Full of honey and fruit from the Sauternes cask maturation, good malty body present here too which persists through to the finish. Delicious. 86/100
Glenallachie 11 Years old 2009 Single Cask (59%, OB, Sauternes Barrel #3278, 299 Bottles, 2020)
Benromach 10 Years Old
Benromach’s entry level malt is still a complex and fascinating dram full of malty barley, fruity spirit and sweet & spiced cask derived flavours. Superb, possibly one of the best 10 year old standard expressions available. 84/100
Arran 18 Years Old 1996 Single Cask 777
Another characteristically fruity Arran dram, still quite spicy and perhaps a little less sweet and vanillic most likely due to the use of a refill hogshead for maturation here. 84/100
Arran 21 Years Old 1996 The Single Cask
Takes a drop of water well, still some dry peppery spices present but deliciously sweet and fruity throughout this one. 86/100
Talisker 57° North (57%, OB, 2012)
Another hugely enjoyable expression from Talisker, sadly discontinued but thankfully this appears to have been replaced with strong and youthful Talisker’s featuring in Diageo’s special releases – hopefully one day I’ll get to try them. 89/100
Talisker 2007 Distillers Edition (45.8%, OB, TD-S: 5TF, 2017)
A lovely expression full of dark, rich, fruity malt and salty smoke, superb. 86/100
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
