Whisky Monitor Database: newest bottlings, ratings and tasting notes for single malt scotch and other whiskies

Craig Daniels, Nose; seaweed and bacon, very sweet malt, some aspartame and a farmyard leatheriness. Palate; smoky, leathery and very saccharine sweet. There's a disconnect between the Talisker leatheriness and an almost Speyside sweetness; almost like it was 50/50 Benromach 6 Peat Smoke and Talisker 10. The younger material is almost certainly from bourbon wood and more heavily peated than the usual Talisker.

Tullamore Dew 'Heritage' (40%, OB, NAS, 20 casks, 8000 bottles, commemmorating Heritage centre in Tullamore, 8000 Bts., 2012*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich cork - Nose: Sweet, fresh maltiness initially prevails although it does remain quite mild throughout. Some very nice faint floral attributes develop with time. - Palate: Also sweet but with a spirity fruitiness which is quite reminiscent of a grappa style. Yes, really quite grappa-like at the end leading into the finish. - Finish: Long and fruity. - Overall Impression: This really is a quite different style of Irish whiskey, but not at all unpleasant, just different with that sweet maltiness and spirity fruitiness.

Powers Single Pot Irish Whiskey 12yo 'John's Lane Release' (46%, OB, 2012*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark cork - Nose: Gently refined? Water melon and peachy fruitiness, always faint, always light but always 'there'. - Palate: That gentle peachiness tingles lightly and sensually, but again it's quite gentle and subdued. - Finish: Surprisingly long, very long and again with that fruitiness. - Overall Impression: If ever there was a totally laid back or relaxed whiskey then this is the one. It's subdued and gentle, maybe even a little shy but absolutely delightful.

Redbreast 12yo (57.7%, OB, batch: B1/11, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, 700ml, 2011)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Deep rich golden - Nose: Very aromatic liquorice root becoming more intense with vanilla and (car) polish. - Palate: This is big, very big with fruity polish and a creamy mouth-feel. Wonderful. - Finish: Very long with a suggestion of open fire embers right at the end - Overall Impression: I think I'm in love with a whiskey, this just has that je ne sais quoi which tickles my proverbial fancy.

Yellow Spot 12yo (40%, OB, sherry and malaga casks, single pot still whisky, 2012)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Golden cork - Nose: Creamy and earthy with a peachy fruitiness which quickly expands further. This is followed by a second wave of earthiness and then continues to alternate between the fruitiness and earthiness. - Palate: This pretty well continues from the nose with that earthy, peachy fruitiness but this time accompanied by a suggestion of banana stem and oakiness, very nice. - Finish: Long. - Overall Impression: I love that alternating earthiness and fruitiness, a very nice whiskey.

Yamazaki 1999/2012 'W. whisky Shop 2nd Anniversary' (57%, OB, Puncheon, C#DR70117)

Ho-cheng Yao, Yellow color, quite new oak with lot's vanilla. Still clear Japanese whisky feel. Kind of robust in palate.

Hakushu 1982/2004 'Vintage Malt' (56%, OB, 700ml)

Ho-cheng Yao, More like American Oak, maybe Punchon? Quite some new oak and vanilla. Good quality, elegant, fruity, and good.

Bowmore 16yo 1995 (54%, Silver Seal, 265 Bts., 2011*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Quite nice and balance Bowmore, enjoyable and easy going.

Karuizawa 'Cask Strength' (61.7%, OB, NAS, 1st release, sherry butt, 700ml, 2013)

Ho-cheng Yao, Dark brown, nice heavy sherry, with good smokiness, gun powder. plum, dried fruit, raisin, apple. quite balance and matured. good body. Expensive but good quality.

Bushmills 21yo 'Madeira Finish' (40%, OB, Irish single malt, 2012*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Liquid cork - Nose: Am I in a dairy? Definite milkiness here, but chocolate too. Milky cacao drink? Then a wine-iness which reminds me those small bottles of "cherry B" or "Pony" from my late teens. Strange, nice memory though. - Palate: Very creamy mouth-feel with plenty of exotic fruitiness. It's rather more-ish too. Definitely reminds me of something from my late teens, but what? I do like this. - Finish: Long with a certain Je ne sais quoi. - Overall Impression: Very alluring especially with those faded memories but this whisky really makes me feel happy. I love that "je ne sais quoi".

Bushmills 16yo (40%, OB, Oloroso & bourbon, Port cask finish, 2012*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark amber - Nose: Some initial woodiness then a burst of dark fruitiness, furniture polish and almond nuttiness. The creaminess expands with time to the point where it suggests figs alongside crème Brulée. - Palate: Very creamy mouth-feel with lots of fruitiness alongside figs. Maybe just slightly watery? - Finish: Long, creamy and gentle. - Overall Impression: Rich flavours but at the same time light and gentle. I love this whisky. Creamy sophistication.

Bushmills 10yo (40%, OB, Oloroso & bourbon, 2012*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Yellow gold - Nose: Ahhh different indeed, floral grappa-iness? Definitely fruity and floral spirit here. - Palate: Not quite as intense as the nose suggested but certainly fruity and floral. - Finish: Short - Overall Impression: Creamy, fruity and floral with an intense nose and more subdued palate.

Bowmore 20yo 1990/2010 (54%, A.D. Rattray, 1st Fill Bourbon, C#271, 235 Bts.)

Rich Howard, the nose is deep, warm and inviting, a well-integrated blend of orchard fruits and gentle wood smoke right from the start. hints of Seville orange, fresh pear, a whiff of buttercream drifts through, then some hints of iodine...? and then on to a pleasant oakiness through the tail. the palate hits with sweet and tangy fruits, much more vibrant than the nose suggested, but the fruits are well grounded by a dash of sea salt and gentle wood tannin. water accents the creaminess on the nose, adds a dash of spice, more herbs. the palate is sweeter, less fruit and more cream, and more quickly onto herbal wood notes on the finish. a few more drops, and it's even more sweet and more herbal, a bit too much on both counts. much better without water.

Port Ellen 24yo 1982/2007 (43%, Signatory Vintage, hogshead, C#1145, 315 Bts., 750ml)

Rich Howard, the nose hits immediately with fresh lime, then hints of mineral spirits, olive oil, apple skins, fresh field grasses, a dash of herbs, slightly damp earth, cotton balls, and finally the slightest hint of oak in the background. the palate is a tad sweeter than the nose suggests, with lime, a dash of vanilla, sweetish and savory herbs, fennel, red apple skins, olive oil, with a bit more oak here, especially on the finish. with water, fresh lime remains dominant on the nose, but now there's an infusion of sweet cream and vanilla, a suggestion of key lime pie filling (not overly sweet), which is quite nice. more olive oil now as well, and still hints of red apple skin and cooking herbs. the palate is simultaneously more bold and more integrated now, many of the same elements before, but sweeter and creamier, and more herbal on the finish. very nice, and very interesting progression with water.

Ardbeg 'Ardbog' (52.1%, OB, Mix of '1st and 2nd fill ex-bourbon' and ex-Manzanilla casks, 750ml)

Tim Puett, Nose: Dulce de leche, vanilla and even some salty caramel ice cream and butterscotch. My type of nose, richly sweet but not cloyingly so. Palate: This is where the spirit comes through with some hints of lime. Earthy, slightly peaty, and somewhat dry with some salted cashews and a bit more vanilla. Finish: Long lasting with more peat coming through, balancing the salty caramel from the nose and though its warming on the tongue, it is pleasant.

Ardbeg 'Ardbog' (52.1%, OB, Mix of '1st and 2nd fill ex-bourbon' and ex-Manzanilla casks, 750ml)

Rich Howard, the nose starts off a bit hot, with smoldering peat taking center stage. that fades somewhat quickly to toasted oak, soot, mineral water, brambles and blackberries, cured ham, black olives, brine, sweet cream and salted toffee. the wine influence gives the wood a slightly sourish note lingering in the background. the palate is brisk, and the wine quickly asserts itself, with sweet, creamy citrus riding on top of charred embers, ashes, plenty of salty green olives, kippers. the finish long and heavy with sour herbs. way too heavy, actually. a few drops of water tames the nose a bit, still some smoldering embers, black olives, with a strong infusion of creamy citrus and plenty of that salted toffee. the palate is sweeter and saltier now, but somehow better integrated. the smoking brush fire more pronounced, some blackened catfish there, Parmesan cheese, and fortunately, those prominent notes of sour herbs are mostly gone. the nose is pleasant enough either way, but for me the palate requires water. without it, the strong sweet and sour notes are too strong and unbalanced.

Tobermory 14yo 1973/1987 (56.3%, Sestante, Castle Label, 75cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale yellow gold (actually slightly paler than the picture suggests) - Nose: Quite maritime with a faint suggestion of rubberiness. Quite musty or dusty and leafy. This mellows with some minutes in the glass and develops a fruitiness ... green apple? Is that a hint of white wine too? After more minutes an almost citrus quality develops, on second thoughts perhaps more like lime blossom on a tree as opposed to the fruit itself. Yes, lime blossom. - Palate: Much more smokiness and peatiness than the nose offered. The aftertaste also suggests green fruits and lime blossom. Lovely. - Finish: Very long. - Overall Impression: What a wonderful whisky. "Great"? Very very nearly.

Springbank 13yo 1997 (57.1%, OB for Poit Still Vienna, Sherry Hogshead, 4.4.1997, C#296, 216 Bts., 70cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark oak - Nose: Raisins, currants and dry sherry then after 3-4 minutes a suggestion of salty aged oak develops to add a distinct maritime theme. This is again followed by a very faint hint of rubberiness. The whole experience is very outdoors and maritime whilst retaining an element of sherry. - Palate: Smooth with a creamy mouth-feel but quite dry and tingly too. Mmmm maritime sherry with some aged oakiness. - Finish: Long rich and dry with a suggestion of coconut right at end. - Overall Impression: Good but most unusual Springbank as it's rich and dry with lots of sherried oakiness.

Springbank 1972 (57%, OB, Big "S", white label, for Taiwan market, 750ml, 1995*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale yellow - Nose: Sweet grassy brasso? Wow, I really didn't expect this at all but yes it's sweet with an overriding grassiness and a suggestion of brasso. The grassy brasso fades quickly to be replaced by a developing floral woodiness and something quite citrus .... pineapple with a salty and lightly smoky background. What a delight. - Palate: Definite pineapple, in fact I'm reminded of those boiled pineapple sweets filled with sherbert (sherbert pineapple drops?) from my childhood. Is that a hint of ginger too? There's lots happening here and it's all good, in fact it's very alive. Is that now a faint hint of peatiness too? - Finish: Almost never-ending, thankfully! - Overall Impression: Magnifique. "Great"? Sure is.

Clynelish 1983/2002 (47%, Samaroli for Previ, C#2685, 306 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich golden - Nose: Lightly smoky vanilla pod or seeds with fruity undertones. The smokiness is quite sweet and it also intensifies with time in the glass. The nose also has a richness or depth of aromas which also grow or intensify with time. - Palate: That vanilla and smokiness initially hit the palate with lots of tingle too, but there's also a light woodiness, perhaps pine-like? Coming along after this initial burst is a definite suggestion of potato, yes really. Not unpleasant either, but it doesn't stay as this is again replaced by that woodiness, dry malty vanilla and light smoke which lead into the finish. - Finish: Long, very long .... extremely long. - Overall Impression: This offers so much, excellent, I love it.

Caol Ila 19yo (55.9%, The Whisky Exchange, Distillery picture on oval label, 70cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Shiny yellow gold - Nose: Maritime peaty fruitiness which slowly develops an accompanying light rubberiness over some minutes in the glass. It's all quite faint, gentle & subdued. - Palate: There's a very nice initial punch of peaty fruitiness as the palate is definitely bigger than the subdued nose. That fruitiness now seems to be akin to apricot, peach or even banana. - With 4 drops of water: Potato alongside the fruitiness on the nose? Maybe. The palate is now just oozing with smooth and gentle peatiness. - Finish: Long. - Overall Impression: Very nice indeed, even if gentle.

Bruichladdich 'Br4' (54.7%, The Whisky Exchange, NAS, "Elements of Islay" Br4, 50cl, 2012*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale / white wine - Nose: A faint maltiness accompanies candy floss and a light grassiness or even flora. It's all quite light and delicate but yet manages a surprising intensity. - Palate: Definite maltiness and grassiness but also a suggestion of liquorice ensuring the intensity comes to the palate too, but unlike the nose I detect no floral notes. - Finish: Very long with more of that liquorice. - Overall Impression: Nice and intense 'natural' Bruichladdich. Great nose, solid palate.

Glenfarclas 10yo (60%, OB, Malt Whisky Society of Australia's Fourth Malt Whisky Convention Adelaide 2013)

Craig Daniels, Nose: honey roasted almonds, forward, lifted and impeccably behaved ethereal alcohol, table grapes, red apple, autumn leaves, forest floor, furniture polish, fruit brandy, dried apricots, stewed fruits (plums, apricots and prunes), quality oloroso and medium sweet sherry wood. Palate: initial alcohol but with a good rounded mouthfeel,some biting sour fruit then nutty and sweetly fruity with a lovely drying sherry middle and almond and peanut nutskins towards the end. Finish: warming with lots of drying sherry, leather and leaves, sour fruits and lingering wood and tea tannins. Comments: This is a fresh, vibrant and big whisky and indubitably from sherried wood with exceptional clarity. I know it's contrarian to mention sophistication in the same breath as youth but this is a great example. There is nothing silent or dumb about this whisky; it has a classic Glenfarclas profile with a little more fruit (both fresh and stewed) than is usual in the other OBs. To the nose it is totally unpeated; if there's any smoke it comes from the wood. The ethereal alcohol, the nuts and fruit and the wood just meld and melt together seemlessly.

Laphroaig 'Highgrove' (No ABV, OB for Prince of Wales Highgrove shop, NAS, dark green label, 70cl, 2012*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Bright yellow gold - Nose: Fruity, creamy and peaty all rolled into one. Light antiseptic (medicinal) undertones slowly develop over 2-3 minutes as the fruitiness fades leaving the peatiness and medicinal qualities to expand further. - Palate: Initially a surprisingly watery mouth-feel suggests some disappointment, but the whisky literally grows on the palate with full-flavours. There's lots of medicinal peatiness and a suggestion of liquorice towards the end. - Finish: Long, deceptively long. - Overall Impression: A great nose is initially let down by the initial wateriness of the palate, but this realyl does literally grow on you and turns into a very good overall dram.

Laphroaig 'PX CASK' (48%, OB for Travel Retail Exclusive, NAS, mix of ex-bourbon, quarter cask, PX cask. , 1000ml, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Polished brass - Nose: Earthy with a light rubberiness followed shortly by hints of medicinal fruitiness which keep getting intercepted by that light rubberiness. Very interesting repeating progressions. - Palate: Quite dry fruitiness to the fore dominates the light earthy rubberiness in background. The fruitiness is really quite exotic, papaya maybe? Towards the finish there's a suggestion of light and fruity red wine. - Finish: Long and dry with that light and fruity red wine. - Overall Impression: That red wine really works a treat here, it isn't overpowering and actually adds to the overall balance of this whisky. I love it.