Glen Garioch 12 year old

Information

Distillery: Glen Garioch
Bottling: Distillery Own
Age: 12
Distilled: 1997
Bottled: 2009
Strength: 48%
Cask: Marriage of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry cask.

This is Glen Garioch's first "age statement" malt which was distilled after reopening in 1997.

Nose

Dark Chocolate, Heather, slight motor oil. Wine gum sweets and vanilla emerging.

Palate

Buttered toast. Heather.

Finish

Sweet, fruity and nutty finish but relatively short.

Comments

I look forward to the distillery releasing some older expressions from after the 1997 reopening.

Longrow Rundlets and Kilderkins 11yo

Information

Distillery: Longrow (Springbank)
Bottling: Distillery Own
Age: 11
Distilled: 2001
Bottled: 2013
Strength: 51.7%
Cask: Rundlets & Kilderkins.

This Rundlets & Kilderkins is unique in that the malt is matured in small casks called Rundlets & Kilderkins. The smaller casks meaning more wood is contact with the spirit and quicker maturation and more flavour. As the casks were smaller, they were often used in the smuggling trade in which was Campbeltown a stronghold.

Nose

First nose comes the smoke like a wood burning stove. After I get through the peat comes a lot of sweetness in the form of treacle, Toffee apples, and Maple Syrup.

Palate

Chewy Toffee and melting chocolate. Spicy.

Finish

Bitter sweet treacle, dark roasted coffee and vanilla. Rich and warming.

Comments

I normally find peated malts hard to deal with but this is really delicious when I get past the initial smoke. The other aromas the flavours really shine through.

Balblair 1986 (cask 12648) (G&M 24yo)

Information

Bottling: Gordon & MacPhail
Age: 24
Distilled: 1986
Bottled: 2010
Strength: 50%
Cask: Refill Sherry Hogshead

Nose
Mint Chocolate, Honey, Fruit Cake. Tobacco, and boot polish.

Palate
Mint Chocolate. Sherry. Jersey Cream.

Finish
Medium Finish. Mint Chocolate yet again. Dairy Fudge and a little Ginger as well.

Comments
One of the few sherried malts which does not offend my nose with sulphur notes. Not too complex a profile with the flavours being quite distinct. Very easy drinking with the 50% ABV but could do with being a bit stronger on the palate for me.

Balblair 1990 22yo (Cadenhead's)

Information

Distillery: Balblair
Bottling: Cadenhead's
Age: 22
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2012
Strength: 57.4%
Cask: Bourbon Barrell

Nose

Fruit salad sweets big up front. Very bright and fruity with orange vanilla ice cream and mango sorbet.

Palate

Oily and full bodied with Mango Sorbet and Ice Cream again. Irn Bru and baking spices.

Finish

Mango on the finish again, a little bourbon along with some oak.

Old Pulteney 1990 22yo (Cadenhead's)

Information

Bottling: Cadenhead's
Age: 22
Distilled: 1990
Bottled: 2012
Strength: 55.2%
Cask: Bourbon Barrel

Nose

Orange Marmalade, Sea Salt, Cloves, Toffee, Ginger & Praline

Palate

Fruit, orange again. Salty Brine, Fizzy Cola Bottles,

Finish

Exceedinly long, salty, spicy.

Comments

This is exceedingly good. Well balanced and knows what it is trying to say.

Port Dundas 20yo (Cadenhead's)

Information

Type: Single grain
Bottling: Cadenhead's
Age: 20
Distilled: 1989
Bottled: 2009
Strength: 55.4%
Cask: Bourbon Hogshead

Having recently tried a delicious Girvan single grain from the SMWS I thought I would try a single grain for myself.

Nose

Sweet ripe banana flavoured nail polisher. Pineapple & Coconut flavoured Turpentine. Rubbing alcohol.

Palate

Sweet, Wheat Beer

Finish

Cereal. Paint.

Comments

Might be the most expensive paint stripper I have ever bought. Tastes too much of raw spirit which I assume is the distillation to a much higher ABV before maturation. Little flavour impacted from the 20 long years maturation. Maybe I just know nothing about single grain whisky but this is not for me.

Balblair 1989 (First Release)

InformationBottling: Distillery Bottling (First Release)
Age: 18
Distilled: 1989
Bottled: 2007
Strength: 43%
Cask: ex-Bourbon Barrel

Nose

Milk chocolate, hazelnut & raisins in a Cadbury's Fruit & Nut bar. A zing of lemon sponge cake.

Palate

Oaky, Nutty, round but a little watery with the low alcohol of 43%.

Finish

Medium length finish. Coats the mouth like Dairy Cream, a touch of chocolate & vanilla and some malted cereal notes.

Comments

The first edition of the 1989 was unfortunately bottled at only 43% so this requires a little time in the glass to allow the nose to open up fully. I have  never tasted the second edition, and has been a while since I tried the third edition. I will get a hold of and try and third again some time soon.