Category Archives: Review

Review: Glenfiddich’s Core Range (12yo, 15yo & 18yo)

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Glenfiddich’s core range reviewed (12yo, 15yo & 18yo)

A while back someone mentioned to me that I should review more core ranges, including whiskies from my own stock and not just PR samples that are sent to me for review. Well here’s one such review… Glenfiddich. Very well known, and easily available via supermarkets at good prices. A whisky that many malt whisky drinkers will have tried from time to time, or maybe even started their malt journey with.

Let’s take a look at the main three expressions from their standard range…

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Review: Kilchoman 5yo PX finish (AbbeyWhisky)

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Kilchoman-Abbey-Whisky-Exclusive-Cask-285-09-PX-finish-whisky-380Kilchoman 5yo PX finish – AbbeyWhisky – 58.3%

Info: An Abbey Whisky Exclusive single cask from Kilchoman distilled in 2009. Cask #285/09 has been matured for over four and a half years in a fresh bourbon barrel before being transferred to a Pedro Ximénez cask for a further four months maturation. Bottled at cask strength, 58.3% abv with 270 bottles filled.

Colour: Sunny golden, slight reddish tint.

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Review: Bowmore Devil’s Cask Batch 2

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bowmore-10-year-old-devils-casks-ii-2014-release-whiskyBowmore Devil’s Cask Batch 2 – 56.3% abv

Info: Bowmore’s well priced, very limited, all sherry matured 10yo comes back for more… The round church in Bowmore kept the Devil from hiding and staying around the first time, but he’s back for a second go!

Colour: Dark burnt rust.

Nose: Argh wow, it’s easy to forget how good this whisky is. The nose is powerful and instantly takes me back to bonfire night around the fire watching fireworks as a kid. It’s smoky, woody, full of fire. Yet it’s sweet, it’s coastal in nature, tarry, malty and it’s spicy.

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Review: Cù Bòcan Sherry Edition

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CuBocanBottleCù Bòcan Sherry Edition – 46%

Info: Fully matured in first fill Sherry butts. 6000 bottles. Non chill filtered, 15PPM. The first of three limited editions, the other two releases will be Virgin Oak and Bourbon casks.

Colour: Beautiful bright gold. Thick legs on the glass.

Nose: That Tomatin character is here, but it’s got light smoky puffs to it backed up by rich fruity tones with some spices and nuts thrown in.

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Review: Old Pulteney 1990 Vintage

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OP1990BottleOld Pulteney 1990 / 23yo Vintage – 46% ABV

Info: The whisky was matured in American ex-bourbon and Spanish ex-sherry casks which previously held heavily peated whisky, resulting in a lightly peated Old Pulteney. Non-chill filtered. Around 5,400 bottles.

Colour: Polished amber.

Nose: The nose is escaping from the glass before I’ve even properly got to it! It’s malty, earthy, and there’s a backnote of smoky peat. It’s sweet and tempting, getting sweeter as time goes on with some green apple and honey notes.

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Review: Old Pulteney 35 Year Old

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Old Pulteney Low Res Standard Pack ShotOld Pulteney 35 Year Old – 42.5% ABV

Info: The limited edition 35 year old was matured in American ex-bourbon and Spanish ex-Sherry casks and selected specially for this release by Old Pulteney distillery manager Malcolm Waring, bottled without chill-filtration.

Colour: Medium to dark amber gold.

Nose: Packed with an evening full of relaxation in front of the fire. It’s slightly waxy, it’s old, leathery. There’s aged slightly ripe citrus fruits, banana and red apples along with brown sugar, honey and gentle woods. Amazingly good, keeps you smelling for ages. After a while milk chocolate tones come out.

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News & Review: Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie

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Sep14-TimorousBeastieTimorous Beastie – Highland Vatted Malt – 46.8%

Info: Douglas Laing & Co. has launched a new blended Highland Scotch whisky named after a mouse immortalised in a poem by Robert Burns. It contains various whiskies including Blair Athol, Glen Garioch, Dalmore and Glengoyne. It’s a blend of malts, not a blended whisky!

Colour: Lightly golden, slightly cloudy.

Nose: It’s a nose that seems familiar, and yet isn’t. Highland nature comes out at you, it’s nutty, sweet (honey) and bold with plenty of malt and a bit of young leather in the background. After a while buttery notes come forward.

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Review: Glen Moray Port Cask Finish

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GlenMoray_PortCask_01Glen Moray Port Cask Finish – 40% ABV NAS

Info: This new addition to Glen Moray’s range has taken their Classic and added a bit of Portuguese finesse.

Colour: Golden and slightly pink tinted.

Nose: A fairly sprightly nose, a little touch of spirit and out comes lots of sweet bubblegum fruit flavours. They settle down to give a rich, slightly chocolaty dram.

Palate: It’s quite thick for a 40% ABV dram… Nicely sweet and easily palatable with a good touch of spices and a fist full of caramel and butter.

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Review: GlenDronach 18yo Tawny Port Finish

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glendronach-18-year-old-tawny-port-cask-finish-whiskyGlenDronach 18yo Tawny Port Finish – 46%

Info: Initially matured in European oak and thereafter in a very small batch of Tawny Port casks.

Colour: Warm gold with a reddy pinkish hue.

Nose: Fairly powerful and full of flavour. A hearty, full malt laden with medium sweet fruits, red berries with a honeyed and nutty background.

Palate: Rich and thick, mouth coating with spiced berries and plenty of malt, oak, nuts and honey.

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News & Review: Ardbeg Supernova 2014

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Supernova2014BottleArdbeg Supernova 2014 (third edition) – 55% ABV

Info: Today Ardbeg launches it’s third edition of their peatiest Single Malt. The story is that Ardbeg sent a vial of whisky into orbit on ISS for 3 years to see what would happen to it… it’s now come back down to earth and this release coincides with that.

Colour: Straw to light gold.

Nose: Sweet peaty Ardbeggian smoke interlaced with light autumnal fruits. A little coastal nature with a slight spirity nip from the highish abv. However a generally relaxed and inviting nose, especially for something classed as their peatiest malt.

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