Simple assessments with concise tasting notes from a wide range of distilleries. Here is volume 6 of the Rapid fire whisky notes (check volume 5).
Ben Nevis 27 yo 1995 (50,6%, The Whisky Blues 2023, sherry butt #506, 376 btl.)
N: a quirky mix of old wood, grease, milk chocolate, buttery brioche and hints of hazelnuts. Melons and grapes. M: funny hints of Calvados, big time. Then more grapes, raisins, melons. Leather, herbal bitterness and whiffs of smoke. F: long, on pepper, wet soil, liquorice and wood spice. 〉〉〉 Totally bonkers in a way. Not entirely faultless spirit in a not entirely faultless cask, yet it kinda works out. Not something I would have selected, but very interesting.
Glentauchers 10 yo 2013 (52,2%, Whiskybroker 2023, Oloroso sherry hogshead #300528, 368 btl.)
N: mild sherry, some charred notes, oranges, chocolate, polished copper, mildly dried herbs M: still a metallic start, then malty sweetness, coffee beans, peppercorns, nutty notes, prune eau-de-vie and a whiff of sulphur. F: medium, on coffee, orange peels and herbs 〉〉〉 Slightly musty sherry. Available from eSpirits. Score: 80/100
Campbeltown Blended Malt 8 yo 2016 (48%, Hogshead Imports 2024, first fill barrel, 318 btl.)
N: gristy notes, dusty malt, some honeyn lime and apple peelings, along with caramel and mossy notes. Not extremely expressive. M: bready notes, buttery malt, apples, nutmeg, earthy notes, rapeseed oil, very subtle soot. F: medium, on dusty grains, minerals and leafty notes. 〉〉〉 Probably not a Springbank, but rather Glen Scotia? Overall lacking depth but not bad. Score: 84/100
A Speyside distillery 15 yo 2009 (54,9%, Watt Whisky 2024, hogshead, 318 btl.)
N: quite meaty and sulphurous. Greasy notes, grainy bread, yellow apple and hints of melon. Muddy, yeasty and leafy notes too. M: very thick, still meaty. Hints of walnuts, barley, lemons and yellow apples. F: medium, still chunky, with honey and nutty notes. 〉〉〉 Some say it’s Mortlach, which seems correct. Certainly typical, just not my preferred style. Still available from The Whisky Exchange and Royal Mile Whiskies. Score: 80/100
Tullibardine 7 yo 2015 (57,1%, Elshoff Whisky Promotions for L&B Whiskycafé 2022, PX sherry cask finish #036, 272 btl.)
N: mead and raisins, with the usual vegetal, oily spirit of Tullibardine underneath. Sweet grassy notes, along with marmalade and tart raspberry. Slightly edgy acidity. M: quite spirity and young, with more grassiness and hints of bitter oranges, marmalade and white pepper. Some vinous notes and clove. The PX is fairly trivial here. F: medium, bittersweet. 〉〉〉 Apparently a very cosy and interesting whisky bar in Amsterdam, but a slightly tough selection. Score: 76/100
Glenglassaugh 10 yo 2012 (57,4%, Adelphi 2023, first-fill bourbon hogshead, #665, 235 btl.)
N: oh it’s peated. Smoked pears with generous vanilla. Light caramel. Hints of citrus candy, as well as a hint of floral honey and bread. M: sweet, almost candied. Haribo sweets, peaches, ripe yellow apples and a hint of tinned pineapple. A nice layer of wood smoke and a salty note. F: long, sweet and fruity, honey, peat smoke and green pepper. 〉〉〉 Simple but really enjoyable. Peated spirit from Glenglassaugh with a big layer of bourbon sweetness. I bought a sample from Whiskysite.nl. Score: 87/100
Mannochmore 8 yo 2015 (58,9%, Whisky AGE 2023, STR barrel #4776, 266 btl.)
N: young. Robust spirit with pepper and liquorice, grist, lemon and a vague sweetness. Clean, not overdone, but a tad boring. M: spicier now. More lemons, pepper, vanilla and a hint of chocolate. F: medium, on sweetish barley and almonds. 〉〉〉 Not the kinda profile I expected from Whisky AGE. Perfectly fine, but simple and too young. Score: 80/100
Nc’Nean 4 yo 2020 – AON Single Cask (61,1%, OB for Kirsch Import 2025, white Port finish #20-200, 250 btl.)
N: sweet grapes and peaches, citrus candy, tangy sherbet and vanilla. Also fresh woody notes, ginger and pepper. Bold and youthful. M: peaches, grapefruit peels and oranges. Pungent ginger, white pepper and nutty notes. Quite hot – water helps but amplifies nutty notes and slightly bitter wood. F: quite long, drying and nutty, more pepper. 〉〉〉 Among the better Nc’Neans I’ve had, thanks to this 8-month finish. Down the line pretty expensive for such a youngster. Score: 81/100