Full of dried fruits and chocolate flavours and aromas from the Oloroso sherry cask maturation, still a little sharp and too spiced when unreduced for my palate in places. 79/100
Armorik Sherry Cask (46%, OB, 2020)
Longmorn 57 Years Old 1961 Cask #512 (40.8%, Gordon & MacPhail, 97 Bottles, 2018)
Longmorn 57 Years Old 1961 Cask #512 whisky review: More closed on the nose, this one rewarded a little more fruit on the palate but again another Cask-heavy wood-centric expression that sadly could have come from any number of distilleries. Once again no hint of Longmorn here. Despite the big numbers on these casks I found both more than a little disappointing. Perhaps I had set my expectations far too high, yet I have had other G&M old or even very old whiskies that have been simply sublime. Of the two casks this one was definitely more palateable. 79/100
Old Pulteney 2006 Vintage (46%, OB, 2017)
Old Pulteney 2006 Vintage whisky review: Pleasant enough, this has some nice flavours and textures about it but a little too sharp citrus and ‘green’ wood for my liking. 79/100
Glenkinchie 10 Years Old (43%, OB, 2006)
The original Classic Malts 10 year old release from Glenkinchie. Discontinued in 2007 and replaced by a 12 year old. 79/100
Auchroisk 6 Years Old 2009 Hepburn’s Choice
A spirit led expression with a crash course in American oak, great experiment but perhaps not the best indication of what either distillery or cask can do. 79/100
Glenmorangie Bacalta (46%, OB, Bourbon & Madeira Casks Finish, 2017)
Glenmorangie Bacalta Whisky Review Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Glenmorangie Distillery Bottling: Moet-Hennessy ABV: 46% Cost: £81.65 What they say: The eighth release in our multi-award-winning and always intriguing Private […]
Invergordon 43 Years Old 1972 (49.9%, Whiskybroker, Bourbon Barrel #130000003, 249 Bottles, 2015)
Invergordon 43 Years Old 1972 Whiskybroker Whisky Review Category: Single Grain Scotch Whisky Origin: Invergordon Distillery Bottler: Whisky Broker; Cask #130000003 ABV: 49.9% Cost: ~ £80-£90 at auction What they say: An […]
Highland Black 8 Years Old (40%, Aldi, 2016)
Unfortunately a little weird and raw chemicals (esters/acetone) on the nose but once you get past this the palate and finish really are quite solid and good for a blend. There is a depth of flavour which strongly hints at quite a rich bourbon-cask maturation which does this blend a lot of favours.
Kirkland Signature 7 Year Old Bourbon (51.5%, Costco, 2016)
Kirkland Signature 7 Year Old Bourbon Whisky Review Category: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Origin: Clermont stated on label – possibly Jim Beam’s Clermont Distillery? Bottling: Kirkland / Costco ABV: 51.5% Cost: ~£25 […]
Springbank 14 Years Old 2000 27.108 A savoury experience! (53.2%, SMWS, Refill Bourbon Barrel, 174 Bottles, 2015)
Although there was a lot to like in the flavours of this Springbank expression from SMWS, I found it a little too rough around the edges for my liking. Too vinegary on the nose and too much liquorice presentation on the palate that suggested not the most active of casks to me. At the end of the day there was still plenty of good Springbank character in here to keep this interesting or it would have scored much lower. 79/100
