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 1968/1979 (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.

21/12/2020 A random pair

D.town 33yo d.1979 (56.3%, Cadenhead Cask Ends, 3rd Fill Bourbon Cask, 1b): possibly a re-labelled Chairman's Stock, though I cannot identify it more precisely. Nose: hazelnuts, dusty fruits, lichen, glazed chestnuts, forest floor. Then, it turns to flowers, with dried roses, dried tulips, pot-pourri, dried gorse leaves. Some desiccated dried dates, almost wooden, faded marmalade on stale toast. It may read horrible, but it is full of diaphanous charm. Much later, it is daisies, canola oil and rapeseed that suitably complement the dried flowers, then ground black pepper and ground coriander. Mouth: the palate has much more bite than the nose suggested, with ginger, cinnamon sticks, maybe peppermint. It is lively, that is for sure! A schitckle of menthol -- oh! Definitely peppermint, now. There is a fleeting impression of strawberry bubble gum, at some stage, fighting the cinnamon and the ginger. It feels like a whisky from another era, with wood varnish and encaustic in an old-school way. Chocolate makes a delayed entrance (milk chocolate), sprinkled with chilli powder. Finish: warm and nutty, it has Brazil-nut butter, cocoa butter, chestnut shells, and a spoonful of melted dark chocolate. It stops short of unveiling mocha (just), and seems devoid of the peppermint that was so obvious on the palate. The cinnamon and ginger are still there, even if one needs to look hard for them. Indeed, the finish is a nutty affair and a half, augmented by a drop of strong liqueur, not unlike Edel Tropfen. 8/10

Hazelburn 9yo 2008/2018 (59.9%, OB Duty Paid Sample, Refill Bourbon Hogshead, Warehouse 15, Rotation #4): nose: white wine, plum eau-de-vie, Alka-Seltzer tablets... This is dry, mineral and rather austere, very much unlike the mental image most people would paint of Hazelburn, I would wager. Gin-based toddy, hot tea. The back of the nose feels rougher, with industrial stripping fluid and... nappy glue!?!? Unripe-mandarin peels too, what a relief! Much later on, a timid, burnt-wood smoke tickles the nostrils, oddly enough (Hazelburn is completely unpeated). The plum eau-de-vie attempts a takeover, but fails. With water, it becomes much jammier, with peach jelly, apricot compote and flayed tangerine segments, cloaked in what reminds me of faint stove smoke. Hazelburn may not be smoked, yet I swear it is there. Or is it chilli relish? Smoked-chilli relish? Mouth: surprisingly soft and juicy, it has juice from the nose's mandarins, augmented with a drop of lemon juice, minty gel (think: Mentos filling) and tinned-pineapple chunks. The alcohol takes off and, if it does not corrode the gums too harshly, it is clear we are far above 40%. With the second sip comes a certain bitterness, harking back to the Alka-Seltzer tablets. Repeated sipping puts the emphasis on the citrus, though the bitterness never completely goes away -- let us call it citrus peel. Water underlines the tangerine segments alright, not much else. Finish: citrus juice here too, mandarin, calamansi, a few drops of sweet grapefruit. Crystallised tangerine segments grow sweeter and harder, to a point where the finish is overwhelming with citrus-y boiled sweets. After a while, blackcurrant drops join the dance, which makes for a lovely fruity-sweet-come-bitter experience. With water, it is now pure citrus debauchery, with mandarin drops, crystallised clementines, candied tangerines and sweet grapefruit marmalade. No trace of the bitterness is left. Good drop, but the (neat) nose is a bit of a let-down that prevents it from scoring higher. 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, JS)

17/05/2020 Miltondufftown (38yo + 180b) x 2

Miltonduff-Glenlivet 38yo 1978/2017 (46.5%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 180b): nose: vegetal and mineral, it has garden herbs (sage, marjoram), distant ivy or vine and gravel/pebbles. The gravel is starting to be covered in moss, but then it is underneath leafy trees (oaks and beeches). A few acorns hint at more woody things to come, and -- would you know it? Here they are: cask bung, old, dry staves, greasy newspapers, even ink, though only from the newspapers, not a bucketful of it. A gentle, waxy tone appears, after a while, with candle sticks, rapeseed oil and cashew-nut oil. Pencil shavings show up in the back as well. Mouth: with a lively and tense attack, the lowish ABV presents a perfect strength for me. Cinnamon sticks and ginger shavings allow a milky note to shine, almond milk, butterscotch, toffee, and roasted coconut flesh (fresh, not desiccated). Green-chilli slices topping a hazelnut paste, green hazelnuts, green olives in oil. The mouth is not overly complex, but it oscillates between nuts and chocolate-y wood, which I find excellent. Finish: long and comforting, the finish sees the same milky and chocolate-y notes from the mouth; toffee, butterscotch, cinnamon powder, sprinkled over caramel, Scottish tablet. It has a pinch of grated bitter chocolate to complement the dominant milk chocolate, and green hazelnut comes back too, next to macadamia nuts. Lovely. 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, SW)

Dufftown-Glenlivet 38yo 1978/2017 (44.6%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 180b): nose: strongly citric, this exhales lemons, preserved lemons, mandarins, limoncello, bergamot foliage, fresh pineapple chunks and Chinese gooseberry slices. A delicate note of plywood then joins in on the fun, dry hazel sticks and hazel leaves. Later, it is uncut melon and tagetes, gerania, and the return of the citrus. What a lovely nose this is! Mouth: all softness and elegance, it has little bite, but much citrus again, with orange marmalade, candied mandarin segments, cut satsumas and ripe, juicy tangerines. Limoncello, fresh, clean, fruity and a little drying from the acidity. It feels like sweetened limoncello, though: despite the acidity, it is sweet alright. The texture is that of pulpless orange juice and has the perfect mouthfeel and weight. Finish: an infernal gig of citrus, tonic water and a few leaves, thrown in for good measure (and added bitterness). The tonic brings saltiness, aside the bitterness, the leave (bergamot or mandarin, if they are to be identified) give a green and gently bitter side, whilst the citrus, well, shines. Orange rinds, tangerine segments, not-so-ripe satsumas all balance the Schweppes to make the best gin-and-tonic in town. You know: the one without gin. 9/10 (Thanks for the sample, SW)

Ah-swish!

16/05/2020 Dufftown vs. Pittyvaich

Dufftown is, of course, one of the original Seven Stills of Dufftown. Pittyvaich is the distillery that was built in 1974 to increase Dufftown's capacity. It closed in 1993, making it the fourth-shortest operation in recent history, as far as I can tell (after Ladyburn, Ben Wyvis and Kinclaith).

Dufftown-Glenlivet 11yo 2007/2018 (51.6%, Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting, Sherry Hogshead): nose: it is all blackcurrant cough drops and a little camphor, minty, sappy gel and crushed pine needles. Stewed fruits appear after that, with rhubarb, rum-toft and prunes in syrup, crystallised blood oranges, perhaps baked apples. It is not particularly sweet, or at least nothing above the fruits' natural sugar. Hoisin sauce, marinating Peking duck, barley snaps -- say, the (natural) sweetness increases, does it not? Later, dusty logs, ready for the fire, and eaten spare ribs, meaning the bone with bits of charred marinated pork meat left on it. Mouth: perfect continuation of the nose, with hoisin sauce and prunes in syrup, but the palate sees some acidity come to the fore, and the strength is rather clear. Next to that, wooden chairs, varnished in the past month, unripe peach, rum-spiked punch, blueberry pancakes, hot off the pan and re-hydrated dried cranberries. Finish: here, the stewed fruits take a back seat and allow melting chocolate to speak, Brazil-nut paste, cashew-nut paste, and a pinch of ground green hazelnut. Cranberries make a comeback,, gooseberries, blueberries... Make that blueberry-filled chocolate bars! Oats, berried muesli with a drop of milk-chocolate coulis and a soft note of cardboard. The finish is long and comforting, pleasant, and invites one to refill one's glass. A simple pleasure. I remember this being unremarkable. It is crazy what seventeen months in an open bottle will do to a whisky! 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, JMcI)

Pittyvaich 14yo (54.5%, James MacArthur Fine Malt Selection imported by Pevarello, b. ca 1990): nose: leather and cured ham, biltong, faded moccasins, suede jackets, cowhide, digestive biscuits. All that slows down, allowing draff and poultry food to emerge, with ground corn. Later on, a note of gherkin appears, very distant. Chaff, dried hops, stale chewing tobacco, old newspapers. Behind all that is an old and dusty gravel courtyard. I would say a single beach, but it has no maritime influence whatsoever -- this is all farmland countryside. Mouth: equally cereal-y on the palate, it has chaff, hops, draff and ground corn. The leather and suede re-appear too, though much shyer. This time, a timid drop of red wine is present too, dry aged, dusty and earthy. Fusty bung cloth, old books (calf-leather-bound, of course), old maps. Digestive biscuits are still there, though they are soaked in some kind of liqueur, this time -- my money is on redcurrant. Finish: big, leathery, wine-y, almost corked, the finish has wet cardboard, old and oily newspapers, a drop of red-wine vinegar, redcurrant liqueur, a pinch of aniseed, blotting paper, busy swallowing all that liqueur. Seriously, it is Edle Tropfen without the chocolate! Pot ale, draff, dreg, dark-grain syrup and liqueur. A big, woody, cereal-y and feint-y dram with a wine-y touch. I like it for its intrinsic qualities, though I will admit it is probably more interesting than incredibly good. 7/10

24/04/2019 May outturn at Cadenhead's

Quick fire, blind pours, short notes, lots of banter. Full house, tonight.

Dram #1
Nose: plum eau-de-vie, marc de Champagne, cologne (cavalier66). Mouth: mineral, it has aspirin, quinine and acidic lemon. This is spicy on the tongue. Finish: a few not-very-ripe hazelnuts, spices and leaves. Good starter. Deanston 10yo 2008/2019 (56.6%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 276b) 6/10

Dram #2
Nose: chalky bubble gum, plaster bands, gauze. Mouth: yup, gauze, plasters, plant-stem broth (nettle, I would say) and a certain sweetness. Finish: sweet, it has liquorice and an unexpected, rubbery bitterness. Benrinnes 11yo 2007/2019 (58.5%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Barrel, 216b) 6/10

Dram #3
Nose: tree bark, olive stones and newly-dyed denim (that is original!) Mouth: milk chocolate and a green bitterness. Finish: chocolate again, hot cocoa. Teaninich 10yo 2008/2019 (57.2%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 276b) 6/10

Dram #4
Nose: animal funk, musk, leather, rotting plums, the rubber joints of a new car, matured Parmesan. Mouth: almond paste, baby sick (cavalier66), milk-chocolate coulis. Finish: acidic, bitter, ivy, butyric acid. This will remain the least favourite of the audience, today -- and mine. Dailuaine-Glenlivet 10yo 2008/2019 (60.6%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 294b) 5/10

Dram #5
Nose: toffee, tablet, caramel, fudge and a lick of a block of metal. Mouth: much better balance than the first four, with fudge and tablet again, chocolate mousse, a pinch of spices. Finish: soft chocolate and, really, lots of fudge and tablet, as well as millionaire shortbread. Glentauchers-Glenlivet 10yo 2009/2019 (59.9%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 330b) 7/10

Dram #6
Nose: wooden dashboards, green hazelnut, bubble gum, galangal. Mouth: gingery custard, pickled onions (cavalier66). Finish: long, bitter and onion-y. Fettercairn 10yo 2008/2019 (56.6%, Cadenhead Wine Cask, New Zealand Pinot Noir Cask since October 2017, 264b) 6/10

Dram #7
Nose: flowers and candy floss, very shy. Mouth: soft and subtle on the palate too, shy as fook. Mead, perhaps? Finish: sweet and nice, unpretentious, with rose petals. It does the trick. Dufftown-Glenlivet 11yo 2007/2019 (54.5%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 282b) 6/10

Dram #8
Nose: acetone (cavalier66), walnut flesh, walnut stain, polished dashboards. Mouth: Brazil-nut paste, marzipan, jellied walnut and a pinch of red chilli. Finish: long and sweet, marzipan-y, it also has... Aspirine Junior (children's aspirin that does not seem to be made, anymore). Royal Brackla 10yo 2008/2019 (56.3%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 294b) 7/10

Dram #9
Nose: dunnage warehouse, pressed sultanas, warm wood, sweet-corn fritter (cavalier66), tamarind (AN). Mouth: soft and balanced, with a gentle curry flavour (coronation chicken, which we all talk about, now). Finish: long, subtle, noble, with a hint of lichen. Glenrothes-Glenlivet 24yo 1994/2019 (47%, Cadenhead Sherry Cask, 1st Fill Sherry Wood since June 2015, 234b) 8/10

That was the best Glenrothes this side of the 1970s, from my point of view!

Dram #10
Nose: hay, purple flowers, freesia (AN), Merbromin, chalk in the back -- or a recently-cleaned black board, as someone else says. Mouth: soft, vaguely bitter, it has butterscotch. Finish: farmyard and apple compote. It is a bit subtle for this late in the line-up, but holds itself regardless. Glentauchers-Glenlivet 28yo 1990/2019 (46.5%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Barrel, 114b) 7/10

From a quality-to-price ratio, we all agree the 10yo Glentauchers above is more impressive.

Dram #11
Nose: berries, tobacco pipe, sink funk, metal, a whiff of smoke, even, and overripe plum. Mouth: soft, with sweet barley, sweet corn and barley snaps. Finish: malty, it has boiled sweets and a hint of rubber. Tormore 30yo 1988/2019 (43.2%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 132b) 8/10

cavalier66: "This is a bit weak. It is low in ABV, which makes me think it is the low-in-ABV one."

Dram #12
Nose: wow! Cola, kola kubes, frozen Dr. Pepper, clove, shoe polish, fresh blue ink, star aniseed, toothpaste. Mouth: anonymous at first, then mildly bubble gum-y. Finish: bechamel (SW), cloves, black cumin, mouthwas without the kick, blackcurrant lozenges. This is very original a drop. Bladnoch 30yo 1989/2019 (40.8%, Cadenhead Sherry Cask, Sherry Hogshead since June 2015, 144b) 8/10

Mixed bag, tonight, with something to please everyone but the peat heads. Unfortunately, no sample was sent of the Strathclyde 29yo. We also try a couple of rums, for which I take no notes.
Cracking night.

(Thanks for allowing me to use the pictures, whiskytastingroom.com)

12/12/2018 Warehouse on the Road tasting at Cadenhead's

Jenna McIntosh is on the road, bringing Cadenhead's warehouse tastings from Campbeltown to the world -- well, to the Cadenhead shops, which are all in Europe. Thirteen of us are gathered to sample warehouse juice and exchange general banter. Jenna pours everything blind, which makes for amusing guesses, none correct.

Dram #1
Nose: white wine at first, then white-chocolate-coated sultanas and diluted peach nectar. The next whiff brings in new carpet -- woah! Pressed green grapes and lozenges follow (the wedding kind of lozenges). Mouth: mild and juicy, with a mixture of grape and peach juices, as well as gentle wood spices and pepper. Finish: milk chocolate and a pinch of soft spices. This is good, not exceptional, we all agree. I guess Linkwood 15-18yo and am, of course, wrong. Strathmill 25yo d.1993 (52.9%, Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting, Bourbon Hogshead) 7/10

Explaining how one cask in the warehouse still ages between two tastings...
JMcI: "This whisky has aged a year, since..."
PP: "Since twelve months ago."

Dram #2
Nose: a weird mix of overripe orchard fruit, mud and dunnage warehouse. The second nosing brings forth chocolate pudding, rubber, then furniture polish. It even has an animalistiches touch. Much funnier to write than 'animal.' Complex, but odd. Mouth: similar pudding notes, with a gingery chilli undercurrent. Finish: it seems very short, though it is pleasant. The chilli disappears quickly, leaving under-ripe hazelnut as a lasting note (not soooo short, then). Hazelnut-and-chocolate paste, with a drop of orchard-fruit juice. Several guesses, none right. Tomintoul-Glenlivet 12yo d.2006 (57.9%, Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting, Bourbon Barrel) 7/10

Dram #3
Nose: instant chicory coffee, then chalk, which prompts me to guess Aultmore (wrong, of course), bland salty biscuits, pretzel style. Later, a note of bubble gum appears, and some unidentified herb. Mouth: milk chocolate, forsythia, kerria japonica, then red chilli. It feels rather powerful. Finish: very coffee-like, here, with crushed green pepper and ginger shavings. This was Jenna's pick for the fight vs. Cameron McGeachy, during the Campbeltown festival this year. Before she spills the beans, I rate it the same now as then. Aberfeldy 22yo d.1996 (52.2%, Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting, Bourbon Hogshead) 6/10

WK: "There was a time when I didn't have enough whisky... But I didn't know it, at the time!"

Dram #4
Nose: fruity bubble gum, very fruity, with strawberry and perhaps a little salt. Mouth: soft and bubble gum-y, strawberry again, with also spices and a whisper of smoke. Finish: hints of smoke and lots of strawberry, fresh and chemical, in a way (as in: strawberry sweets, rather than the fresh fruit). I venture a sherry-matured Bowmore. And fail. Bunnahabhain 18yo d.1999 (49.8%, Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting, Bourbon Hogshead) 8/10

TE: "There was an Authentic Bunnahabhain, recently..."
MSo: "They're all fake."

Dram #5
Nose: ginger, cinnamon, some fruit (tamarind?), apricot and hazel tree. Mouth: wood wax, furniture polish, diluted apricot juice and a pinch of sawdust. Finish: lots of apricot, here, dried apricot, to be precise, and a hint of coconut. We stop guessing. Dufftown-Glenlivet 11yo d.2007 (51.6%, Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting, Sherry Hogshead) 7/10

JMcI: "Mark [Watt, who does the cask selection] has his own office, so he can have all his samples around him."
tOMoH: "Seems perfectly safe."

JMcI reminisces a time she was stuck in Dufftown at night.
JMcI: "Dead. Ghost town. There's no 24/7 shop or anything."
WK: "It's not Campbeltown, after all!"

Dram #6
Nose: "smells froggy," says JS. Shoe polish, peat smoke. The peat grows bolder, overshadowing the sherry influence. Nonetheless, it remains very sherried, with lots of shoe polish. Mouth: soft, mild, though spices come up too, with cloves and black cardamom, as well as machine oil (JMcI). Finish: very long, peaty and smoky, with coal and burnt tractor tyres. Clearly a Sherry-matured Islay peater. Nope. It is not even peated, according to the host (I blame another Campbeltown label mix-up). Paul John 6yo d.2011 (56.7%, Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting, Refill Bourbon Hogshead) 8/10

DW: "Is this the cask from the festival? Has it been around?"
JMcI: "Probably."
TE: "You dirty cask, you!"

Because we have been nice, we get to try a seventh dram.

Dram #7
Nose: leather, very dry hay, dried mud, banana -- no! plantain and cured meat. Mouth: simple and deadly efficient, with plantain and peat smoke. Lots of that. Finish: big, leathery, smoky and efficient. This is a bit of a crowd-pleaser. Of course, that means I refuse to like it much. B-) An Islay 9yo d.2008 (59%, Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting, Sherry Butt) 7/10

JMcI: "I've taken Longrow from the cask. Really good for the cold."
WK: "Whereas Caol Ila is good for cuts and bruises."



Good little tasting. Not necessarily the whiskies I would normally go for, but it is nice to try different things.
Pourers would be good, though, since Jenna is not pouring from a valinch. The pours were hefty; that eroded the senses quite quickly. One centilitre of each would have been enough.
As a nightcap, I pour everyone Cooley 11yo 2001/2012 (55.9%, A.D. Rattray Cask Collection imported by Pacific Edge Imports, Barrel, C#3443, 210b), but do not try it myself as a result of the previous, hefty pours.

28/09/2016 October outturn at Cadenhead's

Yep. Another regular event to frequent that is less a chore than a delight. OB and JS, who are both involved in most interesting events, you will have noticed, attend, alongside ten or so others. The session is brief and to the point. Not a masterclass to celebrate such and such bottling or distillery; merely speed dating with a few drams -- fourteen of them, to be precise. All are served in plastic cups. Notes are therefore short and unimaginative. Blame the format.

Mortlach 13yo 2003/2016 (46%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads): nose: quite thin, with a note of white alcohol. Mouth: thin again, watery, even. JS finds it Calvados-y, which I agree with. Finish: finally some action, with velvety grapes, i.e. soft, with a gentle bitterness. JS finds peanuts in the finish. I find it completely uninteresting. 5/10

Glenrothes 14yo 2002/2016 (57.4%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 516b): nose: dried leaves, drying moss, overripe peach. Mouth: coating and acidic, it quickly heats up to deliver hot wax. Finish: hay and wood bitterness. More to my taste than the Mortlach, still, I do not care for it much. 5/10

Auchroisk 14yo 2001/2016 (46%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 1008b): nose: tame, almost silent. Mouth: lively on the tongue, it has orchard fruit. Finish: more delicious orchard fruit and a lightly drying streak. This is better. It makes OB think of the 27yo that came out earlier this year, though without the same depth, of course. 7/10

Teaninich 10yo 2006/2016 (46%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 684b): nose: peach stone. Mouth: spirity and spicy, almost vinegary. JS detects corn -- I agree again. Finish: spirity at first, it then delivers corn syrup. 6/10

Rich Fruity Sherry 36yo (44.5%, Cadenhead Creations, B#2): a blend of Tamdhu, Highland Park, Macallan and Invergordon; all matured in sherry casks. Nose: glue, wood varnish. Mouth: dark fruit and wood glue. Finish: more wood glue, glued wood (spot the difference!) and dark fruit (the blackcurrant from the Invergordon, presumably). Nice. 7/10

Royal Brackla 18yo 1997/2016 (54.4%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 402b): nose: grass, straw, even, and an animal, farmy touch to it. Mouth: soft green grapes, very different to the nose. Finish: bold, drying, with a kick of farmyard flavours. 8/10

Glentauchers 39yo 1976/2016 (43.8%, Cadenhead Single Cask, Bourbon Hogshead, 180b): this is sold out, we are told. Miffed. I loved the 38yo from 2015, how will this fare? Nose: we shift gears to a point we break the gear box! Japanese, tea relaxing hot towels in a restaurant after a spice-rich meal. Mouth: Japanese tea, water melon (JS). Finish: a stream of tropical fruit amongst Japanese tea and a thin veil of smoke. Yep, it is beautiful indeed. 9/10

William Cadenhead Blend 43yo (44.2%, Cadenhead): Glenlivet, Glenfarclas and Invergordon, this time. Nose: a mushroom cave, mould, dusty and humid cellars, cheese rind. Mouth: velvety and soft, woody, yet fruity too. Finish: mix of fruit (apricot, mango) and wood. A complete oddball, this. I think I like it, yet the nose is very peculiar. 8/10

Glen Grant 31yo 1984/2016 (46.1%, Cadenhead Single Cask, Sherry Butt, 414b): nose: wood glue, hay, wicker. Mouth: warming. Finish: balanced, slightly drying. 6/10

Highland Park 30yo 1986/2016 (46.5%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 174b): nose: lavender, heather, super dry, super fragrant pot-pourri, before a little smoke comes up too. Mouth: velvety, with a bit of smoke and warm lavender. Finish: smoke (lots of it), heather on the hearth and a lot of violet sweets. The sort of profile people like in HP, not in Bowmore. I love it in both. 8/10

Dufftown 26yo 1988/2015 (51%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection, Bourbon Hogshead, 214b): this is not from this outturn, yet it is so kindly offered, it would be rude to refuse. Nose: chocolate, corn on the cob. Mouth: warm, earthy. Finish: very long, vaguely grape-y, with a whiff of bandages. 7/10

Ledaig 19yo 1997/2016 (53.9%, Cadenhead Single Cask, 252b): nose: untanned leather, with a bit of flesh left on the skin. Overipe peach. Mouth: meaty and animal, leather in a tin of varnish. Finish: one third smoke, one third meat, one third varnish. Not my style. Most in the group love it, though. 5/10

Inexcusable typo on the label, here!

Caol Ila 34yo 1982/2016 (60.1%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 264b): how can a 34yo whisky still be that high in alcohol, eh? Answers on a postcard. Nose: deep, smoky and massive, with a note of nail polish. Mouth: warming, peppery and ballsy. Finish: long and warming, with a lot of nail polish. Not convinced by this. 6/10

TMAH 24yo 1991/2016 (62.6%, Cadenhead Cask Strength): nose: nail polish, turpentine. Mouth: more of the same. It dances on the tongue quite nicely. Finish: bitter as ink, with all the complexity of nail varnish and polish. This is a nice rum. Will not make me sell my soul, yet pleasant enough. 7/10

The Invergordon 43yo and Burnside 26yo are unavailable, unfortunately.

Good session. Nice to meet new faces, great to catch up with old ones, and really, a mixed bag of whiskies to please everyone, this month.

17/07/2016 Clearing the shelf #9

Glencraig 16yo d.1968 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice, b.1980s): the lomond-still expression from Glenburgie. This always appeals to this curiosity hunter. Nose: ah! those CC brown label. The trademark dust and old books, of course, yet also a fair amount of fruit (strawberries). The red fruit actually becomes pretty loud, blending with marzipan, frangipane, liqueur-filled pralines, then nail varnish, old bandages, dried apricots. A tantalising nose if tOMoH knows one! Mouth: as vibrant as the nose, with liqueur-filled pralines, almond liqueur, dark maraschino cherries and a drop of nail varnish for good measure. The bandages have gone, leaving only fruity goodness behind. It feels powerful, despite the low ABV, which makes for a good balance. Finish: dark chocolate pralines (Neuhaus, innit), filled with cherry liqueur (that would be closer to Mon Chéri, then), chocolate cake, topped with strawberries and maraschino cherries , freshly-applied nail varnish (Diorette 988, for those who know), dried apricots and figs, walnut paste. Excellent Glencraig, this! 9/10

Glenisla 28yo 1977/2006 (48.6%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection, Hogshead, C#19598, 274b): talking about curiosities... This, as is now well known, is an experimental whisky from Glen Keith. For a very short period of time, they used lightly peated barley and heavily peated water to produce this for blending purposes. Only Signatory ever released Glenisla as a single and it is highly unlikely anyone else ever will. The liquid is generally regarded as horrible -- but what do they know? I have not had this in ten years; let us see how my palate has evolved. Nose: wax and plasticine; this is akin to walking into a candle factory in which all the staff's children are playing with their respective Play-Doh Fun Factories. A hint of delicate smoke, perhaps, very, very far away, decaying melon (cantaloupe), waxy apricots, cake icing (as in: make a sponge cake and cover it in icing completely, Brit-style), crushed fruit stones. Mouth: the plasticine notes are still omnipresent, giving this a most unusual, wacky profile. I like it, though I can understand why they stopped making it. It is not something I would drink all night. Soft and creamy, it has the texture of peach flesh -- if peach were waxier. Greengage? The smoke is slightly more present, albeit very gentle, still. Fruit and wax dominate this dram completely. Finish: LOL. Ever swallowed plasticine? This is it. The smoke is slightly more pronounced than in the mouth, yet the prominent touch is that waxy platicine note from who-knows-where. It ends with heady, flower-scented soap bars. A candle-and-soap shop it is, then. This oscillates between 6 and 7; I will go with the latter for its sheer originality. 7/10

Ben Nevis 19yo 1996/2015 (46%, The Vintage Malt Whisky The Cooper's Choice, American Oak, Port Pipe Finish, C#0703, 245b): Notice how TVMW introduced an apostrophe in the new livery of their flagship range. This one is pink, which scares me. Nose: urgh. Winey, with bad, Belarussian chocolate melted in the sunshine on the back seat of a car (there might be good Belarussian chocolate; I simply have not come across it). This nose incarnates everything I do not like about Port-matured whisky: the fortified wine is way too loud. Mouth: better! This has the texture of chocolate coulis, straight off the pan, as one pours it on pancakes. The taste is in line, with distant, crushed star anisee, chocolate milk, augmented with crushed berries (elderberries and raspberries). Finish: the wine comes back, unfortunately, spoiling the chocolate-y and fruity kick that would otherwise be most agreeable. The nose wrecks this. It is just about saved by the lovely chocolate taste. 6/10 (Thanks LM for the sample)

91.20 37yo 1976/2014 The rumbling thunder of contentment (46.9%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 58b): loved this when it came out. Nose: woah! Satsumas, lemon curd, candied grapefruit. Citrus-y? You can say that again! It does not do much else, today, but it does this very, very well. A hint of strawberry, perhaps? Mouth: gentle and citrus-y, it offers more satsumas, kumquats and a milky texture. Some would class this as a one-trick-pony. I say this one-trick-pony has class. Finish: a little more expressive, here -- it still bears the citrus-y character, yet this time, it also unveils more complexity, with walnut pastry and a pinch of herbs (chives, flat-leaf parsley). Wonderful. (Thanks MR for the sample)