Tastes

Another bonus sample from the SDT. This time we head to Campbeltown and the Glen Scotia distillery. Victoriana is a NAS single malt that is taken from the distillery’s reserve warehouse. Bottled at a hefty 51.5% ABV, is non chill filtered and natural color of amber honey. The nose is strong and powerful. Perfumed and floral up front. Maple, sherry, mineral - seashells and gravel. Gentle earthy peat and slight smoke. Charred oranges and tangerine marmalade. The sherry and maple notes intensify with a little time. Green and red grapes, cherries, sherry infused oak, cinnamon, allspice and some raisins. The longer it sits the more the mineral notes become more prominent, but the maple/sherry always hangs around. Water brings out vanilla, caramel, toffee, some light milk chocolate notes. Dehydrated apples, a touch of cereal malt and honey. More clearly defined oranges and tangerines. Really a great nose on this baby. The palate is sherry forward with a bit of heat, but not really a spicy heat if that makes sense. The pepper spice shows up soon afterward, but not too bad at all. Mineral peat but little to no smoke, pretty typical of Campbeltown in my experience. Oak soaked with orange oil, allspice, a little maple but nothing compared to the nose and dark cherries. Water brings vanilla, chocolate, more oranges/tangerines. A medium bodied mouthfeel that is mouth coating and mouthwatering. The finish is medium long with sherry, oak, pepper, light oranges and cherries. A very good single malt...great even. It has a bit of everything. Sherry, peat, sweet, savory, earthy. With or without water it’s a great dram. One of the few Campbeltown whiskies I’ve truly enjoyed. Thanks to @Telex for the sample. 4.25 Cheers

Stop number 104 on the SDT is Kininvie. I don’t know much about this Speyside distillery other than its only releases are a 17 year old and this 23 year old that my friend @LeeEvolved purchased for this final round of our Scottish Distillery Tour. Bottled at 42.6% ABV, most likely natural color of pale gold and given the lower ABV I would suspect that it is chill filtered. This sample is from Batch 3. Mild tropical fruits on the nose. Kiwi, papaya, passion fruit. Orchard fruits as well, pears, apples, tangerines and apricots. Musty oak, vanilla and coconut with a hint of ginger. This is matured in both ex bourbon and ex sherry casks, but the bourbon casks really show through the most. The palate, well...it doesn’t have much flavor at all. The same tropical fruits from the nose are there, papaya and kiwi, but so soft and mild that it’s hard to tell what’s really there. Some oak and vanilla with a little coconut. Somewhat of a grain alcohol similarity. A medium light bodied mouthfeel, oily but otherwise thin. The finish is short to nonexistent at times. It’s there then it’s gone leaving nothing but an oily residue of vanilla and oak. Given the age and the exorbitant price of $145 for a mere 375mL bottle, this is really a disappointment. The nose showed promise, but the palate and finish lacked any real substance. I was hoping for so much more, but this one just couldn’t deliver. I feel bad only giving this one 3 stars because on the surface it seems like it would garner at least a 4. But I guess that’s all this one is, surface. Cheers

Another of the bonus samples from the SDT. This time we venture over to Islay’s northern shores to Bunnahabhain, where we have Cruach-Mhòna, a travel retail exclusive. Gaelic for “peat stack”, this single malt comes in at a respectable 50% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of medium amber. The nose is sweet billowing peat smoke...oh I love it already! Sherry maturation is evident with sugary dates, plums, raspberries and blackberries. Cigar ashes, creosote, tennis balls and rubber...oh so good, a proper Islay profile. Vanilla custard, some polished oak, molasses, ginger and even a drop of teriyaki. It turns slightly to citrus with oranges/tangerines and a twist of lemon. The addition of water brings the berries out a bit more as well as the ashy notes. The palate is all sweet peat. Sherry and raspberries. Tennis balls and rubber, less than the nose but still present. Orange peel, licorice, almonds or maybe hazelnut and some well integrated oak. Water does little but lessen the intensity and produce a slightly bitter taste. Without water is definitely preferable. A medium to full bodied mouthfeel that is oily and creamy and mouthwatering. The finish is long, smoky, sweet(ish), with creosote and the smoke trailing on for a good long while. Other than the Ardbeg 23 that I had not too long ago, this is the first proper Islay I’ve had in a while. Oh did I miss this! Really liked the nose, but the palate was a little less complex that I would have liked. I guess that’s a NAS, TRE for you though. At $100 I think it’s a little over priced (even for a 1L bottle), but I might be tempted to purchase it if I came across a bottle. Thanks to @Telex for the sample. A solid 4 Cheers

The first of many bonus samples from this last round of the SDT comes by way of tour member @Scott_E in the form of Rough Rider Straight Bourbon Whisky out of Long Island, NY. Bottled at 45% ABV and is natural color of amber gold and is most likely chill filtered. The nose has distinct notes of red and Concord grapes, peanut brittle and charred oak. Very sweet with the corn notes coming into focus after a few minutes. The wine notes are very much in the foreground at all times. A bit of a cotton candy flavor and faint rye notes, but without any of the dill notes typically associated with rye. Some musty cardboard but not too bad and a quick hit of cherry wood. Grape candy, banana, and at the bottom of the glass there is some potpourri. The palate is straight up peanut butter and jelly on rye. Wow is that weird. It’s a good weird though, quite unique from anything I’ve ever had in the past. A little charred oak and toffee with vanilla. The corn notes are punched way back and the spice from the rye is more dominant with some banana rounding things out. A medium light bodied mouthfeel that’s a bit thin but decent. The finish is medium length with peanuts, oak, rye that turns slightly metallic and a bit floral. With a name like Rough Rider I was expecting some a little, well, rougher. Quite amazing how strong the PB&J notes were. Not great as far as bourbons go, but it’s unique profile continued to hold my attention. This is a 3 star dram, but the sheer oddity of the PB&J profile bumps it up to a 3.25 Cheers

Stop number 103 on the SDT is Imperial. This Speyside distillery went through multiple closures, reopenings and owners. The final nail in the coffin of this distillery came in 2013 when it was demolished to make way for the new Dalmunach distillery which was built in 2015 on the exact same location as Imperial. A bit of shortsightedness saw most of the remaining stocks sold off to be used in blends rather than being sold as single malts to enthusiastic collectors. Thankfully there are independent bottlers out there to make single malt bottlings possible. Enter The Ultimate Whisky Company and this 20 year old bottle of Imperial. Distilled in 1995, bottled at 46% ABV, natural color of a pale gold and non chill filtered. The nose begins with apples, pears and dry grass. It’s not a very intense nose, but it is pleasant. Almonds, walnuts, vanilla and some sweet peaches. Some light raisins, toffee and oak. Green grapes, nice floral notes and honey. Very faint banana, slightly malty with a pinch of brown sugar. The palate is much more intense than the nose would suggest, if not too complex. Peaches, honey, raisins and almonds. Citrus - mostly oranges, but there is a bit of lemon in there as well. Underripe banana and vanilla. A medium to full bodied mouthfeel that is lightly oily, mouth coating and then dry. The finish is medium long with vanilla, citrus, banana and it turns slightly bitter. Not a bad whisky, but certainly far from great, especially when you consider its age and price point. The price, a whopping $200, is surely more of an indication of its rarity as opposed to its quality. It has decent flavors, but nothing to set it apart from any other Speyside. Thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample. 2.75-3 Cheers

Stop number 102 on the SDT is Fettercairn. Yet another unknown distillery, this time from the Highlands rather than Speyside. Currently owned by Wyatt & Mackay and used mostly in their blends, they do have a few official distillery bottlings, but I do believe they are exclusive to the European market. So in comes the Battlehill series from Duncan Taylor and this 7 year old. One of 714 bottles, bottled at 56% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of pale gold. The nose is very much a Highland style. Apples - mostly green, honey, beeswax, vanilla custard, butterscotch and toffee. Lemon citrus but more sweet than sour. Malty/yeasty with Grape Nuts cereal. A little sherry, dried grass, buttery pecans. Water enhances the vanilla and the sweetness from the sherry and adds a combination of white and milk chocolate. Mineral notes like seashells come in as well and it becomes slightly salty. After a while some sourdough notes come in and if you wait even longer the whole thing becomes an ashtray full of old cigarette butts. It loses all appeal at than point. The palate is surprisingly approachable for 56%. Only a modest burn. Honey, oak, prunes and figs. Cinnamon apples and a vague nuttiness. A very light sherry sweetness with some vanilla and lemon peel. Water brings out grassy notes with faint coconut and slightly bitter nuts. A medium to full bodied mouthfeel that is very oily and fairly mouthwatering. The finish is medium length, a little pepper, nutty and light oak. If the three 7 year old Battlehill bottles that I purchased for the SDT, the Glenallachie was the best, followed by the Glentauchers and finally this Fettercairn. Not a very complex dram, and letting it sit too long really has a negative effect on it. It’s not very cohesive. Not bad as an after dinner dram, but best poured into a brandy snifter rather than a glencairn. Not terrible for $60, but that money could easily be spent on better and more readily available spirits. 3.25 Cheers

Stop number 101 on the SDT is Cameronbridge. A Lowland grain distillery that most have never even heard of that is a big time producer of grain whisky. The largest in Europe from what I’ve read. This independent bottling comes from The Creative Whisky Co. as part of their Exclusive Grains line. Distilled in 1991 and bottled at the ripe old age of 25 (yes it’s old enough to rent a car!). Matured in a refill butt (bourbon I’m assuming but it’s not specified), and it’s one of 362 bottles. Bottled at cask strength of 52.9% ABV and is non chill filtered and natural color of honey gold. The nose opens with the distinct grain notes upon which we’ve all come to cringe with maggot gagging memories after pouring a single grain, but this...this is much mellowed indeed and not at all harsh even at cask strength. Vanilla, oak, coconut and toffee. More creamy vanilla, it’s really the star here and that’s fine with me as I love a strong vanilla note in all of my whiskies. Some anise, candied lemons, orange pith and unsweetened banana chips. If left to sit long enough there are some caramel and brown sugar notes, but they are very weak. Fair warning, water will easily drown this stuff. A reasonable amount almost completely closed off the nose, save for some vanilla and oak. The palate is very simplistic. Grain alcohol notes, vanilla, coconut, oak and very faint dried pineapple. After resting a good 30 minutes or more some orange oil comes into play and is a welcome addition. Water does nothing but bring out some chili spice and pepper. The amazing thing is that even at high strength there is little to no burn. I expected much much worse. A medium bodied mouthfeel that is creamy, lightly oily and mouthwatering. The finish sadly is on the short side with vanilla, weak oak, coconut and grain. This is a nice, mellow grain whisky. Not quite at the same level as Hedonism, but it can certainly best Girvan any day of the week. The long maturation period did little to add complexity, but it did remove the vast majority of the harshness associated with grain whiskies. At $100 I think I’d rather just buy a bottle of Hedonism. Much better than I expected though. Thanks to @PBMichiganWolverine for the sample. 3.5 Cheers

Taking a quick break from the tour stops to review this travel retail exclusive from Glenfiddich. I found this at my favorite duty free shop and couldn’t pass it up. Two 1L bottles for only $65? Even if it’s bad that’s a price I’m willing to gamble on. Select Cask is another of the solera vat expressions coming out of Glenfiddich. This is a blending of ex bourbon, European oak and red wine casks. Bottled at 40% ABV and is chill filtered with colorant added making it a yellow gold. The nose opens with sweet cereal malt, lemon bars with powdered sugar, green grasses and sweet wine notes. Honey, golden raisins and oak that transitions from soft to sharp and back again. Salted chocolate, dates, apricots and tangerines. Very faint mint, vanilla and butter toffee. Grape jelly, apples and pears. Quite impressive for the price. The palate is sweet honey and malt, nutty like walnuts. There is something very familiar about this taste, almost like baklava. Very intriguing. Dates, apples with light cinnamon. A bit harsh at times with some green oak, showing its overall youth. Light bodied mouthfeel that is creamy and mouthwatering. The finish is medium length, mostly oak tannins, slightly bitter and dry with orchard fruits. I have to say that for the price it doesn’t get much better. $65 for 2 liters is quite the deal for a scotch. The fact that it’s not half bad makes it even better. I’ve had much worse that have cost twice the price. Select Cask won’t be winning any awards, but I’m glad I bought it. If nothing else I can give away the second bottle as a gift. A solid 3.5 when you factor in the price. Cheers

Stop number 100 on the SDT is Dallas Dhu. I figured I would mark the 100th stop with a (semi) closed distillery. As Lee stated, they only produce whisky for purchase at the end of their tours. This Highland single malt comes from the independent bottlers at Gordon and MacPhail, and based on the age and time the distillery closed, it’s been sitting around a good long while. Bottled at 40% ABV and is most likely natural color of amber and certainly is chill filtered being only 40%. Initially the nose hits you with lovely sherry notes, but soon it becomes apparent that sulphur is the predominant character here. Not so much fruity as it is sweet. Lots of butterscotch and toffee, vanilla and a little chocolate. A bit nutty, like bitter walnuts and some light oak. Not much after that. The palate is strange. Sherry yes, but lots of sulphur as well and a cough syrup taste. Intense vanilla and butterscotch, aromatic. Quite funky and odd. Slightly bitter walnuts. Not very complex, but the flavors that are present are strong. Medium bodied, very oily and mouth coating. The finish is medium long with sulphur, vanilla and it remains bitter. The nose was so promising at first with rich sherry notes, but it quickly devolved into a bitter sulphuric mess. No real complexity and nowhere near with the money. The price however is absolutely a reflection of the rarity of a closed distillery. The nose is the only thing that this guy has going for it, and it’s not even all that great. A 2.75 and thank to @LeeEvolved for the sample. Cheers

Stop number 99 on the SDT is Scapa. The “Other Orkney distillery”, as many call it, is the only other distillery to inhabit the Orkney Islands with its much more famous neighbor...Highland Park. They too embrace their Norse heritage. Skiren is a Nordic word meaning “glittering bright skies”. Bottled at 40% ABV and is chill filtered and has colorant added making it a golden amber. Skiren is matured exclusively in first fill American oak casks The nose is intensely fruity. Tangerines, apples, pears, honeydew, strawberries and banana. Sweet vanilla cream, cinnamon and toffee. Perfumes with some light floral notes. Far off bourbon notes, rich oak, maple and coffee with a touch of brown sugar. The first fill bourbon casks really work wonders here. The palate is light a fruity. Tangerines, strawberries, pears, artificial watermelon flavor, pineapple, coconut, papaya and banana. Yes a fruit basket’s worth of flavor. The oak flavors come in after a while with caramel, syrupy sweetness, cinnamon and nutmeg. A delicious dram. A light bodied mouthfeel that is lightly oily and mouth coating. Still enough to carry all those fruity notes though. The finish is medium short unfortunately. I wish it would have lasted longer. It’s sweet and fruity. This was a complete surprise as I did not expect such a sweet and fruity whisky to come from Orkney. One to relax with and enjoy with friends. I would not call this a noob scotch as it’s got plenty of qualities the connoisseur would appreciate, but is friendly enough for the uninitiated in the ways of the water of life. Now, I think that being at 40% hurts this whisky, but not as much as others. Bumping the strength to 43% would probably do wonder, but I think making the jump to 46% might change the character too much and it would not be the same fruity wonder. It’s not exactly cheap for a NAS at $80 or so, but it is one that I would consider purchasing. A solid 4 and a thanks to @Scott_E for the sample. Cheers