Scottish Whisky

Lagavulin Offerman Edition Aged 11 Years

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Lagavulin Offerman Edition Aged 11 Years
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$100
Website
Lagavulin Offerman Edition Aged 11 Years

What the Bottle Says

“I have travelled the world and sampled many attempts at pleasing nectars, but it is solely this distillation on Islay; a tiny, charismatic Scottish isle, that has claimed my palate,
Yea, and my heart into the bargain.”
Nick Offerman

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat, sea air, smoked fish, iodine, creosote and tar with fruit notes tucked underneath.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, sweet with treacle, butterscotch, peat, gentle spices, fruit and honey with peat smoke.
Finish:  Moderately long with honey and peat.
Comments:  The nose is fairly dry and acrid, like a peat fire on the coast, with some fruit notes that you have to work to find. Then the palate comes out sweetly swinging! After a couple of passes on this one, I thought to myself “Wow – I’m not sure if I might not like this as much as Lagavulin 16 yr.” I wish I had done that earlier, as I only had enough to do two blind side-by-side comparisons. In both I thought they were very similar, and I picked both as better than the other. While I’d love to have a more clear winner, the fact that this gave Lagavulin 16 a run for its money is high praise in my book. And if you are a Lagavulin fan, I think this is priced to where you’ve got to try it for yourself.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Unnamed Orkney 2006 14 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Unnamed Orkney 2006 14 Year
Signatory Vintage The Un-chillfiltered Collection
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$100
Website
Unnamed Orkney 14 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Bottle Says

AGED: 14 years
DISTILLED ON: February 14, 2006
BOTTLE ON: September 25, 2020
MATURED IN: a Refill Butt
VATTING CASK NO: DRU 17/A65 #7
BOTTLE NO: 643
Un-chillfiltered | Natural Colour

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sherried dark fruit, raw honey, toffee, grilled peaches, smoky, spent matchsticks and sea mist.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, savory sherry notes, allspice, honey, raisins, subtle peat and a bit of pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, wet with dark fruits and trailing pepper spice.
Comments:  If I had to guess (which is all I can do), I’d peg this as Highland Park – which seems like a safe bet since there’s only two distilleries on Orkney (the other being Scapa, which I’m not familiar with). But it definitely reminds me of Highland Park, although a refill butt so less sherry intensity. This is also lighter in color than Highland Park 12 yr. I really like how this dram clouds up with some water, which also tamps down the sherry notes on the palate and brings out more island notes.

Rating: Stands Out

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Glen Grant 1997 13 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Glen Grant 1997 13 Year
Signatory Cask Strength Collection
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

59.3% ABV
$100
Website
Glen Grant 1997 13 Yr Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Bottler Says

AGED: 13 years
DISTILLED ON: March 1997
BOTTLE ON: February 2010
MATURED IN: Hogshead
CASK NO: 38886
BOTTLE NO: of 291

Glen Grant Distillery, built in 1840 by brothers, John and James Grant, is located in the heart of Speyside. The distillery is now the world’s second-largest single malt whiskey brand.

TASTE NOTES
COLOR: Light amber
NOSE: White grapes, a fresh apple tart and ripe pears
TASTE: Similar to the nose, with hints of vanilla, oak and white pepper.
FINISH: Medium, white pepper spice

What Gary Says

Nose:  Buttered yeast roll, honey, malty, pears, apricots, subtle earthiness with heather.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel but tart and sharp, canned pears with fruit salad and freshly cracked pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with pepper spice and pears.
Comments:  This has a sour/tart note to it that reminds me a bit of sour fruit gummy candies. It clouds up nicely with a bit of water, reflecting the non-chill filtration (although it doesn’t state that on the label from what I can tell). I’m not familiar with Glen Grant, but this doesn’t leave me with seeking out more specifically. Any one cask might be just that (a one off), but I think the folks at Signatory do a pretty good job so can’t help but think that this isn’t a fair representation of Glen Grant (albeit at higher proof).

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Compass Box Orchard House

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box Orchard House
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$51
Website
Compass Box Orchard House Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says

Fruit-forward & spirit-driven
What is more universally delicious than ripe fruit? Even the greatest chefs have been known to serve a simple dish of strawberries or a single, perfect peach as a dessert.

Orchard House gathers together some of the fruitiest malts Scotland has to offer, including whiskies from the Linkwood and Clynelish distilleries; what’s more, we have sourced many of these whiskies as new spirit and laid them down in our own oak casks. This, our monument to fresh fruitiness in Scotch whisky, has been many years in the making.

When neat or poured over a large ice cube, Orchard House makes for an outstanding pre-dinner malt. It will ably partner amber and pale ales, as well as swathes of soft cheeses. Welcome to our home among the fruit trees – the door is unlocked.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: Natural colour | Not chill-filtered

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Aromas of apple and pear dominate, with hints of pineapple, lemon and lime zest, and Earl Grey tea. Take a sip and note the malty and gingery flavours. These are soon joined by honey, wild strawberries and vanilla shortbread.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity and floral, green apples, poached pears, hint of lemon zest and apple cider.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with peaches and cream, apples, vanilla, pears, nutmeg and honey.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with fruit and subtle mulling spice notes.
Comments:  This is delicious, and dangerously drinkable. It has a really nice fall vibe, with some apple cider – perfect for this time of year. I picked this one up at the same time as Compass Box Canvas, and I liked this almost as much as that – but like the price point on this way more. It doesn’t have the same mouthfeel (which I wouldn’t expect), but if you’re a Compass Box fan – I’d definitely give this one a try.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Compass Box Canvas

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Canvas
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$140
Website
Compass Box Canvas Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says

Whisky is our Canvas; what’s yours?
This is an exceedingly colourful and vibrant Scotch whisky, thanks to a parcel of single malt re-racked into experimental barrels for three years.

Seasoned with Vino Naranja (Spanish fortified wine infused with orange peel), these unusual casks bring new shades of deliciousness to Canvas with their chocolatey richness and sticky marmalade fragrance.

Single malts from the Tomatin, Glenburgie, Glen Elgin and Imperial distilleries, all aged in American oak, bring further generous flavours of custard, honey and frangipane. Rather than restrained watercolours, this is a work in decadent oil paints.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: Natural colour | Not chill-filtered | A limited edition of 5,880 bottles | June 2021.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: The gloriously waxy and citrusy nose is followed by forest honey and vanilla shortbread notes on the palate. Flavours of nutmeg, cardamom and chocolate intertwine in the long-lasting finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Musty, waxy and meaty, blood oranges with herbal/savory notes, orange bitters, hints of currants and black tea.
Palate:  Rich and thick mouthfeel, sweet with honey, subtle dark fruits with figs and oranges, nutmeg and cocoa.
Finish:  Moderately long and slightly drying with fruit and a hint of pepper.
Comments:  This is a nice dram. The nose is subtle, and the orange influence is evident but not forceful. It has a really nice body and mouthfeel, although there are a lot of Compass Box limited editions I’d pick up over this one for similar price. A bit of water brings out the fruit even more, with an orange marmalade note on the palate. Don’t get me wrong – this is a really nice dram, but maybe I’ve been spoiled with others that for me had more depth and complexity. Or this just isn’t in my wheelhouse.

The components consist of nearly 60% coming from 13 yr Tomatin barrels (43% refill bourbon barrel and 11% Vino Naranja barrels), followed by nearly 25% from 14 yr first fill bourbon barrels from Glenburgie, 15% from 18 yr recharred American Oak hogsheads from Glen Elgin, and 6% from 24 yr first fill bourbon barrels from Imperial.

Rating: Stands Out

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