Blair Athol 8 Years Old 2009 Fidra whisky review: Very young, spirity and hot, definite sherry influence present here (tasted blind to cask type) with dried fruits, blackcurrant and after a while hints of treacle. 73/100
The GlenDronach Port Wood whisky review: Not too sweet and not to sharp, very well balanced. Syrupy and smooth textured with a good weight from GlenDronach’s malty backbone, this feels perfectly constructed. 84/100
Cragganmore 1997 Distillers Edition whisky review: A touch more citric spirit and musty Port cask than usual but still a great expression, loving the strawberry and lime combination in this expression and the general fluffy and jammy sweet qualities. 86/100
Caol Ila 8 Years Old 2009 Bass whisky review: Slightly less well rounded and full bodied than the younger sample we tried, evidence of a slightly under-active or over-aerated cask perhaps? 83/100
Kavalan Classic Single Malt Whisky Review: Very pleasant but rather light in places, fades as an experience, i.e. nose>palate>finish, still a great base whisky with which Kavalan have done wonders with. 82/100
Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic Batch 2 whisky review: A touch spicy as presented but with lots of great structure and medley of fruits, quite a lot of different cask stave influences made this one difficult to ascertain more exact flavour descriptors. A drop of water made it creamier and sweeter and revealed malted milk biscuit cereal notes. 83/100
The GlenDronach 15 Years Old Revival whisky review: A classic GlenDronach on the nose but quite bitter on the palate with influences of pine, coffee, grinds plenty of tannins and woody spice. I don’t know why but I am increasingly under the impression that much more PX cask usage is shifting the balance away from Oloroso sweet and fruity influences. Looking back I have scored this 15 marginally higher than the last. 85/100
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
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
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
