Etikettarkiv: whisky review

Islands, Isle of Raasay

Isle of Raasay Inaugural Release 2020 – Limited Edition

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ABV: 52 %
Origin: Islands
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a layer of herbacous peat and darker red berries with a bottom note of vanilla and honey. It feels very rich and lively. The top note is very sharp and pointy. When it settles it becomes brighter with fresh berries and citrus fruits with a soft layer of mint on top. The peat falls back and moves out towards the edges. This is a nice and interesting nose which lacks some depth, but that’s not too much of a bother.

Mouth: It starts out very oaky, sharp and pointy. The peat is creating an outer layer and the core is malty and has a very beer-like quality to it. There’s a pine note as well as red berries and a weird saltiness within. There’s also a bitter side to it which comes through with time. It’s astringent and sort of attacks the palate with all the flavours at the same time. This means it becomes sort of overwhelming and not all that pleasant on the palate.

Finish: The ABV spicyness flares up and creates a nice peppery overtone. It then reverts to oak and pine together with astringent sour red berries and a hint of vanilla. It doesn’t have a sweet base anymore and the peat is slowly subsiding. The ”beery” maltiness stays in the core for a good while before the wood takes over. It still feels like a mix of pine and oak a long way down the line which isn’t all that great. This is a decent whisky with some nice flavours but it feels like it’s undecesive and all over the place. That makes it a bit hard to access.

Additional information
This is the first legal whisky from the distillery. It’s aged in ex-Tennessee whisky barrels and finished in first fill ex-Bourdeaux red wine casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour. This is bottle number 301/7500.

Glenlivet, Speyside

The Glenlivet Nàdurra – Oloroso Matured

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ABV: 60.2 %
Origin: Speyside
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark and spicy. Chili and black liquorice sit on top of a quite young and lively distillate. Raisins, dades and tobacco creep up along the inside of the glass. The longer it sits the sweeter it gets with notes of Amaretto, honey and a touch of vanilla. A tiny hint of green apples is in there somewhere. This is very powerful with great cask influence.

Mouth: At first there’s a tobacco note and a hefty ABV spicyness. After a few seconds some dried fruits come through together with a quite nice bitterness. There are still notes of raisins, dades and a now prominent honey sweetness. There’s a toffee note in the background. It feels more mature than on the nose and there’s some dustiness on top.

Finish: A strong menthol cloud goes by and it’s start out with quite low key flavours. After a few seconds the bitterness returns together with muted notes of the Oloroso with liquorice, raisins and honey up front. It takes quite the long time before some oakiness appear. It’s a very laid back oakiness that never picks up speed. It’s a short finish that is somewhat disappointing. It’s still a great dram overall.

Additional information
This cask strength release is aged in first fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks for an undisclosed amount of time. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour. The bottle tried was from batch OL0818.

Speyside, Tomintoul

Tomintoul 16 YO

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

Tasting notes
Nose: This is very sweet and juicy. At first there’s a thick layer of vanilla, honey and sweet liquorice sitting on top of sweet oranges, clementines, heather and cinnamon. Behind those sits a backdrop of fragrant oak. There’s also a tiny hint of dill somewhere in the far distance. It’s a rich and very welcoming nose with very accessible aromas.

Mouth: It starts out a bit mild but with a hefty dose of black liquorice, together with black coffee and malt. It’s filled with mild kitchen spices and the age is coming through as a dusty oakiness spreading out over the palate. It’s still very honey sweet and the oakiness keeps increasing in intensity. It’s somewhat astingent. The sweet juicy citrus fruits have taken a step back, but they are still present in the background.

Finish: It starts out uneventful and it just seems like it continues seemlessly. The fruitiness moves forward a bit and the oranges and clementines are now joined by some assorted tropical fruits. The sweetness still has a big roll, but it starts to tone down and move out towards the edges. The oakiness is there all the way from the beginning and it’s a very nice, dusty oakiness intertwined with the tropical fruits and some sweet liquorice. This is a good whisky which is a bit too watered down, yet produces some nice flavours.

Additional information
Tomintoul is owned by Angus Dundee Distillers and is known as ”The Gentle Dram”. This is aged for 16 years in american white oak ex-bourbon barrels.

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Caperdonich, Speyside

Caperdonich 18 YO – Peated

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

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a thin layer of honey, heather and vanilla with a base note of leathery peatiness. There are also notes of hay and tobacco. It’s very aromatic and with time a layer of friendly green fruits start to appear. A small hint of black liquorice is also floating around inside. The peat sort of mellows out over time. This is a nice nose and everything is very mild but it’s still not flat and boring.

Mouth: It starts out with heather, honey and vanilla up front and a lemon note in the back. It soon turns very astringent, dry and bitter almost to the point where it’s unbearable to keep it in the mouth. It feels a bit ”hot” too. The peat is creating an outer layer and it’s a grassy and herbaceous peatiness. The leather and tobacco notes are now separated from the peatiness and is sitting in the center telling a tale of age. There’s still a green and fresh fruitiness floating around within.

Finish: It starts out with chili spicyness together with a rush of the fresh fruitiness and the heather. It soon turns astringent, dry and bitter once again which overshadows most of the finish. The peat is there, as well as the leather notes in the center. The oakiness is coming through but it’s hard to categorize due to the astringency mixed with the peat. This is an interesting experience, but it’s not the greatest of whiskies. There are nice flavours but they are hidden behind an array of bad sensations.

Additional information
This 18 YO is part of Pernod Ricard’s ”Secret Speyside collection” . It’s aged in ex-bourbon barrels. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour. Caperdonich is a closed distillery.

Macallan, Speyside

The Macallan Amber

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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 dark fruits and vanilla. At first there’s a thick layer of dark fruitiness with raisins, plums and liqeuer-soaked cherries together with a vanilla coating. There are also a fresher fruitiness within, as well as a hint of cinnamon. The sherry notes feel like a lid on top of the distillate. They do grow more three-dimensional and darker with time in the glass. There are hints of oak peeking through at times. There is also a heavy sweetness coming through and it feels very connected to the dark fruitiness. This is a nice nose, but it feels somewhat divided into two parts.

Mouth: It starts out with lemon in the back and assorted dry fruits up front. After a few seconds it shifts and turns towards a darker character with ripe blackberries and bitter black coffee notes in the back. It turns even darker with time and it’s not as sweet as on the nose. The vanilla and cinnamon are still in there together with a hint of toffee but they are subdued by the dark fruits and black coffee. It’s very mild and even though it’s flavourful it’s not producing any hard impact on the palate.

Finish: It starts out with a quick minty fresh sweep before the dark fruits and black coffee notes return. The vanilla and cinnamon is now really pushed back and that leaves room for the oakiness to emerge from within the coffee notes. It’s a nice oakiness which matches the profile very well. The contribution to the coffee notes aside it doesn’t deliver any other specific characteristics. The lemon note returns in the late finish which isn’t all too suitable. This is a good whisky which has a couple of flaws when scrutinized, but it’s still a nice and easy sipper.

Additional information
Amber is a part of Macallan’s 1824 series. It’s aged in a combination of refill ex-sherry american oak casks and first fill spanish ex-sherry casks. It contains whiskies from 8-18 years old.

Bergslagen, Engelbrekt, Sweden

Engelbrekt

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ABV: 43 %
Origin: Sweden
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 2/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is young and sweet. At first there’s a thin layer of honey, vanilla and toffee sitting on top of a fruity and ethanol driven background. There are apples and coconuts as well as floral and oaky notes floating around within. With time the sweetness increase in intensity which is much needed to balance out the young distillate. This is a nice but very spirit driven nose.

Mouth: It starts out with a quite noticable distillate and when the sweetness arrives it resides out on the edges. The fruity and floral notes are in there but it feels like they’re pushed away. The same goes for the toffee as well. There’s a hint of coconut left and it’s connected to a fresh oakiness which also comes with a bitterness in the tail end. There’s lemon and a metallic note in the back. The toffee notes move forward with time though and somewhat covers the young distillate.

Finish: There’s a nice spicyness passing through at the start of the finish. When it settles the distillate takes over once again. The apples return for a quick visit. The toffee flavour return as well and leads way into the oakiness. It’s a nutty and fresh oak with a lot of character. The late finish is certainly the best part of the journey. This is a young and spirit driven whisky which has some nice notes, but it really could do with a couple of more years in a cask.

Additional information
Engelbrekt is aged for at least 5 years in ex-bourbon hogsheads and then finished in virgin oak barrels. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

Glenmorangie, Highlands

Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or

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

Tasting notes
Nose: This is rich and sweet. At first there’s a honey and white chocolate sweetness covering a large part of the impact. There’s a thin floral layer floating on top and a hint of citrus fruits in the back. There’s also an eucalyptus note within as well as an almond nuttiness. It becomes sweeter with time and vanilla and sweet liquorice start to move up towards the edges. This is a great and rich nose with a lot of different things to discover.

Mouth: It starts out with a powerful impact of honey, malt and eucalyptus. The core is surrounded by citrus zest and white chocolate. There’s a hint of tropical fruits floating around within as well. It’s somewhat astringent and the oakiness is peeking through every now and then. The liquorice shifts and moves towards the background. It feels very rich and textured. It’s not as floral and as on the nose.

Finish: The eucalyptus is spreading out over the palate and gives it a nice cooling effect. The citrus and tropical fruitiness are close behind as well as the white chocolate, honey and vanilla notes. The liquorice is still in there but it’s more subdued. The oakiness comes through quite late but when it does it’s a very nice nutty oakiness with a white chocolate coating. This is a fantastic dessert whisky. It’s very sweet but it still gives away a lot of different flavours to balance it out.

Additional information
This is part of the Glenmorangie Extra Matured series. It’s aged for 10 years in american ex-bourbon barrels and finished in french ex-sauternes wine casks for 2 additional years. It’s discontinued and replaced with a no age statement whisky with the same same.

Glendullan, Singleton, Speyside

The Singleton of Glendullan Select – Game of Thrones House Tully

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

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and fruity. At first there’s a layer of red apples surrounded by vanilla and oak. There’s a brighter lemon note floating around somewhere within. There’s a maltiness, and with time also a butterscotch note, slowly moving forward. It stays somewhere behind and then merges with the other flavours. This is a nice, straight forward nose. It is mild and a bit uneventful though.

Mouth: It starts out a bit flat for a short moment and then starts with the maltiness, vanilla and butterscotch on top. It soon starts to spread out and become more textured which is a very nice and surprising transition. There’s a hint of sweet liquorice coming through as well as the red apples although they tend to lean more towards being ripe at this point. The butterscotch note seems to move back and then stay as a baseline throughout.

Finish: It starts out with a boost of the fresher fruitiness with a top note of mild menthol. It soon mellows out and return the same flavour profile as before. The finish is quite long, first with the ripe apples, vanilla and maltiness then with a quite nice fresh oakiness. This is a decent whisky with some nice flavours muted down to suit the inexperienced palate.

Additional information
This whisky is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for an undisclosed amount of time. There’s not much more information to be found about this GoT release.

Finland, Teerenpeli

Teerenpeli Distiller’s Choice – Karhi (Batch 3)

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

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and slightly thin. At first there’s a vanilla and honey sweetness together with a ”Beery” malt and hops vibe. The distillate shines through very clearly. There are notes of charred oak and a very thin layer of assorted fruits sitting on top of everything. There’s also a hint of menthol hovering above everything. This is a nice nose but there’s no transitions or shifts which make it feel a bit uneventful.

Mouth: It starts out sweet and malty with a hint of lemon in the back. There’s a spicyness slowly making its way forward over time. The beer notes are still in there as well as the fruitiness, but it’s a more ripe and dark set of fruits, yet there’s a small lemon note coming through from the back. The charred oak is still in there as well. The honey and vanilla sweetness is residing on the edges and it’s not as sweet as on the nose. It still doesn’t really change much over time.

Finish: There’s not much happening from the start and the spicy side is not making any attempts to be in focus. The ripe fruitiness moves to the back and creates almost a savory note. There’s still a hint of lemon left. The maltiness is almost completely gone and it soon shifts towards a very nice and aromatic oakiness which fills most of the center space. It mixes well with the fruitiness. The finish is very nice and it stays for a long rewarding finish. This is a good whisky which is a bit uneventful and slightly thin, but it offers nice flavours and a great oaky finish.

Additional information
The Karhi is first aged for 5-7 years in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for about a year in ex-Madeira casks. The bottle tried is 1167/1353.

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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.

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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