Whisky Tastings
An Cnoc 13 Years Old, Limited Edition Highland Selection
A pale, shimmery gold dram with flavours one expects from a bigger, darker, whisky. Slightly odd, but enjoyable. Could be a flavoured spirit from a little-known, newly independent republic in Central Asia.
Black Barrel
The name does not imply a dark whisky – the colour is a good full gold – but the barrel may have been well-charred. There is plenty of juicy wood-extract there.
Glenfiddich Havana Reserve, 21 Years Old
The less pronounced rum character of the two Caribbean accented whiskies in this tasting. When you cook, do you want the herbs and spices to announce themselves individually, or to be part of the blend of flavours? David Stewart seems usually to opt for the latter, and does so with great deftness and sophistication.
Adelphi Shannon Grain 1991, 9 Years Old, Cask 10839
For a grain whiskey, it has plenty of flavours, but they do not hang together very well.
Blackadder Arran 1996 Raw Cask
Slightly gin-like. I have preferred bottlings that had more contribution from the wood. A touch of vanilla would round out the flavours.
Blackadder Ben Nevis 1984 Raw Cask
Extraordinarily red colour. The sweetness is almost overwhelming. The ultimate dessert whisky.
Bunnahabhain 1966
The blood-orange hue suggests that this Bunnahabhain will in all senses be more colourful than the gentle 12 Years Old we normally encounter. Sun-dried whisky?
Cadenhead's Invergordon 13 Years Old
Paler than the Royal Mile version, and drier, too.
Cadenhead's North British 21 Years Old
Somewhat one-dimensional.
Cameron Brig
I have long enjoyed this whisky. It's own subtle character shines through, despite the influence of the wood being so obvious.
Campbeltown Loch 25 Years Old
Easily drinkable but with a distinct regional character and plenty of flavour. This could become one of my favourite blends.
Caol Ila 12 Years Old
Of the three expressions in this tasting, this is the most rounded and balanced. All the classic Caol Ila aromas and flavours are there, with no sharp edges. Vatted for drinkability?
Caol Ila 18 Years Old
The most vegetal and assertive of the three expressions. Lots of contribution from the wood.
Caol Ila Cask Strength
The most fruity, fresh, peppery and lively of the three expressions. I loved all three. Scoring was a tough call.
Craigellachie Hotel of Speyside Glenfarclas 2001 Single Cask Bottling
In each corner, a fighter rather than a boxer. Not much refinement, but plenty of punch.
Glen Garioch 1985, 16 Years Old, Sherry Butt
I have always had a quiet fancy for this malt. It has a lot character: demonstrated here in the way it stands up to such heavy sherry.
Glen Moray 1974, Distillery Manager's Choice
The aromas remind me of a young woman I tried to bed in the early 1970s. She bit my tongue when I did something to offend her feminist ethic.
Greenore 8 Years Old
Bourbon Lite might taste like this.
Hart Brothers Ben Nevis 35 Years Old, Sherry Wood
The best Ben Nevis I have tasted.
Lombard Bowmore 1989
For a relatively young Bowmore, this seems somewhat tired.
Royal Mile Whiskies Invergordon 22 Years Old
Appetising. Some length and complexity.
Scott's Selection North British 1974
A pleasant summer whisky.
Scott's Selection North of Scotland, 1963
Very rich for a grain whisky. Not much dimension. No flavour peaks.
Signatory Caledonian 1976, 23 Years Old
Despite their lightness, some grains can stand up to long periods in wood.
Signatory Cambus 1964, 31 Years Old
A good example of a single grain as a pleasant dram, though that is true of several in this tasting. If someone gave me this whisky in a bar, I would enjoy it, but I have yet to find a single grain that has the complexity of a great malt. That seems unlikely to happen.
Springbank 12 Years Old, Rum Cask
More rounded and elegant than the earlier, 10 Years Old rum cask. I enjoy the Springbank rum cask whiskies very much, though not at the expense of the more traditional expressions.
Wilson & Morgan The Macallan 1990, Marsala Finish
The estery Macallan notes are as brassy as the Basie band on top form.
Cooper's Choice Glen Albyn 1974, 28 Years Old
Fuller in flavours, and sweeter, than I remember Glen Albyn.
Old Malt Cask Laphroaig 1985 17 Years Old
This seems far less lively and rounded than the 1987 whisky bottled in 1992.
Wilson & Morgan Macduff 1989 Port Finish
My guess is that the whisky was initially less rich and malty than the "official" Glen Deveron bottlings. The port finish adds some roundness and interest.
Compass Box Hedonism
Compass Box knows how to stay on course. Its whiskies are well-judged and consistent.
Girvan Single Grain 1964
Black Barrel with more age, more wood.
