09/02/2026 Belgium #10 -- Old glories

ydc, GD, Bishlouk, red71, JS and I meet (virtually) to try things that the other Belgian tasters have already tried. Things that are too depleted to make samples for everyone. STL cannot join; he is giving blood to a family of clubbed baby seals, tonight.

As usual, everything is poured blind and revealed when everyone has had a chance to try the whisky. Even the theme, I only reveal afterwards.

Dram #1

Nose: it smells great and old-school (Bishlouk), though ydc finds it a little flat
Mouth: a bit light on the palate (Bishlouk), tired (red71) or shot (Bishlouk). ydc, on the other hand, finds it a decent heat.
Finish: it is indeed a smidge dusty and it is time to finish it. At the same time, it still has enough stamina and class.
Comment: disappointed with the welcome this got, tonight. There is some left in the bottle; we will try it again. Full notes are here.

Caperdonich 11yo d.1968 (70° Proof, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur's Choice) 8/10

Dram #2

Nose: fresher and more herbaceous, it has flower stems and mint (Bishlouk). red71, ydc and GD confirm the freshness and go further to call mint menthol. ydc also finds subtle spices.
Mouth: fruity, herbaceous (Bishlouk), daisy stems (red71). Bishlouk says it is not super-high strength, but full on the tongue, with a pinch of spices. red71 calls it oily.
Finish: Bishlouk reckons it could be a Littlemill, albeit a very-vegetal example, exuberant. red71 finds it austere and bitter, peppery. GD detects some ginger.
Comment: "likely a Speysider, perhaps a Glen Keith," says Bishlouk who will then insist he got the distillery right "at some point." My full notes are here.

Littlemill 16yo 1991/2008 (50%, Douglas Laing The Old Malt Cask 50°, Refill Hogshead, C#DL4064, 276b) 8/10

Bishlouk talks about the various profiles of Littlemill throughout the years -- herbaceous, fruity, chalky...

Bishlouk: "Les années 1990 étaient plus herbacées, alors que les années 1980 étaient hyper fruitées..."
tOMoH: "Dans les années 1980, j'avais les genoux bien verts, parce que je courais dans l'herbe assez."

Bishlouk: "I'm not a fan of ginger."
red71: "He prefers daisies."

Dram #3

Nose: "no note of big, sulphur-y Sherry, despite the obvious cask influence (based on the colour)" (Bishlouk). It smells all sweet and velvety, according to Bishlouk. red71 finds it to his taste (or to his nose, probably). Bishlouk spots rancio and OBE, while red71 has rubber and burnt wood. ydc declares mahogany, to which red71 adds fire starters and barbecue.
Mouth: red71 and Bishlouk note it is a bit low in strength, but not weak. The lack of brute force is not detrimental at all, here.
Finish: fruits, especially chestnuts (ydc), dried fruits (Bishlouk). GD and ydc call it warming and comforting.
Comment: this never disappoints. My full notes are here.

Glenlossie-Glenlivet 21yo 1957/1979 (80° Proof, Cadenhead imported by Mario Rossi, Sherry Cask) 9/10

Dram #4

Nose: herbaceous (red71 and Bishlouk), though red71 is quick to point out that it is lighter than the Littlemill, which was also herbaceous. Bishlouk finds mint and "some kind of perfume." ydc slaps a name on that: Cologne. Bishlouk tells us of meadow flowers too.
Mouth: wild (ydc), it has nothing in common with the nose (GD). red71 has a slight fizz, while I find dark honey tainted with eucalyptus powder. red71 manages to utter that it sticks to the gob and puts one's mouth upside down. Perhaps he tried to kiss Mike Tyson?
Finish: full-bodied (red71), it has green wood (ydc and Bishlouk). red71 finds that it stings a little, though that sting improves at second sip. ydc notices chilli powder in the finish.
Comment: as always, this is a little abrupt at first sip, but grows on the tasters. My full notes are here.

D.town 33yo d.1979 (56.3%, Cadenhead Cask Ends, 3rd Fill Bourbon Cask, 1b) 8/10

red71: "This is very nice. Not sure what it'll give in the mouth, but..."

red71: "What are the nice areas of Charleroi?"
ydc: "Loverval."
tOMoH: "So does JS. We went to the abbey and she said: 'I love Orval.'"

ydc [about ageing Orval in the bottle]: "After five years, it becomes uninteresting."
Bishlouk:"What? Bad?"
ydc: "No, just uninteresting. Elle platisse."
tOMoH: "Elle fait des gaufles, des taltelettes, des cloissants… Elle platisse."

Dram #5

Nose: refined peat (red71 and Bishlouk). "It smells like an old Ardbeg: I cannot find the ash of Caol Ila, so I imagine a pre-1996 Ardbeg" (Bishlouk). red71 cannot find any peat, initially, probably still nursing his wounds from kissing Mike Tyson, earlier. In fact, he finds the nose muted and not very expressive.
Mouth: sweet and full of cane sugar (ydc). Sweetness and smoke (Bishlouk, red71, GD).
Comment: "not bad (for an Ardbeg)" (Bishlouk). He and red71 reckon it could also be an old Ledaig. Calls all round for tOMoH to make them dream with an unattainable reference are replaced with disbelief when they discover it is not only available at the time of writing, but affordable too. A hidden gem that enthuses all -- the great surprise of tonight for everyone. My full notes are here.

Glasgow Blend Limited Edition b.2019 (49%, Compass Box Great King St Single Marrying Cask selected by The Wine Merchant Ltd imported by Compass Box USA, ex-Sherry Marrying Cask, C#35, 132b) 8/10

red71: "It is probably an old thing I cannot afford."
Bishlouk:"You have three children. Sell one."
red71: "They're too old. If I had an eight-year-old daughter, I'd get a good price, but they're all in their twenties. They're worthless, now."

red71 [tries to guess the theme]: "They are poured in ascending Whiskybase ID order!"

Good times. Ridiculous nonsense from all involved.