Daniel, the dodgy bugger who led us into the whisky world, has been doing it for 25 years. So Regional Wines decided to celebrate with a line up of 25yo whiskies.
We've expanded to a quartet and so we assembled to drink booze.
Glenrothes 25yo 43%
- N: light, sherry, sweet, oranges, elegant, lowish alcohol
- P: apples, pears, woody, sweet, caramelised sugar, oily, salt
- F: long, dry
9/10 all the hallmarks of a Glenrothes, but on 'roids. Fantastic stuff. This came 5th on the night (8.6/10)
Talisker 25yo 45.8% 1990-2017
- N: soft, smokey, tyres, gunpowder, citrus, oily seaweed, wet dog.
- P: warm, peat, smoke, hot, light, matchhead, phosphorus
- F: long, hot
9/10. Not a big fan of the standard Talisker, but when they hit 20+ years, something magical happens. the complexity brings down the fight, fantastic stuff. Came 2nd (8.95)
Cardrona 2015 Single Malt 3yo Ex Sherry 63.2%
- N: perfect, sweet, parmesan, prickly, Demerara sugar, maple syrup
- P: prickly, smooth, hot, young
- F: hot, medium
9/10. Yes it's a 3yo, and yes thats 22 years too young. But crickey. It's a bit good. Came 7th (8.18)
Glendronach 25yo 51.2% 23.03.1993-2019. Oloroso Butt #416
- N: sherry, sack cloth, oilskin, wood polish
- P: long sherry, leather, perfect.
- F: long, sexy.
10/10. That rating is unlikely to surprise anyone. It's Glendronach, it's 25yo. I am a simple boy. Came 1st (9.45)
Glenallachie 25yo 48% bottled 2018
- N: apple, pears leather polish, poster glue (PVA), sherbert
- P: light, prickly, envelope glue, thin
- F: light, medium
7/10. In the standards of the night, abysmal. By any other lineup, quite good, just light and delicate. Came 6th (8.54), so obviously some people are eejits.
Old Pultney 25yo oak 46%
- N: light, apples, pears, mellow, musty, sweet, vanilla.
- P: Interesting, stone fruit, ginger, banana lollies
- F: medium, sugar mice
8.5/10 This was the mystery dram. Tasty stuff, apparently Neil has convinced me I should like OP. And more evidence here. Came 3rd (8.93)
Benriach 25yo 46.8%
- N: floral, dish soap, vanilla, caramel, smooth, sherry, light
- P: light, almonds, aniseed, musty, star anise, cardamon
- F: medium, aniseed
9/10. Hells yes. Oh yeah you already knew I liked Benriach. Lovely dram, complex, interesting, different. Came 4th (8.9)
Overall, best tasting I've been to. when the worst whisky got a 7. and it's not really that bad, it's probably a good line up. Actually on reflection, the Brora / Clynelish tasting was up there too.
Anyone won lotto recently? feel free to buy me any of these. You can see some of the prices on the photo...
Slainte Daniel :)
Love, B
