Lovely oily, fruity, gently smoky and coastal with plenty of sweetness from the bourbon and sherry cask influences that work well with this distillery’s characteristic heathery smoke. 86/100
Crabbie 22 Years Old Orkney
Highland Park 12 Years Old Viking Honour
Rich, malty and complex, there is a lovely sprinkle of sea salt which accentuates the flavours here, spiced heather honey adds to the thick malty backbone, the result is well-structured. 84/100
Jura 20 Years Old Batch 5
A rather relaxed old Jura, I’m thinking refill casks here as the spirit still shines through with lime zest, lime pickle and soft coffee notes, coastal salts and barley cereals, Yum yum. 86/100
Whitlaw 15 Years Old Batch 1
Yum, classic HP, very light initially. This one is all about the subtleties, wisps of heathery smoke and a sprinkle of smoked sea salt crystals! 85/100
Jura 18 Years Old
On paper this expression is full of great flavours but I found myself really looking for anything representative of its age. Perhaps a slightly more subdued smoke and some earthier woody spices. I feel like this one is still getting there… 84/100
Jura 12 Years Old
A much cleaner presentation from Jura, certainly they have tightened up on their base bourbon cask maturation stock. I found myself wishing for a little more depth (and grime) on the palate and this is a little sweet & polished on the finish but overall a great balance and intensity. 84/100
Torabhaig Allt Gleann
A little sweeter with more fruit and a touch more spirity perhaps than the Legacy release, plenty of flavour here with sweet barley, smoky & peppery peat and salty coastal influences.
Torabhaig Legacy 2017
Surprisingly soft and well-integrated there is something very much elemental about this whisky which more than resembles it closest neighbour on Skye. Definitively a product of its environment – the future looks bright at Torabhaig!
Jura Rum Cask Finish
Sweet and spicy, plenty of rum influence here and bourbon maturation too but in all this polished / boiled sweetness I was left wondering where the classic ‘Jura’ elements were that I usually love so much? 83/100
Jura 12 Years Old 2008 Old Particular 13982
Another pleasant under-cooked or rather under-casked Jura. Full of minty buttery toffee and a dollop of vanilla cream for good measure too. 83/100
The Whiskyphiles 