The 80s (Feb 25-27, 2011)

[johan brugge]

Next up is a Brora 1981 Duncan Tayor 27yo 53.8 %.

Nose: very good, fresh hay, wet moss, peat and salt (but mostly peat).
Palate: soft peat, salt, vegetal, sweet. Quite complex actually. There is more to it than you may think at first. This whisky has really grown on me. I had to get used to it but now I love it more and more.
Finish: soft, peaty, long and lingering.

[johan brugge]

Talisker 25yo release 2007 (distilled in 1982) 58.1 %.

Nose: very briny, salty and peaty. A bit of smoke too. It's like I'm on the beach. Very maritime. I like it a lot!
Palate: the same as in the nose, but the balance is just right! I absolutely love this dram.
Finish: long, peppery yet smooth, salt an peat emerge again. This was worth every Euro!

[johan brugge]

That's it for now. I'm off. Tomorrow I'll be back with some more stunners, including a H2H of Glenfarclas single cask editions (at cask strength) for Belgian whisky shops.

[pkt77242]

That's it for now. I'm off. Tomorrow I'll be back with some more stunners, including a H2H of Glenfarclas single cask editions (at cask strength) for Belgian whisky shops.

Sounds great Johan. Thanks for stopping by.

[pkt77242]

Talisker 25yo release 2007 (distilled in 1982) 58.1 %.

Nose: very briny, salty and peaty. A bit of smoke too. It's like I'm on the beach. Very maritime. I like it a lot!
Palate: the same as in the nose, but the balance is just right! I absolutely love this dram.
Finish: long, peppery yet smooth, salt an peat emerge again. This was worth every Euro!

I think Tailsker ages very gracefully, and is amazing when it gets older.

[Willie JJ]

I entirely agree. Aged Talisker is great.

[Willie JJ]

Ok I'm off too now. Enjoy the tasting Sean.

[pkt77242]

Ok I'm off too now. Enjoy the tasting Sean.

I will Willie, now I am waiting for Ganga as I cook dinner.

Thank you for tasting notes.

[pkt77242]

I should be back to tasting in 30 minutes or so. Ganga, Ganga, Ganga.

[Ganga]

As if by magic, he appears.

[pkt77242]

Signatory UCF Brora 1981/2003 21yo refill sherry butt 1586

N: Minty hay. Also, some citrus, light sweet smoke, and almonds.
P: Ver similar to the nose. Big mint, citurs, light smoke and nuts. Also a little fudge/chocolate.
F: Medium long on minty fudge, some salt, citrus and light smoke.

This is getting better the longer the bottle is open. By far the most mint I have ever got in a whisky.

[pkt77242]

As if by magic, he appears.

as S'tan's apprentice what else would I expect?

[pkt77242]

G+M Secret Stills 1.2 Isle of Skye (Talisker) 1986/2007 21yo Sherry Butts 1361-1363
45%

N: Starts on sweet red fruits and nuts. Slowly opens up to salt, black pepper and light peat. A touch of tea and fresh barley.
P: Sweet red fruits and nuts that have been drizzled with a touch balsamic vinegar, salt and black pepper.
F: medium on black pepper, salt, tea, and a little red fruit.

Just an amazing Talisker.

[Ganga]

I'm going with this being a bourb bottled in the 1980s.

Wild Turkey 8
with tax label, 750 bottle and "80" embossed in the glass
Kentucky Straight Bourbon

glencairn
Color: bronze
Nose: loads of caramel, lots of straw, maple wood shavings, can you ferment vanilla?
Palate: huge rough straw with some cracked wheat and barley, drizzle of caramel, kind of spicey
Finish: big, bold and spiced caramel

[pkt77242]

I'm going with this being a bourb bottled in the 1980s.

Wild Turkey 8
with tax label, 750 bottle and "80" embossed in the glass
Kentucky Straight Bourbon

glencairn
Color: bronze
Nose: loads of caramel, lots of straw, maple wood shavings, can you ferment vanilla?
Palate: huge rough straw with some cracked wheat and barley, drizzle of caramel, kind of spicey
Finish: big, bold and spiced caramel

That sounds damn good.

[dramtastic]

Karuizawa Single Vintage Cask 1989 12YO # 7410 61.3%

Nose: Heavy notes of baked goods such as warm pie crust and scones, sherry, bar wood like you'd expect to smells in 'Cheers', vanilla, varnish, sandlewood.

Palate: Massive spice attack, sandlewood, playdough, vanilla, bubblegum, strawberry, and something like roast chicken.

Finish: Sweet, nutty, fruity and looooooooooooooong!

A fantastic and very rare(well even more rare), Karuizawa.

[pkt77242]

Scott's Selection Highland Park 1981/2006 50.6%

N: A very herbal grassy peat and smoke. Anyone ever smelled a grass fire? Lots of barley, with some heather and honey. Also a some salt and cooking spices.
P: Big herbal grassy peat and smoke (by far the peatiest and smokiest HP I have ever had), salt, heather and honey. A touch of mint and eucalyptus.
F: Medium on that herbal, grassy peat and smoke. Also a touch of mint and salt.

A very different HP but I love it.

[pkt77242]

Karuizawa Single Vintage Cask 1989 12YO # 7410 61.3%

Nose: Heavy notes of baked goods such as warm pie crust and scones, sherry, bar wood like you'd expect to smells in 'Cheers', vanilla, varnish, sandlewood.

Palate: Massive spice attack, sandlewood, playdough, vanilla, bubblegum, strawberry, and something like roast chicken.

Finish: Sweet, nutty, fruity and looooooooooooooong!

A fantastic and very rare(well even more rare), Karuizawa.

Nice to have you joining us DT

[dramtastic]

Karuizawa Vintage Cask 1982 #2510 58.2% 20YO

Nose: Both bold yet clear. Sherry at first sweet then dry. Fresh biscuits cooling on the kitchen bench. Raisins, valencia oranges, mixed peel, cherry chocolate and mint.

Palate: Perfectly drinkable neat. Well layered flavours that basically follow the nose and with some lovely sweet spices. From one hell of a sherry butt.

Finish: Beautifully rounded, warming and long. Spicy sherried goodness.

I've never tasted a better sherried whisky. Incredible balance. Seems 1982 was a good year at Karuizawa.

[dramtastic]

Hey Sean!

[Ganga]

Very nice Dram.

Found another bourbon from around the early 80s

Bourbon de Luxe 4

color: copper gold
Nose: VANILLA, light caramel, some grains, fresh crushed mint
Palate: minty caramel, thrashed straw
Finish: mild, caramel

[pkt77242]

Hey Sean!

We are on SOI if you want to join DT

[Ganga]

As Sean says, we're out at SOI.

Scapa 10
G&M
1984-94
40%

Color: medium gold
Nose: dough mixed with straw (scottish bricks ), some herbal notes, sea air, sugar cubes
Palate: straw, grist, some artificial notes of carmel (but light)
Finish: really mild and gristy

[dramtastic]

Karuizawa Vintage Cask 1985 17YO #6885 60%

Nose: Big on vanilla also licorice, grated carrot, dried pear, apple skins, sawdust, slightly perfumed.

Palate: Custard on apple pie. Black pepper, licorice, nutmeg, peanut shells, yeast kinda like marmite.

Finish: Long and warming with a slight bitterness and some curry powder heat on the top palate.

[Ganga]

Aberlour 12
43%
old square bottle from the 80s

color: bright gold
Nose: barley sugar, vanilla beans, slightly herbal, salted nuts
Palate: licorice (black whip)-so very dominating that it is hard to pick out other things, little bit of fresh bread underneath
Finish: long and licorice

[pkt77242]

Highland Park 1986/2005 19yo cask 2498 53.8% for Beltramo's.

N: Soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and oranges. Some salt, honey, nuts and mushrooms.
P: Big soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. Some salted oranges, nuts and mushrooms like the nose. Also a touch of smoke ham, and red fruits.
F: Medium lenght on big meaty notes, and the soy and balsamic. Just a hint of the mushrooms.

A very sherried HP that is the opposite of my Scott's but just as good.

[Ganga]

Something we haven't done yet. An 80s blend.

White Horse blend bottled for the 1987 America's Cup
43%
NAS

color: orange gold
Nose: parafin wax, cedar smoke, citrus, cinnamon sticks
Palate: waxy smoke, cedar shavings, herbal, licorice
Finish: mild, smoke and licorice

[pkt77242]

PlowedRiach 1986/2009 23yo PX finish cask 3182 56.1%

N: Black tea, figs, walnuts, black and red fruits. Light peat and smoke with some cherries.
P: Very similar to the nose. Black tea with figs and blackberries. Also the light smoke and peat. A little balsamic vinegar and some slight gameyness (is that even a word?).
F: Medium long on black tea and figs. Smokiness is coming through stronger on the finish along with some peat. Smoked boar?

Please give me more.

[dramtastic]

OK Ganga I think I can sneak in another blend. Hibiki 21 bought last year

[Ganga]

Highland Park 12. This is the old slanty shoulders bottle from the 90s which would make it 80s distillate. 43%

Forget it. No notes. Just reference the Whisky Flight thread as Sean and I did notes on it.

[Ganga]

Sean gamey is a term. Interesting because, your notes actually kind of remind me of what I tried earlier as opposed to when we did the Highland Parks a couple of weeks ago.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin 1985 21yo

N: Heaven? Peat, salt, smoke, smoked meat, light red fruits, walnuts, cooking spices and some oak.
P: Similar to the nose. Big peat and smoke with smoked meat, walnuts, sherry (some red fruits, grapes, etc), and salt.
F: Crazy long, with loads of smoke and peat. Walnuts, sherry, salt, etc.

My Fav whisky. Please give me more.

[Ganga]

Sean, you make the 21 sound so much better than when I've had it. Maybe it just requires a quiet evening at home rather than in a rembunctious crowd.

[dramtastic]

Hibiki 21 bought last year.

Nose: As plush as a whisky can get in my books. Exotic insence, worn leather, sweet cigar tobacco, vanilla, seville oranges, walnuts and licorice.

Palate: Sweet, creamy and rich. Like tasting a cubana dipped in Seville orange juice with a licorice and leather chaser. Tastes so much bigger than 43%. Smooooth!

Finish: Medium length and totally lushious. Can't see that a blend get any better than this, but then I haven't taste the 30YO.

[pkt77242]

Last one for me Karuizawa 1985 21yo cask 7017 60.8%

N: Big gunpowder, gun metal polish, ham, bacon, and rotisserie chicken. Also some walnuts, sherry and smoked meats.
P: Very similar to the nose in fact, I will just copy it over. Big gunpowder, gun metal polish, ham, bacon, and rotisserie chicken. Also some walnuts, sherry and smoked meats.
F: long on smoked meats, gunpowder, walnuts and sherry.

A big bold whisky. You have to enjoy some sulphur though.