A Pour Man's Tasting Notes

[pkt77242]

What is Speyside and what is not is always an discussion, and you can always find slight disagreements when you start poking around

Geographically I would say that Speyside its the area which water (burns, streams, rivers etc.) flows into the River Spey

As such, of the 5 drams you just had

Speyside and Cragganmore are more or less on the banks of the River Spey itself

Glenlivet are up in the hills, close to the Livet (which flows into Avon which flows into Spey)

Balvenie is next to Fiddich which flows into Spey


That leaves out AnCnoc which is from Knockdhu distillery. This is not Speyside at all but in Deveronside (geographically speaking)

Steffen

Sorry Steffen this website lists An Cnoc as a Speyside (http://www.whisky-distilleries.info/Bot ... c_EN.shtml). I need to do better research next time.

[pkt77242]

Thanks once again for the notes, Sean.

I've been 'secretly' pondering revisiting the 12-year old An Cnoc, and your review has increased my motivation to do so.

Doug, it is well worth it. Thanks for the kind words.

[pkt77242]

I will be back tomorrow or Monday night with a whisk(e)y tasting, not sure of which one yet.

[MacDeffe]

Sorry Steffen this website lists An Cnoc as a Speyside

No need to excuse Sean

I was just rambling along, being a geographical nerd. I was talking about the possible Geographical definition of Speyside, whcih DO differ from whisky definition of the region

A lot of whiskies we usually consider speysides are actually on other rivers

Lossieside whiskies are usually never questioned to be Speysiders!

Lossie flows through Elgin!

If you look in different books there will always be a bit of differences of which distilleries is included in Speyside

(Malt whisky Yearbook 2010 includes Dalwhinnie, Speyside, Tomatin, Knockdhu, Glendronach, but not Royal Brackla, Ardmore, Macduff just to take an example)

Steffen

[The Third Dram]

It's obvious that, depending on the information source, the "SIDE" in "SPEYSIDE" can have many "SIDES".

[pkt77242]

As long as little man stays in bed tonight I will taste 3 higher proof Wild Turkey's.
Wild Turkey 101, Rarebreed and Kentucky Spirit.

[pkt77242]

WT 101.

N: vanilla, cinnamon, and some alcohol. Loads of cinnamon and a little nutmeg. A hint of cherry.
P: cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. A little cherry and oak. The alcohol is noticeable.
F: medium short finish on cinnamon and oak. Gets a little dry. Some alcohol but not as pronounced as on the palate.

A nice bargain but is a little over the top with the cinnamon.
80 points.

[pkt77242]

Next up is the Wild Turkey RareBreed batch WT-03RB 54.1% abv.

N: Cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, but muted in comparison to the WT 101. Also some cherry, orange, mint and sage. A little bit of a Christmas tree smell as well.
P: Very similar to the nose (cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, orange, cherry, mint and sage). Also some pencil shavings and pine.
F: Medium long on pencil shavings, vanilla and cinnamon. just a little sage and allspice.

Definitely more complex than the WT 101. 87 points.

[pkt77242]

The last one for the night. Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit bottled 2/8/07 from barrel 46 stored in warehouse E on rick 13. 50.5% abv.

N: Orange, cherry, mint and eucalyptus. Lots of charred oak, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and tobacco.
P: Orange and cherry, with some tobacco, cinnamon, charred oak and vanilla. Some banana and eucalyptus.
F: Medium long on tobacco, cinnamon and charred oak. gets rather drying at the very end but in a good way.

Again the winner fo the night. I really enjoy the WT Kentucky Spirit. A fair amount heavier than the other 2 but in an enjoyable way. 90 points (yes, I know I gave it 89 points last time but well +/- 2 points is about right). And a definite rebuy.

[pkt77242]

I have at least 4 tastings planned for this week and maybe a fifth.
Laga de 1993/2009 vs 1994/2010
Laga 12 2009 vs laga 12 2010
William larue weller 2009 vs 2010
george t stagg 2009 vs 2010
And if i can source a bottle of the call ila 12 unpeated i will taste it against the 10yo 2009 release.

[Rufus Skytrousers]

Cannot wait to hear the news regarding Laga 12 2009/2010 , just demolishing a bottle of the 2009....corking stuff.

[pkt77242]

Cannot wait to hear the news regarding Laga 12 2009/2010 , just demolishing a bottle of the 2009....corking stuff.

Rufus, I should be doing the 2 Laga 12's tomorrow night.

Tonight 2 Laga DE's, 1993/2009 and 1994/2010. But right now a OP 12 to make sure my tastebuds are ready.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1993/2009.

N: Roasted nuts, butterscotch, caramel, toffee, and raisins. Some hints of salt and peat/smoke. A touch of apple peel.
P: Weaker on the palate. Spiced oranges, roasted nuts, caramel, raisins and butterscotch. still hints of salt and smoke.
F: Medium shorton salt, caramel, and some smoke. Rather drying at the end. Just hints of citrus and nuts.

Very nice tonight. Not very smokey/peety until the finish but still enjoyable.

87 points.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1994/2010

N: Rather closed, but some hints smoke, peat, black cherries and mulled cider.
P: Caramel, a fair amount of smoke (more campfire smoke than peat), black cherries, some peat, salt, a little smoked meat (ham) and some black tea. Palate is a little thin but there is a lot going on .
F: Medium short, rather salty, and some of the smoked ham. Big peat at the very end. Hints of raisins and cherries.

Nose is just ok but the palate and finish are damn nice. 88 points.

[pkt77242]

Tonight 2 Laga 12's 2009 vs 2010

N: Big notes of salt, wood smoke, and dry leaf smoke. Vanilla, citrus, and pepper.
P: Big salt, peat, smoke, and vanilla. Some salted citrus (lemons and oranges, maybe some tangerine). White pepper.
F: Medium long on salted citrus, smoke and peat. Very salty citrus. Some vanilla and oak.

A very fine whisky. Not the widest in flavor but super enjoyable.

90 points.

[pkt77242]

Laga 12 2010

N: Slightly closed. campfire smoke, salt, and kind of minerally. Lemon and grass. hints of white pepper.
P: Salted lemon (and other citurs, such as grapefruit and tangerine), some grass, stone, mineraly and smoke/peat. Eucalyptus and a touch of mint. Also a hint of butter.
F: Medium on salt, smoke and lemon. A touch of the eucalyptus, grass and pepper.

A little more austere than the 2009 but still very enjoyable. 90 points. I have a slight preference for the 2009 but this is damn good as well.

[pkt77242]

Tonight 2 William Larue Weller's, 2009 vs 2010

William Larue Weller 2009

N: Honey almonds, molasses, banana bread, toffee, ginger and vanilla. Some oak and butterscotch.
P: Banana bread, honey, ginger and toffee. Oak, nutmeg, and some oranges with cinnamon sprinkled on them.
F: Medium length on wood varnish, toffee, vanilla, pencil shavings and ginger.

A great bourbon. Powerful yet very complex. 91 points

[pkt77242]

William Larue Weller 2010

N: Almonds, leather, ginger, toffee, and Nutmeg. Hints of cinnamon and vanilla.
P: Honey almonds, leather (new leather), toffee and ginger. Some nutmeg and cinnamon. Also a little maple syrup.
F: medium short on almonds, nutmeg, toffee and maple syrup.

A little simpler but still very enjoyable. 89 points.

[The Third Dram]

Laga 12 2009
N: Big notes of salt, wood smoke, and dry leaf smoke. Vanilla, citrus, and pepper.
P: Big salt, peat, smoke, and vanilla. Some salted citrus (lemons and oranges, maybe some tangerine). White pepper.
F: Medium long on salted citrus, smoke and peat. Very salty citrus. Some vanilla and oak.
A very fine whisky. Not the widest in flavor but super enjoyable. 90 points.

Thanks once again, Sean.
I may have to open my bottle of the 2009 release sooner rather than later (never mind those bottles of earlier releases).
I'm also hoping that my provincial liquor monopoly markets the 2010 release (it's notoriously slow at times to actually place recent releases on the shelves, even when it's purchased and intends to sell them).

[pkt77242]

After battling illness for almost a month, I am back.

Tonight Caol Ila 10yo unpeated 2009 vs Caol Ila 12yo unpeated 2010.

[pkt77242]

Caol Ila 10yo Unpeated 2009 65.8%

N: At first nosing a big whiff of nail polish remover. Then getting salty, faint ash, some melon and citrus (lemons mostly). More brine and some vanilla.
P: Salted lemons and melon. Brine and vanilla. Sea air and the ash.
F: shortish on lemons and brine. Just a touch of the vanilla as well.

With water

N: Much more fruity. Tons of lemonheads, honeydew, and a faint saltiness. Rather sweet smelling.
P: Salt and fruit. Simple but enjoyable. Also a little of the vanilla and wood varnish is there but it really is loads of melons, lemons, and salt.
F: Still rather short on salted lemon juice.

My previous ratings of this whisky has been 85-87 but tonight it is an 82. So take it with a grain of salt. Just seemed simpler tonight.

[pkt77242]

Caol Ila 12yo Unpeated 2010 57.6%

N: Wood varnish, salted lemons and melon. Lots of brine plus some smoke from leaves (anyway ever used a magnifying glass to try and light leaves on fire, or thrown dry leaves on a campfire?). Peach, pear, and a light nuttiness.
P: Extremely salty and smokey. Cigar smoke and campfire smoke. Lots of brine. Some fruitiness (lemons, peach and melons). A little vanilla and oak. Kind of hard to believe that this is unpeated.
F: Medium on smoke and brine. Also the slight nuttiness returns at the very end.

with water (though it is damn good without water and doesn't really need it)
N: less smoke and brine, more on salted fruits and nuts.
P: Smoke is definitely muted, and the salted fruit takeover. Also vanilla and nuts. A definite maltiness is in the background as well.
F: Shorter now, and the smoke creeps back in along with some of the brine. Some nuts as well.

Much better neat. 88 points and very enjoyable. The winner for the night.

[AdamMY]

Caol Ila 10yo Unpeated 2009 65.8%

N: At first nosing a big whiff of nail polish remover. Then getting salty, faint ash, some melon and citrus (lemons mostly). More brine and some vanilla.
P: Salted lemons and melon. Brine and vanilla. Sea air and the ash.
F: shortish on lemons and brine. Just a touch of the vanilla as well.

With water

N: Much more fruity. Tons of lemonheads, honeydew, and a faint saltiness. Rather sweet smelling.
P: Salt and fruit. Simple but enjoyable. Also a little of the vanilla and wood varnish is there but it really is loads of melons, lemons, and salt.
F: Still rather short on salted lemon juice.

My previous ratings of this whisky has been 85-87 but tonight it is an 82. So take it with a grain of salt. Just seemed simpler tonight.

It is actually funny that you mentioned that the aroma reminds you of nail polish remover. When I first poured a dram of Caol Ila 12 ( the regular not unpeated), I loved the aroma, and had to share it with the only other person around, my sister, who said it smelled like nail polish remover to her.

[pkt77242]

Caol Ila 10yo Unpeated 2009 65.8%

Then getting salty, faint ash, some melon and citrus (lemons mostly).
P: Salted lemons and melon. Brine and vanilla. Sea air and the ash.
F: shortish on lemons and brine. Just a touch of the vanilla as well.

With water

N: a faint saltiness.
P: Salt and fruit. lemons, and salt.
F: Still rather short on salted lemon juice.

take it with a grain of salt.

Add more salt! You must like salt Sean

Who doesn't love a little extra salt.

[pkt77242]

Tonight 3 Glenfiddich's. 12, 18 and 15 Disitllery Ed. 51%.

First up the 12

N: Apples, pears, light oak, some floral notes (mostly carnations), and a little caramel (though not a bitter smell). A hint of white pepper in the background.
P: Apples, and pear with caramel sauce (this time just a hint of bitterness). Also some oak and the white pepper. Just a hint of custard.
F: Shortish finish, on apples, oak, caramel and a hint of white pepper.

Very nice and much better than I remember it being. It is a little simple and the finish is a little short but it is still enjoyable. 81 points. I usuually favor the Glenlivet 12 over the Fiddich 12 but this bottle is nice. I feel another tasting in the works.

[pkt77242]

Glenfiddich 18 (batch 3054)

N: Rich oak, with vanilla cream, wood varnish and some sawdust. Caramel covered apples (a little bitter), and some brazil nuts.
P: Heavy oak with the vanilla, varnish and wood chips. Also the caramel apples and nuts. Very similar to the nose. A little dates and a hint of dry sherry.
F: Short (but longer than the 12) with heavy oak, sawdust, vanilla, and caramel. Slightly bitter and very drying (almost mouth puckering).

Much better than my last bottle but still not quite my taste. 80 points. Yes I prefer the 12 over the 18, but not by much.

[pkt77242]

Last up is the Glenfiddich Distiller Ed 15yo 51%

N: Floral notes, apples, pears, cinnamon, and vanilla. Also touches of cream, nutmeg, and oak.
P: Rather spicy with cinnamon, nutmeg, white pepper and fruit covered in vanilla.
A hint of raisin and butter.
F: Medium long and spicy. Nutmeg, cinnamon, white pepper and hints of paprika. Also some vanilla and oak.

My favorite Glenfiddich that I have had. I will give it a slight bump since last time 85 points.

[pkt77242]

For reference here are my notes from about 6 months ago.

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.

[Laphroaig]

William Larue Weller 2010

N: Almonds, leather, ginger, toffee, and Nutmeg. Hints of cinnamon and vanilla.
P: Honey almonds, leather (new leather), toffee and ginger. Some nutmeg and cinnamon. Also a little maple syrup.
F: medium short on almonds, nutmeg, toffee and maple syrup.

A little simpler but still very enjoyable. 89 points.

Interesting, I'm just seeing this but did not bite on the 2010 WLW bottle (at least not yet), but I've heard quite a few comments that echo your last sentence to some degree.

A lot of folks feel the 2010 was inferior to the 2009, and it sounds like it's to a degree of dissatisfaction that goes beyond the vintages simply being "different". I'm curious how current views might play into future bottlings of the Van Winkle line if in fact it's flipping (as anticipated) to Buffalo Trace's wheat recipe production/whiskey.

[pkt77242]

Tonight George T Stagg 2009 vs 2010

First up the 2009

N: Walnuts, almonds, praline, tobacco, and some leather. Some vanilla and cinnamon. A little orange and a touch of rye but lacking a little sweetness.
P: Cinnamon coated oranges, fresh tobacco, leather couch, and almonds. A little nutmeg and vanilla as well. A faint taste of salt?
F: Medium long on candied oranges, vanilla and a little rye spices.

Very good, very different than I remember it being but I don't have my old notes in front of me (plus they were from a while ago).

91 points.

[pkt77242]

George T Stagg 2010

N: More subdued than the 2009. Tobacco, leather and a little orange dominate. Al little vanilla, and pencil shavings.
P: Again dominated by the tobacco, leather and orange combo. Some vanilla, pencil shavings and finally a hint of rye and cinnamon. More subdued than the 2009 and a touch simpler.
F: Medium finish, that starts on tobacco and orange but gets spicier towards the end with cinnamon and some rye spices.

Enjoyable and very good but just a little short of the 2009 90 points.

[pkt77242]

Ok, I have 3 tasting lined up for the next week or so. Tonight is Laphroaig 10 CS batch 001 vs batch 002. I also coming up in the next week will be High West Rendezvous Rye vs Double Rye and Caol Ila OB 25yo vs an AD Rattray Caol Ila 26yo.

time for the Laphs.

[pkt77242]

Laphroaig 10 CS batch 001

N: Citrus (lemons and grapefruit), brine, a little tar and some smoked fish. Some apple and powdered sugar. Some peat shows up after a minute or two but stays in the background. Sweeter and less heavy than I remember.
P: Starts on citrus and brine followd by the smoked fish. A little tar and peat but by no means overwhelming. Has a slight indian fry bread with powdered sugar flavor but that might just be my mind playing tricks on me.
F: Long on burning embers, brine and a big hit of tart citrus at the end.

Very big citrus with lots of smoke, brine and some peat. A top notch Laphroaig 10 CS. 90 points.

[pkt77242]

Laphroaig 10 CS batch 002

N: Citrus (limes and lemons) with brine, tar, and a little peat. Also a campfire on the beach (smoke and sea air). A little floral and a touch of honey.
P: Starts on smoked fish, tar, diesel, and brine. A little citrus finally shows up with some peat. Much heavier than the batch 001
F: Long on burning embers, diesel, brine and then a burst of very salty lemon.

A little darker and heavier. a 90 for me but I might slightly prefer this batch (002) to batch 001.

[Ganga]

Based on your descriptions, I think I would prefer batch 2