Tastes

Nose: clove, grape, orange cream, malt, grass, pear, Frosties cereal Palate: honey, white wine, ginger, malt, green apple, pear, white pepper Finish: Caramel, pepper, grape, malt, medium short drying finish _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 8: Speyburn 10yo versus Bunnahabhain 12yo I think @Scott_E nails it in his review here: https://distiller.com/tastes/31362 It has a clean nose that is lighter than the Bunna12’s sherry darkness, and similarly it is bright and summery on the palate, which I enjoyed more this evening. This dram never really registers on people’s “best of” lists and what I was surprised to learn is that, according to Charles Maclean’s Whiskypedia, this was once in the top six bestselling malts in the USA and number one in Finland. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Qtr Final, Match 4: Speyburn 10yo versus Glenfarclas 12yo I’m starting to wonder whether I was duped by Speyburn last time, and whether it really was the deserving victor against the Bunna12, given the reputation Bunna has. The Speyburn is again bright and summery and lovely with it, but why is it that I favour the regal richness of the sherried dram on this occasion? The ‘farclas forges on. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through. Selecting a dram can make my head spin like Linda Blair. So, I developed a plan so clever you could put a tail on it and call it a fox. I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: nut, sherry trifle, raisin, blackberry, new leather, light brine and oak Palate: sherry, vanilla, dark berry Finish: long, sweet, lightly salty and a bit too tannic _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 8: Bunnahabhain 12yo versus Speyburn 10yo I thought it had a shy nose, but was richer than the Speyburn. They are very different and I preferred the Speyburn’s cleaner, lighter perfume this evening. The same applies for the palate and finish. The Bunna is one to savour with a velvet mouthfeel and a warming rich sherried palate. It’s a very good whiskey but the Speyburn is airier and more pleasing on this occasion. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through. Selecting a dram can make my head spin like Linda Blair. So, I developed a plan so clever you could put a tail on it and call it a fox. I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: light, fruity smoke, lemon, raisins, raspberry Palate: sherry, dry, raspberry, old wood, honey Finish: light tannic finish and not very dry _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 7: Glenfarclas 12yo versus Glengoyne 12yo Last year I tasted the 15yo expression and I was not bowled over. Indeed, even though I know this is a Glenfarclas signature I was somewhat put off by the “over-sherried” nature of it. Sacrilege! I may now become a target for factions of fervent sherry bombers and so will have to check under my car each morning for unexploded bottles of Aberlour A’Bunadh. But I recognise my own (current) preferences at this stage to know that I generally lean away from strong, sherried whiskies. Maybe due to its lower age this worked well enough for me. Enough to beat out the competition of a sherry-finished malt in Glengoyne 12. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Qtr Final, Match 4: Glenfarclas 12yo versus Speyburn 10yo Got a nice whiff of old furniture and marmalade this time round in a battle with Speyburn 10. The taste is rich, sweet sherry with some interesting heat and salty sharpness and a yummy oak and sweet tea finish. The Speyburn is a fine, light scotch and in the last round it bested a sherried dram. Not this time. This struck a chord tonight, despite what I said above about sherried whiskies. I never said I wasn’t fickle and capricious. Stop judging me! _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through. Selecting a dram can be confusing – like Lloyd and Harry’s budgie I can barely keep my head together. So, I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: Oil, salt, cinnamon, stewed apple, walnut, dusty malt Palate: leaves, apple, lightly salty, dark chocolate with chilli, orange peel Finish: tannic, woody, sultanas _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 7: Glengoyne 12yo versus Glenfarclas 12yo The aroma of the Glengoyne dram was deeper but not necessarily better than the Glenfarclas 12. I’d give them a tie on that, but the Glengoyne slips behind on palate and finish mainly due to rolling echoes of tannic spice that I felt were a bit overpowering this evening. The ‘farclas manages to mute the tannic trumpet and deliver an old library elegance that wins the day. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through. Selecting a dram can be confusing – like Lloyd and Harry’s budgie I can barely keep my head together. So, I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: toffee or caramel fudge, red apple, honey cheerios, floral, malt, toast Palate: light, young, pear, has spiky edges and a sourness Finish: nutty spiciness, sourness _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 6: Sheep Dip versus BenRiach Curiositas 10yo Sheep Dip is a blended malt that has changed hands as a brand several times and is now owned by Ian Macleod Distillers. It was previously owned by Whyte & Mackay and it seems old big-nose Richard Patterson still has a hand in this, or at least did so until recently. The nose holds up well enough (the whisky’s, not Patterson’s) with a fresh and malty waft but is no match for the sweet smoke of Curiositas. Although a blended malt it has a grainy taste and a battery-licking tanginess that seems to betray a youth at odds with the official description of a blend of 16 different individual malts aged from 8 to 21 years old. The finish is short with a pleasant nutty spiciness but is held back by a slight sourness. Both the palate and finish are behind the deeper, sherry influenced peat notes of the Curiositas. It’s ewe-nanimous and so, shorn of dignity and without a ruminant of pride, it sheepishly leaves the arena ^groan^ _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through. Like selecting what to watch next on Netflix, often selecting a dram can take twice as long as drinking it. So I developed a plan so clever you could put a tail on it and call it a fox. I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: lovely sweet smoke, sea breeze, apples and green bananas Palate: light salt, peat, fruit burst, sweet and smoky Finish: sherry dryness, lingering salty peat smoke _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 6: BenRiach Curiositas 10yo versus Sheep Dip Billy Walker has been described as “the smartest man in the whisky industry”. It is easy to see why with his Midas touch evident in the renaissance of Glendronach and Glenallachie distilleries. Before that he worked his magic with BenRiach leading a consortium purchase in 2004. As a peated Speyside this is somewhat unusual. In addition to the typical unpeated malt, I read that each year from 1983 BenRiach produced a sizeable amount of peated malt whisky which helped extend Walker’s creative palette and so broaden the range of what BenRiach could release. This easily outshines its competitor in all areas. I really like the sweet peaty smell of this dram and the palate and finish are an A- grade combination of peat and sherry (if Lagavulin 16 is your A+ standard). _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Qtr Final, Match 3: BenRiach Curiositas 10yo versus Cutty Sark Prohibition Got some honeysuckle on the nose in the next round matchup with Cutty Sark Prohibition. The palate was a bit more overpowering than I previously experienced. I admit that I do rate the Prohibition but, nevertheless, Curiositas is clearly better than the blend. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through. Like selecting what to watch next on Netflix, often selecting a dram can take twice as long as drinking it. So I developed a plan so clever you could put a tail on it and call it a fox. I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: Pear, honeyed cereal, muted grain alcohol, butter, puppy, raisin Palate: pepper, malty, sweet, a bit sharp maybe, sherry Finish: a dry, paracetamol grapefruit (but not bitter), sherry, oak _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 5: Cutty Sark Prohibition versus Tobermory 10yo Okay, I swear I got a puppy smell or maybe I just need a shower. In any case, at least I got something from the nose compared to a very non-descript Tobermory. A bright-young-thing start to the palate then wood and pepper kicks in. Its youth maybe holds it back mid-game but a stronger finish than the islander sees it carry the victory. Impressive for a reasonably low-cost blend, but unfortunately its hard to find near me. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Qtr Final, Match 3: Cutty Sark Prohibition versus BenRiach Curiositas 10yo Found some stewed blackberry this time out in the contest with BenRiach Curiositas. But overall it is not a match for the Speysider. If I’m being generous to the Cutty Sark I could rank it even on taste, but it is bested on nose and finish and so it is cast adrift and it is the Curiositas that sails into the next round. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through and making a decision on what to drink next is hard. Like choosing the right footwear in the morning I flip flop. So, I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: light smell - can’t pick much out, light nail varnish, swimming pool, oak Palate: salt, grapefruit, sharp orange, a bit bitter Finish: bitter grapefruit _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 5: Tobermory 10yo versus Cutty Sark Prohibition Tobermory distillery has had a varied history, at times put to other uses such as a canteen and a power station, some of the distillery buildings converted into flats and others rented for cheese storage. I’ve heard that the whisky too can be variable. But what of this sample? On this tasting it was as shy as a cloistered nun. Extremely light in colour, and not very forthcoming on the nose. The palate gave the Cutty Sark a run for its money but overall Tobermory fell short and instead it is the impressive blend that breaks the tape. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. I have too large a backlog of samples and miniatures to go through and making a decision on what to drink next is hard. Like choosing the right footwear in the morning I flip flop. So, I have picked sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: Oak, light but noticeable peat, chocolate digestive Palate: a bit thin, peat, developing to sweet berry fruit Finish: light pepper, chocolate, Darjeeling tea _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 4: Isle of Skye 12yo versus Ben Bracken Highland Isle of Skye is a blend from Ian Macleods and you’d be forgiven if you thought the name meant this was solely Talisker malt blended with grain whisky. Their website says however that it contains a high proportion of carefully selected Island and Speyside malts, so maybe Talisker is in the mix – maybe not. I did not get the signature Talisker pepper kick until the finish. But it is a well-crafted, steady blend. In the matchup with the discount supermarket’s “finest” it wasn’t really an even bout, Isle of Skye winning handsomely. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Qtr Final, Match 2: Isle of Skye 12yo versus Old Pulteney 12yo In addition to previous notes I get caramel and tobacco on the nose and a sinus-clearing menthol burst on the palate. Not bad all round but no match for OP12 and so it goes no further. Mar sin leat. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. Faced with a large array of samples and miniatures I can suffer from analysis paralysis - deciding on a dram can often take twice as long as drinking it. I have selected sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

Nose: light grain, maple syrup, liquid shoe polish, grass, pear, orange, soap Palate: grainy, honey, white wine Finish: dry, bitter, Chardonnay wine _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 4: Ben Bracken Highland versus Isle of Skye 12yo Ben Bracken is the single malt brand of Lidl (one of Europe’s discount supermarket titans if you don’t know). There is also a Speyside and Islay version in this NAS range, and they sometimes release age stated versions. They never identify the source, however. This is young and unbalanced but that is not to say it does not have its merits. It wears a varied and pleasant perfume, but it is let down by a taste that is light & thin and hot & sharp. I will be generous and award a tie for its bouquet, but The Isle of Skye is better in all other classes. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. Faced with a large array of samples and miniatures I can suffer from analysis paralysis - deciding on a dram can often take twice as long as drinking it. I have selected sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness