Tastes

While this Glenfiddich Our Solera 15 is basically a rebrand of the Glenfiddich 15 Year Solera Reserve, and should basically the same liquid, I seem to like it a tad better than the dram I had during a business trip in Germany a while ago. On the nose, I discover some apple and pear, typically Glenfiddich, in my opinion. The palate then reveals some more - baked - apple, but with a touch of cinnamon and some mild spices. Dark red fruits. The aftertaste is rather long, mostly sweat, but pleasing. While I don't rate it top-notch, one definitely can't go wrong with a Glenfiddich. I do like the solera principle, and the fact that it's running since 1998. I'm doing something slightly similar with my very own 'Perpetuum blend' in which I pour a single dram of every bottle of scotch I buy. When the bottle is full, I pour five sample bottles and make room for some new drams. In theory, there always will be a trace of the first whiskies in it.

During some early Christmas-shopping, I discovered this 12-year-old Ledaig of Gordon & MacPhail's Discovery Range. So far, I liked everything Ledaig I've tasted and I had some fine experiences with some other private bottlings, so I had good faith in this one. At only 50 euro's per bottle, one can't go wrong too badly either... On the nose, there's pleasant smoke combined with some grassy peat-notes. The palate additionally reveals sweet and tasty baked apples, and some mild sweet spices, but also some soft caramel/syrup notes but also a hint of smoked meat (or a nice baked steak?). The aftertaste lingers on, with mostly sweet but smoky meat notes. This entry-level Gordon and MacPhail didn't fail to please me one bit. Compared to the regular Ledaig 10, this 12-year-old sibling is perfectly on par: Slightly more mature + slightly more expensive. In this price range, this is a top-notch dram, in my opinion.

Aberfeldy was my first ever purchased single malt brand. While I prefer peated drams nowadays, the 12 year old was a huge step up from the cheaper blends I tasted before. At a dinner with friends, I noticed the restaurant served this Aberfeldy 16 as it's premium whisky choice. While I'm accustomed to it's 12 years old variant, I never had a taste of this older sibling. As far as my memory goes, the nose it pretty similar to the Aberfeldy 12 and reveals hits of apples, raisins, and more prominently, some caramel. The palate is full, round bodied and adds some more apple, but also some not-too-sweet honey. The Oloroso influences are noticeable, but not too apparent. The finish is rather moderate, and adds a slight - but pleasant - oakyness. While not peated, I still love Aberfeldy. I feel it's sometimes a bit underrated, but in my opinion it's price-quality is top notch. This 16 year old was definitely a perfect dram on a great evening with friends!

Had a taste of this Bourbon on a beach bar style establishment, since they didn't have any single malts available. The only alternative was Jack Daniels Old 7 so, here goes: On the nose, one finds vanilla and and honey, which on the palate gets accompanied by flowery notes and wood. The aftertaste is decent, be it a bit spicy (peppers). For only 3,5 euro's a very decent pour!

Both the regular 12 year old as the peated Curiositas 10 has made a great impression, which convinced me to try this 17 year old. It didn’t fail to impress: On the nose, one is greeted by fresh peat smoke and speyside apples. On the palate the same smoke shakes your hand, but brought some honey and nuts. The aftertaste is rather long and mainly sweet., truly Islay meets Speyside. Matured a full 7 years longer than the the Curiositas, the Septendicem has lost the few sharp edges of it’s younger counterpart. Depending on one’s taste that may be a good thing, as it adds some subtlety to explore, but some may prefer the slightly punchier spirit of the 10 year old. For me, it might depend on my mood. They’re both great drams!

Seventh - and final - sample of a 7 part Kilchoman (custom) sample set my wife got me for my birthday last year. It's a limited Single Cask Release (678/2010), selected by and exclusively bottled for it's Dutch importer Bresser & Timmer. Distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2015, this 5 year old whisky has been finished in a PX Sherry Cask, and botled at a nice 57% with only 264 bottles available. For over a year this nice dram had hidden itself between the samples of my perpetuum blend (*), until I recently rediscovered it in my cabinet. A few days ago I was an evening home alone, so a perfect moment for a movie and a nice dram. On the nose, one is welcomed by a nice campfire, with some hints of BBQ and vanilla. The palate also reveals dried fruits (raisins) and some apples. The Sherry influences are certainly present, and they tone down the peatiness a little bit, but are pleasingly balanced and in respect to a typical Kilchoman-dram. The aftertaste is warm and round and pleasantly lingers on for quite a while. I remember rating both the Sauterne and Madeira Cask finishes a full 4 stars, both being very fine drams. This Sherry finish certainly joins their spot with 4 stars. (*) From every Single Malt bottle I purchase, I pour one dram into a karaf until it's full, then I extract 5 drams into samples, until it's full again, and so on. The results vary of time, but it's a fun experiment

The Eirigh Na Greine is party matured in both Italian and French Red Wine casks, and available as a relatively limited 'travel retail exclusive' NAS release. The Red Wine influences are immediately noticeable on the nose. This isn't marketed as one of Bunnahabhain peated whisky's, but I do seem to notice some slight peat smoke. I also find some dark fruits, a hint of vanilla, and some salt. This comes all back on the palate, joined by fresh oak (some bitterness), a pinch of spicy pepper, and more fresh fruit - most obviously berries. The taste lingers on a while after swallowing, leaving mostly a slightly salty, but winey impression. Despite the NAS, this drams is pretty balanced, and doesn't seem to be really that young. The Red Wine influences are there, but not dominant, and the combination with the hint of peat smoke is delightful.

This is the third review of a short line-up of 3 drams I tried at a local small 'independant bottlers & limited releases' event I was invited to. I tried following fine drams (read their respective reviews elsewhere on this site): - The Maltman (Secret Orkney Distillery) 2005 12 Year Old (Sherry Hogshead) - Hunter Laing's The Old Malt Cask Caol Ila 2009 (9 Year Old) Red Wine Finish - Hepburn's Choice Caol Ila 2009 5 Year Old (Quarter Cask) I didn't plan on trying the last one on the list, but while the host explained to another guest that this Quarter Cask Caol Ila was an exceptional dram for it's young age, he also poured me a small amount to nose it - and taste it, ofcourse! :). For it's relative young age, it was indeed a excellent dram. Distilled in 2009 it got to mature for 5 years, including a finishing period in European Oak Quarter Casks. Only 98 bottles are available. Peculiar is though, that it must have been left untouched in storage for several years, considering it's age and year of distillation, and now it's release... The color was less impressive that the darker appearances of the two other drams I had that day, but it nevertheless had a nice tanned color. Beside obvious marine character, the nose revealed peat and smoke, on the palate assisted by some red fruits. The aftertaste was equally satisfying, but not very long. I must admit that the order of the line-up wasn't ideal to evaluate this one, as I actually finished with the lightest taste-profile of the three. It probably would have come better to it's right if I had started with this one. After the robust roundness of the earlier two - excellent - drams, this 5 year old Caol Ila felt a bit subdued, a bit watery. For its age (and price) nevertheless a fabulous whisky.