In August we looked for the more mature dram. We tasted 3 bottles of different 18 year old Scotch from 3 different regions. These were Highland, Island and Speyside.
Well, actually, if you are being picky Highland Park which is based on Orkney could be considered part of the Highland region but that is another conversation for another day. We brought out The Glenlivet 18 again and added 2 big hitters.
We were also lucky enough to have the following bottles to add some breadth to our line up.
Well, actually, if you are being picky Highland Park which is based on Orkney could be considered part of the Highland region but that is another conversation for another day. We brought out The Glenlivet 18 again and added 2 big hitters.
- Tomatin 18 Yr – Highland
- Highland Park 18 – Island
- The Glenlivet 18 – Speyside
We were also lucky enough to have the following bottles to add some breadth to our line up.
- Old Pulteney WK217
- Ardbeg 10
- Laphroaig Cairdeas Origin
- Redbreast 12 Cask Strength
Tomatin 18
This 18 yr old has had 15 years of maturation in Bourbon hogsheads, Makers Mark to be specific. It is then finished for the final 3 years in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks.
This combination gives this 18 yr a sweet, woody nose that is rich in fruit, spiced berries, cinnamon and puffs of smoke.
It has good legs.
On the palate it is smooth and sweet. You can taste the bourbon influence right off. There is a low level dry spiciness and subtle smoke. I expected more oak on the palate as promised by the nose but it is pleasingly subtle and not as strong as expected. There is an hint of citrus and a lovely honey finish which is long and sherried.
It is not as complex as some but this is a great well rounded expression which is really worth trying. Good stuff!
This 18 yr old has had 15 years of maturation in Bourbon hogsheads, Makers Mark to be specific. It is then finished for the final 3 years in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks.
This combination gives this 18 yr a sweet, woody nose that is rich in fruit, spiced berries, cinnamon and puffs of smoke.
It has good legs.
On the palate it is smooth and sweet. You can taste the bourbon influence right off. There is a low level dry spiciness and subtle smoke. I expected more oak on the palate as promised by the nose but it is pleasingly subtle and not as strong as expected. There is an hint of citrus and a lovely honey finish which is long and sherried.
It is not as complex as some but this is a great well rounded expression which is really worth trying. Good stuff!
Highland Park 18
This bottle was the star of the show!!! Gold in a glass.
The nose gives you oak, honey, heather, smoke. It smells wonderfully complex and inviting.
On the palate it is rich and full. Honey, a bit of peat, oak, smoke, warming sweet dark fruits.
The finish is soft and yet long.
A beautifully balanced bottle. Truly worth every penny.
This bottle was the star of the show!!! Gold in a glass.
The nose gives you oak, honey, heather, smoke. It smells wonderfully complex and inviting.
On the palate it is rich and full. Honey, a bit of peat, oak, smoke, warming sweet dark fruits.
The finish is soft and yet long.
A beautifully balanced bottle. Truly worth every penny.
Ardbeg 10
This is a big hitting Islay malt with massive flavours!
The nose is soft yet full, Smokey, salty sea spray with a whiff of burnt bacon. There is a lemon undertone which is covered by a powerful peat aroma.
Your first taste brings strong Smoke, fruit, sweet spices with a smooth oily texture. This is a rich peaty punch with a sales caramel flavour. It has a long finish which leaves the tongue tingling and the mouth wanting more.
As an experience it is something you want to last. If you haven't tried it buy a bottle! Pound for pound this is a serious contender. I can't think of anything for the same money that delivers such flavour, quality, complexity and class.
This is a big hitting Islay malt with massive flavours!
The nose is soft yet full, Smokey, salty sea spray with a whiff of burnt bacon. There is a lemon undertone which is covered by a powerful peat aroma.
Your first taste brings strong Smoke, fruit, sweet spices with a smooth oily texture. This is a rich peaty punch with a sales caramel flavour. It has a long finish which leaves the tongue tingling and the mouth wanting more.
As an experience it is something you want to last. If you haven't tried it buy a bottle! Pound for pound this is a serious contender. I can't think of anything for the same money that delivers such flavour, quality, complexity and class.
Redbreast 12 Cask Strength (Thanks to Andy & Jenny :)
This is an award winning Irish Whiskey with real class.
The nose is sweet like chantilly cream and sherry trifle. Rich and thick and full of promise.
It is smooth and very creamy with vanilla, citrus, ripe fruits and sherry and a long finish.
Adding a drop of water doesn’t reduce the punch but does release more flavours.
What a great find! This is a bargain and to my mind and I really love it. If you haven't tried it, add it to your wish list now.
This is an award winning Irish Whiskey with real class.
The nose is sweet like chantilly cream and sherry trifle. Rich and thick and full of promise.
It is smooth and very creamy with vanilla, citrus, ripe fruits and sherry and a long finish.
Adding a drop of water doesn’t reduce the punch but does release more flavours.
What a great find! This is a bargain and to my mind and I really love it. If you haven't tried it, add it to your wish list now.
Laphroaig Cairdeas Origin
This is the 2012 limited edition release from the Laphroaig distillery. Now no longer available in the shops so if you see a bottle grab it.
On the nose at first I get a hint of zesty lemon. The peatiness is more subtle than the 10yo but complements the lemon nicely.
Cigar smoke dominates the palate but there's definitely a strong fresh citrus edge underlying this.
With a touch of water the peat is more pronounced on the nose with a mellower lemon edge. It's actually like a peatier-than-average Bowmore. I get a more orange flavoured palate now, like orange and lemon peel dragged through charcoal. I can also detect a hint of caramel too.
The finish is lingering cigar smoke with a bit of zest.
Delicious stuff - if there is such a thing as a subtle and calm Laphroaig then this is it.
This is the 2012 limited edition release from the Laphroaig distillery. Now no longer available in the shops so if you see a bottle grab it.
On the nose at first I get a hint of zesty lemon. The peatiness is more subtle than the 10yo but complements the lemon nicely.
Cigar smoke dominates the palate but there's definitely a strong fresh citrus edge underlying this.
With a touch of water the peat is more pronounced on the nose with a mellower lemon edge. It's actually like a peatier-than-average Bowmore. I get a more orange flavoured palate now, like orange and lemon peel dragged through charcoal. I can also detect a hint of caramel too.
The finish is lingering cigar smoke with a bit of zest.
Delicious stuff - if there is such a thing as a subtle and calm Laphroaig then this is it.
Old Pulteney WK217
Another bottle you cant buy in the shops. This is a “Travel Exclusive” which means it is only on sale in Duty Free. This has no age statement and is non chill filtered.
Old Pultney is a bit of an odd distillery for me as I am not a huge fan of 12yo at all but there are many who love it. The 17yo is amazing though - I don't know what happens in those 5 years but it seems supernatural. And as for the 21yo - Amazing! So here we have a limited and slightly obscure release from them......
The nose is bursting with sea spray and brine. Underneath that we have toffee and slight floral hints. Seaweed and very slight peatiness evident, (but not what I'd call smoky). I also get a touch of citrus, marzipan with vanilla becoming more evident as it opens up.
Lovely thick rich mouthfeel with sweet caramel, toffee and saltiness. Slightly spicy. I can detect vanilla and sultanas too but only slightly.
Medium finish which ends on a drying note with a very slight hint of bitterness which is not at all unpleasant.
Not bad at all. Think I rate this somewhere between the 17 and 21yo expressions.
Another bottle you cant buy in the shops. This is a “Travel Exclusive” which means it is only on sale in Duty Free. This has no age statement and is non chill filtered.
Old Pultney is a bit of an odd distillery for me as I am not a huge fan of 12yo at all but there are many who love it. The 17yo is amazing though - I don't know what happens in those 5 years but it seems supernatural. And as for the 21yo - Amazing! So here we have a limited and slightly obscure release from them......
The nose is bursting with sea spray and brine. Underneath that we have toffee and slight floral hints. Seaweed and very slight peatiness evident, (but not what I'd call smoky). I also get a touch of citrus, marzipan with vanilla becoming more evident as it opens up.
Lovely thick rich mouthfeel with sweet caramel, toffee and saltiness. Slightly spicy. I can detect vanilla and sultanas too but only slightly.
Medium finish which ends on a drying note with a very slight hint of bitterness which is not at all unpleasant.
Not bad at all. Think I rate this somewhere between the 17 and 21yo expressions.
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