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| Hello, that is certainly one of our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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November 30, 2021
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Single grain Scotch whisky – I am unsure vatted/blended grain really ever existed as a industrial bottling – was once very uncommon. Generally you’d have had a go at Cameron Brig only for enjoyable whereas on the pub, after which Signatory began to bottle some very previous ones now and again whereas William Grant launched a weakish (IMHO) ‘Black Barrel’ – no we cannot point out Haig Membership; oops, too late – however usually talking, grain was stated to be a ‘silent’, or ’empty’ whisky, solely meant to be fodder for blends. In my view, and when you put some previous ex-sherry Invergordons apart, it is solely very not too long ago that some true wizards of ‘wooden expertise’ managed to make grain whisky actually palatable and generally even somewhat malt-like, somewhat magically, in brief not as skinny because it was once anymore. Fairly an achievement! Let’s have a look at what we’ve…
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Girvan 13 yo 2006/2019 (61.2%, Fadandel.dk, barrel, cask #532404, 203 bottles) 
A barely scary set-up… Color: white wine. Nostril: varnish, plus varnish and polish, in addition to a bit of varnish and a drop of UHU glue, spirit gum, then coconut water, M&S marshmallows and strawberry yoghurt. With water: pure Malibu and a pack of vanilla sugar from Mum’s kitchen, then perhaps some vanilla-flavoured espresso straight from Starbucks. Vanilla macchiato, vanilla latte or different pernicious drinks. Mouth (neat): bubblegum vodka. There was once a wee spirits store in London referred to as ‘The Intoxication Station’ the place they might have had fairly a bunch of loopy vodkas bottled at strengths comparable to 70% vol., 80% vol. and even everybody’s favorite, 88% vol. See what I imply? With water: add sawdust. End: medium, ethanoly. Feedback: good enjoyable and I really like what they bottle at Fadandel’s, however this time I feel I will move and I am a bit of too previous to exit reveal with (what stays of) the poor gilets jaunes, so I have never even received any use of this as a Molotov cocktail…
SGP:620 – 50 factors. |
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Cambus 26 yo 1991/2018 (49.4%, The Whisky Company for Whisky Picnic Bar Taiwan, sherry butt, cask #103022, 55 bottles) 
Our mates in Taiwan simply had an totally beautiful younger Talisker, however this might be totally different… Color: white wine. Nostril: somewhat lots of bitter wooden on this one, however that is somewhat an enchancment in my e-book. One thing somewhat acetic too, pickled onions, then tropical fruits, particularly in chutneys. I can not not consider our beloved mango chutney. In any case, a really totally different grain whisky, most intriguing. Mouth: gentler, even when there’s some peppery and, certainly, somewhat bitter oak within the background. Touches of cellulosic varnish, bubblegum, maybe bison vodka this time, then custard and maybe some cranberry sauce, the type you’d have with venison. End: somewhat lengthy, with touches of fruity and flowery Swiss cheese. Dry white wine. Feedback: lots of enjoyable available with these deviant and barely freaky bottlings, even when they’re, certainly, fairly deviant.
SGP:630 – 82 factors. |
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Strathclyde 29 yo 1989/2019 (55.7%, Cadenhead, World Whiskies, bourbon barrel, 180 bottles) 
Cadenhead do maintain an open thoughts and would generally bottle some grains as a few of their ‘world whiskies’. That is not being very Scotch-centric, is it? Color: white wine. Nostril: varnish and wooden alcohol at first, however civilisation is quickly to take over and to let some finer whiffs of vanilla and maybe orange squash come by way of. Fanta (is Fanta civilised certainly?) With water: nougat and popcorn, Kellogg’s stuff, which would come with dried goji berries and raisins this time. Mouth (neat): that is good, with beautiful orange-liqueur-filled goodies and a few creamy, nicely, sugar-cream-like flavours. Banana foam too. With water: no modifications. Maybe a bit of extra oranges but, and white chocolate, Jaffa truffles, Twist Pops… End: a bit of quick however clear and fruity. Triple-sec aged in oak. Feedback: not the primary 1989 Strathclyde by WM Cadenhead that I loved somewhat lots.
SGP:630 – 85 factors. |
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We’re on an ascending development, are we not?…
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Girvan 30 yo 1991/2021 (49.6%, Chapter 7, ‘Monologue’, bourbon barrel, 547 bottles)
Color: gentle gold. Nostril: oh there, nougat, cassata, caramelised popcorn, white chocolate, vitality bars, Golden Grahams, Honey Pops, vanilla… This wants no literature (nevertheless it wanted a few years of getting old). Mouth: excellent grain, candy, candied, with liquorice allsorts and extra nougat, maple syrup, vanilla fudge, triple-sec… All is nicely and all is nice, even when it’s not totally complicated whisky. In spite of everything, that is solely grain. End: medium, recent, as soon as once more extra on oranges. A burst of coconutty flavours within the aftertaste. Feedback: candy as a pie whereas certainly, we’re a bit of nearer to a bourbon this time.
SGP:630 – 85 factors. |
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Invergordon 31 yo 1990/2021 (53.9%, Liquid Treasures, barrel, 152 bottles)
Beautiful Euro-pop-art label right here. Color: straw. Nostril: lots of bitter oak as soon as extra, very a lot within the fashion of the Cambus 1991 TWA for Taiwan. Swiss cheese upfront, tiny touches of ammonia (no probs), then somewhat extra nice Chardonnay (Meursault with fairly some recent oak) and the compulsory vanilla + coconut combo. A bit of honey too, fig jam, chutneys certainly… With water: not a lot, it might really get less complicated. Mouth (neat): oh good, some gin! Juniper, pink pepper, caraway liqueur or aquavit, actually some chartreuse… I doubt the distillate has something to do with this, we could have to speak to the barrel… With water: at all times prefer it when grains get malty. Not the primary time this occurs with an Invergordon. Ginger cookies. End: medium, spicier, virtually Christmassy. Stollen and Läckerli, hoppla. Feedback: hoppla.
SGP:631 – 86 factors. |
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It is a true vertical session… Oh by the way in which, I’ve heard some new grain distillery is presently been inbuilt Scotland?
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North British 32 yo 1989/2021 (46.7%, Cask 88, refill bourbon, cask #213649, 215 bottles) 
North British is meant to be maize, is it not? Color: gentle gold. Nostril: the lightest of all of them, additionally the grassiest and most natural, with tiny touches of dill, Wulong, whiffs of correct mashed potatoes (with lots of butter), then somewhat natural teas, chamomile for certain, mullein flowers… It is all very delicate and, nicely, the cask certain behaved. Kudos to the cask, no awful vanilla or coconut in the way in which this time! Mouth: there might be one thing from the cask’s earlier content material, perhaps a lightweight peater? Certainly I am discovering a wee minerality, some smoky touches, nicely stuff that ought to not seem in grains. Then orange blossom honey, earl gray, and a few coastal form of citrus, considerably ala Pulteney. No, actually. End: medium, clear, extra natural than the others. Mandarine Impériale, verbena syrup, citron liqueur… Feedback: a bit of mindboggling at occasions, maybe the maize? However an excellent grain for certain…
SGP:650 – 88 factors. |
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The verticality holds, because it appears…
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Cameronbridge 46 yo 1974/2021 (40.1%, Boogieman Import, hogshead, 54 bottle) 
One other Dutch craziness (I had first written Belgian, sorry). Color: straw. Nostril: we’re virtually in maltdom now, you possibly can consider that is an early Seventies Glen Grant, or Caperdonich, or Glenlivet… Or, maintain on, Bowmore! Sounds odd, I do know, however these tropical fruits can not not make you consider late-Nineteen Sixties or early-Seventies Bowmore. Mangos and keenness fruits coated with heather honey and a bit of mint cream. This tiny camphory facet is beautiful too. Belgium, we have to discuss… Mouth: nicely I used to be certain this is able to be a catastrophe due to the low energy. How incorrect was I, that is certainly Bowmore early Seventies-like. Pink grapefruits, ardour fruits, tangerines, eucalyptus honey, beeswax, nectarines… Wonderful. End: not even quick! Identical combo at play. Solely the aftertaste is a wee tad lighter, even weaker, even grainier. In spite of everything, this wasn’t early Seventies Bowmore. Feedback: simply splendid, perhaps even higher than correct Belgian artisanal shrimp croquettes (no worries, some non-public joke).
SGP:641 – 91 factors. |
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We’re nonetheless vertical, are we not!?
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North of Scotland 49 yo 1971/2021 (40.4%, Boogieman Import, hogshead, 56 bottle)
North of Scotland, generally a.ok.a. Alloa, in Clackmannanshire, has actually been a short-lived grain distillery (1957 or 1958-1980). Dangerous timing, I suppose… Color: gentle gold. Nostril: much more of a sense of early Seventies Glen Grant or Glenlivet, with truffles, honeys, beeswax, overripe apples, juicy sultanas after which orange and honeysuckle blossoms. Very beautiful however no Bowmore this time, I am afraid. Mouth: this one breaks our vertical path. Do not get me incorrect, it’s great previous grain, with somewhat extra earthiness, and absolutely deepness than your common previous grain, nevertheless it could not compete with the beautiful Cameronbridge 1974 by the identical very honourable Belgian bottler. Figs enjoying first fiddles. End: medium, a tad extra indefinite – nicely the 1974 was only a killer. Honeyed aftertaste, with a bit of tea. Feedback: one other very good previous grain that stood the check of time.
SGP:551 – 87 factors. |
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Good, at this level I doubt we might handle to interrupt the Cameronbridge 1974, however nicely, let’s give it a strive, anyway…
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Carsebridge 48 yo (56.3%, Elixir Distillers, Whisky Path Silhouettes, 2021)
This one’s very model new. So extra very early Seventies grain whisky, which we could now strive whereas listening to T-Rex. The older I get, the higher T-Rex have been (we used to consider Bolan was simply an under-Bowie, however nostalgia strikes at random and remorselessly…) Color: amber. Nostril: sherry, clearly, and to be sincere I might have stated Invergordon. Roasted chestnuts, orange cordial, chicory espresso, Iberico ham (lot of bellotas), whiffs of gunpowder, soot, cigars, rotting figs and bananas… With water: Maggi coming out! And Chestnut liqueur from Ardèche, in addition to that Spanish ham that we love a lot. Mouth (neat): I am not a grain man however I have to take my hat off, even when we’re not fairly up there with that Cameronbridge ’74. Beautiful chestnut honey, Cointreau, Szechuan pepper in abundance, pink grapefruit liqueur, contact of rum (previous Cuban)… With water: glorious, firmer, malty, fairly peppery. Large boy at this stage. End: lengthy, bouillony, glutamate-y, with extra savoury flavours than anticipated. Sooty, barely salty aftertaste. Feedback: sherry I suppose. Nice dry vintage grain whisky, which I might wholeheartedly suggest, particularly as I’ve heard the label comes with free Ray-Bans (I am joking).
SGP:461 – 90 factors. |
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That was sufficient, CU, keep tuned.
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