We had a tryptch, but had swopped Blair for one of my workmates.
G&M Mannochmore 56.8% 2003 15yo 1st fill sherry
N: sweetish, honey manuka, cereal, fruity, malty, vanilla
P: fruit salad, sweet, apples, ginger
F: medium, red wine?, fruit
I've had a few Mannochmores through SMWS - they don't release a lot of single casks, so it's usually the independent bottlers. I liked this a lot, interesting, fruity, and definitely worth drinking. For those playing at home, it came 7th. Which was wrong. People, they're idiots.
8/10
Adelphi 'Breath of the Highlands' 2007 12yo 52.7%
N: fruit salad, dryish, apple,
P: fruity, musty, cream, boring
F: short-med
disappointment, not sure we ever established what highland distillery it was from, but then again not keen to find out either.
6/10 [came 8th]
Dramfest 'Dirty Little Secret' 11yo 56.9% [Caol Ila]
N: rubber, sulphur, damp wool, peat
P: rubber, ashtray, sweet, cigars, iodine
F: long, ash, peppery
Dramfest bottling, and yes it's superb. It couldn't really tick any more boxes for me for a Islay whisky :) Although as people are idiots, it only came 5th. I know. twats.
9/10
Bunnahabhain Adelphi 2009 10yo 58.9% cask #900022
N: chocolate sweet, old car, smoked cheese, caramel, mushrooms
P: warm, honey, smooth, vanilla, burnt brandy snaps
F: warm-long, dry, late evening dram
8.5/10 Also great stuff (came 4th), also more reasons I shoudl really buy some Bunnahabhain, it'll make Neil feel vindicated if nothing else...
Amrut Portonova Batch 22 62.1%
N: strong, savoury, red berries, sweet, oloroso?
P: warm, woody, ashtray, redwine/port,
F: short
I think I'm going to have to admit that Amrut have come a long way from their rubbish first releases. This is now two that I've really liked. this came first, but wasn't my favourite
8/10
Ardnamurchan Malt Spirit 2019AD 57.4%
N: sweet, candied fruit, marmalade, delicate, hint of peat, perfumed
P: peat, pepper, heat
F: medium, peat
It's less than 3yo so can't be called scotch, but tasted very good. 7/10
Ballechin Straight from the Cask Bordeaux 2007 11yo 60.2%
N: rubber, salt, bacon, sulphur, creamy, sweet, inky
P: pepper, peat, not complex
F: long
Edradour's peated expression, much better than the early releases I tried, but I do find the SFTC a bit hit and miss from them. Came second, which was generous.
8/10
Glenturret G&M 2005 14yo 53.5%
N: vanilla, golden syrup, light, apple, apricot
P: nutty, astringent
F: nothing
well this was rubbish, nose was good, everything else disappeared. And yet it came 3rd? I mean I shouldn't judge my fellow booze hounds, but really people ! really close to a fail from me.
5/10
As from last tasting, great to be back tasting whiskies with the group, and huzzah to NZs covid response allowing us to start up again. Next month (well ok, later this month) is the 25th anniversary of Daniel's tastings, so all whiskies are 25yo - really looking forward to that.
B
