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| Hello, that is one in every of our (virtually) each day tastings. Santé! |
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February 14, 2022
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High-class previous grains whiskies (30-55 yo)
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We do that each few months. I would say when the wooden is sweet, the grain is sweet, supplied extreme coconuts and nail polishes are saved at a distance. Let’s examine what we’ve got…
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Girvan 30 yo 1991/2021 (53.6%, The Whisky Barrel, The Grand Tour, Viking 1, 1st fill palo cortado, cask #TWB1022, 162 bottles) 
We preserve roaming area with The Whisky Barrel. Hope this wee Girvan is not rocket gas, having stated that. Color: gold. Nostril: a comfortable vanilla, much less varnish than anticipated, no acetone, quite some recent brioche. It is a comfortable, mild one. With water: a bit chamomile, a contact of spearmint, then shoe polish and steel polish. Mouth (neat): a bit coconut this time, some candy grasses, touches of earth that will even impart a wee felling of malt whisky, then orange squash and jelly infants. Slightly roasted tea, probably from the sherry cask (hochicha).With water: I am reminded of some previous bottles of Canadian Membership that my father used to convey again from his travels. End: quite brief, naturally, however not too skinny. Slightly nutty/leafy sherriness. Feedback: probably the most effective Girvans I’ve ever tried, however I am not a fan of Girvan usually talking.
SGP:641 – 84 factors. |
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Girvan 30 yo 1991/2021 (52.6%, Oxhead Whisky, refill bourbon barrel, cask #54709, 134 bottles)
Color: gold. Nostril: I am discovering this one much more metallic, which, I insist, I take pleasure in. Penny guide, aluminium can, then quite comfortable maize bread, candy focaccia, teas… As typical it is a quite thinnish nostril however I discover it fairly charming and would perceive that somebody would use it as a correct element in a high-brow previous mix. Some vanilla, a bit coconut water. With water: some varnish popping out, and this time once more a bit shoe polish. Mouth (neat): actually candy and fruity. Extra orange squash, chamomile, ginger beer, additionally a bit hibiscus syrup, maybe… With water: a weird feeling of Southern Consolation and sugar eggs. Definitely not disagreeable and possibly even fairly humorous. End: shortish, thinnish, with notes of chicory espresso this time. That is the oak. Feedback: I preferred it simply the identical. It is not unimaginable that 30 can be a minimal age for grain whiskies.
SGP:641 – 84 factors. |
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North British 30 yo 1991/2021 (47.6%, The Whisky Barrel, The Grand Tour, Viking 2, 1st fill palo cortado, cask #TWB1023, 159 bottles) 
Let’s hope this child will not make us spaced out… Peace! Love! Keep in mind, no less than at the moment, North British was distilling maize. Color: gold. Nostril: one other one which’s quite seductively metallic, however this time I am additionally discovering a bit mustard, definitely some fino sherry, nocino liqueur (inexperienced walnut liqueur, you might verify Silver Seal’s), some burnt toasts, almonds, pistachios…Allt that is quite pretty and you’d consider at occasions that that is malt whisky. Mouth: all the time this built-in thinness, however I am definitely not in opposition to these bitter teas (eglantine) or these sweeter tobaccos (from untipped Camels or Craven “A”, keep in mind?) Slightly coconut wine or liqueur, however no vulgarity. End: brief, quite candy and bitter, with some coriander and coconut. One thing Thai, I might say. Feedback: skinny not weak, with in all probability a bit extra motion than within the Girvans.
SGP:551 – 85 factors. |
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To the seminal Cambus (verify the previous advert up there)…
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Cambus 30 yo 1991/2021 (53.3%, Cadenhead, Annual Store Launch 2021, oloroso sherry hogshead) 
Cambus, the seminal grain whisky! Color: crimson amber. Nostril: the prevalence of an lively oloroso cask is clearly displayed right here. A big walnut cake, some chocolate and macchiato, some black nougat (or Spanish turon), additionally a sense of previous South-American rum. Maybe from Colombia? Peru? There’s even a bit Maggi, lovage, soy sauce… Clearly cask that is completed its job correctly. Mouth: bingo, nice work Cadenhead. Fantastic espresso liqueurs, roasted pecans, chestnut honey, then a bit marmalade, some greasy umami-led bouillons, rum once more… Effectively, that is virtually malt whisky. Nice cask. End: medium (so not brief), nutty, meaty and coffee-y. Contact of glue and polish within the aftertaste, which I discover good and humorous. Feedback: nice grain from an incredible cask. Quasi-malt (I do know, I do know).
SGP:562 – 88 factors. |
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Cameronbridge 46 yo 1974/2021 (40.2%, Wu Dram Clan & Whizita, hogshead, 218 bottles) 
That is nicely cask energy, thoughts you. Most likely a bit fragility in there… Color: straw. Extremely pale at 46. Nostril: maintain on. Who poured a number of bottles of Nineteen Sixties Bowmore into this hogshead? The place do these mangos and pink bananas come from? And the sunflower oil? The marzipan? The viognier? The white asparagus? The wee pineapples? The lilac and the wisteria? All that is extraordinarily comfortable, maybe a bit fragile certainly, however simply great. Within the previous days, some absent-minded tasters could have described this one as ‘being a bit female’. Mouth: phew! No extreme tea-ness, no sawdust, quite these tropical fruits as soon as once more (simply the identical ones) and a luxurious floralness. Zucchini flowers and honeysuckle, rose petals, correct Turkish delights, flower beignets… Nearly a liquid miracle, how did this one survive this superbly? End: positive it is not very lengthy, however what a beautiful natural and floral freshness. Mango syrup within the aftertaste! Feedback: one of the vital floral whiskies I’ve ever tried, chamber whisky as in chamber music. An utter miracle. So, inform me, who did pour the previous Bowmores whereas nobody was watching?
SGP:640 – 91 factors. |
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Invergordon 48 yo 1972/2021 (44.1%, C. Dully Choice, barrel, cask #1088, 140 bottles)
Color: gold. Nostril: I am reminded of some Very Previous Fitzgerald bourbons this time. Large vanilla and fudge, with whiffs of cellulosic varnish, then quite numerous tobaccos. Scones, millionaire shortbread, dandelions, then a number of wine gums, jellybeans, bubblegum… Some youth remaining on this very previous grain. Some peanut butter too. Mouth: issues are a bit robust after the previous Cameronbridge (Ca-me-ron-bridge!) that simply surprised us. Previous sherried Invergordons are well-known however even when this a tad easier, give it a bit consideration and you will find some great pastries, custard, acacia honey, bubblegum, banana foam, maybe a bit agave syrup, barley syrup, orgeat… Energy and physique are good. End: medium, rounded, on banana cake and heather honey. It is actually very a lot alive. Feedback: exquisitely banana-y and dangerously drinkable. Class cask.
SGP:640 – 88 factors. |
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Invergordon 55 yo 1965/2021 (40%, Wu Dram Clan & Kirsch Import, barrel, 228 bottles)
This IS cask energy and most likely the oldest grain whisky ever bottled (able to be confirmed unsuitable). These individuals are loopy. Color: full gold. Nostril: it must be stated that the Nineteen Sixties Invergordons do rule supreme over my ‘grainy listing’ (which does not fairly exist in actual life however there). That is quite a sort of complicated soup, with bits of artichoke, asparagus, leek or cauliflower, all that seasoned with whisky and triple-sec in addition to a bit miso and umami sauce. Slightly crushed overripe banana too, maybe manioc, celeriac, parsnips… It is getting fractal, in reality, simply wait and lots of tinier aromas will begin to parade below your nostrils. Mouth: salty and barely varnishy at first, with some bouillons, then quite on seasoned fruit juices. I used to be about to say candy guacamole. Maybe not. Banana chutney, mango chutney, extra bouillon… The physique’s clearly a notch skinny(nish) however on no account does it grow to be irritating. Drops of banana wine, mullein syrup, woodruff syrup… End: brief, naturally, however as soon as once more that is not irritating in any respect. Candy teas, vanilla-ed rooibos, a tiny contact of liquorice wooden, maybe a number of mirabelles… As soon as once more a faint varnishy return within the aftertaste, which is often ‘grain whisky’ in my guide. Feedback: I will say it, I preferred the Cameronbridge quite higher, however I discover it loopy that this imperilled masterpiece was nonetheless alive, and quite superbly so. An ode to time.
SGP:561 – 89 factors. |
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