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New Notes

Glen Moray 24yo 1986/2011 (51.7%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, C#2306, 249 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light gold - Nose: Goodness, how about "faintly leafy malt dipped in Brasso"? The leafy Brasso then faddes to leave a fruity suggestion of gentle vanilla and apricot, developing further to include other light fruits with a very creamy mouth-feel, but all quite subdued or faint. - Palate: Lots more 'oomph' than the subdued nose as I sense toasted vanilla and light summer fruits including a suggestion of oil of orange. There's even a hint of dark chocolate leading towards the finish. - Finish: Long and gently rich. - Overall Impression: A very good whisky offering lots, even though the nose is subdued, but maybe that's an endearing characteristic too.

Dailuaine 27yo 1983/2011 (53.6%, Master of Malt, 231 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich gold - Nose: This has all the attributes of polished wood, oak book shelves filled with old first editions and even a suggestion of aged leather furniture, but all overlaid with the floral aromas of spring flowers. This develops further to offer slightly scorched wood, or perhaps more like the glowing embers of a log fire and hints of slightly herbal smoke. - Palate: Lightly floral marzipan combined with a larger selection of mixed fruit and nuts, although I must admit the individual elements are quite difficult to place as there's just so much happening here. - Finish: Extremely long and rich with some lightly sherried flora. - Overall Impression: Marvellous, I really love this whisky.

Glen Scotia 33yo 1977 (49.1%, Prestonfield, C#2749, 177 Bts., 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Bright (21ct) gold - Nose: Rising bread dough with vanilla seeds, yes, sweet bread dough is definitely on the nose here. It really doesn't change over time, just lots of that bread dough, real comfort food. I like it. - Palate: Light, simple, vanilla infused bread dough. - Finish: Long, sweet, dough. - Overall impression: This just appeals to me, I really like it.

Glenlossie 35yo 1975/2011 (51.6%, The Whisky Agency, Bourbon Hogshead, 195 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light bronze - Nose: Initially a soft woodiness accompanies a suggestion of hazelnut. Goodness, I now find hints of Earl Grey tea, no it can't have been as this has faded and been replaced by the idea of a vanilla milk shake. There is a lot happening here but it's always faint and on the subdued side. - Palate: This has a very smooth and creamy mouth-feel and isn't as subdued as the nose. There's plenty of vanilla, some suggestions of fruit and a gentle pepperiness. Even a little coconut leading towards the finish. - Finish: Long and creamy with vanilla. - Overall Impression: The nose may be subdued but this whisky has plenty to offer and I'm a fan, it's very good indeed.

Amrut (62.7%, Blackadder, NAS, C#BA 12/2010, 195 Bts., 2010)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich and bright (21ct) gold - Nose: Initially aromatically leafy but this develops further into a light rubberiness with a smoky fruitiness. This is what I call a true outdoors or countryside whisky with lost of ruggedness that reminds me of a walk along the Cornish coastal cliffs. Even the delicate flora of such a walk develops on the nose of this Amrut after further time in the glass. - Palate: Very creamy mouth-feel with an immediate explosion of apricot and peach which then fades slowly to be replaced by redcurrants. There's lots of fruity wood too. - Finish: Very long with a fruity tingle right on the front of the palate. - Overall Impression: What an excellent whisky.

Glen Spey 12yo 1999/2011 (59.8%, Riverstown, C#125, 298 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Extremely pale - Nose: Notes of creamy light cheese, aromatic hay and slightly musty vanilla greet the nose here, but it's all quite slow and subdued. - Palate: This is a little more active than the nose with light peppery vanilla, a certain creaminess, even a suggestion of vanilla cheesecake and a faint fruitiness leading into the finish. - Finish: Long and mildly fruity - Overall Impression: A quite approachable light whisky.

Glenlivet 33yo 1977 (53%, Blackadder Raw Cask, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass; Classic Malt - Colour; Bright cork - Nose; Initially fresh and leafy with the freshness expanding over time in the glass to include some woody and slightly antiseptic notes. After more time it becomes much more floral and also includes vanilla and hints of nuts and sandalwood. - Palate; Suggestions of baked apple and apricot with vanilla sauce and a sprinkle of black pepper. Then comes marzipan and a selection of mixed fruits and nuts. - Finish; Long with light pepper and fruity nuts. - Overall Impression; Don't be put off by my comments about the nose, this is a wonderful whisky with many different facets, but all pretty well in harmony.

Clynelish 15yo 1995/2011 (46%, Aberdeen Distillers, C#ABD1007, 224 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light yellow gold - Nose: This is initially quite difficult to ascertain, there's some maltiness, vanilla and wood, maybe even a little smokiness, but not peaty so definitely wood-smoke. Then comes a fresh (Atlantic) saltiness alongside the light smokiness which now both expand further. - Palate: How about 'vanilla sandwich using granary bread and eaten sitting on an Atlantic beach'? Well, that's what I think of here. Then leading towards the finish is a slightly dry fruitiness. - Finish: Long and slightly dry. - Overall Impression: A light and difficult to ascertain nose doesn't stop this from being a decent dram, maybe a good aperitif before the evening meal.

Caol Ila 14yo 1995/2010 (58.4%, James MacArthur Old Masters, Sherry, C#10042)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Yellow (21ct) gold - Nose: This initially offers a dry leafy smokiness, but at the same time it's creamy and slightly toasted. I'm now sensing smoky kiwi and passion fruit then after some minutes a suggestion of smoked herring appears. This is now very reminiscent of an Atlantic fishing harbour. - Palate: The nose translates nicely onto the palate with creamy smoked herring and lots of fruitiness with red berries, peach and apricot. Did I say creamy? Very! - Finish: Very long with rich and fruity peat. - Overall Impression: Excellent, I love that mixture of peat, fruit and Atlantic fishing harbour.

Auchentoshan 12yo 1998/2011 (62.9%, James MacArthur Old Masters, Bourbon, C#102338)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very clear and shiny pale yellow - Nose: This is all quite faint and subdued but after some time hints of polished wood appear, followed by some gentle flora. This gradually develops further to become sweet and almost lightly perfumed. - Palate: Lightly perfumed and floral, almost cognac-like in style. There's also a bit of alcohol burn, perhaps this needs some water? - Finish: Long light and floral. - Overall Impression: Light and most enjoyable. Give it some time and perhaps a couple of drops of water.

Ledaig 15yo (43%, MacNab, 1980's, 75cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Munich whisky fair own glass - Colour: Bright gold - Nose: Malty with candy floss whilst being fresh and aromatic, but always gentle. - Palate: In contrast to the gentle nose the palate packs more of a punch with an immediate burst of malt with a suggestion of liquorice. This has a texture which I can only describe as tongue-coating. Then comes a very slight bitterness leading into the finish. - Finish: Very long. - Overall impression: A mild nose and a strangely tonge-coating palate? Don't be deceived, this is an excellent whisky. Not quite a "Great", but not far away.

Tobermory 32yo 1972/2005 (49.7%, OB, Black Label, 897 Bts.)

Ho-cheng Yao, Dark brown, heavy sherried, quite nice and sweet, a little bit to mild. medium heavy body. Plum, malty, cookie, prune. Quite nice old sherry monster.

Macallan 13yo 1997/2010 'Easter Elchies Cask Selection' (52.3%, OB, sherry butt, only available at the distillery, C#432, 700ml)

Ho-cheng Yao, Dark brown, heavily sherried, plum, robust, dark chocolate, oaky, Creme Brulee, tropical fruit, quite robust a little bit not balanced.

Macallan 'Royal Marriage' (46.8%, OB for Prince William & Catherine, 1,000 bottles, available only at the distillery. Two casks from 1996 and 1999 married., 700ml)

Ho-cheng Yao, Brown, somewhat red, heavy sherry, malty, some sulfur, malty, quite Macallan. matured, strong. Quite nice Macallan, enjoyable!

Bunnahabhain 34yo 1968 (43.5%, OB, Black label, 1620 Bts.)

Ho-cheng Yao, Brown, plum, quite sherry influence, malty. Not as sherry as I thought, actually very matured and easy going. quite some rich flower. candy finish. very Bunnahabhain.

Bruichladdich 1966/1983 (53.5%, Moon Import, Riserva Veronelli, 2400 Bts.)

Ho-cheng Yao, Label looks like OB, bottled for Moon import? Brown color, earthy, plum, light smoke, very malty and cookie, cooked apple, clove, matured, nice, medium heavy body, quite enjoyable and balanced

Imperial 19yo 1990/2009 (53.4%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, C#449)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Vivid oak or perhaps even light amber - Nose: Lots of furniture polish and even a faint hint of rubberiness with oak and vanilla in the background. - Palate: Very light and mild and has an equally mild suggestion of oaky aniseed. It also has a faint fruitiness but one which is difficult to identify. - Finish: Long with a further suggestion of aniseed. - Overall Impression: Furniture polish and aniseed? Interesting, very interesting.

Imperial 19yo 1990/2009 (55.7%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, C#448)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light oak - Nose: Immediately suggests fruit but with a gentle hint of furniture polish. Then comes musty oak and after some minutes further fruity notes, this time cherries or cherry wood and vanilla. - Palate: This has a mild pepperiness alongside a suggestion of coconut and again cherries. Overall this one is really quite fruity. - Finish: Long and mildly peppery concentrated mainly on the front of the palate. - Overall Impression: Nice fruity tingle with an emphasis on cherries.

Imperial 19yo 1990/2009 (53.7%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, C#446)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale bronze - Nose: Surprisingly fruity with a big burst of apple and passion fruit and a faint leafiness in the background. - Palate: Wonderfully smooth mouth-feel and again very fruity, but this time with mainly peach and cantaloupe melon. This really is smooth, gentle and very approachable! - Finish: Long with a delightful fruity tingle. - Overall Impression: I love that peach and melon. A very good whisky.

Imperial 19yo 1990/2009 (53.1%, Duncan Taylor, Rare Auld, C#445)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark gold - light oak - Nose: Initially offers some semi sweet notes of floral malt and candy floss. After some minutes in the glass this develops a mustiness in the background which is reminiscent of an old musty or dusty library shelf. - Palate: Ths sees that mustiness turn more into a leafiness which is accompanied by a suggestion of slightly bitter fruit, perhaps star fruit or apple in character. - Finish: Quite long and also quite dry. - Overall Impression: A most enjoyable nose but a slightly bitter palate lets this down a little. In some ways I'm reminded of a mix between a grappa and obstler style.

Cragganmore 21yo 1989/2010 (56%, OB, American oak casks, 5856 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale (9ct) yellow gold. - Nose: Lightly woody with slightly sweet vanilla and very aromatic grasses. There's a light citrus note suggesting lemon alongside perfumed hay. This is also quite fresh. - Palate: Citrus with a light pepperiness then vanilla and a hint of cherries. - Finish: Long, very long. - Overall Impression: It's fresh, it has some citrus elements with lots of vanilla and aromatic grasses and I really like this one!

Longmorn 1976/2011 (52.2%, Malts of Scotland, Bourbon Hogshead, C#5872, 174 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light polished oak. - Nose: Freshly made bread dough waiting to rise. This just continues to expand and intensify to the point where I'm reminded of walking into my Grandmother's house as a child and being confronted with the aromas of bread dough amid warnings to be quiet and not disturb the mixture. This is eventually followed by a big burst of vanilla. - Palate: The bread dough and vanilla of the nose continue onto the palate in a big way, but are accompanied by a suggestion of leafiness. The mouth-feel is creamy and milky to the point where I'm reminded of protein powder supplements I used some years ago whilst training in the gym. - Finish: Long with lots of vanilla notes. - Overall Impression: Nice, very nice, in fact excellent.

Longmorn 16yo (40%, OB, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Polished pine. - Nose: A fresh leafiness makes this really quite autumnal in character. With time in the glass this turns much more aromatic with floral notes developing. These are followed further by wood, hints of wax polish and eventually some fruitiness. - Palate: This is even more intense than the nose with rich wood, raisins, figs and a slight pepperiness concentrating on the very front of the palate. There's also a light fruitiness. - Finish: Long and concentrating on the front of the palate. - Overall Impression: This really is a very good whisky and for me, exceptionally good value for money.

Mortlach 13yo 1997 (46%, Murray McDavid for Flickenschild, C#001, 485 Bts., 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light amber - Nose: Vanilla with hints of raspberry. The vanilla then intensifies and gains a slight leafiness which also continues to expand with time in the glass. Eventually there'S a hints of apple & peach. - Palate: Initially creamy and slightly leafy vanilla. This 'grows' very rich to suggest liquorice. There's also a slight suggestion of smokiness although the creamy vanilla is always present in the background. - Finish: Medium to long and slightly dry. - Overall Impression: There's lots happening here, but perhaps the orchestra isn't quite in time with each other. It's just a little unbalanced.

Mortlach 20yo 1990/2011 (57.9%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection, Refill Sherry Butt, C#6069, 521 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Golden amber, perhaps light teak. - Nose: Rich and glowing bonfire embers with a definite floral character. Toasted currants and recently polished antique oak. This is an extremely vibrant but rich nose which fades only very slowly over time. - Palate: Delightfully creamy mouth-feel just before a massive burst of toasted oak and currants takes over. This expands to become slightly peppery and then even offers a faint suggestion of coconut towards the finish. - Finish: Long, very long, oaky, nutty and even that suggestion of coconut. - Overall Impression: A wonderful example of Mortlach.

Mortlach 16yo (43%, OB Flora & Fauna, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light sunny amber - Nose: Lots of wood and resin notes here with a sense of freshly cut aged oak. The whisky then opens further to offer hints of aroamtic grasses and hay in an old barn. Then further with slightly bitter damson and plum. - Palate: A very smooth and creamy mouth-feel with flavours of aged oak, plums, figs and something I can't quite place but it suggests slightly sharp (as in bitter - spicy) fruit. The whole palate is realyl quite rich. - Finish: Medium to long. - Overall Impression: An enjoyable rich whisky, maybe just a little unbalanced with that bitterness.

Miltonduff 13yo 1998/2011 (61.4%, Riverstown, C#3603, 324 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale yellow gold. - Nose: Very aromatic leafy bread dough being left to rise. This intensifies with time in the glass but is also joined by a suggestion of light malt and hay. - Palate: Much more lively than the nose with suggestions of peppery malt, banana stem and baked green apple. There's even a very floral hint of spring flowers. - Finish: Medium and light with lots of floral malt. - Overall Impression: Once again a slightly weak nose but excellent palate.

Miltonduff 1998/2011 (57%, Berry Bros & Rudd, C#3605)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light oak. - Nose: Light malt with lots of biscuit type aromas, both oatmeal and plain "morning coffee" types. - Palate: Much more happening on the palate with toffee, hints of caramel (not in a bad way, much like a sweet shop) and something which I can only describe as meaty and slightly herbal. Perhaps roast beef with a herb crust? - Finish: Long and only slowly fading - Overall Impression: The nose is slightly weak but I love that palate.

Benriach 19yo 1991/2011 (57.9%, Blackadder Raw Cask, C#32284, 238 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light oak - Nose: Initial suggestion of freshly sawn aromatic oak followed by hints of unbaked, freshly rising home-made bread dough. After some 5 minutes in the glass the nose expands to include lightly herbal grasses and lemon tree blossom. - Palate: Lots of initial punch with lime, biscuit and (almost, but not quite) liquorice. Then some delightful lightly perfumed butterscotch. - Finish: Long with a suggestion of floral buttersctoch. - Overall Impression: I'm impressed. What a wonderful whisky, truly excellent.

Benriach 12yo 'Horizons' (50%, OB, Triple distilled, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich gold - Nose: Slightly dry scorched wood, a light fruitiness and after some minutes a hint of cloves. The suggestion of cloves expands with more time in the glass. - Palate: Very creamy mouth-feel with an accompanying burst of flavou comprising mainly peppery cloves and cardamom seeds. - Finish: Long and rich with a gentle peppery tingle. - Overall Impression: A very good whisky, I really enjoyed this one.

Benriach 34yo 1976/2011 (57.8%, OB, C#6942, 469 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark and glowing deep rich amber - Nose: Oak embers glowing richly at the end of a bonfire or BBQ. Very rich, almost toasted but not quite such a 'burnt' effect. Hints of heavily sherried biscuit and then a fruity suggestion of hot prunes with custard. - Palate: An initial gentle fruitiness bursts forth to massive dark fruits. Think mainly black cherries prunes and figs. This fruitiness has the suggestion of being lightly cooked or warmed on a base of biscuit. - Finish: Very long, rich, fruity and lightly nutty. Delightful. - Overall Impression: Wonderful whisky. A true "Great" for me!

Benriach 12yo 'Sherry Wood' (46%, OB, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich amber - Nose: An initial burst of oaky traditional wax furniture polish, then turning more fruity with suggestions of black cherries and creamy mango. All finished off with hints of Brasso. - Palate: Lots of dark fruits with figs, currants and black cherries with a very creamy mouth-feel albeit slightly dry. Is there a hint of custard on those fruits? Perhaps even some almond? - Finish: Long rich and slightly dry. - Overall Impression: A most enjoyable whisky and good value for money.

Glen Grant 'The Major's Reserve' (40%, OB, NAS, 70cl, 2010*)

Pit Krause, It is light, of course, and like a summer breeze, a great aperitif, no offnote, a great base of a fine malt: hay, heather, malt, licorice, flowers, lemon, a bit of honey.

Longrow 14yo (46%, OB, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Golden yellow. - Nose: An immediate sugegstion of freshly polished brass and light almond. It's fairly musty too. After a minute or two there's something slightly vegetal, but not unpleasantly so. After 2-3 more minutes a light smokiness begins to develop and then expands. - Palate: Creamy but slightly peppery vanilla greets the palate. The pepperiness offers a degree of liveliness whilst the whisky remains creamy and yes, very drinkable! Then comes a hint of fruity peatiness which, like the nose, just expands even more. - Finish: Medium to long. - Overall Impression: Not exactly a peat monster, more subtle than that, but very enjoyable.

Springbank 15yo 1995/2011 (46%, Hart Brothers Finest Collection, Dst. 11/'95, Btl. 07/'11)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very pale yellow gold. - Nose: Very aromatic and very fruity to the point where I'm thinking of an open-air fruit market in summer sunshine. I particularly detect apple and banana stem but there's also a citrus element (lime maybe?) - Palate: This has a very creamy mouth-feel with an initial burst of leafiness, but this is soon replaced by a fruitiness reminiscent of melon flavour ice cream and a suggestion of peach. - Finish: Medium, slightly dry and lightly fruity. - Overall Impression: A very nice light and fruity Springbank.

Springbank 15yo 1995/2010 (49.9%, A.D. Rattray for Alba Import, Sherry Hogshead, C#96)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very rich dark oak, maybe even mahogany. - Nose: A light rubberiness overlaid by (Atlantic) sea-air and a light smokiness. This all reminds me so far of a cool misty morning on an Atlantic beach. A suggestion of cherries and damson then provide a fruitiness alongside the smokiness. Finally, a hint of Alpine cheese develops. - Palate: Everything the nose promised, plus some extra light fruitiness. In fact there's even some lightly toasted fruitiness and then I detect what I can only describe as an Atlantic rubberiness. - Finish: Long and rich with a suggestion of toasted coconut. - Overall Impression: Yet another facet to Springbank, what a good one too.

Springbank 1992/2011 (46%, Berry Bros & Rudd, Peat-smoked, C#61, 70cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: 9ct yellow gold - Nose: Ooh quite unusual, this needs a little time ... Mmm some suggestion of outdoor swimming pool, then a 'clean' mildly soapy freshnesss which expands to a leafiness and then further to being quite floral. This is really becoming nice now. Honeysuckle? Some light fruitiness too. - Palate: Vanilla sauce over coconut macaroon? It's creamy, it's buttery and fruity too with hints of apple and pear. - Finish: Very long. - Overall Impression: Most unusual, most drinkable. I really like this whisky.

Springbank 18yo (46%, OB, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: 21ct yellow gold - Nose: Glowing bonfire embers with warming herbs (basil, thyme & rosemary). After some minutes I detect a hint of coconut. - Palate: Very creamy mouth-feel accompanied by a suggestion of baked apple with vanilla sauce. Also some slightly peppery peach and a hint of oil of orange leading into the finish. This palate is soothing and gently rich. - Finish: Long and really quite luxurious. - Overall Impression: What an excellent whisky, I'm very impressed.

Great King Street (43%, Compass Box, NAS, 2011)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very pale yellow - Nose: This really appears to need time. I detect only hints of grasses and fresh countryside air. This does expand with time but with more of the same, although a light floral fragrance is suggested too. - Palate: There's certainly more happening on the palate than the nose with creamy but faint fruit and malt, then a mild hint of liquorice towards the finish. There's also a mild spiciness, very mild. - Finish: Medium to long. - Overall Impression: This may be light and slightly unassuming, but it really is a good whisky and well worth trying.

Compass Box 'Flaming Heart' (48.9%, Compass Box, NAS, btl. sept., 4186 Bts., 2010)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: 9ct yellow gold - Nose: Initial burst of (lemon) citrus leads on to a suggestion of fresh Atlantic sea-air. With time in the glass that lemon turns more herbal and even grassy. his is finally followed by a very light rubberiness. - Palate: Creamy smooth mouth-feel offers lots of lemon and vanilla, with a nice tingle too. I think I even detect a sugegstion of melon now. - Finish: Medium to long with fruits and spices. - Overall Impression: A most enjoyable light but fresh and fruity whisky.

Tobermory 1972/1990 (46%, Moon, The Animals, C#1527-31, 600 Bts.)

Pit Krause, soapyness ruins a perfect dram...if you can stand the soap, it is nice.

Laphroaig 16yo 1995/2011 (57.4%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection, Bourbon Barrel, C#44, 140 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Bright golden yellow. - Nose: Very aromatic and lots of fresh air which reminds me of freshly washed blankets with conditioner hanging out to dry. This is followed by a gradually expanding leafiness accompanied by peat smoke. Do Lenor offer a peated version of their fabric conditioner? If so, I want it! - Palate: A surprising initial burst of creamy coconut with expanding peat which just expands and expands and expands .... Lots of Atlantic sea-air now too. - Finish: Long and peaty and continuing to expand. - Overall Impression: Wonderful. Lots of what I call traditional Laphroaig accompanied by plenty of not so traditional floral surprises. Another excellent Laphroaig.

Laphroaig 18yo 1990/2008 (46%, Hart Brothers Finest Collection)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Extremely pale. - Nose: Leafy light rubber is followed just for a second or tow by a suggestion of milky baby vomit. Come to think of it this could be what peaty Ovaltine would be like? - Palate: Much more solid than the nose as a creamy peatiness expands to include red berries, then that leafiness leads into the finish. - Finish: Very long, leafy and peaty. - Overall Impression: A rather strange nose let this one down somewhat for me.

Laphroaig 25yo 1986/2011 (60.6%, A.D. Rattray Cask Collection, Bourbon, C#2123)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: 21ct yellow gold - Nose: An initial burst of galia melon and papaya is followed by a suggestion of cherry wood. After 3-5 minutes a smokiness begins to appear which is followed after 2-3 more minutes by a slightly antiseptic suggestion. - Palate: An initially smooth mouth-feel offers an expanding fruity punch and a light pepperiness. This expands to include lots more fruit and then light peat. - Finish: Very long and fruity with a mild peatiness. - Overall Impression: Another truly excellent Laphroaig approaching "Greatness", but not quite.

Laphroaig 21yo 1990/2011 (56.3%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, Collector's Edition, C#2351)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich amber, not quite treacle toffee. - Nose: A very generous portion of raisins and plums marinated in amaretto and served in a toasted oak basket. A hint of brandy snap too. An initial light smokiness expands with time in the glass. - Palate: Quite unusual here with a suggestion of richly sherried wood, gently smoky peat and an underlying fruitiness. - Finish: Long, rich and succulent. - Overall Impression: Excellent, truly excellent. I'm really getting to like the idea of sherried Laphroaig.

Laphroaig 21yo 1990/2011 (55.9%, The Whisky Agency Private Stock, 264 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very pale (9ct) yellow gold - Nose: Lots of glowing enbers, fresh Atlantic sea-air and some toffee-apple. In fact this is so reminiscent of my childhood bonfire nights (you know, Nov. 5th when we celebrate Guy Fawkes failure to blow up the Houses of Parliament) but in this case held on an Atlantic beach. - Palate: Even more peat on the palate, in fact that bonfire just exploded in a very peaty way. It's also really quite fruity and suggests hot raspberries swimming in vanilla sauce. - Finish: Long and gently peaty. - Overall Impression: If only those childhood bonfires would have been held on an Atlantic beach! This is wonderful whisky, lots of peat but fruity too. I love that nose, but the palate isn't bad either.

Laphroaig 20yo 1991/2011 (53.3%, Liquid Sun, 279 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich amber, maybe almost teak - Nose: Lots of lightly polished smoky oak which slowly expands to include a faint rubberiness. There's also a fruitiness which reminds me of red berries and then a faint suggestion of nuts. Somehow I wonder if this is what it would be like treading a fruit and nut mixture in an old oak vat wearing rubber wellies. - Palate: Very creamy mouth-feel and lots of vanilla, yes really, even though this is a sherry cask. It's almost like a bourbon (the vanilla not the whisky) vanilla sauce. This is soon replaced by expanding peat smoke, apricot and toasted wood as I detect a definite change to more typical sherry cask characteristics. - Finish: Very long, very rich and slightly dry. - Overall Impression: What a surprising whisky. There's just so much happening on both nose and palate. Wonderful indeed!

Benrinnes 1996/2009 'Manager's Choice' (59.1%, OB, C#8994, 324 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Extremely pale yellow - Nose: Oooh nice, but this needs more time as I just can't quite place things yet. As it settles over a few minutes I begin to detect fruity wood with guava, but then not much else. It#s far from complex and quite simple, but good. - Palate: Lively and effusive with peppery vanilla and then a mild fruitiness. - With 4 drops of water: Lots of fresh light wood on the nose whilst the palate is lighter, fruitier and has more 'tingle' from a light pepperiness. - Finish: Long and light. - Overall Impression: Quite different, good and it profits from just a little water.

Glen Ord 1997/2009 'Manager's Choice' (59.2%, OB, C#10181, 204 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light gold with a hint of sunshine - Nose: Malt and oaky wood, turning really quite leafy after 2-3 minutes. Also some hints of slightly floral hay. - Palate: Initially very creamy mouth-feel, then leafy with some light liquorice. - With 4 drops of water: Lots of leafy wood on the nose, whereas the palate is less leafy, smoother and with more fruitiness (apple & pear). A light toffee element suggests toffee apple. - Finish: Long. - Overall Impression: A very interesting change when the water is added, making it much better in my opinion too. ** 79 points neat, 82 points with the water added. ***

Auchroisk 1999/2009 'Manager's Choice' (60.6%, OB, C#111323, 642 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light yellow gold - Nose: Vanilla ice cream with a light fresh leafiness. A faint suggestion of aniseed develops after 2-3 minutes alongside a light maltiness. The aniseed expands with more time. - Palate: Vanilla and some liquorice which sits right on the front of the palate. Also very creamy ice cream. - With 4 drops of water: More leafiness on the nose. The palate is smoother and lighter with less liquorice but more woodiness. - Finish: Long, even longer with water. - Overall Impression: Very good, especially with the water added.

Royal Lochnagar 1994/2009 'Manager's Choice' (59.3%, OB, C#837, 528 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Deep yellow gold - Nose: Initially very aromatic with lots of wax polish but this rather quickly changes to become much more floral with hints of candy floss. After some 5-6 minutes it changes again to include an aromatic malty woodiness and a fruity toffeeness. - Palate: Fiery fruity wood, this seems to need some water. - With 4 drops of water: A much lighter nose. The palate now has malty vanilla, light fruit, white pepper and lots of mouth tingle. - With a further 4 drops: The nose is now very faded, as is the palate which exhibits only very faint woodiness and vanilla. - Finish: Long and peppery with water. - Overall Impression: Aromatic and it needss water, but not so much!

Knockando 1996/2009 'Managers' Choice' (58.6%, OB, C#800790, 599 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich teak - Nose: Nice and rich with smoked wood, toasted currants, walnuts and a faint hint of rubberiness behind the wood. This all intensifies further with time in the glass. - Palate: Rich and toasted with lots of dark fruits and wood (raisins, currants, figs and dark cherries). It's also slightly dry and hints of marzipan lead into the finish. - Finish: Fruity, rich and lightly toasted with some suggestion of furniture polish. Long. - Overall Impression: Very rich with lots of 'oomph'.

Glenlossie 1999/2009 'Manager's Choice' (59.1%, OB, C#14098, 204 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very pale yellow (9ct) gold - Nose: Light but very aromatic with lightly perfumed leathery malt. Almost olde worlde sweet shoppe, but not quite. This all intensifies further with time in glass and it eventually develops hints of a light Atlantic breeze and an almost undetectable light smokiness. - Palate: A big burst of lightly peppered fruit with hints of coconut. This is a cross between those fruit salad sweets I enjoyed as a child, liquorice allsorts and coconut macaroons. - With 4 drops of water: This was most enjoyable without water and I'm not sure it needs any, but I'll try 4 drops ..... The nose is now much lighter but more aromatic. The palate has lots more pepper and much less fruit. I was right, it didn't need water! - Finish: Long. - Overall Impression: Most enjoyable!

Glendullan 1995/2009 'Manager's Choice' (58.7%, OB, C#12718, 636 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Cork - Nose: Quite sweet with hints of furniture polish but becoming less sweet with time in the glass. It also expands to include a leafiness and hints of (unused) tea leaf. - Palate: Sweet and creamy mouth-feel with lots of vanilla. Also a light pepperiness almost suggesting crème brulée. - With 4 drops of water: The nose is now aromatic and lightly perfumed leafy grasses and the palate is less peppery and includes leafy coconut. - Finish: Very long. - Overall Impression: Sweet? Leafy? Tea leaf? Better with water.

Glen Moray 16yo (40%, OB, 2010*)

Craig Daniels, Nose: honey and malt, little bit of vanillan oak and toffee. Palate: honey, quite light and some stewed fruit. Finish; honey and toffee. Comment: Smooth, pleasant but relatively bland.

Penderyn 'Portwood' (41%, OB, NAS, Wales, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Coppery gold - Nose: Oooh quite unusual, this needs a little more time to develop fully .... How about Alpine cheese covered or even marinated in something quite red? This is almost winey, but not quite. Now I'm detecting a nuttiness, then beef stroganoff and even something quite perfumed. Very interesting! - Palate: Lots of juniper with a big red wine influence here. Then a sweet fruitiness reminscent of bramble jelly or even sweet redcurrant. - Finish Long and very red. - Overall Impression: I love that nose, it's one of the most interesting I've experienced for some time, although the palate isn't quite as complex or unusual, but this is certainly a most enjoyable whisky.

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

Keith Wood, *** Bottle No.16 of 176 *** Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Extremely pale, almost water-like - Nose: Slightly herbal and lightly smoked juniper. Herbal smoky gin? Can I term the phrase Ginsky? After some minutes a fruitiness develops which reminds me of red & white currants. - Palate: The smokiness is more pronounced on the palate, nice! There's still plenty of juniper but also a slightly peppery summer-fruitiness. - Finish Long and lightly perfumed smokiness. - Overall Impression: Excellent. I love this whisky as the light peatiness really impresses. *** Bottle No.176 of 176 *** - Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: They don't come any paler. - Nose: Very herbal with juniper too. This has a really herbal bouquet which is light, fresh and almost perfumed. - Palate: Wow, very herbal but accompanied by a delightfully light smokiness. It's very smooth and slightly fruity with blackberry too. - Finish Long herbal and lightly smoky. - Overall Impression: I detected some subtle differences between this bottle and bottle No.16 from the same cask (above review), but again it is an excellent whisky with a delightfully herbal mix of fruitiness and smokiness.

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

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Bright (9ct) yellow gold - Nose: Initially juniper with hints of red grape, then after some minutes I detect what I can only describe as faintly malty plasticine, but it doesn't stay long as the juniper returns accompanied by a suggestion of baked apple. - Palate: Lots of juniper and red fruit, maybe along the lines of gin with cranberry juice. - Finish Long with plenty of juniper - Overall Impression: A decent whisky, but maybe just a little too much juniper for my taste.

Penderyn 'Madeira Finished' (46%, OB, Single Malt Welsh Whisky)

Keith Wood, Nose: Gin, Juniper - Palate: Dry, juniper and cinnamon. Quite a distinct tingle on the front of the tongue. - With water: Juniper and much more spicy.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label 'King George V Edition' (40%, OB)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Gold - Nose: A tinge of rubber, hints of smoke and eventually some slightly sweet pear - Palate: Delightfully smooth but slow to develop. This really does build slowly, with some initial pear gradually opening to include walnut, maybe a little chestnut and eventually a light mango ice cream. - Finish: Once this gets going it is indeed very long and ends with a tingling spiciness. - Overall impression: How much!

Johnnie Walker Blue Label (40%, OB)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Dark honey - Nose: Nuts and slight phenol. - Palate: Fantastically smooth with lots of nuts and almond paste. - Overall impression: This really is good. But the typical price here is around €120 and I'm sorry, but it's not THAT good. For the same €120 I can get some great single malts which are much better in my opinion.

Johnnie Walker Premier (43%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Bugatti Kelch - Colour: Rich dark oak - Nose: Freshly polished oak, wood, marzipan, gentle nut assortment, hints of cognac - Palate: Immediately intense, rich aromatic honey, red wine, oak, toffee - Finish: Very long, intense and sweet - Overall Impression: An excellent whisky, I love it and it's now my favourite JW, but still a little too expensive at around €100

Johnny Walker 15yo 'Green Label' (43%, OB, 2009*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich gold - Nose: Hints of smoke, peat and a Scottish jetty on a stormy day in the Atlantic. - Palate: Initially delightfully smooth and expanding into a smoky, peaty crescendo right on the front of the tongue. - Finish: Long, but always right on the front middle of the tongue. - Overall Impression: A wonderful JW and also the best value of them all!

Johnnie Walker Double Black (43%, OB, NAS, 1000ml, 2010)

Keith Wood, Glass: Bugatti Kelch - Colour: Oak, light amber - Nose: Initially a little chemical, light oak, vanilla and slightly maritime. After 3-4 minutes some fruit (peach) appearing, then after a further 3-4 minutes this is replaced by an aroma of freshly dug potatoes. - Palate: There is a very slight hint of peat, but the emphasis is on very slight as the main influence here is a mixture of pear and peach. - Finish: Quite long and dry. - Overall Impression: When I heard that JW were introducing this Double Black into certain markets as another peated or smoky offering I wondered why they should be competing with their own Green Label, but not to worry, this is hardly peated and far more chemical. In fact it's a rather strange whisky overall and not a patch on the wonderrful Green Label. I even prefer the 'normal' black label!

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Amber - Nose: A weak nose takes some time to develop and when it does, it offers the slightest hint of smoke, overlaid with soft wood, faint herbs and a mixture of apple and pear. - Palate: I detect a smoky presence along one side of the tongue, whilst the other half seems engulfed in fruit. This is also quite gentle and not at all a harsh whisky. - Finish: Medium to long and gently repetitive. - Overall Impression: With all components of this blend a minimum of 12 years it is definitely a little more mature than the Red Label, but still great value and a jolly good everyday blend.

Johnnie Walker Red Label (40%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Amber - Nose: A touch of malt, a slight hint of rubber, damp walnut shells and a wet, leafy jetty. - Palate: Initially soft and creamy with not very much burn following as the flavour of nuts, straw, malt and hints of honey spread across the palate. - Finish: Long. - Overall Impression: A good value, everyday blend, especially this litre I found for €16

Islay Blended 'Big Peat' (57.8%, Douglas Laing, NAS, 2011)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Extremely pale, almost water-like. - Nose: Atlantic fishing harbour with smoke and faint peat. The peat expands with time and eventually includes a slightly smoky raspberry-like fruitiness served with custard. After more time this is all taken over by smoky rainy peat bog. - Palate: Good fruity peat punch, but high abv shows here. It seems to need water but still offers excellent levels of peat with faint suggestions of light flora. - Finish: Very long and peaty. - Overall Impression: Extremely good whisky!

Islay Blended 'Big Peat' (46%, Douglas Laing, NAS, vatting of Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore, Port Ellen, 2009*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Extremely pale, almost water-like. - Nose: Very pleasant with gentle soft peat alongside subtle hints of wood and fruit. The fruit is a cross between something tropical and citrus, perhaps like mango and lime zest. In the background I also find a suggestion of rubber dinghy and the aromas surrounding the dentist's surgery. - Palate: A slightly watery mouth-feel gives way to green apple, star fruit, pears and an open peat bonfire on an Atlantic beach. - Finish: Quite long and fruity in the character of a German 'obstler' schnapps, but with added peat. - Overall Impression: This is a pretty decent whisky, better than I had initially imagined as it offers a good combination of peat and fruit and yes, it is quite 'big'!

Mackinlay 'Shackleton Replica' (47.3%, OB, NAS, blended malt, 2011)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale yellow gold - Nose: Light and fresh with a citrus character reminding me of faint lime and pineapple. It's also slightly farmy with hay and aromatic grasses before more fruit develops after some minutes. It is also very warming at this point with pear, melon and apple alongside the grass and hay. - Palate: Creamy smooth with a delayed bite of fruity pepper. This is followed by slightly bitter star fruit, hay, apricot and crème Brulée with an exceptionally creamy mouth-feel. - Finish: Very long with fruit and pepper. - Overall Impression: A totally unique whisky, unlike any other I have tried. Delightful too.

The Tweeddale Blend 10yo (46%, OB, blended, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Glowing golden yellow - Nose: Initially slightly leafy, a little like an English country lane on a cool and damp Autumnal early morning. After a minute or so this extends to include honey, nuts and a hint of vanilla. - Palate: Delightfully smooth with a surprisingly 'big' flavour after that nose. It is still leafy, but also has nuts, ripe red apples, honey and a good share of malt. Is that some dark fruit in there too? Maybe raisins or even plums? - Finish: Long and slightly dry right at the end. - Overall Impression: This really is an excellent blend with a big flavour-punch which I thoroughly enjoyed and I'm already looking forward to future batches.

Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18yo (40%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Nose: I found this a quite difficult one, but it did offer lots of malt and almost phenolic bilge pumps. - Palate: Smooth and gentle with a distinct wateriness. Slight hints of marzipan and initially quite short, but on the second drink it returns to the palate and stays a little longer. - Overall Impression: Pleasant, but hardly memorable.

Glenglassaugh 1967/2010 'The Manager's Legacy' (40.4%, OB, 200 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich sunny amber - Nose: Initially dusty candy floss being spun, then light cherries with a hint of maracuja. The cherries expand with time in the glass, but always remain quite light. Finally, there's a suggestion of something which takes me a while to place, but eventually I realise this is an old childhood delight from local fairgrounds called brandy snap! Oh goodness, yes, with that candy floss and now brandy snap I'm returned to childhood afternoon visits to a local fairground with my parents. Happy times! Can I have a ride on the waltzing horses please? - Palate: Wonderfully creamy mouth-feel with that brandy snap, cherries, polished oak, then lots of fruit and sherry. This is very well balanced too. - Finish: Very long, light floral oak and yes, that brandy snap. - Overall Impression: Stunningly good, an absolute gem, nay, a "Great"!

Tobermory 15yo 1995/2011 (46%, Aberdeen Distillers, C#ABD1001, 164 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Vanilla ice cream - Nose: Initially musty, dusty and leafy then after 4-5 minutes definite hints of blige pump and milky baby vomit. This is really quite stale. - Palate: Leafy and really quite dry, although thankfully the baby vomit is restricted to the nose, just lots of leafy hay and really quite penetrating too. - Finish: Medium to long, leafy and dry. - Overall Impression: Stale milky baby vomit? That nose really lets it down.

Ledaig 1998/2010 (61.8%, Malts of Scotland, sherry butt, C#800025, 256 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Slightly watery rich amber - Nose: Very aromatic Alpine cheese, almost "seaty-sock" parmesan style. Then lightly rubbery with hints of drying paint. - Palate: Everything the nose promised, with a little extra creaminess for mouth-feel. - Finish: Very long, rich and quite intrusive. - Overall impression: A little hint of Alpine cheese is good, but this much?

Ledaig 9yo 2001/2011 (50.5%, Whisky Doris The Dram, 212 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light yellow gold - Nose: Starts grassy and leafy whilst slowly developing light fruit and hints of peat smokiness. Then come hints of cloves wrapped in a faint rubberiness which expands further with time in glass. - Palate: Initially peppery light peat with a light rubberiness, but red berries soon appear and then faint coconut leads into the finish. - Finish: Long and lightly peaty. - Overall impression: Another good offering from Whisky Doris.

Tobermory 15yo (46.3%, OB, Gonzales Byass Oloroso Sherry Finish, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich dark oak - amber - Nose: Ahhh rubber wellies left in an aired hallway. Hints of dark chocolate begin to appear after 3-4 minutes, the cardamom seeds join the rubberiness. - Palate: Very much as per the nose with a light rubberiness, chocolate, almost coffee hints, cardamom seeds, cloves and toasted oak. - Finish: Long with spiced wood. - Overall Impression: Wellies left in a hallway? Don't be put off, this is a good whisky, I really like it.

Tobermory 10yo (46.3%, OB, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Bright (9ct) yellow gold - Nose: Initially musty & malty, then expanding to include light leafiness and damp dust with a hint of maracuja. - Palate: Fruity and leafy with hints of toffee and black peppercorn. Some malt comes through too, always with a smooth and creamy mouth-feel. - Finish: Long and tingling right on the front of the palate. - Overall Impression: A definite improvement on the older 40% version. Nice.

Ledaig 10yo (46.3%, OB, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale bronze - Nose: Very Atlantic or coastal with salt, sea-air and a light peatiness. This is joined by a faint rubberiness after 2-3 minutes and then the salt and rubberiness expand further with more time. - Palate: The rubberiness is lightly evident, but much more so the sea-air and peatiness. There#s also a suggestion of cloves and roast beef in the background. - Finish: Long and peaty with raost beef. - Overall impression: Really quite amazing, I like this one.

Auchroisk 20yo (58.1%, OB, 5856 Bts., 2010)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Shiny bronze / rich gold - Nose: Initially lightly smoked malt, then polished wood with hints of banana stem. Lots of quality soft leather and also a suggestion of fruit & nut mix. - Palate: A cocktail of fruit, wood, fresh ginger and white pepper. Then faint orange and dark chocolate lead into the finish. - Finish: Very long with a hint of orange zest. - Overall Impression: Marvellous, a stunningly good whisky.

Glencadam 1975/2007 (46%, Montgomerie's Single Cask, C#1)

Keith Wood, Nose: Sturdy leather hiking boots meandering across a Spring-time Alpine meadow in full blossom - Palate: Very creamy, almost peaches and cream with a very faint hint of expensive leather. But the finish is very short - With 4 drops of water: The Alpine meadow flora recedes slightly, but the finish expands - With 4 more drops of water: Much longer finish, but also a spicier character develops - Yet another 4 drops of water: I am now venturing well beyong my normal addition of water, but surprisingly this dram suddenly blossoms into a great one with a long and creamy finish. - Overall Impression: I sampled this dram at the Munich whisky fair directly from the McKillop's / Montgomeries stand and the knowledgeable staff did warn that this Montgomeries range, even at 46% ABV required water. I wholeheartedly agree as the water turned this dram from a good to extremely good one!

Glencadam 11yo (58.5%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, ex-sherry refill butt, Rubber trunchons and bargepoles, C#82.18, 771 Bts., 70cl, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Walnut, aged oak - Nose: Rich but sweet dark fruits, aromatic aged oak and hints of rich rubber. - Palate: Rich dark fruits with plenty of alcohol tingle right at the front of the palate. Also old oak and leather. A hint of cinnamon? - With 4 drops of water: A little more leather, slightly more spice and longer finish. - With 4 more drops of water: More wood, nuts and dark fruits, but again more spice (black pepper). - Yet another 4 drops of water: This is probably now optimum, spicy, leather, wood, nuts and dark fruits. - Finish: Long, even longer and more repetitive with more water. - Overall Impression: A jolly good dram. It certainly needs water.

Whyte & Mackay 19yo 'Old Luxury' (40%, OB, Blend, Sherry finish, 2009*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Teak, dark amber - Nose: Aged oak, raisins, prunes and just a hint of rather mature Alpine cheese. - Palate: Delightfully smooth and creamy with raisins, currants, dark berries, the faintest hint of marzipan and a touch of that Alpine cheese. - Finish: Very long, smooth and rich. - Overall Impression: Good stuff from W&M, a rich and winter warming blend.

Whyte & Mackay 13yo 'The Thirteen' (40%, OB, Blend, Sherry finish, 2009*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Deep gold - Nose: Feshly polished antique oak, hints of marzipan and floral notes. - Palate: Very smooth, aged oak, marzipan with light icing on a Christmas cake. - Finish: Long and floral towards the end

Whyte & Mackay 'Special' (40%, OB, NAS, Blend, Sherry finish, 2009*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich, dark oak - Nose: Currants, rich malt, dark (brown/rye) bread dough - Palate: Slightly watery mouth-feel, very smooth, rich, full-flavoured, malt & dark fruits. - Finish: Intense but quite short to medium. - Overall Impression: A good house dram!

Black Grouse (40%, OB, 2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark gold, almost amber. - Nose: Quite strong, but pleasant rubbery & leathery peat, hints of malty ice cream in the background. - Palate: Smooth with an initial burst of gentle peat which fades slowly. - Finish: Medium to long - Overall Impression: Gentle peat in a typically Grousy way. Very pleasant, I like it.

Tullibardine 'Pure Pot Spirit' (69%, OB, NAS, Newmake, 2009*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Clear, like water. - Nose: Grain (corn), cherry and lots of pear. - Palate: Initially big on grain but then turning very fruity with cherry and pear into the finish. - With 4 drops of water: More pear on the nose but a little more grain, perhaps even cereal on the palate. - With 4 more drops of water: Much more enhanced fruit on both nose and palate. - Finish: Very long. - Overall Impression: Big and grainy with a large side order of fruit.

Tullibardine 1988/2007 (46%, OB, Vintage Edition)

Keith Wood, Nose: This has the typical Tullibardine nose of light floral notes, but these are occasionally intercepted by a whiff of raw, freshly peeled potato, making me describe this one as highly perfumed newly peeled potatoes. - Palate: Initially smooth and creamy with a delicately perfumed fruitiness tingling right at the front of the tongue which fades very slowly into a slightly bitter aftertaste on the back of the tongue which reminds me of star-fruit. - Thankfully this has no hint of potato on the palate. - With 3 drops of water: The nose and palate are both much smoother and creamier and the bitterness has disappeared. - Overall Impression: Even though it is smoother and creamier with the water, I think I prefer it without. This is a good, although not totally faultless (thanks to the potato nose) Tullibardine.

Tullibardine 'Age Oak Edition' (40%, OB, NAS, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light straw - Nose: My initial primary sensation here is one of very aromatic Alpine cheese alongside aged oak, as the name suggests really. - Palate: Much drier and more bitter than the nose suggested. It still has that cheese but it's not creamy. Somehow it's more reminiscent of a very dry and crisp white wine; Chablis maybe? - Finish: Long and dry. - Overall Impression: The dry bitterness of the palate disappoints after a promising nose.

Tormore 1992/2007 (43%, Mackillop's Choice, C#2258)

Keith Wood, Nose: A floral, slightly salty beach - Palate: Not at all salty on the palate, just gentle fruit cake edging towards German Christmas Stollen with marzipan. - Finish: The finish is quite long, but even longer with a few drops of water added. - Overall Impression: I was hoping for a lot from this but it was a quite ordinary dram.

Tormore 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich oak, almost amber - Nose: Straw, barn, farmyard, even down to the wellies in a corner of the barn. After a few minutes a faint suggestion of raspberry appears. - Palate: Creamy, leafy farmyard and barn. - Finish: Medium - Overall Impression: A real outdoor dram. Perhaps one for the hip flask on a Spring-time walk through the Yorkshire Dales.

Tomintoul 27yo (40%, OB, +/-2006)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark amber / bronze - Nose: I initially want to say aromatic bay leaves soaked in orange (or even cointreau), but it's a little more than that, possibly including some soft brown sugar or even a dash of excellent rum. - Palate: Rich, smooth and creamy, but without screaming its presence like the 10y. This one takes time, it's gentle, unassuming and rather polite as it slowly allows its character of rich fruits, gently toasted almonds and ginger cake to caress the palate in a full-bodied but still subtle way. - Finish: Long and rich, but gentle. - Overall Impression: Smooth and sophisticated, treat it with kindness and it will reward.

Tomintoul 16yo (40%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light amber - Nose: Aromatic in a faint kind of way. Not as sweet as the 10y as this has malt, some orange (almost mandarin / satsuma) and autumnal leaves. - Palate: Creamy and silky with no tingle or burn. This starts with a burst of coconut but very quickly suggests also an aniseed presence with a slightly liquorice finish. - Finish: Long with hints of coconut fading to liquorice. - Overall Impression: Not as sweet as the 10y with a little more depth of flavour and slightly richer aftertaste. I'm getting to like Tomintoul.

Tomintoul 10yo (40%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Gentle gold - Nose: I've just stuck my nose into sweet, aromatic marshmallow coated in (pink) candy floss with slight hints of aniseed. - Palate: Not as sweet as the nose would promise (thankfully) as it turns from an initial creaminess to spicy, tingling slightly bitter liquorice. - Finish: Medium to long - Overall Impression: Very different. Do I like it? Yes I think so, even though the nose was very sweet and pink! In fact, you can't go through life without trying this one.

Tomatin 13yo 1996/2010 (50%, Chieftain's, Domina wine finish, C#91582, 327 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Golden - Nose: Starts slowly and steadily develops aromatic wood and a light mustiness. Hints of something quite fresh, perhaps even lightly perfumed soap alongside roast beef! Inexplicable, but true. - Palate: Creamy mouth-feel and most definitely herbal roast beef. In fact it's roast beef with a herbal crust! - Finish: Long and lightly floral. - Overall Impression: Lots happening here, but in a light way and as for that roast beef .... Yes! It's different, perhaps strange, but I do like this one!

Tomatin 34yo 1976/2011 (51.3%, The Whisky Agency, Refill Sherry Butt, 309 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich amber - Nose: Initially quite floral before a definite and almost minty freshness takes over after 2-3 minutes. This is further followed by malty wood and candy floss. The wood expands even further with more time but it always remains very aromatic. - Palate: This has even more power than the nose with wood, lots of herbs and nuts, although primarily almond and brazil nuts which appear to be served in a lavendar wrap. - Finish: Very long and floral wood & nuts with a dash of coconut right at the end. - Overall Impression: Wonderful, my kind of whisky and I'm using that word again; 'Great'.

Tomatin 30yo (46%, OB, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Yellow autumn leaves - Nose: This seems to need more time as initially it's very light and almost sour. Given time this does gradually open to offer aromatic flora, oak & vanilla milkshake., followed by apple, pear and hazelnut. - Palate: Why am I immediately reminded of spicy sausage? Then wood, nuts, papaya, mango and even a hint of white pepperiness. - Finish: Very long and slightly peppery. - Overall Impression: Another very enjoyable whisky, bordering on excellent.

Tomatin 'Decades' (46%, OB, NAS, 750ml, 2011)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Yellow (9ct) gold - Nose: Malty with some creamy vanilla, then a gradual development of summer fruits including peach, apricot & cantaloupe melon. - Palate: Initially leafy summer fruits followed by malt and light liquorice followed by creamy vanilla sauce. - Finish: Medium to long, creamy vanilla. - Overall Impression: Most enjoyable, a good evening aperitif or everyday dram.

Tomatin 18yo (40%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Nose: Malt interspersed with Austrian mountain cheese - Palate: Very smooth and creamy feel in the mouth with a delicate flavour of liquorice-coated peaches in bourbon vanilla sauce (custard). - Finish: Disappointingly short. - With 3 drops of water: The water just weakens the overall experience and adds a little spiciness, or tingle, on the tongue. - Overall Impression: An enjoyable everyday dram but not too special. Forget adding water.

Tomatin 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark Gold - Nose: Slightly pungent farmyard interspersed with touches of fresh herbs, almost mint, but not quite. - Palate: Some hints of creamy toffee, but slightly spicy and also turning into a slightly bitter liquorice wrapped in hay. - Finish: Medium but dry and slightly bitter. - With 3 drops of water: More cheese on the nose and a slightly more bitter, but intense palate. - Overall Impression: Interesting, pour me another 18y please. This one is maybe just a tad young yet.

Spey River 12yo 'Spey River Collection' (40%, Various Independent Bottlers, Bourbon Oak Matured, 2011*)

Craig Daniels, Imported and distributed by a big supermarket chain in Australia. Colour: dark honey with amber/orange and red highlights. Nose: Quite pleasant with honey and some flowers (daisies & freesias), toffee and orange peel, some apricots and sultanas, some vanillan oak, white chocolate and a slight spirit prickle, maybe even some slight nutty and faint peat notes. Palate: honey and apricots, medium weight and decent mouthfeel. Finish: oaky and slightly bitter, warming and more citrus and wood bitters, some leather and black tea tannins. Comment: Better than your average supemarket malt - would be worth putting up against some of the 'cheaper' branded offerings in the same price bracket. Reminds me of the Origine (which was Benriach)

Tobermory 10yo (40%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Rich gold / toffee - Nose: Malt. fresh hay - Palate: Very smooth, delicate grasses building on the palate to include some creamy toffee and very faint hints of nuts and aniseed. - Finish: Medium to long, always smooth and glowing - Overall Impression: A reasonable, fresh, everyday malt with a radiating finish.

Speyside 12yo (43%, OB, +/-2006)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Deep gold - Nose: Initially I thought malt, but after just a few seconds it has developed far more freshness and countryside, almost farmyard or barn, but not quite. It's almost a piece of stick liquorice wrapped in a well-oiled old parchment. - Palate: Smooth and slightly oily and then the farmyard and barn emerge to leave an aftertaste reminiscent of hen-house. - Finish: Quite long, slightly dry with hints of hen-house. - Overall Impression: Strange. I am an outdoor person, but this is just a bit much.

Glenlivet 1982/2009 (52.2%, Berry Bros & Rudd, C#4340)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Teak with a tinge of copper - Nose: First comes the almond / amaretto, then dark cherries, wood and something herbal and very aromatic which reminds me of cardomom seed. After 4-5 minutes an almost minty freshness appears in the background. - Palate: Very creamy mouth-feel with oodles of well-balanced wood and fruit, think dark cherries and light figs, followed by oatmeal biscuits. - With 4 drops of water: Very aromatic fruit bursts onto the nose alongside the wood. The palate is softer, creamier and fruitier. - With a further 4 drops of water: The nose now has candy floss alongside the aromatic wood. Then comes bramble and raspberry wrapped in marzipan. The palate now includes white pepper, marzipan and raspberry. - Finish: Very long. Without the water there's lots of fruit and wood and hints of coffee beans and dark chocolate right at the end. It's also slightly dry. With water it has lighter fruit liek raspberry, but some pepperiness too. - Overall Impression: Another marvellous Glenlivet sherry cask. I adore this whisky!

Glenlivet 25yo 'XXV' (43%, OB, +/-2009)

Keith Wood, Nose: Very slightly menthol oak - Palate: Exceptionally smooth, walnuts and pecan nuts with a background of butterscotch. Very long and gentle finish. - Overall Impression: Delightfully drinkable. The best dram of the day at the recent Munich whisky festival. Only the price prevents me from running out and immediately buying a bottle or three.

Glenlivet 16yo 'Nadurra' (57.2%, OB, B06/'06, Batch #0606A)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: 21 carat gold - Nose: Malt, straw and a little leafy with a hint of smoked bacon. - Palate: Lots of fruit (mainly orange, peach & apricot) but also a richness that's hard ot identify and sits somewhere between toffee and liquorice. - With 3 drops of water: A lighter and more aromatic nose now has floral and perfumed notes and just a hint of sun cream. The palate is now an explosion of coconut, fruit and (red) candy floss. - With 4 more drops of water: Still a light and aromatic nose but that explosion on the palate has been tamed into very smooth, gentle fruit. - Finish: Very long. - Overall Impression: I love it and be sure to add just a drop or two of water for maximum effect!

Glenlivet 18yo (43%, OB, +/-2005, New label)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Amber - Nose: Rich Summer fruits, slightly toasted oak and a mixture of berries. - Palate: Definite berries, some nuts and a rich creamy mouth-feel. - With 3 drops of water: Over a few minutes this opens into a very aromatic fruity whisky and is that a tiny hint of smoke too? - Finish: Very long with fruity malt and just a slight hint of coconut. - Overall Impression: I really like Glenlivet 18y, a very good whisky.

Glenlivet 15yo 'French Oak' (40%, OB, 2006)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich gold, oak - Nose: Sweet wood, nuts, marzipan, a little fruit and a touch of red wine. - Palate: Smooth, slightly sweet, some fruit (mainly berries) and a hint of marzipan. - Finish: Long with faint marzipan and a hint of red wine. - Overall Impression: Not earth-shattering, but a good, honest, smooth and very drinkable fruity whisky with a hint of red wine on the finish.

Glenlivet 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Warm gold - Nose: Quite sweet, fruity, malt and a hint of fresh oak - Palate: Creamy malt and fruit. The actual fruit was hard to determine, but perhaps that's because it was more like a good, old-fashioned fruit cocktail. - With 3 drops of water: The nose is more aromatic with concentrated fruit, but the palate is too weakened. - Finish: Medium to long - Overall Impression: A very nice, standard and fruity 12y malt, but better without the water.

Teaninich 10yo (43%, OB Flora & Fauna, 2005)

Keith Wood, Nose: This is initially quite light and difficult to ascertain, but a little time produces some light floral notes interspersed with dry grass and an extremely faint hint of aniseed. - Palate: The floral notes are the first to filter across the palate with the hint of aniseed following in the aftertaste. - Overall impression: I had to revisit this whisky as my initial attempts to make sensible tasting notes were totally unsuccessful. This is a reasonably light whisky but still carries plenty of flavours if you give it time and patience. *** Author's note: *** I revisited this same bottle on two further occasions at later dates. On the first of these occasions I was bitterly disappointed and my notes of the time suggest "antiseptic skin cream, hazelnuts and popcorn smothering an alpine meadow" with a conclusion borrowed from a certain galactic traveller "it almost completely fails to arouse the senses". - Fortunately, it would seem that the miscreant on that occasion was my own palate, as when I visited it again a few days later my notes pretty much matched my original ones above, with the whisky being slow to develop, but when it did it offered dry grass and floral notes with no hints of anything untoward. - So, an enjoyable and worthwhile dram!

Tamnavulin 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: light honey - Nose: Vegetal with raw potato and some kind of beans. Also grass, hay and stables. - Palate: Very grassy with straw and hay too. - Finish: Quite long and very vegetal. - Overall Impression: This is almost like sniffing my compost tip (vegetation only!) when I open it up in Spring after a long Winter.

Tamdhu 26yo 1984 (50.1%, Creative Whisky Company Exclusive Malts for whiskywhiskywhisky.com, C#2835, 162 Bts., 2010)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Oak, light amber - Nose: Immediately very aromatic with fresh sawdust amidst aged oak, perhaps even lightly polished followed by a burst of dark fruit with black cherries and plums. - Palate: Deliciously smooth as it caresses the palate with those cherries and plums, but now joined by a creamy suggestion of nuts with a hint of lavendar. - With 4 drops of water: Much more floral nose, very aromatic. The creamy palate is slightly sweeter and lighter. - Finish: Long, very long. Is that just a hint of raspberry right at the end? - Overall Impression: The cask sample in the note above was sent to me for evaluation by MArk of the WhiskyWhiskyWhisky forum as he had the chance to use this as the first forum bottling. This is now that bottling and is very different from the cask sample. Whereas the sample was a little shy and slow to start, this one is right there from the first pour and just continues delightfully. Much better than the sample, which in itself was very good, I love this excellent whisky!

Tamdhu 34yo 1969/2004 (40.2%, Duncan Taylor Peerless, C#7316, 247 Bts., D11/'69 B01/'04)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light gold - Nose: Very intense and floral, green apples and car polish. - Palate: Perfumed, floral liquorice with apple, violets and dry, fino sherry. - Finish: Medium to long and very floral. - Overall Impression: A really very good whisky, don't let my 'car polish' put you off, this is very good. Pour me another!

Tamdhu 8yo (40%, Gordon & MacPhail MacPhail's Collection, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light gold - Nose: Freshly caught shellfish on an Atlantic beach, then served with ripe green apples. - Palate: Much bigger and more solid than the nose suggests. Liquorice and light ginger toffee. - Finish: Medium to long. - Overall Impression: A very maritime nose turns into a rather quick, but solid dram filled with promise. I originally said this was short, but it must have been my palate on the night as on my second tasting (on a different evening) the finish was delightful and the whisky pleasantly complex. Excellent!

Skye 24yo 1984/2008 'Undercover #2' (51.9%, The Nectar Daily Drams, 82 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Gold - Nose: Big, rich, intrusive cocktail of new paint, tobacco, coffee beans and eventually some smoke with slight hints of peat. - Palate: Initially slightly smoky coffee truffle with some chocolate and eventually, rich dark fruits, maybe even dried fruits like currants. - With 4 drops of water in 2cl: The nose is now much more 'maritime' with salt and slightly stale sea-air, or even a stale harbour. The palate is very round with the coffee and chocolate still in abundance, but the maritime elements are also fighting for prominence. - Finish: Very long, but never-ending with the added water! - Overall Impression: Where did it all go? Bloody marvellous, where can I get more?

Tactical 25yo 1980/2005 (50%, Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask, REF1270, Sherry, 569 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Smoke, pepper and hints of ginger with just a dash of peat. - Palate: Luxuriously smooth mixture of honey, smoke, oats and malt. - Overall Impression: Excellent, I love this one!

Talisker 1955/1993 (53.6%, Gordon & MacPhail Cask Series, C#1310+1311+1257)

Keith Wood, Colour: Dark, liquid raisins - Nose: Raisins, prunes, rich old oak and a hint of molasses. - Palate: Wow! This is rich and smooth. It has everything promised by the nose; raisins, prunes and currants, but much more too as it expands into an unbelievable Christmas Pudding flavour. I want to say it also has nuts and marzipan, but not quite. Those can be delicate flavours but there is nothing delicate about this dram. It is full-power, in your face and totally UN-subtle. If I were given this blind, I would probably never guess it was a Talisker, but I would say it was old, maybe older than the 38y that it is. I have tried the 40y Dalmore and I may suggest this were a similar dram, but even older. - With water: Just a few drops of water in about 2cl brings out more oak on the nose. As for flavour; possibly even more intense, but smoother. It is almost toasted raisins! - Overall Impression: Wonderful! A real experience. dark, rich and unbelievably powerful in flavour.

Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, Old Label, 75cl, 1986*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Aged oak, amber - Nose: This is a Talisker which again transports me back to the Isle of Skye. Just imagine standing on a slightly misty jetty on the Atlantic coast, wearing wellington boots, clogged with peaty mud on an Autumnal day. - Palate: Smooth, creamy, peppery peat. A definitive and classic Talisker. - Overall Impression: A magnificent trip down memory lane as I experience just how good Talisker 10y used to be. Marvellous!

Talisker 1994/2009 'Managers Choice' (58.6%, OB, C#7147, 582 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Bugatti Kelch - Colour: Light, fresh 9 carat gold - Nose: I'm immediately transported to an Isle of Skye jetty in Spring - Palate: Immediate cream, quickly opening to smoke, peat, apple and pear, then on to liquorice. - With 4 drops of water: Yet more intense smoke and peat and even more 'jetty', Oh to be there with the Atlantic right now! The palate is much smoother and a little drier. - Finish: Never ending, dry, smoke, peat and liquorice. - Overall Impression: Fantastic. A great Talisker! (But at what price?)

Talisker '57° North' (57%, OB, NAS, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Bright oak - Nose: This begins with faint juniper, then expands to an open-air swimming pool and lightly smoked or air-dried ham. A light flora slowly develops but the whole experience always remains light and fresh. - Palate: Much more intense than the nose suggests as the palate offers peppered honey, light smoke, bracken and a hint of earthiness. - Finish. Very long with sweet pepperiness. - Overall Impression: Marvellous, not quite a "Great" but not very far away. Try it!

Talisker '57° North' (57%, OB, NAS, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Amber in sunlight - Nose: Very fresh with lots of Atlantic sea-air and salt. After a few minutes a little rubber and extremely faint smoke come to join the party. After yet more time, the salt disappears from the nose. - Palate: Rich, creamy rubbery peat with a slight coconut burst as the finish kicks in. - With 4 drops of water: A slightly sweeter, smokier nose. Also a smoother palate with a little more smoke and a very strange burst of coconut which appears and then disappears in an instant. - With 3 more drops of water: Coconut and peat, especially on the finish. - Finish: Long. Coconut and peat, increased with the water. - Overall Impression: A most unusual, but most enjoyable Talisker. That coconut confused me initially, but yes, it really is there and increases slightly with water. A very good, but different Talisker.

Talisker 12yo (45.8%, OB for Friends of Classic Malts, European Oak, 21500 Bts., 2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Warm gold, not quite amber. - Nose: A cosy winter evening around a warm peat fire, with hints of Atlantic freshness. - Palate: Creamy and not so much raw peat as peat-flavoured ice cream. - Finish: Long, warming, smooth peat. - Overall Impression: A most enjoyable Talisker. Really enjoyable! *** Revisited at Munich whisky fair 2011: *** - Glass: Bugatti Kelch - Colour: Rich gold, light amber - Nose: An initial burst of light roast pork took me by surprise here but this soon receded to honey and vanilla ice cream. - Palate: Slightly sharp, almost bitter with star fruit, an Italian herb mixture and that ever-present Atlantic sea-air. - Finish: Long, fresh and just slightly bitter. - Overall Impression: Nice, but what a very different Talisker!

Talisker 30yo (57.3%, OB, 2958 Bts., 2010)

Keith Wood, *** Bottle No. 426 of 2958 *** Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Shiny golden cork - Nose: Some vanilla followed by lightly smoked aromatic berries, fresh air, rolling hills and tingly butterscotch. - Palate: Peppery malty biscuit alongside fresh sea-air and open countryside. - Finish. Long-ish peppery fruit. - Overall Impression: Excellent, truly excellent. *** Bottle No. 682 of 2958 *** Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Shiny golden cork - Nose: Vanilla initially evident with some lightly smoked red fruit. Also plenty of fresh country air and light toffee, almost butterscotch. After 5-6 minutes more some almost leafy qualities develop. - Palate: Definite creamy pepperiness. I'm on a coastal walk with sea-air and rolling hills, bracken and lots of outdoor pepperiness. - Finish. Long rich and peppery - Overall Impression: This whisky and the one above here were both tasted (blind) as part of MMA 2011 and yes, two bottles of the same were sneaked into the competition. Yes also, both are truly excellent!

Talisker 30yo (53.1%, OB, 3000 Bts., 2009)

Keith Wood, Glass: Bugatti Kelch - Colour: Light yellow gold - Nose: Atlantic sea-air, fruit, butterscotch and malt. - Palate: Black pepper, rich fruit, morning coffee biscuit and slightly bitter. - Finish. Long with lots of that traditional Talisker black pepper. - Overall Impression: Mmmmm, I'm in love!

Talisker 25yo (58.1%, OB, 6894 Bts., 2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Bugatti Kelch - Colour: Rich yellow gold - Nose: Honey, light butterscotch, Atlantic sea-air and faintly smoky. - Palate: Quite sweet, fruity with plums and figs, herbs and that unmistakable Atlantic coastal countryside. - With 5 drops of water: Toffee and butterscotch sitting on an Atlantic beach. - With 5 more drops of water: A very maritime nose with malty, salty sea-air whilst the palate enjoys black pepper, figs and plums. - Finish. Long, longer and more peppery with water. - Overall Impression: Nice, very nice!

Talisker 18yo (45.8%, OB, 2006*)

Keith Wood, Nose: Scottish heather by the coast on a misty, slightly smoky day. - Palate: Deliciously smooth with an initial and quite short burst of sharp fruit, but this very quickly disappears to be replaced by a gentle smokiness which lingers long and luxuriously on the palate. - Overall Impression: I love this whisky! *** Revisiting this whisky: *** - Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Oak, almost amber - Nose: Slightly salty notes over gentle peat and smoke with that Scottish Heather offering a hint of countryside. - Palate: Once again very smooth with some fruit which expands to include very gentle and soft smoke. - Finish: Quite dry, slight peat and smoke at the end with just the faintest hint of coconut. - Overall Impression: A very smooth, sophisticated and civilised Talisker. - Trying this one again *** - Glass: Whisky fair glass - Colour: Rich gold, light amber - Nose: Toffee, herbs, quite fresh sea-air and lightly medicinal - Palate: Fruity with a hint of figs. - With 4 drops of water: The nose is fruitier whereas the palate becomes slightly salty offering a delightful maritime character along with oats. - With 4 more drops of water: The nose now gets that salty maritime character and the palate is maybe slightly too watery now, although it does exhibit some fruity and maritime characteristics. - Finish. medium to long, longer with water. - Overall Impression: A very good whisky!

Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark oak - Nose: Initiaslly a lightly toasted, lightly burnt aroma which continues with some wood and vanilla in the background. - Palate: Creamy peach and vanilla, but then a suggestion of smokiness, more wood smoke than peat. - Finish. Long and creamy with some pepperiness. - Overall Impression: Very nice, just how it should be.

Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, 2009*)

Keith Wood, Nose: Smoke and treacle toffee on the open sea. - Palate: Banana, vanilla ice cream, smoke and toffee. - Finish: Long repeating finish concentrating on roof of mouth. - Overall Impression: A most enjoyable whisky which immediately transports me back onto the Isle of Skye.

Strathmill 1996/2009 'Manager's Choice' (60.1%, OB, C#5503, 300 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light yellow, pale gold - Nose: Fresh and not very penetrating with some oak, vanilla, even a hint of custard and almost a faint smokiness. - Palate: Smooth and rich, creamy fruit but it does need some water. - With 4 drops of water: Much spicier and lots more vanilla. - With a further 5 drops of water: A little more wood and less vanilla. Very spicy right on the front of the palate. - With 5 more drops of water: Tingling vanilla sauce on a fruit cocktail. - Finish: Very long and even longer with water. Also fruity and creamy. - Overall Impression: A very spicy dram getting more so with the water it really needs. Good, but not a favourite.

Strathmill 12yo (43%, OB Flora & Fauna, 2000*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Light gold - Nose: Faint and slow to develop. When it does develop it's almost like a bowl of nuts in a light sea-breeze. - Palate: Interesting; liquorice and oak with hints of aniseed and ending with something fruity (raspberry?) - Finish: Medium, dry and fruity. - Overall Impression: The palate offers far more than the quite faint nose. I especially like the finish, albeit a little short.

Strathisla 1970/2011 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail Licensed Bottling, 514 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich treacle toffee with a hint of copper - Nose: Some elements of old cognac or even armagnac, then rich aged oak with the slightest hint of spent match (light sulphur?) But I'm really reminded of treacle toffee or toffee apples on my childhood bonfire nights. - Palate: Creamy rich mouth-feel with currants and prunes served in custard. Also hints of leafy autumnal outdoors in a rich sherried kind of way. - Finish: Very long and ever-expanding - Overall Impression: Delightful and another "Great".

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

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich dark teak with a hint of copper - Nose: Aged waxed oak, fresh coffee beans, dark (90% cacao) chocolate and all delightfully floral, almost lightly perfumed. - Palate: For a split second this has an extremely creamy mouth-feel, then a total dryness takes over with an explosion of figs, plums and black cherries. This is massive and very civilised! - Finish: Everlasting and very rich - Overall Impression: One of the two best whiskies for me in 2011. Brilliant, nay a magnificent "Great".

Strathisla 16yo 1994/2011 'Cask Strength Edition' (55.3%, OB, Batch SI16009)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale yellow - Nose: Very aromatic, almost perfumed biscuit. Delightfully floral, in fact I wish all my roses in the garden had this aroma. - Palate: Light and warming as it glows and grows across the palate with floral butterscotch. - Finish: This just expands and grows across the palate over 2-3 minutes and finishes with a delightfully floral tingle. - Overall Impression: A gentle, floral delight. This is my kind of whisky!

Strathisla 30yo (43%, Gordon & MacPhail Licensed Bottling, 2009)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light amber, rich oak - Nose: Well-aged oak with a dash of fine perfume behind the ears. The floral and perfumed elements intensify steadily over some minutes. Also after some minutes there's a quick burst of what can only be described as perfumed baby vomit, but as I say, this disappears as quickly as it arrived and left me with a well polished, aged oak dining table. - Palate: Smooth and slightly dry with a hint of oil of orange, figs and raisins. An intense oakiness builds but is quite dry, suggesting a dry fino sherry which leads into the finish. - Finish: Quite long with dry fino sherry. - Overall Impression: Don't be put off by that comment about perfumed baby vomit on the nose, this is a decent enough whisky and the nose is actually better than the palate for me.

Strathisla 8yo (70 Pr., G&M Licensed bottling, 1970's)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Light yellow, gold - Nose: Slow to develop, but steadily offering apple, pear and melon skin. Then further opening to exhibit hay and dried grasses. - Palate: Quite floral with an immediate rush of violets fading to hay and grasses. Almost leafy. - Finish: Medium, dry and leafy - Overall Impression: The flavours are definitely not strong or overpowering, but this has a good maturity which would be rare in 8y whiskies today.

Strathisla 12yo (43%, OB, +/-2006)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Old weathered oak, dark amber - Nose: Rich and aromatic. Malt, redcurrant, blackberry, tarragon? hint of Oxo? - Palate: Quite Autumnal, leafy fruitiness. Redcurrant and bramble jam. - Finish: Long with fruit engulfing the whole palate. - Overall Impression: Nice and rich, but quite different. I like it!

Port Charlotte 7yo 2002/2010 (63.5%, Whisky Doris, bourbon hogshead, C#1171, 298 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark cork - Nose: Initially fruity, leathery peat then after some time the fruitiness fades whilst the leather expands. The peat is always evident. - Palate: This has a big punch of leathery peat. It's also quite creamy and smooth, even though there's lots of alcohol. Vanilla and apple too. - Finish: Long smooth and peaty - Overall Impression: An excellent whisky. Is it really only 7y?

Linkwood 27yo 1984/2011 (53.2%, Liquid Sun, 108 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Shiny oak - Nose: This begins with a light summer fruitiness, then after 5-6 minutes it develops an almost antiseptic freshness in the background. It's also lightly floral with creamy vanilla, but always light and subdued. - Palate: An immediate burst of peppery fruit and nuts announce the palate not to be as subdued as the nose. Oh I love that fruitiness - creamy peach and papaya? Cantaloupe melon? and always that nuttiness. - Finish: Very long and fruity. - Overall Impression: A light and subdued nose explode into a marvellously fruity palate. I love it! Almost a "Great", just not quite.

Glentauchers 10yo 2000/2011 (46%, Aberdeen Distillers, C#ABD1010, 360 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Extremely pale, almost water-like - Nose: Begins somewhat like a grappa, then expands with a leafiness and an almost bread dough quality. Light fruity alcohol then returns. Always remaining quite light. - Palate: Initially creamy mouth-feel with plenty of bread dough. This expands with a fruitiness suggesting apple, maracuja and almost orange. - Finish: Long with a tingly fruitiness. - Overall Impression: A most enjoyable whisky.

Brora 30yo (54.3%, OB, 3000 Bts., 2010)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light bright oak - Nose: Lots of very aromatic oak, then biscuit, floral coconut, hyacinth and even a suggestion of drying paint. Finally there's the faintest hint of a light smokiness. - Palate: Smooth and creamy biscuit followed by a fruitiness with raspberry, apricot and peach. There's also faint almond and a hint of cappuccino, then some treacle toffee right at the end leading into the finish. - Finish: Long and succulent. - Overall Impression: Don't be put off by my "drying paint" comment, this has a magnificent nose. In fact it's a magnificent whisky overall.

Ardmore 2003/2010 (56.2%, Douglas Laing for Whisky & Rhum, Refill Bourbon, C#6487, 60 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Sunny pale yellow - Nose: Oh dear, I think I just opened the fridge and found something rather old and going off. Think ancient cheese wrapped in very old smoked bacon. - Palate: Creamy fruit, but always accompanied by those 'off' notes from the nose. - Finish: Long, much too long. - Overall Impression: Oh dear, what went wrong there?

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

Ho-cheng Yao, Golden, lot's vanilla, quite fruity (pear), not very peaty, very bourbon cask, medium light peaty palate. more like speyside.

Saint Magdalene 26yo 1982/2009 (50%, Dun Bheagan, Butt, D10/'82, C#2219, 390 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Extremely pale gold / yellow - Nose: Lightly perfumed grasses, malt and a touch of raspberry. - Palate: Plenty of fruit with raspberry at the fore. - With 3 drops of water: More grassy on the nose, whereas the palate has expanded to include fruit, nuts and herbs. - Finish: Long, longer with water. - Overall Impression: Fruity, floral, I like it!

Saint Magdalene 24yo 1982/2006 (50%, Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask, Refill hogshead, C#3222, 329 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Slight heather, herbs and a very faint touch of liquorice. - Palate: Immediate spice, liquorice and citrus (lemon). - Overall Impression: A very surprising whisky with a penetrating and complex character. I really like this one!

Springbank 30yo 1965/1995 (55%, Milroy's of Soho, Sherry, C#1297)

Keith Wood, Nose: I find some fruit here. A fruit cocktail perhaps containing apple, pear and peach. It even reminds me of a childhood sweet. Those little 'fruit salad' chews which used to cost a penny (that's a real, old penny, not one of those later decimal thingies) for 10 sweets. They had a kind of creamy peachy flavour, quite like this nose. I also sense a very slight hint of aniseed in there. - Palate: My initial response is that this is much creamier in texture than I expected. It is exceptionally smooth and not at all harsh. That creaminess on the nose translates into the taste - excellent. - Three drops of water: really open the nose and make for a more spicy floral experience. Perhaps including a dash of freshness too. But unfortunately, the flavour of this whisky is really weakened by the drops. The creaminess is still there in flavour, but not so much in texture. It has also gained a little more spiciness which causes a prolonged tongue tickle, on the front of the tongue long after the whisky is gone. Some may prefer it this way, but I don't. - Overall Impression: I once (mistakenly) said I wasn't a big Springbank fan, but this is most certainly the best Springbank I have so far tasted by a very large margin! But preferably, without the water for me.

Springbank 12yo 1996/2008 (56%, OB for Hanseatische Wein., Amontillado, C#256, 634 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Wonderfully rich with figs, currants, oak, a touch of sherry and just a tiny hint of paint stripper (in a pleasant way!) - Palate: Initially sweet with oak and currants which linger long on the palate. - Finish: The after-taste is long and also sweet with a hint of slightly toasted almond. - Overall Impression: Another excellent Springbank, now why did I once say I'm not a Springbank fan?

Springbank 13yo 1989/2003 'Portwood' (54.2%, OB, 3120 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Spirit, malt and leather-bound old books. - Palate: It's prickly, it tastes of strong alcohol and it has a slight hint of raspberry. The tingle or prickle is long on the tongue, but the flavour is disappointingly short. - Overall Impression: I don't need to revisit this one in a hurry. When I spoke about the raspberry, I feel that on reflection this would make a rather good accompaniment to a raspberry dessert dish in a food & whisky event.

Springbank 12yo '175th Anniversary' (46%, OB, 12000 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: A fruity swimming pool. This immediately stirred childhood memories of swimming lessons and that unmistakable smell of indoor swimming pools. Fortunately, this soon faded and was replaced by something more floral and pleasant which contained herbs, faint spices and marzipan. - Palate: Warm, tingling and slightly bitter. The nuts and marzipan are faintly present and the 'tingle' sits unusually right at the front of the tongue, which seems to enhance the bitterness. - Overall Impression: This one is quite intriguing in such a way as to make me want to return to it soon.

Springbank 'CV' (46%, OB, NAS, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Aged oak, almost tobacco. - Nose: Slow to develop, initially weak then steadily expanding to include aged wood, hints of leather with just a faint touch of aromatic rubber. - Palate: My first thought is of a very smooth whisky, creamy and aromatic with leather and wood. This lingers on and on, but doesn't change much. - With 3 drops of water: A little more wood on the nose and slightly more aggressive on the palate with an added suggestion of vanilla ice cream. - Finish: Very long and even longer, almost never-ending with water. Also quite fruity with rich, dark fruits and the absolute faintest suggestion of coconut. - Overall Impression: Most enjoyable. My notes may seem to make this non-descript, but that isn't the case. It is a very good dram.

Springbank 15yo (46%, OB, +/-2004)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Amber - Nose: My initial thoughts were of wood, but this soon turned quite fruity with pears, nuts, hints of rubber, Rosemary and an autumnal lawn. Pretty much appearing in that same order too. - Palate: Immediate vanilla ice cream quickly sparkling across the palate with raisins, marzipan, a little bread dough and just a hint of toasted orange. - With 3 drops of water: The nose is lighter and more herbal whilst the palate is more nutty and the finish shorter. - Finish: Long - Overall Impression: Thoroughly enjoyable, a lovely dram, but preferable without the water.

Springbank 12yo (54.6%, OB, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich gold - Nose: Initial alcohol burn, malt, light hints of rubber, hay and just a touch of paint stripper. - Palate: Very smooth for this strength and quite creamy mouth-feel too. A hint of sweet rubber quickly turned into coconut and vanilla. - With 3 drops of water: A more floral nose with light wood translates well onto the palate with wood, hay, malt and vanilla ice cream. - 3 more drops of water: the palate is now full of floral vanilla, light wood and slight pepper. - Finish: Long, floral, vanilla with a hint of coconut. - Overall Impression: OK, this sways it. After that initial "100 Proof" single cask I had some years ago at the Munich whisky festival which was just too much alcohol and no individual character, Springbank have now achieved an excellent high abv dram. I love it!

Springbank 10yo (46%, OB, 2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light gold - Nose: Malt, sea-air, a little brown shoe polish and just a hint of anti-septic cream all wrapped in damp leaves. - Palate: My first thought was of a fine filet steak in a light orange sauce as it has a somewhat meaty flavour, along with delicate orange which grows into a slightly malty, nutty and herbal presence on the palate. I also find it quite unique how the presence on the palate changes along with the flavour as the initial meaty taste is concentrated directly down the centre of the tongue. As this 'grows' to include the nuts and herbs, the presence also widens across the palate. - Finish: Long - With 3 drops of water: The nose now includes salt to give this a more maritime feel, but the palate is a little sharper and weaker. - Overall Impression: A fine dram which I think I prefer without the water.

Speyburn 10yo (40%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Gold - Nose: Malt and herbs, in fact is that basil I detect? Also warm embers. - Palate: A warm glow of liquorice, walnut and real Scottish heather. - Finish: Short, but pleasantly smooth and herbal. - Overall Impression: An interesting dram with a good helping of outdoor countryside.

Scapa 1993/2005 (40%, G&M, licensed bottling)

Keith Wood, Nose: Crisp, clean, vanilla. - Palate: Initial fruit, rapidly turning into delicate and creamy white chocolate with a hint of apple. - With 3 drops of water: An amazing transformation as the drops of water turn this into pure vanilla on the palate. - Overall Impression: This is a very good Scapa, much better than the normal OB version. It is also an excellent accompaniment to a chocolate-based dessert.

Scapa 14yo (40%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Golden honey - Nose: Very fresh. Sea air and rugged cliffs lined with a little vanilla and topped with some peach. - Palate: Smooth and fruity, it's like a summer fruit cocktail served with vanilla ice cream. - With 3 drops of water: A touch of faint leather on the nose, but the palate is weakened, although the finish is longer. - Finish: Long, even longer with water and also a hint of wood & leather appear with the water. - Overall Impression: A pleasant everyday dram which I would be happy to keep in my cupboard and share with friends.

Scapa 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2000)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Gold - Nose: Malt and a touch of sea air and vanilla. - Palate: Initially soft ice cream, but very quickly opening to a lively, spicy, full-bodied basket of fruit (apples, pears, berries) - With 3 drops of water: Both nose and palate are just weakened. - Overall Impression: A very pleasant dram, especially with the fruity palate.

Royal Lochnagar 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Gold - Nose: Initially rich malt and redcurrants dipped in paint stripper, but this raw spirit soon diminishes to leave a mixture of redcurrant and blackberries. - Palate: Very smooth and just slightly oily with the tiniest amount of smoke soon opening to reveal the fruitiness of the nose. - Finish: Medium to long and very fruity, mainly with raspberry. - Overall Impression: I'm not sure what I expected from this one, but the wonderful fruitiness goes well beyond my expectations once that initial spirit on the nose diminishes. I like this dram.

Royal Brackla 16yo (57%, OB, Zenith Import Italy, 3600 Bts., 1980's)

Keith Wood, Nose: A real delight, slightly perfumed floral bouquet with hints of marzipan - Palate: Tingly smooth nuts and very long finish - With 3 drops of water: Even longer and more aromatic. - Overall Impression: I love this whisky, find me more!

Royal Brackla 25yo 1979/2004 (58.5%, JWWW Scottish Castles, C#4133, 120 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Freshly cut grass and hay - Palate: Lots of alcohol and spirit, needs water as the alcohol hides the flavours at this stage. - With 3 drops of water: A much smoother nose but still with grass and hay. Palate: Now a smooth and gentle tingle on the tongue with slight liquorice, hay and herbs. - Overall Impression: This is a good dram with water added, but it lacks the complexity and range of flavours of last years edition.

Royal Brackla 25yo (46%, Various Independent Bottlers, The Whisky Companion, fino sherry cask, 2004*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Bugatti Kelch - Colour: Deep gold - Nose: Lots of light herbs, slightly dry and faint hints of liquorice. On further nosing I am getting just a trace of straw, as stored in a barn. - Palate: This one is initially slow. Most of the flavours burst through in the aftertaste and are not so evident in the initial taste. At first it seemed quite insignificant, but only for a couple of seconds before the explosion hit. Those herbal & floral notes are splendid and are mostly concentrated on the back, not the front of the tongue. The aftertaste sits purely on the back of the tongue and is one of delicate liquorice. Further tastes help concentrate the same flavours with that intial floral herbiness followed swiftly by a full, but not too fierce assault of liquorice on the back of the tongue, also making the extreme sides of the mouth water. - Overall impression: This is a good whisky, very good, but quite unusual in the experience it gives. The flavours are very delicate in an intense kind of way. Initial floral and herb notes turn quickly into a more prominent liquorice which lingers for some time. I really like this one, not just for the flavours, but for the very different overall experience it gives.

Rosebank 1990/2007 (46%, Montgomerie's, C#1756)

Keith Wood, Nose: The nose of my ideal Rosebank; Light, floral and slightly perfumed - Palate: Just as the nose leads one to expect; floral and perfumed but very short! - With 3 drops of water: Still floral and perfumed, but much more intense and also with a longer finish. - 4 more drops of water: Now even longer on the finish and as more water is added, a little vanilla comes in to play and dances around the tongue. - Overall Impression: Although I usually add 2-3 drops of water for comparison, I do prefer whiskies without water, but I was advised that the 'Montgomeries' range is one which needs water to get the best from the bottlings. This certainly proved the case here as without water, the finish was so short it was almost non-existent. The whisky opened to an impressive dram with water and the finish not only appeared, but hung around much longer too.

Rosebank 16yo 1990/2006 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 263 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: An Alpine farm! Some typical farm aromas of barns, hay and cows being overpowered by a nearby Spring-time Alpine meadow full of wild herbs and flowers. - Palate: Wonderfully smooth with an initial burst of liquorice being quickly joined by one of a bouquet of wild flowers. - Overall Impression: This is a good Rosebank which I personally like.

Rosebank 1990/2003 (46%, Murray McDavid, MM3444, USA)

Keith Wood, Glass: Glencairn - Nose: Slightly sweet and floral, but not too strong. - Palate: Smooth with vanilla, fruit and liquorice. - Overall Impression: Quite a strong tasting Rosebank and slightly different from the 'norm' as it's not so light and floral.

Rosebank 20yo (57%, OB, white label, Red letters, Zenith import Italy, 75cl)

Keith Wood, Nose: A bouquet of flowers sitting on a bale of fresh hay in the middle of a peat bog. Yes, the flowers and hay are there, but the nose is also surprisingly peaty. Can this be a Lowlander, a Rosebank with this much peat? - Palate: Rather strong flora, but again surprisingly peaty! - With 3 drops of water: The peat has left the nose and just the floral elements remain. - Palate: But the peat hasn't left completely! With the water this is now very smooth and slightly more peaty on the palate. - 3 More drops of water: Even smoother and even more peaty, but the typical Rosebank floral attributes are there in the background. - Overall Impression: I was really looking forward to this one and was not disappointed. These old Rosebanks are excellent whiskies and are also surprisingly peaty. Not 'in yer face' Islay-like, but gently smooth peat which grows and shows its presence in a slightly more subtle way. Then, behind that gentle peat, this is still a Lowland whisky with light floral notes which make it a very pleasurable experience.

Rosebank 15yo (50%, OB, Zenith version, 75cl)

Keith Wood, Nose: Is there a slight hint of peat in this Rosebank? Surely not! Then what is that very slight smokiness / peatiness on the nose? There is definitely some Scottish heather and moorland in this glass. Once again not exactly fruity, but then my experience of Rosebanks is usually floral. - Palate: Wow, at 50% this is quite strong for a Rosebank and it certainly hits the palate with some force. The over-riding first taste is one of violets, perhaps even those strange little sweets from my childhood called "Parma Violets". Even on a second taste, that violet floweriness just spreads across the palate and gently warms the mouth. Have I ever tasted a whisky which warms in this particular way? I really don't think so, I certainly can't remember one. - With 3 drops of water: The nose has evened out a little, it's no longer so powerful, the flavours are more complex too. The violets are still there, but now accompanied by many more floral notes. That Scottish moorland is certainly still evident, as is the heather basking in Autumnal sunshine, but there is more, much more .... - 2 more drops of water: create a spiciness which wasn't present earlier .... but now ...... unfortunately, that's the end of my sample. - Overall Impression: Oh boy, this is a glorious dram and I wish I had more.

Glen Garioch 40yo 1971/2011 (43.9%, OB for The Whisky Exchange, C#2038, 194 Bts., 70cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Bright gold - Nose: Very aromatic floral malt, candy floss and fruity herbal wood. This is followed by an impression of slightly scorched wood in a sauna with a nearby swimming pool. Lots of light butterscotch too. There's really lots happening in this nose! - Palate: Very creamy mouth-feel and really very floral. Then comes freshly baked bread with vanilla seeds, summer berries and a hint of aniseed. Always light and fresh. - Finish: Long and light, slightly dry. - Overall Impression: A truly wonderful nose followed by a very good palate. I love the lightness and fruitiness. Who would have guessed this could be 40y? Excellent!

Clynelish 28yo 1982 (43.1%, The Whisky Exchange, "Single Malts of Scotland" series, 70cl, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Yellow (9ct) gold - Nose: Initially lots of creamy leafiness followed by a definite burst of orange. A faint suggestion of herbs (think mixed Italian selection) remains quite constant in the background along with malty vanilla. - Palate: Light and leafy with baked apple and vanilla seeds plus hits of water melon. This is always light, but with lots of flavour. - Finish: Medium length, fruity and light with water melon. - Overall Impression: An a-typical Clynelish, but light, fruity and thoroughly enjoyable.

Ardmore 19yo 1992/2011 (49.3%, The Whisky Exchange, Speciality Drinks Ltd - "Single Malts of Scotland" range, 207 Bts., 70cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale yellow gold - Nose: Initially quite malty then leafy countryside and maybe even a little farmy with a suggestion of musty barn. This leafiness and farminess expand further over 5-10 minutes in the glass, but they do so in a quite aromatic fashion. - Palate: The leafiness of the nose translates immediately onto the palate, but with a light pepperiness in the foreground. This leads to a fruitiness with star fruit, vanilla and green apple which immediately makes me think of an apple crumble being served in a farmyard or barn. - Finish: Medium and dry. - Overall Impression: Put this one in your hip flask for a day's walking in the hills!

Old Pulteney 1990/2002 (59.4%, Gordon & MacPhail, Cask Series, C#5471)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Deep rich amber - Nose: Richly scorched wood, some molasses, dried currants with a suggestion of wild mushrooms and even hints of toasted marzipan. - Palate: An immediate explosion of peppery marzipan and well polished wood. This becomes more toasted towards the finish. - Finish: Very long with dry polished wood and slightly peppery fruit. - Overall Impression: Amazingly different, I love this one!

Mortlach 12yo 1993/2005 (46%, Various Independent Bottlers, mortlach.de, sherry butt, C#5213)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Shiny light amber - Nose: Very fresh outdoors style with lots of open countryside and ligthly perfumed grasses. This is merged with the fruitiness of passion fruit and guava alongside finest traditional furniture polish. - Palate: Fresh and fruity countryside with hints of coconut. Also slightly dry and slightly metallic towards the finish. - Finish: Long and dry. - Overall Impression: A most unusual Mortlach; light, fruity, dry and slightly metallic? But still pretty good!

Auchroisk 10yo (43%, OB Flora & Fauna, 2005*)

Craig Daniels, Nose: honey and nuts, vanilla & honeysuckle, fresh toast, some old straw, fresh butter, hint of meadow/daisy flowers, some butterscotch toffee, slightly dirty straw, cream and linen. Palate: Honey, light toffee and alcohol, warm and burnt nuts, drying nutskin tannins. Finish: light toffee then warming honey and more than a tad of bitter metal, bitter herbs, a slight thin furriness. Comment: Pleasant early nose but ends up not all that crisp/clean and too many burnt and bitter notes in the tail for my taste.

Lochside 46yo 1964/2011 (42.1%, The Whisky Exchange, C#8970, 139 Bts., 70cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light oak - Nose: Lots of butterscotch, in fact this is extremely aromatic and light with floral butterscotch, creamy vanilla and hints of apricot. Wonderful, I could just sit and nose this all day. - Palate: Apricot, peach and light butterscotch are accompanied by lots of floral creaminess followed by suggestions of juniper. - Finish: Very long, very floral, very 'butterscotch'. - Overall Impression: I am sampling this whisky alongside a second tasting of the Adelphi 46y sherried version (as above tasting note) and these two whiskies couldn't be more different. The Adelphi has massive sherry influence but still with an aromatic and floral influence, whereas this TWE version is not sherried and if anything exhibits the traits of a Great old single grain whisky. Did I say Great? Yes it is. In fact it is just slightly better than the Adelphi bottling and that was pretty phenomenal!

Kilchoman (59.7%, The Whisky Exchange, Elements of Islay, 50cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very pale yellow - Nose: Initially offers a light and fresh smokiness which expands almost medicinally and antiseptically. There's also a hint of redcurrants in the background. Fresh countryside with lots of fresh air and peaty fruit now prevail after some minutes. - Palate: There's an exceptional balance between peat and fruit, even alternating between the two with more time on the palate. - Finish: Very long with generous amounts of peat and fruit. - Overall Impression: I love this truly excellent whisky.

Bunnahabhain 'Bn1' (55.7%, The Whisky Exchange, Elements of Islay, 50cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale yellow - Nose: Immediately brings to life the idea of a beach bonfire set in a car tyre as smoke, peat & glowing embers combine with a light rubberiness and even a hint of raspberry. But it doesn't end there as after some minutes there's a distinct hint of smoked bacon being grilled on that beach BBQ. - Palate: smooth and light, then offering a light rubberiness, Atlantic sea-air and light smokiness with a generous helping of fruitiness. - Finish: Long and light with smoke and fruit. - Overall Impression: Excellent, a very, very good Bunnahabhain.

Bruichladdich 'Br2' (48.3%, The Whisky Exchange, Elements of Islay, 50cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very pale yellow - Nose: Initially slightly leafy malt, then expanding with a quite floral presence, but always light and fresh. The leafiness soon returns and very aromatically so with a definite sweetness. - Palate: The nose is personnified with a very aromatic leafiness combined with light freshness leading into a deceptively long finish. - Finish: Deceptively long - Overall Impression: Most enjoyable.

Glencadam 11yo (58.5%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, ex-sherry refill butt, Rubber trunchons and bargepoles, C#82.18, 771 Bts., 70cl, 2010*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Brown color, quite nutty, lot's sherry influence. Palate is much better than nosing. very good body.

Strathmill 10yo (60.9%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, ex-bourbon refill barrel, Fresh and innocent with divine sweetness, C#100.08, 187 Bts., 70cl, 2010*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Light yellow, sugar sweet, light grain. herbal, light apple. Light body, short finish. quite common one.

Balmenach 9yo (60.8%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Tennis court zing and tang, 1st fill barrel ex bourbon, C#48.17, 214 Bts., 70cl, 2010*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Very malty, with nice fruity note, peach, pear, quite easy going speyside style. some spice, young and easy.

Kavalan 'Solist Vinho Barrique' (59.4%, OB, NAS, C#W080218035, 232 Bts., 700ml, 2011*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Actually quite sherry influence, with some vanilla note. quite nutty, not that wine cask feel. dried fruit. medium body, medium finish. Very nice fruity note. good, rich, enjoyable.

Loch Lomond (40%, OB, NAS, 2010*)

Ho-cheng Yao, new spirit, leather, rusty nail, metal. herbal. very light peat.

Kilchoman 'Ingural 100% Islay' (50%, OB, NAS, 700ml, 2011)

Ho-cheng Yao, Light yellow color, straw. heavily peated.very smoky. citrus and lemon. Light body, malty sweet palate. quite nice finish. easy but balance one. comparing more oily than othe Kilchoman. A very nice version. I like it.

Isle of Jura 1999 'Boutique Barrels' (55%, OB, Kentuchy bourbon cask, Heavy Peat, Dis. Jan. 27, 1999, 70cl, 2010*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Quite peaty, Lot's herbal and earthy note. strong, robust, lot's malty sweet. smoky palate, match box. gun powder. medium short finish. nice peaty malty, somewhat not that balance. but still very enjoyable.

Old Virginia 6yo (40%, OB, Produce of USA bottled in France, 2011*)

Craig Daniels, Nose: mixed exotic fruits,liquid toffee, hint of wood, some rye, some cardboard Palate: more toffee, some spice, more cardboard. Finish: toffee and cardboard, hint of beercan metal. Comment: Nose better than rest - a little too metallic and lacks depth.

Balblair 1991 (43%, OB, 70cl, 2010*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Light yellow, very fruity, light nose, light malt, very Speyside, slightly white flower. Light body, elegant, quite easy going one.

Arran 'Amarone Cask Finish' (50%, OB, NAS, 700ml, 2011)

Ho-cheng Yao, slightly peach color, quite nutty nose, nutty bitter, oak, medium body, medium finish, quite nice palate, comparing good within the Arran wood finish range

Aberlour 'A'bunadh Batch #36' (60.1%, OB, NAS, 700ml, 2010*)

Ho-cheng Yao, Golden color, quite heavy sherry influence. nutty, light sulfur, chocolate, malty, bakery, very nice balance sherry malt, easy going but with very good power and body. very enjoyable one.

Port Ellen 28yo 1982/2011 (60%, Wilson & Morgan, C#2033, 534 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Bright (9ct) yellow gold - Nose: I'm immediately transported back to my favourite Islay ferry with light sea-air and fruity, peaty bilge pumps in the nicest possible way. More peat and wood smoke expand with time in the glass. Excellent lightly fruity peat. - Palate: Raspberries and fresh cream served in a hollowed-out peat brick and eventually joined by faint liquorice. - Finish: Long fruity peat - Overall Impression: Excellent. An exceptionally good Port Ellen and highly recommendable.

Port Ellen 28yo 1982 (57.5%, Old Bothwell, Exclusive for Germany, C#2039, 70cl, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Light golden yellow and just begging to be nosed and tasted. - Nose: I'm suddenly hit by another of those flashback moments; I'm about ten years old, it's the school holidays, a sunny day and I'm at the seaside with Mum. We've taken the train to Scarborough and we're now walking from the main part of town along the seafront to the more residential areas, but it's a walk of a good mile with the sea on our right and Scarborough castle high on our left. There's fresh sea-air in abundance, but also clean grasses and some hay with just hint of peat. After a few minutes of sheer pleasure the grasses and hay grow slightly more dominant. - Oh goodness, this is a real first for me as I say "Nose: Scarborough". - Palate: Moving eventually onwards, by a good 40 years, I'm back in my dining room with a rather astonishing Port Ellen and if you thought my description of the nose was slightly unusual, then prepare youself for a little more poetic license as the palate offers a surreal combination of flavours. Basically, this whisky is akin to a peat terrine served amidst a raspberry coulis with a dressing of hay, sprinkled with rosemary, although parsley, sage and thyme were not present at this particular Scarborough Fayre! With 4 drops of water: That tide just crashed over the wall and presented us with a face full of Scarborough's finest maritime shower. This also left the palate slightly more salty, but also with a development of herbal fruitiness alongside the peat. - A further 4 drops of water and the nose is even more 'maritime' with oodles of fresh, salty sea-air but also with a slight suggestion of dentist's surgery. The palate is now much smoother and also sweeter with lighter peat and a fruitiness which can only be matched by Cantaloupe melon dancing on the roof of the mouth, whilst the herbs and peat occupy the tongue. - Finally I give this dram a splurge of water which weakens the nose but makes the palate extremely smooth, only lightly smoky, but with lots of that sea-air and subtle fruit (cantaloupe melon), plus the faintest suggestion of butterscotch and heather blossom. - Overall Impression: Magnificent. More, more, I want more! Now!!! This is by far the best whisky I have personally tried in 2010.

Port Ellen 28yo 1979/2007 (53.6%, Norse Cask Selection, REFQW1311, 277 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Light gold - Nose: Slightly peaty outdoors with countryside and distant cows grazing near a peat bog, or by a peat fire. Hints of wood. - Palate: Smooth and slightly peaty with light hay, straw and open countryside. - With 3 drops of water: A fresher slightly more aromatic nose and a little more spicy peat. - Finish: Long, even longer with water. - Overall Impression: In my blind tasting I failed to recognise this as a Port Ellen, how could I? It does have some typical PE traits and is a fine, subtle Islay.

Port Ellen 18yo 1982/2001 (50%, Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask, Sherry, D09/'82 B08/'01, 777 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Hay, peat and bananas dunked in strong rum. - Palate: Exactly as the nose leads one to expect. Typical Port Ellen hay and peat, but with the added pleasure of slight banana and a hint of strong rum (molasses). - With 4 drops of water: Smoother and now with the addition of extra peat. - Overall Impression: I like Port Ellen and this one is good.

Port Ellen 26yo 1979/2006 (50%, Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask, Refill butt, C#2856, 602 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Herbs, salt and slight peat. - Palate: Sea, smoke and slight iodine making it just a little pungent. - Overall Impression: Very good, especially ass when nosing this one, my mind was immediately transported onto an Islay jetty on a clear Spring day.

Port Ellen 25yo 1978/2004 (61.1%, Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask for Alambic Classique, Refill butt, C#655)

Keith Wood, Nose: Slightly medicinal hay with just a touch of soft and gentle smoke. - Palate: Smooth and creamy, very soft peat with a little wood smoke and flowery hay in the background. The smoke and peat are more pronounced in the aftertaste where a hint of banana is also introduced. - Matching with food: You need a strong flavoured dish to accompany this one. - Overall Impresison: Excellent.

Port Ellen 24yo 1978/2002 '2nd Annual Release' (54.3%, OB)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Nose: Linseed, Scottish sea air, grass and straw - Palate: Very smooth and surprisingly sweet, but lots of burn from all that alcohol. The aftertaste is very herbal. Let's try with a little water now..... - With water: (4 drops in 2cl) The sea air and straw are enhanced on the nose. Deliciously smooth on the tongue and tingling the front and rear of the tongue simultaneously, whilst leaving the middle alone! Lovely herbal flavours whilst slightly oily and wonderfully smooth with the sweetness remaining, albeit not quite so prominent now. - 3 Further drops of water: A little smokiness is starting to develop amongst that straw. For a fleeting second I had a slight taste of one of those liquorice allsorts which comprises liquorice wrapped in a coconut tyre. - Overall Impression: This is an excellent dram and one which shall return to in a few days time. Probably experimenting with a little more water as this time around, it improved both times when I added a few drops. Lovely!!!

Pittyvaich 1993/2005 (43%, G&M Connoisseurs Choice)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Very pale yellow - Nose: Fresh malt with strong hints of spirit - Palate: Really quite smooth with hints of very fresh liquorice, a little spice and fading with an almost nutty maltiness - With 3 drops of water: Initially smoother with a little more liquorice, but a much shorter finish. - Finish: Quite long (without water) - Overall Impression: A little too fresh with depth of flavour missing, although it does have a long finish.

Rhosdhu 12yo 1996/2008 (46%, Murray McDavid, Bourbon Cask, 2000 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Teak, dark amber - Nose: Aged oak, slight rubber - Palate: Sweet, smooth rubber expanding on the palate over time. Slightly metallic dark fruits and berries. - Overall Impression: This bottle has been open for some weeks now and is about half empty. When I first tried it I found it to be extremely pleasant with dark fruits & berries and some cask influence. The most surprising influence is the dark colour coming from a bourbon cask, to the point where I would swear this was really a sherry cask! Unfortunately, over the few weeks sine opening this has gained a strange metallic influence which has slightly degraded both nose and palate.

Old Pulteney 'WK209 Good Hope' (46%, OB, NAS, 100cl, 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich gold / light oak - Nose: My first impression here is proabably quite suitable to the WK209 herring boat itself as I'm drawn immediately to the idea of the bilge pump-room, with a vivid image of oil and other debris floating around in slightly stale sea-water, although this could possibly also be located under an old pier thanks to the inclusion of old wood aromas. There's even the rubbery presence of a dinghy too. - Palate: Extremely smooth and creamy with lots of fruit which I will describe as peach, papaya and something quite red, or even blackberry. That rubberiness from the nose seems to have turned into a hint of peat on the palate, but only a very slight one. Is there a dry sherry in here too? It tastes quite so. - With 4 drops of water: A much improved nose as the bilge pumps have dispersed to leave wood, more fruitiness and just a smidgen of light smoke. The palate seems to have an extra side order of peppered vanilla. - With 4 more drops of water: Why am I suddenly transported into a Chinese kitchen? Could it be steaming rice, perhaps even a suggestion of sea-weed, maybe aromas of sweet & sour sauce ..? As for the palate the pepperiness is enhanced and the fruit is now slightly bitter (pear & star-fruit?) and it's also a little drier. - Finish: Long, even longer with water, but also drier with water. - Overall Impression: I'm not too much of a fan of the initial bilge-pump effect on the nose, but I was pleased to see that disappear with just a few drops of water and turn into a better experience, but I still think it's a slightly uncoordinated whisky. Given the chance I'd buy a bottle to test it further as I still feel it has promise.

Old Pulteney 'WK499 Isabella Fortuna' (52%, OB, NAS, travel retail, 18000 Bts., 100cl, 2010)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: 9ct Gold - Nose: Initially slightly sweet with vanilla, melon and heather blossom. AFter some minutes an aroma of fine soft Italian leather develops. - Palate: Begins with vanilla then tingles with slightly peppery green apple and a hint of leather. - With 4 drops of water: Nose is more intense with lots more flora. The palate tingles with light wood. - With 4 more drops of water: Some maritime elements of sea air, salt and jetty appear on the nose, whereas the palate is now softer and more gentle with more fruit. - With 4 more drops of water: Much more maritime nose whilst the palate is filled with heather and light wood. - Finish: Long, even longer with water. - Overall Impression: An excellent Old Pulteney with a great character, perhaps even Caithness personnified.

Old Pulteney 21yo 1983 (46%, OB, +/-2004)

Keith Wood, Nose: A Scottish golf course overlooking the Atlantic coast. - Palate: Smooth and creamy, peaches and ice cream. - With 3 drops of water: The nose doesn't really change, but the palate becomes more salty, really bringing out the maritime character which was initially promised in the nose. - Overall Impression: An excellent dram which I thoroughly enjoyed, especially with the water added.

Old Pulteney 30yo (44%, OB, 2009, 70cl, 2009)

Keith Wood, Glass: Glencairn - Colour: Very light gold, pale yellow. - Nose: We begin with smooth and gentle malt and a suggestion of yeast, then after 3-4 minutes a quite dry, slightly bitter fruit comes to the fore. I suggest something along the lines of green apple or star fruit. - Palate: Once again very smooth, gentle and subtle but the fruit is no longer green apple or star fruit, it has more tropical depth which suggests some papaya along with a hint of redcurrant. - Finish: Long with that fruit lingering gently on the palate. - Overall Impression: This really is a subtle whisky and much lighter in colour, nose and palate than its 30 years may suggest, but nevertheless it's a very good whisky, just allow it a little time and you'll not be disappointed.

Old Pulteney 21yo (46%, OB, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Glencairn - Colour: 21 carat gleaming gold - Nose: Initially a musty nuttiness followed quickly by the inclusion of freshly polished wood, but lightly so, not heavy and waxy. Finally, a slight spiciness appears with a tingle in the nostrils. - Palate: Although Fino Sherry casks only make up a third of this bottling, they really are predominant on the palate as they partner a very pleasant cocktail of fruit and spices. - With 3 drops of water: This Pulteney grows immensely on both nose and palate and also gains a smooth creaminess which makes for a delightful experience. - Finish: Long as it grows and lingers with a slight dryness. - Overall Impression: A real surprise with that Fino influence but it's good, very good!

Old Pulteney 17yo (46%, OB, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Glencairn - Colour: Very light and pale - Nose: Fresh, very light wood with also a hint of liquorice root. This is an extremely subtle whisky. - Palate: Smooth and creamy, but the light subtleness of the nose transcends the palate although a faint hint of fruit also makes an appearance. - With 3 drops of water: Apple and pear are added to the nose whilst the palate is enhanced a little more. - Finish: Medium ot long with more gentle fruit which now includes honeydew melon. - Overall Impression: Light and slightly fruity, it's very nice, very good! *** Revisited during January 2011 *** - Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Pale yellow / straw - Nose: Very fresh and also initially very light with hints of wood and what I can only liken to one of those little tubs of Italian chopped herbs. These grow slightly in intensity after a couple of minutes. - Palate: Extremely smooth with a creamy mouth-feel and lots of summer fruits and berries. - Finish: Long and fruity with a style of apricot, peach and melon. - Overall Impression: It may be light and initially subtle, but this turns into a quite 'big' whisky which I still really like.

Old Pulteney 12yo (40%, OB, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Glencairn - Colour: Yellow gold, 9 carat - Nose: Immediately quite a fruity nose with malt, morning coffee biscuit and a light hint of plum. This really is a good solid nose and reminiscent of the new make that I previously tasted. - Palate: Smooth and slightly oily as it initially spreads across the palate and then opens to include that biscuit, but it's really quite a subtle whisky and surprisingly includes light redcurrant as it heads into the finish. - With 3 drops of water: The whisky opens into what I can only describe as "maritime light liquorice". - Finish: Slightly dry with some lingering biscuity fruit. - Overall Impression: A good solid whisky which I still believe is under-rated or ignored by many. *** Revisited during January 2011 *** - Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich (21ct) yellow gold - Nose: My first surprise here was that the fruit had quite a citrus tang on the nose, somewhere between orange and lime. Then came the malt along with some vanilla and finally a hint of plum, quite similar to Chinese plum wine. - Palate: Very smooth and slightly oily with biscuit, malt and that hint of plum. - Finish: Dry with plain biscuit and hints of generic fruit. - Overall Impression: I still find this a good standard or introductory-level whisky.

Old Pulteney 12yo (40%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Gold with a hint of copper - Nose: Those maritime reminisces slowly come to the fore with salt and brine over heather and moss. - Palate: Everything the nose suggests with an extra hint of smoke, followed by very faint violets in the aftertaste. - Overall Impression: Old Pulteney tends to be ignored by many and not considered in the mainstream of purchases, but for me, this is a good and slightly different maritime whisky which deserves more credit than it tends to receive.

Oban 14yo (43%, OB, +/-2007)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark amber - Nose: A block of peat wrapped in parchment and stranded on an Atlantic beach. - Palate: Hints of the sea, but overlaid with malt, toffee and finished off with a wax seal. - Finish: Short and slightly dry. - Overall Impression: A wonderful nose promises much, but the palate just falls slightly short, although this is a good, enjoyable dram.

North Port 36yo 1966/2002 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, 6 months Sherrywood, 114 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Delightfully rich with plums, old oak, a little marzipan and just a hint of iodine. - Palate: An initial iodine tingle on the tongue, fading quickly to a creamy smoothness and then a sudden burst of marzipan and plums as the explosion returns. A second taste increases the presence of marzipan and offers a fantastically smooth and creamy nuttiness with more hints of dark fruits (plums, raisins and blackcurrant). The flavours hit with an explosion, but quickly dissipate and then return slowly in a luxurious creaminess which lingers and lingers ..... and lingers.... - With 3 drops of water: The nose opens a little and the spiciness, or tongue tingle is increased, making it slightly less creamy and even longer in the finish. - Overall Impression: Wonderful, from the deep amber colour to the rich nose and the smooth deep flavours. This is a very good dram, perhaps not the most complex, but certainly luxurious, creamy and a delight to drink.

Mortlach 12yo (40%, G&M for Meregalli, 1960's-'70s)

Keith Wood, Nose: Amazing. Not only sherry and almonds, but lilac and hints of lavender. This is an extremely aromatic Mortlach! - Palate: It does have that gentle Christmas Cake sensation. One of currants, raisins, nuts, sherry and maybe even black cherries in the background. But all this is overlayed with that wonderfully aromatic, perfumed lilac and lavender. Not heavily, but it is present and makes for a really good dram. If anything the actual feel of the whisky in the mouth is a little watery or thin, but the flavour more than makes up for that. - Overall Impression: I really like Mortlach in general, but if only they still made them like this! I want more

Mortlach 1991/2008 (58%, C&S Dram, Sherry Butt, C#4232)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich gold - Nose: Sweet rubber and seaweed on an Atlantic beach with overtones of smoky toffee after some minutes. - Palate: A sweet roast beef sandwich with a cherry sauce. - With 4 drops of water: Sweeter with more toffee - Finish: Long - Overall Impression: What a different, but really good dram and excellent value for money!

Mortlach 18yo 1991/2009 (56.9%, www.mortlach.de)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very rich and dark, almost treacle toffee - Nose: Lots of floral wood, traditional wax polish, aromatic dark fruits and overall, slightly dry. - Palate: Rich, creamy and quite 'solid' in flavour with aromatic dark fruits, some coconut then woody and quite nutty. - Finish: Long and quite perfumed. - Overall Impression: Positively delightful, aromatic, lively but not too complex.

Mortlach 16yo (43%, OB Flora & Fauna, 2008)

Keith Wood, Nose: Sherry, wood, and raisins. - Palate: Sherry and wood come to the fore, but there is also a presence almost of tangerine zest. The finish is short as it quickly fades. - Overall Impression: A flavoursome dram, albeit with a weak and short finish.

Glenmorangie 'Artein' (46%, OB, NAS, Private Edition, extra matured in Super Tuscan Sassicaia wine casks. vatting of 1990 & 1996, 2011)

Ho-cheng Yao, Brown reddish color. Very nutty one, very spicy, with raisin, berry, cinnamon, quite oaky, also reminds me Christmas cake. Especially harsh in palate and finish, some tannin feel. This is a very interesting and complex one. I think it will need sometime to be more stable in the bottle.

Old Pulteney 30yo (44%, OB, 2009, 70cl, 2009)

Ho-cheng Yao, Yellow color, very fruity, apple, pear, with lovely flora nose, beautiful and nice. Light oak, quite elegant and nice drinking. I like it a lot. More like old good Speysider.

Kininvie 17yo 1990/2008 'Hazelwood Reserve' (52.5%, OB, For Janet Sheed Roberts, first fill sherry casks, 70cl)

Ho-cheng Yao, Brown color, quite clear sherry note. Nutty, chocolate, raisin. malty as well. quite mild, seems not as complex as Balvenie while with more body than Glenfiddich.

Mosstowie 1979/2001 (40%, G&M Connoisseurs Choice)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Glowing amber - Nose: Very slightly phenolic with a rich cocktail of herbs, sherry and rum. - Palate: Slightly watery mouth-feel, but a great mixture of rich dark fruits, wood, sherry and yes, a slight hint of rum. - Finish: Medium to long, rich and slightly dry. - Overall Impression: A great flavour-bomb, but in my opinion it's slightly let down by only being 40%. If this were around 46-50% it would be magnificent

Miltonduff 12yo (43%, OB, Green Label, Transparent Label Gold & red letters, 75cl, 1980*)

Keith Wood, - Nose: Immediately very complex, with malt, fresh herbs, almost mint-like (but not quite) and very floral. - Palate: The first sip is gentle malt. But upon swallowing it comes back with an explosion of spicy flavours, a delayed reaction! This explosion hits the front of the tongue, which I find rather strange, very pleasant, but very different as it seems to totally miss the back of the tongue. The actual flavour is very much a re-inforcement of the nose. No fruit, but malty and quite floral, although I can't identify individual flowers in there. If anything, there is a slight hint of violet. - Overall impression: A lovely dram, one which I would love to find a secret stash of and keep for personal drinking.

Millburn 36yo 1969/2005 (50%, Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask, C#2152, 299 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Nose: Fresh apple crumble on a bed of floral hay with just a touch of perfume - Palate: That apple crumble in the nose makes an immediate appearance, but is rapidly joined by spicy pears and vanilla sauce. There is almost a hint of cinnamon in the mix too. - Finish: Very long. - Overall Impression: Thoroughly enjoyable, I like this!

Mannochmore 1984/2001 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice, 70cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Rich, dark polished old oak - Nose: Prunes and raisins with rich nuts marinated in fragrant, high quality furniture polish - Palate: Smooth and rich, but at the same time far from overpowering. This is obviously a sherry cask but not a sherry bomb. Fragrant Christmas cake. - Finish: Medium to long and offering light marzipan with icing. - Overall Impression: A very fragrant and one of the lighter sherried drams, but really very enjoyable.

Macduff 2000/2010 (61.1%, A.D. Rattray for Whisky & Rhum, First Fill Sherry, C#5778, 60 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very rich, dark glowing amber - Nose: An initial burst of creamy espresso is followed by dark chocolate, before the coffee returns. This is primarily rich coffee and dark chocolate (85%+ cacao). - Palate: Chewily (is that a word?) creamy and extremely rich with coffee beans and dark chocolate in the fore, but there's also a hint of coconut and then richly polished wood leading into the finish. - Finish: Very long, rich and tingly with light pepperiness. - Overall Impression: Wonderful, a true delight. In fact it's classified as one of my rare "Greats".

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

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark oak / rich amber - Nose: Initially very fruity with damson leading to prunes and figs, then some lightly toasted walnut. Lots of aromatic aged oak drying in midday sun with hints of furniture polish. This is very rich and solid. - Palate: Everything the nose promised with that rich fruit and wood which expand across the palate. These are joined by hints of bramble. - Finish: Very long and warming rich fruit - Overall Impression: Another excellent whisky from David Stirk.

Macduff 10yo 2000 (56.5%, Exclusive Malts, Dst. 15/10/2000, Sherry Butt, C#3525, 200 Bts., 2011*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Dark and rich teak - Nose: Rich dark fruits with raisins, currants and plums, then a suggestion of marzipan and overall becoming even more aromatic with time in the glass. - Palate: Those raisins, currants and plums translate wonderfully to the palate and are joined by mixed nuts and even a dash of coconut. These are all followed by lingering dark cherries and treacle toffee which lead into the finish. - Finish: Long and rich - Overall Impression: Another "Great" from this distillery and this bottler.

Macallan 1985/2002 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Speymalt, 70cl)

Keith Wood, Nose: Leather and soft rubber over a rather dry amontillado sherry. - Palate: Very smooth and quite fruity, but without any strong hints of sherry which for me, makes this a quite unusual Macallan. - Overall Impression: As I mentioned this is quite an unusual Macallan, but I do like it and find it really very interesting

Macallan 1989/2003 (46%, Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, Port Finish, 70cl)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Rich gold - Nose: Oak, opening after some seconds to include the faintest hint of banana, some leather and occasionally, just a whiff of smoke. - Palate: Smooth, but soon opening into an almost volcanic tingle which soon abates to leave a wonderful flavour of nuts, dark fruits and a little marzipan, with hints of raspberry and red wine fading only slowly. - Finish: Long, very long. Smooth and full of raspberry, red wine and right at the end the Port shines through. - Overall Impression: Another slightly different Macallan, but a glorious one indeed!

Macallan 18yo 'Fine Oak' (43%, OB, +/-2004)

Keith Wood, Colour: Pale yellow - Nose: Really quite pleasant with wood and some malt in there. Not a hint of sherry. After a while I am getting a hint of dry leafiness too. - Palate: Smooth but not so creamy. An initial flurry of wood and something slightly floral or herbal. This is also quite fresh. The finish on this one is longer than the 12y sherry. - Overall Impression: Not a bad dram, but far from a great. Let's say it's good, but not unforgettable. I am still trying not to refer to body and sherry, but if someone gave me this blind and said it was an 18y, then I may be quite disappointed. Somehow, I expect a little more from an 18y 'premium' dram. Not sherry, but just ...... more. In the way the Talisker 18y is far and away superior to the 10y. That same gulf is not apparent between the Mac 12 and 18.

Macallan 18yo 1979/1997 (43%, OB)

Keith Wood, *** First tasting: *** - Nose: Sherry, old oak, prunes and cardomom seeds with a very slight hint of molasses thrown in. - Palate: My first impression was molasses! How unusual! There are dark fruity in there, also some very aged dark oak giving a long, very long, flavour. But my over-riding feeling is still one of very dark old rum, in a gentle kind of way. *** Second tasting, same bottle at a later date: *** - Nose: Wonderfully rich raisins, sultanas, oak and a little hint of walnuts - Palate: smooth and creamy texture with a melody of oak, raisins and sweet English Christmas cake fighting for prominence. - Just 3 drops of water allow the raisins to win prominence as they now linger long and luxuriously on the tongue. - Overall Impression: I am tempted to say they don't make them like this anymore, but in fact, they do, thankfully! A lovely rich typically sherried classic from Macallan

Macallan 'Royal Marriage' (46.8%, OB for Prince William & Catherine, 1,000 bottles, available only at the distillery. Two casks from 1996 and 1999 married., 700ml)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Rich glowing amber with hints of copper and bronze - Nose: Rich aged oak, a little furniture polish, figs, plums, dark cherries and oil of orange with just the slightest hint of cloves. It's also quite floral in a rich sherry kind of way. - Palate: Initially rich and creamy with slightly dry, but quite heavy sherry. Then comes the wood and fruit followed by that oily orange and hints of dark chocolate. What I can only describe as floral cloves take the lead into the finish. - Finish: Long, again with some development of orange and a leaning towards finest cognac right at the end. - Overall Impression: A very good whisky, obviously sherry cask(s) but with a floral lightness and complexity only associated with the very best casks.

Macallan 'Select Oak' (40%, OB, '1824 Collection', 2009)

Keith Wood, - Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Almost amber - Nose: Leaf mould, rubber, oak and aromatic herbs - Palate: Smooth but a little watery (is this due to 40% not 43%? Maybe.) Slightest hints of dark fruits, wood, nuts and something aromatic that I can't quite place. - Finish: Long and fruity, rather like a mixture of raspberry and orange. - Overall Impression: This is far from the first fill sherry monsters that Macallan gained fame and world renown from, but it's definitely more sherry than bourbon cask, although both are evident.

Macallan 'Estate Oak' (40%, OB, NAS, 100cl, 2009)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Gold / light oak - Nose: Oak, slightly leafy, a hint of fruity rubber and faint but warm almond. - Palate: A creamy mouth-feel with a long tingle across the front to middle of the palate. The leafiness of the nose is evident, but in a creamy and totally un-pungent way, but this has more; almost, but not quite nutty and a fruitiness which is slightly reminiscent of apple pie served warm with cream. - Finish: Quite long - Overall Impression: I have said many times that I prefer the more sherried offerings from Macallan and this one is more akin to the Fine Oak range, but not entirely as it does have some traits which point it towards a sherry cask. Maybe a mix of the two styles with the emphasis on Fine Oak, but certainly a very pleasant dram which I would happily keep in my drinks cabinet.

Macallan 12yo (43%, OB, +/-2003)

Keith Wood, Nose: Dark fruits - raisins, a hint of plum, sherry, oak and even very slightly nutty. - Palate: No surprises, just as you would expect with those dark fruits and a mixture of sherry and oak. If anything, the 'feel' of this in the mouth is a little thin, but the flavour is all there. Not a very long finish, but slightly tingly on the middle of the tongue for a couple of seconds. - Overall Impression: A good sherry cask Macallan at a very reasonable price

Macallan 12yo 'Sherry' (40%, OB, +/-2008)

Keith Wood, Colour: A nice rich amber. - Nose: Dark fruits, raisins, currants and some slight almond aroma - Palate: Smooth and creamy with an initial hit of marzipan and raisins. This tingles the front - middle of the tongue and although the finish is quite long and smooth, the tingle fades very quickly. - Overall impression: This really is a typically good sherried dram. Nothing like as powerful in flavour or strength as something like the A'Bunadh, but all those sherry elements are there in abundance.

Longrow 10yo 1996/2006 (46%, OB)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Rich gold, almost amber - Nose: Sweet and damp Autumnal leaves giving way to a hint of rubber and then further expanding to include an open bonfire with burning juniper. - Palate: Rich and creamy nuts marinated in orange sauce and then wrapped in smoky black forest ham for serving. - With 3 drops of water: Much more smoky and lively, with a slightly tangy orange finish. - Finish: Long, even longer with water and more tangy too. - Overall Impression: Another very good whisky from the Springbank stable, but I think I preferred the rich creaminess without the 3 drops of water.

Longrow 'CV' (46%, OB, 2008)

Keith Wood, Glass: Spiegelau - Colour: Golden yellow - Nose: A fruit skewer comprising apple, mandarin, dates and peach gently warming on an open peat barbecue. - Palate: Fresh and fruity with hints of smoke and peat growing in the aftertaste. - With 3 drops of water: Much smoother and totally reminiscent of walking along a coastal cliff pathway with a little smoke and coconut for companions. - Finish: Very long and smooth with fruity hints of smoke. - Overall Impression: This is my first Longrow so I can't really compare it to others yet, but it is a thoroughly enjoyable and noteworthy dram. Try it!

Longmorn 46yo 1964/2010 (51.3%, Gordon & MacPhail Book of Kells for JIS, C#1033, 165 Bts.)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Very dark mahogany - Nose: Surprisingly light and floral with aromatic figs, prunes and aged oak marinated in Armagnac. After some minutes the nose expands to become richer, deeper and even more aromatic. - Palate: Rich and very creamy with wood, lots of blackcurrant, black cherries, red grapes and just a hint of the blue touch paper from fireworks. - Finish: Long, very long, in fact extremely long. - Overall Impression: On reading my blue touch paper comment you may think sulphur, don't be deceived, this doesn't suffer from sulphur at all. It's a magnificent whisky, a true great which came oh so close to forcing its way into my all time top 10, just not quite

Longmorn 18yo 1992 (46%, Cooper's Choice, Refill Butt cask No.8460, C#8460, 70cl, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Munich Whisky Festival 2011 - Colour: Rich dark oak, bronze. - Nose: Richly armoatic hay with creamy toffee make for a very interesting and pleasing nose. - Palate: Hay and grasses lead to red peppercorns, toffee, freshly-cut damp wood and a suggestion of vanilla. - Finish: Long and slightly dry. - Overall Impression: There's quite a lot happening in this Longmorn which deserves a little more of your time. It's a fine dram too.

Longmorn 12yo (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Licensed Bottling, 2010*)

Keith Wood, Glass: Classic Malt - Colour: Deep amber / rich polished oak - Nose: malt with very slight aniseed followed by aromatic currants and raisins. - Palate: Rich creamy toffee gradually opening with slightly toasted marzipan and currants with hints of marshmallow. - Finish: Long - Overall Impression: There are a lot of pleasant things going on in this whisky. I like it.

The Singular Overeem Single Malt Whisky (43%, OB, NAS, Old Hobart Distillery, Sherry Cask Matured, First Release, C#002, 175 Bts., 700ml, 2011)

Craig Daniels, Nose: Stewed apricots, nuts, some waxed fruits, more stone fruits (pears & peaches). some nuttiness ( almonds, macadamia)then honey. Palate: good mouthfeel, syruppy fruit, some charred notes. Finish: charred nuts and more smoked apricots and sultanas, some slightly charred metal and lingering metallic bitters. Comments: really impressive for a first release and for a malt that is less than 5 years old.

Yamazaki 'Sherry Cask' (48%, OB, NAS, 2010*)

Krishna Nukala, A whisky spent long age in quality cask, spices, dried fruits,, lots of tannins, Excellent smooth and sherried finish (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Yamazaki 1995/2010 (54.9%, OB for LMDW, Sherry Butt, C#5J3020)

Krishna Nukala, Rich sherried nose,grape fruit juice,cloves and anise seed, and multinational oriental spices.Lots of tannins, raisins. Excellent long spicy finish ( MMA2010 blind tasting)

Royal Brackla 10yo 1998/2009 (56.8%, Douglas Laing for TWW2009, Refill Hogshead, C#DL4528, 317 Bts.)

Krishna Nukala, Lemony- very sweet and syrupy, spicy and extremely smooth and satisfying finish- Full marks to palate and hence a Gold Medal (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Redbreast 15yo (46%, OB, Imported by LMDW, 2010*)

Krishna Nukala, Elegant wood- with drop of water, Interplay of dried fruits with florals like lavender- Very smooth and round, A classy nose. Extremely easy to drink, velvety finish. Very long but palate does not match the nose (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Port Ellen 27yo 1982/2010 (61.3%, Wilson & Morgan, Collector's Edition, C#2347, 570 Bts.)

Krishna Nukala, Weird smoke with coconut oil,some kind of sweet varnish smell, Dryly sweet, almost like tannins, wholesome full bodied everlasting finish (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Penderyn 'Rich Madeira Limited Edition' (58.9%, OB, NAS, C#26-1, 217 Bts., 2010*)

Krishna Nukala, sandal wood, madicinal,anise,lots of herbals like sample no. 247 (chartreuse) and roses- Very sweet , herbal like sherbat (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Octomore 5yo 'Orpheus Edition 02.2' (61%, OB, 2010)

Krishna Nukala, Great peated one. Must be an Islay stuff - disinfectant, Iodex, smoke and peat emerging all around, much stronger , Very very swqeet, excellent dessert drink (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Miyagikyo 1991/2010 (62%, OB, Imported by LMDW, C#116921)

Krishna Nukala, Rich nose- sweet varnish, lots of spices esp cloves, dry fruits like raisins coming out with a drop of water- lots of tannins, palate almost medicinal, hot and spicy. (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Mortlach 20yo 1990/2010 (56.5%, Wilson & Morgan, Sherry Butt, C#4412)

Krishna Nukala, sea brine on nose,strong bacon, excellent full bodied, mildly dry sweetish, salty organics. Whisky with excellent quality. lots of organics towards the finish (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Mackmyra 'Brukswhisky' (41.4%, OB, NAS, 2010*)

Krishna Nukala, Mildly medicinal, not of Islay type, but more like a hospital disinfectant,delicately fruity like pears & melons- Very syrupy and very round, and velvety on palate, not sweet but agreeable taste. Soft long finish- A different kind of whisky,but I liked it.(MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Macallan 1970/2010 (46%, Gordon & MacPhail Speymalt for LMDW, 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead, C#10031)

Krishna Nukala, Rich luxurious, lots spices especially cloves and dry fruits like raisins- very sweet and more cloves on palate, excellent superlative whisky that has spent long age in quality cask (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Macallan 14yo 1995/2010 (57%, Adelphi, C#10450, 268 Bts.)

Krishna Nukala, Distinctly floral;lots of lavender,some sweet sherry notes, with time some complexities coming out. And when stirred, florals ooze out.When at rest and without shaking the glass, you get some heavy nice oily nose. Very sweet syrup, full and round. Excellent sweetish long finish (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Springbank 12yo 'Cask Strength' (54.6%, OB, 2010*)

Craig Daniels, Nose: nice mix of sherry and citrus (raisins, christmas spices and seville oranges and baked pineapple) - probably a mix of first fill oloroso and refill sherry both from american oak. Nice toffee notes and some fudge: Palate: warm and yet rich and softer than usual for Springbank, nicely balanced all through the palate. Finish: Toffee, coconut rumballs, more citrus, some more raisins and a little bit of charred leather. Overall: very well behaved and neither the youth or the alcohol announce themselves aggressively anywhere in the profile - candidate for a Pressure Cooker Award, at least in my own pantheon.

Longrow 'CV' (46%, OB, NAS, 2010*)

Krishna Nukala, Peat and smoke, typical Islay or a Connemara? Very sweet and spicy like green paprika (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Longmorn 1964/2010 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail Licensed Bottling for LMDW, 1st Fill Sherry Hog, C#1034)

Krishna Nukala, Very rich nose- Spices,lots of dried fruits, prunes, raisins, nice wood of a quality cask, cloves,nutmeg-oh you can go on nose and even not drink it!! Lots of tannins, sweetish very smooth easy and long finish (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Linkwood 1973/2009 (49.7%, The Whisky Exchange, 10th Anniversary, bourbon cask)

Krishna Nukala, A spirit spent long age in a quality cask.Luxuriant,Deliciously sweet, lots of fruits and spices, excellent long finish (MMA 2010 blind tasting)

Ledaig 2005/2010 (62.7%, Berry Bros & Rudd for Germany, sherry butt, C#900008)

Krishna Nukala, Quality smoke and peat like in Ardbeg or Lagavulin- Lots of fruits lurking behind- sweet smoke on palpate, dry and spicy, everlasting finish. Absolutely fantastic (MMA 2010 blind tasting)