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| Hello, that is one in every of our (nearly) day by day tastings. Santé! |
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April 29, 2022
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Lochlea ‘First Launch’ (46%, OB, 7,381 bottles, 2022) 
We’re in Ayrshire. Ex-Laphroaig star John Campbell is now the supervisor at Lochlea, however I suppose he wasn’t but when this was distilled, greater than 3 years in the past. Part of this was matured in PX, which, in whisky, has now change into the equal to vinegar or paprika within the crisps enterprise. Who would not do PX today? Might malt whisky survive with out PX (and PX with out malt whisky?) We’ll focus on all that later… Color: mild gold. Nostril: very mild, I might suppose they tried to make a correct Lowlander. Pears, apples, IPA, contact of rye, contact of caraway liqueur, contact of lavender. Mouth: fatter, which is clearly excellent news. As soon as once more a wee thought of rye and lavender, orange liqueur, prickly pears and cranberry juice, sultanas, sweet floss, getting lighter and simpler over time. Good straightforward younger malt whisky, fairly ‘fashionable’, within the sense that many are making this good model today, all around the world. End: somewhat brief, fruity, candy, clear. Feedback: one other one which began from a quite excessive place. Fortunately the PX behaved.
SGP:641 – 79 factors. |
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Annandale 2017/2022 ‘Man O’ Phrases Founders Choice’ (60.4%, OB, STR Burgundy, cask #307, 244 bottles) 
What number of new distilleries on the earth at the moment are utilizing pricey Dr Swan’s well-known STR witchcraft? Dozens? A whole bunch? Once more, keep in mind, STR = shaven, toasted, recharred. Very fascinating to try this on a Burgundy cask. If it is a correct cask from Bourgogne, that is known as a pièce. If it is any hogshead into which you have injected 3 litres of cheapo stuff from the south earlier than or within the midst of STRisation, that is known as a pleasant trick, however between us I am undecided the tip outcomes can be completely different. Anyway, is STR the brand new paxarette? Focus on… certainly, later this time once more… Color: full gold. Nostril: vanilla cake, honey, candy molasses, sponge cake, then touches of meaty peppers and roasted ham. With water: honey-glazed ham with a drop of Jamaican rum. No, actually. Mouth (neat): as soon as once more, a world model, as they make it throughout Planet Earth today. Touches of mango, ginger, honey, pumpernickel, cloves, turmeric… Very thick mouthfeel. With water: quite excellent, I’ve to say. Thick, candy and spicy, ‘worldly’. End: lengthy, a tad spicier. Feedback: so maybe somewhat too ‘world’ or ‘worldwide’ or ‘globalised’ for me, alternatively I am certain there is no different approach of constructing them this good at such a (very) younger age.
SGP:451 – 83 factors. |
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Annandale 5 yo 2015/2020 (58.9%, Awico, cask #481) 
This time from an ex-amontillado cask, so this ought to be tougher… and maybe fascinating. Color: full gold. Nostril: drier and smokier, as anticipated (yeah yeah). Extra on walnuts, tobacco, black olives, amontillado certainly, seashore bonfire… Fascinating certainly. With water: olives, jabugo, cigar ashes and chilly amontillado, on a terrace in Jerez, when the temperature reaches 40°C. Holidays in your glass (until you reside in Jerez, naturally). Mouth (neat): I discover this excellent. It is nonetheless somewhat pearish and bubblegummy (youth ) however the black olives and the smoky and tobacco-y aspect simply work. And the amontillado in fact, which is bleeding apparent on this not-so wee whisky. With water: as nearly at all times, water would sort of disjoint the spirit when it’s this younger (and never secure but). On this case it could generate a curious meaty/rubbery smokiness quite near sulphur, however in a approach, that is good. And it is solely 5. End: lengthy, ashy, smoky, with greens. Artichokes and eggplants, which is usually a little ‘amontillado’ certainly. Feedback: very nice younger un-boring drop.
SGP:363 – 86 factors. |
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Aldunie 24 yo 1997/2021 (47.8%, Concerto and Anam na h-Alba, 168 bottles)
It is well-known that Aldunie is Kininvie. I agree this isn’t fairly a ‘new cat’, alternatively I am undecided we have already discovered a correct pigeonhole for Kininvie on WF. So to us, it’s nonetheless ‘a brand new distillery’. Color: mild gold. Nostril: there, pears, ripe apples and custard, simply as we remembered the make. Drop of peach juice, lager and IPA, plus a contact of chlorophyll. A really minimal but fairly nice model. Mouth: spicy and bitterer doughs, some preserved plums and fruit peel. The sensation of lager persists. We’re nonetheless undecided we may ever establish Kinnin… excuse me, Aldunie inside a blind tasting. Nicely I am certain we couldn’t. End: medium, maltier, with extra preserved plums and wee glasses of lager. We name them ‘galopins’ in France. Feedback: very all proper.
SGP:451 – 83 factors. |
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Isle of Raasay ‘Distillery Particular Launch’ (52%, OB, 2022)
A humorous combo as this child was first matured in peated rye casks from Woodford Reserve, then completed in oloroso and PX casks. Color: purple gold. Nostril: hurray, they recreated quetsche/zwetschke/damson eau-de-vie aged in oak! Which subdivides into gingerbread, cassata, fig cake and mocha. With water: recent figs and light-weight pipe tobacco simply all over the place over the place. Mouth (neat): excellent, American-style (no matter meaning), very spicy. Spicy fruitcake and gingerbread on the helm. With water: oozes of smartness (If not fairly of Skye-like coastalness). Nice mastering of wooden – undecided I ought to say that however there. Nutmeg and ginger over raisin rolls. End: lengthy, candy and spicy, extraordinarily ‘fashionable’, in the very best sense of that phrase. Higher this than NFT whisky in case you ask me, so far as modernness goes. A wee varnishy aspect within the aftertaste – American-style, I advised you. Feedback: some very profitable wooden delicacies right here.
SGP:562 – 85 factors. |
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Holyrood ‘Aged Newmake Spirit 03’ (50%, OB, American ale yeast, cask #334, +/-2021)
Ex-bourbon barrel plus an avalanche of particulars that makes the label appear to be a contract of insurance coverage. Which is sweet enjoyable, actually. Matured for 306 days, however undecided when this was distilled/bottled. Oh and it’s not whisky, solely British Plain Spirit (BPS), or no matter they name this today. Color: very pale white wine (hurray). Nostril: certainly we’re near the unique distillate, that’s to say on candy mashes, pumpkin, purple kuri squash, correct mashed potatoes (50% potatoes, 40% butter, 10% olive oil – good luck) and simply barley and weissbeer. With water: these great notes of fermenting tobacco, wash, white beers, plus maybe dry white pears. Mouth (neat): great newmake. Crushed bananas, overripe pears, chalk (yess!) and a wee glass of sake. With water: bingo. End: medium, beautifully candy and fermentary. Unexpectedly salty aftertaste. Feedback: I discover it completely nice that they would not have pumped-up this make utilizing any woods they’d have had entry to. Freshness and purity, at all times. I will certain watch Holyrood intently within the coming years, whether or not it’s going to change into a really democratic (nicely, parliamentary) whisky or not. To the République of Scotland!
SGP:641 – 87 factors (very excessive rating for a newmake, as you’ll have seen). |
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