Ratings

Benromach 30 yo

May 3, 2012
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A very enjoyable and well-balanced dram, perfect for slow sipping. The jump in price compared to the excellent Benromach 10 yo is bigger than the jump in quality, though. – Rating: 86/100

Highland Park 1978/2011 Douglas Laing

May 3, 2012
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It could be a geat whisky, but the adstringent wood tannins are much too strong for my taste. But you will love this dram, if you like that. – Rating: 80/100

Kilchoman Inaugural 100% Islay

May 2, 2012
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This malt is very light in character and quite different from the Machir Bay. A good dram but it takes some effort to taste the flavours beyond the comparatively mild peat – Rating: 83/100

Kilchoman Machir Bay

May 2, 2012
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Once more Kilchoman has managed to issue a young whisky that is extremely enjoyable. The endless finish is its biggest asset as well as the affordable price. – Rating: 87/100

Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins

April 30, 2012
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The small cask maturation creates strong wood spices that almost overpower the spirit. Luckily it was bottled soon enough, so we can still enjoy a very nice dram. – Rating: 86/100

Benromach 2001/2010 Cask Strength

April 29, 2012
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A most unusual whisky that is not easy to describe, but everything fits together very well. Lots to discover in this young malt. – Rating: 87/100

Laphroaig 1986/2011 A. D. Rattray

April 26, 2012

A very strong wood influence takes away some of the fruity delights pleasing the nose. This is a very un-medicinal Laphroaig. – Rating: 85/100

Springbank 1995/2010 A. D. Rattray

April 26, 2012

This dram has a very impressive nose and nice flavours, but palate and finish are just too weak to deliver what the nose promised. – Rating: 84/100

Cask Islay Vatting #1 A.D. Rattray

April 21, 2012

A.D. Rattray’s take on the young nameless peat monster trend, not bad but maybe a bit too young for my taste. – Rating: 83/100

Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve

April 21, 2012

A nice whisky of the Daily Dram category, not boasting overwhelming complexity but a quite pleasant sippability – Rating: 80/100

Glenlivet Founders Reserve

April 20, 2012

The first moments on the palate are wonderful, but the flavours fade away rather quickly. It has an gentle sherry influence that does not dominate the spirit. – Rating: 85/100

Glenlivet Nadurra 16 yo Batch 1010K

April 20, 2012
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This is a quintessential Glenlivet fruit bomb at full strength, highly enjoyable and affordably priced. – Rating: 87/100

Aberlour 18 yo

April 19, 2012
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Having a strong and very nice old-fashioned sherry nose, the whisky calms down quite a bit on the palate, leaving a slightly watery feeling. – Rating: 83/100

Aberlour 16 yo

April 19, 2012
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Quite gentle in character, not really an aroma bomb, simply a pleasant middle-aged malt where the wood is beginning to be noticeable
– Rating: 83/100

Scapa 16 yo

April 18, 2012
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A decent enough standard dram with no real flaws, but palate and finish are a bit on the shy side. – Rating: 78/100

Laphroaig 1995/2011 Signatory

April 16, 2012

It may not be immediately recognizable as a Laphroaig, but it’s a fine example of a rather typical Islay style malt. – Rating: 86/100

Glenlivet 1996/2011 Signatory

April 16, 2012

If it wasn’t for that somewhat weakish finish, I would call this a great sherried dram. – Rating: 84/100

Mortlach 1990/2011 Signatory

April 15, 2012

Quite a nice dram with regard to the flavours, but the wood is beginning to take over. – Rating: 83/100

Edradour Natural Cask Strength 2nd Release

April 15, 2012
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Another very young Edradour, but this time without cask experimentation. And indeed the spirit does benefit from not fiddling around with it. – Rating: 81/100

Ballechin 6th Release Bourbon Cask Matured

April 14, 2012
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You can feel it is still rather young, but it is a very fine dram with a good variety of smoky flavours. – Rating: 84/100