Blackadder Blairfindy (Glenfarclas) 40 Y.O. Raw Cask

Cereals, golden syrup, butter, heather, burnt caramel, pineapple, banana, kiwi, cantaloupe and honey-dew melons, char and subtle walnuts.

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Spirit of Scotland Ardbeg 1967

Molten brown sugar, pork rinds, bergamot, grapefruit, and blood oranges, red currants, butter, cashews, pepper, deep smoke.

Unimaginable balance.

 

Absolutely fabulous, I would pay untold sums of money for a bottle of this for my very own.

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Four Roses 100th Anniversary 17 Y.O. Single Barrel OBSV 57.3%

Warm brown sugar with peaches and cherries, a big body of black tea with oak and a clove spice finish leaving a dry palate and lingering black cherries.

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Longrow 10 Y.O. Tokai Finish

Absolutely foul at first nosing but developing notes of fried chicken (?) with a bright blueberry note ringing out, bright chewy mouthfeel with smoke, nectarines, rice, blood-orange marmalade, salt, and black currants.

This one gets a hearty thumbs down.

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Retasting Bruichladdich 30 Y.O. 1973

Big notes of lemon balm and heather honey, heady and delicious. Light, elegant palate showing the same bright, vibrant notes as the nose. Some orange marmelade, valencia orange zest, grapefruit pith, extremely complex citrus notes, in short. An ever present very heathery honey note. showing thyme, eventually some stronger sherry notes with green grapes and marigolds. The faintest hint of coal when you really search for it; searching also reveals cucumber, mint, and salt. This is really incredibly refreshing whisky.

 

Maybe the perfect summer dram, I don’t know anything about its price or availability but I would almost certainly buy a bottle given the opportunity.

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G&M Mortlach 50 Y.O. Distilled 10/20/1938 Bottled ’88

Nose starts on Keen’s farmhouse cheddar. period. That’s what it smells like. Slightly farmy, cheesey, a little heavy on the acetone, but only a little. It’s vegital, like pickled okra, some salt, heavy vegital-floral notes like being in the greenhouse of a flower farm. Really truly, it smells precisely like being in a really active greenhouse. Palate is big on fruity-floral notes. raspberry, blackberry, bramble, custard, a very simple orange note, black dirt, golden sugar, diethyl-ether, it’s really surprisingly fresh for its age, barely showing any tannins at all. A touch of mint, white chocolate fudge, and almonds.

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Ardbeg 17 (old distillery bottling)

epitomises sweet peat. A  vegital note, with a bunch of florals, with just a hint of smoke. Some very floral vanilla beans, super subtle citrus, really fabulous cereals, beautiful custard, and finishes on hickory.

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Scott’s Macallan 1974 Bottled in 2004 30 Y.O 49.2%

Initially a huge whiff of vinegar pickles that quickly fades leaving a briny undertone to a sweet, fruity and floral nose. A plump, nay, fat mouthfeel. Screams honey syrup and whispers slate. The nose is still on boozy eucalyptus but we’ll ride this one out rather than add water just yet. Lemon verbena and violets, aloe vera, big bourbon notes. subtle kumquats, some coarse cornmeal. Nose gets fruitier on red currants, rose, cherry, some green oak, a touch of tangerines, and more bourbon in the form of buttered popcorn.

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