Tastes

Blind tasting Nose: not much. Light, crisp, some oak. Taste: smooth but spicy. Buts of champagne grapes on the finish. Grassy, floral Wood: virgin oak Distillery? Old pulteney Glen grant Hibiki (This reminds me of my recollection of balvenie American oak but when I tasted that blind last week I had a different reaction. )

Blind tasting Nose: light smoke, oak. Lagavulin Taste: sweet and smoke, nice balance. But if a medicinal finish. Wouldn’t turn down a bottle but would be more of a fallback option. Wood: European oak Distillery?

Blind tasting Nose: not much Taste: a hint of smoke at the end, more rich/bourbon up front. Wood: bourbon Distillery?

Blind tasting Nose: get a little bit of that funkiness early on in a bottle of old pulteney. A little bourbon. Not much else. Taste: not too complex. Sort of bourbony. Falls flat. Maybe slight note of smoke at the end. Adequate but not really interesting Wood: ex bourbon Distillery? Bunnahabhain Aberfeldy Auchentoshen *** I’m amazed to find this is from balvenie. I had previously rated this much higher but now am underwhelmed by it. I was so surprised I dug out an old sample and tried it for comparison. Very interesting…

Blind tasting Nose: balvenie and aberlour. Vanilla, cherry, acetone Taste: reminiscent of aberlour 12 but cask strength spiciness and texture. Tastes like what I’d imagine abunadh Alba would be. Wood: ex bourbon and Sherry. Cask strength Distillery? * Aberlour

Nose: rich, bourbon, hint of sherry/ cherry. Fruitcake, raisins, orange peel Taste: spicy, rich, syrupy, velvet. Lot of elements at play. Quite enjoyable. Wood: Initially got the whiff of bourbon but think this is more a sherry cask or even maidera, maybe port Close to giving 4.5 but it was a little harsh on the finish. Just a bit Distillery? * Glendronach (port wood) * Compass box

Nose: peaty, a bit medicinal. Campfire, cherry Taste: spicy, sherried, red wine, black licorice, salty Wood: sherry, red wine? It’s fine but the elements don’t mesh that well. Would try something else by the distillery but probably don’t need to get this one again Distillery? * Longrow red * Pinot noir?

Blind tasting Nose: rich, mild, some cherry notes Taste: sherry wood, a bit spicy, maybe a bit on the younger side. A little banana maybe. Not too complex, could be smoother. Wood: sherry, maybe a little bourbon but emphasis on the sherry. Could it be a single barrel? Distillery? * Highlands * American distillery

Blind tasting Nose: sherry wood, maple, brown sugar Taste: Spiciness, rich, reminiscent of glendronach parlaiment but complex/intense. Slight sour undertones (expect this might open up with time). A little hot, could be 8-10 yr or maybe NAS. Maybe port wood. Enjoyable but not so much that I’m feeling compelled to have a bottle on my shelf