Whisky AGE is a Taiwanese importer of a number of manufacturers (The Whisky Jury and Maltbarn, amongst others) but additionally an unbiased bottler. We strive 4 of their latest bottlings, and we’ll quickly discover out they’ve a nostril for good whisky.
Ben Nevis 26 yo 1996 (49,9%, Whisky Age 2022, refill butt #21, 431 btl.)
Nostril: Ben Nevis is just not all the time appropriate with sherry wooden in my view, however that is good. There’s a number of ripe orange in addition to tangerines and traces of mango, very juicy. A light-weight blossomy contact. Additionally faint tobacco and hints of paraffin. Hay and leathery notes. Some flinty notes and funk within the background. A slight peppery prickle too.
Mouth: the citrus fruits on the nostril already gave us excessive hopes and sure, the juicy fruitiness stays sturdy on the palate. Pink grapefruit and a flash of ardour fruits earlier than it turns into chalky and fatty, with a delicate salty notice and walnuts. Leafy notes and natural tea. Candy ginger. There’s a darker sweetness than you’d count on in (ex-bourbon) Ben Nevis, however fortunately the sherry by no means drowns the standard, nearly tropical fruity character.
End: lengthy, zestier now, with herbs and lingering mineral notes.
A great instance of refill sherry including complexity whereas leaving the unique spirit shine by means of. Nice Ben Nevis, juicy, funky and layered. Glorious begin of this session.
Glenrothes 23 yo 1997 (53,2%, Whisky Age 2021, hogshead #715753, 262 btl.)
Nostril: begins fairly impartial, targeted on plain barley, however it turns into fruitier by the minute. Peaches, yellow apples, perhaps a touch of mango. There’s additionally a really bourbonny aspect with vanilla and minty notes. Actually creamy and balanced.
Mouth: the identical vivid and full fruity profile, fully on stewed apples, oranges, juicy nectarines and hints of mango. Nonetheless a traditional woody aspect (vanilla, aniseed and white pepper). It’s creamy, with hints of fruit syrup even, however it turns into barely drier and chalkier in the direction of the tip. Higher than anticipated.
End: lengthy, with an excellent stability of syrupy fruits, chalky notes, citrus zest and oak spice.
At first I wasn’t planning to incorporate this pattern. Most Glenrothes 1997 was clearly sherried and never all the time completely clear. That is fairly totally different: very fruity, nearly syrupy at instances, brighter and extra according to its neighbours Glen Grant or Caperdonich. Briefly: nice choice work once more. Rating: 89/100
Glen Elgin 10 yo 2011 (57,4%, Whisky Age 2021, hogshead #801804, 313 btl.)
Nostril: youngish in comparison with the opposite two, however actually clear. Brilliant fruits like inexperienced apples and white grapes. Mild honey. Somewhat sage. Candy grassy notes. Ginger lemonade. Recent and summery.
Mouth: candy, fruity and recent once more. White grapes return, with juicy pears and inexperienced melons. A variety of icing sugar and hints of fruit eau-de-vie. Then off-sweet herbs. A number of echoes of Riesling too, in a means. Later it positive aspects hints of ginger, honey and grassy notes.
End: lengthy, very targeted on inexperienced fruits and white pepper now.
A really pure distillate, clear and top quality. Maybe a bit slim at this level, however completely flawless. I might love to do this as a highball. Rating: 87/100
Ledaig 10 yo 2010 (57,4%, Whisky Age 2021, first fill Oloroso hogshead #06021, Mid-Autumn pageant version, 183 btl.)
Nostril: massive sooty notes at its base, with candy toffee and purple apples within the center and a little bit of citrus sharpness on the prime. Almonds, wooden char, smoked tea and spices like cinnamon and black pepper. Candy cigars and hints of automotive workshops too.
Mouth: candy and deeply sooty. There’s toffee, candy apples and ripe stonefruit, but additionally darker chocolate notes and black pepper. Then candy espresso and walnuts. Hints of charred wooden. There’s a wee bitter edge and a refreshing minty notice.
End: lengthy and drier, nonetheless displaying a bitter contact, alongside leathery dryness, candy ashes and a touch of burnt rubber.
Deeply peaty whisky, with numerous sooty / ashy notes and charred wooden. The sherry provides the required sweetness. Barely pressure-cooked however one other faultless bottling. Excessive scores on this session. Rating: 87/100
