Whisk(e)y

Strathmill 21 (Duncan Taylor Dimensions Cask 4239) [Link to Strathmill]

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Region: Speyside
ABV: 54.8%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Honey, white flower, toffee, biscuit, grassy, lemon, ethanol,

Palate: Malt, grassy, apple, mineral, icing sugar

Finish: Medium- finish, pepper, ginger, mineral, lemon

Score: 80/100

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First time having a Strathmill, I don’t think this ex-bourbon cask is doing it justice. This was a no-frills experience, their profile seem to be grassy and malty, but overall it’s not that complex. Not bad, not great.

Lagavulin 8 [Link to Lagavulin]

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Region: Islay
ABV: 48%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill European, American oak casks

 

Colour: Pale Straw

Nose: Butter popcorn, brine, citrus, chocolate, smoke, pepper

Palate: Bamboo smoke, citrus, salted peanut, chocolate, vanilla

Finish: Medium finish, pepper, mineral, smoke

Score: 84/100

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The Lagavulin 8 year is an interesting one, majority of the people have had the 16, and this is an amped up version of that, but at the same time doesn’t have the “mellow smooooothness” people expect from the older offerings. Doesn’t try to hide its youth, but at the same time, it’s not brash and harsh. It has a decent amount of complexity and balance, would be a nice entry level along with Caol Ila 12, Ardbeg 10 and Laphroaig 10, as well as other similarly aged Islay. Also surprisingly, Lagavulin of them all has the highest proof at 48%, which really helped the whisky’s character. If you are a Lagavulin fan, or like their profile, this is a must-try.

BenRiach 22 1994 (Single Cask 4004 Peated Tokaj Cask Finish) [Link to BenRiach]

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Birth year Scotch? Peated BenRiach? Finished in an interesting wine cask? SIGN ME UP!

Tokaj (“toe-kay”) is wine region in north-east Hungry, bordering Slovakia, famous in the wine world for producing a sweet noble-rot wine called Aszu.

Little do most people know, the Tokaj region also produce four other wines; Eszencia, a drink made from free-run juice of the noble-rot that rarely reaches above 3% ABV, its extremely high sugar content allows it age for over 200 years; Szamorodni, a wine made with regular grape, which comes with a dry, and sweet variety; Forditas, wine made by pouring must on aszu dough which has already been used to make aszu wine; Finally, Maslas, which is a wine made by pouring must on the lees of aszu.

The cask used here is most likely a Tokaj Aszu cask, despite some local dry wine also aged in oak casks.

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Region: Speyside
ABV: 55.1%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon, finish in ex-Tokaj wine cask

 

Colour: Tawny

Nose: Sprite, raspberry syrup, peat, wood smoke, caramel, ginger, white grape, brine, milk chocolate

Palate: Salt, peat, citrus, earthy, malt, caramel

Finish: Long finish, peat, salty, pepper, ginger, mineral, touch of acidity

Score: 86/100

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This whisky is rather similar to peated whisky that was finished in a Sauternes/Barsac cask, the “grapey-ness” is rather noticeable on the nose, a complex nose that I can appreciate, sadly the palate falls short on complexity, a distinctive saltiness persist throughout the nose to the finish, and a touch of acidity is present towards the finish. Would recommend trying a dram.

Bruichladdich Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley [Link to Bruichladdich]

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Region: Islay
ABV: 64%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Bacon fat, peat, grilled sausage, smoked bamboo, hay, rubber, syrup

Palate: Peat, wood smoke, bacon fat, lemon, salt, cereal, burnt bamboo smoke

Finish: Long finish, ginseng aftertaste sweetness, pepper, cinnamon, peat, chili flakes

Score: 88/100

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I’ve only had the 7.1 previously, and this is nothing like it. Massive smoky bacon and BBQ notes up front, followed by grassy and earthy notes. The palate shows the same profile but with more salt and added citrus notes, with a lingering sweet and spicy finish. The peat still isn’t as massive as I hoped from the ppm, I guess Octomore tends to lose their peat really quickly. Would want to own a bottle of this.

Glengoyne 12 (SMWS 123.8 – In the Spanish Mountains) [Link to SMWS]

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Region: Highland
ABV: 59.2%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill port pipe

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Raisin, cherry, honey, berry syrup, baking spice, dried grass, vanilla custard, mint, clove

Palate: Raisin, caramel, malt, dried plum, ginger, spice, toffee, chocolate

Finish: Medium+ finish, baking spice, pepper, apple, menthol

Score: 86/100

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A fully port pipe matured Glengoyne? Sign me up! A very sweet, syrupy nose, wonderful complexity. The palate is similar to the nose, with the more spice and chocolate notes. This whisky is rather tasty for a refill cask, perhaps 2nd fill? If you enjoy port this is a must-try.