Another regional tasting, this time malts new to the shop. Slightly misleading title, they're not new whiskies, just new to NZ / Regional Wines. But I've digressed enough ... to the booze !
N: apple, spicy, sweet, tannin, sherry, cherries, lemon, liquorice, meths
P: sherry, full, citrus, burnt organge
F: strong, peppery, oaky
8.5/10 good drop as you'd expect from Glendronach. Came 2nd overall with 8.5.
Cadenheads Enigma Highland Single Malt 14yo 53.9%
N: salt sweet, tropical, peat, methanol, grass, young
P: light, tropical, sea salt, ash, smoke, young
F: prickly, grows, medium
7/10 not a bad drop, but I've got enough similar to it that I didn't pick it up. Came last 8th, 7.41.
Ben Nevis Adelphi #14 11yo 2014 b. 2025, 59.9%
N: demerara sugar, toffee apples, banana, salty, young, egg'n'creme lollies
P: bland, low alc? , hot charred fruit
F: medium, bit dull
6/10 nothing really happening outside of the nose on this one. Another slight disappointment from Adelphi? Came 7th, 7.54
MacDuff Signatory 100 proof 13yo 57.1%
N: sweet, leather, sherry lemon, old wood, malt lollies
P: stylish, complex, well balanced
F: build, long
8/10 nice dram this, came 5th 8.13
Annandale Man O'Words Double Oak 60.8% Founders selection, oloroso 8yr
N: sweet, lollies, salt, sawdust, fruit flan, madiera, caramel pudding
P: spicy, pepper, hot, strong, incr alc
F: spicy, med-long
7/10 good, nothing great tho' came 4th 8.37
Mystery : Glenallachie PX single hogshead 2014 b2025 60.2%
N: sweet, citrus, maple waffles, dark chocolate, honey, complex, leather, meths, candied pears
P: sweet maple, aged, incr alc, complex, lovely, treacle
F: long, warm, liquorice
9/10. This was great, trying to get a bottle but it's not looking hopeful, ahh well. Came 1st 9.17
Bunnahabhain Staoisha North Star 11yo 55.7%
N: salt, peat, smoke, oily, sweet, suppurating wound, mouldy socks
P: oil, ash, wounds, warm sour, balanced
F: medicinal long
8.5/10 yeah this is what I like. Was very tempted to give it the dram of the night award, but y'know GlenAllachie ... Came 3rd 8.46
Ardnahoe Cask Strength 5yo 60.9% Batch #1
N: light, floral, fruity, green apple, whiteboard cleaner,
P: dry, very integrated, smokey?
F: long but balanced.
9/10 so yeah, this was also very very good. Came 6th 7.9 so everyone else was wrong.
excellent line up, nice and diverse. Sadly, I have another tasting this week. I know, martyr.
me x
