Indpendent Bottling Tasting - July 1-5, 2009

[Ganga]

Folks it's time to break out your independent bottlings and join in a little social comraderie.

Signatory
Douglas Laing
Duncan Taylor
Glenhaven

or anything else that you might have on hand.

Starts now, runs through the weekend. Please feel free to join in anytime as I will be popping in and out starting this evening.

[pkt77242]

I will be on in about 30 minutes to taste a couple of indies. Tonight I will probably do a Sig Mortlach, Sig Benrinnes and an OMC Benrinnes, though if some people are on I may do more. I will also try to check in a couple other nights and taste my other ones.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Signatory Mortlach
Brand : Signatory Expression : Mortach
Nose : nutty, apples skins, slight sherry. Palate : unripened apples, brazil nut, barley Finish : short, and slightly bitter Comment : Slightly more bitter now than last time I had this. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 1989 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : - Water : none Ice : None Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Signatory Benrinnes
Brand : Signatory Expression : -
Nose : Almonds, slight smoke, melon, and pear. Palate : almonds, and barley. salt, and some mushrooms. Melon and overripe pears. Slight sherry. Finish : medium length. nutty, and melon. Comment : Much nicer than the Mortach. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 1989 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : - Notes : Sherry Butt
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Old Malt Cask Benrinnes 1994 14yo
Brand : Old Malt Cask Expression : -
Nose : lime, cabbage, almost a fish taco. cranberry, and slight plastic smell. Also faint hints of sherry. Palate : lime and tortilla. cranberry, and barley. Finish : Medium, slight bitter lime, and a hint of sherry. Comment : Kind of like a meal of fish tacos and a cranberry limeade to drink. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 14 Years Old Vintage : 1994 ABV : 50% Bottler : Douglas Laing	Type : Single Malt Region : - Water : none Ice : none Glass : - Notes : Sherry Cask
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[Ganga]

Very nice Sean. Sorry I didn't join you but the internet at home was acting up on the working computer.

[pkt77242]

Very nice Sean. Sorry I didn't join you but the internet at home was acting up on the working computer.

No problem Ganga, as I still have seven or eight left to sample. I was wondering when everyone else was going to be on?

Sean

[Ganga]

Off and on for me Sean. I'll hit up tomorrow a couple of times.


Tonight, the Signatory Orkney 8 yo. Yeah, I've done this one before so no need to go all out on the notes. Several more to work through for the weekend.

Nose: light lemony malt, slight sourness
Palate: much stronger earthiness, slight sour apples (new makish?), oily malt
Finish: long, malty fading to a burning sensation

[borgom]

Hart Bros - Rosebank
Brand : Rosebank Expression : Ex-bourbon Aged 15 Years
Nose : Fresh and a little acidic. Underneath there is vanilla and honey. On top we have sweet lime, mandarin and some light floral notes. With a little time there's also notes of lemon tea and Pink Lady apples. Palate : Soft. Honey, sweet bread and lemon. Some acidity and a subtle bitterness are present with a little time in the mouth. Finish : Short to medium. Fresh with a little honey and lemon lingering. Comment : So this is my first Rosebank and I already understand why this distillery is dearly missed. Colour : Light champagne Score : 0
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 46% Bottler : Hart Brothers	Type : Single Malt Region : Lowland Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : May 1990 / June 2006
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[borgom]

Murray McDavid - Auchroisk
Brand : Auchroisk Expression : Bourbon/Syrah Aged 13 Years
Nose : Dry, balsamic, wine barrel, apple, cinnamon, black pepper, hot red chilli and black berries. There's also something unusual and salty which reminds me of Polish dill pickle brine. Palate : Metallic and almost tannic. Sour apples, balsamic, pepper and some spice. The malt is there briefly but can't make it through the wine notes. Finish : Long. Initially it is dry and hot but gives way to tangy, metallic and salty flavours. Comment : A very different whisky which is dominated by the ACEing. It's not great but I like it. The bottle notes say: "Strawberry, cranberry, redcurrant, flapjacks, breakfast cereal" but I don't get any of those! Colour : Dark amber with a touch of red Score : 0
Age : 13 Years Old Vintage : 1992 ABV : 46% Bottler : Murray McDavid	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : ACE'd in Syrah Guigal Cote Rotie Casks
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[pkt77242]

Nice notes Borgom. That Rosebank sounds very enjoyable.

Sean

[Ganga]

Borgom, I suggest revisting the finished Murray McDavid products about 3 to 4 months after they've been opened. Usually the wines dominate initially but then diminish.

[Ganga]

Glen Ord
Brand : Signatory Expression : Cask 3439 - Hogshead
Nose : bananas, dough, dried apples Palate : straw, bread, banana crisps Finish : short, lingering dough and bananas Comment : - Colour : Straw Score : 0
Age : 8 Years Old Vintage : 1998 ABV : 43% Bottler : Signatory	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : - Ice : - Glass : Glencairn Notes : d:20.2.98, b:30.5.06, bot 218/419
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[pkt77242]

I am going to try 2 Signatory UCF Peated Bunnas tonight.

First up

Signatory UCF Peated Bunnahabhain 9yo
Brand : Signatory Expression : UCF
Nose : Slight cooked raisin, campfire smoke, slight strawberry and a little dry leaf smell. Dead wood and unripened peach. Palate : Loads of smoke and peat. Slight raisin and nut sweetness. Wet hay and the dead wood again. Finish : Medium length, very smokey, and raisin. Comment : A very nice malt, that would give most of the other Islay whiskies a run for their money. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 9 Years Old Vintage : 1997 ABV : 46% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Refill Sherry Butt
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Next up

Signatory UCF Heavily Peated Bunnahabhain 10yo
Brand : Signatory Expression : UnChillfiltered Series
Nose : Very ashy, like the embers after a bonfire has been put out. Slight lemon peel and oak. The ash seems to overwhelm everything else. Palate : Extremely ashy, lemon pledge, and some sweet peat. Faintly nutty. Finish : medium and ashy, with the lemon peal showing back up. Comment : An ok whisky but a little unbalanced IMHO with too much ash. Not as good as the 9yo Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 10 Years Old Vintage : 1997 ABV : 46% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Refill Sherry butt
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[jhershauer]

This sounds like my kind of whisky. I saw this at the Scottsdale store a few weeks ago...I'll have to see if they still have it at the tasting next week.

I am going to try 2 Signatory UCF Peated Bunnas tonight.

First up

Signatory UCF Peated Bunnahabhain 9yo
Brand : Signatory Expression : UCF
Nose : Slight cooked raisin, campfire smoke, slight strawberry and a little dry leaf smell. Dead wood and unripened peach. Palate : Loads of smoke and peat. Slight raisin and nut sweetness. Wet hay and the dead wood again. Finish : Medium length, very smokey, and raisin. Comment : A very nice malt, that would give most of the other Islay whiskies a run for their money. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 9 Years Old Vintage : 1997 ABV : 46% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Refill Sherry Butt
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[Wave]

Just starting off with this one for now and I'll be back later with a few others after dinner and fireworks!

-
Brand : Dailuaine Expression : -
Nose : Sugar n spice, new pencil erasers Palate : Spicy oak and softly sweet like shades of Bing cherries. Finish : soft and a little rubbery with some added salt which really gets the juices flowing making a finely aged aperitif Comment : - Colour : light gold Score : 0
Age : 28 Years Old Vintage : 1976 ABV : 43% Bottler : Lorne MacKillop	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : Contains no additives of any sort and has not been subjected to chill stablization or filtration.
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[pkt77242]

Sounds nice Wave, what other whiskies are you going to have (or had by now)?

Sean

[Wave]

I never know till grab a bottle though one will be a DL Brora
Back from a restive dinner and a dud fireworks show (too rainy)

-
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : Heather and pungent peat with clove and cinnamon spices Palate : Creamy and peaty, clover honey Finish : More honey in the finish and slightly chewy with a nice medium length Comment : A HP expression that only strengthens my love of Highlabd Park IB's over OB's Colour : Medium Gold Score : 0
Age : 19 Years Old Vintage : 1985 ABV : 53.5% Bottler : Scott's Selection	Type : Single Malt Region : - Water : a couple drops of spring water Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[Wave]

Before my taste buds get too wrecked ....

-
Brand : Brora Expression : -
Nose : Smoky peat and prune juice Palate : Chewy sweet like a thick Christmas pudding with late peat Finish : Long and spicy slightly salty and drying Comment : Great Brora's ghost! Colour : Mahogany Score : 0
Age : 26 Years Old Vintage : 1977 ABV : 54.9% Bottler : Douglas Laing	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : Old & Rare Platinum Selection
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[pkt77242]

I never know till grab a bottle though one will be a DL Brora
Back from a restive dinner and a dud fireworks show (too rainy)

-
Brand : Highland Park Expression : -
Nose : Heather and pungent peat with clove and cinnamon spices Palate : Creamy and peaty, clover honey Finish : More honey in the finish and slightly chewy with a nice medium length Comment : A HP expression that only strengthens my love of Highlabd Park IB's over OB's Colour : Medium Gold Score : 0
Age : 19 Years Old Vintage : 1985 ABV : 53.5% Bottler : Scott's Selection	Type : Single Malt Region : - Water : a couple drops of spring water Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

Now that sounds like an amazing whisky.

Thank you for posting notes (and making me jealous ).

Sean

[Wave]

-
Brand : Port Ellen Expression : Sherry Cask
Nose : a smoky rubber burn-out and struck matches (a motorheads dream!) Palate : Mouth-coating peat, rubber tires, fruit gum drops Finish : Very long with chewy peat and mildly sulphuric like unstuck matches. the rubber is evident throughout the taste and the finish but in a good way (it's actually very tasty!) Comment : Loads of layers in this PE, Marvelous! Colour : Medium Walnut Score : 0
Age : 25 Years Old Vintage : 1982 ABV : 58% Bottler : Signatory Vintage	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : Cask Strength Collection
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[pkt77242]

On to 2 Signatory CS whiskies before taking a break and coming back later to finish my last 3.

Signatory CS Rosebank
Brand : Signatory Expression : -
Nose : Lemon yogurt, vanilla, sesame seeds, and white bread. Water brings the vanilla to the fore. Palate : Lemon yogurt, with lemon peels, toast, and some cardboard. Also a few notes of vanilla. With water, it become vanilla creme, some banana, and fresh baked bread. Finish : Medium length, toasted sesame seed bagel, hint of butter and lemon. Oddly with water the finish gets longer and adds a nice banana bread note. Comment : A very nice whisky that water opens up a little. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 56.6% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Lowland Water : None Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Signatory Laphroaig CS
Brand : Signatory Expression : -
Nose : Loads of vanilla, with some peat and grass in the background. just a faint hint of salt Palate : Lots of vanilla and peat, very close to a peated bourbon. Also a fair amount of grass, reminds me of chewing on grass while playing outfield when I was younger. Also a hint of grapefruit and lemon. Finish : A nice long finish, with lots of grapefruit and lemon going on and on. Vanilla and peat dominate the first 10 seconds or so but then it becomes a citrus fest Comment : A very different Laph unlike any I have had before. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1991 ABV : 53.8% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Bourbon Barrell
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Back to finish up my final three independent bottles that are open.

Signatory Brora
Brand : - Expression : -
Nose : Slight peat, woodsmoke, a hint of mint, pine, and some herbal notes. Some salt. Palate : Peat, and mint, along with some herbal notes. Tea, and a slight cough drop feel. Salty. Finish : Tea and salt. Slight mint/menthol. Woodsmoke comes through at the end. Comment : A very nice whisky that is well balanced and enjoyable. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 21 Years Old Vintage : 1981 ABV : 0% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : Refill Sherry Butt
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[pkt77242]

G & M Cask Series Old Pulteney 1993 13yo Sherry butt
Brand : Gordon & MacPhail Expression : -
Nose : Sherry, and more sherry. Raisins, cranberry, and fig. Walnuts. Palate : Very sherried. Cherry, raisins and fig. Walnuts (very close to the nose) and spicy orange chicken. Finish : Very spicy, with candied walnuts, and cherries. Long finish. Comment : A very enjoyable whisky. If you like sherried whiskies and live in the UK this bottle is worth getting. I wish that their was more Old Pulteney's done in Sherry butts on the market, as this is fantastic. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 13 Years Old Vintage : 1993 ABV : 59.9% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[Wave]

Having just a couple for tonight

-
Brand : Millburn Expression : -
Nose : Honey, oak, candied fruits and a distant smoke Palate : Honey and peat. Lots of peat actually and without the medicinal taste of an Islay Finish : Good medium length to long Smoky peat embers and oak with a smidgen of salt and spice. Comment : Another Millburn winner! Colour : Light Gold Score : 0
Age : 27 Years Old Vintage : 1976 ABV : 46% Bottler : Gordon & MacPhail	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : Unchillfiltered Collection
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[pkt77242]

My final open indie bottling.

Signatory CS Ben Nevis 16yo 1992 Sherry Butt
Brand : Signatory Expression : -
Nose : Spicy, sherry, cherry and strawberry. Also some figs and asian spices. Dark Chocolate Palate : Very spicy (asian spices) and bing cherry. Also some nice cherry pie. Fig newtons. Finish : A nice long finish, that is full of asian spices, cherry and dark chocolate. Comment : One of the top 10 whiskies I have had and may even crack the top 5. Just a great sherried whisky. Colour : - Score : 0
Age : 16 Years Old Vintage : 1992 ABV : 54.6% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : - Water : None Ice : None Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Sean

[pkt77242]

Wave, I have never had a Millburn before but this sounds great. Do most Millburns taste similar to this?

Sean

[Wave]

Wave, I have never had a Millburn before but this sounds great. Do most Millburns taste similar to this?

Sean

The one I finished (Millburn 13yo Cadenhead) recently and other Millburns I've tasted are fairly peaty and with the case of the Cadenhead creamy too. The G&M I just opened reflects the ones I've had in the past, best of all this one is still available at Binny's!


Cheers!

[Wave]

Bunnahabhain
Brand : Scott's Selection Expression : -
Nose : Cherries and freshly mowed grass, baking spices Palate : Initially cherries before giving way to a mellow peaty mouthful Finish : Long, oily peaty with red fruits and sea salt spray Comment : Now this is a Bunny I can sink mt teeth into! Colour : Medium Gold Score : 0
Age : 28 Years Old Vintage : 1977 ABV : 49.1% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Certainly not all of the IB's I have opened but some of my more unique ones.
Cheers!

[Wave]

I know it's the 6th ....

Aberfeldy
Brand : Cask & Thistle Expression : -
Nose : Musky heather, wet hay, lipstick, bananas and pears Palate : Slightly oily and oaky, salted nuts, apples and pears Finish : Short to medium length. A salt and pepper on a Fuji apple finish. Comment : - Colour : light gold Score : 0
Age : 29 Years Old Vintage : 1974 ABV : 46% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : Not Chillfiltered
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[Wave]

Highland Park
Brand : Lorne MacKillop Expression : -
Nose : Heather and red fruits, very light smoke Palate : Creamy, lots of heather and peat with a feint smoke and a touch of honey Finish : Long sweet peat, mmmmmmm! Comment : - Colour : very light gold Score : 0
Age : 32 Years Old Vintage : 1973 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Island (non Islay) Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : Has not been subjected to chill stablization or filtration
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[Wave]

From my divorce selection I bought this bottle on the day I met my wife and opened it on the day of our divorce. It doesn't get much better than that folks!

Longmorn
Brand : Signatory Vintage Expression : -
Nose : Fruitcake, a prune Danish, Christmas cookies Palate : Lots of red fruits, cherries and rasberries, creamy then dry with late salt Finish : A fairly long finish with lots of sherried fruit and dark chocolate. Comment : - Colour : Deep Walnut with a reddish tinge Score : 0
Age : 27 Years Old Vintage : 1973 ABV : 55.1% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : None Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : Sherry Cask #3962
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

Cheers!

[Ryguy]

Better late than never I suppose, been a bit busy lately for me, but all is well. Here goes!

SMWS #43.15
Brand : Port Ellen Expression : Port Ellen 26yo
Nose : Dirty with sea salts, notes of diesel engine smoke and some iodine. Palate : Starts a tad sweet, nice and oily, a little bit drying towards the beginning as well. This is just a very nice dirty dram, loads of PE smokiness! Finish : The finish is long and wonderful, truly a classic PE that coats the palate just perfect. Very long and satisfying indeed! Comment : - Colour : Pale Gold Score : 0
Age : 26 Years Old Vintage : 1982 ABV : 56.1%% Bottler : SMWS	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : SMWS Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.