January 2010

Royal Lochnagar 12 yo

January 31, 2010
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The nose is quite pleasant, but the palate lacks complexity and is a bit bland. – Score: 72/100

How Much Room Is There for Whisky Experiments?

January 31, 2010

Experiments have always played a role in whisky making, especially since the single malt boom took off in the late 1980s and early 1990s. With about a hundred distilleries in Scotland alone, it became neccessary to stand out from the crowd.

Talisker 10 yo – old Map label

January 29, 2010

The old version has much more sherry influence than its modern brother. I wouldn’t say it’s better, but it is intriguingly different. – Score: 86/100

Has Macallan Finally Run Out of Old Sherry Casks?

January 28, 2010

The Whisky Store, a major German online retailer for whisky, just reported in their German language forum that at a tasting for the company staff, Macallan officials had confirmed that there will not be any new bottlings of sherry cask Macallans of age 18 and older anymore.

Kilchoman Autumn Release 2009

January 27, 2010

It’s still very immature but shows a lot of promise for the future. Too close to newmake to be fully enjoyable for me at this stage of maturation. – Score: 73/100

A Yellow Peril for Scotch Whisky?

January 26, 2010

Shockwaves went through the whisky world on January 25, as the Times published the outcome of a blind tasting of five whiskies that they had arranged. The results were stunning: the Taiwanese Kavalan nonchalantly beat three Scotches and an English whisky.

Ardbeg Uigeadail – 2007 bottling

January 25, 2010

A powerful dram where a bit of sherry successfully underlines the typical Ardbeg flavour profile – Score: 91/100

Highland Park 12 yo – 2002 bottling

January 24, 2010

A nice balance of quite a few different flavours, more maritime on the nose than on the palate. – Score: 83/100

Bowmore Darkest (old label)

January 23, 2010

Fruitier than its 15 yo successor but less complex, still a good whisky though- Score: 85/100

Springbank 2001/2009 Small Casks

January 18, 2010

This is Springbank’s interpretation of the Quarter Cask, and it’s a successful experiment. My favourite Springbank so far (although I haven’t had too many yet). It is surprisingly peaty with both a youthful punch and a mature complexity. – Score: 89/100

Batch Variation and the Validity of Whisky Ratings

January 17, 2010

Most if not all whisky lovers with a certain experience level will have noticed that the taste of any single malt bottling can vary over time. Changes may be only subtle but can also be significant. After all, whisky is a natural product juste like wine and its taste is deternined by many many different factors.

Rosebank 1991/2004 Signatory

January 17, 2010

A smooth and gentle dram, well-balanced flavours and rather complex for its age – Score: 84/100

Hazelburn 8 yo from 2007

January 15, 2010

Nice and fresh with strong citrus note. Not bad, but I definitely prefer the 12yo. – Score: 80/100

Scapa 14 yo

January 12, 2010
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A bit too “plain” for my taste. I can’t stop thinking that there is something missing in this whisky. – Score: 73/100

Johnnie Walker Black Label

January 11, 2010
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Quite smoky but not peaty, gentle and well balanced. Not bad at all. – Score: 81/100

Linkwood 1975/2001 Rare Malts

January 3, 2010

There seems to something missing here. Timid nose with and without water, rather incomplex palate for a 26yo. But perhaps it was just the sample I received. – Score: 73/100