Mortlach 11 Years Old 2004 Old Particular #10968 Whisky Review: A little spirity and spicy, colour and palate suggest slightly under-active refill hogshead. A combination of Mortlach’s heavy spirit and sweetness from vanilla and honey kept reminding me of eggy /sulphuric custard and pancakes throughout. 80/100
Teaninich 15 Years Old 2004 Ruby Port Finish whisky review: Another masterful finish here, I suspect the original cask had done wonders with vanilla-infusing this whisky, the sweetness is accentuated by strawberry from the port finish, definitely one for sweet-tooths. 83/100
Glen Elgin vintage 2004 Ex-Tawny Port finish whisky review: Woody and sweet with plenty of chewy oak in this one, quite dark and fibrous on the palate. 85/100
Glen Grant 10 Years Old 2004 Hepburn’s Choice whisky review: A little lighter in body than the older expressions due in part to age and reduced activity of the refill hogshead used here perhaps? Still full of that lovely fruity character and gently sweet and spiced. 84/100
Bruichladdich 11 Years Old 2004 Straight From The Cask whisky review: Sweet and straightforward, a little challenging at cask strength but much softer and more approachable with water, plenty of lovely caramelised sugars in this one. 84/100
Caol Ila 2004 Distillers Edition whisky review: A much more meatier and smokier edition than the previous years vintage. Some may like this more but I think this has drifted slightly too far from the sweet and peat balance. More like a standard Caol Ila, malt and smoke becomes spicy and drying and a little sourness from the wood is unmasked too. 82/100
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
Strathmill 13 Years Old 2004 Connoisseurs Choice Whisky Review: A fruit burst of a whisky; delicious and juicy with hints of vanilla cream and butterscotch and spiced white oak wood. 84/100
Springbank 12 Years Old 2004 Refill Sherry Butt Whisky Review: Bitter and peaty thanks to the moderated cask maturation but still a mouthful of juicy dried fruits in here that brings this dram to life. Even the more “off” notes, metallic, liqourice and aniseed sort of belonged in this dram. The sort of whisky I’d describe as putting hairs on your chest, quiet invigorating or energizing this one. 86/100
Gordon & MacPhail’s Highland Park 2004 Cask Strength Connoisseurs Choice Whisky Review: A flavour-packed expression from Gordon & MacPhail in their new Cask Strength Connoisseurs Choice range. I’d expect nothing less from a Highland Park matured in a first fill Sherry butt. The balance achieved is supreme, and the result highly drinkable even at 60% ABV. This expression was stuffed full of fresh and stewed fruits, the sherry influences lightly adding toffee, chocolate, tannin, leather and spices, and matched by sweetness, malt, and heathery peat and wood smoke. 88/100
