The 90's Tasting (March 25-27th)

[dramtastic]

Back with 1-2 more whiskies.

Signatory CS Rosebank 1990 15yo cask 1509

N: lemon, vanilla, creme brulee, and grass. A little lemongrass, cooking spices and white pepper.
P: lemon yogurt, vanilla, grass, sugar and white pepper.
F: Medium long on lemon, vanilla, and white pepper. a little lemon is there but doesn't really show up till the very end.

A very nice Rosebank. I could drink this all day long.

Certainly sounds like a Rosebank, and I haven't met a Rosebank I didn't like.
Is this one of the most consistantly good distilleries of all time of what?

[Ganga]

I'm back from cub scout camp. Unfortunately, it's time for the monthly pack meeting. However, I plan to be here a little later this evening as I dug out three more from the 90s.

[Ras Mazunga]

Glen Elgin 1996 46% 12yo Virgin oak barrel Van Wees.
n: citrus, vanilla, caramel, toffee, chocolate
t: lemonade, apples, pears, some maltines, bourbon, oak
f: citrus
c: somehow I'm suprised this whisky doesn't taste/smell more like a bourbon. nice but a bit plain.

[pkt77242]

Glen Elgin 1996 46% 12yo Virgin oak barrel Van Wees.
n: citrus, vanilla, caramel, toffee, chocolate
t: lemonade, apples, pears, some maltines, bourbon, oak
f: citrus
c: somehow I'm suprised this whisky doesn't taste/smell more like a bourbon. nice but a bit plain.

Sounds interesting Ras.

After I finish my G&T I will join you with a couple of whiskies.

[Willie JJ]

Got in late so I'm not sure I can do much tonight. Might manage something.

[pkt77242]

Got in late so I'm not sure I can do much tonight. Might manage something.

Whatever you can do Willie is much appreciate. I will start today with a bourbon. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

[pkt77242]

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 1997/2009

N: Heavy oak char, vanilla, caramel and nutmeg. Just a hint of cinnamon and macadamia nut. maybe a little cooked orange as well.
P: Starts on caramel, nutmeg, and the macadamia nut. then a huge note of vanilla and creme brulee. Also the oak char shines through.
F: Medium on vanilla, creme brulee and caramel. Then getting very drying with oak char and nutmeg, and maybe a touch of cinnamon.

Good but very dry on the finish.

[pkt77242]

Next up is Springbank 1997 11yo Madeira casks (for the whole entire time, no madeira finish here).

N: Maple syrup on pancakes dominate. some walnuts and pecans as well. A little honey and salt as well.
P: Very similar to the nose. Big maple syrup and pancakes. Nuts, salt and honey. a hint of smoke and citrus (oranges).
F: Medium on maple syrup and pancakes. again walnuts, salt and some smoke are there as well. smoke keeps building to the very end (overtaking everything else) and then a hint of oranges.

Very good but not sure that you could tell this was Springbank if you didn't know in advance.

[Ras Mazunga]

Good evening Sean and Willie.

Glenfiddich 15 51%
I guess this whisky was casked somewhere in the nineties.
It's really wonderful whisky. Don't know if it's better than the regular strength version but it's damn good.
No need to write note yet, I've almost got a liter to go.

[pkt77242]

Good evening Sean and Willie.

Glenfiddich 15 51%
I guess this whisky was casked somewhere in the nineties.
It's really wonderful whisky. Don't know if it's better than the regular strength version but it's damn good.
No need to write note yet, I've almost got a liter to go.

Good evening Ras. It is much better than the 12, 15 or 18 Fiddich for me. the extra abv really helps it.

Time to pour one more for me before I take a break.

[pkt77242]

Highland Park 1990 15yo for Grapevine Market

N: Big sherry (raisins and nuts) and honey. A little heather and smoke are there as well. Some caramel and some citrus.
P: Starts on big sherry (raisins and nuts) then some honey and smoke show up. Caramel cream in the background with a touch of salt.
F: medium short on loads of caramel and honey. Some smoke as well. Gets a little drying at the very end with a hint of salt and pepper.

A very nice whisky but you must like sherry to enjoy this.

[Willie JJ]

Evening Ras

Golden Cask Mortlach 1994-08 55.1%

Nose: Grilled steak and lemon juice. Fresh broken bread and a little smoke.
Palate: A big citrussy thump and fizzing sherbet.
Finish: Sour lemon and sweet sugar.
Comment: Really nice bourbon casked Morty.

[pkt77242]

Evening Ras

Golden Cask Mortlach 1994-08 55.1%

Nose: Grilled steak and lemon juice. Fresh broken bread and a little smoke.
Palate: A big citrussy thump and fizzing sherbet.
Finish: Sour lemon and sweet sugar.
Comment: Really nice bourbon casked Morty.

Sounds good Williie, especially the Grilled steak part. Yum.

[Willie JJ]

Yeah it's a nice one Sean. Just what you expect from Mortlach.

[pkt77242]

Ok, last one for me before I take a break.

Cragganmore 1993/2004 10yo special release 2004 60.1% bodega european oak casks.

N: cider vinegar, apple peels, apricots and some raisins. A little grassyness, crushed rocks, barley and a hint of strawberry.
P: Big notes of apple cider, apricots and raisins, with just a hint of grass and barley. Also a little pine and the barest trace of smoke (or is that my imagination).
F: Medium long on apple peels, apple cicer and grass. ust a hint of the raisins and smoke.

A great Cragganmore.

[Willie JJ]

Gordon & MacPhail Secret Stills 4.12 (1993 Bowmore) 45%

Nose: Gentle peat, sea shells and hemp rope.
Palate: Lavender water and coal smoke.
Finish: Sooty and spicey.
Comment: Nice enough, but strangely unsatisfying.

[pkt77242]

I talked myself into one more before taking a break as Willie is still going strong

[pkt77242]

ADR Balblair 16, 62.4
1990

Nose: kind of a strawy dough, dried apricots
Palate: diced peaches and apricot mised with barley, light pepper notes
Finish: long, light fruity

Time for my note on this

AD Rattray Balblair 1990 16yo 62.4% sherry cask 1138

N: Lemons, strawberries and straw. Half baked bread (not quite doughy but not quite all the way cooked).
P: Stawberry lemonade with some straw and hay. Just a hitn of white pepper.
F: Numbs the tongue a little on the long finish on strawberries, lemons, straw and white pepper.

A very good balblair.

when water is added

N: adds some vanilla and pear, but strawberries fade away.
P: waters it down but flavors are similar.
F: a little shorter with vanilla and white pepper dominating.

I prefer this without water even at the crazy 62.4% for a 16yo.

[Willie JJ]

Cadenhead's 14yo Mannochmore 1992-06 54.6%

Nose: This is weird stuff, like sour gooseberry bubblegum with fresh tobacco and well stewed tea.
Palate: The immediate sweetness quickly breaks down into sour fruits and tannins. Coffee notes too.
Finish: Long, sugary and fizzy.
Comment: Its working for me tonight.

[Ras Mazunga]

I'm back. Never left but maintenance to the connection kicks me offline all the time.
Old Pulteney 1998 57.9% ref. sherry hh G&M Reserve Van Wees May 2010
A very good, definiently above average kinda whisky. The only problem is before I can write a note my glass is empty again...
n: maritime, the sherry has a nice influence on the smoke, shells, sea sand, peat, fruits like mango, more peat,
t: a fantastic sherry sweetnes very well balanced with peat taste.
f: like a fresh winter sea breeze
c: 90+ points for sure.

[Willie JJ]

I talked myself into one more before taking a break as Willie is still going strong

Don't mind me. I just forgot it was late.

[pkt77242]

Cadenhead's 14yo Mannochmore 1992-06 54.6%

Nose: This is weird stuff, like sour gooseberry bubblegum with fresh tobacco and well stewed tea.
Palate: The immediate sweetness quickly breaks down into sour fruits and tannins. Coffee notes too.
Finish: Long, sugary and fizzy.
Comment: Its working for me tonight.

Sounds interesting but different. Willie have you had any of the Signatory CS Mannochmore South African Sherry butts? If so can you compare? Thanks

[pkt77242]

I'm back. Never left but maintenance to the connection kicks me offline all the time.
Old Pulteney 1998 57.9% ref. sherry hh G&M Reserve Van Wees May 2010
A very good, definiently above average kinda whisky. The only problem is before I can write a note my glass is empty again...
n: maritime, the sherry has a nice influence on the smoke, shells, sea sand, peat, fruits like mango, more peat,
t: a fantastic sherry sweetnes very well balanced with peat taste.
f: like a fresh winter sea breeze
c: 90+ points for sure.

Sherried Old Pulteney is great. You are making me want to pour another whisky Ras

[Willie JJ]

I'm back. Never left but maintenance to the connection kicks me offline all the time.

Hi Ras. Another cracking Pulteney by the sound of it.

[Ras Mazunga]

I talked myself into one more before taking a break as Willie is still going strong

That's the spirit!

[Willie JJ]

Sounds interesting but different. Willie have you had any of the Signatory CS Mannochmore South African Sherry butts? If so can you compare? Thanks

I don't recall trying trying those Sean. That last one is a strange one though. Dark as treacle, but much nicer than Loch Dhu.

[Ras Mazunga]

I'm very new to Old Pulteney. Opened my first 12yo ob last week and a few days ago this cracker that I tasted last week at a tasting. I was convinced right away the G&M bottling is something special.
Looking forward to buy some other OP's. Would you recommend any of the other ob's too?

[Willie JJ]

Ok I have an early start so I'm going to leave the last two years for another night.

Cheers guys

[Willie JJ]

Looking forward to buy some other OP's. Would you recommend any of the other ob's too?

The 17yo OB is my favourite Ras.

[Ras Mazunga]

Ok, I'll go for that one then.
Thanks.

[pkt77242]

Ok I have an early start so I'm going to leave the last two years for another night.

Cheers guys

Goodnight Willie, thanks for you contributions.

[Ganga]

I'm back.

G&M Scapa 10
1984-94
40%

Nose: lemon, dough
Palate: dough, slight herbal, licorice, burnt caramel
Finish: long, with cooking caramel

[Ganga]

Next up, a bit of an odd distillery that not many talk about. Inchgower

Glenhaven
9.77
6.97
19 yo
54.8%
Nose: lemon, straw, fresh bread, hints of parafin and honey
Palate: Ivory, straw, squeezed lemons, bread, poplar
Finish: long, lemony bread

[pkt77242]

Ardbeg Rennaisance 1998

N: Lemon and vanilla. Then the tar, peat, smoke, salt and smoke fish roll in.
P: Big peat, smoke, vanilla and lemon. A touch of tar and smoked fish. A little salt
F: A long finish on vanilla, smoke and tar. A little smoked fish. Also a little some lemons.

A very nice combo of lemons, smoke and peat.

[Ganga]

Inchgower 1977-97 w/ water

Nose: very lemony, lemon rind shavings, oak, wood polish, light dry spice
Palate: all spice, water lemons, old oak
Finish: shortish, dwindling lemons

While the nose opens up quite a bit (much more interesting) the palate loses alot.

On the last drops from the glass some cocoa powder comes out.