May saw us tasting 5 different cask strength bottles. These were as follows:
- Tormore 15 Yr Cash strength 57.4%
- Glenallachie 6Yr 55.2%
- The Glenlivet Nadurra 1st Fill 63.1%
- Aberlour A'bundah Batch 50 59.6%
- Lagavulin 12 yr 55.1%
Tormore 15 Yr - 57.4%
We started with a lesser know distillery. Tormore. Owned by Pernod Ricard this expression is a 15 yr cask strength bottled by Chivas brothers.
Nose is sweet with caramel, fragrant with barley and vanilla. It is very appealing.
The palate starts with warming spice, white pepper, barley with sweetness.
Finish lingers and is a good medium length.
Water suppresses the nose but brings out the sweetness and spice so worth doing. Quality, I will be looking out for more Tormore. Nice drop. Honestly, very drinkable by any standards.
We started with a lesser know distillery. Tormore. Owned by Pernod Ricard this expression is a 15 yr cask strength bottled by Chivas brothers.
Nose is sweet with caramel, fragrant with barley and vanilla. It is very appealing.
The palate starts with warming spice, white pepper, barley with sweetness.
Finish lingers and is a good medium length.
Water suppresses the nose but brings out the sweetness and spice so worth doing. Quality, I will be looking out for more Tormore. Nice drop. Honestly, very drinkable by any standards.
Glenallachie 6 yr - 55.2%
This is a cask strength bottled at 55.2%
Pale straw in colour the nose is sweet, apple, dried fruit, sherried fruit, tobacco with musty notes.
The palate is spicy, fruity, vanilla, chocolate with white pepper.
Medium finish. Adding a few drops of water accentuates the sweetness.
This bottle was out of its depth in this company. It was pleasant but not good enough to stand against some of the others on the night. Interestingly, previous outing rated it well coming 3rd of 5 with a respectable' score.
This is a cask strength bottled at 55.2%
Pale straw in colour the nose is sweet, apple, dried fruit, sherried fruit, tobacco with musty notes.
The palate is spicy, fruity, vanilla, chocolate with white pepper.
Medium finish. Adding a few drops of water accentuates the sweetness.
This bottle was out of its depth in this company. It was pleasant but not good enough to stand against some of the others on the night. Interestingly, previous outing rated it well coming 3rd of 5 with a respectable' score.
The Glenlivet Nadurra - 63.1%
Big brand, big name, big flavours!
The nose is sweet honey, vanilla apples and not surprisingly strong alcohol.
Palate of sweet vanilla, citrus, tropical fruits and water brings on a stronger taste of banana.
The finish has oak spice but is fairly short considering how powerful it is on the palate.
It is very drinkable, and water smoothes it out nicely.
Big brand, big name, big flavours!
The nose is sweet honey, vanilla apples and not surprisingly strong alcohol.
Palate of sweet vanilla, citrus, tropical fruits and water brings on a stronger taste of banana.
The finish has oak spice but is fairly short considering how powerful it is on the palate.
It is very drinkable, and water smoothes it out nicely.
Aberlour ~A'Bunadh Batch 50 - 59.6%
Matured exclusively in spanish oloroso cask between 5 - 25 years this is a classic drop. Since 97 Aberlour have been releasing batches of this each with their own unique profiles. A staple amongst many whisky drinkers cabinets and one to look out for.
Very dark colour. Burnt caramel.
The nose is sherry, oak leather and dark fruits.
The palate is not as good as the nose. It's spicy, drying, sherry but dry oak runs through it. Add water! it does soften and mellow the oak and makes it much more drinkable and pleasant.
Dont be fooled, its a cracking drop but neat its just too much.
Finish is long and spicy but this batch is not as solid as previous such as 37 or 42.
Matured exclusively in spanish oloroso cask between 5 - 25 years this is a classic drop. Since 97 Aberlour have been releasing batches of this each with their own unique profiles. A staple amongst many whisky drinkers cabinets and one to look out for.
Very dark colour. Burnt caramel.
The nose is sherry, oak leather and dark fruits.
The palate is not as good as the nose. It's spicy, drying, sherry but dry oak runs through it. Add water! it does soften and mellow the oak and makes it much more drinkable and pleasant.
Dont be fooled, its a cracking drop but neat its just too much.
Finish is long and spicy but this batch is not as solid as previous such as 37 or 42.
Lagavulin 12 yr 2011 special release 55.1%
This had to come last, its too flavourful to follow on from. The classic Lagavulin flavour profiles that make it a marmite whisky. Love it or loathe it you cannot mistake it.
The nose is wonderful, soft yet powerful. smoke, salt, brine, peat, sweetness.
Palate - Huge rolling flavours which match the nose. Sea salt, smoke, peat, sweetness but beautifully matched.
The finish lasts for ever, long and incredibly smoky like a bonfire.
If you havent tried it then look out for this one.
This had to come last, its too flavourful to follow on from. The classic Lagavulin flavour profiles that make it a marmite whisky. Love it or loathe it you cannot mistake it.
The nose is wonderful, soft yet powerful. smoke, salt, brine, peat, sweetness.
Palate - Huge rolling flavours which match the nose. Sea salt, smoke, peat, sweetness but beautifully matched.
The finish lasts for ever, long and incredibly smoky like a bonfire.
If you havent tried it then look out for this one.
And the winner is...
As is tradition we each list the bottles in order of preference. Then we attribute points accordingly. 5 points for 1st down to 1 point for last.
Lagavulin 21 points
Tormore 18 points
Glenlivet 16 points
Aberlour 12 points
Glenallachie 8 points
The Lagavulin was a clear and deserved winner. Biggest surprise was the Tormore. Biggest disappointment the Aberlour (not because it wasn't good but because expectation was so high) but i think 6 months in the bottle may bring it on leaps and bounds. We shall see.
As is tradition we each list the bottles in order of preference. Then we attribute points accordingly. 5 points for 1st down to 1 point for last.
Lagavulin 21 points
Tormore 18 points
Glenlivet 16 points
Aberlour 12 points
Glenallachie 8 points
The Lagavulin was a clear and deserved winner. Biggest surprise was the Tormore. Biggest disappointment the Aberlour (not because it wasn't good but because expectation was so high) but i think 6 months in the bottle may bring it on leaps and bounds. We shall see.
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