28/03/2018 April outturn at Cadenhead's

Modest attendance, which makes for a relaxed atmosphere and pace. We try everything blind.

Dram #1: nose: crisp apples, then perfume. Mouth: sweet, soft but lively, perhaps a bit too green. Finish: fruit again, and a hint of chocolate. Strathisla-Glenlivet 20yo 1997/2018 (53.6%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 228b) 7/10

Dram #2: nose: very grassy, almost metallic. Mouth: acidic, fruity and gently sweet. Finish: sweet and metallic, it has verbena. Nice. I guess correctly that it is Caledonian 30yo 1987/2018 (48.5%, Cadenhead, 216b) and note that I expected more from it. 7/10

Dram #3: nose: hand lotion, flower petals and graphite. Mouth: sweet, fruity, with gummy bears and Valda cough drops. Finish: Valda cough drops indeed, violet boiled sweets and dried blackberry. This makes me think of Invergordon. It is in fact Cameronbrige 28yo 1989/2018 (58%, Cadenhead World Whiskies, Bourbon Hogshead, 228b) 8/10

Dram #4: nose: a mix of Chinese spices and herbs, dried durian and salty fudge. Mouth: salted fudge alright, with a pinch of dried fruits. Finish: dried figs, stollen dough and salted fudge. Glen Grant-Glenlivet 20yo 1997/2018 (51.9%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 264b) 6/10

Dram #5: nose: rotting fruit and meat, marinating in wine. I am puzzled when I am told there is no Mortlach, this month. Mouth: acidic, with plum skins and decaying fruit all round. Finish: big, round and plummy. The finish is sort of ok, while the rest is not my thing. Benrinnes 13yo 2004/2018 (52.2%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 282b) 5/10

Dram #6: nose: sawdust, wormwood, lichen on staves, then citrus. Mouth: soft, sweet and plummy. Finish: slightly dry, rough, but still pretty fruity. This is probably the highlight of the tasting. Dalmore 16yo 2001/2018 (48.9%, Cadenhead, Sherry Cask, 180b) 8/10

Pulteney 12yo 2006/2018 (56%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 282b): this is from a bottle, rather than a sample, and not poured blind. Nose: overripe apples, at the point where they turn soft and sour. Mouth: astringent, unripe plums, salty brine. This is strong. Finish: a hint of leather, salt, cracked black pepper and plant stems. 6/10

Dram #8: nose: gently fruity, with strawberry stems and hot, spiked custard. Mouth: herbaceous and gently metallic, as well as milky. Finish: custard and herbs. Speyside-Glenlivet 26yo 1991/2018 (48.9%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 324b) 6/10

Dram #9: nose: warm wool, a faded wooden box. Mouth: the bitterness of nut shells. Finish: bitter and invading liquorice and unripe nuts. I do not like this. Glen Spey-Glenlivet 16yo 2001/2018 (54.7%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 288b) 4/10

Dram #10: nose: cedar-wood shavings and dried cattle droppings. Mouth: very sweet, with ground apricot stone. Finish: super sweet, lime-y, with an added touch of acidic bitterness. Longmorn-Glenlivet 23yo 1994/2018 (52.6%, Cadenhead, Rum Cask, 222b) 7/10

Dram #11: nose: honey and the mildest smoke. Mouth: caster sugar, melted honey and more mild smoke. Finish: huge, smoky, it has roasted nuts, coated in honey, and even a touch of tropical fruit. Excellent, this! Highland Park 28yo 1989/2018 (48.8%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 270b) 8/10

Dram #12: nose: wine, pencil eraser, crayon shavings and warm laundry. Mouth: soda-y apricot or plum juice, thinned down a notch. Finish: is this fruity? It is a very distinctive taste, yet I cannot place it. Bruichladdich 24yo 1993/2018 (46.9%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 204b) 6/10

Dram #13: nose: überfruity, with lychee, mangosteen, jasmine and that spice mix they bring with the bill in a curry house. Mouth: soft, teeming with more tropical fruit (mangosteen and lychee). Finish: similar fruity notes, with more of that curry-house, bill-time spice mix. Interesting, but the extravagant fruitiness is overpowering and, therefore, a little vulgar. Rampur Select (43%, OB, b.2018) 7/10

Good little session!

Unfortunately, this was not available to try

(Thanks SW for the pictures)