Signatory (distilled at Bunnahabhain), cask #5279, 1997 vintage, 9 year old, 59.9%, $45
The owners of Bunnahabhain are making a peated version of this normally unpeated Islay whisky to put in their peated blend, Black Bottle. But they have not yet put out, as a regular item, a peated expression of Bunnahabhain single malt for purchase. […]
Glenmorangie Lasanta, 46%, $65
Finished in sherry casks. The sherry adds a nutty toffee sweetness, bramble, and other assorted red fruit and raisin, with the tell-tale Glenmorangie complexity tucked underneath. A bit heavy on the sherry, too, for such a subtle spirit. This is the only whisky from the new like of Glenmorangie that I’m not very […]
Benromach Organic, 43%, $75
Huge oak impact for such a young whisky. Fresh oak shavings, dry vanilla, and subtle toasted coconut throughout. Some dried fruit, sultana and toffee too up front, but this is quickly consumed by the oak. Dry, hot, resinous finish. Not an old whisky, but already showing too much oak.
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine […]
Several of you have asked me about this whisky in the past week, so I thought I would post it up now given that it will not appear in Malt Advocate until the 3rd Quarter issue later this year.
Murray McDavid “Mission” (distilled at Glenglassaugh), 1986 vintage, 20 year old, 55.3%, $175
The ruby/antique amber color suggests […]
I got the samples on Friday, tasted them yesterday and wrote up the notes. My review of each is below.
I am seeing a pattern here with these younger vs. older whiskeys in Experimental Collection series. The younger expressions have generally been pretty good, while most of the older ones have been ages too long.
Buffalo Trace […]
The Macallan Lalique Decanter, 55 year old, 40.1%, $12,000
Deep, thick nose, with sappy oak, dried citrus, old leather, spearmint and background leafy smoke. Nicely viscous on the palate, with similar notes as the aroma. But mid-palate the age gets the best of this whisky. The flavors flatten out and the wood dominates through the finish […]
Today I received a sample of the new Longrow 18 yr. old sent to me by the Springbank distillery. It’s the first 18 yr. old Longrow since the Legendary 1973 and 1974 vintages, which I love so much and still have in my possession. I wasted not time to open it up, taste it, and review it. […]
When I created Friday’s Picks & Pans, I included the “Pans” part for a reason. I don’t just want to tell you about the whiskies I like. I also want to let you know the whiskies that disappoint me.
So, for the entire month of March, every Friday I will do just that.
Eagle Rare, 17 year old, 45%, $55
While labeled as a 17 year old, it’s actually 19, distilled way back in 1988. Each year’s release of this whiskey just seems to get better and better. Some of the earlier vintages turned slightly oaky and dry for balance, (the 10 year old Single Barrel Eagle Rare whiskeys […]
Brora, 30 year old, 55.7%, $400
Astonishingly fresh and clean for 30 years in oak, and with incredible depth. Slight oily texture. Appetizing brine, with honeyed vanilla, mustard seed, green olive, Seville orange, and lemon zest. Underlying smoke, damp peat and seaweed. Put simply, Brora at its finest.
Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 95
