Rapid fire whisky notes is our way of working through our backlog of samples (see volume 4). Simple assessments with concise tasting notes from a wide range of distilleries: The Balvenie, Ben Nevis, Edradour and Linkwood but also much younger names like Milk & Honey, Dalmunach and Strathearn.
Burnside 28 yo 1994 (48,2%, HNWS / The Spirits Hunter 2022, hogshead #5137, 236 btl.)
N: yellow plums, apples and tangerines. Floral honey, mild peppery oak and hints of varnish. M: fruit soda. More apples, honey, lemon peels, with green banana and green oak spice. Some vanilla custard and suble wax. F: medium, on creamy malt and yellow fruits. 〉〉〉 Simple and pleasant. Mildly fruity. We’ll try a few more Burnsides in the near future.
Ben Nevis 24 yo 1998 (46,6%, The Maltman 2023, refill hogshead #694, 235 btl.)
N: nice tangerines and mirabelles, with chalky notes, sunflower oil, kaffir leaf, pine nuts and hints of mud. M: typical fruits (slightly tropical) but with a dirty edge. A lot of waxy notes, petrol, chalk, orange zest, grassy notes and green gooseberries. F: medium, grassy with lemons, wax and hints of barley sugar 〉〉〉 Though not as great as the 1995-1996s, still a great waxy profile with a dirty touch. Score: 87/100
Miltonduff 11 yo 2012 (48,5%, Decadent Drinks ‘Equinox & Solstice’ Winter 2023, first-fill sherry hogshead)
N: sour red berries, soaked raisins and clafoutis. Hints of a pickled red cabbage salad too. Also an oaky note, with moist tobacco, plums and hints of very young Oloroso wine. M: plenty of nuts, red apples and sour berries, still this young and winey Oloroso note and leathery notes. F: medium length, with oak spice and berries. 〉〉〉 Another good option in the E&S range. Available from Decadent Drinks or Master of Malt for instance. Score: 86/100
Edradour 10 yo 2011 (60,4%, OB for Whisky Picnic Bar 2021, first fill Marsala hogshead #83, 400 btl.)
N: increasingly high on creamy vanilla and oranges. Some winey notes and buttery apple crumble. Water is obligatory, brings out more apples and jammy fruits. M: slightly synthetic fruits like green banana, sweet plums and orange. More butter pastry, vanilla and tannins. Apple sweetness and chilli. Water doesn’t work, it only highlights the spicy notes. F: long and really peppery, alongside vanilla, cardamom and apples. 〉〉〉 Not sure what to make of this (full-time) Marsala maturation. Definitely interesting, but also struggling with alcohol and tannins. Score: 83/100
Tullibardine 2005 (52,9%, Liquid Art 2023, 125 btl.)
N: really bright and aromatic, with a sweet and sour fruitiness. Green apple, kiwi, banana and nectarine. Hints of dough, subtle mint and lime blossom. M: nicely oily, with a waxy start, light herbal touches and menthol, as well as orange, peach, pomelo and vanilla. F: quite long, more citrus fruits. 〉〉〉 Great choice, rather expensive though. Check Care for Craft for instance. Score: 88/100
Milk & Honey 2019 (65,5%, Liquid Art 2023, ex-rye cask #1354, 108 btl.)
N: almost Irish, very fruity, showing pineapple, lemons, vanilla and stem ginger. Apricot jam and orange flowers. Subtle spiced bread and anise in the background. M: sweet and rather tropical. More mango, pink grapefruit, apricots. Ginger, nutmeg and mint. Vanilla and lots of wood spice. Gingerbread. F: long, sweet and fruity, with honey and green pepper. 〉〉〉 A nicely fruity M&H. Complexity is fairly low, and water is necessary here. A good youngster though. Score: 86/100
A Speyside Distillery 13 yo 2009 (56,1%, Watt Whisky 2023, hogshead, 348 btl.)
N: a rather meaty, almost sulphurous spirit. Yellow apple, vanilla, grainy bread and herbal notes. Also greasy touches, mud and leafy notes. M: pastry sweetness, sunflower oil and butter, along with vanilla, juniper, walnuts, ginger and roasted malt. F: medium, still chunky, with clove, sweet malt and grassy oak. 〉〉〉 The meatiness is typical for the distillery. A correct whisky, weighty but not extremely exciting. Available as a set from Care for Craft. Score: 83/100
Dalmunach 6 yo 2016 (57,1%, Watt Whisky 2023, Amontillado sherry butt, 456 btl.)
N: honey and caramelized almond, some milky / buttery notes, nougat, porridge and new rubber, tobacco, peaches and raisins. M: berry sweetness, cherries, nutmeg, caramelized hazelnuts and plenty of walnuts, liquorice, cinnamon and raisins F: medium, some cocoa, cinnamon, caraway seeds and pecans 〉〉〉 Again not a classic profile, but more entertaining than the secret Mortlach. Still available from The Whisky Exchange. Score: 87/100
Linkwood 30 yo 1992 (48,1%, The Whisky Blues 2023, barrel #5290, 255 btl.)
N: banana candy, sweet pear and melons. Then honey and vanilla, along with dandelions and buttercups. M: fresh apples and pears, with peaches, more honey, vanilla and ginger. Maltiness and green wood takes over after a while. Green tea with a bittersweet edge. F: long and drying, on grapefruit, resinous notes, herbs and green tea. 〉〉〉 Nice Linkwood from high quality bourbon wood. Seemingly younger than it is. Score: 87/100
Fettercairn 12 yo 2008 (52,9%, Whisky-Fässle 2021, barrel)
N: sweet and fresh, very bourbonny, with vanilla, greengages, apples, hints of plasticine, light floral touches and mint M: bright fruity notes like pear and apple. Floral honey, vanilla custard, touches of mustard and mild oak spice F: medium, slightly greener, with lemon zest and latte 〉〉〉 Vibrant and balanced, a nice expression of Fettercairn. Still available from Whisky-Maniac or deinWhisky for instance. Score: 86/100
Strathearn 7 yo 2015 (54,8%, Thompson Bros ‘Spirited Angels’ 2022, peated, cask #50)
N: a nice style, full of earthy notes and a mix of olive brine and banana that reminds us of rum. Then wool, vanilla cake, ginger, wet newspaper and chai spice. Velvety smoke. M: very spicy (pepper, ginger), with hints of bitter herbs, green tea, burnt heather and clove oil. Rye spice, juniper, active wood. F: medium length, still spicy and bitter. Grapefruit peel, ginger and cold ashes 〉〉〉 Interesting and entertaining. A really nice nose, but the palate is quite demanding. Score: 81/100