Scottish Whisky

an Cnoc 22 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

an Cnoc 22 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$ 159
Website
anCnoc 22yo Pack Shot Hi res
What the Distillery Says:
Matured predominately in American oak, ex-bourbon casks as well as Spanish oak, ex-sherry butts, anCnoc 22 Years Old displays complexity and a wealth of character but its long lasting rich, smoky finish sets this dram apart from the younger offerings.

Colour: Bright gold with a copper tint.

Nose: Sweet and spicy with notes of honey and toffee. Warm Christmas cake is accentuated by the freshness of lemons, green apples and cut flowers. All wrapped in a delicate whiff of wood smoke.

Taste: Full bodied and complex. Distinct crushed clove, raisin and blood orange flavours are at the front, closely followed by layers of fragrant vanilla and leather. The long, rich finish is smoky and spicy.

What Richard Says:
Nose: A slight meaty sherried note. A bit of crisp citrus drizzled with honey.
Palate: Very nice round body with a sherry accent but not too much. It reminds me of my own homemade scones: raisins, allspice, cinnamon and ginger.
Finish: Aggressive at 46% but not hot. Cocoa powder and dried fruits with a nice oak base.
Comments: Delicious. The mix of sherry and exbourbon wood make for a balanced sherry influence without being in your face about it. The whole whiskey from nose to finish shows great depth and balance.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank The Thomas Collective and International Beverage for sending us a sample for review.

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Speyburn 25 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Speyburn 25 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$315
Website
Speyburn 25YO Bottle high res
What the Distillery Says:
Speyburn 25 Year Old is a whisky of rare quality. The finest Scottish spirit is matured for a quarter of a century in American white oak Fino sherry and bourbon casks carefully selected by the distillery manager Robert Anderson. This slow process produces a multi-award winning single malt whisky of exceptional depth, complexity and balance.

Appearance: Clear Light Amber, Golden Honey, Red Gold, Bright Amber

Aroma: Citrus, Toffee, Fruity – vanilla, honey, apples & pears, woody, oaky, spicy

Flavour: Smooth, vanilla, fruity, grapefruit, sweet, spicy

Finish: Spicy, sweet, long lasting with a dry finish

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy rich vanilla custard, sweet stone fruit cobbler, marzipan, and that great “old scotch” smell.
Palate: Lemon cheesecake drizzled with a sherry reduction but much lighter than the nose would lead you to believe. There is a nice little spicy kick as you let it settle on the palate.
Finish: A little hotter and more sherry like with hints of cocoa powder.
Comments: The mix of ex fino sherry and bourbon casks makes for a delicious scotch. This is one for the sherry wood lovers but it’s not an over the top sherry bomb. It’s more balanced and nuanced than that. The ease of drinkability shown in the 10 year old still holds but with more depth of flavor. Spend time with it and layers begin to open up. This is no one trick pony.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank The Thomas Collective and International Beverage for sending us a sample for review.

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Speyburn 10 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Speyburn 10 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
%40 ABV
$29
Website
speyburn_10
What the Distillery Says:
This perfectly-balanced Scottish single malt whisky was born in the Highlands of Scotland more than a century ago. It’s created using fresh spring water from Speyside. And, it’s this soft water which gives our whisky its distinctive character and unique flavour.

Nose: Fresh, clean and aromatic with a rich lemony fruitiness

Colour: Pale gold with amber highlights

Taste: Medium-bodied with a delicate, fruity character with hints of toffee and butterscotch. A sweet long lasting finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: This is light on the nose with hints of vanilla and honey. The nose very much foretells the bourbon wood aging.
Palate: Light with fruity sweetness coming from poached pears and pineapple with a hint of ginger.
Finish: The finish is soft and relatively clean with a surprising roasted peanuts note.
Comments: I got a sample of this as part of an online tasting of International Beverage single malts. I was surprised to find out that this is the number five selling single malt in the U.S. I was even more surprised how easily drinkable and enjoyable this is. I’m asking myself why I haven’t spent time with this before. Like Glen Grant 10 Year Old I would say this is a great introductory or sharing single malt. It would be especially good if you aren’t sure the guests or recipient will like single malts.
Rating: Stands Out, Great Value

We would like to thank The Thomas Collective and International Beverage for sending us a sample for review.

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Balblair 1989

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Balblair 1989 Vintage Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
2nd Release
43% ABV
$130
Website
Balblair_Bt_Box89_whisky_detail
What the Distillery Says:
Balblair Vintage 1989 2nd release was introduced in 2010. A full-bodied malt with aromas of raisin, green apple and hints of banana and lemon.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Balblair 1989 is mid-amber in appearance with honey-gold highlights.

Aroma: The American oak barrels, used in the distillate’s maturation, lend a warm toffee, vanilla fragrance.

Palate: On the palate there are raisins and fruits with a rich spiciness.

Finish: Long, complex and smooth finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Lovely nose of bright floral notes, bananas, and canned apple pie filling.
Palate: Fruity sweet with the intensity of dried fruit and raisins.
Finish: A little black pepper on the way down. There’s an odd rubber/medicinal note mid finish and then it smooths out into mellow oak.
Comments: A very nice middle aged expression of Balblair. This one is for those whisky drinkers with a sweet tooth. The finish is a little off putting but then just keep drinking so that it stays on the palate and problem solved!
Rating: Stands Out

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Balblair 2002

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Balblair 2002 Vintage Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
46% ABV
$60
Website
Balblair 2002 Hi Res
What the Distillery Says:
Balblair 2002 is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky that has been uniquely marked with the age the whisky has been laid down.

Balblair was established in 1790, making it one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland and the oldest working distillery in the Highlands. Every year, Balblair Distillery Manager John MacDonald tastes, judges and selects straight from the cask, bottling at exactly the right moment, when the balance between the age and the character of the whisky is at its best. Small batches are made available when the time is right, making Balblair a malt that is released in vintages.

Tasting Notes
Color: Balblair 2002 has a sparkling gold appearance.
Nose: On the nose there are the signature Balblair aromas: floral and fragrant with zesty fruits such as oranges and lemons. The American oak, ex-bourbon barrels used in the maturation impart toffee and vanilla notes.
Taste: Full-bodied, yet sweet and spicy in character, with hints of oranges, lemons, green apples, toffee, and vanilla. There is a typical long finish as the floral and fruit notes develop and combine with the initial spice and sweetness from the American oak casks.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Bright cherries, overripe bananas, kiwi, and flowery. A Caribbean Banana Mama?
Palate: Milk chocolate, raw nuts, vanilla, light sweet caramel. Caramel flan with a kiwi reduction.
Finish: Light, floral finish with very little wood or burn.
Comments: Wow, what a difference a couple of years makes. The 2002 vintage is head and shoulders above the 2000 we reviewed earlier. A light aperitif dram for sure but very nice.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank the Thomas Collective and International Beverage for providing samples for review.

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