Tastes

NZ Dramfest 2018. I tried a suite of Pendeyns years ago and was under whelmed. The Rich oak redeems. Many drams in and it holds its own. Rich viscous oak. 4.25

Good to see an independent bottler loaded onto distiller. Mortlach I've said it all really in my review of the 18. Is it as good as the 18...I can't really remember to be honest but this wins on VFM. Classic Mortlach, you get the lightness of a Spreyside wrapped around a solid meaty sulphur core. Beautiful....4.25 from a newly opened bottle which is impressive and I'll be back in my favorite bar next week to try it again after its opened up. Id buy a bottle if I could get hold of one. Definately beating out the springbank Barolo 9 I paired it with.

Wow. Cherry on the nose and the palate, caramel, oak, spice. Nice but quite sweet..couldn't drink to much of this and wouldn't buy a bottle. 3.75 I'll give it but I suspect over time the rating would drop a bit if I had an open bottle.

Blantons is my type of bourbon. Original, gold and now reserve. Some things i need to think about when rating. This was yup it's a 4. Cherry vanilla oak as the Rev noted. Cheap for the quality at under $60USD here. Update: 11/04/18 Interestingly I had another dram of this and my thoughts are similar to the Revs this time round. Not sure if its me or batch variation. Would be more a 3.5

Back on the Kentucky Bourban Distillers band wagon. Nice drop, leather, rye and caramel as the distiller review noted. Spice, oak and tobacco and caramel on the nose. 3.5 and wouldn't buy a bottle. Noahs Mill still has top spot in the KGB range!

Hey this is one very interesting dram. I was thinking it would be an overpriced marketing effort but it's a lot more than that. The distiller notes of vegetal, malty smokey are correct almost springbankish in a way. You get the port, vanilla and more. Very very interesting. At least 4.25 maybe 4.5. Now at $300 this isn't what you call VFM and as such it's a 4. Would love to try more of this.

Caramel, honey, fruity, orange toffeeslight, some meatiness. Just let down by the shortish finish. Def a 3.5 maybe a 3.75. Price not the cheapest at nearly $70USD a bottle though. On VFM it could be rounded down to a 3 but it's better than that.

Ah I can't really help myself with this bar. I can't just wander by...just..have...to...have...one...just one small dram. Ok 3 drams..definitely just 3. No. 1 Glen turret. I have this paired with the 26 year Glenturret from BBR and a 24 year Jura...so how does it fare? Well very well actually even though it's the cheaper dram at ~ $55 USD. Nice viscous mouth feel, the bourban is dominant. Now if the KM 09 is a 4 this can't be more than a 3.4.

Ok this place really really is dangerous....i thought I'd stop at 2 then 5 then 6 now 9......this being the 9th. I found a 1975 G&M St Magdeline...(who knew this even existed?). Man that blew me away...which given its older than me that's not surprising. Then a 40 year Teaninich....again never heard of them. Next week 30 something Glen Turret and a 32 year Port Ellen....I have never mainlined heroin or done meth, crack or willed away my hours in an opium den but I think this bar is very similar. I told them after this I'm done and to stop serving me....anyhow where was I Ardbeg Perpetuum I think I'm reviewing..sandwiched between the other two and after Kilchoman 09 I thought it'd be toast but no it held its own. I really enjoyed this...my tongue is a bit numb so I'm going to say smoke vanilla and leave it at that...ah damn lemon on the aftertaste. I'll ignore that 3.75...wouldn't buy a bottle but enjoyed the sample. I now have to think how to hide the large bill that will come through on the credit card....

Aha...asked how the round went I was honest. Nothing blew me away...I then mentioned my core must try distilleries. "We have the latest 09 release"...woohoo my night is saved. Now it's no Red Wine, Sanaig or even a Loch Gorm but it's good. 4 stars finally. Can't wait in 2 weeks time the distillery owners will be here for Dramfest so I'll get to get stuck in to wherever else I haven't tried of theirs and congratulate them on a great distillery and awesome casking effort!