25/07/2019 August outturn at Cadenhead's

Yes, another outturn. Yes, two days in a row. We rush through the drams four by four before being told what they are. The quantities are minute, so notes are short.

Balmenach-Glenlivet 14yo 2004/2019 (49.7%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 210b)
Nose: crisp apple, apple compote and a dash of leather.
Mouth: pepper on apple compote.
Finish: crisp apple, apple compote and even cider.
Comment: this is lovely. I guess it is the Glen Scotia, but it is not.
Score: 8/10

Aultmore-Glenlivet 12yo 2006/2019 (56.4%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 282b)
Nose: wet straw, white fruit and eau-de-vie.
Mouth: gravel-y, rocky, with unripe stone fruit.
Finish: a bit drying, it has wet straw and soaked stave. It turns bitter and acrid, at the second sip.
Comment: not my thing.
Score: 5/10

Girvan 9yo 2009/2019 (61.4%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, Pinot Noir Finish, 294b)
New livery for the grains. This has the traditional Authentic Collection label, even if it looks like it has spent too much time in the washer.
Nose: dark wine and rancio.
Mouth: syrupy, Port-like, whilst pine-sap-y and strong.
Finish: tannic, wine-y, with notes of liquorice towards the death.
Comment: I recognise the Girvan from the festival. I do not enjoy it more tonight. Others do.
Score: 5/10

Ord 14yo 2005/2019 (54.8%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 300b)
Nose: sweaty feet. Topical (38 degrees, today), but not necessarily a good thing. Crystallised berries appear later, and a bit of wood.
Mouth: chewy and slightly cola-like.
Finish: long, fresh and woody, it has spearmint.
Score: 7/10

Benrinnes 18yo 2000/2019 (58.7%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Barrel, 186b)
Nose: dry hazel wood, extremely dry blood-orange peels.
Mouth: warm apple, cracked black pepper and cloves.
Finish: soft, with pepper and warm mead.
Score: 8/10

Fettercairn 10yo 2007/2019 (57.6%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Barrel, 312b)
Nose: musky and meaty, leather -- scratch that! It is a full tannery.
Mouth: leather, seal wax, faded leather sofas.
Finish: similar, with a touch of berries to sort of save it.
Comment: despite the finish, I still do not like this.
Score: 5/10

Glen Spey-Glenlivet 17yo 2001/2019 (54.5%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 294b)
Nose: chalky and warming.
Mouth: a bit indistinct, it has shy yellow fruit and chalk again.
Finish: big, chalky. It leaves the mouth well dry.
Comment: meh.
Score: 6/10

Glentauchers-Glenlivet 12yo 2007/2019 (59.3%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 270b)
Nose: crushed walnuts, dark berries (elderberry, I reckon).
Mouth: soft, velvety, with rancio and walnut skin. This is bitter, like.
Finish: prune stones, bitterness.
Score: 6/10

Springbank 24yo 1994/2019 (50.8%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Refill Barrel, 312b)
Nose: greengages and roasted carambola.
Mouth: juicy, it has barbecued greengages, grilled plantains and smoked carambola.
Finish: juicy fruit and soft smoke, prunes and bakewell tart.
Comment: this is lovely alright. MSo and I guess rightly that this is the star of the night. It impresses me much more tonight than last night (I was lucky enough to smell it ahead of schedule). "Is it £420 lovely?" is the question bandied about, tonight. It is all allocated via a draw anyway.
Score: 9/10

Tomatin 10yo 2009/2019 (59.1%, Cadenhead Wine Cask, Chilean Red Wine Cask, 294b)
Nose: rather fruity, wine-y, one can almost spot the grape skins, floating at the surface.
Mouth: soft and velvety, with grapes and gentle wine.
Finish: wine. Sauce grand'veneur.
Comment: meh.
Score: 6/10

Mackmyra 11yo b.2019 (49.5%, Cadenhead World Whiskies, Bourbon Barrel, 258b)
Nose: mineral orchard fruit, if it makes sense. Lichen on limestone.
Mouth: light and sweet.
Finish: blackberry, blueberry and raspberry.
Comment: this is nice. A couple of guesses point at the Swede. Rightly. Cadenhead's first Mackmyra.
Score: 8/10

Glen Scotia 27yo 1992/2019 (45%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 150b)
Nose: corpse, dead rat, monkey's arse. Hm!
Mouth: soft and velvety, it has flint and ground fruit stone. Quite a contrast with the nose. The texture is velvety, regardless of the taste. Most bizarre.
Finish: yup! Monkey's arse.
Comment: wow. There are even fewer bottles of this to allocate than of the Springbank. It is an oddball to perplex friends at a tasting!
Score: 4/10

Dalmore 18yo 2001/2019 (51.7%, Cadenhead Sherry Cask, Sherry Cask, 246b)
Nose: rancio, flat cola and Chinoto.
Mouth: flat cola, Chinoto and wine.
Finish: sweet as hell, with Chinoto and flat cola.
Comment: a complete one-trick pony, though it remains sippable. We guess a grain. Incorrectly.
Score: 7/10

Cameronbridge 30yo 1989/2019 (57.9%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 222b)
Nose: fresh salad leaves. It is not very characterful.
Mouth: sweet, honeyed and gently metallic.
Finish: honey, royal jelly and honeysuckle sap.
Comment: this is the grain.
Score: 7/10

Glenrothes-Glenlivet 21yo 1997/2019 (57.1%, Cadenhead Sherry Cask, Sherry Butt, 510b)
Nose: vaguely mineral, with butter, buttercups and a hint of leather.
Mouth: acidic, full of yellow flowers and candied ginger shavings.
Finish: sweet, liquorice-y, pillow-y and minty.
Comment: I tried this last night and find it very different.
Score: 7/10

Good fun, as always. Lots of silly banter, whiskies covering a wide spectrum of tastes, temperatures coming down a little. Phew.