Even the big stills at a distillery sometimes need a bit of maintenance. Taken in the summer of 2013 at the Bruichladdich distillery.
Whisky in pictures: Bruichladdich still maintenance
Blind tasting: Campbeltown Loch Blended Scotch Whisky
Dram data:
Distillery: – (Blend)
Bottler: Springbank Distillers Ltd.
Distilled: –
Bottled: 2014-ish
Age: 5 years (acc. to Whiskybase)
Limitation: –
Cask: –
Alcohol: 40%
Unchillfiltered, most likely uncoloured
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: White wine.
The nose is very light and perfumy. I’ve got a suspicion this is a blend. Unripe and ripe apples mixed with grapes. Continue reading “Blind tasting: Campbeltown Loch Blended Scotch Whisky”
Tasting: Glen Garioch 1993 20y by Single Cask Collection
Dram data:
Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottler: Single Cask Collection
Distilled: 29.09.1993
Bottled: 04.02.2014
Age: 20 years
Limitation: 226 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: – (sample)
Casks: Bourbon Hogshead no. 808
Alcohol: 55,1%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: straw
The nose is a bit closed down at first, it needs some time to open up. Neat: A mix of delicate vanilla, peppermint, white pepper and lemon juice. Continue reading “Tasting: Glen Garioch 1993 20y by Single Cask Collection”
Tasting: Balvenie 12 Doublewood
Dram data:
Distillery: Balvenie
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: around 2014 (Code: D230835)
Age: 12 years
Limitation: –
Price at the time of purchasing: 29€
Casks: Bourbon with Sherry finish
Alcohol: 40%
Chillfiltered, added colouring
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: fake amber
The nose delivers what is promised on the label. Dominating ex-bourbon notes enriched by (wet?) ex-sherry casks. Rich and creamy but not overwhelming. Sweet vanilla pudding with tinned, glucose-laden exotic fruits on top. Continue reading “Tasting: Balvenie 12 Doublewood”
Whisky in pictures: Bunnahabhain distillery from the beach
Tasting: Amrut Peated
Dram data:
Distillery: Amrut
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: –
Bottled: March 2013 / Batch 19
Age: NAS
Limitation: –
Casks: –
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, uncoloured
Price at the time of purchasing: 56€ (yes, I paid too much, it’s usually about 40€…)
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: light-ish amber
The nose is an interesting mixture of known and unknown aromas – a clash of worlds – literally, as Scottish peated barley malt is distilled, matured and bottled in India. The peat is there – not nearly as prominent as in most Islay whiskies it is Highland style peatiness to a level we’re used to seeing in, for example Springbank (maybe a little less). It’s there – but just one flavour component amongst many. Continue reading “Tasting: Amrut Peated”
Whisky in pictures: Auchentoshan Distillery – Washback
Tasting: Invergordon 2006 7y by Whiskybroker
Dram data:
Distillery: Invergordon
Bottler: Whiskybroker
Distilled: 25.06.2006
Bottled: 10.04.2014
Age: 7
Limitation: 192 bottles
Casks: Hogshead 901117, finished in 50l Oloroso Octaves
Alcohol: 50%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: Dark Amber
The nose is… well, what is this beast? Definitely a grain whisky nose, not too much corn sweetness, so I guess mostly wheat. But there’s more. As if it were a half and half mixture of grain whisky and Oloroso sherry.. Continue reading “Tasting: Invergordon 2006 7y by Whiskybroker”
Scotland trip 2014 – part 3: Islay (including Caol Ila, Bowmore, Kilchoman)
Day 7: Islay
Leaving the marvellous Isle of Arran behind is never easy, but the prospect of landing on the shores of Islay in a few hours time made it a wee bit easier for the three of us. After making our way over to Claonaig by ferry from Lochranza and a taxi ride with David Bridge, we arrived at Kennacraig to board the good old Calmac vessel “Hebridean Isles”. The 2-hour trip on the boat was very smooth as the sea was really calm so we arrived in Port Askaig right on schedule where our car from D&N MacKenzie was already waiting for us. By the way: Great service from them – when you need to hire a car on Islay, I can recommend them!
What next? A distillery visit, of course!
Video: Arriving at Port Askaig Continue reading “Scotland trip 2014 – part 3: Islay (including Caol Ila, Bowmore, Kilchoman)”
Tasting: Ben Nevis 1996-2008 11y by Douglas Laing Mc Gibbon’s Provenance
Dram data:
Distillery: Ben Nevis
Bottler: Douglas Laing Mc Gibbon’s Provenance
Distilled: Winter 1996
Bottled: Spring 2008
Age: 11
Limitation: –
Casks: Sherry Finished Butt DMG 4236
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered, natural colour
Whiskybase link
Tasting notes:
Colour: amber
Let’s start with the nose. Did they bottle the right cask? 11 years? Dark, mysterious sherry, leather shoes, caramel cough lozenges, vanilla, almost dried paint, cocoa, medium dark milk chocolate, very dry figs, dates and raisins and an overripe peach. Continue reading “Tasting: Ben Nevis 1996-2008 11y by Douglas Laing Mc Gibbon’s Provenance”