Skip to main content

Featured

[Tasting] What the Cask?

Natural Cask Strength This tasting only contains whiskies at cask strength.  Cask strength can also been known as barrel strength describes whisky that has not be diluted after maturing in a cask. Typical ABV for cask strength is 52-66%. Trying it as is out of the cask, and add H2O to experiment.  Mac-Talla Mara Bottler :             Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers Region:             Islay Cask:                     American Oak ABV:                        58.2 A natural cask strength at 58.2% without chill filtration. Mac-Talla in Gaelic means "echo", and this expression is named after the sound of the shores of Islay. The wild fiery sea and the unforgiving land. Bold, brave, powerful and smoky.  *Morrison Distillers used to own Bowmore until it was sold to Suntory in 1994. Nose:...
Read more

[Tasting] Underrated.


A list of lesser known whiskies that I have come across for this tasting. From Douglas Laing's Speyside blend to the newest distillery on Islay.  

Color order of tasting - Red, Blue, yellow, Green, Clear.

Scallywag 
Bottler :            Douglas Laing & Co. (1948)
Region:            Speyside
Cask:                 Spanish Sherry butts, Bourbon cask
Blend:               Mortlach, Macallan, Glenrothes 
ABV:                  46


Nose: Sweet and grainy on the nose, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of woody spice.
Palate: Soft, with some spice on the front of the tongue and developing richness.
Finish:  Apples, apple skin, spice and pastries.

Douglas Laing & Company, a private blending and bottling company split from Hunter Laing. Currently the company's leading brands are: Big Peat, Scallywag, Director's Cut, Old Particular, Premier Barrel, and Provenance, McGibbons, King of Scots, and The Epicurean. 


Tamdhu Batch Strength 
Distillery:    Tamdhu (1898)
Region:       Speyside
Location:    Knockando, Moray Speyside
Cask:           Oloroso Sherry Cask Jerez Batch 5
ABV:            59.8

Provided Highland Park's unseated malt, mostly provided belnds for The Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark, Dunhill. Edrington mothballed Tamdhu in 2010. Purchased in 2012 by Ian MacLeod, owner of Glengoyne. 

Tamdhu is a fragrant honey-apple character, sherries but aromatic, weighty yet subtle. replicating what whisky was like in 1897.

Nose: Blackberry, dark chocolate and nutty. Leather books, some spice from clove and cinnamon throughout.

Palate: Wintery spice initially, some liquorice, oaky dept, cracked black pepper, leathery and chocolate ice cream.

Finish: Graciously long and slightly dry, with apple skins, lime, chocolate fudge and fizzy cola bottles.

Tamdhu distillery mothballed a few times during its century of existence. The latest reincarnation in 2010 by Ian Macleod & Co. brought the Tamdhu 10YO expression back in 2013. 



Glengoyne 10
Distillery:    Glengoyne (1833)
Location:    Killearn, Glasgow 
Region:       Highland 
Cask:            European Oak Sherry 1st Fill, American Oak 1st Fill, Oak Refill cask
ABV:             43

Nose: Pale gold, light sherry notes
Palate: Light and crisp and quite dry before the sweetness comes through
Finish: Tight and drying becoming spicy

Glengoyne is situated on the border of Highland, with its distillery in Highland and warehouse in Lowland. Until 1970s it was classified as a Lowland malt. The name 'Glengoyne' derives from 'Glen Guin' meaning 'the glen of the wild geese'.



Te Bheag
Distillery:     Pràban na Linne (1987) 
Location:     Isle of Skye 
Region:        The Islands (Sub-region of Highland)
Whisky:        Blend
ABV:              40

Independent Gaelic whisky company  company
Not chilled filtered, Lightly plated and sherried style on a budget.

Nose: The aroma amalgamates coastal elements with peat and sherry in a Highland style.
Palate: Coffee and salty with lingering sweet caramel.
Finish: The finish is hot and spicy and clings on for some time.



Kilchoman Machir Bay 
Distillery:   Kilchoman (2005)
Location:   Bruichladdich
Region:      Islay 
Whisky:     Single Malt
Cask:          Ex-Bourbon and Sherry 
ABV:           46

Nose: Intense smoke, zesty, ocean feel give floral hints, juicy peaches, and wafts of rich spices
Palate: Tropical fruit, warming smoke and honey, malt, butterscotch and rich
Finish: Sherry, cracked black pepper and sea salt. Peat smoke

Kilchoman's core mantra to whisky is "Taking whisky back to its roots". The entire whisky they produce is done on site from growing barley, to bottling the whisky which makes it unique.

Popular Posts