Tastes

I have to admit that it took me too long to fully explore whisky releases from independent bottlers. Just this year have i tasted a lot of single malts from Signatory Vintage, and i got to say that most of them are very good.  This time i managed to get a glass of Ledaig 2005, 11yo, matured in a first fill sherry butt; drawn from the cask #900157, at 56.9%abv., with a tawny color. Ledaig is an island distillery that has a twin sister, Tobermory, and they should get more attention than the one they have. On the nose, this is something very "fishy" going on. Starts sweet, with a very clean cinnamon note, and some burnt brownies. Lighty peated, some hard mint candy. After a minute, everything changed into a herbal, "swampy" note. Mint tea. After a first sip, the aroma released this strange but not off-putting aroma of a fish being fried at the beach. New wood, Toffee and grilled fish. Very odd. The palate was very sweet with a peaty profile as well. Cigarrettes, acid prunes, pepper. A second sip was totally different, with a thick toffee note, very fancy. Dulce de leche and Salt. Aftertaste was a little one-dimensional, but still very nice. Cigarrettes, acid prunes; salt and sulphur. Overall, this is a very good whisky, with a strange fish note somewhere in the aroma. The high ABV seems perfect to develop the profile of this dram, and i got to say that it has a good balance between sweet, acid and peaty. My scorr for it is a solid 88 over 100.

If there is a distillery i love, it is Arran. Their whiskies are very enjoyable, tropical and full of flavor. Having said that, their new marketing is not very good, but before 2019, they released some amazing looking bottles. One of those, was this INCREDIBLE, OUT OF THIS WORLD collection called "The Smuggler Series", which was a trilogy of whiskies. I have long waited to open the one i got, which is the number III called "The Exciseman". Excisemen played a huge role in whisky history, trying to collect taxes and discovering hidden distilleries in the mountains and in the islands. Smugglers had to dodge them with smart tactics, as hidding bottles in fake books... just like this jewel from Arran. The bottle is actually held in a box that is a fake book about whisky. It is just amazing. But, was the whisky any good? Bottled at 56.8%abv, golden color. Matured in ex bourbon and madeira casks. On the nose, it was fantastic. Red fruits, cherries, eggnog, banana, a hawaiian tropic bronzer, rum and raisins ice cream. Dehydrated bananas, coconut, pecans, dulce de leche and caramel ice cream. Just amazing. On the palate it is one of the most delicious drams i have had on 2021, and i had some very good ones. Dulce de leche, sulphur, burnt marshmallows (smores), swiss roll (in spanish is "Brazo Gitano", google it), banana bread. The aftertaste is just the perfect ending to one of my favorite drams from this year. Dulce de leche, red hot chilli peppers (not the band, lol), black pepper. This is a bomb, but a very pleasant one. Overall, i have nothing more to say that this is a wonderfully looking bottle, with a breathtaking "juice" inside. Everyone in the tasting event i held was overwhelmed, even the hardest ones in the crowd. A fantastic single malt, i am not worthy of giving it anything less than a perfect score. 100/100. Slàinte Mhath!

Back in the 1980's, Cardhu wanted to enter the Japanese markets, and to be effective in their sales, they used the oldest trick in the book: "Just put Johnnie Walker's Striding man in the bottle". Cardhu is actually Johnnie Walker's home, there is Cardhu in the heart of every blend they make. This is a very curious bottle, a collector's item, and of course i got it from the auction of "Perfect Collection" by Richard Gooding. Bottled at 40%abv, burnished gold color. On the nose, a typical aroma from Cardhu. Tobacco, horse stable, hay. There is some sweetness to it, like glazed ham, waldorf salad and cherry. On the palate, it is a very enjoyable dram. Salty for an Speysider; it has a green apple note and mango. Pepper. Sweet and spicy. Aftertaste is super fresh, apples, mint hard candy and a peaty/earthy note which is very nice. It is very dry. Overall, a single malt that is super easy to drink, very refreshing and well crafted. Not very complex, this is the least amazing whisky of the bottles i won at the "Perfect Collection" Auction. A beautiful piece of history, my score for it is 85 over 100.

Back in 1950, Macallan wasn't the luxury and marketing monster that it is nowadays. Back then, they struggle to sell all of their production, and James Gordon & Co. (Who will later become Gordon & MacPhail) used to buy their new make and bottle Macallan's Spirit as "PRIDE OF STRATHSPEY". So, even if this independent bottling belongs to an "undisclosed" distillery, it is aknowledge that this is indeed a Macallan from 1950. Bottled in 1970 at 40%abv, this is a 20yo whisky. This was part of "The Perfect Collection" by Richard Gooding; and it is one of the 10 bottles i won at that iconic and historic auction. On the nose, it is absolutely breathtaking. Very sherried, starts with a lovely coffee aroma. Caramel popcorn, figs, hints of lemon and passionfruit. The aroma will become much sweeter after a first sip, with an incredible blackberry marmalade note. On the palate, this is one of the most delicious single malts i have ever tasted. Liquorice, blackberry jam, thick sherriness. Very winey, it has figs, raisins, plums. Very elegant, smooth and very tasty. Aftertaste is the only moment where it lost some points, because even if it is wonderful, it is not very long. Prunes, clove, figs and quince dessert. There is a hint of salt, it is more like a dark chocolate with salt (i love those ones). Cinnamon. Overall, i must say that even if i am not a Macallan fan, now i understand why it gain its prestige. This older spirits had some characteristics that the new ones don't, specially because i feel that nowadays Macallan is releasing new, young and NAS bottlings every two days. A fantastic dram, the finish could be longer to score perfection, but still a remarkable whisky. I rate it 97 over 100. Slàinte!

BOWMORE EUROPEAN FLY FISHING CHAMPIONSHIPS Last night at "The Perfect Collection" masterclass, I had the joy of tasting one of the rarest and most collectible whiskies in Bowmore's history. This "European Fly Fishing Championships" was a special bottle that was never released for sale; and was a gift from Bowmore to the participants of the 2003 European Fly Fishing Tournament. The bottle is so rare that collectors go crazy when they see one of these rarities on the secondary market. Bottled at 40%abv, light golden color. Quite pronounced but aromatic peat on the nose. Starts with a maritime "feel". Plastic, copper, tar, iodine and blood aromas. After a first sip, it released pineapple, orange peel and pond notes. On the palate, it is mostly sweet with salty hints. Vanilla, meringue, salt and pencil. A second sip gave me tropical notes of pineapple pulp and syrup. The aftertaste is a bit simple but it serves its purpose and keeps up the pace of the whisky. Pencil, peat, salt and pepper. Dark chocolate with salt. Overall, this is an excellent single malt that the very few people who own it probably haven't even opened the bottle, as nowadays, if you can find it, it's close to $5,000. Definitely a rarity, my score for this bottle that belonged to Richard Gooding's Perfect Collection is 93 out of 100. Slàinte!

My second Wolfburn is this "Morven", and this was a expression that i have actually heard a lot in the past two years, since it has been acclaimed by some critics that i follow. Another NAS from this distillery, marketed as a lightly peated single malt. Bottled at 46%abv, pale straw color. On the nose, very peaty actually, in a very aromatic and gentle way. Burnt hay and ashtray are the first recognizable notes. Cigarrettes, lemongrass, fairly peated. It has a citric note that resembles a cheap air freshener. After a first sip, it released pear notes, meringue and ham. On the palate, starts spicy and slowly releases some fruity notes. Pepper, gooseberries, ashy and dim salt. A second aip gave me apples, sider and Vanilla cream. Meringue. Aftertaste is peaty and smooth. Cigarrette smoke, salt and a ghostly apple note. Short and not very complex but not bad. Overall, i really think this could be a good whisky for people who are starting to explore peaty flavors and aromas. Feels like an entry level dram, very well delivered without harsh alcohol notes. A balanced single malt, my score for it is a fair 85 over 100.

My first Wolfburn was "Aurora", one of many expressions of this distillery that i have seen a lot lately, but i recently decide to explore its range. It says it has been matured in a combination of ex bourbon casks and oloroso sherry butts. A non-age statement, bottled at 46%abv, non-chill filthered, with a nice light golden color. On the nose it is very appealing. Starts with a maize note, that scared me a little bit, i immidiately thought this was going to be rough and young, but i was wrong. A spongy cake, apple juice; It has this "beach feeling". Canteloupe, very fresh, yeasty and creamy. Lemon grass, danish cookies. After a first sip, it released aromas of vanilla ice cream and a beautiful coconut note. On the palate it is super easy drinkable. Hay,  some tropical flavors. Papaya and cantaloupe. Vanilla fondant; lots of vanilla custard and a dim note of pineapple juice. Aftertaste has a mild Smokey and tobacco note, very appealing. Grassy peaty finish. Not very long but very nice. Overall, this was a very good whisky that i loved. Not overly complex or flavorful, but it manages to deliver a nice experience for the drinker. I did not find any oloroso sherry notes, but the tropical profile and the creamy flavors are very well crafted. My score for this very likeable single malt is 87 over 100.

It is no mystery that Arran has become one of my favorite distilleries. They offer a tropical profile that feels so far from Scotland, it can actually transport you to the Caribbean sea. And that is actually what i expect from every Arran and i managed to get my hands on a sample of this 17yo whisky, that hit the markets almost a decade ago. Bottle at 46%abv, a beautiful gold color. On the nose, there is two times, two rythms. Starts with an incredible butterscotch aroma. Dehydrated tropical fruits and lovely honey. Some maritime/salty note has risen. There is some farm hay in the heart of the honey note. A Cake that its about to go rancid, like it is on the last day that you can eat it. Peel from citric fruits, pepper. Tobacco. After a couple of sips, a greasy note like ham has appeared. But then, after two sips, appeared this "third nose" which was completely different: impalpable sugar, chocolate, milk powder. Where were those sweet notes before?. UPDATE: I LET IT BREATH A LOT, like 10 minutes, and a thick, marshamallow vanilla has taken over all the aroma notes. On the palate, notoriously sweet and spicy. Toffee, caramel and salt. A salty butterscotch. Yellow apples, a little sulphuric note. Starts thick and sweet but quickly becomes salty and acid. Aftertaste is all about hay and caramel. Apples. A little grassy and salty. Hints of bitter cocoa. Very "cowboy", feels like you are in the old wild west. Bitter tobacco and burnt hay. Overall, this is a great dram, but the nose is way better than the rest of the criterias. Super enjoyable but a little simple in the palate and disonant on the aftertaste without losing too many points, this is a whisky that feels exactly as a 17yo single malt should be, with some matured notes and layers of different things, properly delivered to the drinker. My score for it is a very fair 88 over a 100.

My last review on the new Glenallachie's Wine Cask Series, is this Rioja Wine Finish, a 13yo expression bottled at 48%abv. It really seems that after Billy Walker took over this distillery, it went to the skies, introducing beautifully crafted expressions to the market. Bottled at 48%abv, peach color. On the nose, it starts not very appealing, but after you have a first sip, it becomes amazing. Cinnamon and a stinky citric profile, like goseberries. Recently baked spongy chocolate cake. Powdery and yeasty. Lime. Some bold and cheap citric aromas; There is definitively some earthiness to it. After a first sip, aroma changed into a recently baked brownies note. Chocolate milk powder. Lots of chocolate which actually is a wine profile note. On the palate, it is delicious. Honey and red apples. Cinnamon. Very easy on the palate. A second sip gave me chocolate powder, gooseberries and Yeast. It has a Peaty finish: dry burnt grass, saltiness. Dry, so dry that feels like it evaporated magically. Hints of chocolate. Very earthy surrounded with chocolate. Yeasty. Overall, the first sip didn't do much, but every sip i took made it better. There is chocolate everywhere and i find that great, specially when a peaty aftertaste awaits to surprise you. I really recommend this whisky, it is a nice experience, and my score system says it is an 88 over 100 but it feels like more than that.

Hibiki is known to be the best blended whisky in the world, at least its 21yo expression has been accumulating awards non-stop. When i tasted that expression i truly recognized it as the best blend i have ever had, but it wasn't too far from their own 17yo. Well, the 17yo is gone (at least for a while) and now suntory has replaced it with this "Blender's Choice", which is a NAS of "their rarest whiskies, some of them matured in red wine casks". Bottled at 43%abv, golden color. On the nose it is all about Grapefruits and fresh gooseberries, it is a lovely aroma of fresh citric farm fruits where this whisky starts. Red fruits, agave and tequila hints on the borders of the glass. Thick orange candy have appeared. Lots of super fresh, super appealing fruits. Peaches. After 3 minutes a lovely milk chocolate is rising. Marshmallows and some fruit spiciness. The aroma is just incredibly well crafted, mostly citric and syrupy. On the palate, it starts with peach syrup, then a mild spiciness. Some grapefruit is rising, very easy to drink. A second sip gave me dry apricots and some saltiness. I am holding it for so long that i am actually writing this while holding it in my palate, it is that easy to drink but not very complex. Third sip gave me gooseberries. It has a Sugar and hay aftertaste. Very thick and rounded. It is delivered in a nice strength which is not overly strong nor weak. A second sip gave me a tobacco note, some dim earthy finish as well. Ginger. Hints of ashes and peaty profiles. Everything feels wrapped. Overall, this is a very enjoyable whisky, that can be shared with any enthusiast or begginer and they will appreciate it. It is not very complex and the spectacular nose gets the huge portion of the points here. It is not the best Hibiki, it is not better than the 17yo either. It feels this replacement manages to make happy the usual customers, but it could definitively be better. My score for it is 90 over 100.