Casual Dram 12

 More John ! More Mean Doses ! More Whisky ! two thirds of the Cabal !

Glen Scotia 11yo Festival Release 2023 54.7%

• N: sherry, oak, woody, sweet perfume
• P: peated, sherry, spicy, sweet, 
• F: long, hot

8/10 I liked this, which is encouraging as I've got a bottle (unopened) at home. I think I won it, but on the strength of this tasting it's likely to be opened soon. Huzzah !

Roseisle 12yo Special Release 2023 56.5%

• N:floral, bourbon, fruity, heather / honey
  
• P: bourbon, fruity, heather / honey, quite delicate
  
• F: medium-long

8/10 also rather tasty, quite different to the Glen Scotia, but very drinkable

Glenglassaugh 9yo 2012 Cask 522 58.9%

• N: water, light, butterscotch
  
• P: salt, peaty, sweet, bacon, butterscotch, creamy
  
• F: long / sherry

9/10. I had some of the very early Glenglassaugh's just after Billy Walker had taken them over, and they tasted incredible. As did the old stock they had (30? 35yo). However the Evolution and the Torfu were ok, but not great. This is a different kettle of wort. Great stuff.

SMWS GlenTurrent (Distillery 16) which had been aged in Laphroaig casks

• N: light, sherry, salty
  
• P: peat, bacon, sweet, salt
  
• F: medium-sweet. 

8/10 I did make a note that not a lot was happening in the finish, but it's a nice whisky. Possibly lost a bit compared to the others in the line-up.

SMWS 29.282 (Laphroaig) 9yo Massive Aniseed Heat and Searing Peat 62.3%

• N: medicinal, peat, bacon, salt
  
• P: supporating wound! not subtle.
  
• F: long-hot

9/10. If I'm after a big smokey peat monster, I want a big smokey peat monster. This is one. It's not doing subtle in any form. Great stuff.

Definitely recommend John's tastings, relaxed and interesting line-ups. More info here: https://www.drinkscreative.com/

 

 

 

 

Whisky Tasting : Old Malt Cask

Another indie bottler tasting, and traditionally a great one. Just two of our lot this time, but an excellent way to spend Friday night.

OMC Glen Moray 16yo 50% refill barrel hl 18663 05.2005-05.2021.

• N: lemon, dry, spritzic, vanilla, white wine, tannins, copy paper
• P: tannin, sour lollies, dark chocolate, spicy, lemon
• F: sticky, sour apples, medium, spicy

9/10 for me, I liked it a lot. I do like indie bottlings of Glen Moray. But I was in the minority with it coming 7th, 7.34. No matter, I have a bottle of it now.

 OMC Aultmore 11yo 5% refill butt HL 18988 07.2010-02.2022

• N: apples, very sweet, lemon, oily, prickly, minerals, peaches
  
• P: very sweet, herbal, salami, bland
  
• F: short, peppery

6/10, not a fan of this one disappointing on the palate/finish. Came 5th, 7.79

OMC Dailuaine 24yo 50% refill hogshead HL18760 10.1996-06.2021

• N: bourbon, apples, dry, perfume/musk, soapy
  
• P: apple, pears, dry, refreshing
  
• F:medium, chewy, dry, incr heat

8.5/10 Tasty, well balanced, interesting, and showing its age nicely. Came 3rd= 7.88

OMC Auchroisk 20yo 50% refill hogshead HL18755 06.2000-06.2021

• N: sweet, light, perfume, caramel, integrated, new tires, marzipan
  
• P:sweet, coconut, peardrops, fizzy, candyfloss
  
• F:medium, peppery

8/10 another good dram, light and interesting. But not loved by the group, 6th 7.59

OMC Pulteney 19yo 50% bourbon barrel HL18987 09.2002-02.2022

• N: light, parmesan, hint of salt?
  
• P:peat, sweet, soap, mushrooms
  
• F: short

6/10 yeah not a fan, not much happening although it did come 2nd 8.19

OMC Speyburn 50% Sherry butt HL18986 03.2007-02.2022

• N: sulphur, caramel, hint sherry, egg lollies, strong, wisteria
  
• P:warm, complex, tobacco, sugary
  
• F: med-short, chilli

8/10 tasty ! and for once, we all agreed, came 1st 8.4

OMC Jura 50% 13yo sherry butt HL18994

• N: apple, spun candy, cedarwood, banoffee, tannins
  
• P:fruity, woody, not much flavour
  
• F:short

7/10 for some reason I bumped it up from a 6, but not great. It came 3= with 7.88

 All very light coloured drams, and an interesting lineup. One thing I liked was the delicate approach to flavour, and keeping everything at 50% allowed for better comparisons. It did seem this time I was very not aligned with the group, huzzah !