July 2011 - Independent bottlings

[pkt77242]

Upcoming blog, but it's here first


Clynelish 12yo Norse Cask 1995 57.3%

Nose : Sweet dried fruit, spices, plum juice
Palate : Somewhat dry spicy edge to the sherry sweetness
Finish : long with a very spicy touch emerging after 10-15 seconds then vanilla. Great
Rating ***** (4/5)
Comment : Another nice pure heavily sherried whisky, with no sulphur flaws, and with an extended complexity making this just more than sherry but also Clynelish

Now that sounds like a damn good whisky.

[Ganga]

ADR

Cragganmore 17 for Bevmo

Nose: hawaiian bread, lemon spritz, dash of ground pepper, all spice, certain oiliness (cooking?), dried coconut
Palate: pound cake, cinnamon and black pepper combo, tropical fruits, straw
Finish: lots of spiciness and tropical fruits that go on and on and on

You are making me jealous. A couple of different AD Rattray's for Bevmo made it over here but not the Cragganmore.

I can always get one for you when they next go on sale.

I would like to add that the nose has added papaya and honeydew. By far the most enjoyable Cragganmore I've ever had.

[Ganga]

Blackadder

Arran, cask 96/039

Nose: kinda reminds me of the Powers NAS, new makish apples and berries, slight touch of grist
Palate: vanilla pudding, cinnamon dust, black berries
Finish: light, berries in whipped cream

Is this a sherry cask?

Looks like a bourbon cask (on the light side and very young).

[pkt77242]

Blackadder

Arran, cask 96/039

Nose: kinda reminds me of the Powers NAS, new makish apples and berries, slight touch of grist
Palate: vanilla pudding, cinnamon dust, black berries
Finish: light, berries in whipped cream

Is this a sherry cask?

Looks like a bourbon cask (on the light side and very young).

The blackberries were throwing me off.

[Ganga]

I found another young Arran

Blackaddar

Arran cask 96040

Nose: Now this is a much more interesting nose. Vanilla custard, light oakiness, Elmer's wood glue, some light fruity notes dancing at the edges
Palate: white grape juice, straw, Granny Smith apples, lightly spiced, again some new makish notes
Finish: very long, fruity.

[Ganga]

I should be more specific on the blackberries (and no not the electronic ones), it's the frozen version. There's a certain bit that shows up. It's not the ultra-rich flavor that you get from those freshly picked (room temp) ones that you find in wines.

[pkt77242]

I should be more specific on the blackberries (and no not the electronic ones), it's the frozen version. There's a certain bit that shows up. It's not the ultra-rich flavor that you get from those freshly picked (room temp) ones that you find in wines.

that explains it. I was thinking of red wine type black berries which lead me to Sherry cask.

[pkt77242]

I found another young Arran

Blackaddar

Arran cask 96040

Nose: Now this is a much more interesting nose. Vanilla custard, light oakiness, Elmer's wood glue, some light fruity notes dancing at the edges
Palate: white grape juice, straw, Granny Smith apples, lightly spiced, again some new makish notes
Finish: very long, fruity.

Sounds rather good besides the elmer's glue on the nose.

[Ganga]

But the glue holds it all together....

[Ganga]

Ok, trying a couple of new Battlehill bottilings tonight. First up is the Jura 11 @43%.

Color: straw gold
Nose: earthy (with mushrooms?), salty, hints of cocoa, some grist buried in there with maybe a touch of honey
Palate: flour (white), earthy peat, little bit of honey
Finish: it seems to continue with the earthiness with a bright honey note on top.

While not the greatest of whiskies, it is one of the more interesting Juras I've tried.

[Ganga]

Ohhh, the anticipation. This bottle is calling me with that gentle bubbling like a springtime brook. This is the Battlehill Bowmore.

Color: antique gold
Nose: some light woodsmoke over a bouqet of citrus blossoms, light spices, a sweetness is there but I can't tell what kind of sweetness
Palate: Floral (not lavendar and not perfume), gentle smokiness and charcoal, sea breeze, some interesting citrus notes
Finish: moderate, vascillating between the smoke and floral notes

[Ganga]

I wanted to retry to the two Battlehills further away from supper and in reverse order. Bow first.... The one difference I note in the nose is that there is a kinda of sweet woodiness to it...poplar? Palate is about the same.

[mikeymad]

Thanks for the notes on the Battles...

[Ganga]

The nose for the Jura has the same notes but seems to be much better integrated. And the cocoa might be more described as chocolate. In some ways this reminds me of the Glenhaven Fettercairn from oh so many years ago. Hm, the palate seems to have some tangerines now. Very interesting.

[Ganga]

Thanks for the notes on the Battles...

No problem.

[Ganga]

Wm Maxwell & Co
Trader Joe's Tomatin 10

Nose: very sour lemons, cracked grains, mild spices, vanilla
Palate: chocolate bread, lemon juice (from bottle), wheat chaff, little bit of polished wood
Finish: moderate, more of the chocolate bread with just a touch of lemon rind

[Ganga]

One must...Signatory (Binny's)

Benrinnes 11

Nose: butterscotch brittle, harvest straw, something green-freshly crushed but not mint
Palate: hot, sweet but coarse straw, thick butterscotch syrup
Finish: long, hot, sweet

[Ganga]

What I meant was that one must try it both ways. A repour but with a capful of water.

Nose: straw has receded bringing more of the butterscotch to the fore and still that greenness
Palate: not as hot, nice butterscotch candy, late summer cut grass
Finish: while shorter, far more pleasant. Still butterscotch and straw

[Ganga]

Lombard Littlemill 13

Nose: squash, marshmallows, summer meadow, sour apple candy
Palate: cantaloupe with sugar sprinkle, sour patch candies, heated marshmallows, green grass
Finish: long, sweet/sour combo

[Ganga]

Lombard

Teaninich 12

Nose: acetone-model glue, light flour notes, tinge of lemon, some kind of coal/charcoal, tarry note
Palate: old grains, lemon, old oak, hints of the acetone and glue
Finish: short, grainy, woody

[Ganga]

OMC

Glenrothes 19

Nose: herbal, anise, lemons, bread-heavier kind
Palate: herb infused bread, licorice (black), lemons
Finish: long with licorice and lemons

[Ganga]

SMWSA 35.35

Glen Moray 13, 56.6

Nose: menthol, fresh chutes of grass, blue hard candies (think they're supposed to be blueberry), hints of grape bubble gum
Palate: cinnamon sticks (candy), blueberries, and now for that menthol
Finish: long, sweet and acetic (berry-like)

Very unusual. I do like it for that very reason. I would also say..."not for everyone".

[Ganga]

SMWSA 78.18
Glen Ord 22, 58.8

Nose: gristy, crushed mint leaves, barnyardy (animals and old straw)
Palate: new straw, cracked grains, little bit of pepper, little bit of a menthol note here too
Finish: hot, doughy with pepper

[Ganga]

Adding a capful of water.....

Water seems to make the aromas integrate into a unit. Palate becomes buttery with some herbs and spices mixed in. Yummy. Ok, water really makes this one go.