuscule amount of mint. Wow. Outstandingly decent, as OB says. 10/10

We devour OB's canelés

Miltonduff 21yo 1978/1999 (59.2%, Signatory Vintage, Sherry Cask, C#1685, 620b, b#350, 99/122) (me): this proves popular too. My notes are here.

Longmorn 34yo 1973/2007 (54.4%, Gordon & MacPhail Cask Strength, First Fill Sherry Butt, C#3649, JG/AIG) (OB): nose: an elegant Sherry maturation with oily teak and mahogany, boiled prunes and rehydrated dried apricots. We have cut cocoa and coffee beans too. All that is harmonious. It promises a lot of wood and shoe polish, yet also lychee. The second nose more clearly has coffee and rancio. At a push, one may detect smoked ham. Mouth: thick, coating, cloying, it is full of wood oil and shoe polish. Chewing adds polished leather and prunes, shards of cinnamon sticks, and a very-vague lychee freshness. OB finds it meaty; I do not. The second sip showcases pressed elderberry, some ash and musty earth augmented with hints of strawberry. Finish: long, warming, earthy and woody. It rolls out exotic woods (iroko, teak, ebony) and prunes, currants, raisins. The death is a tad astringent (OB), yet I do not find that detrimental. JS finds the Sherry too dominant, all in all. 8/10

Karuizawa 34yo 1976/2010 (63.6%, OB for Whisky Live! Taipei, 1st Fill Sherry Butt, C#7818, 554b) (OB): a cask split between Whisky Live! Taipei and Whisky Live! Paris. This one is from a 75cl bottle with a geisha on the label, while the French version is much more plain (and 70cl). Nose: "so fresh, after the Longmorn," says OB, a phrase that no-one has ever uttered about a Karuizawa, probably. He adds it is "the most naked Karuizawa [he has] ever tasted." Look! it is still very extractive a whisky, full of galangal, lemongrass, ginger and splintered cedarwood boxes, yet it also has blond tobacco and smoked elderberry, maybe smoked ham, although this is by no means a meaty dram. It is more leather sofas than anything. Mouth: woah! this is strong and punchy. It has amchur and green pepper on a bed of leather that has been recently polished. Next to that, there are hints of elderberry and dunnage-warehouse floor. It is chewy to a degree, and chewing balances it out somehow with mint and smoked crisp apples. Finish: long, assertive, woody (burnt wood), yet, once more, we are nowhere near the almost-unpleasant intensity of some of the other Karuizawa we have tried. In fact, this may well be my favourite to-date. In other circumstances, I may score this lower. For today, it is... 9/10

We then have the remainder of Lagg (59.1%, OB Exclusive Bottling for Lagg Distillery, Finished in ex-Tequila Casks): OB and JS do not think the Tequila is obvious, until I tell them what it is. Blind tasting, eh? My notes are here.

tOMoH: "I got shat on, during the morning run."
OB: "That's annoying when it happens."
tOMoH: "I had a feather in my hat..."
JS: "The birds thought you were one of their own."
OB: "Yeah, I didn't ask if it was a bird..."

While I finish my dram, OB and JS enjoy Springbank 20yo b.2017 (59.9%, OB for The Bottling Hall Dinner, Re-Charred Sherry Butt, C#608)

Excellent afternoon again.

23/06/2025 Was 1978 a duff year?

Macduff 17yo 1978/1996 (43%, Signatory Vintage, Sherry Butt, C#6643, 1320b, b#79, 96/1247): nose: dusty coffee beans, dried-out old tyres and cereal dust. It is an old miniature, of course. Also, I would be surprised if this was not from a Sherry cask (oh! it is). Deeper nosing reveals a dusty Moka pot, which is to say tin, but also oxidised zinc and old copper coins. Perhaps this has faint brine and a drop of one varnish or another. Even later, there is a whiff of rusty metal, possibly gardening or farming tools, rusty and stained with earth. The second nose is more incisive, with rubbing alcohol. Mind you, it also showcases old cardboard and burnt-hazelwood gratings cooling on stone-floor tiles. Mouth: surprisingly sweet, with lozenges, crystallised sugar and boiled sweets -- a mix of crystallised orange segments and faded Mokatine. All of that is rather ancient, faded and dusty. Looking for it with purpose, one may detect oxidised tin (tin-knife blade, to be precise), but the palate is mostly sweetish, really. The second sip is a little bolder, especially when it comes to the sweetness, yet it does not deviate much: caramel, toffee, mocha sweets, all dusty. Finish: quite narrow and thin, the finish too is a display of faded Mokatine sweets. Wherther's Originals, hardened toffee, dusty fudge. Repeated quaffing merely increases the perception of alcohol. Not in a negative way! It just seems to hit the gob more strongly. The honey-coloured wood of a rustic armchair, a pot of lukewarm mocha on a wooden coffee table, and faded sweets in a dusty bowl. Perhaps fudge comes into focus more and more, as this takes on buttery notes towards the death. Simple and efficient dram. 7/10

Miltonduff 21yo 1978/1999 (59.2%, Signatory Vintage, Sherry Cask, C#1685, 620b, b#350, 99/122): nose: this is even more metallic, with a pouchful of copper coin, brass buttons and old, oxidised medals. Behind that is what appears to be fierce alcohol ready to jump at one and slap one in the face. This could be a Moka pot used to boil water, and a drop of white vinegar to clean it. In the same spirit (pun intended), we spot a drop of lemon juice on a tin plate  -- a tin plate that becomes dustier and dustier with each minute. That is accompanied by citrus foliage, initially lemon and lime going on orange and bergamot. In the background, the insistent noser may detect a veil of earth so dry it comes close to dust or desert dirt. The second nose has wood dust and flowers in a vase, drying, yet still releasing some fragrance and nectar in the hope of attracting one last pollinator. Mouth: thick citrus juice without the biting acidity at first, and certainly little sweetness, even if that makes little sense on paper. Soon, it has a lush nutty woodiness, wide, noble, and softly bitter. It is wood that is glazed with a marmalade and some wax to keep it from tipping over into unpleasantly-bitter territory. It is also warm and numbing, despite the ABV being well controlled. Hard to imagine anyone guessing it correctly. The second sip sees worked leather, hardened suede, and a dollop of honey or marmalade with a dusting of sawdust. Finish: long and warming, welcoming, here are more (hot) marmalade and polished old wood, crystallised sweets and a nutty lick, all of which bring a clear, balanced bitterness to a finish that is otherwise fruitier than the nose and palate. The second gulp is very much in line, perhaps more furniture polish, and it adds oily green hazelnuts. In the long run, wood spices rally: we see ground ginger, grated nutmeg and dried lemongrass. Ground cloves? Very little of that, if any. This is pretty good too. 7/10

Sadly, no Dufftown d.1978 to make it a triplet.
Happy birthday, CD! (who is not from 1978)

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.