Single cask 5699, virgin oak hogshead – no 276 of 293 – 57,9%
This is a NL-exclusive edition.

scores:
whiskybase – 88/1

1^st batch – 43%
this is the first edition, bottled 2006

whiskybase – 81/206
maltmaniacs – 78/15
whiskyfun– 85

Puncheon 1160 - no 163 of 653 – 54,4%
wb – 86/14

16 years old – 43%  please note this is the version from the 2006 (bottle code: L6325MC000)

whiskybase - 90/9  wb105508
serge valentin - 89
malt maniacs - 88

Lagavulin 16 yo (43%, OB, 'Port Ellen', Bottled +/- 2006)  A malt we’re all following year after year, tracking down the faintest changes… Let’s see… Nose: hmmm, this one seems rougher, rawer, more ‘uncompromisingly Islay’ than earlier batches. Less rounded, peatier, more maritime… Nice notes of very ripe gooseberries but probably less sherry (or, let’s say ‘sherriness’). Lots of ‘rectitude’. Mouth: okay, it’s slightly sweeter and rounder now but it gets then much dryer (walnuts). Quite some peat, roots, smoked tea, liquorice, hints of toffee. Right, Lagavulin 16 is still a great whisky, no doubt. Probably less ‘sweetish’ than some earlier batches and certainly ahead of the core peaty pack from the south shore I think (A10, L10, L16). 89 points.

Quarter cask, double matured – 48%  LG061R1K (2006 edition)

wb – 87/20
mm – 86

15y – 40% GM pure highland malt, old 75cl Meregali Milano import

10y – 40,0% GM pure malt, old 75cl bottle, vatted malt

This most probably is Macallan.


wb - 86/24
sv - no score
 

Single Octave cask 796881, one of 72 – 55,9%
Vintage 1993 - bottled 2011 - 17/18 years old

whiskybase - 86/6  wb27370
 

Suntory, distilled and bottled at Yamazaki distillery

Anni trenta = 30y, old 75cl bottle – 43,0%

Single cask 5439 – distilled 29.06.04 – bottled 10.05.11 – 52,9%
wb – 89/8

Single cask 4522, virgin oak hogshead – no 223 of 317 – 57,8%
This is a Belgium-exclusive edition.
wb – 83/6

Campbeltown Loch 21y, blended whisky from Springbank Distillery
mm: 77/5
sv: 80

Laphroaig Islay malt - Spirit S.p.A. Genova import
10y  – 43% (without royal warrent)

Spirit SpA Genova was the Italian importer between 1985 and 1988 so this whisky is bottled between that period (and distilled between 1975 and 1978)
Every now and then we find one of these bottles in Italy. Although they are becoming hard to get, we stil have some stock left ;-)

scores:
whiskybase – 88-13
malt maniacs - ?
serge valentin - ?

This is much and much better than the Laphroaig 10y of the last 5-10 years, although it can not compete with the `unblended` ones.
I do like this older Laphroaig`s, much more pronounced peat and more complex nose and taste (incl. mango), and more power (what a difference 43 versus 40).  89-91p
 

The Classic Islay Collection – 12y – 43%  
This is from the 2006 package

wb – 83/212
mm – 84/13
sv – 85

The Classic Islay Collection – 18y – 43%
This is from the 2006 package

wb – 86/127
mm – 84/15
sv – 87

Glen Grant  single cask 689 – 55,8%  distilled 27.01.1972 - bottled 7.1995
This is Italian import from Dun Eideann

scores:
whiskybase – 92/28
malt maniacs - no score
serge - no score

Our own humble opinion: 92, it is a Glen Grant from 1972 - not much to add.

Caol Ila - distilled 1984 - bottled 2010
25 years old - single cask 5393 – 54%
Frisky Whisky by John Milroy

scores:
whiskybase – 90/12
malt maniacs - no score
serge valentin - no score

our own rating - 89/90 points

Cadenhead Bond Reserve  1999 - 9y - red wine hogshead - 59,5% 
one of 310 bottles   distilled 1999 - bottled nov.2008
scores:
whiskybase – 84/5
 

Laphroaig original cask strength 
10y red stripe – 55,7%

This is the version that came after the famous green stripe but prior to the 'batches'

scores:
whiskybase – 91/59  wb14065
malt maniacs - ..
serge valentin - 93

Ardbeg Ten – 46%
bottled 2008  L8 261

scores:
whiskybase – 87/62  wb9902
mm – 87/6
serge - 88

Ardbeg 10yo ‘Ten’ (46%, OB, L8, old label, 2008) Colour: white wine. Nose: we’re extremely close to the ‘2006’. The fruitiness is a tad less obvious whilst the coastal notes are a little bigger. In short, it’s a tad more kippery (copyright Hamish Proctor/Dave Broom) and maybe also a little more medicinal (antiseptic) and earthy. In that sense a little closer to older Ardbegs. Mouth: a bigger sweetness, with something slightly rummy and candied but also a little more oomph than in the 2006. Also bites a little more, which is what we’re expecting, right? Finish: a little longer and a little hotter, with more medicinal notes once again. Strong cough drops (Halls). Comments: it’s a bigger version of the Ten globally, truer to its ‘positioning’ if I may say so. SGP:448 - 88 points.

Asta Morris  cask AM007 Ex-bourbon – distilled 1998 14y – 47.8% - bottle 42/345
wb – 88/18

Cask Collection 30 years old – 60,8% - distilled 13.08.1975 - bottled 15.05.2006
Bourbon cask No. 9419, one of 486 bottles  (which is pretty strange with a bourbon cask, 30y old and at this strength)

wb – 88/4
mm - 87/3
sv - 86

a 15y – 40% GM  rare old highland malt, old 75cl bottle

wb - 87/8
mm - 81/2

Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask  single cask bottling – distilled 1988  12y  bottled december 2000 – 50%
this bottle is one of 378 bottles filled from cask  (probably bourbon)

wb – 85/5
mm – -
sv – -

Moncreiffe 15y old dumpy bottle.
This is what they mean when they say old blends are most of the time better than the new single malts.
75cl - 43%

wb - 84/8

Ledaig 1997  G&M Reserve, exclusively bottled for Van Wees
single cask 464, refill sherry hogshead, distilled 23/10/1997 - bottled august 2013 - 59,3%

wb - 84/3

Benromach LMD, single cask 724, limited edition of 241 bottles, distilled 2000 - bottled 2007 – 60,4%
scores:
whiskybase – 86/2
malt maniacs – 84/12
serge valentin - 84

my own tasting notes:
you can surprise anyone with this, it is heavily peated and can compete with a young Islay whisky

limited edition of 174, distilled 1990 - bottled Sept. 2006 - 16y – 58,5%
from a bourbon barrel

scores:
whiskybase – 80/2
malt maniacs – 81/3
serge valentin - no score

PC5 – 63,5%
distilled 2001, bottled 2006
One of 6.038 bottles

scores:
whiskybase – 86/49
malt maniacs – 85/15
serge v - 86
jim murray - 95 (yes indeed)

PC6 – 61,6%
distilled 2001, bottled 2007
One of 18.000 bottles

scores:
whiskybase – 86/81
malt maniacs – 86/19
serge v - 88
jim murray - 96,5 (yes, crazy indeed)

14y – 46%  75cl, bottled 2006 (L6289MC00)

scores:
whiskybase – 84/9
malt maniacs – 83
serge valentin - no score

Glenmorangie Traditional 100 proof - 10y – 57,2%

scores:
whiskybase – 85/50  wb783
malt maniacs – 82/10
serge valentin - 84

Please note this is a 2cl sample

MacPhail's - 30y – 43% - 75cl
full sherry

scores:
whiskybase – 88/28
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

no details on this one about distillation/cask/etc - 17y – 54,2%
http://www.whiskybase.com/whisky/22281/rosebank-1989-ca

scores:
whiskybase – 85/3
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Battlehill from Duncan Taylor - 8y – 43%

scores:
whiskybase – 81/7
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

if you would like to smell baby vomit in a whisky, this is your chance

Cadenhead's World Whiskies
Bottled May 2007 - 15y – bourbon barrel  222 bottles  70cl - 58,6%

scores:
whiskybase – 86/3
malt maniacs – 85/1
serge valentin - no score

jim murray - 94

GM Reserve  single cask for LMDW – distilled 1994  bottled 2006 – 46%
this bottle is one of 890 bottles filled from cask 7937 (probably sherry butt)

scores:
whiskybase – 85-5  wb46768
mm – no
sv – no
 

Glenfarclas 105 proof - old edition
stripe label (between 2004 - 2008) - 60%

This is BIG sherry

scores
whiskybase – 88/9
malt maniacs - ??
whiskyfun / serge - 88

Glenfarclas 105 (60%, OB, 2004) New livery! Colour: full amber. Nose: very different, for it starts on soy sauce, cooked meat (game) and black toffee. It’s not that it’s any more complex, but it surely is more special. Lots of sweet’n’sour notes (Chinese cooking). Develops on tropical fruits (guava). Really a great whisky, not too far from the stupendous and long discontinued old Macallan 100 proof. It seems to have become to Speyside what the Laphroaig 10 yo C/S is to Islay. Gets quite winey after a few minutes. Mouth: wow, again, it’s much better than the older version. Less spirity, more balanced… Always some caramel and dried orange, but with more depth, and more fruits (apricot, quince, mirabelle…) and much more sherry, it seems. The finish is long but less burning and more balanced. A great whisky – no wonder many aficionados do pour a few centilitres of this one in any so-so new bottle of whisky to improve it dramatically. Yes, try that, it works! Anyway, 88 points for this Bang-for-your-buck whisky.

distillers edition – distilled 1990  bottled 2004 – 43%

scores:
whiskybase – 81/3
mm – 81/1
sv – no

Archive pure malt – 43%
Old green bottle and label - bottled in the 90's
whiskybase: 11212

scores:
whiskybase – 84/33
mm – no
sv – no

older edition OB - 15y – 46%
nice sherried whisky

scores:
whiskybase – 85/18  wb14819
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

OB - 17y – 43%
nice sherried whisky

scores:
whiskybase – 86/13  wb37943
malt maniacs – 88/3
serge valentin - no score

limited edition of 210, distilled 1989 - bottled Febr. 2006 - 16y – 51,6%
from a bourbon barrel

scores:
whiskybase – no score
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

limited edition - bottled 2006 - 40%

scores:
whiskybase – 90/5
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

limited edition of 276, distilled 1992 - bottled May 2006 - 14y – 56,3%
from a bourbon hogshead

scores:
whiskybase – no score
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

bottled in the 1950's  - 25cl - 44%
Italian import, wired spring cap
check out a full bottle at: http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-14581.aspx

scores:
whiskybase – no score
malt maniacs – 83/2
serge valentin - 85

limited edition of 219 bottles, distilled 06.09.1999 - bottled 14.10.2010 - 11y – 60,9%
from a bourbon barrel

scores:
whiskybase – 89/10
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Ledaig  distilled oct. 1990 - bottled apr.2006 - matured in a refill sherry casks - 43%
GM CC new label

scores:
whiskybase: 82/5
maltmaniacs: no score
serge valentin / whiskyfun: no score

Port Ellen Spirit of Scotland, distilled 1982 - bottled 2006 – 40%
Italian import  Meregalli Monza

This is vintage 1982, bottled in 2006, so 23 or 24 years old.
According to the man we bought this from, this should be very good as it comes from Gordon & MacPhail.

scores:
whiskybase – no score
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Bunnahabhain  distilled 01/12/1997 - bottled 04/04/2007 - matured in a refill sherry butt no. 5277 - 59.1%
Signatory cask strength collection, natural colour

scores:
whiskybase: 86/10
maltmaniacs: no score
serge valentin / whiskyfun: no score

Glendronach single cask 5552, oloroso sherry butt – one of 638 – 56,6%
This is a NL-exclusive edition for The Old Pipe st.Oedenrode
Distilled: 16/09/2003 - Bottled 02/2015

scores:
whiskybase – 87/78
serge - no score
malt maniacs - no score

limited edition of 678, distilled 1989 - bottled May 2005 - 16y – 59,8%
from a sherry

scores:
whiskybase – 84/5
malt maniacs – 83/1
serge valentin - no score

limited edition (but very little information on the label) - 18y – 54,2%

scores:
whiskybase – 85/5
malt maniacs – 85/2
serge valentin - no score

Redbreast single pot still Irish - 21y
bottled 2016 (bottle code L613031109) - 46%

triple distilled pot still from Midleton distillery

scores:
whiskybase – 89/22
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - 89 (see below)
Jim Murray whisky of the year 2017

personal score: 89-90  very nice Irish, lots and lots of fruit.

Redbreast 21 yo (46%, OB, -/+ 2016) 
A bottling I usually adore on the occasions I’ve tried it in the past, although this is the first time I’ve written proper notes. Colour: gold. Nose: golden syrup drizzled over passion fruit with ripe pineapple, melon, caramelised brown sugar and some sultanas stewed in old calvados. Simple and totally beautiful with these rather luscious and precise fruits. A touch of white pepper as well. Mouth: preserved lemons, lime oil, more brown sugar, fruit syrups, oatmeal flapjack and a little flinty minerality. Some green tea, hessian and then moving more towards white fruits such as lychee. Finish: Long, slightly earthy with a more nervous, citrus led fruitiness. Lots of lemon peel, olive oil, a touch of soot and some barley water. Comments: It’s really one of the benchmark Irish whiskeys in my book. Beautiful fruitiness. 
SGP: 641 - 89 points.

Yamazaki 10y OB  70 cl – 40%
Suntory limited

scores:
whiskybase – 82/147
malt maniacs – 79/2
serge v - no score
 

Kavalan sherry - 46%
A young but very good sherried whisky.  Bottled 09.05.2013

scores:
whiskybase: 87/24
maltmaniacs: 90/4
serge valentin / whiskyfun: no score

limited edition of 264, distilled 1987 - bottled Sept. 2006 - 19y – 59,5%
from a bourbon hogshead

scores:
whiskybase – 84/8
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

House of Scotland - Over 12 Years  75cl - 43%
Italian import bottle with whisky from Campbeltown - believed to be Springbank.

If you would like to smell grapefruit in your whisky: this is it.

Bunnahabhain  distilled 11/12/1997 - bottled 10/07/2014 - matured in a hogshead no. 5787 - 51.9%
The Utlimate cask strength, natural colour   Peated Bunnahabhain
 
scores:
whiskybase: 86/10
maltmaniacs: no score
serge valentin / whiskyfun: no score

Dailuaine DL OMC - distilled dec.1971 - bottled apr.2007
refill hogshead, single cask DL 3519 – 45,6% cask strength
one of 152 bottles

scores:
whiskybase – no score
malt maniacs - no score
serge valentin - no score

our own rating - no points yet

Royal Brackla Cadenhead Chairman's Stock - distilled 1976 - bottled 11.2006 - 30y – 53,6%
sherry hogshead, one of 126 bottles

scores:
whiskybase – 89/17  wb5326
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

the first edition of the Bruichladdich 10y old  The Laddie Ten - bottled 2011 - 10y – 46%
unpeated  'the first 10 years are the toughest' 

scores:
whiskybase – 85/475
malt maniacs – 85/5
serge valentin - 88

GM cask strength, distilled 2001 - 1st fill bourbon barrel – 57,7%
distilled 16/10/2001 - bottled 13/09/2012  single cask 2998 1st fill bourbon barrel

scores:
whiskybase – 86/40
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

limited edition of 590, distilled 1990 - 17y – 59,7%
distilled 1990, bottled 2007  from sherry cask 7327

scores:
whiskybase – 87/15
malt maniacs – 86/3
serge valentin - 86

OB 15y – 46%
tasted at the distillery with the complete range (10/12/14/21/sherry) and this is the best one of them all.

scores:
whiskybase – 83/67
malt maniacs – 85/7
serge valentin - 87

limited edition of 182, distilled 1998 - 56,2%
distilled 1998, bottled 2014  finished in a port cask MoS 14051
port cask named 'little piggy' because it was an amazing ugly cask

scores:
whiskybase – 88/29
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Glencadam distilled oct. 1990 - bottled july 2010 - matured in a 1st fill bourbon barrels - 43%
GM CC new label

scores:
whiskybase: 85/3
maltmaniacs: no score
serge valentin / whiskyfun: no score

Tamdhu single cask – distilled 2008 - bottled okt. 2015 - 63,4%
handbottled at The Whisky Experience from A.D.Rattray, this whisky is from a refill sherry cask

scores:
wb – no score
mm – no score
sv - no score

Port Charlotte Valinch - cask exploration 05 Bogha-Drochaide - distilled 07.10.2004 - bottled 21.10.2015
handfilled at Bruichladdich distillery   single cask 1064 - 10y - oloroso sherry  63,2%  

scores:
whiskybase – 90/17  wb71256
malt maniacs - no score
serge valentin - no score

our own humble opinion: 89/90  great sherried Port Charlotte, not as heavily peated as i expected but typical PC

Bruichladdich Scott's selection
distilled 1986 - bottled 1998  70cl - 55,3%  natural cask strength

scores:
whiskybase – 87/3
malt maniacs - no score
serge valentin - no score
 

Lagavulin Distillers Edition 1980 - lgv.4/464 - 43%

This is the second edition (after the master edition 1979), stil very good

scores:
whiskybase: 88/14
malt-maniacs: no score
whiskyfun: 81

please note this is a 2cl sample.

Aberlour 100 proof
57.1%vol  from a 33.3cl bottle with a picture of St.Drostan's well

 

limited edition, bottled 1994 - 40%
John Jameson & Son's supreme selection from the Midleton distillery
aged to perfection and bottled in the year 1994

scores:
whiskybase – 87/2
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

personal score: 87  very nice to taste this one head to head with the 2006, the latter has more power but this is more refined.

Old Comber - 30 old - 40%

This is probably over 35 years old as the Comber distillery produced until 1952 and this was bottled in the late 80's.
Very rare Irish whiskey from a long gone distillery.

scores:
whiskybase – 88.5/8
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

personal score: 89  very nice to taste an Irish whiskey like this, very different from the Irish whiskey nowedays.

Kavalan Solist 2008 - S081224001  57,8%vol 
distilled: 24.12.2008  bottled: 24.10.2017  8 years old and what a sherry monster

scores:
whiskybase: 88/11

my own humble opinion: 87-90 points. 
Open bottle is getting better and better, the whisky started a bit closed, but with some air it really changed into a sherry monster Glendronach style.

Glen Garioch "The Birds"  Moon Import - distilled 1975 - bottled 1990
Barrel 5910 – 46%
No 211 of 600 bottles from barrel 5910 (probably a sherry butt)

scores:
whiskybase – 91/8
malt maniacs - 86/1
serge valentin - no score

our own rating - 92 points

Highland Park  GM Cask  - natural cask strength
distilled 1/12/83 - bottled July 1992   cask 1556 - 59,7%

scores
whiskybase – 88/15
malt maniacs - 89/2
serge valentin - 89

our own score: 89, not very complex but for an 8 year old: whooooooohooow.

Caol Ila  GM Cask  - natural cask strength
distilled 11/12/84 - bottled March 2000   cask 6081-6084 - 59,1%

scores
whiskybase – 88/15
malt maniacs - 84/1
serge valentin - no score

our own score: 89, solid 1984 Caol Ila at cask strength, you can't go wrong.

Littlemill Cadenhead Authentic Collection - distilled 1989 - bottled 07.1999 - 10y – 63,8%
bourbon hogshead, one of 312 bottles

If you want to know how young cask strength Littlemill tasted, this is your chance.

scores:
whiskybase – 89/3
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Linkwood - distilled 31/5/1988 - bottled 11.1997 - 9y – ??%
from a single cask nr. 2765, bottled for the Usquebach Society The Netherlands

scores:
whiskybase – 87/5
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Caperdonich GM Reserve
limited edition of 148 bottles, distilled 05.11.1982 - bottled 19.04.2005 - 22y – 55,2%
from a single cask 15180

scores:
whiskybase – 87/7
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Caol Ila 25y OB - 43%  - 2013 release  (L3329MC00)

scores:
whiskybase – 88/338
malt maniacs – 88/3
serge valentin - 88

Tomatin "The Animals"  Moon Import - distilled 1965 - bottled 1989
Hogshead 124-125-126 – 46%
No 499 of 600 bottles from 3 hogsheads

History in the glass.

scores:
whiskybase – 90/13
malt maniacs - 80/3
serge valentin - no score
 

Benromach distillery exclusive, first fill sherry hogshead nr. 40
distilled 2011 - bottled 2019 - 59,1% - one of 299 bottles

The back label states: sweet sherry aromas with hints of milk chocolate.
a creamy edge with orange marmalade, stewed fruits & spice followed by a lingering smoke.

Our own opinion, 88-90 points.  For such a young whisky it is really good, i love the sherry / gentle peat combination.
After tasting a young 1974 Ardbeg at 59% from Samaroli, tasting this reminded me very much of that whisky.

scores
whiskybase – 87/2
malt maniacs - no score
serge valentin - no score

Limited edition of 120 bottles – 52,8% - 16y – Feinkost Reifferscheid
distilled 24.1.1997 - bottled 2.4.2013  from sherry hogshead no.55

scores:
whiskybase – 87/11
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score
 

Macallan - The exclusive malts by The Creative Whisky Company Ltd.
Limited edition of 474 bottles – 50,6% - 18y
distilled 30 September 1989 - Cask 17889, finished in a madeira hogshead

scores:
whiskybase – 88/5
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Personal score: 88 points, pretty cool Macallan if you ask me.

Glen Moray Mountain Oak Malt - distillery manager's choice
Limited edition of 800 bottles – 60,5% - 12y
distilled 15/03/1991 - bottled 3/12/2003
This unique limited edition marries together, for the first time, single malt whisky matured in toasted and charred, first-fill, mountain oak casks from North America.
Selected by Ed Dodson who in October 2003 celebrated 40 years in distilling.

scores:
whiskybase – 89/6
malt maniacs – no score
serge valentin - no score

Personal score: 89-90 points, full matured bourbon whiskey like Blanton's is what comes to mind when tasting this.

This is your change to try 2 Longrow that were distilled on the same day and bottled on the same day, but both from a different cask  (first fill sherry and first fill bourbon).

Longrow duty paid sample   date 4.12.2006 9y - bottled 22.02.2017
first fill sherry hogshead  - 59,3%
first fill bourbon barrel - 58,1%

The bourbon won when we tasted this with our whisky club.
 

3 x Caroni  (3 x 2cl)
12y - 50%  (distilled 2000 - the last vintage of Caroni - bottled 2012)
15y - 52%  (distilled 1998 - bottled 2013  extra strong)
17y - 55%  (distilled 1998 - bottled 2015  extra strong)
All Velier bottles by Luca Gargano

scores
whiskybase – no score
malt maniacs - no score
serge valentin - 12y/88p  15y/85p  17y/90p

Springbank 21y single cask NL 2016 edition - bottled 16.06.2016
from an oloroso sherry hogshead – 48%
number of bottles: 336

scores:
whiskybase – 91/51  ID: WB8474
malt maniacs - no score
serge valentin - no score
 

Glenlossie Signatory un-chillfiltered collection - distilled 16.11.1992 - bottled 04.03.2011
cask 3326 + 3327 – 46%
number of bottles: 727

scores:
whiskybase – 85/14
malt maniacs - no score
serge valentin - no score

Please note this is a 2cl sample.

Longmorn  distilled 1957 - 25y - 40% - 75cl
GM CC old brown label
Italian import bottle - Mario Rossi jr. Veneta Treviso import

scores:
whiskybase: 92/4
maltmaniacs: no score
serge valentin / whiskyfun: no score

Please note this is a 2 cl samples (iso the standard 6cl we sell)

Brora DL OMC, distilled June 1982 - bottled October 2004 – 22y 50%
from a single sherry cask DL313 - one of 644 bottles

scores:
whiskybase – 87/16
malt maniacs – 83/3
serge valentin - 84

this ain't the typical farmyard/grassy/peated Brora, but a Brora that is a bit overpowered by the sherry. Still very interesting, slight peat, very tasty  88-89 points. 

please note this is a 2cl sample

Port Ellen DL OMC, distilled Sept. 1982 - bottled Oct. 2001 – 19y 56%
from a single sherry cask - one of 390 bottles

This is bottled at cask strength 56% instead of the prevered 50% strength.

scores:
whiskybase – 91/45
malt maniacs – 92/3
serge valentin - 90

Whiskyfun: Port Ellen 19 yo 1982/2001 (56%, Douglas Laing for Alambic Classique, 390 bottles)  Colour: amber. Nose: much more ‘direct’ than the 1969, less complex it seems, and much more marked by sherry. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate, then black pepper, oxtail, beef bouillon, parsley, lovage, dried meat (pemmican)… And more pepper. Also quite some gunpowder but no sulphur that I can get – as such. Very dry in any case. With water: now we get leather, tallow, game, ‘exhaust pipe’ and even Parma ham. Less sherry as such but more ‘wildness’. We like it much better now. Mouth (neat): very big and unusually fruity, contrarily to what happened on the nose. Blackcurrants. A little rubber but that gives the whole kind of an extra-kick. Peat and pepper only arrive at the middle. Grape skin. With water: excellent, more phenolic now, peaty, with notes of chewing tobacco and a little salt. Finish: rather long, coherent. Comments: and excellent swimmer that will really benefit from a few drops of water. SGP:567 – 90 points.

Great Port Ellen if you ask me, perfect combination of great peated spirit and a sherry cask. 92-93 points

PC7 – 61% - 7 years old
distilled 2001, bottled 2008
One of 24.000 bottles

scores:
whiskybase – 88/225
malt maniacs – 86/9
serge v - 89
jim murray - 96,5 (yes, crazy indeed)

 

Port Charlotte 2001/2008 ‘PC7’ (61%, OB, American oak, 24,000 bottles) PC5 was youthful and fruity (86) and PC6 was bigger and fuller but also just a tad winey on the nose as it spent some time in Madeira casks (88). Greatest of news, PC7 is ‘more traditionnal’, that is to say partly bourbon and partly sherry matured (thanks Arild). Colour: gold. Nose: much more spirity than the Laddie of course, thanks to the very high alcohol. We do get coffee (as often in high-strength whiskies), pears and smoke but that’s pretty all. Nothing unusual, let’s add water… With water: now we’re talking! Extremely organic, all estery notes having vanished, with a big smokiness and big both farmy and coastal notes (from wet dogs to clams – excuse us dogs and clams). Also quite some freshly ground black pepper, walnuts and just hints of car dashboard polish. Mouth (neat): strong, very strong. Fructose, salt and apple peeling but that’s all. With water: the peat and the smokiness are very big now, almost a bit acrid. The whole is much less fruity than PC5 and 6 but also better integrated, with also more salt and just hints of butter pears. Finish: very long, peaty, liquoricy and a tad gingery. Comments: it is extremely clean and rather fat at the same time. It’s probably a little less exuberant than PC6 but also ‘sleeker’ in a certain way. Which we appreciate mucho! SGP:247 - 89 points.

PC8 – 60,5% - 8 years old
distilled 2001, bottled 2009
One of 30.000 bottles

scores:
whiskybase – 88/315
malt maniacs – 86/13
serge v - 89

 

Port Charlotte 2001/2009 ‘PC8’ (60.5%, OB) Matured in American oak. The Port Charlottes are getting better and better in my opinion (PC5: 86, PC6: 88, PC7: 89). Will the new PC8 fetch 90 points in my little system? Colour: gold. Nose: it’s not the peat that hits you first, but rather a combination of linseed oil, paraffin and walnut skin that smells very old skool. I need to mention that I’m a sucker for these kinds of profiles. Develops more on liquorice, damp earth, moss, peated barley (or a kiln) and apple peeling.

With water: a little water doesn’t quite change it, let’s try to add a lot, down to +/-40%. It got more organic, with notes of wet wool, our dear wet dogs (I’ll never tell you enough how sorry I am, dogs), but also hints of diesel oil and hessian. Mouth: bang, this one really hits you behind your eyes, not unlike some young Port Ellens at high strength. Ash, tar, crystallised lemons and a little fructose or icing sugar. With water: some modern-style oak (vanilla/ginger) but also a little mint, marzipan and typical notes of white pepper from the oak. Finish: very long, on peat, tar and ginger. Unexpected medicinal notes in the aftertaste, iodine, cough syrup. Comments: top notch dram. Still a wee bit youngish but really getting there, I guess changes are slowing down now, one more year may make proportionally less differences than when the whisky was younger. But it should be a total winner once it’s getting ‘old’. SGP:247 - 89 points.

PC9 – 59,2% - no age
this one does not state when it was distilled or bottled.
One of 6.000 bottles

scores:
whiskybase – 88/315
malt maniacs – 88/3
serge v - no score

PC An Turas Mor – 46% - no age
bottled 2010 (04 nov. 10)

scores:
whiskybase – 84/326
malt maniacs – 86/7
serge v - 89

Port Charlotte 'An Turas Mor' (46%, OB, 2010)  This one is a multi-vintage version (from 5 to 8 years old, which means 5 years old I guess) and it’s been unfinished. I’d bet unfinished will soon be the new unchilfilttered or uncaramelised in Scotland. The Scots are always extremely good at selling something they do not do, aren’t they, and we punter are ready to pay more for that. Enough ramblings. Colour: straw. Nose: Port Charlotte in its naked truth, and believe me it’s an entrancing truth. We’re far from many attempts at making peated malt at distilleries that usually don’t do peat (not specifically accusing anybody here of course, and of course not Arran), or maybe is it because Bruichladdich used to be peated in the old days? This is beautifully clean and superbly mineral, with some paraffin (nice paraffin, not the paraffin that can suggest a flaw), graphite, coal, linseed oil, even motor oil, wet rocks, a little raw wool, earth, then a little fresh mint and dill… gets then sootier, in a perfect manner. A very mineral Riesling-malt, which I just cannot not love. Water: pass. Mouth: probably a little less zingy than in the nose, and certainly fruitier, with even unexpected notes of rum (rather white). Other than that it’s rather more medicinal than expected, slightly camphory, briny, liquoricy, getting ashier and sootier again after a while. Some liquorice wood as well. Maybe wee tad less distinctive than on the nose but it’s still rather perfect. Finish: it’s long, clean, warming, rather more herbal and minty. An earthy rootiness in the aftertaste. Comments: not just peat, Port Charlotte. I’m sure you see what I mean. This with two or three more years will make it above 90 in my book, sure bet (as I’m sure any 9 or 10yo 2001 would). SGP:357 - 89 points.

Aberlour a'bunadh batch 30 - 59,8% - bottled 2010.
whiskybase: 15930

scores
whiskybase – 88/77
malt maniacs - 87/13
serge valentin - 88

Amrut intermediate sherry - 57,1% - bottled 2010 (bottle code L10 264).

scores
whiskybase – 86/353
malt maniacs - 86/10
serge valentin - 91

notes from whiskyfun:

Amrut 'Intermediate Sherry Matured' (57.1%, OB, 2010)  This one was first matured in bourbon and new oak, then in sherry, then in bourbon again. Interesting, especially the way the distillery ‘treated’ the sherry casks.They ordered casks from Spain but instead of letting the suppliers burn sulphur into them – which I believe is the normal procedure – they shipped cases of Amrut CS to Spain and asked the Spaniards to fill each butt with some whisky and then roll them, so that the distillate would protect the wood from bacteria and mould during transportation from Jerez to Madras and then Bangalore.

What’s funny is that with my friend and winemaker Olivier, who does it with some of his own wine casks, we had already told several Scots that they should do that with their own spirits, so that they could avoid the dreadful sulphury notes. Not sure they ever followed our advices, as it’s a very expensive method! But let’s try the result now… Colour: deep gold. Nose: it’s sherried but not that much. Notes of cherries, raspberry, kirsch, a little orange liqueur, rosehip tea... Maybe old roses as well. All that is very clean, fragrant... Notes of raspberry ganache. With water: more spices from the wood, ginger and lemon balm. The oak was quite active here. Mouth (neat): rich and creamy, very appealing, sweet, more aromatic than the “average” sherried malt. Notes of Turkish delights, rose water, orange marmalade... Very pleasant spiciness (star anise, cinnamon). Again, it's very clean, almost a little zesty. With water: very nice citrusy notes and many spices. Most unusual but perfect. Liquorice, pepper, ginger and marmalade. Finish: long, on the same notes, with a faint saltiness and maybe a little peat. Comments: this new style is impressively to my liking. Perfect first fill sherry without any cloying elements, and no single traces of burnt matches/rubber whatsoever. SGP:553 - 91 points.