Whisky Review – Glendronach 30 1985 (Single Cask PX 1037)

Glendronach 30 1985 (Single Cask PX 1037)


Region: Highland
ABV: 52.3%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon

 

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Cranberry, cocoa, mineral, strawberry syrup, herbal, orange peel, nutty

Palate: Pepper, orange, chocolate, cinnamon, mineral, leather

Finish: Long finish, mineral, nutty, kick of spice

Score: 85/100


A fairly disappointing Glendronach single cask, despite 30 years on its belt. It almost seems a bit muted at certain times. Doesn’t have the same punch as the 16-22 year old ones I’ve had before. The notes are still there, just doesn’t stand out much. Doesn’t have the additional layer of complexity I would’ve expected from something this old either. It was good, but not great.

Whisky Review – Springbank 8 2007 Fresh Sherry (Springbank Society)

Springbank 8 2007 Fresh Sherry (Springbank Society


Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 57.2%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Fresh Sherry Butt

 

Colour: Copper

Nose: Sulphur, raspberry gummy, funk, dirty smoke, cherry syrup, medicinal capsule, coal

Palate: Sulphur, pepper, dirty peat, brunt wood, medicinal capsule, raspberry gummy

Finish: Long finish, funky, salt, spice

Score: 84/100


A rather funk centric sherry cask, full load of sulphur, medicinal capsule note (go smell a bottle of pills). Only a touch of raspberry weaving into the glass full of funky, dirty smoke. Not a bad, but wouldn’t buy one for myself.

Whisky Review – Bruichladdich 25 1985 DNA3 MCMLXXXV

Review 94 – Bruichladdich 25 1985 DNA3 MCMLXXXV


Region: Islay
ABV: 50.1%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry

 

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Nutty, oak, raisin, worn leather, raspberry chocolate, fresh seaweed, cinnamon, mace, red apple skin, bay leaf

Palate: Oak, red apple, raspberry, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, oak, salt, raisin

Finish: Long finish, pepper, oak, mineral, oak tannins

Score: 90/100


Great deal of complexity throughout, all that you expect from high quality sherry cask. The nose carries a nice wave of various spices, leather, dark fruits, and chocolate notes. The palate is more or less similar to the nose, followed by a drying finish thanks of a great deal of oak tannins. A great offering from Bruichladdich, though not as complex as I thought it would be, it’s rather well-harmonised, really enjoyed this dram!

Whisky Review – Craigellachie 23

Craigellachie 23

 

Region: Speyside
ABV: 46%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: N/A

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Dried Fruits, melon candy, malt biscuit, mineral water, peach, honey, leather

Palate: Melon, malt, strawberry, vegetal, almond, lemon peel

Finish: Medium finish, citrus, mineral, baking spice

Score: 82/100


Was poured extra afterwards for a better review experience. I would call this a very inoffensive, fruit and malt centric single malt. Nice weave of stone fruits and tropical fruits, honey on the nose. The palate kicks in with a nice sweet wave of fruit, with touch of grassy vegetal notes, not much complexity. Touch of spicy heat towards the end. I would’ve thought it was a much younger malt at around 15 year mark. Given the current price, definitely a no-go for me.

Whisky Review – Benromach 10 100 Proof

Benromach 10 100 Proof

-Tasted Blind


Region: Speyside
ABV: 57%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: N/A

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Malty, dired apricot, raw walnut, hints of red fruits, lemon peel, floral, touch of caramel

Palate: Heat, pepper, stewed red fruits, toffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, mineral

Finish: Long finish, cherry syrup, pepper, mineral water

Score: 85/100


Guess: 10-12 year old, cask strength 55-60% ABV Sherry cask Speyside. My guess was pretty close, just can’t nail down a distillery. Solid complexity, and much better than Benromach 10, nice blend of nuts, fruits, and spice throughout, the mineral finish wasn’t a big fan of, but overall a solid whisky.

Whisky Review – Strathmill 21 (Duncan Taylor Dimensions Cask 4239)

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


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


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.

Whisky Review – Lagavulin 8

Lagavulin 8 [Link to Lagavulin]


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


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.

Whisky Review – BenRiach 22 1994 (Single Cask 4004 Peated Tokaj Cask Finish)

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


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.


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


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.

Whisky Review – Bruichladdich Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley

Bruichladdich Octomore 6.3 Islay Barley [Link to Bruichladdich]


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


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.

Whisky Review – Glengoyne 12 (SMWS 123.8 – In the Spanish Mountains)

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


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


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.