Tag: smws

Whisky Review – Kilchoman 4 2011 (Single Cask 446 PX Finish)

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Kilchoman 4 2011 (Single Cask 446 PX Finish)

Region: Islay
ABV: 57.5%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon, Pedro Ximenez Finish

 

Colour: Copper

Nose: Raspberry, oily, peat, toffee, salt, apple skin, honey

Palate: Ash, earthy peat, brine, honey, cherry, cocoa,

Finish: Long finish, smoke, mineral water, pepper

Score: 85/100

First time trying a single cask Kilchoman, and this one is finished in PX Sherry cask. The peat is more prominent than the Machir Bay, perhaps due to the even younger age, not hiding its youthfulness on the nose, brash peat, salt, red fruits, and honey. The palate is similar to the nose, with a touch more red fruit, and cocoa, followed by a long finish, full of smoke, minerals, and pepper.

I wish they did a longer finish on this one, as the PX influence are more subtle than I would like, still rather solid.

Glenburgie 17 (SMWS 71.42 – Sinbad preparing for a journey)

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Glenburgie 17 (SMWS 71.42 – Sinbad preparing for a journey)

Tasted Blind

Region: Speyside

ABV: 57.5%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill Ex-Sherry Gorda
Outrun: 750 Bottles

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Fish oil capsule (The smell when you sniff a bottle of fish oil pills), funky, cinnamon, orange, cherry jell-o, cola syrup, ginger, roasted walnut, malt biscuit, sharp ethanol.

Palate: Hot, chili flakes, medicine capsule note, nutty, cinnamon heart, ginger, red raspberry, dark chocolate, orange peel, charred wood.

Finish: Medium finish, worn leather, mineral.

Score: 84/100

Tasted blind as I just grabbed a random sample, the SMWS code means nothing to me as I have no idea what it is.

Dove into the nose, WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS!? IT smells exactly like the capsule smell of a bottle of fish oil, weird. Diving past the weird funky note reveals some sherry cask notes. On the palate its more or less the same as the nose, but packs a huge punch of spice on the entry, carried throughout to the finish.

Overall a solid whisky, if you can enjoy the funky notes, personally not the biggest fan, but it’s got good complexity and depth.

Glen Moray 13 Year Old (SMWS 35.165 – Variety – the spice of life)(1st Fill ex-Chenin Blanc)

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Glen Moray 13 Year Old (SMWS 35.165 – Variety – the spice of life)

Region: Speyside

ABV: 52.9%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 1st Fill Ex-Chenin Blanc Hogshead
Outrun: 180 Bottles

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Oily, white grape, smoke, rubber, tar, strawberry, blackberry, spice.

Palate: Oloroso nuttiness, almonds, rubber, tar, mineral, oak.

Finish: Long finish, tar, mineral, stone, charred wood, nutmeg, more spice.

Score: 86/100

Really funky, nothing like a Chenin Blanc wine, and nothing like a Glen Moray, the amber colour isn’t helping either.

Super funky nose and palate; full of smoky tar, rubbery notes throughout, with a touch of red berries on the nose, definitely would’ve guessed a funky red wine cask, such as Barolo (one of the top Italian red wines, known for having rubber notes in the wine, especially the matured ones).

The palate copies the nose, with a lengthy funky finish, full of mineral, charred wood, and spice. Weird but quite a character.

Glenrothes 1990 23 Year Old (SMWS 30.81 – A Baker’s Delight)

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Glenrothes 1990 23 Year Old (SMWS 30.81 – A Baker’s Delight)

Region: Speyside

ABV: 56%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Biscotti, powdered sugar, apple, orange, pastry, dried apricot, floral, peach, vanilla custard, herbal.

Palate: Dried apricot, peach, butterscotch, nuts, oak, perfume, melon, grape, spice.

Finish: Long finish, malt, melon, oak, mineral

Score: 87/100

 

The nose is very interesting to kick off, nutty, biscotti character, with loads of fruits to back it up. Sweet fruity notes on the palate, with a kick of spice. With a long, malty finish, and a kick of oaky minerality in the end. Better than my previous Glenrothes experience, which have been the OB watery offerings.

Aultmore 22 Year Old (SMWS 73.69 – Dark Side Eclipsed by Sweet Joys)

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Aultmore 22 Year Old (SMWS 73.69 – Dark Side Eclipsed by Sweet Joys)

I was suggested to review before looking up the distillery code and cask info, which is what I would be doing below!

[The info will be filled up after my tasting notes]

Region: Speyside
ABV: 52.9%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No

Colour: Light gold

Nose: Right off the bat, sherry cask! Strawberry jam, orange peel, red cherry, raisin, toffee, glazed roast duck (is this the roast duck dram? That I’ve read about?), cocoa powder, oak, baking spice.

Palate: Strawberry jam, sweet malt, cereal, nuts, espresso, ginger, cola.

Finish: Long and spicy, ginger, pepper, oak tannins, mineral water.

Score: 87/100

My guess: 18-20 Year old, refill sherry cask, Speyside/Highland malt?
After looking up: Aultmore 22Y, 52.9%, Refill sherry butt.

Bowmore 18 Year Old, SMWS 3.270 (18 Year Old “Surf ‘n turf in a camel’s saddle bag”)

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Bowmore 18 Year Old

Region: Islay
ABV: 43%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: Yes

 

Container: Glencairn Neat

Colour: Amber

Nose: Caramel, brine, raspberry, light peat, citrus, floral, creamy corn.

Palate: Peat, oak, vanilla, creamy corn, light ash, red fruits, touch mineral.

Finish: Short finish, oak, earth, mineral water, cough syrup, touch of spice.

Score: 80/100

Surprisingly decent, had the 12 before and wasn’t a fan. Although I enjoy their Tempest and Laimrig. The finish is definitely the weak point, just as I was about to detect more flavour, it just disappears all together. I blame the 43% ABV.

Bowmore 18 Year Old 1997 (SMWS 3.270 “Surf ‘n turf in a camel’s saddle bag”)

Region: Islay
ABV: 55.8%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask type: Refill Sherry Butt

 

Container: Glencairn Neat

Colour: Amber

Nose: Strawberry, raisins, Chinese plum sauce, caramel, ash, faint rubber, leather, cocoa.

Palate: Ash, peat, black tea, ginger, caramel, apple skin, plums.

Finish: Long finish, smoke, oak, baking spice, red fruits, touch of mineral during in the end.

Score: 87/100

Rather different from the Bowmore I’ve tried, the sherry cask is shining through, while maintaining balance with the ashy peat, sweetness along with ash and spice. Looking forward to try out more Bowmore IB in the future!

Not a fair game for the OB 18 Year Old, the 3.270 is miles ahead in terms of complexity and presentation, probably should’ve reviewed them separately.