The Naked Grouse whisky review: I’m still not convinced by this blend, it is very pleasing and all but just too polished/smooth/blendy in places that I see it as a detraction from the whole. 75/100
The Naked Grouse (40%, OB, 2018)
Aberfeldy 25 Years Old 1993 Connoisseurs Choice (58.8%, Gordon & MacPhail, Sherry Puncheon #4054, 444 Bottles, 2018)
Aberfeldy 1993 Connoisseurs Choice whisky review: A beautifully sherried Aberfeldy, dry and leathery with plenty of dark fruits and chocolate, with water this opens up a lot more and just gets better. 88/100
Glengoyne 21 Years Old (43%, OB, 2018)
Glengoyne 21 Years Old whisky review: A sherry-packed dram with masses of sun-dried fruit and cocoa with just a hint of gentle spices. Comparing against the Teapot dram, the age of the 21 was apparent due to the old/dry and antique woody notes. Comparing with the 18 Year Old this has feels like it has much more 1st fill sherry cask influence. Possibly one of the best value-for-money 21 year old official bottlings available. 90/100
Glengoyne 18 Years Old (43%, OB, 2018)
Glengoyne 18 Years Old whisky review: A remarkably mature and well-balanced dram this one reveals itself slowly so demands you slow down and take time over it. Reserved and refined rather than a sherry bomb, 1st fill casks have been used carefully here and countered well with refill influences. 86/100
Glengoyne Teapot Dram Batch 6 (59.3%, OB, 2772 Bottles, 2018)
Glengoyne Teapot Dram Batch 6 whisky review: Another fantastic Sherry Bomb, during the tasting we sampled this alongside Glengoyne 21 Year Old expression which really highlighted the new oak wood and fresh fruit character of the Teapot Dram. Youthfulll and exuberant but with masses of sherry-influenced flavour and characteristic Glengoyne fruity spirit. Many at the tasting were convinced that this 6th edition was as good as the 1st if not better. 91/100
BenRiach 12 Years Old Sherry Wood Matured (46%, OB, 2018)
BenRiach 12 Years Old Sherry Wood Matured Whisky Review: Surprisingly I found myself thinking this isn’t as overtly sherried as I was expecting. Sure there is some spice but there is a freshness to the red berry fruits on the palate that was both earthy and refreshing. Overall quite balanced. 85/100
The GlenDronach 15 Years Old Revival (46%, OB, 2018)
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
Bunnahabhain 11 Years Old Discovery (43%, Gordon & MacPhail, 2018)
Bunnahabhain 11 Years Old Discovery Islay single malt Scotch whisky review: A lot more balanced – of course, classic Gordon & MacPhail’s pairing of spirit and cask. I’d have loved much more sherry influence, but this excels in its balance. A rather reminiscent nose led to initially quite closed palate, but given time it opens up to its own wonders. This is the sort of dram you could drink all night and keep finding new flavours. 85/100
Redbreast 12 Years Old (40%, OB, 2017)
Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish Pot Still Whiskey Review: A lovely mixture of fruit, sweet and spices. That Irish Pot Still unmalted barley spice and bite plus a little citric or acidic juice cuts through a rich and sweet sherry influence. Superb! 85/100
Highland Park Dragon Legend (43.1%, OB, 2017)
Floral Orcadian peat tempered by sherry-cask maturation results in a very drinkable Dragon Legend. 84/100
