Tasting: Compass Box Spice Tree NAS

Compass Box Spice Tree

Compass Box Spice TreeDram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Compass Box
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014 (ongoing batches)
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: French/American oak
Alcohol: 46%
not chill filtered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Spice tree – I’m sure quite a few of you will already be familiar with this whisky – but here’s a short summary for those who aren’t: John Glaser of Compass Box once created a whisky by this name. This original version used “inner staves” in the maturation/finishing casks – basically adding additional staves of oak into the casks to impart their character. This practice was ultimately deemed illegal – and the whisky was discontinued. The version that’s now on the market (since 2009) claims to achieve the same result – but adhering to the rule set for Scotch Whisky. Never having tasted the “illegal” product I’ll take a look at the current offering:

Tasting notes:
Colour:
 honey
Yes, there’s spice on the nose! Who’da thunk! Like sticking your nose into grandma’s spice cupboard! We’ve got allspice, clove, cinnamon and a pinch of ground ginger sprinkled over a soft and sweet base of honey, Italian sweet almond cookies and shortbread. The French oak is strong in this one – but not overpowering and working well with the complex, tightly woven vatted, err, blended malt base. Let’s check the palate! 

Continue reading “Tasting: Compass Box Spice Tree NAS”

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24 drams till Christmas 2016 #20: Timorous Beastie 40yo by Douglas Laing

Timorous Beastie 40yo by Douglas Laing

Timorous Beastie 40yo by Douglas LaingDram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2016
Age: 40
Limitation: 1080 bottles
Casks: –
Alcohol: 54,7%
unchillfiltered and uncoloured
Whiskybase link

It’s not every day I get to taste 40 yo whisky (or any whisky older than me, for that matter), so I guess today is a special day, despite it being an ordinary workday 😉

Tasting notes:
Colour:
 gold
The nose smells of.. aaahhhhh! old whisky! Or should I say well-matured whisky? There’s a perfumey fragrant oak character up front which only appears in old whisky – but not too oaky, just the right amount of oak! Rich and complex, with old banana, molasses, sweet fruit syrup, gingerbread with quite a lot of aniseed and frosting, assorted wine gums. Like entering an old-fashioned candy store with oak shelving, it features a very layered, complex set of sweet aromas which are impossible to dissect. Oh, this is right up my alley! Let’s see if the palate: can compete with the nose: Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas 2016 #20: Timorous Beastie 40yo by Douglas Laing”

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24 drams till Christmas 2016 #10: The Epicurean Lowland blended malt by Douglas Laing

Douglas Laing The Epicurean NAS

Douglas Laing The Epicurean NASDram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2016
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46,2%
unchillfiltered and uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Lowland whisky distilleries are low in number and they also aren’t featured too often these days – so let’s take a look at this blended malt (a mixture of different single malt whiskies), made up exclusively by Lowland whiskies.

Tasting notes:
Colour:
 cucumber water
The nose opens on the light, grassy, citrus-laden side. Light in character, which is a quite common lowland whisky profile. Sweetened cucumber water (a trace of rock candy), freshly cut grass, hay, light vanilla, lemons and limes. Yep, a nice, clean, light, but still eventful nose, not “baby-young” but also not super-old either without a trace of oak. Or, maybe… a trace of leather – a bomber jacket perhaps? On to the palate!  Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas 2016 #10: The Epicurean Lowland blended malt by Douglas Laing”

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Tasting: Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 years (2016 re-release)

Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 years (2016 re-release)

Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 years (2016 re-release)Dram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: -2016
Age: 15 years
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 43%
chill filtered and coloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
light amber (E150a…)
Many people lamented the loss of the old Johnnie Walker Green Label and now, after about two years of absence, it is back – worldwide. Johnnie Walker Green Label is a 15-year old blended malt, thus a vatting of only single malt whiskies – Cragganmore at the core, with Talisker, Caol Ila, Linkwood and others blended in. I have never tasted the old version, so let’s try the new one without expectations to live up to…
The nose is aromatic, medium-intense and, this might be my mind playing tricks here, “green” – meaning a grassy (but pleasantly so) top note. This fresh note is underpinned by vanilla-scented honey, honey melon, orange oil, shortbread, caramelized ginger, a dense mixture of spices, a pinch of white pepper and a smidgen of peat smoke. Continue reading “Tasting: Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 years (2016 re-release)”

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24 drams till Christmas tasting #22: Double Barrel Highland Park + Bowmore 10 yo

Double Barrel Highland Park + Bowmore 10 yo

Double Barrel Highland Park + Bowmore 10 yoDram data:
Distillery: Highland Park / Bowmore
Bottler: Douglas Laing
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2009
Age: 10
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
The nose is very light and gentle – quite surprising, to be honest. One would expect greater, bolder things. Light and fragrant peat smoke with burning lavender in the mix, a slight perfume note, vanilla pudding where the cook was very stingy with the sugar and the vanilla, the same cook also overly diluted the honey with sugar water (again, being stingy with the sugar) and had just a pinch of coconut and ripe pineapple left.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #22: Double Barrel Highland Park + Bowmore 10 yo”

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24 drams till Christmas tasting #18: The Good Spirits Co. Cask 23 blend batch 9

The Good Spirits Co. Cask 23 blend batch 9

The Good Spirits Co. Cask 23 blend batch 9Dram data:
Distillery: – (blended malt)
Bottler: The Good Spirits Co.
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2013
Age: youngest malt is 7 yo
Limitation: –
Casks: unknown, “living cask” for vatting
Alcohol: 57%
unchillfiltered; natural colour

Tasting notes:
Colour: red gold
The nose is initially quite alcoholic – this batch had a load of young high-octane Glentauchers added. Vanilla, light honey, heather, citrus, coconut, eucalyptus and a grassy, green note. Feels a tad young. On the palate the load of high-strength young whisky is immediately noticeable as well. As the alcohol and initial dryness passes the dram is mouth-coating and pleasantly oily. Bourbon-matured Glentauchers, I’d say, but the exact proportions of Glentauchers to other malts are unknown.
Continue reading “24 drams till Christmas tasting #18: The Good Spirits Co. Cask 23 blend batch 9”

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Tasting: Wemyss The Hive NAS Blended Malt

Wemyss The Hive NAS Blended Malt

Wemyss The Hive NAS Blended MaltDram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour

Tasting notes:
Colour:
gold
The nose opens up with waxy honey, vanilla, creamy baked apples with cloves stuck in them, slight sandalwood and cinnamon. The honey note is really dominant – this dram is aptly named! Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss The Hive NAS Blended Malt”

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Tasting: Wemyss Spice King NAS Blended Malt

Wemyss Spice King NAS

Wemyss Spice King NASDram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour

Tasting notes:
Colour:
reddish gold
The nose starts with vanilla, lingering honey and orange peel. There are also black pepper, chocolate, coffee, a tiny amount of peat smoke and some brine. Hang on, where are the eponymous spices? Let’s investigate further!
Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss Spice King NAS Blended Malt”

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Tasting: Wemyss Malts Kiln Embers Limited NAS

Wemyss Malts Kiln Embers Limited NAS

Wemyss Malts Kiln Embers Limited NASDram data:
Distillery: –
Bottler: Wemyss Malts
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS
Limitation: 12.000 bottles
Cask: –
Alcohol: 46%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
gold
Kiln embers, they call this. Double the Islay malt content compared to the peat chimney. Well, let’s find out and let me stick my nose in! Yep, ashy peat smoke, but restrained. A gentlemanlike version of the brute Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength tends to be. More accessible and mass-compatible, if you like, without being weak. Right, what else do we get? Continue reading “Tasting: Wemyss Malts Kiln Embers Limited NAS”

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Tasting: Michel Couvreur Overaged NAS Blended Malt

Michel Couvreur overagedDram data:
Distillery: – (blended malt)
Bottler: Michel Couvreur
Distilled: –
Bottled: –
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: ex-sherry
Alcohol: 43%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
amber
The nose opens dark, rich and mysterious. A spicy dark fruit cake. Sweet dried raisins, plums, figs, thick juicy sherry, caramel, sweet cocoa, cloves, dark spiced biscuits all form a very harmonious blend. Continue reading “Tasting: Michel Couvreur Overaged NAS Blended Malt”

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