Bit of variety this time, and online tasting through Whisky Galore presented (from Scotland) by brand reps for Cadenhead's / Springbank / Kilkerran / Longrow.
Cadenhead : Mannochmore 12yo 46% bourbon hogsheads
N: cut grass, methanol, Parma violets, creamy, apples, bourbon finish
P: apples, pears, strong, bourbon, banana
F: spiky, long,hot, slightly peppery?
8/10 Nice refreshing, not hugely complex, but I like Mannochmore and this is a good example (rare to find a single malt, it seems to be indie bottlers only, eg SWMS / Cadenhead's)
Cadenhead : Glen Elgin-Glenlivet 12yo 46% Palo Cortado hogsheads
N: maple syrup, salty, red apples
P: warm, honey, Manuka, hint of salt (dry?), pears, complex increases
F: short ish, medium
7.5/10 I did like the maple syrup nose, which moved into more of a honey palate.
Cadenhead : Seven Stars Blended Scotch Whisky 46% oloroso hogsheads
N: creamy, sherry but subtle, apples and custard?
P: apples, pears, dry, prickly, ginger, dark sugar
F: medium, creamy,
8/10 liked this, interesting and dry. Another blend I'd be happy to have int he cupboard (along with the Adelphi). Notes from Cadenhead's, 70% malt 30% grain, range between 8 -18yo (the grains being the older), and the finish in oloroso were fresh hogsheads for slightly more than 1 year.
Cadenhead : Speyside 'Enigma' Single Malt 12yo 50% oloroso hogsheads
Speyside ‘enigma’ 12yo,
N: orange peel, burnt caramel,
P:burnt sugar, mint, banana splits,
F: short medium smooth
7/10 un named Speyside (hence enigma tag) nice enough, but not something I loved.
Springbank 18yo 46% Matured in bourbon, sherry and rum casks. It's vatted in those three casks, it's not three finishes.
N: warm honey hint of salt caramelised sugar
P: warm, honey, salt, sweet, candy floss , hint of smoke
F: medium, Smokey
8.5/10 always a good dram the 18yo. I'm a fan.
Springbank 100 proof, 57.1% bourbon casks
N: floral,marshmallows, pears,
P: peat smoke, salty, dry,cholate,
F:long and hot
8/10 interesting and more coastal than expected. I know I've had this before, but yeah far more coastal than expected. Tasty.
Kilkerran 8yo Cask Strength 57.7% bourbon casks
N: banana, caramel,
P: sweet, apples, warming, med chocolate,
F: high alc, and grows in warmth and quite dry,
8.5/10 tasty, and ticked a number of boxes for me.
Longrow 100 proof, 57.1% matured in refill bourbon and rioja casks
N: sherry, salt, coastal, peppery ?paprika?
P: tasty, marmalade, sherry, complex, feels aged, raspberry,
F: warm long, ginger? Coastal.
8.5/10 This was good, I seem to recall I wasn't a fan of the last Longrow I had (the red?) which annoyed me as I'd liked others. But this seemed good, strong and spicy, interesting palate. I can see a bottle ending up in my clutches....
Good tasting - well organised by WG and interesting chat by presenters while we drank!
b
