Longmorn 10 Years Old 2008 Claxton’s whisky review: Young, spirity and possibly refill bourbon? Viewed as a work in progress this shows great potential, some lovely characteristics in here and didn’t need reduced to enjoy. 78/100
Deanston 9 Years Old 2008 Brandy Cask Finish whisky review: Very sweet on the nose – much less so on the palate. This one is a little acidic fruit and vaporous spirit in places – perhaps showing its youth? Very similar to many of the Distillery only bottlings which show great promise but can be a little feisty at cask strength and reward a drop of water to calm them down. 83/100
Bunnahabhain 9 Year Old 2008 Mòine Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Matured whisky review: A powerful, full-bodied, peated and earthen Bunnahabhain, sweetened by the use of the wine casks but also enhanced with dried fruit and tannins complementing the darker coffee and chocolate notes too. Reminded me of tart and earthy elderberries. 90/100
Caol Ila 2008 Post-Octave whisky review: Again a very different experience, lots has moved around in this whisky when compared to the pre-octave and a heap of spices added, although here they are less distracting than the Highalnd Park Post-Octave. A lot more burnt, but dry burnt rather than over-caramelised sugars. Although the same score I prefer the Pre-Octave Caol Ila. 86/100
Caol Ila 2008 Pre-Octave whisky review: A lovely vanilla and ashen Caol Ila, for a 10 year old this has developed a lot of subtleties that make it simply wonderful, ever-evolving on the palate gently introducing new flavours and aromas – not overpowering. Yum! 86/100
Bunnahabhain 2008 Post-Octave whisky review: A massive improvement again on the original cask, some of the spices still carry through but appear mostly on the finish here. 83/100
Bunnahabhain 2008 Pre-Octave whisky review: Initially pleasant, this dram develops spirity spice and sourness all over, a few drops of water calmed it down a little but salted & sour oak wood prevail. After a lot more water, creamy vanilla. 72/100
Miltonduff 2008 Post-Octave whisky review: A much more complete whisky, more body and some dried-fruit and further addition of spices more than fill in the gaps where the Pre-Octave sample was a little lacking. Nice to see plenty of elements of the original retained especially that fresh floral and lemon on the nose. 83/100
Miltonduff 2008 Pre-Octave whisky review: This Miltonduff is just not quite there. Lots of good qualities, light, refreshing, floral, fruity and sweet on the nose but the palate is too spirity and vaporous. Along with the colour I’d suggest a good start in a refill ex-Bourbon hogshead but not quite ready to drink yet. 70/100
BenRiach 10 Years Old 2008 Cask #5807 whisky review: A delicious fruit-packed dram with a syrup-like sweetness redolent of the Sauternes wine itself, there is a little unusual spiced and oily menthol in places but it is easily forgivable. Plus any mentholic notes are mostly fleeting or lost anyway such is the power of the fruity and malty flavours here. A great example of spirit and cask pairing that highlights all the right influences. 85/100
