Scottish Whisky

Grangestone Rum Cask Finish

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Grangestone Rum Cask Finish
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$30
Website
Grangestone Rum Cask

What the Producer Says

The Grangestone Single Malt Scotch Whisky range offers a selection of some of the finest Single Malts available from the Highlands of Scotland. Each spirit is chosen by our Malt Master for its quality and character to be symbolic of whiskies of this region.

Grangestone truly is a perfect example of a whisky from the Highland region of Scotland.

Character
This Grangestone Single Malt has been matured in traditional American oak casks until it has achieved the perfect balance of flavours, green leafy notes play in harmony with its sweet delicate oak flavour.

The whisky is then transferred into casks that have previously held premium Rum to allow for further development.

Aroma: A rich malty aroma with a biscuity sweetness and fresh fruit notes. A delicate leafy character is balanced with vanilla sweetness.
Taste: Sweet and rounded with a vanilla oakiness. The malty character carries through into the taste with subtle notes of caramelised fruits.
Finish: Mellow and long lasting.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malty, grainy, heather, rum, sugar cane, hint of an earthy note.
Palate:  Thin, light and sweet with rum, a slightly sour oak note, peppery at the back.
Finish:  Short and drying with pepper and a fading mineral note.
Comments:  As a non-age stated whisky, I approached this with low expectations – and it managed to still fall short. On the nose and palate this comes across as quite young. When I think of Highland single malt scotch, this doesn’t reflect or echo any that come to mind. The most positive thing I can say about this is I’m glad that they offer this in a 50mL bottle (which is what I bought).

Rating: Probably Pass

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The Exclusive Blend 1994 – 20 Years

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Exclusive Blend 1994 – 20 Years
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

50% ABV
$100
The Exclusive Blend 1994 20 Years

What the Bottle Says

Distilled in 1994 / Aged in oak casks for over 20 Years
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Natural colour and without chill filtration for a more flavourful whisky

The finest Highland and Speyside Scotch Malt Whiskies all distilled in 1994, blended together and married in first fill ex-Sherry oak casks.

Matured exclusively in ex-Sherry butts from Jerez, Spain, this blend of the finest malt whiskies is full of rich chocolate, fruit salad and sweet oak. Expect a long, oily and fruit-laden finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft sherry, dark fruit, vanilla, chocolate, floral, subtle smoke, oak, herbal savory notes of grilled meat.
Palate:  Rich, sweet, fruity with plums, figs, blood orange and cherries, pepper bite with baking spices of nutmeg and clove.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with cherries and spices.
Comments:  This is from independent bottler The Creative Whisky Co (who unfortunately was purchased a couple of years back apparently for their assets). A very nicely balanced dram. Fruity and spicy, although a tad sharp. Takes water well which opens up the floral notes but keeps a nice rich mouthfeel.

Rating: Stands Out

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Ardbeg Wee Beastie

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Ardbeg Wee Beastie
5 Years Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

47.4% ABV
$50
Website
Ardbeg Wee Beastie

What the Distillery Says

IT’S A MONSTER OF A DRAM
Ardbeg Wee Beastie is the latest permanent expression to join the Distillery’s Ultimate Range. At just five years old, Wee Beastie is a feisty young creature with a formidable taste.

SOMETHING BIG AND SMOKY…
Our whisky creators set out to make the rawest, smokiest Ardbeg ever. The result is Ardbeg Wee Beastie and this tongue-tingling, beautifully smoky dram is the youngest Ardbeg we’ve ever made.

On the snout, intense aromas of cracked blacked pepper mingle with sappy pine resin and a sharp tang of smoke. Suddenly, an explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. Savoury meats sink into the palate before the long salty mouthcoating finish slinks away… revealing the inner beast of this Islay icon.

Young and intensely smoky, this is a dram untamed by age. Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Wee Beastie is perfect for enjoying neat or as the mouth-watering main ingredient in a powerfully smoky cocktail.

Non chill-filtered at 47.4%.

TASTING NOTES
COLOUR: A glint of bright Gold (Auric)
AROMA: The first sniff alerts you to a nearby presence… heightened senses are filled with very bright, fresh herbal notes, with creeping hints of vanilla and pear. Rich Turkish coffee mingles with sappy pine resin, with honey-glazed ham lurking in the background. With water, more herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel captivate and pull you in, while beguiling scents of aniseed, green apple and leather cause you to drop your guard. Out of nowhere, a sharp tang of smoke and a crack of fresh black pepper fire warning shots across the senses.
TASTE: Suddenly, a rich, explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. A powerful blast of eucalyptus thrashes about with antiseptic lozenges and aniseed. The raw, smoky intensity gathers pace, before smoked bacon and savoury meats sink into the palate.
FINISH: The long, salty mouthcoating finish retreats, with hints of cocoa and fudge slinking slowly away.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat, creosote, fresh pine, seaweed, smoked pork butt, dried fruit, earthy, mineral notes with a bit of sulfur and hint of coffee.
Palate:  Sweet, grainy with honey, salty peat, creosote, bit of chocolate, earthy notes with pepper spice.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with lingering spices and peat.
Comments:  I like Ardbeg, and am also a sherry fan – so maybe I had unreasonable hopes for this (given its age). Don’t get me wrong – there isn’t anything off putting with this, but the youth is apparent, and the sherry influence is fairly subtle (maybe too subtle). Not bad, but not special either – and given the price point, can’t imagine reaching for this over the standard bearer 10 yr old.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Tomatin 18 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / , ,

Tomatin 18 Year
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$90 – $100
Website
Tomatin 18 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distillery Says

The Tomatin 18 Year Old is a truly world class malt. Matured in traditional oak casks and first fill Oloroso Sherry butts, honey and soft oak flavours develop into a hint of dark chocolate with a citrus bite before a sustained sweet and slightly dry finish.
Non-chill Filtered
Aroma: Orchard fruit, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup with just a hint of smoky heather.
Palate: Deliciously sweet, citrus and dark chocolate with a slightly oaky edge.
Finish: Long, sweet and slightly dry.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich fruit notes of apricots, figs, caramelized grilled peaches, subtle baking spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, hint of maple syrup, oak, subtle floral notes.
Palate:  Thick and creamy mouthfeel, rich , sweet with blood orange, peaches, plums, dark chocolate, toffee, a touch of cinnamon and oak.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with cocoa and fruit.
Comments:  This is delicious. Like the 12 yr, this is finished (not fully matured) in sherry which gives it a lovely balance. I appreciate the higher proof and non-chill filtration.
Age isn’t everything, but this is a great value for an 18 yr single malt (and I like as well as others that are 20-30% more expensive).

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try/Great Value

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Tomatin 15 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Tomatin 15 Year
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

43% ABV
$50 – $60*
Website
Tomatin 15 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distillery Says

Soft and delicate but with a significant influence from the North American oak.

Aroma: Light and fresh. Citrus fruits, vanilla, fruit cake. Oak prominent throughout.
Taste: Good balance. Smooth, medium body, delicate honey and mild orange.
Finish: Quite long; lingers on the palate.

Cask: Matured in refill American Oak casks.
* NOTE: This expression was discontinued in 2014; price reflects retail.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Light and fruity with peaches, candied orange, vanilla, toasted oak, a hint of heather.
Palate:  Sweet and creamy with honey, vanilla, mandarin oranges, peaches, mangoes, very gentle pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderate in length with honey and oak.
Comments:  This is lighter in color than the Tomatin 12 yr, which isn’t surprising given the cask maturation. This has a nice mouthfeel, and is a pleasant enough whisky – but a bit light for my liking. I preferred the Tomatin 12 yr. This is discontinued, and replaced with a 14 yr port finished version. My sample of this was part of a three-pack, 50 mL set I bought back in 2014 prior to the product change. Having never tried the new offering, but based on the 12 yr, I’m optimistic the new version is better.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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