COLOR: Warm honey/golden syrup.

BODY: Medium weight, the texture is smooth but powerful.

NOSE: Distinctive and intriguing, it opens slowly, then picks up beautiful aromas of fresh flowers, heather and yellow gorse. Wait a little and you will find fudge, creme brulee, dried banana and a snap of sherry.

PALATE: A real honest old style whisky flavour is immediately apparent. Lots of sweet malt, digestive biscuits, butterscotch, tropical fruit. Lashings of oak and a sprinkle of sea spray and dry seaweed remind you of its 15 years maturing by the ocean. Islay without the hammer. Full of style and sophistication.

FINISH: It lingers gently on the palate.

92

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

The Bruichladdich Classic series is an exploration of the possibilities and nuances of the very core Bruichladdich style. Using American oak and unpeated barley. This first release is a crafting of different ages of spirit.

A question often posed – what is a typical Bruichladdich? The answer is Laddie Classic. Classical beauty is timeless, natural, beyond fad or fashion. More Kate Moss than Madonna, Hepburn than Monroe. With this new bottling we have set out to address two issues: style and availability. The style is definitive Bruichladdich, distilled from minimally peated barley, matured exclusively in American oak casks, it shows off the classic Bruichladdich traits of elegance, poise, fruit, purity, and complexity. As in Grand Marque Champagne production, this is a multi-vintage bottling. Inspirationally assembled by Jim from several different vintages each with their own specific characteristics, he is able to marry various attributes to achieve a multi-layered, complex dram.Cork stopper and packed in metal tin.

92

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Here’s a new press release from Bruichladdich announcing the release of Organic 2003 “Culblair Farm” edition, with a UK Retail price of £39. It’s bottled at 46%, and there will be 15,000 bottles made available. It says “Anns An T-seann Doigh” on the label, which is Gaelic for “in the traditional way.” All of the barley used is Scottish grown, with 50% produced at 15 farms on Islay. I’m not completely sure what to make of this one, but it will be interesting to see the reviews.

Would the fact that it’s organic and uses Scottish-grown (and lots of Islay-grown) barley influence your buying decision?

scotchhobbyist.com

92

Organic Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Scotch Rocked

A provocative new whisky concept – The Designer Single Malt - set to challenge several long-held industry beliefs is introduced by Bruichladdich, the innovating, privately-owned, Islay distillery.

A Champagne-influenced single malt, aged in French wine casks that can be drunk on ice in summertime are as much a heresy to whisky traditionalists as the Constitution is to Norman Tebbit – but here they make up Bruichladdich’s ‘Designer Single Malt’ concept.

Deluxe Champagne houses have long known the benefit of putting several vintages together; a vertical-integration known there as Non-Vintage - or more precisely Multi-Vintage – to produce ultimate complexity.

MD Mark Reynier: “Remi Krug once told me of the difference between creating a vintage and a multi-vintage Champagne: “In a single vintage, God alone is responsible for the outcome. But with a multi vintage, I am playing God”

92

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Bunnahabhain (meaning 'mouth of the river') shares its name with the village that grew up around it. In effect, development of the distillery created a community dependent upon it for employment. In doing so, an entire village emerged, complete with schoolhouse and village hall. Prior to the building of the distillery, the adjacent area was inhospitable and uninhabited.

Bunnahabhain is a mellow, delicate and highly individual malt Whisky that owes much of its character to the clear water of the Margadale spring and to the distillery's proximity to the sea on the edge of the Sound of Islay.

Bunnahabhain is distilled from clear spring waters trapped high in the mountains whilst they still tumble over hard granite rocks, and this helps to give Bunnahabhain a taste less peaty than the island's other malt whiskies.A soft, mellow whisky of great character and distinction with a hint of peat.

86

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Launched in June 2002, this is a highly prized, hidden gem that continues the traditions of Caol Ila™.

Appearance: Pale straw.

Nose: Subdued, citric fruitiness; a whiff of bath oil and dentist's mouthwash. A fresh and appetising nose, with little or no trace of smoke. A little water raises almond oil and old-fashioned oilskins; still a fresh fruitiness (lychees?), a trace of olive oil, and after a while pot pourri or scented hand-soap.

Body: Firm, smooth, light to medium.

Palate: Drinks well at natural strength; sweet start; pleasant, light fragrant smokiness and a lengthy finish. Smooth, pleasant mouth-feel; with water light acidity, some salt and still the sweeter notes. A complex balance of primary tastes.

Finish: Sweet smokiness in the lingering, slightly sour finish.

86

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Caol lla means the sound of Islay in Gaelic.

Nose
Fragrant. Menthol. Markedly Vegetal. Vanilla pod. Creamy.
Palate
Firmer. Much bigger. Much more expressive. Sweeter. Leafy sweetness. Spring greens. Crushed almonds. Rooty, cedary.
Finish
Some peaty bitterness. Big. Long, warming.
Comment
The most vegetal and assertive of the three expressions.

86

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Cardhu Distillery – previously called Cardow – must be one of the best located distilleries in Speyside. High on the hills on the north side of the Spey Valley with extensive views to the south, it is also the home of Johnnie Walker, the number one blended Scotch whisky in the world.

The malt itself - which is presented in an elegant decanter with a beechwood stopper - is pretty typical of a Speyside malt. It is highly approachable - smooth, sweet, mellow and uncomplicated and has good body and length.

“Just about the cleanest, most uncluttered, pure, sweet malt you will ever find.”
Jim Murray, Whisky Bible 2008.

86

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

One from the 'Hidden Malt' range from a distillery that is generally very highly regarded. Bottled at 46%.

Age: 14 years old.
Strength: 46% ABV
Appearance: Yellow gold.
Nose: Light candle wax, with some sugar. A faint floral fragrance. Wax comes up with water - scented candle wax. Dried flowers on a beach. Later, brown sugar.
Body: Firm, light to medium.
Palate: Pleasant mouthfeel, not as waxy as some expressions; maritime generally.
Finish: Some salt in the aftertaste; dryish, even slightly bitter finish.

92

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

The colour is old gold, and the nose recognizes fruit, citrus fruits (grapefruit), tobacco and iodine;
The palate is slightly smoked and confirms the nose.
The finish, malted, is from average length.

Cragganmore is United Distillers' choice for representing the Speyside area in the "Classic Malts" collection. UDV could have made a worse choice. This bottle, modest by its price, is rather ambitious by its taste and its afertaste. Lots of aromas and fragrances are present from the first nosing, which is rather unusual for a malt from this area. I really recommand this bottle.

80

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Matured initially in American white oak for 14 years before being transferred to Matusalem Spanish sherry butts for 3 years, these unique whiskies were finally married for a further 12 months in upstanding sherry butts. Nature and nurture have delivered a classic Dalmore

80

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

 

Bright copper color with an olive cast. Aromas of raisin bran, salty butter roasted nuts, creme brulee crust, and dark toast with a supple dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a long, drying leather, flour, tobacco, dried fruit, honey, hay, and moss on the finish. A feisty, masculine dram that will be perfect with cigars.
www.tastings.com

88

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

A marriage of Dalmore aged from 10-15 years and matured 60% Oloroso sherry and 40% ex-bourbon casks. Dalmore Gran Reserva delivers an enhanced taste experience with a sweet finish.

Nestling into the northern shore of the Cromarty Firth up on the north-east coast since 1839. Stunning views, ever evolving and multiplied by the reflective blue and green waters. Waters which may tickle its foundations on a spring tide and wash its stone walls in a storm. This gentle golden liquid is rich and smooth.

Tasting Notes
Marmalade and Christmas cake with subtle hints of roasted coffee and chocolate. Then ripe oranges and lemon peel give elegant, zesty, top notes.

www.thewhiskybarrel.com

80

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Aroma: Light to medium intensity; little complexity (straight) First impression is of orange juice, with some grainy mustard; mead-like, or like concentrated white wine - vin santo. (dilute) Becomes more aromatic and mellow. Scents of daffodils and Weetabix (brand) or even chicken-corn. Some buttery/oily notes, edging towards beeswax.

Flavour: Smooth and somewhat waxy; tangy and mouth-drying; easy to drink. The overall flavour is dry with a bitter finish and aftertaste. Some heather flowers.

Development: Becomes mulchy and grassy, but holds its flavour well.

86

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

 

80

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Color: Rich mahogany.

Nose: Sherry, treacle and burnt Demerara sugar.

Flavor: Toffee, nutty, slightly woody.

Finish: Fabulously long and deeply warning and satisfying.

Comments: This is a real winter warmer!

80

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

www.duncantaylor.com

The critically acclaimed and award winning Rare Auld collection represents Single Malt and Single Grain Scotch whiskies of outstanding quality from Scotland’s prime whisky producing regions - Speyside, Islay, Highland, Island, Lowland and Campbeltown.

The majority of casks within this range are over 30 years old. They include a variety of cask types including Sherry, Port, American Oak Bourbon and wine.

The bottles come in gift boxes which are colour coded according to the region of origin (Speyside: green, Islay: navy blue, Highland: purple, Island: light blue, Campbeltown: brown, Lowland: red and Grain: maroon) with a special wooden gift box option also available.

The whiskies are bottled as single casks at cask strength with no chillfiltration or colouring. Each bottle of this collection is individually identified with information detailing the distillery and region or origin, distillation date, cask number, cask strength, date bottled and individual bottle number from the limited number available in each cask.

Each hand-selected cask is matured at the original distillery to allow it to age in the environment in which it was distilled. A cask is only bottled when it reaches its optimum age and quality.

80

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

www.duncantaylor.com

Edradour 10 year old is a unique, hand-crafted single Highland malt whisky, often enjoyed in recognition of those small, significant moments that make up the ebb and flow of life.

If you manage to find it, you will be one of the few people lucky enough to experience its charm - golden in the glass, smooth and creamy with a nutty, honeyed finish.

86

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Massive amounts of sweet malt mixed with a nutty aroma. This limited un-chillfiltered version is a great expression of the tiny distillery in the southern highlands.

At 46%, a few drops of water continue to open this deliciously rich malt up, developing into malty-caramel, with roasted almonds and a hint of dark chocolate.

Enjoy before dinner as an apertif.

92

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

Full gold color with perfumy, sweetish, heathery, and faint peat aromas. Medium smooth body. Raisny with a late surge if sweet/spicy violet notes.

86

Scotch Single Malt

Scotland

A Bazillion Drink Recipes from