Tastes
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Oh today was a good day. And i can honestly say that because i went to a friend's house and he told me he had found a relic in an old cabinet. It was a 1980 vintage Glenfarclas, bottled in 1999, a 18yo expression. It had this lovely red, almost bloodish color. A long lost bottle, it even stated "highland single malt", something that has changed nowadays where the region were Glenfarclas is located is Speyside. 43%abv, definitively a heavy sherry maturation has been used here. On the nose, it surely feels old, like a library. Red fruits and gooseberries; cherry syrup and a slight sawdust note. Old oranges, Tangerine and school glue. There is a stinky orange peel note. After a first sip, it gave me honey, vanilla, rum and raisins, chocolate and hazelnut. On the palate, it is all about oranges. Saltiness and super citric, sawdust. There are cherries and hints of dark chocolate. Delicious. Aftertaste is very acid and interesting. Old oranges, orange peel, tangerine. A dry envelope glue, sawdust. It feels very well crafted. Overall, it is always good to find a rarity like this one, specially when it is free. I truly enjoyed this whisky and i am in a new path to try more from one of Speyside's iconic distilleries, Glenfarclas. My score for this beauty is 92 over 100. Slàinte!
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Glendronach 12 year old, 1980's Bottling
Single Malt — Scotland
Reviewed February 28, 2023 (edited March 1, 2023)My favorite whisky distillery of all time is Glendronach, and i have been dreaming to taste an old bottling from them, one belonging to the times where Billy Walker wasn't the Master Distiller, just to experience the difference from nowadays expressions. Well, i managed to get my hands on a nowadays "rare" 1980’s bottling of Glendronach 12yo. It was matured in second-fill ex bourbon casks and finished in sherry; unlike today's 12 year old which is fully sherried. Bottled at 40%abv, golden color. On the nose, I get this hay, oak thread that i often find in old whiskies. Red Apples is the main note here. Honey and a chocolate bar that you have stored in a fridge. A floral very appealing note; It has a caramelized apple aroma that imidiately takes your memory to a circus from your childhood. Fresh fruitiness, lovely aroma; impalpable sugar. A hot apple pie from McDonald's. Hot cinnamon. After a first sip it gave me school glue that came out of nowhere, not very appealing. Acetone. The second nose was a little bit of a setback. After a minute it released an awesome cotton candy note; very sugary. After a second sip, the arome went super sweet: apples dipped in dulce de leche. Toffee exploded here. Im impressed of this aroma specially for a 12yo. A very creamy vanilla ice cream. On the palate, more red apples. It gives me this "Aberlour" feeling. Cinnamon. Red apple peel, honey. The second sip gave me a fancy toffee. A spicy mixture of hay and apples. Aftertaste is spectacular. Hay and hints of smoke. Tobacco. Beautiful finish very rewarding. The overall hay flavor is quite lovely. Overall, i truly believe that this one is way better than nowadays 12 year old expression. This is far more complex, and you can tell they have used some very nice ex bourbon casks for this whisky. I deducted some points here and there, but the nose and aftertaste were almost perfect. My score for this one is a very well deserved 93 over 100. -
LAGG Inaugural 2022 Release Batch 3 (Ex-Red Wine Charred Cask)
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed February 26, 2023 (edited February 27, 2023)One of my favorite scottish distilleries, Arran, has finally achieved one of their goals for the future: to create a sister distillery, with peaty characteristics and release smoky expressions of the almighty Arran. This new distillery is called "LAGG" and it has already made an inaugural release; well, actually they made 3 inaugural releases, and i have tasted the "No. 3", an allegedly heavily peated malt, bottled at 50%abv. A limited release of only 10.000.bottles, it was matured in ex-bourbon casks for 30 months and then finished for 6 months in ex-Rioja red wine Firkin casks. On the nose, it has a peaty character right away. Ashes, aromatic stewed pineapples, and Bbq sauce. Meringue is the most important note here. Herbal spiciness. Meringue sweets. On the palate, this is a super spicy dram. Red chilli; Feels very pungent and young. Definitively red chilli, very strong. Tabasco sauce. On the second sip, it became a sugary water, milk with sugar. The red chilli appeared again. Meringue. Aftertaste, it is very smoky, but also a little straightforward. Strong mint; It has a herbal feeling. Overall, i believe this whisky achieves what it offers, a heavily peated single malt that is good enough to impress anyone who tries it, considering this is a 3 year old dram. I am eager to taste older expressions in the next decade, Lagg definitively has a good spirit, that needs to mature a little more. My score for this one is 85 over 100. -
Bailie Nicol Jarvie Blended Whisky
Blended — Scotland
Reviewed February 21, 2023 (edited February 24, 2023)After 1103 rated whiskies i have finally had a legend of the "Aquavitæ world, the Bailie Nicol Jarvie, a blended scotch that dissapeared from the shelves in 2014. After a quick research, the bottler of this baby was Macdonald & Muir (who later became the Glenmorangie Company). It was said that this blend had the ‘highest malt content of any blended Scotch whisky’. Islay, Speyside and the Highlands are the Scottish zones picked to create this dram. The grain came from Girvan. The youngest component whisky was at least 8 years old. Bottled at 40%abv. The nose starts with a very clean fresh apple note, hazelnut, some saltiness appear as well. There is definitively a caramel chocolate aroma here. Pears and honey. Fresh, very standard whisky aroma. Spicy on the nose, like oregano. The second nose has a very maritime scenario: lots of sea salt and sand aroma. Coconut bronzer. Rum and raisins ice cream. Very clean, well delivered aroma. Toffee. Honey, toffee, hay, sider and salt, it matches the nose perfectly. It is very easy to enjoy. Grassy/hay is the most predominant note. Nice ashy, tobacco/cigar finish. There is a decent amount of peatiness. This is the kind of smokey/salty finish that created the good reputation of scotch whiskies. On the second sip it became much sweeter, with a solid toffee note. Actually this is a pretty balanced, fairly enjoyable dram. I bet this pairs perfectly with a cigar, and it is not super peaty; actually it has a hint of smokiness, only on the aftertaste. It is really nice, very "Cowboy-esque" style. I am sad that it doesn't exist anymore, because i can bet this wasn't expensive and it can be a great everyday dram. My score for it is 89 over 100. -
Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2021 FAE-01
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed February 19, 2023 (edited February 21, 2023)Maker's Mark, one of the biggest Bourbon producers in the US, launched a Cask Strength expression called FAE-01, which was made by "Stave finishing"; that means they introduce an extra stave in the middle of th3 cask where the whiskey is maturing. This FAE-01 actually is made using the extra stave, slightly seared on one end, and raw on the other. Bottled at 55.3%abv (110.6 proof) with a lovely red color. On the nose, it starts witha lovely red fruit syrup note. Bubbaloo bubblegum; maraschino cherries and Marshmallows. Maple syrup. On the palate, it is an strawberry hard candy; cherry syrup. Maple. Delicious. Aftertaste is all about fruitiness and sour prunes. Cotton candy. Overall, this is one incredibly tasty bourbon; perhaps the fruitiest i have ever had. All the notes are very clean and delicious. I am super impressed by it, i did not expected it to be so good. Even if it is a little straightforward, the tasting and aroma references are uncanny. One of the finest bourbons that i can remember, my score for this beast is 96 over 100. Amazing. -
Highland Park Orkney Rowing Club
Single Malt — Scotland
Reviewed February 19, 2023 (edited August 20, 2023)Lately i have been tasting some of the best Highland Park releases, and that is a very cool thing to say from a distillery that has suffered some backlash because they have thrown too many expressions on the market nowadays and not all of them have been well received by the critics. Actually, i have had this bottle unopened for some years now, this is a Cask Strength, 58%abv expression called "Orkney Rowing Club", a limited release of 4000 bottles, which commemorates this famous club, that has gathered some of the viking tradition to sail and row to find new lands and adventures. On the nose, starts with a lovely pineapple and toffee note. Coffee, pineapple pie, dark chocolate and liquid paper. Apricots. After a first sip, the aroma changed into povidone, white chocolate and milk formula. Very nice. On the palate, a little straightforward but delicious. Oranges and chocolate; those to things mixed with a powerful and citric red chilli. Creme Brulee. Aftertaste is great. It bites. Impalpable sugar, sider, hard toffee so sweet it can be almost cloying. Overall, this was a very lovely Highland Park, that was thoroughly discussed by everyone at my tasting event, and we all loved it. The high abv allows some very clean and fancy notes to appear and it was really a very enjoyable dram. My score for it is 95 over 100. Nice single malt, super recommended. -
Ardbeg's 2022 committee release was an exciting one, their "smokiest" expression to this date (allegedly) with 170 ppm of peat, of course we are talking about Hypernova. If you have ever tasted the "Supernova" expressions, you probably know those ones are arguably the best from this Islay Distillery. That is why Hypernova, promised so much. As you might already know, a Supernova is the explosion of a star; while a Hypernova is a greater explosion where the core of a star that became a supernova, crashes into a black hole. Bottled at 51%abv, this has a pale straw color. On the nose, it has a classic Ardbeg note. Mint, taxi air freshener, lime, spicy and some tequila notes. It resembles a lot to an Octomore. Povidone, vaseline, Vick's Vaporub, shoe polish, and an old toy from He-Man and the Masters of the universe. After a first sip it gave me wet paint. On the palate, it starts with a white chocolate note and then a full herbal note; tea and moss. Red chilli. There is not much on the finish. Moss, chilli, herbal tea. Very short aftertaste. Overall, this was very dissapointing. Marketed as "the smokiest Ardbeg ever" and it did not gave me one bit of smoke. Peat sometimes is not equal to smoke. It is not overly powerful to feel like a Hypernova and it is certainly weaker that every one of the Supernova expressions. Linear, simple and boring. It felt like a junior version of an Octomore (which i am not the fondest fan). My score for this very normal whisky is 84 over 100, and for the price it goes, this should be avoided.
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Lagavulin Offerman Edition Charred Oak Cask
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed February 18, 2023 (edited February 19, 2023)Nick Offerman, a US actor has truly achieved the highest dream possible: to be the face of Lagavulin. He obtained that because he drank "the king of Islay" bottles in a famous tv show called Parks and Recreation. Lagavulin has already released 3 "Offerman" Editions, and this last one has been matured in heavily charred oak casks. Not an overly expensive dram, with an 11 year old age statement as the previous ones. Golden color, 46%abv. On the nose, it is your lovely Lagavulin peat. Rainforest, leather, hay, recently cut grass and very yeasty. Swamp aroma mixed with liquid paper and a quite spicy orange. Thick pepper and orange zest. Moss. The palate is pure perfection, it tastes exactly as it smells. This is a cowboy dram. I get some mezcal notes and salty water. If you chew it you'll get a beautiful rounded smoke. Aftertaste completes the offering; this is a flame. Actual pleasant fire, charred wood and salt. Oregano. Peat smoke. Mazing Overall, this might be the best of the three editions for me. It was outstanding, peaty, herbal, smokey and full of flavor. I shared with some people in a tasting event and everyone's mind was blown because of this dram. You must grab one, it is not expensive at all and you will get more than what you paid for. My acore for this incredible single malt is 96 over 100. -
MacNair's Lum Reek Peated 21 Year
Blended Malt — Scotland
Reviewed February 18, 2023 (edited February 19, 2023)Awarded as 2020's best Blended Malt, Lum Reek is an offering from the Hall of Fame Master Distiller and Blender, Billy Walker. Yes, the same genius behind Glendronach and GlenAllachie nowadays. Lum Reek tells the story of MacNair, who was making a fine whisky but the lum (chimney) of his house went out of control and started smoking the whole place. Eventually that smoke entered the glass of his own whisky and when he tasted it, he said that it was now perfect. It is bottled at 48%abv, and it is a Peated Speyside Blended malt with a lovely golden color. On the nose, it is quite lovely. Cotton candy, chocolate, almonds and a pecan pie. Cotton socks, fondant. After a first sip, the aroma changed into red apples, suspiros (hard meringue) and dulce de leche. Apricots. On the palate, rich flavors of caramelized apples. Beautiful spiciness, pepper and salt. After a few sips it becomes very salty, hay and grassy. Aftertaste gave me a minuscule puff of aromatic smoke, but only on the first sip. Hay, salt and cinnamon. It is actually very grassy and super salty. Overall, i can tell that this is the type of whisky that wins awards easily. It is super enjoyable, rich, rounded and clean. The problem with it, is that it is called "Lum Reek" which translates to a stinky chimney, but it has almost no smoke at all!. Having said that, this is actually delicious. My score for it is 89/100. -
Talisker 44 Year Forests of the Deep
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed February 17, 2023 (edited January 2, 2024)This is going to be amazing. Ladies and Gentlemen, i have tasted an incredible single malt, from one of my favorite two distilleries in the world, Talisker. You know their slogan, "Made by the Sea", well, in this particular case, that statement has never been more truthful. Let me tell you about the impressive and super rare Talisker 44 year old "Forest of the Deep". This is no ordinary single malt my friends. And i am saying this not only for its 4 decades of maturation, but also because the way that it has been finished. In order to make a true statement about protecting the seas, this dram was partially matured in a custom cask made from oak staves that were brought in the boat that sailed through the Cape of Hope in South Africa. There, the staves were soaked by the splash of the sea water from the movement of the ship; and then, the barrel was charred using this sea soaked wood and also lots of natural Kelp from the underwater bed of plants of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The whole packaging states that the Kelp is actually Earth's biggest lung, with an incredible capability to absorb carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen. Pretty great stuff here. Well this single malt was bottled at 49.1%abv and has a lovely reddish color. Only 1997 bottles were ever made. On the nose, it is the best Talisker ever. Starts with a Dark spongy cake, raisins and peanuts. Actual Kelp can be nosed here (plankton or something maritime - herbal). Smells like the beach shore; bacon. Super elegant. Fancy gooseberries, ashes but also impalpable sugar. Plums, povidone, rainsforest. It is that crazy and complex. After a first sip, it gave me an aroma of figs, dates and dark chocolate. More sips and letting it breath released a mixture of ashes with chocolate and raisins. Spectacular. On the palate, the first sip took me straight to whisky heaven. Maritime but sweet; this definitively has been matured in a very old sherry cask. Salty and peppery like a well done steak in a Barbecue. The second sip was a little more straight forward, with a nice vanilla note mixed with salt. Herbal, maritime, oysters and rainforest. Absolutely gorgeous. Aftertaste is eternal. The longest salty finish i have ever experienced. Pepper, a very salty coal cooked steak. Unforgettable; herbal, it feels like you ate a piece of wood from an old dock. In conclusion, this is plain and simple to explain, this is one of my top 3 favorite whiskies ever. It might be the No. 2 overall. Of course that means that this one has a perfect score, but this time is much more than a simple score. It is a truly memorable experience that cannot be erased from my life anymore. 100000 over 100, Slàinte Mhath my friends!
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