Tag: whisky

Bunnahabhain 16 Old Particular [Link to Douglas Laing]

Region: Islay
ABV: 48.4%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: Refill Hogshead

Colour: Pale Straw

Nose: Honey, apple, grass, oily, pineapple, malt, orange water, icing sugar

Palate: Pineapple, malt, citrus peel, slight acidity, sugar, nuts

Finish: Medium finish, malty, faint smoke, mineral water

Score: 80/100

Overall rather pleasant, smooth, and rather basic dram. Not overly complex, nice citrus, tropical fruit and nutty profile. A nice touch of smoke towards the finish as well. Glad to have try it.

Glenmorangie Lasanta [Link to Glenmorangie]

Region: Highland
ABV: 43%
E150: Yes
Chill-filtered: Yes
Cask Type: Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks

Colour: Amber

Nose: Red fruit jam, mineral, berries, burnt orange peel, cinnamon, dried fruits, wax

Palate: Raspberry, malt, wood, mineral, wax

Finish: Long finish, mineral

Score: 69/100

Not sure what grade of sherry casks Glenmorangie decided to use, but surly they aren’t ones of high grade. Overall the whisky just felt poorly “put-together”. Lasanta is said to mean ‘warmth and passion’ in Gaelic, which is exactly what I can’t feel from this expression. Felt like it was made with a “that will do” attitude, really basic, off-balance with loads of mineral throughout, you do notice the sherry influence, but it’s just not a nice composition. Wouldn’t recommend.

Springbank Local Barley 11 [Link to Springbank]

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 53.1%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: ex-Bourbon

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Dried Apricot, peach, fibrel cereal, ethanol, smoked plum, white flower, salted butter, green tea, citrus rind, tic tac vanilla

Palate: Ashy peat, butter, salt, lemon curd, faint dried cherry, cured meat

Finish: Long finish, sweet cereal, mineral

Score: 87/100

Springbank Local Barley 16

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 54.3%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 80% ex-Bourbon, 20% ex-Sherry

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Syrupy, white grape, faint buttery smoke, dried apricot, vanilla, anise, popcorn

Palate: Smoked meat, tar, peat, lemon, mineral, honey, vanilla

Finish: Long finish, ash, orange peel, more mineral

Score: 85/100

The local barley expressions are supposed to show the terrior of the barley. The 11 year old is made with made with Bere barley from Aros Farm, while the 16 is made with barley grown at Low Machrimore Farm in Southend.

Overall I liked the 11 more than the 16, its more complex, better integrated aromas and flavour. They both took a while to open up, showing a very similar profile.

I wish Springbank would have aged both barley types in similar ex-bourbon casks and age, and label the barley on the label (kind of like how wine labels are, showing the vineyard and varietal). That way would be the closest we can do to try out different profile of the barley.

Springbank 12 Cask Strength 2017 Release [Link to Springbank]

Region: Campbeltown
ABV: 54.2%
E150: No
Chill-filtered: No
Cask Type: 70% ex-Sherry, 30% ex-Bourbon

Colour: Gold

Nose: Cherry Syrup, menthol, malt, raspberry, leather, metallic, floral, honey, ginger, dried fruits, light peat

Palate: Pepper, raspberry jam, citrus, malt, leather, crushed stone, ginger, orange peel

Finish: Long finish, ginger, mineral water, faint peat

Score: 86/100

Rather solid release from Springbank as usual, really enjoy the sherry centric influence, the nose really shows both casks working well in harmony, each contributing their signature notes, with touch of peat in the backbone. The palate is also very sherry forward, loads of red fruits and leathery notes, leading up to a spicy finish. Would recommend this bottle if you liked the Springbank 10.