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| Hello, that is considered one of our (virtually) each day tastings. Santé! |
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September 7, 2022
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We’ll see if all of it occurs like final time, with first a handful of varied grains from varied Distilleries, then fairly a number of Invergordons. That is the way it normally goes with grains at WF Towers… What’s good is that we have not received any very younger ones on the desk as we speak; I imply 10 years previous Girvan or bottled varnish, you recognize…
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Final Minute Annoucement
Whiskyfun is supporting all of the franchised William Cadenhead outlets in continental Europe which are seeing their companies abruptly terminated. Friendship over whisky, all the time (and whisky over the whisky enterprise, all the time).
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Xxxxxx xxx xxxxx (XX%, Xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxx xxxx xxxxx)
A seminal grain Distillery, the place they had been additionally producing malt within the (very) previous days, closed in 1993 by house owners United Distillers, whose ancestors had closely pushed the identify ‘towards the malts’ round ninety years earlier. Color: white wine. Nostril: quite numerous nail polish remover, then grass, herbs and vanilla, however as all the time when no correct sherry or different energetic casks have been used, this feels a little bit empty. As a lot as we do not like the concept that malts are all about wooden, we agree that grains are. Mouth: some vanilla and a few sweets, plus a little bit grass and some humble half-varnishy, half -vanilla-ed notes. Tends to enhance although due to some herbs. End: brief, a little bit candy. Rhubarb and juniper within the aftertaste. Feedback: an previous mix with none malts, as we generally say. Not obligatorily very obligatory, however frankly sincere, to be… sincere.
SGP:XXX – XX factors. |
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Dumbarton 20 yo (52%, Dram Mor, cask #211894, 306 bottles) 
Ballantine’s large Dumbarton Distillery was demolished in 2005. By the best way, very long time not seen an Inverleven, Dumbarton’s malt (so to talk). This must be one of many final Dumbartons… Color: white wine. Nostril: shy, natural. Grass, gooseberries, bison vodka, contemporary baguette, a little bit popcorn… With water: water virtually closes it down. Mouth (neat): extra motion on the palate, with quite numerous apples, and a few lighter white Burgundy, akin to a god aligoté. With water: some sugar popping out, in addition to liquorice wooden. Extra apples too, even correct artisanal cider. End: medium, candy, clear. Candy maize, melon, vanilla… Feedback: actually fantastic. Feels a bit like straightforward rum in the long run.
SGP:640 – 81 factors. |
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North British 30 yo 1991/2021 (49%, The Golden Cask for The Whisky Barrel, bourbon barrel, cask #CG001, 115 bottles) 
North British used to distil solely maize/corn, however undecided that is nonetheless the case. It actually was in 1991. Bear in mind it is a joint operation between Diageo and Edrington. Color: pale gold. Nostril: sunflower oil, sesame, pine nuts, white chocolate, then guavas and papayas (reasonably), dandelions… It was a great barrel, it appears. Mouth: fairly good, between columns rum, ‘malt whisky’ and youthful bourbon, with even touches of rye, not too positive the place these are coming from. Yeah, most likely from the bourbon barrel, you are proper, what was I pondering? In any case, this previous grain is a little bit fatter than others, and actually nice. The physique is just not too skinny. End: medium, not too candy, not too skinny, and a little bit tropical. Dried pineapple and coconut. Candy white wine within the aftertaste, say a Jurançon. Or Irish pot-still whiskey. Feedback: actually an excellent sipper. Anyone needing a bottle of grain could select considered one of these.
SGP:640 – 85 factors. |
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North British 30 yo 1991/2021 (49%, The Golden Cask for The Whisky Barrel, bourbon barrel, cask #CG002, 42 bottles)  Not too positive in regards to the story behind these two. Is there a message, someplace? Color: pale gold. Nostril: I am discovering this one related, however a tad drier and extra natural. Actually much less ‘attractive’ (we’ll actually have to search out one other phrase, maybe ‘sensual’? Or ‘stimulating’?) There’s fairly some maize. Mouth: actually nearer on the palate, however rather less refined, a notch harsher. There are some bits of cider apples, for instance, as an alternative of pineapples. End: medium, tart. Lemon and grass. Feedback: each are excellent. Grain that is pondering of malt.
SGP:640 – 84 factors. |
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Strathclyde 15 yo 2005/2020 (60.4%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, #G10.28, ‘Pudding faceplant’, 164 bottles)
This can be a ‘2nd fill HTMC hogshead end’ and you recognize what? I do not wanna know what that’s. Color: wealthy gold. Nostril: some concrete mud and a few scones, truffles, heat toasted bread, barbecued bananas and caramelised popcorn. With water: extra of that plus some hay beginning to ferment within the farmyard, in addition to some toasted oak in abundance. Mouth (neat): quite a butterscotch bomb at first, then concentrated pineapple juice. With water: will get sweeter, however with a tarter acidic fruitiness. Tastes a bit like Cloudy Bay riesling ;-). End: medium, very good provided that it is a grain. Appears like softer bourbon in some unspecified time in the future. Feedback: the wooden did every part right here, I think about. They might promote these Glen Desserts in pastry outlets. I hate to say that I am discovering it very, excellent.
SGP:630 – 85 factors. |
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Xxxxxx xxx xxxxx (XX%, Xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxx xxxx xxxxx)
Forgot to say, Pernod-Ricard’s Strathclyde has now taken over the big volumes of Dumbarton and must be feeding oceans of blends. Color: amber. Nostril: burnt raisins chiming on this time, plus vanilla and several other dried fruits. There’s additionally a quite spectacular, and sudden medicinal facet, round tincture of iodine. The place did that come from? Or is that an evolution of sulphur? With water: had the cask first been stuffed with a peater? Mouth (neat): chocolate and truffles. As soon as once more this medicinal facet, that is actually weird, but not disagreeable. Notes of mashed turnips on prime of all this chocolate and pastries. Very intriguing… With water: as soon as once more a contact of medicinal smoke… However that works. End: longer than your regular grain whisky for positive, a little bit citrusy, and nonetheless fairly medicinal. Hints of Laphroaig within the aftertaste. Feedback: seems like an in-cask mix. The factor is, it is excellent.
SGP:XXX – XX factors. |
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Good enjoyable with that one, however time to sort out some Invergordons. However first, this…
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Blended Grain 48 yo 1972 (49.6%, The Whisky Barrel, cask #TWB1024, 109 bottles)
All the pieces suggests this wasn’t really ever blended. What’s good enjoyable too is that it was put into cask on the day of the ultimate Apollo 17 moonwalk, on Dec 13, 1972. The true identify of this bottle is ‘We’re on our method, Houston’. Color: gold. Nostril: candy and delicate, on grain, maize bread, vanilla and coconut water. To be sincere, it doesn’t really feel prefer it’s 48 years previous, it is simply very, very mild. Some notes of younger Sauternes (I will be there in two days, at time of writing). Mouth: it is actually the interaction with the wooden that formed this wee whisky, I do not assume there was a lot within the spirit itself. Apples, melons, raisin and apricot bread, coconut, raisin rolls, a little bit cappuccino… You’d have mentioned this was 15, I would have answered ‘okay’. Besides that every one the awful varnishes that lie in younger grain are gone for good right here. End: medium, candy, straightforward. Sugarcane and coconut. Feedback: a little bit chook informed this might have been an In******on.
SGP: 630 – 85 factors. |
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Xxxxxx xxx xxxxx (XX%, Xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxx xxxx xxxxx)
Ouch, solely 14 years and solely a ending. Let’s preserve religion, they know what they’re doing… Color: gold. Nostril: whoops? Copper and tobacco, plus Starbucks’ Frappuccino (apologies) and Lindt’s milk chocolate. I imply, a great ten kilos. With water: it-is-liquid-chocolate. Mouth (neat): it is too sturdy however I take pleasure in these orangettes. In case you do not know, that is strips of orange zests dipped into black chocolate. I do know you knew what that was. With water: extra orangettes, orange liqueur, raisins, a great glass of previous oloroso, and a little bit of pecan pie. Simple and good. End: medium, chocolaty and orangey. Bear in mind, orangettes. Feedback: very nicely achieved, that is virtually sherried malt whisky from good Speyside. Proper, all of Speyside is nice.
SGP:XXX – XX factors. |
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Invergordon 32 yo 1990/2022 (51.1%, Thompson Bros., refill hogshead, 507 bottles)
What, the Nineties are actually thirty-two? And excuse me, 507 bottles from a hogshead? Oh why not, there’s inflation all over the place, particularly, it appears, in post-Brexit U.Ok. Color: white wine. Nostril: first cellulosic varnish, then banana pores and skin, sunflower oil, pine nuts, white chocolate, maize flour… With water: oh, chalk, wool, plaster, paraffin, grist… That was not anticipated, you’ll virtually imagine it’s a younger malt. Mouth (neat): candy and pure, virtually pina-colada-y. Certainly, coconut, pineapple and lighter rum. Then extra citrus, oranges… With water: gentle Cuban rum! It is that with tall columns, you may distil any uncooked supplies and provide you with fairly related, generally virtually undistinguishable outcomes. This can be a good instance. End: medium, straightforward, between cane and grain certainly. Feedback: nice enjoyable. To pour your pals whereas asking them in regards to the nation of origin.
SGP:640 – 83 factors. |
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Invergordon 34 yo 1987/2022 (54.3%, Thompson Bros., refill barrel, 230 bottles)
Nonetheless not an previous sherried Invergordon… Come on, Whiskyfun! Color: pale gold. Nostril: coconut wine and vanilla, candlewax, pine colada, Havana Membership, sugarcane syrup, blancmange… With water: balsa wooden and semolina. Some roots within the background. Carrots. Mouth (neat): some depth right here, herbs and grasses, even a tiny contact of smoke… With water: extra on bonbons and wine gums, however here is a grassier background. Asparagus? End: medium, a tad ‘silent’. Touches of pastis, or quite fennel seeds. Feedback: all wonderful, just a bit… skinny, regardless of the pastis. However I agree not all whiskies will be Laphroaig 1967.
SGP:651 – 84 factors. |
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Final one now. Appears to be like like we can’t discover any 90+ as we speak, however that may virtually solely occur with very previous sherried Invergordons, whereas I am unhappy to report that we have not received any left in WF’s pattern library. Having mentioned that, one commentary, Invergordon is the one working grain distillery that is really situated within the north of Scotland. That will imply one thing, in case you ask me… (aside from the truth that they appear to be occurring strike each occasionally, that is their French facet I suppose).
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Invergordon 44 yo 1972/2017 (46.9%, Whisky-Fässle, barrel) 
Maintain on, here’s a duck! You by no means know with geese… Color: full gold. Nostril: malt-grain. I do know there’s some malt in all grain whiskies (do you know that?) however on this very case, that feels a wee bit, even when the entire stays tender, cakey, a little bit skinny however with good bananas, coconut and oranges. Oh and the compulsory vanilla. Mouth: excellent, sweeter, with bananas and as soon as once more a sense of sunshine rum, banana cake, white chocolate, tender liqueurs (apricot and mirabelle) plus even a little bit quince jelly. One of many higher grain whiskies on the market, for positive. End: medium, tender and candy, however with a contact of varnish and even acetone that will add some dimension to this previous child. Feedback: good, this time once more we did not attain the 90-mark, however I feel we discovered as we speak’s winner.
SGP:651 – 88 factors. |
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Good, subsequent bigger grain session on WF, round February subsequent yr. Or later.
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