Scottish Whisky

Aberlour Double Cask 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Aberlour Double Cask Matured 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$50
Website
8812467945502
What the Distillery Says:
The 12 year-old expression is a fine example of how the distinctively crisp, citrus character of Aberlour’s raw spirit is deftly softened by double cask maturation. Traditional oak and seasoned Sherry butts are both used to great effect, as the mellowed spirits within are combined to deliver a subtly balanced flavour.

Colour: Golden amber with hints of ruby.
Nose: Soft and rounded, with fruity notes of red apple.
Palate: A fine sherried character, balanced with rich chocolate, toffee, cinnamon and ginger spiciness.
Finish: Warming and lingering – sweet and slightly spicy.

What Richard Says:
Nose: There is just a whisper of sherry on the nose. Not in the least bit a “sherry bomb”. It’s more malty and grain forward with a wildflower backdrop.
Palate: Sweet and nice but a bit thin. Fruity sweet with a bit of nuts thrown it. It’s like fruit cake but without the baking spices.
Finish: Drying and slightly bitter with a pinch of black pepper.
Comments: A fine, serviceable in the $50 range. It’s one of the expressions that Aberlour adds caramel coloring to if you are the type to be curious about such things. This used to be a bit of a deal compared to Macallan 12, even though I like the Macallan a bit better. However, Aberlour prices are creeping up too. If you are an experienced malt drinker this probably won’t blow you socks off. It’s a bit meh compared to A’bunadh or their older expressions. It’s nice all the same.
Rating: Average

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Advent Day 18: Dalmore 12 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky /

18 days in and we head back to the sherry side…

The Dalmore Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
40% ABV
$60
Website

What the Distillery Says
The Dalmore 12 year old, with its intricate aromas and flavours, is recognised as a whisky with character far beyond its age. This was Andrew Mackenzie’s original masterpiece and stood apart from the norm of the day. At a time when it was standard practise to mature whisky for no more than 6 years, Andrew Mackenzie demonstrated his pioneering character by doubling the maturation period. His boldness truly paid off, The Dalmore 12 year old still stands apart as an exceptional whisky today, as it did then.

Matured for an initial nine years in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, the spirit is then divided for its final flourish. One half remains in the bourbon barrels, while the other is transferred to exclusive 30 year old Gonzalez Byass Matusalem oloroso sherry butts before they are reunited to create this phenomenal whisky.

What Richard Says
Nose: Big sherry nose on this one with a malty and cocoa powder backing.
Palate: Syrupy orange sweetness playing with a….”dampness” is the only word that comes to mind. A bit of a one trick pony.
Finish: Coffee and dark chocolate…mochaccino maybe? Draw the finish out and it turns bitter.
Comments: Dalmore is one of those “remember when” scotches. As in “remember 20 years ago what it tasted like?” Back when I first started to drink scotch, just about everything Dalmore produced was pretty stellar. This current 12 year old is a pale shadow of what they used to make. Now there really isn’t anything special going on in this malt. And on top of the quality decline, there is a huge jump in price since Dalmore redid their line about 8 years ago. They see themselves as a top tier luxury malt now. Of course, that also includes the requisite luxury pricing. $60+ a bottle? Nah.
Rating: Average

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Advent Day 15: Lost Distilleries Blend

/ / Review, Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky /

On the 15th day of Advent, my calendar gave to me…

The Lost Distilleries Blend Blended Scotch Whisky
Batch 10
51% ABV
$400
Website

What the Blender Says
It is no secret amongst whisky-lovers that some of the greatest and most admired distilleries in Scotland are those that have sadly closed over the years. Be these closures due to economic circumstance, lack of demand, or just bad fortune, many of the whiskies left behind have attained iconic, near-mythical status amongst the whisky cognoscenti.

The Lost Distilleries Blend has reached double digits! Yes, The Blended Whisky Company’s exceptional blended Scotch whisky created exclusively with malt and grain whiskies from distilleries that have shut their doors has arrived at its 10th batch. As ever, stocks both rare and sought-after by whisky collectors and cognoscenti alike have made their way into the Lost Distilleries Blend – this time featuring whisky from Caperdonich, Rosebank, Imperial, Mosstowie, Glen Mhor, Glenisla, Glenlochy, Craigduff, Port Ellen and Brora, alongside grain from Port Dundas. A marvel of blending and a fine tribute to those gone but not forgotten greats.

Batch 10 is a release of 1,041 bottles.

What Richard Says
Nose: Deep notes of warm fruit, polished old oak furniture, fine aged tobacco, rich vanilla cream, and that wonderful “old whisky” nose.
Palate: Stewed stone fruits, more vanilla cream, raisins, and toffee.
Finish: Herbal and smoky with a sprinkling of cocoa powder and ground black pepper. After all that fades it gets really bitter.
Comments: Delicious! This is a very complex and well integrated old blend of scotch. It is pricey and not widely distributed. I don’t think that I would scour the earth for a bottle but if you come across the opportunity to try it then you definitely should.
Rating: Must Try

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Advent Day 13: Big Strand

/ / Islay, Review, Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky /

Thirteen days in and the whisky advent calendar delivers me something that I had not previously heard of….

Big Strand Islay Single Malt Whisky
46% ABV
$40

What the Bottler Says
Not really anything. No website, press release, or really anything.

What Richard Says
Nose: Smoky and meaty.
Palate: Surprisingly sweet with notes of roasted peppers and salty sea air.
Finish: Hot and dry.
Comments: I would pass on this one. There is plenty of Islay malt out there but this one is unbalanced and feels cobbled together. This is probably either a product of young or poorly chosen whisky.
Rating: Probably Pass

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