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“Because you can't buy happiness... but you can buy whisky and that's pretty much the same thing”

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You can read here older articles posted in A Wardrobe of Whisky since 2009.
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Stories from September, 2011

Caperdonich 12 years old 1997 Provenance Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Caperdonich

“Very floral and sweet. Most interesting.”

90
Caperdonich 12 year 1997 Provenance Douglas Laing
This was distilled at the Caperdonich distillery in Speyside in the Spring of 1997 and matured for 12 years in a single refill hogshead (number 5569) before bottling by Douglas Laing for the Provenance range in the Autumn of 2009.

This dram has a white wine-like color.

Nose (89): strong. floral, honey, apricot, spices, citrus, a little smoke.

Palate (91): light, oily, powerful. floral, malt, honey, toffee, citrus, vanilla.

Finish (89): long. fruity, wood, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Caperdonich 12 year 1997 Provenance Douglas Laing with 90 points over 100.

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Brian Townsend's Scotch missed: Scotland's Lost Distilleries review

By Miguel in Books

Scotch Missed: Lost Distilleries of Scotland

Scotch missed is a most interesting book that after explaining the events that have been happening in the whisky industry for the last two centuries starts to write about each of the now closed and dismantled distilleries of Scotland.
For each distilleries, Townsend writes about its history, owners and how ( and usually why ) the distillery finished its days. It has many great black and white photos of the distilleries.
So if you are ever curious about Scotland lost history, this book comes in your rescue.

Buy Scotch Missed: Lost Distilleries of Scotland at Amazon.co.uk


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Talisker 57º North Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Talisker

“Slightly more spiced than other Talisker whiskies but it does work exactly as well. Good one”

90
Talisker 57º North
A new distillery-bottled cask strength Talisker, 57' North is deceptively smooth for a whisky at this strength, but still a muscular presence on the palate, with the pepper and chilli Talisker hallmarks very much in evidence.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. peat, honey, spices, flowers, vanilla.

Palate (90): smooth, powerful, oily. peat, sweet, spices, pepper, wood.

Finish (90): longer than average. peat, spices, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Talisker 57º North with 90 points over 100.

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Caol Ila 12 years old Alchemist Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Caol Ila

“A good peat whisky althought won't shake your ground.”

90
Caol Ila 12 year Alchemist
A 12 year old Islay malt from the Caol Ila distillery. This was bottled for the exceptional new Alchemist range.

This dram has a white wine-like color.

Nose (92): strong. peat, honey, seaweed, iodine, floral, citrus. A rather good peat nose.

Palate (90): oily, powerful. peat, wood, earthy, floral, honey.

Finish (89): longer than average. peat, floral, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Caol Ila 12 year Alchemist with 90 points over 100.

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Macallan 12 years old Sherry Oak Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , The Macallan

“Stunning sherry monster! Lovely! From really good oloroso casks.”

89
Macallan 12 year Sherry Oak
Deliciously smooth, with rich dried fruits and sherry, balanced with wood smoke and spice. Described by Paul Pacult, the renowned international whisky writer, in his book Kindred Spirits as: "simply the best 12 Year Old single malt around".

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (90): strong. sweet, peaches, oloroso, dates, dark chocolate, floral.

Palate (90): oily, powerful. sweet, honey, peaches, wood, vanilla, oloroso, nuts. A huge influence of the sherry cask. Rather good.

Finish (88): very long. floral, nuts, dark chocolate.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 12 year Sherry Oak with 89 points over 100.

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The Balvenie 30 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie

“It is a real pity it is so expensive, because it is an awesome whisky.”

93
Balvenie 30 year
Drawing on more than three decades experience our Malt Master David Stewart has created the Balvenie Thirty from a selection of the finest vintage casks laid down during his early years at the Balvenie Distillery.

A marriage of Balvenie aged in traditional whisky oak casks and European oak sherry casks. Thirty is a rich and mellow single malt with unusual depth and complexity.

Very expensive, elitist, deluxe, yeah, it is simply the best Balvenie I have ever tried. Save for this one!

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (93): strong. candies, vanilla, wood, nuts, citrus, floral. It is a mystic experience to nose how the honey present in younger Balvenies turns into candies on this granma. Delicious.

Palate (94): oily, viscous, powerful. candies, wood, spices, honey, floral, citrus, nuts.

Finish (93): very long. floral, honey, vanilla, peaches, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 30 year with 93 points over 100.

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The Balvenie 17 years old Rum Cask Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie
86
Balvenie 17 year Rum Cask
This Balvenie offering was matured for 17 years in casks which previously held Jamaican rum.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (84): strong. molasses, citrus, a little vanilla, floral.

Palate (88): smooth, oily, powerful. honey, peaches, wood, spices, incense, floral, sugar cane.

Finish (87): longer than average. floral, brown sugar, cinnamon.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 17 year Rum Cask with 86 points over 100.

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Martin Green's Collecting Malt Whisky review

By Miguel in Books

Collecting Malt Whisky: A Price Guide

Colleting Malt Whisky: A price guide features an extensive list of bottles from many distilleries sorted by distillery each with the price tag that it has scored in auctions from years 2000 to 2006. The bottles are hard to find and usually very old.
For me it is a boring book, that lacking totally of passion, is more about investing in whisky than collecting it. It doesn’t worth the paper it is printed on.

Buy Martin Green’s Collecting Malt Whisky at Amazon.co.uk


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The Balvenie 17 years old Madeira Cask Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , The Balvenie

“Incredible taste. The Madeira wine cask does a great job on the whisky.”

91
Balvenie 17 year Madeira Cask
Part of Balvenie's group of six limited edition cask finished 17 years old single malts.

This Balvenie whisky was initially matured in traditional oak casks before a finish in Madeira fortified wine casks.

The finish does a great work on this whisky delivering a torrent of sweet fruits and spices. I love it.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (89): strong. peaches, a little raisins, a little honey, vanilla, cocoa, citrus.

Palate (92): smooth, oily, powerful. peaches, wood, spices, tobacco, cocoa. It is not exactly peaches taste, but a torrent of fruit, wood and spices altogether.

Finish (91): long. honey, citrus, floral, raisins, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 17 year Madeira Cask with 91 points over 100.

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The Balvenie 15 years old Single Barrel Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , The Balvenie

“Where have you been all these years?! A reason to live!”

92
Balvenie 15 year Single Barrel
The Balvenie Single Barrel Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a 15 year old single malt which is drawn from a single bourbon cask of a single distillation.

Each cask forms a limited edition of hand-numbered bottles - there will be a maximum of 350 bottles from any one cask - so each bottle is unique and unrepeatable.

Each cask is subtly different, however, The Balvenie Malt Master selects for bottling only those casks that have the essential characteristics of The Balvenie Single Barrel - particularly honey, vanilla and oaky notes.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (92): strong. biscuits, honey, vanilla, a little cinnamon.

Palate (93): oily, powerful. peaches, honey, wood, tobacco, vanilla, a little nuts. Very good taste.

Finish (90): very long. peaches, wood, honey, tobacco.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 15 year Single Barrel with 92 points over 100.

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The Balvenie 12 years old Signature Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , The Balvenie

“Excellent nose with a great taste. Just a 6% more of alcohol, or ejem bottled at cask strength and this would have been "my" whisky for the rest of my life.”

91
Balvenie 12 year Signature
This 12 year old Balvenie was released in 2008 and was launched to replace the 10 year old Founders Reserve.

This bottling was aged in first fill bourbon barrels, refill casks and sherry butts.

Balvenie Signature is a small batch version of Doublewood with have additional been matured in bourbon casks. Rather good whisky by it is missing a bit more alcohol...

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (93): strong. biscuits, honey, vanilla, citrus, floral.

Palate (90): smooth. fruity, candies, honey, vanilla, floral, citrus. Bottled at cask strength this would have been a crack.

Finish (89): long. floral, citrus, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 12 year Signature with 91 points over 100.

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The Balvenie 12 years old Doublewood Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , The Balvenie

“Lovely sherried whisky with a nice amount of nuts and biscuits in its nose. I have really enjoyed this one.”

91
Balvenie 12 year Doublewood
The Balvenie Doublewood Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a 12 year old single malt which gains its distinctive character from being matured in two woods.

During its period of maturation The Balvenie Doublewood is transferred from a traditional oak whisky cask to a first fill Spanish oak sherry cask.

Each stage lends different qualities to the resulting single malt - the traditional casks, having previously held bourbon, soften and add character, whilst the sherry wood brings depth and fullness of flavor.

This is the most basic bottle from Balvenie and still awesome!
TODO: Check if strength is 40% or 0%

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. nuts, honey, citrus, toffee, biscuits. Smells like a fino sherried matured whisky. Very nice nose.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, floral, citrus, nuts, wood, spices.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, nuts, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Balvenie 12 year Doublewood with 91 points over 100.

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Inchgower 36 years old Single Cask by Master of Malt Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Inchgower

“Oh my my! Balsamic whisky! Think of this Inchgower as liquid Fisherman\'s Friend ”

92
Inchgower 36 year Single Cask Master of Malt
A single cask Inchgower aged for a whopping 36 years in a refill hogshead!

This was distilled on the 16th September 1974 and bottled on the 9th June 2011 by Master of Malt at cask strength.

Absolutely stunning and cracking value for money!

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (91): powerful. candies, floral, menthol, honey, vanilla, malt, wood.

Palate (93): oily, powerful. floral, menthol, iodine, honey, citrus, spices.

Finish (93): very long. menthol, honey, citrus, candies.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Inchgower 36 year Single Cask Master of Malt with 92 points over 100.

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Nikka Yoichi 15 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Yoichi
89
Nikka Yoichi 15 year
'Sheer brilliance. An absolute must for anyone who regards himself a whisky connoisseur. 9.5/10' Jim Murray in Whisky Magazine, Dec 2000.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (89): strong. floral, vanilla, salt, a little wood.

Palate (88): smooth, oily, powerful. floral, sweet, malt, salt, smoke, spices.

Finish (89): long. salt, honey, pears.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Nikka Yoichi 15 year with 89 points over 100.

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Nikka Yoichi 12 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Yoichi

“This whisky grows in the glass. Just give it five minutes on the glass and enjoy it. The best whisky of the Yoichi range.”

91
Nikka Yoichi 12 year
The pot stills of the Yoichi distillery are still directly heated, proffering hot spots in the stills, which in turn gives the whisky some wonderful sweet, rich notes. This is one of the richest 12 year old drams I've ever had!

This japanese single malt whisky is perhaps the best whisky in the Yoichi range. If you enjoyed this one, give a try to Yoichi 10 years old

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (92): strong. peaches, vanilla, honey, wood, citrus, a little peat, a little iodine, seaweed.

Palate (92): oily, powerful. peaches, wood, honey, spices, a little cloves, banana.

Finish (90): very long. honey, smoke, wood, vanilla.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Nikka Yoichi 12 year with 91 points over 100.

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Dalmore 14 years old 1996 Master of Malt

By Miguel in Tasting , Dalmore

“So well packed nose, so good taste. This whisky should be more expensive! You are making the other look worse.”

91
Dalmore 14 year 1996 Master of Malt
Distilled on the 29th October 1996 and bottled on the 17th June 2011, this is a classic cask strength Dalmore. It was aged in a single refill hogshead for 14 years, and the result is loads of character, malt and spice...

This dram has a white wine-like color.

Nose (92): strong. malt, honey, peaches, oranges, vanilla, wood, floral. Very dense nose. You can't imagine how good it does smell.

Palate (90): light, smooth. malt, floral, spices, wood, oranges, peaches, earthy.

Finish (90): very long. floral, orange zest, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Dalmore 14 year 1996 Master of Malt with 91 points over 100.

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Charles Maclean's Whiskypedia, A gazetteer of Scotch Whisky review

By Miguel in Books

A most interesting book because of it contents about Scotland’s distilleries.

MacLean's Whiskypedia

Whiskypedia starts with a historical overview of the whisky industry and then a brief guide about how to read the bottle label.

Then Charles Maclean proceed to write about Scotland distilleries, one at a time, explaining historical facts, where the distillery is located and how to contact them: phones, emails, website and address. He also writes about the distillery most common expressions of whisky.
It is really interesting the technical info about where the raw materials comes from: water, barley, the size of the distillery, the kind of barrels use to mature whisky and the typical style of the newmake liquor.

There is a last section where review relevant facts of the industry nowadays like top ten selling malts, who owns who and consumption of whisky by countries.

Buy Charles Maclean’s Whiskypedia at Amazon.co.uk


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Glenglassaugh 32 years old 1976 Cask Strength by Signatory Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Glenglassaugh

“Mindblowing! Out of this world nose and taste. I never thought anything can taste so good. Must-have!”

94
Glenglassaugh 32 year 1976 Signatory
This is a very well aged Glenglassaugh. Distilled on the 17th December 1976 and matured for 32 years in hogshead number 2382 before bottling on the 13th January 2009 by Signatory. A release of just 265 bottles.

This single malt whisky is so good that I paid twice what it was worth for it. Lovely.

After being mothballed for several years, Glenglassaugh is distilling again and have just released their Revival single malt at 3 years old.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (95): powerful. peaches, honey, dried figs, wood, vanilla, spices, apples.

Palate (96): oily, powerful. peaches, wood, smoke, sweet, honey, floral, citrus, vanilla.

Finish (92): very long. sweet, honey, citrus, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenglassaugh 32 year 1976 Signatory with 94 points over 100.

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Three Ships 10 years old Single Malt Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , James Sedgewick

“An incredible single malt whisky from South Africa in the tradition of the Speyside whiskies.”

89
Three Ships 10 Year Old
An exceptional 10 year old whisky from South Africa! This was distilled by Andy Watts at the James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington. It was aged in American oak casks, and offers a palate full of flavour.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (89): powerful. peaches, wood, vanilla, citrus, honey.

Palate (90): oily. peaches, floral, honey, wood, pepper, toffee.

Finish (89): long. honey, wood, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Three Ships 10 Year Old with 89 points over 100.

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Cragganmore 20 years old Master of Malt Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Cragganmore

“Excellent floral dram. Quite light nose but both taste and finish makes this whisky a one to cherish.”

90
Cragganmore 20 year Single Cask Master of Malt
A 20 year old single cask Cragganmore. We absolutely love this, it has just the right amount of sweetness, and just the right amount of maturity. Distilled on the 8th March 1991 and bottled in March 2011, this is a refill hoggie-matured Speyside whisky, with an outturn of 274 bottles. Non-chillfiltered, with no artificial colouring. Just pure, unadulterated deliciousness!

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (87): average. floral, honey, spices, wood, grapes, vanilla. Very subtle and delicate.

Palate (91): oily, powerful. floral, peaches, citrus, honey, wood, spices, liquorice.

Finish (91): very long. floral, honey, vanilla, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Cragganmore 20 year Single Cask Master of Malt with 90 points over 100.

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Glenlossie 24 years old 1984 Cask Strength by Signatory Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Glenlossie

“Great flavor. You won't believe the torrent of fruity and spices flavors this whisky delivers. If you ever see this bottle again, grab it!”

93
Glenlossie 24 year 1984 Cask Strength Signatory
A Signatory bottling of Glenlossie, distilled on the 4th October 1984 and matured in a sherry butt (cask number 2536) for 24 years before bottling on the 14th September 2009. Part of a release of 549 bottles.

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (92): powerful. fruits, raisins, chocolate, floral, honey.

Palate (95): light, viscous, powerful. sweet, fruits, peaches, oranges, honey, spices, cinnamon, citrus, rubber, wood, wax.

Finish (93): long. honey, fruits, citrus, grass, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenlossie 24 year 1984 Cask Strength Signatory with 93 points over 100.

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Michael Jackson's Whisky: The definitive world guide to scotch, bourbon and whiskey review

By Miguel in Books

A gorgeous book. Think of it as the big brother of Malt Whisky Companion. Impressive photographs and a most interesting chapters.

Whisky: The definitive world guide to scotch, bourbon and whiskey

Written in two big sections, the first one explains how whisky is made from water, barley and yeast to cask ageing. Then as in Malt Whisky Companion it explains where flavors comes from. A very interesting section to know how whisky is made and why it tastes the way it does.

Then proceed Michael Jackson write about the main world whisky producers countries: Scotland with its different regions, single malts, vatted and blended whiskies, Ireland, Canada, USA and Japan with a final small section about rest of the world. For each part writes about most relevant distillers introducing interesting facts and short history of the distillery along with great photos and one or two tasting notes. All tasting notes has no score at all. Most of the distilleries are grouped by proximity.

I really love this book because in less than three hundred pages it shows most relevant facts about whisky that every connosieur should know about.
The only problem I see with the book is that sections for whisky outside of Scotland are not really as well done but still it is a must-have.

Buy Michael Jackson’s Whisky: The definitive world guide to scotch, bourbon and whiskey at Amazon.co.uk


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August Whisky Blogs round up

By Miguel in Blogs

Interesting tasting notes this month and a good article about chill filtration by Dramming.com

Butterfly August

Ruben at WhiskyNotes tasted, among others, an stunning Port Ellen 1983 by Duncan Taylor, a very old Mortlach 1936 and a Kilchoman Inaugural Islay Release.

Danish whisky blog tastes a Douglas Laing Ardbeg + Glenrothes Double barrel vatted whisky and also tastes the Amrut Herald, a four years old cask strength indian whisky.

Dramming writes a tasting note for Three Ships, a very interesting south african whisky and also tastes the impressive Highland Park 25 years old. He also does a great experiment about how chill filtration affect whisky.

Nonjatta comes with news about first “proper” ( you know, older than three years old ) whisky from Chichibu to be released in October and wrote ( as many did ) about the acquisition of all the stocks of Karuizawa by No. 1 Drinks

The Casks tastes a few Isle of Jura whiskies: Prophecy, Superstition, 16 years old and 10 years old

The Whisky Wire tastes a Dalmore 40 years old and does an interview with Ingvar Ronde, author of Malt Whisky Yearbook ( which I have recently bought )

Whisky 2.0 writes about the new whisky from the isle of Lewis, which has finally been released at the friendly price of £150 plus delivery.

Whisky for everyone has a most interesting posts about two new Macallan for the Whisky Shop retailer, the limited edition of Auchentoshan 1999 Bordeaux Finish and third and last release of Highland Park Magnus series: Earl Haakon.

Whiskyfun has been publishing several random summer trios of whisky that even you and me can buy. Very interesting.


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Glengoyne 12 years old Cask Strength Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Glengoyne

“A stunning malty whisky with awesome notes of honey and vanilla and bottled at cask strength. Get one!”

91
Glengoyne 12 year Cask Strength
Completely unpeated, unusual in the highlands, this Glengoyne is soft, fruity and very quaffable. A fine single malt!

This Glengoyne single malt whisky is bottled at cask strength and has a wonderful sweet malt character.

Definitively this whisky is something you shouldn't miss. If you enjoyed this, you should try this awesome Linkwood bottled by Duncan Taylor

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (92): strong. biscuits, honey, vanilla, citrus, almonds. Incredible malty whisky. Lovely.

Palate (91): light, oily. malt, fruity, honey, wood, vanilla.

Finish (91): long. malt, honey, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glengoyne 12 year Cask Strength with 91 points over 100.

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Pig's Nose Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Spencerfield Spirits Co

“I am more happy than a pig in the mud. Awesome whisky! Oink!”

92
Pig's Nose 5 year
Great value soft and smooth Blended Malt whisky from the creators of the 'Sheep Dip' range.

Don't be deceived by the strange name, this vatted whisky is simply said a jewel, a stealth for that price.

Done by the nose itself, Mr. Richard Paterson and released on a moment when all the Whyte & Mackay PR department was asleep. Awesome whisky!

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (92): strong. honey, peaches, vanilla, citrus, cinnamon, candies.

Palate (93): light, smooth, oily, powerful. honey, pears, peaches, wood, honey, a little liquorice, coffee.

Finish (90): long. honey, citrus, wood, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Pig's Nose 5 year with 92 points over 100.

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North British 20 years old 1991 by Master of Malt Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , North British

“A must-have single grain whisky. Smells of bourbon, tastes like bourbon, but it is Scotch.”

91
North British 20 year 1991 Single Cask Master of Malt
Upon first trying this North British, we couldn't believe it was a grain whisky. It's so fully of character, with such a thick, rich bourbon cask influence, we had to bottle it!

This was distilled on the 22nd January 1991, and was aged in a first fill bourbon barrel for 20 years before bottling in March 2011.

A single cask release of 244 bottles. As with any Master of Malt bottled whisky, this is non-chillfiltered, and has not been caramel coloured.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (90): strong. corn, vanilla, floral, honey, wood.

Palate (93): oily, powerful. floral, citrus, corn, wood, spices, honey, vanilla.

Finish (91): very long. floral, corn, vanilla.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this North British 20 year 1991 Single Cask Master of Malt with 91 points over 100.

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Glengoyne English Merchants Choice Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Glengoyne

“First class Oloroso sherried whisky. Just make sure you like Oloroso :)”

92
Glengoyne English Merchants' Choice
A stunning sherry matured Glengoyne, selected by a group of England's whisky retailers. The cask was number 2716, a sherry hogshead. There are just 291 bottles of this incredibly dark whisky,

This dram has a old oak-like color.

Nose (92): strong. citrus, nuts, some oloroso, a little vanilla.

Palate (93): powerful. nuts, floral, peaches, wood, spices, rubber, honey, smoke, incense.

Finish (91): very long. nuts, wood, leather.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glengoyne English Merchants' Choice with 92 points over 100.

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Ron de Jeremy Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Ron de Jeremy

“Not a bad rum, much better than the acting skills of the actor that this rum is named after :)”

87
Ron de Jeremy
Ron de Jeremy Rum is an exceptionally well-balanced 7-year old rum from Panama. It has an inviting light amber color with very attractive copper hues.
Many thanks to Master of Malt for this interesting sample of this new rum.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (86): strong. floral, sugar cane, vanilla, a little melon.

Palate (87): light, powerful. brown sugar, sugar cane, floral, vanilla.

Finish (87): longer than average. brown sugar, molasses, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ron de Jeremy with 87 points over 100.

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Islay Mist Deluxe Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Islay Mist

“Excellent nose but a bit light of taste. Just a bit more powerful taste and what great whisky we will have here...”

89
Islay Mist Blended Scotch Whisky
The Islay Mist blend was first launched in the 1920s. Known for its good peating level which comes from malts like Laphroaig.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (90): powerful. peat, citrus, earth, honey.

Palate (89): light, oily. peat, honey, floral, peaches, wood.

Finish (88): long. peat, wood, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Islay Mist Blended Scotch Whisky with 89 points over 100.

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Nikka Taketsuru 17 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Nikka

“Delightful! I can't express with words the fruity, honey and spices torrent that this japanese blended malt delivers.”

93
Nikka Taketsuru 17 year
Taketsuru 17 years old is delicious blended malt whisky from Nikka that won't disappoint you. It is hard to find a scotch whisky so good for this price.

This whisky is named after Nikka's founder, the whisky-pilgrim Masataka Taketsuru.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (93): strong. melon, peaches, honey, vanilla, a little orange zest, dates, chocolate.

Palate (93): light, oily, powerful. peaches, wood, honey, spices, pepper, coffee, a little peat.

Finish (92): very long. wood, honey, vanilla, peaches.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Nikka Taketsuru 17 year with 93 points over 100.

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Ian Buxton's 101 whiskies to try before you die review

By Miguel in Books

101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die

“101 Whiskies to try before you die” is a discover this and that whisky list so you can make your mind about them than a list of best whiskies or a tasting notes guide. It is a good purchase if you have fresh cash and want to be guided in your discovery of whisky world.

This book is a list of whiskies wide available and affordable ( I still don’t get the reasoning of saying a £500 whisky bottle is affordable but …) that everyone should try. It is is not about best whiskies nor about whiskies to collect, just about a hundred of whisky bottles that every whisky lover should try.

Then Ian starts with the list. Each bottle has a big sized photo of the bottle, its price range expressed in a scale from 1 to 5 stars and then a bit of chit chat about the bottle, with some interesting facts about the distiller too. Also along each bottle is a tasting note without score using nose, taste and finish written in a simple plain language ( you know, smells of wood instead of sandalwood of Calcuta with the moon is raising over the horizon on the second half of the years that ends in six and are not divisible by four ). Below each tasting note you have a single line space where you can write down what you think of the whisky. I feel there is only room for like or dislike, so don’t get too excited writting.

A good interesting proposal to discover whiskies from all around the world, many reasonably priced and of all kinds: single malts, blended, vatted, whiskey, bourbons. Inspiring.

Buy Ian Buxton’s 101 whiskies to try before you die at Amazon.co.uk


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