Whisky Tasting Sessions 2012-07

Almost finishing the year and we are already on the 7^th tasting session.

Again six nameless whiskies presented in a stunning box, Jean Marie know how to do the job really.
Pretty bizarre distilleries on this set, but that’s the main reason I joined this tasting sessions; the chance of tasting new different stuff.

The samples

Ben Nevis 1996 Wilson & Morgan

“Delicious stuff! Spicy, peated and lots of honey... maybe Talisker?”

91

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. honey, spices, wood, pepper, citrus.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, pepper, peat, floral, pears, cinnamon, wood.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, pepper, peat.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ben Nevis 1996 Wilson & Morgan with 91 points over 100.

Glen Keith 22 years old Single Malts of Scotland

“Smells very light but them it is a powerful whisky on mouth. Maybe lowlands? Rosebank?”

87

A deliciously light and delicate 1989 vintage Glen Keith bottled at 22 years old by SDL for The Single Malts of Scotland series. Grassy and fruity with a generous touch of oakspice.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (85): average. floral, honey, pepper, varnish, citrus. Very light

Palate (90): dry, powerful, oily. honey, spices, floral, wood, pepper, liquorice. Very nice palate.

Finish (87): longer than average. honey, flowers, pepper.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Keith 1989 / 22 Year Old / Single Malts of Scotland Speyside Whisky with 87 points over 100.

Glen Scotia 1992 Sherry Hogshead Malts of Scotland

“Nice sherry monster. Not a Macallan definitively... not at cask strength... maybe Aberlour?”

89

This dram has a mahogany-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. nuts, citrus, peat, honey, powder. Nice nose!

Palate (89): powerful, oily. nuts, citrus, wood, leather, honey, floral.

Finish (89): longer than average. nuts, floral, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Scotia 1992 Sherry Hogshead Malts of Scotland with 89 points over 100.

Bladnoch 21 years old 1990 Silver Seal

“Very young whisky bottled at very high strength. Not a combination that I enjoy, sorry”

82

This dram has a white wine-like color.

Nose (84): average. floral, citrus, honey, spices.

Palate (82): powerful. floral, citrus, spices, honey. This smell of newmake!

Finish (81): longer than average. floral, potatoes.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bladnoch 21 years old 1990 Silver Seal with 82 points over 100.

Aultmore 5 years old Master of Malt

“Interesting whisky. Sherry cask? Port Cask? Looks like a very fruity sherried whisky. I like”

90

This Aultmore from our single cask range is a Speysider that displays an intriguing complexity well beyond its years, whilst still maintaining a citrus-y freshness. This stems from the fact that it was matured in a first-fill sherry. It was distilled on the 12th March 2007, aged for 5 years and bottled in May 2012. A release of 628 bottles.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. honey, wood, citrus, cinnamon, fruits, salt.

Palate (90): powerful, oily. honey, nuts, fruits, citrus, spices, cinnamon, chocolate.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, leather, fruits.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Aultmore 5 Year Old - Single Cask (Master of Malt) with 90 points over 100.

Glen Garioch 1991 Bourbon Hogshead Malts of Scotland

“Very dry, powerful. Not my kind of dram.”

86

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (87): more than average. honey, spices, citrus, pinneapple.

Palate (85): smooth, dry, oily. honey, spices, citrus, pepper, floral.

Finish (85): average. floral, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Garioch 1991 Bourbon Hogshead Malts of Scotland with 86 points over 100.

Miguel says…

Again, as the previous tastings that I have done with Jean-Marie, it has been very interesting. Two whiskies have been really nice: the Ben Nevis and the Aultmore. Fantastic stuff.

I have been a bit deceived by the Silver Seal Bladnoch as it doesn’t taste nice for me. Have you tasted any other Silver Seal bottle? I have seen some Ardbegs and Islay whiskies bottled by them and I have read good things about their bottlings.

EDIT: Jean Marie has just published the results of this tasting session.

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