Etikettarkiv: Recension

Glenlivet, Speyside

Glenlivet 18 YO – Single Cask Edition (13091)

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ABV: 56.9 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and fruity. At first there’s a dessert-like mix of vanilla and baked apples with a hint of cinnamon on top. It’s very fresh and lively despite its age and the distillate is clearly shining through. With time in the glass it grows to be sweet and sour with the sweetness on top with vanilla and honey and sour lemon in the back. A hint of marzipan can be found in the center part. It’s a very easy and accessable nose. It’s quite pleasant but not especially complex.

Mouth: It starts out with a honey sweetness in front and a sour green apple note in the back. There’s a nice power to it and it’s quite peppery which helps it along. The flavours need the boost. It feels a lot more mature than on the nose with an old dusty, grey wood note in the background. After a second or two it turns towards the sour note and shifts from Green apples to lemon. It’s still not especially complex or evolving but it’s a nice experience nontheless.

Finish: The peppery spicyness spikes through the transition but it settles down quite quick. It stays as a background spicyness for the duration of the finish though. It then reveals the same flavour combinations as before. It’s still a sweet and sour experience with vanilla, honey and baked red apples in contrast to green, sour apples and lemon. There are notes of butterscotch, coconut and marzipan floating in and out. The oakiness is an old and dusty one and it takes over in a nice and mellow way. It’s a walnuts and chalk oakiness which is very nice and it feels like a logical way to finish. This is a great whisky. It borders on being too spicy for a delicate dram but it just about works.

Additional information
This whisky was bottled 11/2020. It was aged in an american oak hogshead. The cask number is 13091. The bottle tried is no. 87/252.

Inchgower, Speyside

Inchgower 27 YO – Limited Release (2018)

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ABV: 55.3 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and fruity. At first there’s a malty sweetness with vanilla and honey attached to it. There’s a minty overlay and a musty background note as well. The fruitiness leans towards baked apples with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. The nose is quite straight forward and there seem to be lacking signs of age. There’s also a nail polish remover note somewhere within. With time in the glass the vanilla note becomes a lot more pronounced. It greatly improves with time in the glass and the signs of age do show up after about 20 minutes. This is a nice and rich nose, but it seems to be a bit one-dimensional.

Mouth: It starts out with a big hit of ABV spicyness. It soon settles and the spicyness becomes a nice outer layer of black pepper. In the middle, it feels quite green and herbal as well as lemon sour. The vanilla and the sweetness are nowhere near what was presented on the nose. There are notes of pine and anis root. In the back there’s a small bitter note slowly increasing over time. The fruitiness do come through with a mixed variety. It still lacks some of the telltale signs of age, but they do show up after a few sips. It’s very fresh and lively.

Finish: The ABV increases in intensity through the transition. The first things popping up after it settles are the pine note and the bitterness. It takes a few seconds but then the fruitiness reappears as well as the lemon note. It doesn’t take long for the oakiness to take over though and it delivers a mix of pine, oak, tropical fruits and a very nice nuttiness. It’s a very aggressive oakiness and it brings the first clear signs of the long maturation period. The finish is the best part of the journey. This is a very good whisky. It’s a really weird one which gives it a nice exploration quality. It really needs time in the glass.

Additional information
This whisky was distilled in 1990 and aged in refill american oak hogsheads. It’s one of Diageo’s special releases for 2018. The Bottle tried is 0067/8544.

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Ardbeg, Islay

Ardbeg Perpetuum

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ABV: 47.4 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. A heavy layer of vanilla and an ashes from a recently burnt out campfire is dominating the first impression. The vanilla has an unscented lotion vibe to it, which isn’t a bad thing. There’s a saltiness and a medicinal note sitting somewhere in the middle. The sherry cask influence is very subtle but there is a small scent of raspberries coming through. This is very pleasant.

Mouth: The arrival is very medicinal with a touch of black pepper and a honey sweetness. After that it takes a while for the peat to create an ashy outer layer and, when it settles, a quite fruity inside. Raspberries are still dominating but there are some darker fruit notes detectable. It’s got an oily texture. Lemon, vanilla and just a hint of the oakiness come through after a few seconds without pushing any of the other flavours aside.

Finish: A burst of black pepper passes by before it returns to the ashy peat that are mixed with a nice vanilla driven oakiness and some chocolate. The lemon note still sits in the back and it’s still medicinal. The finish is complex and there are many flavours following along far down the road. The flavours somehow switch halfway down the road and the darker fruits is now creating a layer surrounding the oak, the peat and a sweet honey note. This is a beast in formal wear. Pure excellence.

Additional information
The Perpetuum was released 2015 as a 200-year celebration bottling. This is the 2020 re-release. It’s a mix of both young and very old whisky, matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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Ardbeg, Islay

Ardbeg Corryvreckan

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ABV: 57.1 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet, slightly fruity and very peaty. Cold ashes from a burnt out woodfire is dominating the first impression. There are vanilla and, both fresh and ripe, dark berries lurking in the background. It’s got a coastal character and it’s very medicinal. The oak is coming through around the edges of the glass. The vanilla grows more pronounced over time and the fruity note seems to be leaning towards blueberries. This is a very nice complex nose.

Mouth: It starts with a sweet honey layer on top, but underneath it’s very salty and spicy. After a second or two the full peat impact comes rushing in. The peat is now a bit warmer and rounded, but it stays salty and peaty with a medicinal iodine note. A pine note is now peeking through from the back together with the vanilla. The fruitiness is also found, but it seems to bounce around between the other flavours which makes it hard to pinpoint. It still comes through as berries though.

Finish: A sharp spicyness and black pepper flare up and then the honey, vanilla and pine notes return. The fruitiness is still intertwined with the peat and the medicinal side to it becomes more pronounced. The blueberry note keeps on popping up from time to time, but when the oakiness starts to build up it slowly fades away. The oak brings dark chocolate, black coffee and more of the vanilla. The black pepper stays all the way through the finish. This is a great, complex whisky with a lot of exploring opportunities.

Additional information
The Corryvreckan was originally a committee release but it’s now a part of their core range. It’s aged in american ex-bourbon barrels, european ex-sherry casks and european ex-Burgundy red wine casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colours.

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Japan, Nikka

Nikka Coffey Grain

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ABV: 45 %
Origin: Japan
Type: Single Grain
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 2/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

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Additional information
This whisky was released in 2012z It’s made from mostly corn. It was aged in a mix of rebuilt, recharred and refill ex-bourbon barrels. The distillate comes from Miyagikyo. The content is said to be ~8-12 years old.

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Bruichladdich, Islay, Octomore

Octomore 09.1 – Dialogos

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ABV: 59.1 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

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Additional information
This whisky was distilled in 2012 with a PPM value of 156. It was aged in ex-bourbon barrels for 5 years. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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Glenglassaugh, Highlands

Glennglassaugh Portsoy

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ABV: 49.1 %
Origin: Highland
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a mineral rich peatiness sitting in the center with a soft coating of red, ripe berries. Vanilla, honey and a hint of ginger are also found within. When it settles roasted almonds, chalk and sweet liquorice are added to the mix as well as a fresher lemony fruitiness. Time in the glass makes this a very complex experience. This is a great nose with a lot to offer to those who are patient.

Mouth: It starts out with a dusty and sweet center with an outside layer of assorted dry and fresh berries and lemon. It’s quite dry. There’s a note of leather and tobacco in the center as well as a funky background note coming from the peat. The sweet liquorice resides on the outside and covers the palate together with the honey and vanilla. There’s a lot of complexity within which makes it very fun and interesting at this point.

Finish: The transisiton sees black pepper and sweet liquorice increasing in intensity. The lemon note is in the back and the dusty layer comes through in the center together with the ripe fruits and the leather note. After a few seconds there’s an oakiness arriving which really feels misplaced due to it’s new oak character. Everything else feels balanced, ripe and well made, but the oak character feels wrong and too pronounced. The late finish is all about that oakiness with a background note of ripe and sweet red berries. This is a very good whisky which has a slightly disappointing finish.

Additional information
This whisky was aged for 12 years in a mix of ex-bourbon barrels, ex-sherry and ex-port casks.

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Bruichladdich, Islay, Octomore

Octomore 12.3

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ABV: 62.1 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and heavily peated. At first there’s a very sooty peat and a honey and vanilla sweetness coming out of the glass. Underneath lies some coastal notes like ocean air and a hint of seaweed. When it starts to settle and the nose gets accustomed to the intense flavours there’s a floral note on top and some sweet, mild berries underneath arriving slowly. It’s very approachable and the high ABV is just creating a mellow minty layer on top. There are many notes floating by, such as chocolate, iodine, violets, oak etc. This makes the experience feel like a treasure hunt. This is a great nose. It’s incredibly rich and interesting to explore.

Mouth: It starts out with a chili spicyness surrounding the palate while the center part immidiately grows into a big ball of honey, vanilla and a sooty, mineral rich peatiness. In the background there’s a savory note as well as a black coffee/dark chocolate bitterness sitting together with some ripe berries. There are hints of assorted nuts and the oakiness is slowly arriving out towards the edges. A lemon peel note is found in the background mix as well. The heavy peat seems to merge with everything else and it doesn’t feel as peaty as on the nose.

Finish: The transition starts with a quick flare of the red berries and lemon before the chili spicyness returns. The sweet center never really reaches the same height as before which gives room for a mix of coastal notes, iodine, lemon, coffee, soot and oak. These notes lasts for a long time before the finish starts to fade. It becomes slightly dry and astringent in the late finish and the oakiness is fresh and decent. It’s not the most characterful oakiness, but it does its job while the sooty peat lingers. This is a fantastic and powerful whisky with a lot to offer to those who dare to venture beyond the peat. It’s an extremely flavourful experience.

Additional information
This whisky was aged for 5 years in first fill ex-american whiskey casks (75%) and first fill ex-PX sherry casks (25%). The PPM value is 118.1. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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Aberfeldy, Highlands

Aberfeldy 12 YO

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ABV: 40 %
Origin: Highlands
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 2
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is fresh and fruity. There are Raspberries, kiwi fruits and green apples. Behind the fruitiness there’s a nice speck of dust and a dollop of vanilla cream. There’s a hint of nail polish remover on top. A touch of marzipan comes through after a while. It’s a quite pleasant nose.

Mouth: The first aquaintance is mild and dusty. The taste is not as fruity as the nose suggests and the fruitiness is now more like baked red apples. It’s vanilla forward with toffee notes added, and they move forward together as time passes in the glass. There’s a nice peppery layer somewhere in the middle. It’s astringent and there’s a clear bitterness sitting with the oak in the background waiting to burst through.

Finish: The fruitiness changes again. It’s now leaning towards darker fruits together with some peaches. The oak is dominant and quite astringent. It’s very bitter and there are espresso and pure cocoa powder notes within. The oakiness feels very fresh and strong. As a nice surprise some assorted tropical fruits arrive late and when they do, they really take over the tail end of the finish. This is a nice composition as a whole.

Additional information
Aberfeldy is one of the main components in Dewar’s Blended Scotch. The 12 YO is matured in american ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry casks.

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Ardbeg, Islay

Ardbeg 8 YO Discussion Committee Release

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ABV: 50.8 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a mineral rich campfire smoke-like peat sitting on top of a center part which includes honey, vanilla, a hint of sweet liquorice and unscented hand lotion. On top there’s a mild menthol note and underneath lies a small hint of assorted berries and citrus fruits. When it starts to settle the peat merges with the sweetness and the background notes become clearer. There’s a hint of leather and nuts coming through, as well as a more sticky sweetness. There’s a nice complexity to it with a youthful mix together with more mature notes. This is a really great nose which had a lot to offer behind the big peatiness.

Mouth: It starts out with a mild and sweet honey and vanilla note and a very mineral rich peat. On the outside there’s a mild black pepper spicyness and coastal notes as well. The background notes are really gritty with dark overripe raisins, earthy and oily peat notes, a hint of sulfur and a dark chocolate bitterness. Even though there’s a lot of demanding flavours it really comes through as approachable. There are some harsher notes floating around but they seem to be needed to give it the roughness it deserves. The whole seems very logical and balanced.

Finish: The transition is calm and it just seem to carry on delivering the same profile as before. The gritty and complex background notes really take some steps forward which is a really good thing. The middle part of the finish is just amazing with just a perfect mix of peat, fruitiness and sweetness. The dark chocolate stays in the back giving it a nice depth. The oakiness comes through late and it’s not pushing itself through. The mild intensity really suits the journey and gives it a nice send-off. This is a great whisky through and through. It really shows off the house style with a nice added fruity bonus.

Additional information
This committee release was aged in ex-sherry casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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Campbeltown, Longrow, Springbank

Longrow Red 15 YO – Pinot Noir Cask Matured (2022)

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ABV: 51.4 %
Origin: Campbeltown
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

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Additional information
This whisky was first aged for 11 years in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for 4 years pinot noir barriques. 9400 bottles were released. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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Campbeltown, Glen Scotia

Glen Scotia 8 YO Peated PX Cask Finish – Campbeltown Malts Festival 2022 Limited Edition

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ABV: 56.5 %
Origin: Campbeltown
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

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Additional information
This whisky was first aged for 7 years in firstfill ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for 1 year in PX hogsheads. 24000 bottles were released.

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Kavalan, Taiwan

Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask

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ABV: 57.8 %
Origin: Taiwan
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
(Scribbles)

Nose: Dense with thick sherry influence, dark fruits, raisins, liqour soaked cherries, dark chocolate and a hint of nail polish remover. Very potent.

Mouth: Spicy, dusty & very fruity. The oak is present and comes with a black coffee note. It really fills the mouth and it’s over the top filled with sherry flavours.

Finish: Coffee liqueur and fruit salad. There’s mint, and a slightly bitter coffee note. It ends with a very nice oak flavour.

Additional information
Cask influence happens fast in Taiwan. 2-3 years in the taiwanese heat can be compared with 8-10 years in Scotland. This single malt is aged in ex-Oloroso sherry oak casks and has natural colour and is unchillfiltered.

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Ardbeg, Islay

Ardbeg 10 YO

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

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a warm, sweet, and ”wet” peatiness, like smoke from a campfire when water is thrown on it to put it out. There’s honey, vanilla and an unscented lotion note. There are also a touch of seaweed, brine and iodine. There’s a feint hint of green fruits and lemon far away in the back. This is a very nice nose. It’s not especially complex but it’s still interesting.

Mouth: It starts out with very sweet honey and vanilla, which turns into a big burst of savory smoke. The honey note lies up front and it’s carried by a black pepper spicyness, some seasalt and a touch of bitterness. The lotion note is in there bit it’s not as pronounced as on the nose. It’s a quite mineral rich peat and it’s slightly dry.

Finish: The finish starts with menthol, honey, lemon and bittersweet smoke. It’s still savory and the wet burned wood carries through. The peat is very much the main event but the honey note isn’t far behind. The oak is slightly bitter. The finish is a never-ending story with a tar note appearing when the wet oak subsides. This is a great whisky. It’s not the most complex experience but it does its job extremely well.

Additional information
This whisky was launched in the year 2000 and is the entry level in Ardbegs core range. It’s aged in both first fill and refill ex-bourbon oak barrels. The barley has 55 ppm. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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Bruichladdich, Islay

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011

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ABV: 50 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

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Additional information
This whisky was distilled in 2011. It was aged in a mix of ex-bourbon barrels (75 %) and european ex-wine casks (25 %) for 6 years. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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BenRiach, Speyside

Benriach 10 YO The Original Ten – Three Cask Matured

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

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Additional information
This whisky was released in 2020 as a part of Benriach’s new core range. It was aged in a mix of traditional (refill) ex-bourbon barrels, ex-sherry casks and virgin oak casks.

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Ardbeg, Islay

Ardbeg 13 YO Anthology – Harpy’s Tale

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ABV: 46 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a very sweet peatiness with a lot of vanilla and a hint of unscented lotion. It’s quite ashy and mineral rich and the peat feels very Ardbeg-esque, as it should. There’s a sweet fruity mix surrounding the center in a thin layer, which sort of feels thicker up front. It’s lemon curd and honey with a fresher undefined bright fruitiness within. As it settles in the glass there’s a toffee note appearing as well as coastal salty vibes. This is a great nose and a nice and sweet take on the otherwise rough housestyle.

Mouth: It starts out with a mineral rich peatiness with and ashy top note and a lemony backdrop. There’s a speck of dust and an iodine medicinal note whitin as well. It’s not as sweet in taste as on the nose and the character overall shifts towards a more standard profile. The lemony backdrop spreads out towards the sides and there’s a very nice mellow spicyness spreading out over the palate. The coastal notes follow along to the taste as well. The oakiness is in there at this point but it still lurks within vanilla and a slight bitter note.

Finish: The transition is slightly uneventful and everything keeps the same level throughout. It almost feels like it could do with a bit more power at this point. The unscented lotion note returns in the late finish and the peat coats the entire mouth which creates a nice three dimensional feel. The lemony notes and the oak is taking front stage in the late, late finish. It’s a nice, slightly dusty oakiness with a hint of hazelnuts. This is a great whisky. The seuternes casks fits really well with the heavy housestyle, but it feels like it brings down the madness a bit too much.

Additional information
This whisky was aged in a mix of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-seuternes wine casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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Ardbeg, Islay

Ardbeg Blaaack Committee Release

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ABV: 50.7 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet peat and red berries. The initial impact is quite medicinal and rowdy. After a few seconds a sweet, rounded baseline emerges with notes of hot burning wood together with unscented lotion and vanilla cream. On top there are iodine and salty coastal notes. The fruitiness starts to come through as an outer layer and slowly takes over. It’s overripe black grapes and plums. There’s also a cooling mint effect up front. This is an interesting nose.

Mouth: At first the vanilla sweetness and the warm peatiness swells up. It’s still hot burning wood and now there’s a hay note coming through. It’s quite mild and the red wine influence has a juicy vibe to it with fresh red and black berries. There are still coastal notes and a small touch of iodine, but those are pushed back into the background. It’s slightly astringent and the oakiness shines through in the background.

Finish: A minty cloud passes by before the juicy berries and the warm peatiness return. The medicinal and coastal notes still reside in the background and the finish mirrors the mouth very well. The whole thing feels slightly subdued. The oak is fashionably late, but when it arrives it’s a very tasty nutty oakiness with hazelnuts a hint of dust on top. The overripe grapes and plums return as a thin note following along through the entire finish. This is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Additional information
The Blaack is a 2020 limited release exclusive to the Ardbeg committee members. It’s aged in ex-Pinot Noir wine casks from New Zealand. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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Highland Park, Islands

Highland Park Single Cask Series Thyra Danebod – Dronning av Danmark

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ABV: 62.8 %
Origin: Islands
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Sample added to queue. Tasting notes pending.

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Additional information
This whisky was aged in a refill puncheon for 12 years (2007-2020). This is cask no. 4939 and it’s limited to 568 bottles.

Ardbeg, Islay

Ardbeg Smoketrails – Manzanilla Edition (2022)

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ABV: 46 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 1
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes

Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a mineral rich and warm peatiness with a side note of unscented lotion. When it settles it becomes sweeter and a layer of ripe fruits and almonds start to form around the center but there’s also a small fresher green fruitiness in the back. The nuttiness increases with time and the sweetness from the ripe notes mellows the peatiness and creates a nicely balanced, yet very peaty, profile. The peatiness contains notes of smoked ham and a hint of oak as well. This is a great nose overall with a lot to offer. There’s a shift from rowdy to settled which is really nice to follow along with.

Mouth: It starts out with a bit milder than expected. The first thing to arrive is a mix of sweet honey, ripe berries, black coffee and a lemon note in the back. It doesn’t take long before the very mineral rich peatiness comes rushing in together with a peppery spicyness and some burnt toast. There’s a menthol overlay and the coffee note moves to the back. It feels slightly chaotic and lacks balance at this point. It has good flavours, but they’re not working together.

Finish: The transition slowly pulls everything together again and the sweetness, the ripe notes and the peatiness all just line up and merge. The Black pepper spicyness stays on the edges of the palate and let’s everything shine. There’s umami, minerals and warm oaky peat moving everything along. At one point there’s a wet sock note which is sort of odd, but it disappears quickly and the late finish is all about an oaky warm campfire with a hint of nuts and ripe fruit on the side. This is a great whisky. It’s nowhere near perfect and feels a bit unbalanced at times, but it still delivers a solid and interesting experience.

Additional information
This limited travel retail exclusive whisky was aged in a mix of ex-bourbon barrels and manzanilla sherry casks from Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

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