A lovely expression full of dark, rich, fruity malt and salty smoke, superb. 86/100
Talisker 2007 Distillers Edition (45.8%, OB, TD-S: 5TF, 2017)
Glenglassaugh 10 Years Old 2009 UK Exclusive Cask 559 (55.9%, OB, Bourbon Barrel #559, 191 Bottles, 2020)
A lovely mixture of sweet vanilla tablet and ashen peat embers. 87/100
Glenglassaugh 10 Years Old 2009 Distillery Exclusive Cask 1346 (54.7%, OB, Bourbon Barrel #1346, 250 Bottles, 2020)
Very rich and full of nutty and creamy vanilla toffee, that core tropicality is there as well as a distinct coastal influence. 86/100
Ardnamurchan AD/09.20:01
An interesting and slightly smokey and coastal Highland single malt. Whilst still showing signs of youth the smoke here really isn’t powerful enough and I was left wishing for something with a little more punch or oomph. 80/100
Nc’nean Organic Batch 1 (46%, OB, 2020)
Another vanillic sweet and fruity malt, this feels quite a bit younger and fresher, still some zest and spice present from the distillate. Some deeper notes and a beery/yeasty aroma to it once it had breathed – possibly some influence from the cask maturation. 82/100
Benromach 8 Years Old 2011 Organic
Very sweet and dessert-led, there is a malty backbone here which props up a lot of fruit and sweetness. Only the reveal gave away this weeks ‘theme’ of Organic. 83/100
Laphroaig 10 Years Old Cask Strength Batch 012 (60.1%, OB, 2020)
Nom nom nom. Another fantastic Laphroaig cask strength expression with all sorts of weird fruitiness showing up in the depths of this alcohol. Perhaps if watered down this would reveal even more but frankly it really didn’t need it! 87/100
Hazelburn 10 Years Old (46%, OB, 2020)
Quite basic for a Campbeltown dram, not so much the dirty oily dockside/fishing boat but much more coastal, clean salt-laden air, mineralic chalk and plenty of citrus with a hint of vanilla. 84/100
Dufftown-Glenlivet 10 Years Old Original Collection (46%, Cadenheads, 2020)
Obviously sherried and a little acetic/vinegary on the nose, more confusing on the palate but I guess as a mixture of ex-Boubon and PX sherry casks were used this threw me a little bit. Pretty safe and sound for a well-sherried speyside dram. 84/100
Glencadam 15 Years Old (46%, OB, 2020)
Another quite light dram, of similar strength and also ex-Bourbon cask matured. remarkably the 5 years difference between this and the last were really not apparent. 83/100
