finish

Aberfeldy 1997/2011 Single Cask

January 13, 2012

A very fine richly sherried malt, sweetness and spice are in good balance but it could have a little more depth. – Rating: 86/100

Glenrothes 1998/2009 Murray McDavid

December 19, 2011

Not quite as sweet as one would expect from a sweet wine finish, this is quite an enjoyable dram. A nice amount of spice complements the fruity flavours. – Rating: 85/100

Bruichladdich First Growth Cuvée B

October 2, 2011
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A really nice wine finish here, the cheese note is barely noticeable but adds an interesting dimension to an already very flavourful dram. – Rating: 84/100

Glendullan 1996/2005 Murray McDavid

August 29, 2011

A finish just short of being overdone. Not bad overall but a little one-dimensional. The un-finished version must have been utterly unexciting but very spicy. – Rating: 79/100

Balvenie 14 yo Golden Cask

August 26, 2011
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This really needs some water to fully open up. Then it turns from a rather generic dram into a pleasant experience. – Rating: 84/100

Comparing Two Tyrconnell 10 yo Cask Finishes

August 25, 2011
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A head to head comparision of sherry and port finishes.

Tullibardine Sherry Wood 1998/2008

July 11, 2011

This sherry finish has an unusal savoury quality to it which is not at all unpleasant. The complexity created by this is quite stunning.
– Rating: 83/100

Benriach 15 yo “Solstice”

May 30, 2011
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A rich and complex malt with a well-done finish that is just strong enough not to overwpower the spirit. – Score: 85/100

Benriach 12 yo “Horizons”

May 30, 2011
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The nose is a bit disappointing, but the whisky is nice and smooth on the palate. The sherry adds some depth. – Score: 81/100

Grant’s 18 yo

May 29, 2011
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The port finish adds a fruity touch to this blend that nicely complenents the driness contributed by the wood. But despite the old age there is still a slight harshness to be noticed. – Score: 80/100

Hazelburn 2002/2011 Sauternes Finish

May 25, 2011
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The sweet wine finish puts the trademark orange notes into the background. A quite enjoyable malt, but there seems to be some sulphur present that contrary to my usual preferences does detract a bit. – Rating: 82/100

Longrow 14 yo Sherry Cask Finish

April 7, 2011
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The sherry has mellowed out the peatiness of the Longrow a bit. The result is a stunning and well-balanced dram that perfectly combines fruitiness with smoke. – Rating: 89/100

Arran Madeira Cask

April 6, 2011
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Especially the nose is very madeira-like, the palate is both sweet and rather spicy. A very dominant finish that may be a bit too hefty for some, but I quite like it. – Rating: 82/100

Caol Ila Distillers Edition 1996/2003

February 5, 2011
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A very nice dialogue of the dry Caol Ila peat and the sweet moscatel sherry where none is dominating the other. – Rating: 86/100

Talisker Distillers Edition 1999

January 7, 2011
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Many peated malts have a distinct “bacon nose”, not this one. Instead it has the strongest taste of bacon I have ever experienced in a whisky. I love bacon, and I love this whisky. – Rating: 90/100

Caol Ila 2000/2008 Murray McDavid

December 29, 2010

Zinfandel running amok. The heavy finish even manages to overpower the peatiness of a young Caol Ila. If you like smoky Cassis, you must buy this bottle. I don’t. – Rating: 71/100

Bushmills 16 yo

October 19, 2010
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Quite smoooth and fruity, but the flavours are not very complex and the 40% bottling strength results in an unpleasant watery mouthfeel. – Rating: 78/100

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban

September 30, 2010
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The nose is a bit shy, but on the palate this whisky delivers a lot of interesting aromas. Quite smooth and creamy at 46% but a few drops of water bring out even more flavours. – Rating: 85/100

Glen Keith 1995/2009 Dun Bheagan

September 28, 2010

Quite a pleasant malt from a closed distillery. It has quite a bit going on on the palate but is approachable enough to serve as a relaxing dram just for sipping away. – Rating: 84/100

Bruichladdich 1992 Sherry Edition Pedro Ximenez

September 26, 2010
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The colour suggests a sherry monster, but already the nose is lacking depth. You can well taste the PX sherry but the whisky seems to be missing. A failed attempt to save an inferior cask with a strong finish. – Rating: 73/100

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