Scottish Whisky

Aberlour 17 yr Double-Cask Cask Strength

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Aberlour 17 yr Double-Cask Cask Strength
55.3% ABV
Website

What the Bottle Says
Aberlour Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Double Cask
First Fill Sherry and Bourbon Cask
17 Years Old

Nose: Hints of cinnamon, baked apples and ginger intermingled with luscious dark chocolate and treacle toffee.
Taste: Rich and tangy on the pallet at first, followed by a burst of sweet orange and apricot flavors with delicate dark chocolate notes.
Finish: Long finish with a lingering spice.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Thick, rich sherry dark fruit – raisins, oranges, honey spent fireworks, burnt toast, subtle nuttiness.
Palate:  Rich sweet, creamy mouthfeel that then sharpens, dark fruit/plum jam with notes of oak; water brings the sweet more to raisins with a pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderate to long in length, sweet yet tart while drying.
Comments:  Another pickup by Richard while visiting (no mention of on their web-site, and no price).  By comparison with the Aberlour 17yr CS, the sherry influence here is pretty apparent, but that smokey, spent matches, sulfur note is also still present, even when adding water (water tamped the heat a bit, but not the smokiness as much). If you like a really smokey whiskey, this might be the bees knees. I found it to be better balanced than the other though.
Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Aberlour 17 yr Cask Strength

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Aberlour 17 yr Cask Strength
The Distillery Reserve Collection
50.2% ABV
Website

What the Bottle Says
The Distillery Reserve Collection
[Non Chill-Filtered]
Aberlour Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
Aged 17 Years
The Distillery Reserve collection is a limited release of rare and exceptional whiskies from Chivas Brothers single malt whisky distilleries. Each release is bottled at cask strength.
Distilled: 12th December 1997 Bottled: 8th July 2015
Cask Nos: 17749,17756-58, 17771
1 of 1380 50cl bottles

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sharp/astringent, tart cherries, spongecake, hazelnuts with spent matches; bit of water brings out more citrus notes with the cherries and hints of caramel with dark chocolate.
Palate:  Subtle sweetness w/ oranges, apricots and honey, then sharpens to a sulphury, oaky, spicy tobacco note; hints of toffee and cherry; bit of water brings out the oranges and honey a bit more.
Finish:  Moderately long, and drying with smoke.
Comments:  This was a distillery exclusive that Richard picked up while visiting a few years ago, and as such no mention of it on their web-site (and not sure what the price paid was). This drank pretty hot for the proof, and has a lot of sulfur, spent matches. It does take water well, although the smoke was still fairly acrid for me. Next going to review an Aberlour 17yr Double-Cask cask strength, which was an interesting comparison.
Rating: Average

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Highland Park VALKNUT

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Highland Park VALKNUT
46.8% ABV
$80
Website

What the Distiller Says
In partnership with renowned Danish designer Jim Lyngvild, Highland Park VALKNUT is the second in a series of three Viking Legends releases inspired by the rich Viking heritage and mythology of Highland Park’s Orkney Islands home. The first expression, VALKYRIE, was released in mid-2017 to critical acclaim, winning the Ultimate Spirits Challenge’s highest accolade, the Chairman’s Trophy for Best in Category, with a 99/100 score.

Viking sagas tell of the Valkyries, the fierce angels of Norse mythology who combed the battlefields for the bravest fallen warriors. Vikings who met an honorable death were marked out by the symbol of the Valknut and spirited away by the Valkyries to Valhalla to join Odin’s mighty army and prepare for Ragnarok, the battle of the end of the world.

VALKNUT means “knot of those killed in battle” and is represented visually by three interlinked triangles. This symbol is closely associated with the Norse god Odin, who guided the spirits of the dead to Valhalla.

“VALKNUT is a bolder, more intense style of Highland Park with a drier and smokier profile and a higher ABV than VALKYRIE. It has been matured predominantly in American sherry seasoned oak casks with a slightly higher phenolic level compared to VALKYRIE,” says Jason Craig, Highland Park’s Global Brand Director. “We’ve also used a small amount of Orkney-grown tartan barley, which adds to its smokier edge and lingering sweet, spicy finish.”

Nose: Toasted vanilla pods, cracked black pepper, oak shavings, cloves, anise, aromatic smoke
Palate: Sweet, aromatic cloves join forces with tangy hints of anise
Finish: Intensely balanced and bold; leaves a lingering memory of aromatic peat smoke and sweet spices

What Gary Says
Nose:  Rich smokey sweetness, dark fruit, vanilla, anise, subtle spice notes beneath wisps of sea air and brine.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with raisins, cloves, almonds and a subtle earthiness.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with smoke and pepper spice.
Comments:  Very nice! Balanced, less sherry-forward than Highland Park 12 or 18 yr, but with that sea air/smokiness that I love in their offerings. I find more complexity on the nose than in the palate, but nothing off-putting in either – and both are well balanced. I think fans of Highland Park are unlikely to be disappointed!
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Highland Park and Forte Mare for sending us a sample to review.

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Laphroaig Cairdeas Fino Cask Finish

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Laphroaig Cairdeas Fino Cask Finish
51.8% ABV
$80
Website

What the Distiller Says
Each year, Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell, crafts a limited edition malt to celebrate friendship (“Cairdeas” in Gaelic). Released in limited quantities stateside as one of the most a highly anticipated Laphroaig offerings each year, the 2018 iteration, Cairdeas Fino Cask, features notes of toasted almonds, dried fruit and sea salt, all of which perfectly complement the whisky’s peaty, unmistakably Laphroaig flavor.

Crafted in the spirit of ‘friendship’, the 2018 bottling of this annual release whisky is perfect to share with friends old and new. Laid to rest in Warehouse 8 and 10, Cairdeas Fino Cask showcases an especially unique double maturation process in first-fill bourbon casks, followed by Fino Sherry Casks.

COLOR: Golden amber
NOSE: Toasted almonds
BODY: Full bodied
PALATE: Dried fruit and sea salt
FINISH: Laphroaig’s signature peaty flavor

What Gary Says
Nose: Sea air, brine, peat, medicinal notes with a touch of citrus sweetness and mixed nuts.
Palate:  Sweet, peaty with notes of caramel custard, spongecake and almonds underneath.
Finish:  Moderate in length, damp with hints of stewed fruits as it fades.
Comments:  I’m a fan of Laphroaig to be sure (so I’m biased like that), but in general I commend them for having a limited edition that isn’t outrageously expensive, and also is true to the core spirit. If you don’t like Laphroaig, you probably won’t like this – because it tastes like Laphroaig, with a subtle twist. I appreciate that they aren’t trying to turn it into something completely different (not to knock innovation of that nature either). I found this to be a delightful and enjoyable pour. Compared to your standard Laphroaig 10yr, I find this to be a tad less medicinal with just a bit more citrus and nutty sweetness. I found a bit of water tamped down those nuances (the peat isn’t subdued that easily), but at 51.8% this didn’t need any water. I don’t know that I loved this as much as last year’s Laphroaig Cairdeas Quarter Cask, as the differences were more subtle and nuanced. But I definitely like it a lot, and wouldn’t turn down anyone offering it!
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Laphroaig and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

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Glenturret Old Particular 1987 28 Year Old

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Glenturret Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Douglas Laing “Old Particular” 1987 28 Year Old
(K&L Wines Exclusive)
49.7% ABV
$100
Website
1286859x
What the Retailer Says:
It’s rare to see a 25 year old whisky for less than $150 these days, and even when we do see the occasional bottle our first instinct is often to ask: what’s wrong with it? Understanding that natural reaction we had to ask ourselves: how will people respond when we offer them a 28 year old, single barrel, cask strength, Highland single malt for $99.99? We’re hoping you’ll be excited because we’re absolutely thrilled! Glenturret isn’t a household name among whisky drinkers, but for those in the know it’s part of the Edrington portfolio: the group that owns Macallan, Highland Park, and Glenrothes. Glenturret is also considered the oldest distillery in Scotland, having been founded in 1775, and today it’s the home of Famous Grouse: the world-renowned blended whisky in which it plays a large role. This 28 year old expression has reduced naturally down to a perfectly-drinkable 49.7% ABV and has the richness, oiliness, and concentration that only mature whisky can offer. It’s full of brandied fruit, resin, supple caramel, and creamy malted goodness. Despite its old age, the whisky is surprisingly lithe and light on its feet. By no means is this a heavy, full-bodied number, but rather a classic Highland whisky with plenty of barrel-aged complexity. For the price, it’s a no brainer.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Rich, thick depth of tropical fruit salad, herbal spice, subtly floral with a note of malted milk balls.
Palate: Viscous, creamy mouthfeel, crème brluee, fruity (plums, lemon curd) before sharpening to a pepper spice – and then softening up again; a bit of water thins the mouthfeel a bit, but opens up the fruity sweetness further, adding a cereal grain note.
Finish: Long, and softly drying.
Comments: I’d never had anything from Glenturret, and this was more of an opportunistic purchase than anything (had the chance to pop into one of K&L’s stores, and thought “$100 for 28yr single malt? Why not!”) One of the better $100 blind purchases I’ve made. This is a lovely dram, and while very drinkable at bottled/cask strength – it stands up to water nicely. This was one of three bottles I picked up during my visit, and the only one I sought a back-up of. As a single cask private selection (which was sold out in short order), I don’t expect to have another chance to add a third, but this would be an insta-buy for me if I did.
Rating: Must Buy

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