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| Hello, that is one among our (virtually) each day tastings. Santé! |
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June 23, 2022
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Scottish hotch potches, a sequel with automobiles
As soon as once more, a couple of moderately unclassifiable Scotch whiskies. (Image Omnibus Gallery, Aspen)
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Black Bottle 10 yo (40%, OB, blended scotch, +/-2021) 
Extra historic variations of Black Bottle used to hold a moderately good popularity however to be sincere, even with actually outdated ones, we have by no means actually been thrilled. Just one from the Nineteen Thirties managed to ponder the 90-mark indirectly. Very current ones have truly been underwhelming, however let’s have a look at… Color: gold. Nostril: whiffs of younger smoke and steel polish, in any other case some hay and sugared breakfast tea. Mild dry nostril. Mouth: as soon as once more slightly peat within the arrival, a salty contact as properly, some soot and rubber, however it’s getting slightly drying, tea-ish once more, with dried herbs and hay. A light-weight, moderately skinny physique. End: quick, barely soapy, dry, tea-ish. Some cardboard within the aftertaste, as virtually at all times with entry-level blends. Feedback: very good packaging however double the worth of different Scotch blends of comparable, moderately very common high quality, in my view.
SGP:442 – 70 factors. |
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One other go on the model…
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Black Bottle ‘Island Smoke Batch 2’ (46.3%, OB, blended scotch, 2021) 
This one’s meant to be moderately smokier, so maybe extra in keeping with earlier Black Bottles that was often known as ‘peatier blends’, though they might by no means have reached the extent of smoke that was to be discovered, for instance, in White Horse. Color: full gold. Nostril: strictly nothing to do with the standard Black Bottle 10. Good sooty and ashy smoke, some seawater, seaweed, seashore bonfire, burning pinewood, cough syrup, iodine… All in all, a extremely high quality, flawless, softer peater in your nostril. The upper energy helps too. Mouth: actually good, with most likely a excessive malt content material (greater than 50%?) Good candy coastal smoke as we generally say, additionally touches of tinned pineapple (from the grain, most likely) and guavas. Somewhat menthol and liquorice too, all that working properly collectively, just about in sync. Superb composition! End: good size, with salty chutneys, pickled fruits (wee citrus) and simply, certainly, some ‘candy smoke’. Solely the aftertaste has obtained slightly cardboard once more, in addition to some mustard. Feedback: strictly nothing to do with the ten, and certainly one among right now’s higher blends, I’d say.
SGP:454 – 84 factors. |
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Since we’re doing black ones…
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Johnnie Walker 12 yo ‘Black Label Sherry End’ (40%, OB, blended Scotch, +/-2022) 
We’re having fairly a couple of Johnnie Wa lkers today, which I discover cool. It is an all-important model! This can be a mix that is boosted with Caol Ila… and sherry wooden. Color: full amber – slightly suspiciously. Nostril: what anybody would name a high quality all-rounder, with touches of smoke, toffee, pecan pie, butterscotch, stout, raisins, then slightly beeswax, some earthy form of marmalade, some tobacco… Truthfully, this can be a moderately fantastic nostril, however as everyone knows, the satan’s virtually at all times on the palate. Mouth: cannot fairly discover the satan. I’ve the impression that that is like earlier ‘common’ JW Black 12s, the nice ones that was moderately vastly superior to right now’s choices, so far as I can inform. Superb roasted nuts, walnuts, ashes, tobacco, some clear salty smokiness, slightly espresso, slightly chocolate, slightly salty fudge, some full-bodied honey… All wonderful, even the decrease energy is just not fairly a handicap right here. End: medium, void of any cardboard or extreme tea-ishness, smoky and salty, with dried dates, tobacco and black raisins. No cardboard both within the aftertaste, moderately a couple of drops of pina colada. Feedback: it isn’t that I am stunned, however… yeah, there, I’m stunned. Ought to I would like a home mix, I could decide this wonderful one.
SGP:553 – 85 factors. |
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Black Bull ‘Peated Version’ (50%, Duncan Taylor, blended scotch, +/-2021)
On the again label, they might say that is ‘a Highlander’, which might recommend that they’ve sourced the peaters within the mainland. The model could be very a lot concerned in automobile racing, which may solely please us at WF. Keep in mind we co-sponsored a automobile within the French rally championship, and even Ralfy’s world-record-breaking bike? Issues have develop into quieter today however I’m considering of one thing, please keep tuned… Within the meantime, let’s do that Black Bull. Color: straw. Nostril: some recent younger peat, maybe slightly tough. Mercurochrome, recent cider, seawater or brine, oysters and lemons… This far this seems like some 5 years outdated Caol Ila. No scandal right here, naturally. With water: limoncello and seawater. After all. Mouth (neat): vivid lemony and salty smoke, with seemingly a view on the Paps of Jura. See what I imply? With water: I do not suppose there’s a lot grain whisky in there. 30%? 40%? End: medium, this time a tad softer, however with good ashes. Very smoky and salty aftertaste. Feedback: excellent, very smoky mix. We have got fairly a couple of older Black Bulls within the containers, we’ll attempt them later.
SGP:455 – 84 factors. |
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Since we had been speaking automobile racing…
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Highland Single Malt 6 yo 2014/2021 (50%, Bottles & Legends, refill hogshead, cask #76, 174 bottles) 
With a pink Porsche on the label. In the future, I am going to inform the story about me virtually shopping for an ex-Martina Navratilova fuchsia-pink convertible Porsche Turbo with all-white leather-based seats. The necessary phrase right here is ‘virtually’. Mrs Navratilova has at all times been deeply concerned with Porsche. All proper, this can be a ‘Ruadh Maor’, so truly a peated Glenturret. Unsure it belongs right here, however because it’s already in our tasting glass… Color: very pale white wine. Nostril: new rubber boots, mutton suet, bitter fruits, fitness center socks, rotting figs and Greek yoghurt. Distillate-driven whiskies are even funnier when mentioned distillates are slightly funky, as they are saying in rum. With water: burning paraffin and new bicycle inside tubes. Or there, new Pirellis for that pink Porsche on the label. Mouth (neat): somebody intelligent has gathered many vegatables and fruits, then smoked them utilizing pinewood and greasy brown coal, then mashed and distilled them in a strain cooker. Or in correct copper pot stills. With water: nice enjoyable, regardless of the notes of recent plastics. End: lengthy, salty and bitter, plus tons of different unlikely flavours. Sweetened cream cheese? Additionally simply ‘pears’. Feedback: common Glenturrets have develop into a lot cleaner, however the peated ones appear to have saved all of the dirty-ish wackiness of outdated. That is moderately cool.
SGP:564 – 82 factors. |
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A Speyside Distillery 13 yo (46%, Cadenhead, Unique Assortment, refill and first fill oloroso, 2022)
So an undisclosed single malt from Speyside. Color: amber. Nostril: however sure, guignolet (cherry liqueur) and a recent field of Mon Chéri, maraschino, black cigars, Christmas cake (I completely know that this isn’t the precise season), outdated rum and charcoal. Nobody would cry wolf in case you mentioned that this may very well be Glenfarclas. Mouth: completely on chestnut purée, chocolate sauce, extra fruitcake, mocha, Guinness, purple Bourgogne wine, marmalade and extra maraschino. End: moderately lengthy, with a dollop of strawberry jelly, then correct oloroso (a tad dulce, or cream) and simply recent raisin rolls. Feedback: simply super-good, flawless, basic sweet-sherried malt with a strong physique.
SGP:651 – 86 factors. |
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Blended Malt 20 yo 2001/2021 (45%, Thompson Bros., sherry butt matured, 626 bottles)
Color: gold. Nostril: enjoyable stuff, slightly deviant at first, virtually punk (outdated LPs, books and journal, ink, polyester), then rather more mild, basic, on raisins, toffee and low. Effectively you do really feel that it is all going to occur on the palate… Mouth: candy, honeyed, very barely dusty at first, changing into then very brandy-like, cognacqy as we are saying, with a rising earthiness and a few black tea, all that with a barely fats physique that may remind us of that well-known Distillery in Craigellachie. Very faintly sulphury background, moderately an asset right here than an issue. Oh and moderately plenty of Demerara sugar. End: moderately lengthy, extra on basic raisins, toffee and marmalade. Darkish chocolate and low dregs within the aftertaste. Feedback: certainly, may very well be that one. High quality’s excessive, as at all times on the Thompsons’.
SGP:651 – 87 factors. |
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A Highland Distillery 21 yo 2000/2022 (55.2%, Watt Whisky, sherry hogshead, 308 bottles)
Don’t at all times consider that these secret Highlanders are both Glenmorangie or Clynelish! They may very well be Macallan… Color: gold. Nostril: most likely none of them. Some bitter fruits, wooden, pickled mushrooms, artichokes in oil, some sulphury wines (we all know some rieslings…), additionally asparagus, pointed cabbage, properly we’re virtually about to say broccoli. With water: at all times some gasoline and truffle oil. Extra artichokes in oil, as they do in Italy. Some cured ham too, by the way in which. Mouth (neat): contact of gunpowder at first, then Linzertorte, pumpernickel, moist pipe tobacco and fig wine. Who’s by no means had bits of pipe tobacco within the mouth, willingly or unwillingly? With water: extra sooty aromatics, extra gunpowder, additionally extra chalk and uncooked espresso beans, robusta moderately than arabica. End: lengthy, at all times with these truffles, gunpowder, and rubbery jams. Unsure rubbery jams do exist, however that is an thought… Feedback: all unsure and wobbly, all good and completely different. I could not let you know the place this was distilled and matured, most likely in hell’s kitchen, however as Mick J. would say, I prefer it.
SGP:462 – 86 factors. |
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Speyside Area 26 yo 1991/2017 (50.6%, Whisky-Fässle, sherry cask) 
The geese are again on Whiskyfun! I’ve to say I am unhappy I have never met them in Limburg this yr. Color: gold. Nostril: tops. Mirabelle jam, recent croissants, custard, whiffs of balsa wooden, slightly sugarcane syrup, and one thing that may clearly lead us to Balvenie. I am not saying that is Balvenie, completely not, however I am certain you get the concept and the image. With water: brioche and custard. What we name ‘English cream’ in French. A beautiful pure fermentary maltiness within the background. Mouth (neat): completely wonderful. Extra mirabelles, quinces, orange jam, orange blossom water, spicier Turkish delights, some hay wine… With water: mirabelle eau-de-vie and preserved greengages. Ouah ! as we are saying over right here. End: medium, fantastically vanilla-ed and mirabelly. I really feel the necessity to apologise to the Queen of England as a result of I’ve used yet one more barbarism, ‘mirabelly’. Feedback: ex-bourbon Aberlours may very well be like this too, however that is ex-sherry. Anyhow, beloved this one.
SGP:651 – 90 factors. |
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Peatside 10 yo 2011/2021 (53.2%, Kintra Spirits, Madeira full maturation, cask #5541, 303 bottles)
We’re at all times siding with peat anyway, are we not? And s***w nitrosamines! Now this can be a peated whisky from Speyside, so let’s give it extra-care… Color: full gold. Nostril: luggage of pencil shavings, pine bark, then litres of ginger liqueur and aquavit. I imply, caraway-led aquavit. Additionally mustard and… agave? Mezcal? An uncommon drop for certain. With water: extra pencil shavings. Mouth (neat): somebody’s smoked an entire Ikea store. Every kind of woods together with plywood, plus every kind of smokes (pine, peat, coal, beech) and a few ginger and cinnamon liqueur. Some fashionable oak-witchcraft in motion right here, for certain. With water: cool, sweeter, spicier. Ginger, horseradish, caraway, mustard, honey. End: lengthy, spicy and candy. Sweeter nutmeg within the aftertaste. Feedback: fashionable and brilliantly made, however maybe slightly an excessive amount of for me. That is the fashion that many new ‘craft’ distilleries would have carried out.
SGP:661 – 82 factors. |
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I feel we’ll have a final one… Please, let’s make it an outdated one from refill…
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Secret Speyside 31 yo 1990/2021 (52.8%, Whisky AGE, refill barrel cask ref #SP001, 245 bottles)
This from Taiwan. In response to the design of the label, it was associated to Santa Klaus in some methods, so we may be slightly late as soon as extra… (no surprises right here, S.!) Color: gold. Nostril: recent breads and brioches this time, additionally mandarins, pistachios, sesame oil, suet and marrow, Parma ham, Caesar’s mushrooms, damp limestone earth… This can be a good instance of an outdated malt whisky that is beginning to show uncommon, moderately tertiary aromas. With water: oils and greases, fresh-sawn plywood, pinewood… Unsure it wanted water. Mouth (neat): uncommon oils and woods certainly, wakame, balsam, eucalyptus, Brazil nuts, kumquats and bergamots, bitter almonds, grapefruit, ‘inexperienced’ polishes and resins… Actually, this one’s moderately clearly resinous. With water: citrus liqueurs, plasticine, wax and pinewood. End: medium, much more on candy waxes and pinewood. Typical outdated refill wooden of excellent high quality. Feedback: a reasonably waxy and piney outdated Speysider, any concepts? What may this be? I could have forgotten to say plantains and small ‘inexperienced’ bananas. Nice (barely powerful) drop.
SGP:561 – 87 factors. |
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