Tag: totalwine

Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2006 (Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength for KWM Bottled 2016)

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Caol Ila 10 Year Old 2006 (Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength for KWM Bottled 2016)

Region: Islay

ABV: 57.5%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill sherry hogshead 306200

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Rum-like aroma, caramel, menthol, smoke, raisin, cream corn, sherry spice, cherry, tea.

Palate: Ash, oak, dried apricot, orange, smoke, salt, spice.

Finish: Long finish, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, smoke.

Score: 88/100

Another youthful refill sherry cask Caol Ila from G&M, this one is significantly darker than the 2004 one that I own, assuming 2nd fill? Rather interesting rum-like aroma, loads of sherry spice and caramel on the nose, the peat is less aggressive than I expect for a 10 year old. A well rounded palate, full of dried fruits, oranges, salt, spices; followed by a long and spicy finish, very nice.

Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2004 (Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength Bottled 2016)

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Caol Ila 11 Year Old 2004 (Gordon & Macphail Cask Strength Bottled 2016)

Region: Islay

ABV: 59.3%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill Sherry Cask 306615, 306620, 306621, 306622.

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Sweet smoke, brine, rubber, ashy peat, cherry syrup, orange, almond.

Palate: Lemon oil, malt, salt, ash, pepper, red fruit jam, cola, ginger.

Finish: Long finish, earthy, salt, oily, chili flakes.

Score: 87/100

Always enjoy a cask strength, youthful Caol Ila, and this is no exception.

Welcoming sweet, smoky, and salty nose to greet, the sherry influence isn’t as strong as other refill Caol Ila I’ve had, but it lets a lot more of the Caol Ila spirit shine through.

On the palate you get an oily mouth feel, most of the notes from the nose are present, with a slam jam of peppery spice, carries onto a long, earthy and salty finish, with a kick of chili flakes in the end.
Overall, a rather enjoyable dram, glad to have bought a bottle.

Arran 18 Year Old 1996 (Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask 2135)

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Arran 18 Year Old 1996 (Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask 2135)

Region: Isle of Arran

ABV: 52.65
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Sherry Puncheon
Distilled 17/12/1996, Bottled 30/03/2015

 

Colour: Amber

Nose: Rum raisin, raspberry, strawberry, pear, custard, malt, grass, orange peel.

Palate: Orange peel, red berries jam, cherry syrup, floral, oak, pear, red mango, red raspberry, ginger, chocolate, mint.

Finish: Medium+ finish, honey, mineral, cinnamon, pepper.

Score: 89/100

The Arran I’ve had previously are usually rather so-so, exception of the Tokaji Aszu CS release. The IBs aren’t exactly mind blowing either, but this changes my view of Arran. Spent 18 years in a Sherry Puncheon, this dram is packed with complexity. Surprising amount of tropical notes alongside the sherry influence, the Arran spirit really shining through. The palate hits you with waves of red fruits and spice, the tropical fruit from the nose is apparent here as well, pear, red mango, with nice creamy chocolate; carried through into a spicy finish with mineral notes. Fantastic stuff!

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.

Compass Box – This is Not a Luxury Whisky

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Compass Box – This is Not a Luxury Whisky

Region: Blended

ABV: 53.1%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type:
– 79% First Fill Sherry Butt from Glen Ord (Malt) – 19 Year Old – 10.1% Refill American Hogshead from Strathclyde (Grain) – 40 Year Old
– 6.9% Refill American Hogshead from Girvan (Grain) – 40 Year Old
– 4% Refill American Hogshead from Caol Ila (Malt) – 30 Year Old

 

Colour: Gold

Nose: Oily, red apple, herbal, spruce tips, coconut, stewed red fruits, floral, strawberry syrup, smoke, spice.

Palate: Orange peel, ash, peat, rubber, raspberry, oak, strawberry, salted honey.

Finish: Long finish, ginger, incense, oily, pine.

Score: 89/100

Very welcoming nose, full of light smoke, and herbaceous notes; touch of syrupy red fruits and spices, along with tropical coconut notes. On the palate the notes are well-integrated, ashy peat, orange peel, red fruits, touch of salted honey, followed by a long finish with interesting incense-like note, round things off nicely, the finish lasts for minutes.

An amazing blend, wonder how this would compare against the JW Blue Cask Strength. The “This is not a luxury whisky” is very well made, welcoming nose and taste to a lot of people, without being boring like the regular Blue Label. The finish is very remarkable.

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.

BenRiach 14 Year Old Single Cask Virgin American Oak Finish (Cask 2828)

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BenRiach 14 Year Old Single Cask Virgin American Oak Finish (Cask 2828)

Region: Speyside
ABV: 55.9%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon, finish in Virgin American Oak.

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: Cocoa, apple, orange peel, caramel, oak, icing sugar, ash, oily honey, floral vanilla, mineral, pepper, faint cinnamon.

Palate: Pink bubblegum, malt, strong oak, banana, pineapple, almond, smoke, black tea, apricot.

Finish: Long tannic finish, salt, tropical fruit, oak, caramel.

Score: 88/100

I would describe this as best of both worlds, perfect balance between ex-bourbon cask notes, and strong powerful influence of virgin American oak. The previous virgin oak I had were frankly too oaky, bites your tongue off. This is very complex which is unusual for just virgin oak.

Fruity and malty notes, along with cocoa powder, icing sugar, ash, honey, vanilla, spices, goes on and on. The virgin oak is very apparent on the palate, smack of oak, bubblegum, tropical fruits, smoky black tea, with a long oak tannic finish. Exceptional.

Glenburgie 21 Year Old 1995 (Archives)

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Glenburgie 21 Year Old 1995 (Archives)
Tasted Blind

Region: Speyside
ABV: 54.1%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon Hogshead

Colour: Light gold

Nose: Sliced pear, red and green apple, citrus peel, honey, floral, light malt, cereal, custard, oily caramel, pepper.

Palate: Apple, pear, dried apricot, malt, honey, oak, vanilla.

Finish: Long malty finish, pepper, ginger, touch of mineral and oak.

Score: 87/100

Tasted blind, prominent sliced pear and apples on the nose, followed by wonderful ex-Bourbon notes of honey, cereal, malt, and caramel custard, very rich and rounded. Big, bold flavour, hits you with honey apples, pear, dried apricot, along with malty and oaky notes, followed by a long finish with spice to kick things up a notch. Very interesting, it’s my first time trying a Glenburgie, and looking forward to more offerings from the distillery!

Auchentoshan 20 Year Old (Whiskybroker)

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Auchentoshan 20 Year Old (Whiskybroker)

Region: Lowland

ABV: 52.6%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon

Colour: Pale straw

Nose: White flower, mint bubblegum, malty cereal, citrus peel, fruitloop, eucalyptus, honey, pleasant herbal funk, green apple.

Palate: Cedar, oak, floral, stone fruit, green apple, grassy, honey, mint.

Finish: Medium+ finish, eucalyptus, oak, drying cocoa, pepper.

Score: 86/100

Quintessential lowland, floral notes dominates all the way. Lots of green apples, malt, cedar/oaky notes on the nose and palate; with a nice touch of minty, eucalyptus notes, the finish is drying on the palate, with touch of cocoa and peppery spice to round things off. After the glass is empty, leave it for 10 minutes, the glass semlls like rich raisins! Simply the best Auchentoshan I’ve tried, captures the essence of lowland profile!

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.