Whisky Review – Bunnahabhain 39 1976 (Cadenheads Small Batch)

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Bunnahabhain 39 1976 (Cadenheads Small Batch)

Region: Islay
ABV: 49.4%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Blend of 3 Sherry Butts

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Oak, floral, honey, raisins, port, stewed plum, orange peel, nuts, leather, cocoa, tobacco

Palate: Oak, oak tannins, orange peel, leather, plum, mineral, pepper, chili pepper, black tea

Finish: Medium+ finish, mineral, musty, oak, brown sugar

Score: 87/100

Tasted blind. Initially thought this was a 20-25 year old, sherry cask, Highland single malt. I thought this was definitely old, but didn’t think it was that old.

There is a deal of oak here, along with nice floral, honey aspects on the nose, with a strong backbone of sweet stewed plums, port-like note, orange peels, tobacco, leather, all the nice “old sherry” note. The palate is similar to the nose; Punchy and bold, with an additional kick of drying oak tannins, spice, black tea, and mineral note, which I would have hoped it was less oaky on the palate.

This is a really bold single male from Bunnahabhain, the oldest I have ever tried. I would have rated this higher, if the oak tannins was a bit more balanced. I would call this a bourbon-lover whisky, due to the huge oak influence throughout. Definitely worth a try if you are into these bold notes.

Whisky Review – Compass Box 3 Year Old Deluxe

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Compass Box 3 Year Old Deluxe

Region: Highland, Isle of Skye
ABV: 49.2%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: First-fill American Oak Casks

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Wax, saline, faint smoke, red apple, honey, vanilla, citrus peel

Palate: Wax, smoked bamboo, apple, malt, pepper, touch of bitterness

Finish: Medium finish, mineral, burnt wood, oak, pepper

Score: 79/100

Waxy, sweet, fruity character of Clynelish comes to mind. Overall rather pleasant until the touch of bitterness kicked in. The nose and palate are coherent, lush and cream on the tongue, consists of wax, smoke, apple, honey character, the bitterness definitely left a poor impression to me.

Overall not a bad dram, but had a hard time finishing my pour. Personally would not buy a bottle at the retail price of $280 CAD.

Whisky Review – Bladnoch 25 (SMWS 50.72 – Summer’s Night in Lovers’ Lane)

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Bladnoch 25 (SMWS 50.72 – Summer’s Night in Lovers’ Lane)

Region: Lowland
ABV: 50.2%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Re-fill ex-Bourbon

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Apple, honey, butter, dried Chinese plum, vanilla, grass, orange, floral

Palate: Melon, raspberry, butter, biscuit, ginger, apple, grassy

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

Score: 82/100

Creamy, fruity nose, with a great balance of sweetness, and floral note. The palate wasn’t as lush and thick as the nose would suggest, the fruit is still present, with a nice biscuit-y note, grassiness, and minerals joining the pack. Overall rather interesting dram to try, but not something I would buy.

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

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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)

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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

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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 – Compass Box Enlightenment

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Compass Box Enlightenment

Region: Speyside & Highland
ABV: 46%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type:
– 48.2% Clynelish (First Fill American standard barrel)

– 36.7% Glentauchers (First Fill American standard barrel)

– 10.8% Balblair (First Fill American standard barrel)

– 4.3% Mortlach (Rejuvenated American standard barrel)

 

Colour: Straw

Nose: Pineapple, green apple, mango, banana, caramel, vanilla, citrus

Palate: Vanilla, pineapple, ginger, grassy, peach, almond bitterness, icing sugar

Finish: Medium+, wood, topical fruit

Score: 83/100

A rather nice blend of malt from Compass Box. Tropical fruits and caramel to greet the nose, with a nice balance of vanilla and citrus undertone. The palate also carries over the tropical fruit, but introduced some grassiness, and bitter almond notes. Followed by a woody, fruity finish. This would work perfectly well as a summer dram. Great deal of fruit and decent complexity.

 

Whisky Review – Craigellachie 23

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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

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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.

Wine Review – Clarendon Hills Liandra Syrah 2006

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Clarendon Hills “Liandra” Syrah 2006 [Clarendon Hills] [Wine-Searcher]

Country: Australia
Region: Clarendon
Grape: Syrah/Shiraz
ABV: 16%

Colour: Dark purple core, lighter on the rim.

Nose: Ripe black fruits (blueberry, blackberry, plum, blackcurrant jam), chocolate, raisin, bacon fat, touch of herbal, spice.

Palate: Full bodied, medium acidity, medium well-integrated smooth tannins. Plum, blackberry, metallic (iron), vanilla, clove, pepper.

Finish: Long finish, lingering metallic and spicy notes. Well-integrated alcohol.

Score: 87/100

The wine is showing very well, all the components fully integrated with one and other.

The nose was very intense, with concentrated black fruits, chocolate, raisin, bacon fat, a touch of herbal tone that I associate with aged Syrah/Shiraz, and touch of pepper. The nose overall is very balanced, allowing each component to shine through the waves of black fruits, showing a great deal of complexity.

Moving onto the taste, a wonderfully aged, full bodied Syrah. Despite the 16% alcohol, it is very well integrated, drinking more like a 14-14.5%. Aside from the abundance of black fruits, there is this metallic, iron note showing throughout the palate, with a touch of vanilla, clove, and pepper forming a long and lingering finish.

This is a very good wine, with some unusual note going on (the metallic note on the palate), overall a very pleasant tasting experience. The wine is ready, drink before 2020.