The Arran Malt 17 Year Old – 46% OBArran 17 Year Old is the last release in a trilogy counting down to the launch of the 18 year old in 2015.
The oldest official bottling from the distillery at the time of release. It’s made from un-peated malted barley and matured in the finest ex-sherry casks giving it a unique and distinctive flavour.
Colour: Full golden, fairly rich.
Lord Elcho – New NAS Blended Scotch from Wemyss Malts(see update below…)
“Wemyss Malts is taking its second step into the world of Blended Scotch by adding a non-aged version of Lord Elcho to its range.
Lord Elcho 15yo was launched in 2012 and we are delighted to be adding another member of the family.
The nose on the new whisky is fresh and lively, with notes of fruit salad and fragrant wood shavings. The palate is full and soft, with waves of chewy caramel and a warm spiciness. Its finish is dry and long, with hints of crushed nuts.”
On to my quick wee review…
Auchentoshan – ‘Lemon Zest’ 1998/2013 (15yo) – Wemyss Malts – 46%Wemyss released five new single casks in April ’14, for details head here. However, on to the review of another one of those releases…
Colour: Light straw, good and natural.
Nose: That Auchentoshan farminess (I have no better description!) I often find is here, but not too strongly. It’s malty, light and zesty, and a definite lemony hint.
Palate: A slight upfront spiciness, which then dies off to be more gentle at which point the lemony zesty thing comes through.
Bunnahabhain – ‘The Bosun’s Dram’ 1997/2013 (16yo) – Wemyss Malts – 46%Wemyss released five new single casks in April ’14, for details head here. However, on to the review of one of those releases!
Colour: Full golden.
Nose: Earthy and slightly salty yet there’s a gentle peat smoke with malty hay tones.
Palate: Earthy salty peat! Pinch of spices and some crushed late summer berries.
(Keep an eye on the blog for reviews of two of these releases coming very soon!)
Edinburgh based boutique Spirits Company Wemyss Malts is delighted to announce the release of a new parcel of single cask single malt Scotch whiskies.
Each cask is a celebration of the unique and contrasting appeals of the different Scotch whisky regions and the latest release covers three of the regions: from Islay, Highlands, and Lowlands.
Glen Garioch’s new (as yet nameless) expressionUpdate: I’m really pleased to announce that my post has been chosen as a winning review of this dram, and as such I get to go and visit the distillery, excellent stuff, lucky me!
Let’s start by saying I’m a Glen Garioch Drambassador! What’s that? It was a facebook competition run by them to chose various fans / bloggers to receive their new mystery dram and a set of clues, and to be the first people to try it and write about it… and that’s what leads us here! I am one of those chosen few… and sure enough in the post I soon received the following lovely box of goodies…
I’m kind of supposed to be on a diet… one of those diets that never really quite get going, but you have every good intention of starting tomorrow. With that in mind friends and family eased off buying me anything much in the way of any Easter eggs this year, which made me really quite upset, damn them!
However, (yippee) Bowmore came to the rescue! Bless them and their chocolaty Easter eggy general good chappishness. (FYI mostly not actual chaps, I’m being gender neutral here).
So, it’s with excitement I opened the following just before Easter hit…
The Glenlivet is expanding its Nàdurra brand into a range featuring different cask experiences.
Each expression in The Glenlivet Nàdurra range is crafted in small batches using traditional production methods and is matured exclusively in a different cask-type. The range is bottled without chill-filtration, which offers the additional complexity, body, and texture of a whisky that has just been drawn from the cask.
The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso is the first new permanent expression in the range. The first-fill, ex-Oloroso sherry casks from Jerez in Spain impart rich, distinctive dried fruits aromas, warm spices, and notes of cinnamon and liquorice. The spirit combined with the cask influence, produces a sweetness of dark chocolate and a finish which is long and sweet with a slightly dry, spicy effect from the European oak maturation.
The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso will be introduced to Travel Retail Europe in May 2014.
Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve – 43%From the Hakushu distillery in the foothills of Mount Kaikomagatake comes their Distiller’s Reserve single malt whisky, a no-age-statement expression, that captures the smoky, herbaceous characteristics of their whiskies. Both lightly-peated and heavily-peated malts were used for this complex and deeply enjoyable whisky. One of two Spring 2014 release from Suntory.
Colour: Light straw.
Nose: Fresh green apple skins intermingled with light smoke along with fresh hay and malt notes and a dash of cream. Herb notes with touches of melon and cucumber.
Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve – 43%Released in Spring 2014, this is one of two Distiller’s Reserve single malt whiskies from Suntory in Japan. This single malt from the Yamazaki distillery is jam-packed with superb red berry notes, gained from the whisky being matured in Bordeaux wine casks and Sherry casks. It also features malt matured in Mizunara casks, adding subtle fragrant oak notes.
Colour: Brightly golden, hint of orange.
SWB | Somerset Whisky Blog 