Benchmark, Buffalo Trace, Kentucky, USA

McAfee’s Benchmark Old No. 8

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Kentucky, USA
Type: Straight Bourbon
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 2/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and fruity. At first there’s hard fruit candy with a vanilla coating. There is a rye spicyness sitting close to, but not in the middle of the fruitiness. After a few seconds the oakiness comes through around the edges and with some imagination there’s cinnamon too. It seems very concentrated and a bit one-dimensional and it lacks both spread and depth. It’s a nice enough standard bourbon nose.

Mouth: It starts out with a big fruitiness and a harsh spirit note. It’s quite sharp and prickly. After a second or two the vanilla and oak start to come through together with the rye notes. It’s still very narrow. There is a bitterness in the backgrund which isn’t helping it along.

Finish: The finish starts out with a big sweet corn and vanilla burst and the hard fruit candy has disappeared. It stays very sweet for quite some time before the oakiness takes over. It’s a dry oakiness and it’s somewhat astringent. When it subsides there an unpleasant metallic note is left lingering in the mouth. This is a mediocre but easy to sip, bourbon.

Additional information
This straight bourbon is a budget alternative made by Buffalo Trace Distillery. It’s made from a (low) rye mash bill.

Highland Park, Islands

Highland Park 16 YO – Wings of the Eagle

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ABV: 44,5 %
Origin: Islands
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is mixed fruits and mild peat. At first there’s a heavy hit of mixed tropical fruits and red berries. Underneath lies a dark and slightly dirty baseline with raisins, a hint of sulfur and a very laid back aromatic tobacco peatiness. With time in the glass there’s oranges and nectarines coming through within the fruitiness. There’s also an outer layer of vanilla and oak which sort of clings to the edges of the glass. This is a very pleasant and welcoming nose without it being easy or boring.

Mouth: It starts out by filling the outer edges with a tobacco and leather peatiness. After a second of two there’s a dark sherry fruitiness filling up the center part of the palate with overripe plums, raisins and a dash of coffee liqueuer. The peatiness works it way closer to the center over time. It’s very rich in both taste and texture with an oily feel to it. For those who wait there’s a very pleasant vanilla oakiness joining the peat around the edges. The peat increases in intensity over time.

Finish: It starts out with a fresh peppermint gently sweeping through before a fresh tropical fruitiness arrives. The dark fruity sherry notes also return but are restricted to the background together with the peatiness, a hint of sulfur and black coffee. It stays like this for a good while and the oakiness comes through fashionably late. The oakiness is a nice mix of bitter notes and sweeter fresher vanilla ones. There’s a hint of walnuts, orange peel and coffee. This is a great whisky which offers flavours from contrasting sides and making them work together.

Additional information
This 16 YO was released in 2018 as a travel retail exclusive. It’s aged in a mix of sherry-seasoned european and american oak casks with an emphasis on the european casks. It has natural colour.

India, Paul John

Paul John Oloroso – Select Cask

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ABV: 48 %
Origin: India
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark fruits and spicy oak. At first there’s a massive thick, sweet and dark fruitiness with raisins, overripe plums and black coffee liqueur with a fresh aromatic oakiness within. It takes a while for it to settle and actually become a whisky since the sherry finish is overpowering everything and creates an air tight sealed lid above the distillate. After a while cinnamon and vanilla start to come through around the edges. This is a nice and powerful nose but it lacks depth because all the power sits on top.

Mouth: It starts out with a fresh lemon backdrop and dark bitter coffee notes up front. There’s blueberries, black grapes, raisins and cocoa powder in between. The lemon notes really push through with time. There’s a chili spicyness as well. It feels very fruity due to the sour lemon but it still has a very dark character and a massive sherry impact on top. This creates depth and makes it more interesting than the nose suggests. It becomes somewhat astringent after a while.

Finish: It starts out with the chili spicyness increasing in intensity. When it dies down it reveals a tropical fruitiness hidden within with notes of pineapple and mangos. The darker notes are now more leaning towards coffee and the darker fruitiness is residing. The aromatic oakiness returns and it’s a very nice freshly planed oak. This is a great whisky and a massive sherry bomb. It lacks some complexity due to the thick sherry lid which makes the fruity nice distillate a disservice.

Additional information
This expression was aged 5 years in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for 2 years in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

Glenmorangie, Highlands

Glenmorangie Signet

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ABV: 46 %
Origin: Highlands
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark and sweet. At first there’s a thick layer of coffee liqueur and raisins. Just underneath that is a thin rye-like note. There are also notes of pine, almonds and a hint of cola. A minty freshness creates a cloud hovering above everything else. It has a very homogenous center with a mild and round character but the pine notes are somewhat sticking out like small thorns. With time a fresher fruity and floral background emerges which gives it a nice three-dimensional profile. This also makes the pine settle down. This is a good nose with a lot to discover.

Mouth: It starts out with a lemon fresh background note and a robust black coffee bitterness up front. There’s vanilla and a small amount of dark fruits in the center with a honey note on top but the whole mainly rests on the bitter notes. There’s dark high percentage chocolate with some chili flakes within. The oak peeks through and the pine as well. It’s very consistant and there’s not a lot of flavour transitions over time.

Finish: The chili spicyness flares up in a nice way and stays for quite a while. The coffee liqueur returns as well as the dark chocolate and vanilla. The transition towards the oakiness is seemless and it emerges within the coffee and chocolate bitterness. The oak is nice but it isn’t making a big scene. With time there’s a tropical fruitiness coming through the oakiness which is very nice addition and a nice break from the bitterness. The finish is long and rewarding. This is a great whisky but it’s too focused on the bitter sensation which makes it a bit lobsided.

Additional information
The Glenmorangie Signet is made from two types of malted barley; A single estate cadboll and malted chocolate barley. The cask types aren’t disclosed but there are virgin oak casks involved in the maturation process. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

Jack Daniel’s, Tennessee

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Tennessee, USA
Type: Tennessee whiskey
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 5
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and oaky. At first there’s a bright green apple fruitiness and a fresh newly cut oak. There’s also vanilla, cinnamon and marzipan. After a while unripe bananas start to appear as a thin outer layer, otherwise it keeps its profile throughout. This is very pleasant and easy on the nose. It’s lacking in power, but it still doesn’t feel thin.

Mouth: It starts out extremely mild with a lot of banana fruitiness. After that it becomes somewhat dusty and the oak is once again very fresh and clear. There’s also a brown sugar sweetness and vanilla. The cinnamon is not present, neither is the marzipan. The banana note is getting stronger the longer it stays in the mouth and it seems to be intertwined with the oakiness.

Finish: A fresh, yet mild, breath of eucalyptus fills the mouth and then the oakiness takes over. The green apple note and the vanilla return for a quick visit before the bananas once again team up with the oak. It becomes a little bit chalky down the road, but the finish is very much focused on the fresh oak. This is not a powerhouse nor a complex whiskey, but it is quite tasty nonetheless.

Additional information
The Old No. 7 is one of the best selling whiskies in the world. The mash bill consists of 80 % corn, 12 % barley and 8 % rye. It’s aged for at least 4 years and it’s charcoal filtered before bottling.

Glenfiddich, Speyside

Glenfiddich Experimental Series – IPA Experiment

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is very fruity and friendly. There’s a rather strong cinnamon and apple cider vibe to it, with a sweetness from vanilla, toffee and honey. There’s also a layer of green grapes and together with the hops from the IPA gives notes of a sweet sparkling white wine. The hops note isn’t dominant. It gets richer and the hops move forward a little bit with time in the glass.

Mouth: Lots of honey, lemon, dustiness, butterscotch and red ripe apples. After a while the bitter hops note appears in the back of the mouth. When it settles, the vanilla and oak flavours take over, but it’s still hoppy. The oak is very nice and sits well between the fruitiness and the bitterness. It’s not very spicy and still friendly and easy on the palate.

Finish: It starts out very sweet, with the honey note up front. It soon becomes very oak forward with a butterscotch and vanilla baseline. The hops follow along with the oak. It’s a tiny bit astringent, but the bitterness is all about the IPA. The oak is dusty and dry and the IPA also releases a sour note. It’s an easy sipper and very approachable.

Additional information
The IPA experiment is the first release in the ”Experimental series”. It’s finished in american ex-bourbon barrels that previously held their single malt and then seasoned with Indian Pale Ale for a month. The finishing period is about 3 months.

Glen Moray, Speyside

Glen Moray Elgin Classic – Sherry Cask Finish

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 2/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is young and fruity. At first there’s a rather thin layer of dried mixed fruits and a very present ethanol cloud. There’s a vanilla background and a hint of cinnamon up front. The whole thing is very laid back and nothing pops from the glass. This is a very simple and thin nose. It’s not offensive in any way, but it comes through as a bit boring.

Mouth: It starts out with baked red apples and vanilla up front. It feels richer than what the nose offered. A spicy note builds up and a sulfury gritty note comes through from behind. After a second or two the dried fruits return and replaces the apples. The cinnamon note is still there and it still feels young and spirity. There’s a bitter oakiness coming through in the back and on the sides which isn’t all that nice.

Finish: It starts out a bit spicy and when the initial ethanol cloud settles down there’s a big blur of everything coming through in the center. There’s mixed dried fruits, a lemon note, vanilla and a bitter not so pleasant oakiness all rolled up in a small ball. It takes a while before everything separates and leaves room for the sulfury note and the bitter oak. There is a sort of weird savory note popping up in the back as well. The finish is longer than expected but that is not a very good thing. This is a so and so whisky with both good and bad sides.

Additional information
This version of the Elgin Classic is aged in american ex-bourbon oak barrels and is finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks.

Ballantine’s, Glenburgie, Speyside

Ballantine’s Glenburgie 15 YO

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 2/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is fruity and sweet. At first there’s a fresh, fruity top note with yellow pears and green apples. Underneath there’s a sweet layer of honey and vanilla. The layers slowly shift and trade places with each other. The fruitiness settles in the back and a maltiness appear in the middle. It’s a pretty solid sweet core with all the flavours within. A hint of sweet liquorice also appears when this happens. This is a very approachable and mild nose with a straight forward flavour profile. There’s no sharp edges or surprises.

Mouth: It starts out quite flat and tasteless. It takes a while for the flavours to start coming through. First out is a thin layer of vanilla around the edges and a bitter note in the back. The center is a bit thin and the fruitiness is almost gone but there are malt and oak notes coming through. The sweetness found on the nose isn’t reflected in taste. There’s also a wet cardboard note coming through which isn’t all that pleasant.

Finish: The bitter notes rush forward and basically takes over everything. The fruitiness floats around within and it’s more of a ripe red apple fruitiness now. The maltiness is still there but it’s also thin. There’s vanilla, sweet honey and liquorice but they seem to disappear into the background. The oakiness comes through quite quickly which is a good thing. It’s a nice, dusty oakiness with a nutty character and a very thin tropical fruitiness within. This is a very easy sipper with too many corners cut. It’s thin and too mild at times, but produces an easy access experience for the mass market.

Additional information
The Glenburgie 15 YO was released in 2017 and it’s aged in a combination of refill and first fill american ex-bourbon casks.

Islay, Laphroaig

Laphroaig 1989 Vintage 23 YO

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ABV: 48,9 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark fruits and very mild peat. At first there’s a fruity floral note up front and a tobacco and leather peatiness in the back. It’s a very mild peat with medicinal and coastal notes but they are extremely subdued. With time the fruitiness turns darker and becomes overripe plums, raisins and cherries. The fruitiness creates a lid over everything else. There is a minerality and signs of age within but only for those who choose to dig through the fruity top notes. This is a nice nose but it has sort of lost its flavoursome heritage to become a bit flat with a weird floral and metallic character.

Mouth: It starts out with a lemon note in the back and a heavy lid of fruits and vanilla. It mirrors the nose very well with the fruits on top and the peatiness in submission in the back. The minerality increases in intensity but the medicinal and coastal notes are lost within. It feels very metallic and weird in the background. There’s nice delicate bitterness somewhere in between. After a second or two there’s a floral note coming through which certainly shouln’t be there.

Finish: The finish starts out with the same sweet fruitiness, but everything seems a bit muted. There’s just a hint of ashes added to the thin peatiness but otherwise it still resides in the back and on the sides. The oakiness is, like everything else, not daring to make a statement. There’s a savory note in the back and a chalky layer on the oak. When all else die down it leaves a metallic note and a wierd floral note floating around in the mouth. This is an ok whisky at best and it’s just not the great Laphroaig it should be.

Additional information
This vintage Laphroaig was released for the nordic market. The release was limited to 3200 bottles. The cask types aren’t disclosed.

Islands, Jura

Jura 16 YO – Diurachs’ Own

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Islands
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark fruits and honey sweetness. At first there’s a center note of dark ripe berries and sulfur surrounded by a thick honey and toffee sweetness. Everything seem to be covered in a thin hazy smoke but it’s not a peaty smokiness. The sherry fruitiness feels a bit dirty and unrefined which is a good thing and that creates depth and complexity. The whole thing turns darker with time but somewhere in the background there’s a brighter red apple and citrus fruitiness peeking through. There’s also some baking spices creating a nice and warm experience. This is a very nice nose with a lot of layers.

Mouth: It starts out a bit flat with a vanilla and honey sweetness coating the mouth. After a few seconds the sherry fruitiness, now more leaning towards mixed dried fruits, and the sulfur note returns. An orange peel and coffee bitterness create a nice backdrop but the whole is not as rich and inviting as the nose suggests. There is a dry spicyness slowly arising but it falls short of being interesting or contributing to the sensations. A very thin aura of oak is slowly forming at this point, but it sort of hides within the bitterness in the back.

Finish: The orange peel and coffee bitterness quickly moves up front together with a sprinkle of cinnamon. The fresh and dried fruits make their way towards the edges and gently disappears. A small rise in sweetness occur shortly after. Then most flavours die down and leaves room for a fairly bitter oakiness. The coffee notes stay within the oak, otherwise it’s less than interesting but does the job competently. The finish isn’t very long and after a few sips it grows a bit astringent. This is a good whisky with nice flavours but it’s a but mild and muted overall. The nose is by far the best part of the journey.

Additional information
This whisky is maturated for 14 years in traditional american white oak casks and is then transferred to ex-sherry (Amoroso Oloroso) casks where it matures for at least another 2 years.

Campbeltown, Kilkerran

Kilkerran 12 YO (2019)

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ABV: 46 %
Origin: Campbeltown
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and slightly fruity. At first there’s a big honey and vanilla sweetness up front with a subdued fruitiness in the back. There are also floral notes with heather and a hint of violets somewhere in the background. A mild peatiness sneaks around in the back as well as sulfur and rubber. It takes a while for the sherry fruitiness to come through, but when it arrives it sort of fills the gaps between the other layers. It’s a mix of fresh summer berries and darker dried fruits like plums and raisins. It’s leaning towards the fresh notes though. This is a very nice nose. It has a light character with a robust behind.

Mouth: It starts out with the honey note but it’s not as sweet as on the nose. The floral notes arrive early out towards the edges. A salty note comes through in the center and a mild black pepper spicyness slowly builds up. It takes a few seconds for the robust rubbery, sulfur notes to come through but when they do they create a much needed third dimension. The fruitiness is still in there but it’s not making any attempts to be in focus. It stays on the edges with the floral notes.

Finish: A quick burst of red berries goes by and when it settles it lands in the middle of a mild peat with the rubbery and oily notes close by. There’s a hint of bitterness and it’s also slightly savory. It stays like this for a good while before the oakiness start to take over. It’s a nice oakiness with hazelnuts and a touch of vanilla. The floral notes hang on throughout the finish making it a long and rewarding experience. It feels somewhat indecisive in what to deliver at certain points and the light character is a bit flimsy. It still is a great whisky with a lot of things to discover.

Additional information
This is the 2020 release (bottled in 2019). It’s aged in ex-bourbon barrels (70 %) and ex-sherry casks (30 %). It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

Stewart’s, Unspecified

Stewart’s Finest Blended Whisky

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Scotland unspecified
Type: Blended
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 1/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and thin. At first there’s a generic sweetness and a harsh grain spirit note. The oak is surprisingly detectable from the start. It’s a generic oakiness without any specific markers though. There is a thin layer of fruitiness with mainly orange peel coming through. After some time in the glass there’s butterscotch and vanilla arriving in the center. Everything seems to be decently balanced and it’s doing a good job of keeping the bad elements in check. This is not a great nose, but it’s not too offensive.

Mouth: It starts out very bitter in the back and with butterscotch and a generic sweetness up front. The harsh notes reside somewhere in the middle. There’s a metallic note in the back and a sprinkle of black pepper on top. The bitterness keeps on pushing forward to the point where it becomes unpleasant. The oakiness is still detectable within the bitterness but it is not doing anything to help out.

Finish: There’s not much of a change in the transition to the finish. It’s sweet up front and very bitter and metallic in the back. The fruitiness shines through for a moment but disappears just as quick. It doesn’t take long for everything to die down except the oak and the metallic note. This is not a good whisky and it feels and tastes cheap. The nose is the best part and it should not be consumed neat.

Additional information
The Stewart’s brand is owned by Whyte & MacKay and is blended by Richard Patterson. The ingredients aren’t disclosed.

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Islands, Jura

Jura Superstition

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Islands
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in Collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is fruity with a bitter tang. Up front there are oranges and grapefruits mixed with butterscotch and vanilla. In the back there are coastal notes like a salty ocean spray and a hint of seaweed. A thin veil of peatiness rests all over the other flavours adding an extra layer. The peat comes through as new leather. The whole thing is quite mild but all-in-all pretty well balanced.

Mouth: It starts out with some bitter notes surrounding the palate before the oranges and the grapefruits come through. The butterscotch and the vanilla comes through together with the soft leather note from the peatiness. Dark syryp is creating a small sweetness. There’s a tiny bit of spicyness but it lacks some power. It mirrors the nose very well and it’s quite dry from the start.

Finish: The fruitiness moves from the citrus fruits towards assorted tropical fruits. It’s still quite bitter, but in a well balanced bitterness. The butterscotch and vanilla is now residing in the back and the veil of peat is completely gone. When the oakiness arrives it really punches through and leaves most of the other flavours behind. It’s a very nice oakiness with hazelnuts and cacao. It’s nice dram but it lacks some intensity.

Additional information
This whisky is made from both peated and unpeated malt. It’s aged between 13-21 years in american ex-bourbon oak barrels. It was discontinued in april 2018.

Peter Dawson, Unspecified

Peter Dawson Special

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Scotland unspecified
Type: Blended
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 1/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and metallic. At first there’s a big cloud of harsh grain spirit with a sharp metallic note in the center. An artificial butterscotch sweetness is starting out in the back, but moves forward with time in the glass. When the harshness settles a liquorice note starts to make itself known somewhere in the middle. There are also notes of heather and cardboard floating around. With some imagination one could find a hint of ripe red apples too. This is not an especially nice nose with a heavy lean towards the cheap grain whisky part.

Mouth: It starts out surprisingly spicy and sweet, but beneath lies a thin watery core. A heather and honey note sits on top together with the same artificial butterscotch found on the nose. There’s a hefty bitterness in the background and it’s not a nice one. There’s a thin anise note in there too. It’s not as sharp and metallic as on the nose, but it’s just as bad. With time the butterscotch becomes more pronounced and takes over.

Finish: The finish starts out with a second or two without any flavours coming through. When it picks up speed it’s the bitterness intertwined with an oakiness that completely takes over. A thin hint of the butterscotch do stay as a top layer, but the not so pleasant bitterness is very pronounced throughout the finish. The oak is somewhat dry and it’s like grey old oak planks. When everything fades, the metallic note returns and stays in the mouth for a long time. This is a cheap blend and it matches the pretences. This should not be served as a neat drink.

Additional information
This blend was first created in 1890 by Peter Dawson. It’s been connected in the past to Auchnagie, Convalmore, Towiemore and Balmenach. Today it’s owned by Diageo and the current content of this blend isn’t disclosed.

Glen Moray, Speyside

Glen Moray Elgin Classic

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 2/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and fruity. At first there are apples and pears with a honey and vanilla sweetness on top. The fruitiness is the main focal point though. There’s an ethanol cloud sitting on top which isn’t especially flattering. After some time in the glass it becomes a bit maltier and the fruitiness becomes less bright. This is very simple with an easily approachable nose. It’s nice enough, but it’s not an explorer’s whisky.

Mouth: It starts out with a generic sweetness and a somewhat unpleasant distillate. It’s very mild, bordering to flat. After a second or two the fruitiness and vanilla start to come through as well as a bitterness in the background. It’s not an especially nice bitterness and it seems to be connected to the oak notes. Over time the bitterness becomes very pronounced and takes over everything.

Finish: It starts out as mild as before and everything sort of dies except for the vanilla and the bitterness. The oakiness arrives within the bitter notes and the ethanol cloud makes itself known once again. When the oakiness finally takes over it’s almost a relief. It’s a nice enough oak which lacks some character. This is not a very good whisky. The nose is by far the best thing about it.

Additional information
This is the entry level in Glen Moray’s core range. It’s aged about 7 years in american ex-bourbon oak barrels.

Bell’s, Unspecified

Bell’s 8 YO – Extra Special

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Scotland unspecified
Type: Blended
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 2/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and harsh. A big bucket of butterscotch together with the harshness from the grain spirit is first to come through. There are some assorted fresh fruits in the background as well as some vanilla and some sweet liquorice. This is a middle of the road blended scotch nose. The age hides most of the sharp edges though.

Mouth: It starts out pretty well rounded but the harsh grain note is still shining through from the background. The focus still lies on a very pronounced butterscotch with vanilla and a touch of honey. The fruit notes are still coming through, but they are still not recognizable as individual parts. The oak starts to make it’s presense known and it just adds a slightly unpleasant bitterness.

Finish: A small but noticable spicyness comes through together with the butterscotch and vanilla. There’s a bitterness from the start and it turns into oak and a bad cup of coffee. The assorted fruits stay through the finish. This is a standard blend with the sharp edges removed by age.

Additional information
This blend is made from up to 40 different whiskies. Blair Athol, Dufftown, Glenkinchie, Caol Ila and Inchgower are identified as parts of the whole. The extra special had the 8 yo age statement between 1994-2008.

Japan, Kurayoshi, Matsui

The Matsui Mizunara Oak

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ABV: 48 %
Origin: Japan
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 2/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is young and aromatic. At first there’s a young and fruity distillate coming through with green fruits and a base of wet cardboard. Above there’s a cloud of cinnamon and very fragrant oakiness. There’s also a thin sweetness in the center. The whole thing is very light and it really lacks richness and depth. With time the Mizunara oak becomes more pronounced and a bit of honey emerges from the sweetness. This is too light and uninteresting on the nose.

Mouth: It starts out very sweet. After a few seconds the fruity, young distillate sort of crawls up around the edges. The cardboard note persists. There’s a spicyness slowly increasing which gives it a much needed powerup. The fragrant oak is still creating a cloud above everything else. A liquorice root note start so appear somewhere in the background. It feels a bit richer on the palate, but it still holds a light character.

Finish: The spicyness makes a small last appearance but subsides fairly quick. The cardboard note is still very much in focus and it’s not fruity anymore. There’s still some cinnamon left while the fragrant oakiness takes over more and more, and it doesn’t take long before it’s all that’s left. The Mizunara oak gives it a special character but the finish ends quickly. It’s just not enough to give it an interesting profile. This is a rather boring whisky.

Additional information
This Matsui whisky is made at the Kurayoshi distillery and it’s aged in Mizunara Oak for an undisclosed amount of time. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

Independent bottlers, Islay, Port Askaig

Port Askaig 12 YO – 2020 Spring Edition

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ABV: 45,8 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a layer of warm campfire peatiness sitting on top of a sweet layer of vanilla, honey and an unscented lotion note. In the background it produces some fresh fruitiness with green apples and a hint of lemon. It feels very balanced overall and the contrasts give it a nice complexity. This is a very nice and pleasant nose but it feels like there are some coastal notes missing.

Mouth: It starts out sweet with honey, vanilla and a hay note. The peatiness spreads out towards the edges and leaves the sweetness in the middle. There’s some sweet liquorice and a hint of seasalt coming through. It’s not as fruity as on the nose and now there’s just a feint lemon note residing in the back. The spicyness builds up over time and adds another side to the whole.

Finish: It starts out with a wave of coastal notes, mainly seasalt and some seaweed. They sit side to side with the friendly vanilla and honey sweetness. The warm campfire is still coming through out towards the edges. After a few seconds the spicyness starts to subside which leaves room for the oakiness. The oak is nice enough, but it’s a bit characterless. The finish is not especially long and the saltiness stays on the toungue after everything else disappears. This is a great whisky with a lot to offer for those who adventure beyond the peat.

Additional information
The 2020 spring edition is made from 18 ex-bourbon hogsheads filled in 2006 and 2007. The distillery isn’t disclosed. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

Highlands, Oban

Oban Distiller’s Edition 2005/2019

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Highlands
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dry and fruity. At first a dark, sweet fruitiness with honey, overripe dark fruits and liqeuer-soaked cherries covers everything else. After a few seconds the sweetness subsides and the fruitiness becomes a bit brighter and some peaches and grapes start to come through. There’s a minerality to it and the background notes are somewhat medicinal. With time in the glass there’s a vanilla note popping up somewhere behind the fruitiness. This is a very pleasant nose with some complexity to it.

Mouth: It starts out with a touch of spicyness and a medicinal note. It’s not especially sweet and the honey note is not able to push through. It’s quite dry and a hefty coffee and dark chocolate bitterness fills the background. There’s still a minerality within and the fruitiness is now very repressed as well. The bitterness is dominating the palate and it feels like it’s surpressing the oakiness at this stage.

Finish: An initial sweet honey and vanilla note pass by quickly and leaves room for the bitter notes and a nutty walnut oakiness. It’s very dry and slightly astringent. The fruitiness is almost entirely gone and the finish is all about coffee, oak and dark chocolate. The medicinal side of it remain all through the finish though, and in the late finish there’s a tiny smoky and sulfury note residing behind everything else. This is a great whisky with a surprisingly complex profile.

Additional information
This Distiller’s Edition is aged in american ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for at least 6 months in european ex-Montilla Fino sherry casks.

Glenmorangie, Highlands

Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake

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ABV: 46 %
Origin: Highlands
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is very sweet and fruity. At first there’s a thick sweet layer of honey, vanilla and ripe banana sitting on top of a fruitier background with tropical fruits and a white wine sourness. An ethanol cloud is sitting on top of everything and gives it a cooling effect. There are small hints of baking spices in the back, as well as a maltiness. With time in the glass it becomes sweeter and the wine finish becomes more pronounced. This is a nice nose, but it leans a bit heavy towards the sweet notes up front and feels a bit unbalanced.

Mouth: It starts out extremely sweet and a bit malty. It’s filled with overripe bananas, ripe green grapes and a generic sweetness. It’s somewhat dusty and everything still feels very much like it’s in your face. The background consists of the sweet white wine and it produces a sharp metallic lemon note in the back. Somewhere in between some tropical fruits do show up for those who are patient.

Finish: It starts out with malt and honey and then move quickly towards the fruitiness. It still has those sweet overripe bananas and grapes, but the tropical fruitiness soon takes over. The fruitiness is intertwined with the oakiness and together they take over completely. The oakiness is great. It’s nutty with just a hint of bitterness. The finish is by far the best part of the entire journey. This is a good dessert whisky and the narrative around cake is fitting. It’s not a dram for every occasion though.

Additional information
A Tale of Cake was released in 2020 as a limited edition bottling. It’s aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in hungarian Tokaji casks.

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