Whisky Tastings
Glenlossie 10 Years Old
Doesn’t deliver the promise of the nose. Surprisingly smooth for a fairly high alcohol strength.
Inchgower 14 Years Old
A bit restrained initially, then unveils a charming vibrant sweetness. Well-balanced.
Tomintoul 10 Years Old
Quite a muscular Speysider. The perfect dram to buck you up after a woodland walk mushroom-picking on a cold November day.
Adelphi Highland Park 16 Years Old
This bottling does not have the heathery profile of the official bottlings. Drink with water.
Adelphi Teaninich 31 Years Old
Well-matured, amazing for its age.
Blackadder Rosebank 1992
Far from Rosebank at its best. Fiery.
Cadenhead's Ben Nevis 1986, 16 Years Old
Hard to guess at the high alcohol strength from the nose. Not the usual big, oily Ben Nevis character. A pleasant fruitiness keeps the sweet notes dominant.
Cadenhead's Caperdonich 1977, 24 Years Old
Heavily sherried. Rich and full-bodied but the distillery character is hidden by the wood. For the sherry fanatic.
Chieftain's Choice Bladnoch 18 Years Old Sherry Wood
A distinguished expression of sweet oloroso, even if it seems a bit ostentatious on the palate. For after-dinner enjoyment.
Chieftain's Choice Clynelish 13 Years Old
So different to the Douglas Laing Clynelish. The perfect whisky with farm cheeses.
Chieftain's Choice Rosebank 1991 Sherry Finish, 11 Years Old
An attractive medium-bodied Rosebank. The sherry finish has added complexity to delicacy. Some exotic notes which makes it really appetising.
Old Malt Cask Auchentoshan 1978
Promising nose. Palate hard to tame, disappointing.
Old Malt Cask Clynelish 1971, 30 Years Old
There’s more in the nose than in the finish. A really characterful malt. Interesting. This is one of the more medicinal expressions of Clynelish I have come across.
Old Malt Cask Talisker 20 Years Old, Director’s Tactical
The distillery character is buried far below the wood. One can hardly detect even a light puff of smoke. Water does not help.
Glen Deveron 10 Years Old
Too monolithic. No variety. The nose opens up after a while though.
Glenfiddich 12 Years Old, Special Reserve
Easy-going, fresh and fruity, but the palate does not reflect the liveliness of the nose.
Glen Spey 12 Years Old
Definitely Speyside. Elegant interplay between fruit and malt.
Gordon & MacPhail The Macallan 1993 Speymalt
Another unusual Macallan. Well-balanced. No sherry overload. Second-or third-fill maybe. Or a fino cask?
Old Masters Bladnoch 1992
A two-sided malt, with two different expressions on the nose and on the palate. The alcohol needs to be tamed with water.
Old Masters Glenturret 1986
As refreshing as a herbal tea but much more rewarding and fulfilling. Would suit a leg of lamb with mint sauce.
Knockando 1990
Too mild to hold its own against the wood.
Linkwood 12 Years Old
Satisfies nose and palate equally. To be opened and enjoyed at Christmas.
Mannochmore 12 Years Old
Rich, bonnie and complex. Not showing off, just beaming.
Montgomerie’s The Macallan 1989 Single Cask
Macallan in disguise. Impossible to recognise blind. So unusual but really attractive.
Signatory Port Ellen 1978 Port Wood
Typical fragrant, alert Port Ellen, but the port finish lends more fruit and an amazing orangey-pinkish colour.
Speyburn 10 Years Old
Quite a pleasant pre-dinner dram, with light nibbles perhaps. A little shy though. Would yield more at a higher alcoholic strength or in a few years.
The Glenlivet 12 Years Old
A pleasant any-time dram. Very refreshing.
The Balvenie PortWood 1989
Not the depth of the PortWood 21 Years Old, but thoroughly enjoyable.
Blackadder Isle of Jura 1988
Nose better than palate. A tired cask?
Dufftown 15 Years Old
To be served with an apple and hazelnut crumble. Classic, nothing really exciting, but a good Speyside character.
Glen Moray 12 Years Old
A sweet, soft and mellow fruitiness. Too much is too much sometimes.
Pittyvaich 12 Years Old
You need to be sherry-mad to love this. Water releases more pleasant fruitcake notes on the nose but more harshness on the palate.
Glenfiddich Caoran Reserve, 12 Years Old
A more sprightly Glenfiddich than the standard 12. Thirst-quenching. Peatiness and the smoked finish aren't as 'distinct' as the label suggests.
