WTF 004: The Older, the Better, right?
in Tasting , Kilchoman , North British , Glengoyne , Glenglassaugh , GlenrothesHello friends,
Welcome to another blind tasting session with lots of interesting surprises. Three really old whiskies followed by two new whiskies introduced recently. This is exactly the other way round I like to do tastings but surprisingly I was shockingly impressed with the little ones.
So, in case you missed it, WFT Tasting sessions ( like this and this one ) is just a way to force myself into tasting stuff that I wouldn’t otherwise… I love young peated whiskies, mid age sherried monsters and those lovely very old bourbon cask matured whiskies. So I tend to taste more of this stuff and less of other proposal that are quite interesting but go under my radar.
Soooo, worry no more. I just introduced my hand blindly on the samples’ box and grabbed four or five random, and I mean random!, samples of whisky, bourbon, rum, vodka… Life is like a chocolate box, you never know what you are gonna get.
So, the whiskies…
The Glenrothes 25 years old
Definitively this one is an Speysider, lots of oranges, maybe Dalmore, maybe Macallan? But no, it was a Glenrothes. I am not particularly fond of this distillery, no idea why, but their whiskies doesn’t hit me usually. This one is on the other hand a quite interesting one, maybe the best I have tasted from Glenrothes.
“Quite nice! It is a light sherried whisky with notes of tobacco and vanilla. Quintessential Speyside if you ask me”
This dram has a cooper-like color.
Nose (90): more than average. honey, malt, citrus, vanilla, fruits, cinnamon, tobacco. Mid-age whisky, very powerful, fruity and lots of spices.
Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, citrus, wood, cinnamon, vanilla, apples, tobacco.
Finish (90): longer than average. honey, tobacco, citrus.
So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenrothes 25 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky with 90 points over 100.North British 33 years old 1978 Rare Ault by Duncan Taylor
Umm, taste is a bit like bourbon? Maybe an old bourbon? I have to say that I didn’t see this one coming. It is quite interesting because it is fruity and old. Strange combination.
“North British isn't one of my favorites grain whiskies but this one is something quite different. Very fruity and interesting dram”
This dram has a white wine-like color.
Nose (86): average. honey, citrus, vanilla, floral, pepper, peaches. Quite fruity character.
Palate (88): powerful, oily. honey, wood, spices, corn, vanilla, pepper. Maybe is it a bourbon?
Finish (87): average. honey, fruits, melon, wood.
So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this North British 33 Year Old 1978 - Rare Auld (Duncan Taylor) with 87 points over 100.Glenglassaugh 1984 25 years old Sherry Butt #5362 Old Malt Cask
Lovely sherry character on this one. Like a watered down Aberlour A’bunadh but with lots of vanilla and spices notes. Haha! Not in a million years I would have said this was a Glenglassaugh. I have tasted a few whiskies from both periods ( before mothballing and after ) and all of them where quite floral with a very characteristic aroma. This dram don’t have it.
“It feels like a lighter Abunadh whisky...It isn't as overly floral as other Glenglassaugh whiskies I have had before. Quite a surprise. Impressive”
This dram has a mahogany-like color.
Nose (91): more than average. honey, nuts, tobacco, raisins, vanilla, spices, citrus. Great one!
Palate (90): smooth, powerful, oily. honey, nuts, vanilla, citrus, tobacco, wood, leather.
Finish (89): longer than average. honey, wood, leather.
So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenglassaugh 1984 / 25 Years Old / Sherry Butt #5362 Speyside Whisky with 90 points over 100.Glengoyne Cask Strength Batch 1
And then magic happens! I have just tasted a 25 years old great sherried whisky and this one smells too of sherry. But more subtle, but more delicate, more vanilla, more honey… oh my! This dram reminds me of Macallan so much… I really love it ( already added to the basket for next order ) but no, it is a Glengoyne Cask Strength. Love surprises!
“A first class sherried whisky. This Glengoyne is simply spectacular”
This dram has a amber-like color.
Nose (88): more than average. honey, citrus, malt, vanilla, spices, wood, apples.
Palate (90): powerful, oily. honey, nuts, leather, citrus, tobacco, vanilla. Macallan, is that you?
Finish (91): longer than average. honey, nuts, vanilla.
So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glengoyne Cask Strength / Batch 1 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky with 90 points over 100.Kilchoman 2006 Vintage
And so, the last dram… umm, so light color… ummm, could it be… could it be! WTF! Bingo! Peated dram! There is no better way of ending this tasting that with this fantastic nose! Oh my! Welcome to Peat-radise!
“Lovely nose! So raw and delicate at the same time. I am quite a big fan of Kilchoman whiskies and this one doesn't disappoint at all”
This dram has a white wine-like color.
Nose (92): more than average. peat, honey, citrus, earth, vanilla. Lovely! Raw! Young! Delicate! Madness? So Ardbeg like...
Palate (89): smooth, oily. peat, honey, wood, earth, pepper, citrus.
Finish (89): longer than average. peat, wood, citrus.
So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Kilchoman 2006 Vintage with 90 points over 100.Miguel says…
Fantastic tasting!
It is like ending it with an awesome spectacle of fireworks! I love Kilchoman so much… and I have been wanting to taste the Glengoyne Cask Strength since I bought it. I really loved their old 10 years old ( or was 12 years old? ) Cask Strength whisky.
Share your thoughts! 