Scotch
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Glendronach, Ode to the ValleyThe Master’s Anthology bottling seriesSherry and port casks46.2% Nose: Pretty nice. Fruity, but a bit dark and musty kind of like old, dry tobacco. Obvious sherry/port influence. Caramel. Palate: A little spicy, but obviously watered down. Not truly lacking, but also wanting in mouthfeel. Sheen of fruits – plums, raisins, touch…
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Bruichladdich 12 Year (2009), Rest & Be ThankfulWine Cask #304458.9% Nose: Nutty vanilla, chocolate, coffee, and molasses. There’s a (dark, eg cherry) fruit note that reminds me of a drier, slightly bitter madeira. A touch of Laddie if you’re looking for it. Palate: Somewhat full, juicy, but not quite big. A touch of heat. It’s…
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Bruichladdich 18 Year (2004), Re/DefineBourbon, Sauternes, and Port casks50% Nose: Quite lemon-sweet over glazed, doughy notes. Slightly astringent. Faint orange creamsicle. Palate: Peppery and malty, lemon, cream. Honeysuckle. Finish: A puff of char as the palate transitions. That astringent note tickles around in the palate but really builds in the finish. Mildly dank. Score: 3.5/5Mental…
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Glenburgie 9 Year (2014), SMWS 71.108“European Vacation” (aka “Orange Blossoms and Pink Peppercorns”)1st fill bourbon cask producing 180 bottles61.7% Nose: Hot and zesty, but sweet. Creamy lemon, limoncello. Sugar cookies, frosting. A bit of vanilla. Took a while for the notes in the nose to come out and become interesting. Much more impressed with the…
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Dailuaine 14 Year (2011), Creetown DistillersCreetown Distillers, bottled by Whisky Broker.Calvados barrique finish, cask # 304725, total of 305 bottles. Nose: Candied green apples. Sawdust. Palate: Sweet, malty. Just a touch of the apple. A rather pleasant pepperiness. A touch of almond extract. Mouthfeel builds a bit, but is overall too thin. Finish: More of…
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Lochranza (Arran) 10 Year (2014), Creetown DistillersBottled for Whisky Broker, 234 bottles1st fill bourbon cask58.1% Nose: Lemony. Vanilla. Something kind of sweet and chalky, flinstone vitamin-esque. Faint hint of sour body odor. Herbal. Palate: Odd. Hot burst. Weirdly sweet and dingy. Dried herbs. More flinstone vitamins. Pineapple syrup. Typical bourbon cask notes. Banana. Finish: A…
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Strathmill 12 Year (2012), SMWS 100.45“On the side of equilibrium”1st fill shiraz hogshead58.6% abv Nose: Feisty and bold. Heat, peat (!?), and rich fruit reduction. Old leather. A little bit of clove. After water, a touch of popcorn. I think I get some coffee. Palate: Also quite feisty and bold. The alcohol is not tame.…
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Compass Box Metropolis, The Extinct Blends QuartetBlend of Bowmore (refill bourbon cask), Aberlour (bourbon), Miltonduff (1st fill bourbon), some unnamed blended scotch parcels (bourbon and sherry casks), and an unnamed grain parcel (refill bourbon).49% abv Supposedly a throwback to blends of yesteryear, with Compass Box hinting at some old blended stock making its way into…
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Ardbeg Smokiverse48.3% Nose: Yum. Very maritime. So smooth and rounded. Grilled white peach, dying coals, burnt sugar, rosemary salt. Peat builds on sourdough. Limoncello. Palate: A touch hot. Creamy peat. Sweet with just a touch of sour, hyper-ripe stone fruit with a drizzle of lemon. Clove. Perhaps some sauternes. Salty, minerality. Finish: Herby bitterness. Sweet,…
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Laphraoig Càirdeas Lore Cask Strength59.6% abv Nose: Delicately sweet. Peaty, somewhat of an acrid cleaner underlying it. Smells like it’s going to be peppery. A little musty. Palate: Wow, yep that’s hot. Zinger. Subtly bitter and sour. Salty. Old cough syrup. Sourdough crackers. Fairly good mouthfeel, juicy and gives your mouth a bit of a…