cask strength

Glen Garioch 1990/2015 Usquebaugh Society

August 9, 2015

A richly flavoured Glen Garioch that is very typical of older expressions of this distillery. It is quite spicy but not overwhelmingly so. – Rating: 87/100

Elements of Islay Lp6

August 5, 2015
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This is a bit fruitier then the official Cask Strength bottling but it still focuses on the strong medicinal distillery character. The website says “moreish”, and I agree. – Rating: 87/100

Elements of Islay Bw5

August 3, 2015
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Tropical fruits galore are the backbone of this whisky, the peat is only in the background. This is excellent, if only the bottles were bigger… – Rating: 88/100

Glenlivet 33 yo 1981/2015 Signatory for TWE

July 25, 2015
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The pleasantly fruity sherry aromas have a hard time fighting a multitude of wood spices. A whisky for oak lovers. – Rating: 83/100

Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength Batch 007

June 5, 2015
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After my recent disappointment with the current regular 10 yo I am happy to report that Laphroaig is back to old (cask) strength here. It may not be the most complex of batches, but it perfectly captures what has gone missing in so many recent bottlings of this distillery – Rating: 88/100

Tamdhu 25 yo 1984/2010 Whisky Doris

May 26, 2015

A very good Tamdhu, creamy and fruity with just the perfect dose of wood spice. The mid-twenties are the sweet spot of this disillery, in my opinion. – Rating: 87/100

Tomatin Cask Strength

May 19, 2015
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This is quite a bit on the spicy side, and the wood spices fight a little with the creamy fruitiness of the base whisky for dominance here. Not bad overall but the balance could be better. – Rating: 84/100

Port Ellen 1982/2013 Malts of Scotland

May 10, 2015

While the nose is fantastic and incredibly complex, the wood has already begun to take over the palate. It still is a very good whisky but not quite good enough to break the 90 point barrier. – Rating: 89/100

Bowmore 1995/2014 Wemyss “The Rockpool”

May 6, 2015
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One of the best non-classic Bowmores I have tasted. It is very rich and thick and benefits from a bit of water. – Rating: 89/100

Wolfburn Newmake

May 3, 2015

This is high quality spirit with a creamy mouthfeel. I hope the distillery manages to transform it into equally good whisky. – Rating: 72/100

Benromach 10 yo 100 Proof

April 28, 2015
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Everything is very well put together in this whisky. It is round and strong but still delicate with perfect balance of all elements. This is Scotch whisky as it should be. – Rating: 87/100

Glen Spey 1996/2009 Manager’s Choice

April 10, 2015
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The good news: It is the best Glen Spey I have ever tasted. The bad news: It is not more than a generic nice refill bourbon whisky and at £200 it is no wonder that it is still on the shelves after 5 years. – Rating: 83/100

Ardmore 1991/2013 Rum Barrel Malts of Scotland

March 12, 2015

If you expected a sweet elixir, you will be disappointed. This whisky is very elegant, a mix of peat and fruit with a just light sweetness. – Rating: 87/100

Cardhu 26 yo 1984/2011 Duncan Taylor

March 5, 2015

Cardhu doesn’t have the best reputation among whisky geeks, but this rare inependent bottling proves that they can make great whisky. It is mouth-coating, succulent and richly flavoured. – Rating: 87/100

Bunahabhain 1988/2014 Wemyss “Kirsch Gateau”

February 13, 2015
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This is a very fine aged sherried malt that has everything you would expect from such a dram. It is quite spicy, though. – Rating: 86/100

Linkwood 1987/2011 Malts of Scotland

February 2, 2015

This Linkwood is fairly light in character but nonetheless has quite an intense palate. The fruity flavours dominate, spices are in the background. This is bourbon refill as it should be – Rating: 87/100

Tamdhu 1988/2012 Malts of Scotland

January 26, 2015

Both nose and palate are fairly restrained, there really is not much interesting going on. It sips nicely but I expect a bit more from a whisky of this age. Rating: 83/100

Glendronach 20 yo 1994/2014 Abbey Whisky Exclusive

January 22, 2015
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The wood has been very active on this cask, not only because of the very dark colour. The strong tannins are kept just in check by the fruity sherry aromas. A sherry monster for those who like it strong. – Rating: 85/100

Compass Box “The General”

January 14, 2015
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A true masterpiece of blending, most would think this is pure malt whisky. Sadly it is not available anymore. – Rating: 90/100

Glenlivet 15 yo 1998/2014 Signatory For Whiskybrother

January 11, 2015
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Quite simply this is a very good full sherried single malt, right out of the textbook, not too old and not too young. There is nothing unusual about it at all, but it is delicious. – Rating: 87/100

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