Tastes

(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual Whisky Tasting, 05 February 2021). Distilled: 10 November 2006 1 of 1,691 bottles 2no Fino sherry butts (39350 & 39351) were filled on 12th November 2015 with a 9 year old whisky Nose: Orchard fruit, plum, pear. Slightly nutty Palate: Dry sherry, bread, lemon/citrus, green apples (Granny Smith), light green herbs Finish: Apple cider vinegar. Quite sour on the aftertaste. Very long, dry finish with a very strong dry sherry note. There is a lovely crisp, fresh mouthfeel to this whisky. You don't see many whiskies finished in Fino casks, but this seems to be quite a dominant taste, especially on the finish. If you like a dry sherry (particularly Fino) this is definitely worth trying. Came joint last out of the six whiskies, with 4% of the final vote for favourite of the night (1 vote), however this is possibly because there was an absolute standout dram at the tasting which was the runaway winner of the night. 61% of those present said they enjoyed the whisky (14 votes).

(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual Whisky Tasting, 05 February 2021). Nose: Toffee, apple, acetone, solvent/hairspray Palate: Soft, toffee, sweet orchard fruit, vanilla, slightly 'hot' but not in an offputting way. Finish: Sweet, slightly citrus, caramel. There are some oak/wood notes and some light spice as it dissipates. Leaves a slightly sour aftertaste. I have never been a massive Brackla fan in the past, but this was a pretty decent dram. It's without doubt one of the nicer Brackla's I've ever had, with a lovely mouthfeel and creaminess despite its young age. One I'd be very happy to have again. Came joint last out of the six whiskies, with 4% of the final vote for favourite of the night (1 vote), however this is possibly because there was an absolute standout dram at the tasting which was the runaway winner of the night. 70% of those present said they enjoyed the whisky (16 votes).

Nose: Farmyard, hay, earth. Hints of sulphur and acetone Palate: Mid-sweet, honey, herbal, fudge, cereal, cream, liquorice, pepper. A little artificial tasting. Finish: Medium long finish. Hay, baked orchard fruit, sulphur. This has always been one of my mum's favourite drams, although she still goes for the current replacement Jura 10y/o. For my taste this one is a little watery and the funky/farmyard quality is a little off-putting. I think the replacement 10y/o is a little better than the Origin 10y/o.

Nose: Sweet, chemical/acetone, fruit - berries and apple. Palate: Sweet, fruit, barley, caramel, spices - cinnamon & cloves. A little 'hot' Finish: Woody, spice, pepper and ginger. This was taken from the RG Solera in Glasgow on 27/11/2011. I had it in my cabinet when I moved house and just rediscovered it 9-years after moving house! It's a very pleasant dram. Easy to drink and morish!

Nose: honey, vanilla, orange & citrus, floral Palate: sweet. Honey, wood, vanilla, tropical fruit (coconut & banana) Finish: short very sweet finish. Wood vanilla and slightly tannic For someone who is not a huge bourbon fan, I genuinely enjoyed this. It has more of a drier/rye style than a typical bourbon and it is definitely more to my taste.

(SMWS Glasgow, ‘Fancy Dan’s Fabulous Drams' Virtual Tasting. 28 January 2021. A selection of the SMWS black label bottlings) Distillery: Ardbeg Distilled: 24-05-2007 Age: 12 y/o Cask: 2nd Fill Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt Bottles: 603 Nose: Burned herbs, smoke & peat, nutty Palate: Ash, sweet smoke, dark roasted coffee, plum pudding, earthy, chicory Finish: Long & warming finish which dries on the aftertaste. Sweet baked dried fruit, ashy. A chewy mouthfeel. This is right up my street. I like a peated whisky finished in a sherry cask generally and this is a great example. Lovely.

(SMWS Glasgow, ‘Fancy Dan’s Fabulous Drams' Virtual Tasting. 28 January 2021. A selection of the SMWS black label bottlings) Distillery: Glenlossie Distilled: 17-11-1992 Age: 27 y/o Cask: Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead Bottles: 228 Nose: Floral, earthy, green, wax, lemon Palate: Oily/waxy, honey, medicinal, fruity - orchard fruit (apple & pear), herbal Finish: Warm, long finish. Liquorice, herbal, leather. Souring to bitter on the aftertaste. A little 'hot'. Herbal & mineral, waxy and oily. There is an old fashioned feel to this dram, but it is very tasty and easy to drink.

(SMWS Glasgow, ‘Fancy Dan’s Fabulous Drams' Virtual Tasting. 28 January 2021. A selection of the SMWS black label bottlings) Distillery: Glenfarclas Distilled: 23-09-1993 Age: 25 y/o Cask: Re-fill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead / 1st Fill Ex-Pedro Ximenez Hogshead Finish Bottles: 194 Nose: Berries, cherries, rum, sweet sherry, raisins, cinnamon Palate: Woody, chocolate cherries, sweet raisins, cloves & pepper Finish: Oranges, sherry/cognac, pepper & ginger. A sweet, long aftertaste. This is fantastic dram. Creamy, syrupy and waxy mouthfeel and a huge burst of dried fruit. Lovely!

(SMWS Glasgow, ‘Fancy Dan’s Fabulous Drams' Virtual Tasting. 28 January 2021. A selection of the SMWS black label bottlings) Distillery: Glen Ord Distilled: 19-02-1992 Age: 26 y/o Cask: 2nd Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel Bottles: 160 Nose: Vanilla, butter, tropical fruit, cocoa Palate: More alcohol on the palate than was hinted on the nose. Citrus, spice, floral, green, lots of fruit and flowers - banana, apricots, pineapple Finish: Slightly numbing on the finish. Green and floral, with grapefruit on the aftertaste This is an elegant and easy to drink dram. It has a 'typical' Speyside quality to it with it's heavy bourbon influence which is mellowed by age.

(SMWS Glasgow, ‘Fancy Dan’s Fabulous Drams' Virtual Tasting. 28 January 2021. A selection of the SMWS black label bottlings) Distillery: Auchentoshan Distilled: 03-09-1990 Age: 27 y/o Cask: Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead Bottles: 232 Nose: Bleach, pepper, wood shavings, mocha coffee, earthy Palate: Chocolate, leather, metallic, spices, baking soda. There's some dried fruit and banana Finish: Medium warming finish. Mineral & wood. Slightly metallic with some tropical fruit notes This is from a distillery that I would normally avoid, but this is a genuinely nice dram. It has a nice warming finish and the triple distillation that seems to strip out much of the flavours I like in a whisky (in this distillery) has been mellowed over the long aging.