Balvenie Peat Week 14 Years Old 2003 whisky review: A superbly smokey and sweet Balvenie with a great malty backbone to support it. 86/100
The Balvenie 14 Years Old 2003 Peat Week (48.3%, OB, 2018)
Highland Park 14 Years Old Loyalty Of The Wolf (42.3%, OB, 2018)
Highland Park 14 Years Old Loyalty Of The Wolf whisky review: Definitely sweeter than the Spirit Of The Bear expression this is sweet & buttery on the nose but becomes increasingly sour and bitter by the finish. 83/100
Oban 2003 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, OD 166.FC, 2017)
Oban 2003 Distillers Edition Highland single malt Scotch whisky review: Quite a different dram to the 2001 DE, cleaner and crisper in the nose and palate but much more sour. Not like the sweetness of the 2001 DE and for that I liked it a lot less. I felt this had more spirit character and less influence from the finishing casks perhaps? 80/100
Clynelish 1997 Distillers Edition (46%, OB, Cl-Br: 174-6k, 2011)
Clynelish 1997 Distillers Edition whisky review: A delicious waxy and dried fruit combination in this Clynelish expression which is mouth-dryingly good. I couldn’t help thinking of eating soor ploom sweeties as it has a dry acidity that sucks in your cheeks, and your mouth dry. A shame that this expression may now have been lost. 87/100
Old Pulteney 2004 Single Cask #128 TWE Exclusive (62.1%, OB, Sherry Butt, 612 Bottles, 2018)
Old Pulteney 2004 Single Cask #128 TWE Exclusive whisky review: An intense and heavily sherried Pulteney cask reminds me why I love this combination so much. Deep dark fruit coupled with chocolate from the cask mixes with rich malt, coastal salt and sweet fruitiness of Pulteney’s spirit. A brief rubbery whiff on the nose was a false alarm and this dilutes wonderfully revealing ever more facets and flavours. 91/100
Springbank 14 Years Old 2002 (52.3%, OB, Cage, F Rum Barrel, 1 Bottle, 2017)
Springbank 14 Years Old 2002 Rum Cask Whisky Review: A touch spicier and more bitter, I did prefer the Hazelburn though not by much. This has some lovely funk and engine oil dirtiness I associate with Springbank but just enough sweetness from the spirit and the rum cask to keep it palateable. I feel the more rum-casked whiskies I have the less that Rum-cask maturation brings to the party – to the point I am not actively seeking any more. 83/100
Hazelburn 14 Years Old 2000 (53.7%, OB, Cage, F Rum Barrel, 1 Bottle, 2015)
Hazelburn 14 Years Old 2000 Rum Cask Whisky Review: Sweet and spiced, pleasant but not overly complex, a good solid drinker. 84/100
Hazelburn 14 Years Old 2002 (55.5%, OB, Cage, F Cognac Butt, 1 Bottle, 2017)
Hazelburn 14 Years Old 2002 Cognac Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review: An interesting expression, really sweet and fruity, well-spiced and borders on becoming a little woody and tannic towards the finish. I’m not sure what I was expecting with this but it appears to carry a lot of classical ‘Cognac’ flavours whilst keeping that slightly musty and dirty “Springbank” sweetened barley malt backbone. I could really grow to like this one, lets hope they bottle the remainder of the cask soon. 87/100
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Years Old Single Malt (41.3%, OB, 2018)
Tullamore D.E.W. 14 Years Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Review: Sweeter, fruitier and creamier than before but still delicious. 85/100
Clynelish 14 Years Old (46%, OB, 2017)
Well balanced, deliciously waxy and mouth-coating this whisky is more about the textures and balance of elements than actual flavour. Remains a classic and a worthy addition to any shelf or collection. 85/100
