October '18

SWC – October 2018 Revamped, Rebranded and Re-released
Alan K planned and delivered a wonderful tasting using  5 Whiskies from distilleries that have either been revamped or rebranded

1. Bunnahabhain 11 – Gordon & Macphail discovery range 43% £45
   

• Grouped and colour-coded under three flavour profiles - ‘Smoky', ‘Sherry’ and ‘Bourbon’. This is the purple/sherry profile.
  
• Designed to help whisky drinkers to begin an exploratory journey through the Gordon & MacPhail portfolio, each bottle features a brief tasting note and either a vintage or age statement.
  
• Aroma Sherry aromas mingle with orange marmalade. Dried fruit notes develop; subtle spices weave through creamy vanilla toffee. Taste Deliciously smooth and creamy; a gentle warming cinnamon spice matures into flavours of chewy dates and stewed plums with walnut undertones. Finish Smooth milk chocolate with lingering dried fruit and hints of nuts.
  
• Range starts around £42 and includes Caol Ila, Miltonduff, Balblair
  

1. The Glenallachie Spirit of Speyside festival 2018 cask strength £50
   
   • Formerly owned by Pernod Ricard, now taken over by the glenallachie distillers company founded by Billy Walker formerly of Glendronach/Benriach/Glenglassaugh.
     
   • Under Pernod only 1 expression of single malt on sale.
     
   • Built in 1967. Located near Aberlour in speyside.
     
   • New Range includes 10yr cask strength, 12, 18, 25 and a range of single casks. Ranging from £40 up to £230
     

1. Old Pulteney 12 40% £32
   

• The new core range will feature Old Pulteney’s existing 12-year-old, and the new no-age-statement Huddart, plus a 15- and 18-year-old.
  
• The HUDDART has been matured in a combination of second-fill American oak and ex-Bourbon casks, before being finished in ex-Bourbon casks that previously contained heavily peated whisky.
  
• The Old Pulteney 12 Year Old will continue to be the entry-level malt for the distillery’s core range. Matured in predominantly refill American oak casks
  
• The maritime malt removed its 17- and 21-year-old expressions in June 2017, citing stock shortages.
  
• The new-look Old Pulteney core range also sports a new bottle design, which ‘freshens up the overall look’ yet retains the brand’s distinctive bottle shape.
  

1. Longmorn 2003/2018 – Gordon & Macphail distillery labels range 43% £60
   
   • Our 'Distillery Labels' range is testament to the long-standing and unique relationships built over generations with Scotland's distillery owners.
     

We have been entrusted with new-make spirit from many of Scotland’s distilleries to mature in our casks, our way.

• • Because of the strong working relationships we had with distillery owners, we would bottle and sell the spirit they created as single malt on the condition that we used their 'house' label with the caption "bottled by Gordon & MacPhail".
    
  • Aroma Delicate sherry aromas mingle with milk chocolate; vibrant seville orange and dried fruit notes come to the fore with time. Hints of cinnamon and nutmeg add a warm spicy undertone. Taste Peppery yet sweet; dashes of warming white pepper develop into rich fruitcake flavours by toasted almonds, candied cherries, and twists of orange peel. Finish Complex; charred oak combines with liquorice and milk chocolate.
    
  • Prices from £50 and up and include distilleries like Scapa, Ardmore, Mortlach
    
  • ‘People associate us with having quality liquid, and the whisky is second to none, but people don’t think we look the best. This is our opportunity to change and move with the times, and give consumers what they really want.’
    
  
  
• Port Charlotte 10 – 50% £48.95
  

• New bottle shape, now first permanent age statement in range.
  
• The expression, which is bottled at 50% abv and uses only Scottish barley, has been matured in first-fill American oak, refill American oak and refill French wine casks.
  
• smoky sweet notes of ‘coconut, vanilla custard, lemon honey, smoke oysters and sun baked salty sand’.
  
• In June 2018, Bruichladdich announced the re-launch of the Port Charlotte whisky brand. The brand will have 4 expressions: Port Charlotte 10 YO, Port Charlotte Scottish Barley 2011, Port Charlotte MRC:01 2010 and MC:01 2009.
  
• Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2011 is a new vintage comprised of whisky produced from barley grown on three Islay farms – Dunlossit, Sunderland and Kilchiaran. Bottled at 50% abv, the whisky has been matured in mostly first-fill American oak with some whisky aged in refill Syrah and Merlot wine casks. It will be available globally for around £60 per 70cl bottle.
  
• Port Charlotte MRC:01 is a limited edition expression distilled in 2010, and matured in ex-wine casks from Bordeaux. Bottled at 59.2% abv, it will be available in domestic markets around the world for £90 per bottle.
  
• Lastly, Port Charlotte MC:01 is a limited 2009 vintage matured in Marsala casks, which has been bottled at 56.3% abv and will be available in travel retail only.
  

After tasting all 5 whiskies we voted on which ones we liked best.  The results were as followed:

1st port Charlotte 10 (34 points)

2nd longmorn 2003 (27 points)

3rd old pulteney 12 (19 points)

4th bunnahabhain 11 (16 points)

5th Glenallachie 12 S.o.Speyside (9 points)