Teeling Single Malt

March 12, 2017October 17, 2017 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

Teeling Single Malt

Region: Ireland
ABV: 46%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No

Colour: Light gold

Nose: Icing sugar, green apple, honey, vanilla, light citrus, floral, yeast.

Palate: Honey, ethanol, vanilla, ripe banana, apple skin, malt, white pepper.

Finish:Long finish, malt, oak, white pepper, mineral water.

Score: 79/100

I bought this bottle after reading it contains some 23 year old malt, and they finish the whiskies in 5 different casks (Sherry, Port, Maderia, White Burgundy, Cabernet Sauvignon). Was disappointed on how little wine influence is present, since this isn’t very complex. Rather simple dram, light fruits and sweet vanilla malt. The finish kinda killed it with the mineral note, WHERE DID THE FRUIT GO?

Longrow Peated

March 12, 2017October 17, 2017 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

Longrow Peated

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 46%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No

Colour: Straw

Nose: Apple, cream corn, citrus, buttery peat, sweet oily malt, grass, green sapling.

Palate: Brine, honey, peat, grape, apple.

Finish: Long finish, brine, smoke.

Score: 80/100

Having tried the Longrow 10, this was quite disappointing, rather basic and simple, would vouch for the Bunnahabhain Ceobanach for the same price.

Glendronach Peated

March 12, 2017December 29, 2017 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

Glendronach Peated

Region: Highland
ABV: 46%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No

Colour: Pale straw

Nose: Sweet corn, raisins, citrus, vanilla, sweet peat, rubber, vegetal.

Palate: Wood smoke, cream corn, butter, faint sherry, pepper.

Finish: Medium+ finish, butter, mild peat.

Score: 81/100

Interesting offering from Glendronach, I was told prior to 2002, all Glendronach were lightly peated due to their method of drying the barley.

BenRiach 10 Unpeated

March 12, 2017October 17, 2017 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

BenRiach 10 Unpeated

Region: Speyside
ABV: 43%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Grape candy, apple, orange, grapefruit, honey, vanilla, milk chocolate.

Palate: Red apple skin, honey, tree sapling, malt, citrus.

Finish: Medium- finish, sweet malt, apple.

Score: 76/100

Quite decent entry level malt from BenRiach, very fruity, but rather simple. Great dram for summer time.

Aberlour A’bunadh Batch 55, 57 Comparison Review

March 12, 2017October 17, 2017 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

Aberlour A’bunadh Batch 55, 57 Comparison Review

Batch 55

Region: Speyside
ABV: 60.9%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No

Colour: Old Gold

Nose: Vanilla, chocolate, perfume, dried fruits, cinnamon, Christmas cake, raisins, orange peel, nuts.

Palate: Malt, honey, chocolate powder, oak, orange peel, candied apple, cinnamon, ginger.

Finish: Long finish, oak, cinnamon, clove, salt, pepper.

Score: 88/100

Dropped by a point from last time I reviewed side by side with the batch 53, as my experience of whisky have gone up.

Batch 57

Region: Speyside
ABV: 60.7%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No

Colour: Old gold, but a shade lighter than 55.

Nose: Raisins, cinnamon, ginger, menthol, touch of mineral water, oily chocolate, orange zests, damp oak.

Palate: Clove, cinnamon, ginger, nuts, oak, damp tobacco, chocolate, orange peel.

Finish: Long finish, malt, oily oak, more baking spice.

Score: 86/100

The 55 and 57 are quite different, and 55 still remains my favourite in the 52-57 range. While the 55 and 57 are both very rounded, the 55 appears to have more sherry influence, and more of that dried fruit and chocolate character that I prefer, the 57 seems to be on the earthy, mineral side, while having a dialed down sherry bombness. Interestingly the 57 also a shade lighter than the 55, could this be a batch of younger malts?

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

February 25, 2017October 17, 2017 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

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.

Macallan Cask Strength 58.4%

February 16, 2017October 17, 2017 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

Macallan Cask Strength 58.4%

Region: Speyside
ABV: 58.4%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No

Container: Spiegelau Whisky Snifter

Colour:Mahogany

Nose: Sharp ethanol, rich stewed red fruits, walnuts, biscuit, raisins, milk chocolate, candied orange, strawberry, plum.

Palate: Raisins, cinnamon, ginger, orange, red fruit jam, toffee, stewed plums.

Finish: Long finish, lingering cinnamon, ginger, strawberry, oak, and oak tannins.

Score: 89/100

The Macallan CS is an exceptional sherry bomb, which I think was last sold for about $80CAD which would be a steal. It’s a tad pungent on the nose, and a tad too hot for 58.4% on the palate. But it’s complex with waves of red fruits, and nutty chocolate notes on the nose. Part from the usual red fruits, it’s also loaded with spices, especially ginger, with a drying finish.

Can’t imagine this is the same distillery that bottles such amazing whisky, but at the same time introduce us with tier not-good-at-all colour series. This leaves me wanting to try out some older Macallan Single Casks.

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

February 9, 2017October 17, 2017 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

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.

Benrinnes 13 Year Old 1998 (Cask: 6868) A.D. Rattray Cask Collection

February 6, 2017April 2, 2018 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

Region: Speyside
ABV: 56.8%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask type: Sherry Butt

One of 270 Bottles

Container: Glencairn Neat

Colour: Amber

Nose: Raisins, prunes, dried dates, vanilla, pine, oak, hint of nutmeg.

Palate: A bit hot on the palate. Strawberry, cherry syrup, red fruit jam sweetness, touch of minty coolness, dark chocolate, oak, pepper, ginger, oak.

Finish: Long lingering finish, pepper, ginger, oak, mineral.

Score: 88/100

Very surprising for a 13 year old, certainly got some heat on the palate. Surprising amount of oak influence, I am almost certain it was a PX Sherry cask due to how syrupy it was on the nose. Rather complex on the palate at the same time a bit dry, getting spicy towards the end. Overall a very good cask, and very reasonably priced.

Macallan 15 1992 Murray McDavid

February 5, 2017April 2, 2018 whiskytanuki Leave a comment

Macallan 15 1992 Murray McDavid

Bottled for Chateau Louis in Edmonton, AB, Canada

Region: Speyside
ABV: 46%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill Sherry

Container: Glencairn Neat

Colour: Gold

Nose: Touch of pungent ethanol, cocoa, orange peel, baking spice, ginger, icing sugar, apple, light strawberry note.

Palate: Malt, oak , touch of caramel, cocoa powder, ginger, pepper, mineral.

Finish: Long, lingering malt, oak, and pepper.

Score: 77/100

Overall kind of disappointed, perhaps the refill sherry cask isn’t doing the justice, was hoping for a slightly bumped up Macallan 12 with extra proof and un-chill-filtered. The nose is a bit pungent for 46%, not too bad got some basic sherry notes. The palate is rather simple, more malty and oaky than sherry.