A Pour Man's Tasting Notes

[pkt77242]

Old Forestor Birthday Bourbon 2009

N: Oak char, candied walnuts, orange, cooking spices, and brown sugar.
P: Oak char, vanilla, cinnamon, orange, dry cherries and almonds.
F: Long finish on oak char, bitter oak, and brazil nuts. Just a hint of vanilla and cinnamon.

Really enjoyable until the finish where it gets a little too bitter. Hmm

84 points. Nose and Palate better then the EC 12 but the Finish is not quite as good.

[pkt77242]

Final one for the night. William Larue Weller 2009 release.

N: Sweet praline, candied walnuts, tangerines, and brown sugar. Sweet oak and vanilla.
P: Candied walnuts, tangerines, cinnamon and oak. A little oatmeal as well.
F: long and slightly bitter oak. Nice notes of candied walnuts, cinnamon and vanilla.

A truly great whisky.

92 points. One of the best bourbons I have ever had.

[pkt77242]

Tonight or tomorrow I should be on to taste Glenfiddich 15 Solera Reserve and Glenfiddich 15 Distillery Ed. 51%. Also Benriach 12 PX finish and Benriach 23yo PX finish.

[pkt77242]

Glenfiddich 15 Solera Reserve

N: Cinnamon, pears, and a little oak. Maybe a hint of prunes and apple skin.
P: Slightly bitter. Cinnamon, pears and unripe bananas.
F: Medium finish, oaky, and cinnamon. Bitter.

Ok but nothing special.

80 points.

[Ganga]

You really should go visit the whisky flights Sean. Plenty of Fiddichs there.

[pkt77242]

Glenfiddich Distillery Ed. 51%

N: Cinnamon, pears, almonds, a little oak, parsley and thyme. A sprinkling of vanilla.
P: The cinnamon and pears along with the almonds. A hint of raisins.
F: Medium on cinnamon, oak, and a little dust. Just a hint of bitter almonds.

Better than the regular 15 but it might just be the extra abv.

84 points.

[pkt77242]

Glenfiddich Distillery Ed. 51%

N: Cinnamon, pears, almonds, a little oak, parsley and thyme. A sprinkling of vanilla.
P: The cinnamon and pears along with the almonds. A hint of raisins.
F: Medium on cinnamon, oak, and a little dust. Just a hint of bitter almonds.

Better than the regular 15 but it might just be the extra abv.

84 points.

Now getting some honey, peaches and flowers.

[pkt77242]

Benriach 12 peated PX finish Heredotus Fumosus

N: slight raisin, porridge, sherry, a little peat, and milk chocolate.
P: similar to nose with raisin, sherry, peat and a little milk chocolate.
F: Medium-long finish on almonds, peat, sherry and a little orange.

Very enjoyable. 87 points.

[pkt77242]

Plowed Benriach 1986 23yo PX finish

N: Coffee, figs, licorice, red currants, raisins, sherry and walnuts. Hints of peat and black tea.
P: loads of sherry, figs, coffee, and some peat. Maybe a touch of blackberry. A hint of gunpowder.
F: long finish on figs, coffee, gunpowder and peat. Maybe a touch of the black tea.

A truly great whisky. 93 points. But you have to like heavily sherried whiskies.

[hyperfuji]

Great notes sean

[Ganga]

Guess I'll be tasting the PlowedRiach and reading your notes sometime in the near future. I've been keeping notes on this one every time I have some. Will be interesting to look back at the bottle notes over the period of a year or so.

[bcrossan]

Guess I'll be tasting the PlowedRiach and reading your notes sometime in the near future. I've been keeping notes on this one every time I have some. Will be interesting to look back at the bottle notes over the period of a year or so.

Cracked mine open tonight... what an amazing nose. I was smelling it for hours tonight. Tremendous whisky!

[pkt77242]

Sean was that the old "real" Solera Reserve or the new"real" Solera Reserve, or the 15 matured in a solera system ?

Sorry Nick, it is a sample I got from Jeff so I don't have the answer.

[pkt77242]

Great notes sean

Thanks Mike.

[pkt77242]

Guess I'll be tasting the PlowedRiach and reading your notes sometime in the near future. I've been keeping notes on this one every time I have some. Will be interesting to look back at the bottle notes over the period of a year or so.

Agreed, Ganga. It has already changed a fair amount. A little less fruity and more on the gunpowder, black tea and figs.

[pkt77242]

Tomorrow night will be Laga 1991 DE vs Laga 1993 DE.

[pkt77242]

Getting ready to start pouring. The battle of Laga DE's is about to get started. Who shall triumph, 1991 or 1993?

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin DE 1991/2007

N: Loads of sherry, peat, walnuts, almonds, and brine. A hint of green tea and pepper.
P: Very similar to the nose (sherry, peat, walnuts and brine). Also the notes of green tea, sage, and a touch of mint.
F: Medium in length and wonderful. Sherried peat lingers for a little bit followed by brine and walnuts.

Very enjoyable. Just wish it was bottled at 46% and had a slightly longer finish.

90 points.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin DE 1993/2009.

N: Slightly closed. Pears, a little sherry, and pralines. Almonds and some salt. Just a hint of peat.
P: Lots of salted orange. Almonds, and a little peat. Simple but nice
F: Medium on orange and salt. Almonds.

A nice whisky but not as complex as the 1991.

87 points.

[pkt77242]

I have two gins to taste later tonight in Gin & Tonics (Plymouth and Bombay Sapphire). As soon as I get the little man to bed, I will make them and post notes.

[pkt77242]

Plymouth Gin+ Tonic. 4oz tonic and 2oz gin. Schweppes tonic will be used for both.

N: rather sweet. Lime, lemon, juniper, some flowers and a touch of cooking spice.
P: Really sweet. All types of citrus (lemons, grapefruit, lime, and a hint of orange), along with a little flowers.
F: short, on the citrus and alcohol. I don't get any alcohol till the finish but then it comes on strong.

No score as I have no idea how to rate these but I will proclaim a winner at the end.

[pkt77242]

Bombay Sapphire Gin and Tonic. 4oz Shweppes tonic and 2oz gin.

N: Very closed. hints of flowers and juniper. a little foilage and stems?
P: Juniper, loads of flowers (carnation, roses, lillies, etc). hint of berry (blueberry and strawberry) and citrus in the background.
F: Short, bitter, on fresh flowers and old flowers.

If you like floral this is for you, funny I don't remember Bombay Sapphire being this floral?

Definite preference for the Plymouth G + T.

[pkt77242]

Bombay Sapphire Gin and Tonic. 4oz Shweppes tonic and 2oz gin.

N: Very closed. hints of flowers and juniper. a little foilage and stems?
P: Juniper, loads of flowers (carnation, roses, lillies, etc). hint of berry (blueberry and strawberry) and citrus in the background.
F: Short, bitter, on fresh flowers and old flowers.

If you like floral this is for you, funny I don't remember Bombay Sapphire being this floral?

Definite preference for the Plymouth G + T.

Just added a couple of drops of lemon juice to this and it helped a little. Most of the bitterness gone on the finish and a little extra citrus sweetness. Still not as good as the Plymouth G+T.

[pkt77242]

I got a couple of tastings coming up over the next couple of weeks
Port Ellen
HP
Plymouth G&T vs Hendricks G&T
Littlemill 8 vs Auchentoshan Classic
Balblair
Cragganmore
Springbank

[pkt77242]

Tonight 2 Balblairs.

First up is the Balblair 1997 12yo

N: Peaches, apricots, vanilla and lemon yogurt. A touch of allspice and little oak.
P: Very similar to the nose. Peaches and cream, apricots, and lemon. A touch of the vanilla, cinnamon and oak. Rather sweet but with enough oak to balance it.
F: Medium length on vanilla, lemon rind (and a hint of lemon pledge) and some oak. Much drier on the finish.

A very nice malt. Pairs well with the 112+ temp outside but it would be a good malt anytime of year. Not as oaky as it was when first opened.

85 points.

[pkt77242]

AD Rattray Balblair D: 4/30/1990 B: 2/23/2007 16yo sherry cask 1138 62.4%.

N: Lemon yogurt with a little strawberry and blackberry mixed in. Roasted nuts and some cooking spices.
P: Definitely lemon yogurt with strawberry. almonds, macadamia nuts, and a touch of pear. Oak, vanilla, some oregano, basic, and thyme mixed in.
F: Long on lemon, and almonds.

With water

N: a little lemon pledge and stronge notes of strawberry.
P: more vanilla and lemon yogurt and less cooking spice.
F: a little lemon pledge and lots of vanilla.

Water makes it a little fruitier.

A nice whisky but high abv makes it a little difficult for notes.

86 points. Very enjoyable but not quite the summer dram the 1997 12yo is. Maybe more of a spring or fall dram.

[pkt77242]

As soon as the little man goes to bed I will be tasting the Plymouth G+T vs Hendricks G+T.

[pkt77242]

Plymouth Gin+ Tonic. 4oz tonic and 2oz gin. Schweppes tonic will be used for both.

N: rather sweet. Lime, lemon, juniper, some flowers and a touch of cooking spice.
P: Really sweet. All types of citrus (lemons, grapefruit, lime, and a hint of orange), along with a little flowers.
F: short, on the citrus and alcohol. I don't get any alcohol till the finish but then it comes on strong.

No score as I have no idea how to rate these but I will proclaim a winner at the end.

More or less the same tonight. a little more citurs and some orange peel on the nose. Orange peel on the palate. A little more flowers on the finish. Can I just say fantastic.

[pkt77242]

Hendricks Gin & Tonic. 4oz of Tonic and 2oz of gin.

N: Definitely a lot of citrus. Orange peel, grapefruit, lime and lemon. Juniper berry and a touch of cherry.
P: Still a fair amount of citrus (grapefuit, orange, lemon. Juniper berry, some corriander, and flowers (maybe carnations and sunflowers? or at least what I imagine they would taste like based on how they smell).
A hint of pepper as well.
F: Short on flowers, corriander, pepper and juniper berry. Maybe a touch of lemon.


Can I have both . The Plymouth is smoother but the Hendricks has a little more complexity. My preference would depend upon my mood, do I want sweet and smooth, or semi-sweet and a little more complex? I say buy both and enjoy.

Nick, thanks for the heads up on the Hendrick's.

[pkt77242]

Tonight is two young lowlanders. Littlemill 8yo and Auchentoshan Classic.

Should be pouring them in a couple of minutes.

[pkt77242]

Auchentoshan classic.

N: Green apples, vanilla yogurt, lemon and lime. A hint of cinnamon and nutmeg along with a little oak.
P: Tart green apples, oak, and vanilla yogurt. A little lime and cinnamon as well. a hint of spinach and white pepper.
F: Medium, cinnamon and nutmeg. A touch of lime and vanilla.

A very nice drink, rather smooth and wonderful during the summer months.

81 points.

[pkt77242]

Littlemill 8yo. I have not had the best of luck with this malt but I haven't touched it in a few months hopefully it has improved with time

N: Glue from envelopes, slight malt, a little lemon and paper.
P: Strong hit of glue from the envelopes. Lemon pledge and a hint of pepper.
F: Short, lemon pepper and glue. Hmm the finish is definitely the best part of the whisky but that isn't saying much.

I am not sure how to rate this whisky. maybe 40 points?

[pkt77242]

Tonight, 3 laphroaigs 15, 18 and a Signatory 15 yo CS.

[pkt77242]

Laphroaig 15yo

N: Salted orange, caramel, roasted nuts, peat and some more salt. lemon, pizza sauce (basil, thyme and oregano) and smoke (campfire smoke).
P: salted oranges, oregaon, lemon, and a fair amount of peat. More salt and a little caramel. Tangerine and peach
F: Medium on salt, and peat. Some citrus (lemon and orange), nuts and smoke.

Very nice. Complex but with enough peat to keep the peatheads happy.

86 points and it will be missed.

[pkt77242]

Laphroaig 18yo

N: Salt, peat, vanilla, and coconut. A liitle oak and a hint of bitter chocolate. A little closed.
P: Lemon, salt and peat. Vanilla, oak and a hint of orange and chocolate. Maybe a little coconut.
F: Medium finish on vanilla, coconut, salt and peat smoke. Lots of peat, and maybe a little charcoal.

Good but not as complex as the 15yo. A little simple.

84 points.