Ratings

Penderyn Madeira

February 22, 2012
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Uncomplicated but very enjoyable, this is a nice and sippable malt for just about any occasion. – Rating: 83/100

Penderyn Peated Single Cask

February 22, 2012

This is a most unusual malt and certainly one that will split opinions. It is very young and still has some newmake character, but there is a lot going on. The pricing at about £300 is outrageous. – Rating: 82/100

Crown Royal Black

February 21, 2012
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How to judge this? This whisky performs a constant decrescendo from the moment you start sniffing it. Until mid-palate time it is very good, but it’s all over so soon. – Rating: 80/100

Amrut Portonova

February 21, 2012

An excellent whisky that feels like the creation of an Indian master chef. Densely interwoven flavours tickle your tongue, but nothing sticks out of the harmonic composition. – Rating: 87/100

Kavalan Single Malt

February 21, 2012

The nose of this whisky is stunning. The palate however does not manage to cope, it is just too timid to convince fully. – Rating: 80/100

Kavalan Solist

February 20, 2012

Nose and palate are in very good harmony here, the character is a little gentler than the regular Kavalan despite the cask strength ABV. – Rating: 85/100

Kavalan “King Car”

February 20, 2012

This malt from Taiwan is on eye level with a decent Scotch. The short maturation in hot climate has created a very nice dram, rich in flavour and with a creamy mouthfeel. – Rating: 84/100

Deanston Virgin Oak

February 19, 2012
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In a way this is Burn Stewart’s Highland equivalent of the Bunnahabhain Darach Ur. It’s not bad at all, but it does not have the richness of its cousin from Islay. Rating: 83/100

Deanston 12 yo

February 19, 2012
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The relaunched Deanston is a rich and rather savoury dram. Some unusal flavours probably don’t make it a whisky for anybody, but I like it. – Rating: 84/100

Redbreast 12 yo Cask Strength

February 18, 2012

A very good potstill dram at natural strength. It is a bit less fruity than the regular 12 yo expression which I actually prefer slightly. – Rating: 86/100

Sibona Grappa Riserva Botti di Porto

February 18, 2012
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A very nice fruity grappa, but I would never guess that it was finished in a port cask. – Rating: 83/100

Bunnahabhain 25 yo

February 16, 2012
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The fantastic old time sherry nose is in 90+ territory, but palate and finish are strangely weak for such a high end whisky. – Rating: 84/100

Tobermory 15 yo

February 16, 2012
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For a sherry finish this malt is a bit feeble. The overall character is pretty nice but it could benefit from a little more oomph. – Rating: 74/100

Head To Head – Two Longmorns – 35 Years Apart

February 15, 2012

At the Munich Finest Spirits Festival 2012 I had the chance to get two interesting Longmorn samples at the stand of slowdrink.de. One 12 and on 14 year old, but from two entirely different ages. Let’s see how they compare:

Kornog Sant Ivy 2011

February 14, 2012

A terrific whisky. It needs some time to open up, but the richness of flavours is stunning. It can compete with the finest from Islay. – Rating: 92/100

Kornog Taouarc’H Eilvet 11 BC

February 14, 2012

This malt from Brittany has a very intriguing nose, but on the palate it is a bit one-dimensional. – Rating: 76/100

Tobermory 10 yo

February 13, 2012
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There is not much to find in this whisky. It is mostly sweet on the palate with a light fruitiness, the nose is disappointing. – Rating: 65/100

Bunnahabhain 1990/2011 Master of Malt

February 13, 2012
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A very fine and thick dram with a nose that captures the meaty quality some rich sherries can have. Some gentle spices round off this malt. – Rating: 87/100

Glenmorangie Artein 15 yo

February 12, 2012
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Surprisingly gentle, to the verge of feeling watery. The whisky steps into the background here. But it’s a nice dram, not more, not less. – Rating: 83/100

Inchgower 1982/2011 Master of Malt

February 10, 2012
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Despite its age this is a very mild and gentle dram with subtle aromas. It needs quite a while to devlop in the glass but then it becomes very enjoyable – Rating: 85/100

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