Whisky tasting: Best of the Best 2022

 Another year, another Best of the Best. Although this year we managed a reasonable number of tastings without Covid being a dick, and the format was changed to have the top rated whiskies of the year, rather than just the winner of each tasting. 

Usual crew assembled at the Basin reserve, which seems to be turning into a preferred whisky tasting venue for Regional Wines - which is great, more room, less temp fluctuations :)

Glenlossie 15yo 58.2% Signatory 2006

• N: sweet, cloves, apple, violets, vanilla, tannins, perfume
• P: apple, melons, sweet, long, truffles, bourbon
• F: long, sweet

8.5/10 for me, really liked this one (it came 7th overall 8.35, originally 8.71 in Sept). 

Ardnamurchan Cask Strength AD/02.22 58.7% NC2 sherry/bourbon

• N: sweet, salt, peat, bubblegum, banana
• P: apple, peppery, salt, ash
• F: med-long, hot

9/10 definitely liking where Ardnamurchan are heading at the moment, all of the recent ones we've had have been good (and there's a few in my cupboard now). Came 8th (8.26, was 8.61 in Oct).

Glendronach Cask Strength Batch10 58.6%

• N: sherry, old, subtle, leather, xmas cake, cognac
• P: very quick, hint of honey
• short, boring

7/10. It's not a bad whisky, but just not much happening for a cask strength, weird. Came 3rd 8.89 (8.68 in Sept).

Edradour Straight from the Cask 2011 58.5%

• N: sherry, sulphur, sweet, subtle, aged, lightish
• P: warm, honey, xmas cake, lovely
• F: smooth, long

8/10 came second (9.13, originally 9.23 in Sept). annoyingly it sold out before I could grab it (or the Ibisco) when they eventually reached NZ. oh well.

Mystery : Cotswolds

• N: sweet, citrus, nutmeg, bananas, fruit salad/melons
• P: warm, bourbon, honey, salt, pepper
• F: medium, peppery, warming

9/10 this was all very nice. I don't seem to have written down which Cotswolds it was, but I've had a couple this year and both were very good, there's a bottle of one of them sitting around here ...

Glendronach Parliament 21yo 48% oloroso/PX 2020.06.15

• N: lemonade, spritzic, sweet, apricots
• P: lemon, bourbon, sherry, decr alc., yeasty
• F: medium, warm honey

8/10 hey it's a Glendronach, you can be pretty sure it'll be drinkable. Possibly slightly overrated (aside from the gold/brown) at the moment, but still very good. Came 5th with 8.72 (was 8.81 in Aug)

Laphroaig 25yo 52% NC2 cask strength 2018 ex bourbon

• N: yum, salt, bacon, iodine, bring, complex, medicinal, strong, aged
• P: salt, bacon, iodine, strong
• F: long and complex

10/10 (I did give it 9.5/10 originally). Something magical happens to aged Laphroaig, it becomes very veyr drinkable. I'm not alone in this as it came 1st with 9.43 (was 9.13 in Aug) 

Talisker 15yo 2019 57.3% Special Release

• N: salt, sweet, medicinal, light, aged, peaty, apricots
• P: citrus, ash, peppery, cloves, salt
• F: peppery, long

8/10 I keep wanting to like Talisker more than I actually do. But this one is good, came 4th with 8.86 (8.88 in Aug). 

so there you go, pretty reasonable lineup of drams, bit of beer, a haggis, 

Slainte, B

Whisky Tasting : Salt & Smoke

 And so the October tasting rolls around, Salt & Smoke. Or, new whiskies that John fancied trying as the tastings are also known... 

Benriach Smoke Season 

• N: salty, increased alc., bacon, hint sherry, gentle peat, medicinal
• P: more peat, salty, custard, spikey, 
• F: sweet, long. peppery at the finish. hint of smoke.

Our mystery whisky for the evening, interesting and not too bad. Came 3rd (8.28), although I gave it 7.5/10

Ledaig 8yo Signatory 2011 wine hogshead finish 46%

• N: dry, peat, black tea, medicinal, banana cake, rubber
• P: dry, hot peat, pepper, astringent, medicinal, metalic
• F: med, bitter, peppery

Not popular, came 7th (6.56), and I gave it a 6/10. Ledaig seem a bit over-rated from the ones I've tried, oh well.

Port Charlotte PAC:01 2011 8yo 56.1%

• N: odd, honey, menthol, cinnamon, soapy
• P: manuka honey, rough, salty
• F: med, burning

6/10 (came 4th with 7.44) This was quite a disappointment for PC which I like. Was this one of the travel exclusives? dunno, but the last one of those was all chocolate and bacon without much subtlety. 

Cladach 2018 57.1% Cask Strength Special Release (Inchgower, Clynelish, Talisker, Oban, Caol Ila, Lavavulin).sweet, long. peppery at the finish. hint of smoke.

• N: minerals, chocolate-coffee, sweet, very light salt, spikey
• P: warm honey, sweet, burnt caramel, caramelised oranges,
• F: med-long, citrussy

I liked this a lot, 8.5/10. Really interesting and well balanced whisky, came 1st= with 8.83. It is however not cheap.

Glenglassaugh Torfa 50% Heavily Peated

• N: rich, peat, bandages, rubber, sherry, sweet, fresh
• P: nothing, bland
• F: short, sweet, hint of stonefruit

5/10 (came 5th= with 6.94) It hasn't improved since I tasted the first bottling, and really Glenglassaugh don't seem to have really come on, which is a shame as I loved the first of the new releases a few years ago. 

Talisker 8yo Special Release 2020 Natural Cask Strength 57.9%

• N: slight, ash, hokey pokey, ozone, chewy, rich
• P: warm, salt, bacon
• F: med-long

8/10 from me, and 5th= (6.94) from the group. I liked this, interesting and strong whisky which seemed well balanced. 

Ardnamurchan Cask Strength AD/02.22 58.7%

• N: hospital, caramel, vanilla, oaky, playdoh
• P: coconut, pineapple, sweet, incr alc., fruit salad, candied peel, smokey, blue cheese
• F:med-long, fruit salad.

8.5/10. I really liked this, as did the group (1st= 8.83) and it's a really good value for money. The Ardnamurchan's we've had recently have all been good / interesting, and a few of them have been brilliant (like this one)....

Next tasting will be best of the best...

-B

Whisky Tasting: Sherry v Bourbon

 The September Regional whisky tasting, Sherry v Bourbon finishes. Eight whiskies, mostly 43-46%, and mostly Signatory (and related) bottlings. 

Mortlach 12 yo Signatory 46% 2009

• n: grass, pineapple, tropical fruit, effervescent, citrus, green apples.
• p: green apples, tropical fruit, pepper, spicy, dry
• f: med-long, sour on finish.

7/10 didn't seem a very typical Mortlach, much lighter than usual. but tasty. Came 7th with an average of 7.27

Caol Ila 9yo Signatory 46% 2012

• n: bacon, smoke, burnt toast, crispy bits, parmesan.
• p: ash, watery
• f: short, boring

5/10. I like Caol Ila, I did not like this. There was very little there, nose was good. After that, err... Came 8th with 6.8, so it appears others didn't like it either.

Ben Nevis 8yo Signatory 46% 2013

• n: fruit salad, banda copy roll fluid, schanppes, mohito, hint of peat
• p: fruity, meaty, sulphurus, peppery, sweet !
• f: med spicy

7.5/10 interesting, i liked it more than the score suggests. Came 4th with 7.78

Glenlossie 15yo Signatory 58.2% 2006

• n: tasty, butterscotch, green apples, custard, chocolate, newsprint
• p: zesty, sweet, green apples, chocolate, citrus, fruit salad, 
• f: med-long

8.5/10 ok so i may have enjoyed the cask strength, but this was also a different class of whisky. I don't thin I've had much Glenlossie before, but would not turn it down again.

Came 2nd with 8.71.

Mystery: Glendronach NAS Cask 

• n: rum, caramel, incr alco, leather, orange, sticky toffee pudding, sugar (dark)
• p: warm, sugar, sweet, creamy, coffee, pepper
• f: long and peppery

8.5/10 yep thats a bit of me. But then again, once we found it was Glendronach, it made more sense. 

3rd, with 8.68

Speyside Distillery Cadenhead 13yo 46%

• n: caramel, toffee, woody, butter, chocolate, leather polish, ash
• p: watery, sugar
• f: short

5.5/10 this was pretty poor after promising much on the nose.

Others disagreed, and this was 5th, 7.44

Signatory Edradour 10yo 46% 2011

• n: rich, cake, sweet, complex, toffee, treacle, molasses.
• p: smokey peat, not pleasant
• f: short

5.5/10 again very disappointing and not what I expected from Edradour.

6th, 7.4

Edradour Straight from the Cask 10yo 2011 58.5%

• n: complex, molasses, citrus, liquorice, vinyl.
• p: sweet, sugar, molasses, complex
• f: long

9/10 yup that's more like it. count me in and much happier with this one.

Came 1st with 9.23

Slainte!

Whisky: Waiheke Whisky (NZ)

 I didn't make the most recent Regional tasting, so consoled myself with a tasting box from a new(ish) NZ distillery, Waiheke Whisky. They've released a set of four samples (3 whiskies, 1 new make spirit) which you can get here: https://waihekewhisky.com/products/nz-peat-tasting-set

Well, you could, but it's now sold out. So you'll have to live with my reviews.... I will say the info sheet they included was great, included yeast type, wash ABV, Spirit on/off concentrations, all great geek info.

Peated New Make 2022 45% 

• Nose: rubber, flowers, car parts, medicinal, damp dog/wool, peat, menthol
• Palate: rubber, peat, vigorous, pepper, grainy, salty
• Finish: med-long, hot pepper, peat, dry

as a new make, 6/10

Moss - lightly peated NZ single malt, WW Release 01 44% 2017-2022 American oak, ex-bourbon

• Nose: floral, vanilla, rubber, medicinal
• Palate: honey, toffee, spikey, spicy
• Finish: long, smooth

7/10

Seris 1 - lightly peated NZ single malt, WW Release 02; 42% 2016-2022 American oak, PX sherry

• Nose: perfume, marshmallows, great, sherry, sandlewood, parma violets
• Palate: sherry, watery, hint of peat, spicy
• Finish: med, spicy, builds

6/10 didn't live up to the nose unfortunately, but potential is there. 

Bog Monster 46% heavily peated 2015-2022, Virgin American oak, ex-bourbon. WW release 05

• Nose: sweet, dry, iodine, camphor, parma violets, lemon
• Palate: spicy, peat, salt, dry, earthy, peppery
• Finish: med-long

8/10 I liked this a lot. strong whisky, obviously I'm wanting some cask strength, but eh I'd buy a bottle of this. 

Overall, good whiskies, young, but real potential. There is no reason why NZ can't make world leading whiskies, except for the cost of getting good barrels here. And as a number of the new NZ distillers are turning to wine barrels, the future is looking very good. 

Whisky: Caol Ila

 I quite like Caol Ila, they seem more open to releasing longer aged and complex whiskies from Islay. It's not all just stunt whisky to rip ya nads off.

This month we had seven Caol Ila's, which as we had one a few weeks ago, means I've had lots of CI. And am therefore in a good mood.

Caol Ila G & M 13yo 43% 'Discovery'

• n: light, peat, vanilla, sweet, antiseptic, hint of sick
• p: salty, dry, pepper, peat, sweet in middle
• f: long peppery and very warming

7/10 for this one, G&M are consistently good as bottlers, so no surprise there. I think I'd originally put it down as 7.5, but dropped it later. Came 6th on the night with 7.28

Port Askaig 8yo 45.8%

n: salty, antiseptic, iodine, bandages, warming

p: light, almost nothing, salt, peanuts

f: short-med, dry

6/10 quite disappointing, the nose promised a lot more than the palate delivered. Came 7th with 6.64

Caol Ila 25yo 43%

n: sherry, peat, sweet, tasty, older, brown sugar

p: watery, codliver oil, metallic

f: short, disappointing

5/10 This one divided our drinkers, our table really did not like it with most scores being 5 or 6, but it came 3rd overall with 8.0. I didn't get anything from the palate, nose was very nice tho. But not $400 worth of nice.

Caol Ila 17yo 55.9% Unpeated style 2015

n: older, ozone, cirtrus, port, sweet, bandacopy ink, unpeated? dark chocolate

p: hot, peaty, effervescent, liquorice, woody

f: hot, salty, med-long

8/10 ahhh this was more like it, interesting being a unpeated, although there are still hints of peat/smoke in there. Came 2nd with 8.08

Port Askaig 100 proof 57.1% 

n: iodine, medicinal, vinegar, salt, coastal

p: medicinal, salty, actually very very salty

f: smokey, grows very very hot, long 

8.5/10 yeah I liked this, classic Islay whisky. And very reasonably priced (under NZ $100) so a bottle may sneak into my collection. Came 5th overall with 7.5.

Mystery: Cotswolds peaty cask English whisky. 

n: fruit salad, cold tinned spaghetti, pineapples/papaya, bergamot

p: fruity, crystallised papaya

f: long, salt at the end.

8/10 interesting, and yeah it genuinely smelt of cold tinned spaghetti, weird. I'm liking what the Cotswolds distillery is putting out... Came 4th, 7.66

Caol Ila 18yo 2017 59.8% unpeated style

n: sweet, dark chocolate, light peat, fresh cut sawdust, balsa wood

p: salt, peat, tangy, marshmallows

f: long, hot, boom!

8/10 again another good whisky, and the finish is very quiet then explodes, really good stuff. Came first with 8.47.

Slainte, b

Whisky: Michael Fraser Milne - Good Interesting Whiskies

 Another month, another tasting... This time led by Michael from WhiskyGalore.

Wolfburn 'Batch 318' 46% 7yo lightly peated, oloroso

N: fresh cut grass, salt, marshmallow, peat, sour

P: warm, salt, dry, prickly, honey, ash, cinnamon

F: long, dry

7.5/10 I liked this one, nothing outstanding but a nice drinking whisky.

Bunnahabhain 'Signatory Vintage' 2010 / 10yo 64.7%

N: sherry, raisins, plums, salt

P: sherry, complex, aged, leather, brine, caramel

F: med-long

9/10 loved this one, may have picked up a bottle.

Bladnoch 19yo 46.7% PX

N: pear, apples, sherry, parmesan, citrus

P: light, pears, sherry, dry, citrus

F: short 

6/10 nothing very interesting in this one. 

Ardnamurchan AD10.21:06 46.8%

N: grass, citrus, oaky, sherry, wine, salt

P: hot, spicy, chilli

F: long

7/10 potential in this one, but possibly a bit young? I dunno.

Glengoyne 'Cask Strength' Bath #008 59.2% 

N: sherry, liquorice, vanilla, oak, aniseed, pears

P: spicy, dry, vanilla, oaky

F: med-long

8.5/10 Been a fan of their cask strength for awhile now, and this one is good 

Croftengea 'Old Malt Cask' 2006 / 14yo 50%

N: grass, peat, oak, parmesan, smoke

P: weak, salty, watery

F: short-med

6/10 the nose promised a lot which didn't come through in the palate. Others in the room really rated this so ..

North Star Supersonic Mark 2 50%

N: fruity, pickled beetroot, oaky, citrus

P: citrus, salt, dry, plums, sherry

F: med

7.5/10 interesting without being great? I'd recommend as a quaffing dram.

-B

Whisky: Dark Drams

 Dark drams, sherry monsters. Complexity. So that all boded well for our Regional Wines tasting in May.

We even had a welcoming dram, so...

Edradour 10

• Nose: light, hint of salt, sherry
• Palate: light, watery, peppery, coriander
• Finish: med-short

6/10 yeah it's not a great edradour. Came 7th overall 

Amrut Spectrum 004 50%

• Nose: sugar, rum, caramel, strong, old, sherry, sweet, PX, blood orange
• Palate: sweet, not subtle, rum, spicy, bitter
• Finish: long, hot

7.5/10 i liked it, but wasn't blown away by it. It came 3rd with an average of 8.26. But not something I felt I needed in my life.

Pulteney Signatory 2008 13yo 56.2%

• Nose: dry, sherry, citrus, musty, sea spray, mustard, coriander seed, leather
• Palate: sweet, demerara sugar, dry, floaty, chocolate, ginger cake
• Finish: long

8.5/10 I liked this a lot, lots of interesting stuff happening, both on the nose and palate. And not really linked either. Came 6th (wtf?!) 7.9.

Caol Ila Signatory 2010 10yo 58.1%

• Nose: bacon, salt, smoke, peat, medicinal, sweet, meat
• Palate: sherry, peat, chocolate, balanced, medicinal, salt, dry, rashuns, ash
• Finish: long ash dry

9.5/10 hey I liked this. a lot. Possibly that's predictable tho. Came 4th, 8.12

Bruichladdich - mystery dram, not sure which it was.

• Nose: sweet, delicate, fruit, citrus, THC, herbaceous, parma violets, tangerine
• Palate: warm, honey, bourbon, creamy, dry
• Finish: med-long, dry, perfumery, warm

8/10 I think I ordered a bottle of this, so I can probably edit the name later. Either way, very tasty. came 1st 8.5

Tamdhu Old Particular 2004 16yo 48.4%

• Nose: dry, grass, pineapple, sandalwood, papaya, chocolate, liquourice
• Palate: watery, light, citrus, smooth, banana
• Finish: short

6/10 much promise on the nose, but delivered very little. Came last (8th) with 7.16

Aultmore Old Particular 2006 14yo 48.4%

• Nose: apple, lime, starbursts, caramel
• Palate: floral, menthol, mineral
• Finish: short-med

7/10 Nothing really stood out on this one, nice enough, but not very interesting. Came 5th, 7.99

Blair Athol OMC 1995 25yo 50%

• Nose: caramel, demerara sugar, hokey pokey, toffee, butterscotch, sweet
• Palate: caramel, butterscotch, werthers originals, honey
• Finish: med-long

9/10 again, another win for the OMC. This was lovely. Came 2nd, 8.28

Slainte!

Whisky: Campbeltown - we're back in scotch world!

 With our levels getting a more amber hue, Regional's tasting were back on. First up, Campbeltown - the location for Springbank and a number of it's side project labels. Huzzah ! Six known whiskies and 2 mysteries to follow ...

Ledaig Old Particular 1998 21yo 51.5%

Nose: oak, complex, sherry, hint of salt, woody, med old, varnish

Palate: honey, oaky, caramel, salt, dry but sherry, 'bold', complex

Finish: medium, peppery, salty

8 - 8.5 /10. Really liked this one interesting, complex and definitely shows the added age.

Hazelburn 13yo 2021 48.6% 

Nose: sweet, violets, lighter, hint of citrus

Palate: huge, bourbon, boiled sweets, blackballs, lemon, 

Finish: medium

7/10 interesting and good, I generally like Hazelburn, but wonder if would have benefited from more ageing?

Kilkerran 12yo 46%

Nose: vanilla icecream, light, pavlova mixture

Palate: salty, dry, soft, bourbon, light, breakfast whisky

Finish: salty, short

6.5 - 7/10 nice enough, but not hugely interesting

Springbank 10yo 46%

Nose: sweet, vanilla, oaky, citrus

Palate: sweet, perfumed, violet/lavendar, very light, citrus (lemonade)

Finish: short-med, builds with a pepper/salt spritzic taste

7.5/10 again nice enough, but I think I prefer cask strength Springbanks. 

Springbank 12yo 55.4%

Nose: oranges, vanilla

Palate: concentrated orange, complex, manuka honey, sweet, dry

Finish: med-long, dry

7/10 having said I like cask strength Springbanks, I might have to admit I preferred the 46% :)

Kilkerran 8yo Cask Strength

Nose: light, hint of sherry, old leather

Palate: warm, sherry, xmas, PX?, dry, raisins, salty

Finish: sharp, salty, long

9/10 yup loved this one. Interesting, complex and tasted much older than it actually was !

Kilkerran Heavily Peated

Nose: light, citrus, kaffir lime, oak

Palate: lime (lots of lime!!), salt, spicy, sweet on end

Finish: med dry on finish

8/10 interesting, the lime is really strong on the palate, but you wouldn't guess it's hte Heavily Peated version

Adelphi NZ Exclusive 14yo 58.1% 'Breath of the Isles'

Nose: old furniture, citrus, sherry,light coastal influence, complex

Palate: salt, bacon, sherry, citrus

Finish: sherry, long, dry

8.5-9 /10 really nice, interesting, coastal and complex. all win for me.

Overall, interesting tasting and lots of good whisky. the Kilkerran's are coming along very nicely! and I maybe moving away from Springbank (bring back the rundlets and kilderkins bottling). There's a common theme of slight coastal (salt), and more unexpected a citrus flavour on many of the whiskies. Is that from the casks? Maybe. 

Whisky: we move outside the highlands.....

 Our tastings have been few and far between, for some reason. So when Whisky Galore announced a virtual tasting of Dingle Distillery (Ireland) it seemed rude to say no. Samples arrived in a nice box, including a tasting glass. 

I haven't been won over by irish whisk(e)y in the past, but hey, ya gotta keep trying...

Sample A : Bourbon 

Nose: oaky, chardonnay, marshmallows, parma violets, pears, sweet

Palate: chilli / peppers, oaky, no complex

Finish: medium, chilli / pepper.

very drinkable, 6.5 or 7/10

Sample B : Madeira

Nose: red wine, bourbon, marshmallows, candy floss, toffee, citrus, liquorice

Palate: not whisky, pepper, chilly, light watery.

Finish: pepper / chilli, medium

5/10 pretty bland

Sample C : PX

Nose: old leather, parmesan, fortified wine, xmas mince pie, sherry

Palate: sharper sherry pepper, bottled too young?

Finish: medium, sharp 

6.5/10 not great but some flavour.

Sample D : 

Nose: sweet, candyfloss, bourbon, white wine, marshmallow, vanilla, raspberry

Palate: fruity, tingly, spicy, dry, salty

Finish: long, complex

7.5/10 quite good.

Not enough to convince me that Irish Whiskey is worth exploring, but also, enough to keep me trying it. 

What I has been listening to ... 2021

 Thanks to last.fm and scrobbling from my phone, laptop, and my OCD (why, yes, I do play the digital version when I'm playing vinyl too...) here's the list of stuff I've been playing.

How much listening did I do this year compared with last year?

And not a huge surprise Thursday has the most tracks...

Artist:

Album:

I quite liked the new Lord of the Lost album....

Tracks: