Very polished and smooth, Highland toffee, buttery caramel and creamy vanilla, some fruit and woody notes make this one a very easy drinker. 85/100
Kavalan ex-Bourbon Oak
Barry Bradford
About me? I am a Whisky Educator, Travel-Tourist and Blogger. I blog tasting notes about (mostly Scotch) beer and whisky at The Whiskyphiles. I keep progress of my travels via the Alfred Barnard Society. Based in Livingston, Scotland I do most of my dramming at the University of Edinburgh Water of Life Society and Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
Tomatin 12 Years Old 2008 Cognac Edition
Soft and sugary, the Cognac casks have highlighted the gentle fruits and florals and added some soft spices and gentle oak tannins which are a perfect complement for Tomatin’s gentle spirit character. 85/100
Royal Lochnagar 26 Years Old 1994 The Sleeping Beauty
Malty Lochnagar meets dried fruit and spice from the Sherry cask. redolent of Christmas time, mince pies and puddings, nice earthy dark fruits too such as blackberry and brambles. 90/100
Fettercairn 22 Years Old 1995 Cask 2809 (Samaroli)
A simply delicious Fettercairn, stated as a cask selected by Samaroli but had me wondering if this was one they had matured themselves in Virgin oak? Floral and fruity and plenty of New Make Spirit characteristics made this distinctly Fettercairn – tropical fruits in syrup. 88/100
Fettercairn 12 Years Old 2009 Bourbon Cask
Soft fruity and vanillic, actually really good, I think I like this single cask more than the standard Fettercairn 12 Years Old – I suspect Greg picked out one of the best of the bunch? 84/100
Fettercairn 12 Years Old 2009 Rye Cask
Soft and gentle rye spices, much less sweet and more vaporous and spirit, perhaps displays more tropical fruit nature from the distillate. 82/100
Whisky Blog Rankings September 2021
Whisky Blog Rankings September 2021
Fettercairn Warehouse 2 Batch No.002
Considering I find the standard 12 a little spicy in the tail I was a little apprehensive of the Rye maturation used here. It really accentuates other facets of Fettercairn’s spirit but surreptitious use of sweet and vanillic ex-Bourbon casks brings plenty of coconut and chocolate along for the ride making this one a real journey. Actually the more I tasted the more welcoming the spicy Rye elements were. Bravo! 85/100
Fettercairn 12 Years Old
Relatively easy going, everything is quite soft and smooth initially. There is that characteristic leafy green note to Fettercairn that seems much more integrated here than I remember previously, gets a little too spicy and drying at the end for me. 80/100
Fettercairn New Make Spirit
More cereal and nutty than tropical fruits. Quite light as expected from their unique process, very little lactic & metallic notes I’d usually associate with new make, with a freshness and clarity of flavour.
