Ducastaing 1975 Bas Armagnac Review: Gently spiced, rich dried fruit and tannic oak, well rounded and drinkable. 85/100
Ducastaing 1975 Bas Armagnac (40%, Aldi, 2016)
New Town Blends – The Surgeons Ball (46%, Edinburgh Whisky, 2016)
New Town Blends – The Surgeons Ball whisky review: A bit of a Jekyll & Hyde (apt?) dram, quite mobile on the palate but generally pleasing. Doesn’t hide its youth very well. 77/100
Edradour 10 Years Old 2005 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection (46%, Signatory, Sherry Cask #74, 323 Bottles 2016)
Edradour 10 Years Old 2005 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection Sherry Cask #74 whisky review: Great nose with a heavy sherry influence but much more balanced on the palate, finishes with a lovely mouth-puckering dried fruits. 85/100
Ledaig 8 Years Old 2008 The Single Cask (52.8%, Claxton’s, Refill Sherry Butt, 645 Bottles, 2016)
Ledaig 8 Years Old 2008 The Single Cask Whisky Review ABV: 52.8% Age: 8 years Old Bottling: Claxton’s, The Single Cask Category: Island single malt scotch whisky Cost: £sold out Origin: Tobermory […]
Imperial 20 Years Old 1995 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection (46%, Signatory, HH 50248 & 50249, 2016)
Imperial 20 Years Old 1995 The Un-Chillfiltered Collection whisky review: A fascinating dram, possibly the least favoured by many at the table but also disappeared the fastest! Make of that what you will, this dram was much more funky and dusty then the final dram of the evening… 87/100
Miltonduff 9 Years Old 2007 Provenance (46%, Douglas Laing, Sherry Butt #11177, 2016)
Miltonduff 9 Years Old 2007 Provenance whisky review: Fruity with ginger spice and plenty of cereal influence – pretty solid for a reasonably young expression. 82/100
Auchroisk 16 Years Old 1999 Strictly Limited
Auchroisk 16 Years Old 1999 Strictly Limited whisky review: Another finely balanced expression – a little more spirit character present in this one despite it’s extra years of maturation over the 13 year old 2000 vintage comparator from the same bottler. On the nose a lot more woody but a little lacking in distinct ripened fruit flavours perhaps? 84/100
Lagavulin 2000 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, lgv.4/505, 2016)
Lagavulin 2000 Distillers Edition whisky review: Softer and less smoky both on the nose and palate than the 1999 vintage. More fruity in nature and much more vanilla influence. Slightly more sugary and nutty too. It is hard to ascribe why this is distinctly less smoky and slightly lighter in texture, however differences in the maturation/finishing casks more than justify the alterations in flavour profile, more fruit and nut than chocolate and tobacco. Still very pleasant. 84/100
Caol Ila 2004 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, C-si; 2-476, 2016)
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
Oban 2001 Distillers Edition (43%, OB, OD 165.FB, 2016)
Oban 2001 Distillers Edition Highland single malt Scotch whisky review: I enjoyed this a little bit more than the last DE sampled (1998-2013), this had a sharpness or clarity throughout and the cleanliness of white grape with a touch of salt which added to the overall more pleasing presentation of this vintage. 83/100
