August 2011 Live Tasting - Pre 1980 Distillates

[Ganga]

Bourbon De Luxe

Color: Reddish bronze
Nose: cinnamon mixed into maple syrup
Palate: fresh crushed mint, nuts
Finish: more of the same

Actually rather bland compared to the H&H.

[Willie JJ]

Hi Willie. It's been a while already, huh?

Indeed it has johan

1972 now

Caol Ila 1972 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% old style map label

Nose: Distant camp fires in a lemon grove. The gentle peat offers some hospital notes with hint of bleach and hemp rope.
Palate: Gentle on the palate with the smoke hitting before the sugared lemon drops.
Finish: Now the spice kicks in with cracking peppers and popping pods, but it's all so gentle that it's utterly charming.
Comment: This is stuff from the old distillery before it closed in April 1972. Like other CI I've tried from that era it doesn't seem to be as heavily peated as the make from the new distillery. It is great whisky.

[Willie JJ]

I have a soft spot for Glentauchers. Each I've had has been fun but they are few and far between here.

I agree and they are not common here either

[Ganga]

Next up is the Daviess County bourbon. This is one I really like.

Color: reddish bronze to brass
Nose: dirty rye notes, roasted hazel nuts, dried mint leaves
Palate: cinnamon stick candy (HUGE), mint, rye, some nuttiness
Finish: continuation of the palate!

[pkt77242]

Glenfarclas 1974 31yo OB

N: Big time sherry. Raisins, figs, cherries and walnuts. Wood varnish and sawdust. A hint of orange as well.
P: Big cherry, raisins and figs. Some wood varnish and walnuts as well. hints of vanilla and sawdust.
F: Long on cherries, sawdust, walnuts and raisins. Some vanilla, cooking spices and orange as well.

A very nice heavily sherried Glenfarclas.

[Willie JJ]

This is one I really like.

Nose: dirty rye notes,

You like them dirty

[Ganga]

One more bourbon Old Yellowstone 6. This one was bottled sometime in the late 60s or very early 70s.

Color: reddish brown
Nose: sublime fresh mint plucked but not crushed, whispy almond and vanilla, mown lawn, slight oakiness
Palate: menthol cocoa, grass wedged in the teeth, almost like acorn meal
Finish: the "green" character just keeps going.

[Ganga]

This is one I really like.

Nose: dirty rye notes,

You like them dirty

Is that what makes me a "dirty old man"?

[Ganga]

Two very nice Farcli Sean!

[pkt77242]

Signatory Port Ellen 1979 23yo refill sherry butt 43%

N: Big waxy notes with some peat, smoke, salt and hints of citrus. A little oak as well.
P: Starts waxy but the peat really kicks in after a second. Lots of malt, smoke and a touch of citrus. Just a hint of sherry.
F: medium short on wax, peat and salt. Shocked by the amount of salt on the finish with some citrus.

A nice whisky but the waxiest PE I have ever had.

[Willie JJ]

Two very nice Farcli Sean!

I like the sound of the younger one more

[Ganga]

Master of Malt Signatory Ayrshire 34, 1975, 45.2

Color: straw
Nose: ground wheat, late summer grass, light citrus
Palate: chewy green grass, more ground wheat, little bit of crushed pepper
Finish: long and grainy

I've had two different expressions from this distillery and like them both.

[Ganga]

Ardbeg 1978 (thanks Sean)

Color: gold
Nose: fishing harbor (seaweed, iodine, salty, diesel oil), lemons, honeydew, white pepper
Palate: seaside bonfire (seaweed, wood fire), diesel oil, melons
Finish: long, bonfire and oily

[pkt77242]

G+M Longmorn 30yo from about 2008 which means thatt it would have been distilled in the late 70's.

N: Big sherry and wood varnish. A little wood spice, and cinnamon. A little oak and leather
P: Big sherry and wood varnish. Wood spice and vanillla. Cinnamon with a touch of raisin.
F: Medium on sherry and oak. Some varnish, cinnamon, orange and leather.


Simple but very enjoyable.

[pkt77242]

Ardbeg 1978 (thanks Sean)

Color: gold
Nose: fishing harbor (seaweed, iodine, salty, diesel oil), lemons, honeydew, white pepper
Palate: seaside bonfire (seaweed, wood fire), diesel oil, melons
Finish: long, bonfire and oily

Sounds amazing.

[pkt77242]

G+M Longmorn 30yo from about 2008 which means that it would have been distilled in the late 70's.

N: Big sherry and wood varnish. A little wood spice, and cinnamon. A little oak and leather
P: Big sherry and wood varnish. Wood spice and vanillla. Cinnamon with a touch of raisin.
F: Medium on sherry and oak. Some varnish, cinnamon, orange and leather.


Simple but very enjoyable.

[Ganga]

G+M Longmorn 30yo from about 2008 which means that it would have been distilled in the late 70's.

N: Big sherry and wood varnish. A little wood spice, and cinnamon. A little oak and leather
P: Big sherry and wood varnish. Wood spice and vanillla. Cinnamon with a touch of raisin.
F: Medium on sherry and oak. Some varnish, cinnamon, orange and leather.


Simple but very enjoyable.

It sounds like a bottle would not last long if placed in the middle of me, Mikey, Willie and yourself.

[Ganga]

Hi Willie. It's been a while already, huh?

Indeed it has johan

1972 now

Caol Ila 1972 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% old style map label

Nose: Distant camp fires in a lemon grove. The gentle peat offers some hospital notes with hint of bleach and hemp rope.
Palate: Gentle on the palate with the smoke hitting before the sugared lemon drops.
Finish: Now the spice kicks in with cracking peppers and popping pods, but it's all so gentle that it's utterly charming.
Comment: This is stuff from the old distillery before it closed in April 1972. Like other CI I've tried from that era it doesn't seem to be as heavily peated as the make from the new distillery. It is great whisky.

Sounds amazing Willie. Nothing like the newer stuff. I always get "vines" in the older CIs from post closure.

[pkt77242]

G+M Secret Still 2.2 Speyside (Cragganmore) 1966 40yo sherry cask 45%

N: Beautifully sherried with a touch of walnuts and oak. light raisins, figs and red fruits. A touch of wood varnish as well.
P: Smooth sherry (raisins, figs, walnuts, etc) with some oak, wood varnish and cinnamon. Hints of white pepper, grass and just a faint whiff of smoke.
F: Medium long on raisins, oak, and some white pepper. Gets a little spicy on the finish (white pepper, cinnamon and just a faint chili note).

I could drink this whisky for the rest of my life. The perfect combo of complex yet easy to drink

[pkt77242]

G+M Longmorn 30yo from about 2008 which means that it would have been distilled in the late 70's.

N: Big sherry and wood varnish. A little wood spice, and cinnamon. A little oak and leather
P: Big sherry and wood varnish. Wood spice and vanillla. Cinnamon with a touch of raisin.
F: Medium on sherry and oak. Some varnish, cinnamon, orange and leather.


Simple but very enjoyable.

It sounds like a bottle would not last long if placed in the middle of me, Mikey, Willie and yourself.

No it would not. Crazy easy to drink and still tasty.

[pkt77242]

Hi Willie. It's been a while already, huh?

Indeed it has johan

1972 now

Caol Ila 1972 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% old style map label

Nose: Distant camp fires in a lemon grove. The gentle peat offers some hospital notes with hint of bleach and hemp rope.
Palate: Gentle on the palate with the smoke hitting before the sugared lemon drops.
Finish: Now the spice kicks in with cracking peppers and popping pods, but it's all so gentle that it's utterly charming.
Comment: This is stuff from the old distillery before it closed in April 1972. Like other CI I've tried from that era it doesn't seem to be as heavily peated as the make from the new distillery. It is great whisky.

Sounds like it Willie. Seems to be a greaty whisky

[Ganga]

G+M Secret Still 2.2 Speyside (Cragganmore) 1966 40yo sherry cask 45%

N: Beautifully sherried with a touch of walnuts and oak. light raisins, figs and red fruits. A touch of wood varnish as well.
P: Smooth sherry (raisins, figs, walnuts, etc) with some oak, wood varnish and cinnamon. Hints of white pepper, grass and just a faint whiff of smoke.
F: Medium long on raisins, oak, and some white pepper. Gets a little spicy on the finish (white pepper, cinnamon and just a faint chili note).

I could drink this whisky for the rest of my life. The perfect combo of complex yet easy to drink

Those may be my favorite set of notes on that whisky. Looks so yummy. Must pour Cragg 17 next.

[dramtastic]

Suntory Gold Blended Malt. 42 per cent alcohol.
Nose: Not great. A little sherry and oak. Label says it is fully matured in Sherry casks. Doesn't taste like it. Also, plasticine, glue and cheap brandy.
Palate: A little better than the nose--bread dough, some lime and tangerine. Then ruined again by the plasticine and glue.
Finish: Bitter, with plasticine and, thankfully, short.

62/100

[pkt77242]

Suntory Gold Blended Malt. 42 per cent alcohol.
Nose: Not great. A little sherry and oak. Label says it is fully matured in Sherry casks. Doesn't taste like it. Also, plasticine, glue and cheap brandy.
Palate: A little better than the nose--bread dough, some lime and tangerine. Then ruined again by the plasticine and glue.
Finish: Bitter, with plasticine and, thankfully, short.

62/100

That sounds very crappy. Sorry DT.

[Ganga]

Suntory Gold Blended Malt. 42 per cent alcohol.
Nose: Not great. A little sherry and oak. Label says it is fully matured in Sherry casks. Doesn't taste like it. Also, plasticine, glue and cheap brandy.
Palate: A little better than the nose--bread dough, some lime and tangerine. Then ruined again by the plasticine and glue.
Finish: Bitter, with plasticine and, thankfully, short.

62/100

Well at least the finish was short.

[dramtastic]

Montgomerie's Clynelish Single Cask #2566 1974 32YO 43%

Nose: Tinned pears, varnish, peat, soap flakes, a little floral, vanilla, fresh cut timber

Palate: Big on sweet spices which makes this one feel like a more potent whisky than 43% would suggest. Some grapefruit to balance the sweetness, more timber, some ash/smoke, pear again. Third sip brings out pepper and macadamias.

Finish is medium and bitter/sweet with some ashy dryness thrown in along with peppered macadamias.

Overall quite tasty and fairly lively for 32 years old.

85/100

[pkt77242]

Karuizawa 1972/2008 65%

N: Sherry, plums, fresh tobacco, and kirsh. A little cinnamon with a touch of oak.
P: Big plums, tobacco and kirsh. Some cinnamon, vanilla and oak with a faint whiff of smoke. Some walnuts as well.
F: Long on plums, cinnamon, walnuts, sherry?, vanilla and some dry oak.

A much better whisky than my notes would lead you to believe.

[pkt77242]

Montgomerie's Clynelish Single Cask #2566 Clynelish 1974 32YO 43%

Nose: Tinned pears, varnish, peat, soap flakes, a little floral, vanilla, fresh cut timber

Palate: Big on sweet spices which makes this one feel like a more potent whisky than 43% would suggest. Some grapefruit to balance the sweetness, more timber, some ash/smoke, pear again. Third sip brings out pepper and macadamias.

Finish is medium and bitter/sweet with some ashy dryness thrown in along with peppered macadamias.

Overall quite tasty and fairly lively for 32 years old.

85/100

Now that sounds like a nice malt.

[Ganga]

That Clynelish looks kinda tasty Dram.

[dramtastic]

Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Diamond Pure Malt Whisky 43%
Think they still might make sake but not whisky for a few decades.

Nose: Red apples, sawdust, malt, sugared grapefruit, vanilla, biscuity, scotch-like.

Palate: Chunky malt, vanilla, fruit jubes, a little oily.

Finish: Short, malty, sweet and oily

Solid whisky with no peaks or troughs

80/100

[Willie JJ]

G+M Secret Still 2.2 Speyside (Cragganmore) 1966 40yo sherry cask 45%

N: Beautifully sherried with a touch of walnuts and oak. light raisins, figs and red fruits. A touch of wood varnish as well.
P: Smooth sherry (raisins, figs, walnuts, etc) with some oak, wood varnish and cinnamon. Hints of white pepper, grass and just a faint whiff of smoke.
F: Medium long on raisins, oak, and some white pepper. Gets a little spicy on the finish (white pepper, cinnamon and just a faint chili note).

I could drink this whisky for the rest of my life. The perfect combo of complex yet easy to drink

Those may be my favorite set of notes on that whisky. Looks so yummy.

It sounds fantastic. I'm jealous

[Willie JJ]

G+M Longmorn 30yo from about 2008 which means that it would have been distilled in the late 70's.

N: Big sherry and wood varnish. A little wood spice, and cinnamon. A little oak and leather
P: Big sherry and wood varnish. Wood spice and vanillla. Cinnamon with a touch of raisin.
F: Medium on sherry and oak. Some varnish, cinnamon, orange and leather.


Simple but very enjoyable.

It sounds like a bottle would not last long if placed in the middle of me, Mikey, Willie and yourself.

Or any subset of the above

[Willie JJ]

Montgomerie's Clynelish Single Cask #2566 1974 32YO 43%

Nose: Tinned pears, varnish, peat, soap flakes, a little floral, vanilla, fresh cut timber

Palate: Big on sweet spices which makes this one feel like a more potent whisky than 43% would suggest. Some grapefruit to balance the sweetness, more timber, some ash/smoke, pear again. Third sip brings out pepper and macadamias.

Finish is medium and bitter/sweet with some ashy dryness thrown in along with peppered macadamias.

Overall quite tasty and fairly lively for 32 years old.

85/100

Mmmm elderly Clynelish. It sounds yummy.

[Willie JJ]

Banff 1974 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% old style map label

Nose: Smells of an old room with dust and leather and some flowers in a vase. There's a bowl of citrus in there too, with dried tobacco and a bit of used ashtray.
Palate: It's all about the orange. Heaps of zest soaked in Grand Marnier and topped with marmalade. Just citrus everywhere.
Finish: Ashy and spicy with marmalade waves washing over it.
Comment: Not sure about the ashiness but otherwise this is great whisky.

[pkt77242]

Banff 1974 G&M Connoisseurs Choice 40% old style map label

Nose: Smells of an old room with dust and leather and some flowers in a vase. There's a bowl of citrus in there too, with dried tobacco and a bit of used ashtray.
Palate: It's all about the orange. Heaps of zest soaked in Grand Marnier and topped with marmalade. Just citrus everywhere.
Finish: Ashy and spicy with marmalade waves washing over it.
Comment: Not sure about the ashiness but otherwise this is great whisky.

That sounds very interesting Willie, and the palate sounds damn good.