Recent Activity in the Whisky Monitor Database

New Bottlingsview more >

Highland Park 'Drakkar' (40%, OB, NAS, 2012)

Elements of Islay 'Lg3' (55.9%, Speciality Drinks, NAS, 'Lagavulin', 50cl, 2011*)

Ardbeg 1991/2011 (48.4%, Malts of Scotland for Hotel Bero Ostende, sherry hogshead, C#11003, 240 Bts.)

Redbreast 15yo (46%, OB, Pure Potstill, 2012*)

Tullibardine 'Age Oak Edition' (40%, OB, NAS, 2012*)

Glen Moray 20yo 1991/2011 (54.8%, Duncan Taylor, Dimensions, D. 12/'91 Btl. 12/'11, C#9408, 242 Bts.)

Tamdhu 22yo 1989/2011 (53.8%, Duncan Taylor, Dimensions, D. 09/'89 Btl. 09/'11, C#8151, 243 Bts.)

Clynelish 23yo 1988/2011 (49.8%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, D. 10/'88 Btl. 11/'11, C#4544, 247 Bts.)

Inchgower 29yo 1982/2011 (54.6%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, D. 06/'82 Btl. 09/'11, C#6974, 245 Bts.)

Miltonduff 27yo 1984/2011 (54,4%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, D. 06/'84 Btl. 08/'11, C#10015, 227 Bts.)

Springbank 15yo (46%, OB, 2012)

Tobermory 15yo (46.3%, OB, Limited Edition 1798, Gonzales Byass Oloroso Sherry, L5, 2012*)

New Notesview more >

Dalmore 'King Alexander III' (40%, OB, 2008)

Craig Daniels, Nose: Toffee, old furniture, floorboards, cherries with chocolate and cocoa. Palate: coffee, chocolate and cherry cough linctus. Finish: initially sweet, leather, red apple skins, fruit and wood bitters (green capsicum). Comment: Worth study as while it is curiously flat early on, it does open up. However there's just a tad too much bitterness in the tail.

Dalmore 15yo (40%, OB, new bottle, 2008)

Craig Daniels, Nose: toffee, toffee, toffee, carob, fresh coffee beans, raisins, ovaltine granules, condensed milk Palate: toffee with espresso coffee, more carob/chocolate, dry sherry in the back palate. Finish: leather and drying sherry which hangs around. Comment: interesting and complex but lacks some integration between the sherry and the toffee; the coffee and carob notes are fun to explore.

Balblair 2000/2010 (43%, OB, 1st Release)

Craig Daniels, Nose: Light floral, candy cane, honey comb and honeydew melon, vanilla pod. Palate: barley sugar sweet and syruppy, milk shake confectionery, condensed milk. Good mouthfeel and presence. Finish: silky, sweet with a hint of citrus. Comment: Pleasant and clean but a bit too sweet for me.

Longmorn 44yo 1966/2010 (46.8%, Gordon & MacPhail Book of Kells for JIS, C#612, 278 Bts.)

Ho-cheng Yao, Dark brown, old malt, mushroom, old oak, old malt, quite earthy and floral, medium body, quite some tannin. kind of over and too old, but still quite nice.

Highland Park 'Leif Eriksson' (40%, OB, NAS, global travel retail, wholly matured in American oak casks, 70cl, 2011)

Ho-cheng Yao, Yellow color, quite some heather and malty nose, smokiness(cask, not peat), quite grassy, medium light body, quite nice and easy, with good Highland Park house still. metured well, lingering, medium finish, quite good HP.

Bunnahabhain 25yo (43%, OB, Wooden Box)

Craig Daniels, Colour: Chestnut Teal (mid-dark brown) Nose: Bit flat and takes a while to crank up. Rich cocoa, polished teak, hint of chaff bags, flax, sultanas, soft fruits. Palate: Chocolate cake, mint chews, angostura bitters, dark chocolate, liquorice bullets. Finish; Dried fruit, dry & bitter chocolate. Comment: Classy but a bit too flat and dry. An exemplary rounded malt and very, very well balanced but a bit bland.

Bunnahabhain 18yo (46.3%, OB, 2010)

Craig Daniels, Colour: Mahogany dark red-brown Nose:Varnish, cherry wood, old piupe tobacco, toffee apple, big sherry wood, white chocolate, condensed milk. Palate: Sour fruit chews, sherry, raisins then grapefruit bitters. Finish: dry sherry and fruit bitters, some cocoa. Comment: has great presence yet all the parts aren't as integrated as they should be. I guess that some or all of the malt has been finished in some oloroso or PX casks. I'd be happy to be proved wrong, but there's a lack of integration that indicates a sherry finishing.

Bunnahabhain 12yo (40%, OB, Last version at 40% ABV, 2009*)

Craig Daniels, Colour: Amber Brown Nose: savoury, yeasty, funky, farmyardy, sweet gravy, briny Palate; sherry, cocoa, sour plums, carob Finish: sherry and brine. Comment: Nice & competent; yet light, slightly thin and gets sweeter and simpler over time.

Longmorn 1962 (40%, Various Independent Bottlers, Captain Burn's, Ryst-Dupeyron, 1990*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Earthy, standard old malty nose, brown color, quite some wood. enjoyable!

Longmorn 25yo 1955 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice, brown label, 1980*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Brown color, quite some sherry influence, pine apple, citrus, mango, raisin, light toffee, light peat, mild in body, balance, some peat and mint in palate. Nice old one!

Brora 32yo (54.7%, OB, 1500 Bts., 70cl, 2011)

Rich Howard, Immediately on olive oil and cold candle wax, mineral water, summer ferns, faint hints of charcoal and soot, black pepper. the palate is heavy on lemon zest, even some lemon drops, hints of varnish, black pepper and mineral spirits on the tail. with a few drops of water, it's all elegance and nuance, lemon custard and butter shortbread, over-ripe apple, olive oil and mineral water. outstanding...

Ardbeg 1976/2008 (52.4%, OB for Europe, sherry butt, C#2397, 519 Bts.)

Rich Howard, the nose is incredible, just so much going on here. immediately on warm toffee, coffee, sweet and sour sauce with the slightest hint of strawberry balsamic in the background, antique cloth book cover and bookshelf dust, parsley, mushrooms (both fresh and stir fried), milk chocolate in the background. the palate is both herbal and sooty, a bit of sweet and sour and stir fry spices here as well, just a touch of citrus that i didn't get on the nose, darker chocolate and a definite splash of coffee. a drop of water really accents the herbal notes on the nose, as well as the coffee, coming off a bit like a dark chocolate mocha made with chicory coffee (that's a first...), over a backdrop of tomato basil reduction. the palate is a touch sweeter now, but still very vegetal, herbal cough drops, strong on the coffee and chocolate finish, unsweetened black cherry juice cuts through, with soot and hints of smoke dancing on the tongue long, long after you swallow.

Highland Park 16yo 'Thor' (52.1%, OB, Valhalla Collection, 23000 Bts., 2012)

Rich Howard, the nose offers many of the classic Highland Park notes (heather, herbal peated water, warmed custard, orange rind, rope), but with somewhat strident additional notes of black dirt, tree bark, coffee grounds, quite a bit more smoldering peat than usual, plenty of spices (black pepper, cinammon, light cloves), definite hints of agave, and very distant whiffs of smoke. the palate is restless, almost aggresive, with plenty of back pepper, anise, cinammon and toasted oak. a drop or two of water brings out more heather and honey on the nose, and more agave, and a definite undercurrent of sweet citrus and vanilla cream, almost an oracle creamsicle... it's still quite edgy on the palate; that black pepper and cinammon is standing firm. water continues to bring out heather and agave on the nose, never losing the undercurrent of spicy herbal tea. after six drops of water or so, the spices on the palate finally start to give way, leaving more room for that creamy citrus and heather. summary: the nose is much better without water, very rich and expressive. however, the palate is quite edgy at cask strength, and although water cheapens the nose greatly, it's more or less required to soften up the palate.

The Legendary 14yo (45%, Blackadder, Sherry Cask, B10/'09, C#Leg 2009-2, 356 Bts., 2009)

Craig Daniels, Nose: some dry oloroso sherry and some honeysuckle and butterscotch. Warm and nutty and slightly meaty/savoury. Palate: syruppy then woody with straw and pine. Finish: dry and woody. Comment: a bit flat and dull with some meaty and dry notes. Little lift to the nose or palate

W. L. Weller 7yo (45%, OB, Bourbon, Buffalo Trace, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark amber - Nose: Sweet maple syrup with caramel. It's also quite floral with suggestions of spring-time herbs and mountain flowers and just a touch of violets. As time passes this becomes less sweet on the nose and acquires more depth of aromas. - Palate: The syrupy-ness from the nose has all but disappeared to leave a very pleasant selection of floral, caramel and treacle toffee type flavours. - Finish: Long. - Overall Impression: Really pretty good and certainly excellent value for money.

Bruichladdich 10yo 'The Laddie Ten' (46%, OB, The first 10years are the toughest, American-oak-matured, 700ml, 2011)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich golden yellow - Nose: This has an almost citrus freshness over a malty earthiness and, as the minutes pass the earthiness gains a quite maritime character with a slight saltiness and hints of beach-dried driftwood. - Palate: That malty freshness translates immediately to the palate with a hint of citrus (lime) tantalising the very back of the tongue. - Finish: Long with oaky lime. - Overall Impression: Bruichladdich have managed to get this one very right indeed. It's a very good, very honest and untainted by funny wine casks kind of whisky. I love it!

Penderyn 'Peated Single Cask' (61.2%, OB, NAS, Wales, C#128/2006, 176 Bts., 2011*)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Very pale straw - Nose: Smoked vanilla fruits, rocky seashore at low tide, hints of lemon zest and pepper. - Palate: Sweet peat, vanilla, a seafood platter garnished with pears and stewed apples, savoury spices, pepper. - Finish: Long, sweet and smoky. - Overall: This is a most unusual malt and certainly one that will split opinions. It is very young and still has some newmake character, but there is a lot going on. The pricing at about £300 is outrageous.

Penderyn 'Madeira' (46%, OB, NAS, Wales, 2011*)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Bright gold - Nose: Vanilla, pears, honey, polished wood, hints of ginger and pepper. - Palate: Pineapple, banana, pears, vanilla, honey, hints of nutmeg and pepper. - Finish: Medium long, sweet and slightly fruity. - Overall: Uncomplicated but very enjoyable, this is a nice and sippable malt for just about any occasion.

Glendronach 15yo 1996/2011 (57.1%, OB for Taiwan, Oloroso Sherry, C#233, 196 Bts.)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Copper Nose: Prunes, cigars, dark chocolate, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg as well as a suprising whiff of kippers. - Palate: Tea, rum soaked dried fruit, 99% cocoa chocolate, kippers seasoned with chef's secret spice mix. - Finish: Extremely long, rich, dry and smoky. - Overall: There is obviously a little sulphur involved that manifests iself as smoked fish for me. Other maniacs didn't like it quite as much, but I love this dram.

Glendronach 17yo 1994/2011 (59.2%, OB for Taiwan, Oloroso Sherry, C#107, 607 Bts.)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Mahogany - Nose: Old rum, polished old oak, orange zest, prunes, cinnamon, hints of tobacco. - Palate: Prunes, cassis, orange zest, sweet caramel and dark chocolate, hints of tea and cinnamon. - Finish: Very long, dry and fruity. - Overall: Simply a first class sherry monster.

Glendronach 39yo 1972/2011 (49.1%, OB for Taiwan, PX Puncheon, C#2033, 450 Bts.)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Dark mahogany - Nose: Prunes, dried figs, balsamic vinegar, orange zest, tobacco, old oak, hints of vanilla. - Palate: Quite similar to the nose, with a bit less vinegar and some dark dark chocolate. - Finish: Very long, dry and fruity with a hint of smoke. - Overall: The slight balsamic vinegar note makes this rich old whisky a slightly unusual but extremely enjoyable delight.

Bunnahabhain 1979/2011 (54.7%, Berry Bros & Rudd for whisky.com.tw, C#1794)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Dark copper - Nose: Dried figs, raisins, cherries, cigars, polished wood, cinnamon. - Palate: Sweet prunes, raisins, dried figs, chocolate, cinnamon, hints of tea and fresh herbs. - Finish: Very long, sweet, dry and and fruity. - Overall: A very pleasant combination of sweet fruit and dry wood with just a hint of the signature Bunnahabhain freshness.

Bunnahabhain 24yo 1986 (50.9%, Exclusive Malts for Taiwan, C#1283, 561 Bts., 2010*)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Medium amber - Nose: Raisins, tobacco, polished wood, nutmeg, hints of pepper. - Palate: Raisins, plain sugar, fudge, hints of cloves, nutmeg and pepper. - Finish: Medium long and spicy but rather sweet. - Overall: Quite pleasant on the nose but palate and finish are a bit disappointing. There is a nice spiciness but it just feels a bit too sugary.

Macduff 10yo 2000 (56.6%, Exclusive Malts for Taiwan, Dst. 15/11/2000, C#5800, 349 Bts., 2011*)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Dark amber - Nose: A cigar box in which orange peel has been dried, more mixed dried fruit and hints of nuts. Needs a while to grow. - Palate: Caramel, orange zest, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper. - Finish: Long, fruity and slightly dry. - Overall: A very pleasant mix of flavours here. This whisky is quite heavily sherried but overall it is rather subtle than in your face.

Strathisla 1965/2011 (48%, Gordon & MacPhail for LMdW, 1st Fill Sherry Butt, C#3473)

Oliver Klimek, Colour: Copper - Nose: Prunes, cassis, dark chocolate, orange zest, hints of cinnamon and pepper. - Palate: Prunes, forest berries, chocolate, strong coffee, cinnamon, hints of pepper. - Finish: Long, dry and fruity. - Overall: The rather overwhelming sherry does not quite manage to cover the traces of the decades in this very old malt. Lots of fruit meets lots of wood. A sherry monster wielding a huge wooden sledge hammer.