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

[pkt77242]

Sipping on a Gin & Tonic while reading over the tasting notes.

in particular this one stood out

Well, I couldn't participate last month, as I don't have any bottles from the 80s. But the 90s, that's a different story. I grew up in Seattle, where grunge ruled and where one differentiated between dress flannel and casual flannel. Ah the 90s...

The Unchillfiltered Cask Selection 9yo Clynelish (46%). Distilled 2nd February, 1999

Nose: Pear, lemon zest, hint of smoke
Palate: Green apple, cinnamon heat, creme brulee sugar
Finish: Whiff of green smoke. Long, pleasant

One of my favorite bottles.

Making me thirsty

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85.21 - Glen Elgin 1999, 10yo, 60.0%

N: Sweet and toffee-ish, with a trace of lemon behind (elusive though - sometimes there, sometimes not).
A little faint mustiness (not in a bad way) that I think must be what the Society's notes are referring to when they say old leather. After several minutes this comes to the fore.
A few drops of water soften the musty notes altogether and bring the slightest trace of a floral tone.

P: Sweet, sweet Glen Elgin fudgey flavours (for once I agree with the Society note).
None of the mustiness here.

F: The old leather bound books hinted at by the mustiness in the nose are at the forefront. Quite spicy too.

I very much like Glen Elgin and this is a good one. Not a hint of the oh-so-prevalent Society sulphur in this sherry cask.

Nick, this is making me wish that Glen Elgin was readily available over here. Yummy.

[pkt77242]

Evening all. I meant to come in a bit earlier but got distracted at a nice wee bar in Crieff.

Did Willie wander off to another bar?

[Willie JJ]

I went up to Glenturret to get some bottles that I had purchased Sean, but by the time we got there (due to an apparently necessary detour via shoe shops) it was closed. My consolation prize was a visit to a local bar.

Ok Here's my 1998 dram:

Golden Cask Miltonduff 1998-2009 57% #cm140

Nose: Lemon puffs, grapefruit juice and malt
Palate: Sharp citrus, kiwi fruit, sugar crystals.
Finish: Long, drying, spicy and a little hot.
Comment: A very pleasant dram

[pkt77242]

I went up to Glenturret to get some bottles that I had purchased Sean, but by the time we got there (due to an apparently necessary detour via shoe shops) it was closed. My consolation prize was a visit to a local bar.

A well deserved prize if you had to put up with shoe shopping.

Time for me to pour a dram. Thinking Glenrothes 1991

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Glenrothes 1991/2008

N: Butterscotch, vanilla and hints of blueberries. A touch of caramel, creme brulee and some wet barley.
P: Butterscotch and vanilla dominate. There is some of the wet barley and caramel as well. A little cinnamon.
F: Shortish on vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. A little buttescotch linges as well.

An enjoyable whisky but nothing to rave about.

[Willie JJ]

The 1991 'rothes is decent, but I actually prefer the more citrussy 1994. Especially after a few drams, it is very refreshing.

[pkt77242]

The 1991 'rothes is decent, but I actually prefer the more citrussy 1994. Especially after a few drams, it is very refreshing.

I like the 1994 but like most Glenrothes (including the 1991) I find that they are overpriced. Thinking of staying with Speyside for now with a Glenfarclas.

[Willie JJ]

I agree about the pricing. I wonder what will happen there now that Berrys have taken over the brand.

[pkt77242]

Glenfarclas 1990 15yo for Beltramos.

N: Big cherry flaovr that dominates. Also some raisin and cranberry. after a minute or two some sandalwood, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little wood shavings.
P: Big cherry falvor with some raisin. The cinnamon, and nutmeg are there as well with a touch of rubber inner tube. A little sandalwood and sage.
F: Medium on cherry rubber, and a little cinnamon.

Not very complex but enjoyable. Though you really have to like the flavor of cherry.

[Willie JJ]

G&M Connoisseurs Choice 11yo Bunnahabhain 1997 43%

Nose: Gooseberry, green grapes, fruit salad. Malt concentrate.
Palate: Malt concentrate and barley sugar
Finish: Fizzing sugar and soft spice.
Comment: An excellent Bunn from G&M.

[pkt77242]

One last one for tonight.

Macallan 18, 43%
1991

Nose: huge caramel, cinnamon, oranges, peanut brittle
Palate: yummy. Caramel coated red apples coated in cinnamon dust, walnuts
Finish: long, rich with loads of caramel

My turn.

Macallan 18 1991

N: I get the caramel, cinnamon and oranges but no peanut brittle. Also some pencil shavings and oak.
P: Ok my palate is similar to yours. Caramel, red apples, cinnamon and walnuts. Also a touch of the penicl shavings from the nose. Just a hint of the orange as well.
F: beautifully long with caramel, cinnamon and pencil shavings.

An wonderful whisky. Good combo of sweet and dry along with a nice long finish.

[pkt77242]

I think at least 1 more before I take a break. Dalmore Mackenzie

[Willie JJ]

1996 time

Beinn A Cheo 1996-08 Ben Nevis 57.5%
Nose: Sharp, slightly smokey camp coffee with a medicinal twang
Palate: Sour fruits, gooseberries, herby liquers, coffee and chocolate
Finish: A mouthful of cocoa powder with drying cinammon and other spices
Comment: This stuff is amazing. One of the early bottlings from this company while they were still punting them out for around £30. I wish they still were.

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Dalmore Mackenzie 1992

N: Big vanilla, with some grape juice, tangerine and mandarin orange. A little clay and damp earth.
P: Big Mandarin orange, clay, grape juice and some vanilla. Also some citrus.
F: Medium long with a huge burst of citrus (grapefruit, lemon and mandarin orange). Also some vanilla and clay.

Normally I love this whisky but it feels a little discombobulated after the Mac 18 but still very enjoyable.

[pkt77242]

1996 time

Beinn A Cheo 1996-08 Ben Nevis 57.5%
Nose: Sharp, slightly smokey camp coffee with a medicinal twang
Palate: Sour fruits, gooseberries, herby liquers, coffee and chocolate
Finish: A mouthful of cocoa powder with drying cinammon and other spices
Comment: This stuff is amazing. One of the early bottlings from this company while they were still punting them out for around £30. I wish they still were.

Sounds great Willie. I really like Ben Nevis.

[Ras Mazunga]

Glen Scotia 1992 16yo 52.1% Creative whisky company
n: spirity, glue(bison kit), acetone, white pepper, sherry notes appaer, wet grass, dirty water, time for drinking I guess. after some water more notes of fruits.
t: same as the nose with some rubber notes too. after water taste of plums?
f: not too bad after the taste.

[Ras Mazunga]

Imperial 1997 61.6% ff sherry G&M.
Tasty whisky to say the least.

[Willie JJ]

glue(bison kit)

Why on earth do you need to glue a Bison?

[Willie JJ]

Imperial 1997 61.6% ff sherry G&M.
Tasty whisky to say the least.

Oh yeah! That's the stuff.

[pkt77242]

Time for me to find another whisky.

[pkt77242]

Glen Scotia 1992 16yo 52.1% Creative whisky company
n: spirity, glue(bison kit), acetone, white pepper, sherry notes appaer, wet grass, dirty water, time for drinking I guess. after some water more notes of fruits.
t: same as the nose with some rubber notes too. after water taste of plums?
f: not too bad after the taste.

That sounds putrid.

[Willie JJ]

I don't suppose the Bison enjoyed it much either

[Ras Mazunga]

Putrid is the right word I found out after looking it up.
I'm sure it will never be a bison's favourite, not enough grassy notes.

[pkt77242]

Time for a bourbon
Evan Williams Single Barrel vintage 1999 cask 342

N: Big vanilla, cinnamon, some oak char and oranges. Also nutmeg, and cooking spices.
P: Vanilla and oak kick it off with oranges dusted in cinnamon following. Maybe a slight sprinkling of cooking spices. A little toffee as well.
F: Medium short on vanilla and oak but then some oranges and toffee.

Hmm a nice bourbon and goes well with NCIS on the TV.

[Willie JJ]

Gordon & MacPhail 1995 Blair Athol 43%

Nose: I think trying to do two online tastings at once is telling on me. I can't get much off this. There's citrus, herbs and floral notes, but the herbs are dominant.
Palate: Barley sugar and herbs.
Finish: nicely balanced
Comment: This is pretty decent, I need to try it on a fresh palate.

[Willie JJ]

Right I'm done for tonight. See y'all tomorrow

[pkt77242]

Right I'm done for tonight. See ya'll tomorrow

Night Willie. I am taking a break for a little bit as well.

[Ras Mazunga]

Goodnight Willie.
I'm going too.

[pkt77242]

Goodnight Willie.
I'm going too.

Night Ras, I will be on tomorrow.

[pkt77242]

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.

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Last one of the night for me

Signatory Cask Strength Ben Nevis 1992 16yo sherry butt 2309

N: Sherry (raisins and walnuts), some mushrooms and some faint smoke
P: Raisins, mushrooms, faint smoke with a little milk chocolate. Then a touch of walnuts, oranges and a touch of salt.
F: Medium on raisins and mushrooms. A faint smokey chocolate and salt as well.

This whisky is constantly changing on me. Sometimes amazing, sometimes bland and sometimes like it is tonight, just ok.

[Muskrat Portage]

I just got home from a tasting - 15 yo Glen mo, which counts as the 90s. Very good no tasting notes. Too much whisky in too short a time.

Musky

[Willie JJ]

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

We're all going to be very sad when we've drunk the last of the Rosebank.

Too much whisky in too short a time.

I heard worse complaints

[Muskrat Portage]