Glen Garioch 1990 (Archives) Review

“You’re Not The One That I Want”

Country: Scotland

Region: Highland (Eastern)

Brand: Glen Garioch 1990 (Whiskybase First Release Archives)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 21 Years

ABV: 54%

Colour: Pale White Wine (Natural Colour)

Nose: Malty, Lemony, Dusty and a little Salty. I find Malt, lightly Buttered Toast, Cereals, Heather-Honey, Cooked Vegetables, Toffee, light Vanilla, Wet Paper, Wet Straw, Charred Oak, Green Grapes, Green Apple, Lemon, very light Peat, Herbs, light Leather, Nuts, Mint-Chocolate, Aniseed, light Pepper, Cardamom, Ginger and Salt. The Alcohol is relatively strong and not fully integrated. 
  

Palate: Strong Delivery. The Alcohol, Wood and Spices are very present. On the Palate this Glen Garioch is Bitter-Sweet and a bit Edgy. It could certainly do with more Fruity Flavours. I find Malt, Cereals, Nuts, Wax, Caramel, Lemon, Plums,
Strong Bitter Tea, Green Apple, light Vanilla, very light Peat, Pepper, Cloves, Salt, Licorice, Aniseed, Ginger and hints of Leather and Wet Sand.  

Finish: Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet, Dusty, Mineral and Woody. Quite Dry towards the end. The Alcohol is a bit Fiery. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Strong Tea, Espresso, Heather-Honey, Green Apple, Citrus (Lemon and Orange), Dry Earth, very light Peat and Ashes, Wet Stone, Charred Oak, light Menthol, Licorice, Herbs, Pepper, Salt and Cloves. A very distant hint of Smoked Meat.   

I only had a small sample at my disposal. Not enough to try it both neat and with added Water.  

Rating: 81

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Glen Garioch Distillery is located in Aberdeenshire and was founded in 1797 by John and Alexander Manson. Nowadays it is owned by Morison Bowmore Distillers, part of the Japanese Suntory Group. The Glen Garioch Single Cask we are tasting today was distilled on the 28th of December 1990 and bottled at Cask Strength by Independent Bottler Whiskybase, located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on the 5th of January 2011. It matured in an Ex-Bourbon Hogshead with Cask # 252 out of which 267 bottles were reserved for Whiskybase. The whisky is not chill-filtered. It was sold at around 80 US Dollars but it will be very difficult to find at this point in time.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Conclusion: I must admit this Glen Garioch is not at all my style. It's quite Musty and I miss Fresh Fruity notes. The Wood, Spice and Alcohol are very dominant this way. To be honest, I believe the Spirit has overstayed its time in the cask. I also feel the ABV is a bit too strong for this Spirit. All in all I found this Tasting Session quite disappointing. I'm glad I didn't buy a full bottle! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 4, 2016

Springbank 15 Years Review

“Older But Not Wiser”

Country: Scotland

Brand: Springbank

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Campbeltown

Age: 15 Years

Alcohol: 46%

Colour: Light Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose: Sweet, Fruity, Floral, Waxy and a bit Musty. I detect a very light Sulphur note but it's nothing serious. It's not really an overwhelming Nose and the Alcohol is quite present. I find slightly Burnt Toast, Toasted Cereals, Sawdust, Straw, Salted Nuts, Brown Sugar, Toffee, Tobacco, light Leather, Green Apple, Papaya, light Pineapple, Dried Fruit (Raisins and Apricot), Citrus, light Honey, Syrup, Starch, Wet Cardboard, Varnish and light Spices. Most of the Aromas are mere hints. In the background I find a very light Earthy Peat. On the Nose, the 15 Years is not really my kind of thing. I liked the 10 Years a lot better.    

Palate: Here, the Mild Smoke, Dry Peat and Sulphur are more noticeable. On the Palate, this Springbank is Bitter Sweet, slightly Sour and Spicy with Toasted Barley, Nuts, Cereals, Lemon, Grapefruit Juice, Papaya, Melon, light Leather, Tobacco, Dried Fruit, Oak, Ashes, Dried Herbs, Aniseed, Menthol, Pepper, light Licorice and Nutmeg. Again, the Alcohol is quite present.   

Finish: Bitter-Sweet, slightly Sour, Nutty, Spicy and Dry with Malt, Nuts, Cocoa Powder, light Peat and Smoke, Tobacco, light Ashes, light Leather, Salt, Pepper, Cardamom, Oak, Alcohol, Dried Herbs, Menthol and Licorice.

Rating: 83

Nose: 20.5 – Taste: 21 – Finish: 20.5 – Overall: 21 

I added a couple of drops of water and the Nose becomes Fruity and Floral. On the Palate, Oak, Peat Smoke, Malt, Fruit and Spices are a bit more Balanced. The Finish becomes Short and Boring. Still, there's room to play with a little Water.

General Remarks: The Campbeltown region is the most southerly point on the west coast of Scotland. Today only three distilleries remain in the area namely Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia. Springbank is the only distillery left in Scotland that malts all its Barley. The whisky is distilled 2,5 times. The distillery also produces Hazelburn and Longrow. The latter two each represent around 10% of the production. A lot of Springbank Spirit is used for the Campbeltown Loch Blend. The core range of the distillery includes the 10,15,18 and 21 Years as well as a 12-Year-Old CS. The average price of the 15 Years is around 80 US Dollars but it can get as high as 140 US Dollars depending on where you live. It matures in Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks and is not Chill-Filtered. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion: I bought this Miniature bottle a couple of years ago. Most likely it was bottled in 2006/2007. The impression I have is that quite a lot of Refill Casks were used to mature this 15 Years. The Sherry notes are there but they are not very clear. I must admit I had high hopes when I started the Tasting Session, as I really liked the 10 Years that I reviewed some years ago. But I'm quite disappointed to be honest. Five extra years in refill casks didn't serve the Spirit well. I find the 15 Years to be lacking in confidence and I miss balance as well. It's a bit of an expensive weird mixed bag of Sweet, Bitter and Sour. As such I can't really recommend it. I'm sure there are quite a lot of people who will like this expression as Springbank has got some cult status worldwide. But I'll stick with the 10 Years for the time being! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 3, 2016

Glentauchers 2005 Dewar Rattray Review

“Ground Control to Major Tom”

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside 

Brand: Glentauchers 2005 (Bottler - Dewar Rattray)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 8 Years

ABV: 46%

Colour: Golden Sunlight (Natural Colour)

Nose: The Ex-Sherry cask can't quite obscure the fact that there's a relatively Young Whisky in the glass. Nevertheless, the Puncheon left its marks and I find Dried Fruits, Orange Marmalade, Pancakes with Golden Syrup, Toasted Nuts, Toasted Barley, German Butter Biscuits (Butterkekse), Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Cocoa, Plums, Flowery Perfume and hints of Yeast and Herbal Tea. On the Nose this Glentauchers is mostly Sweet. Given its age, the Alcohol is reasonably well integrated.     

Taste: Slightly Thin delivery despite the adequate ABV. On the Palate, this Malt is Young and Bitter-Sweet with Toasted Barley, Toasted Nuts, Dried Fruit, Oak, Vanilla, Toffee, Treacle, Grapefruit Juice, Orange Marmalade, Pepper, Nutmeg Cinnamon and Dusty Road. Some Herbs and Chocolate as well as a light Metallic off-note. The Alcohol is more present here.     

Finish: Bitter-Sweet at first. Slightly Bitter, Metallic and Dry towards the end. I find Sweet Barley, Raisins, Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Grapefruit Juice, light Oak, Dried Herbs, light Pepper, Cardamom, Mint, Licorice and Nutmeg and a touch of Bitter Chocolate. 

I only had a very small sample so I just Nosed and Tasted it neat.

Rating: 81.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20- Finish: 20 - Overall: 20

General Remarks: The Single Cask Glentauchers I'm tasting today was distilled on the 16th of September 2005. It matured in a Sherry Puncheon with Cask # 900389 and was bottled by Indie Bottler Dewar Rattray for The Specialists' Choice (NL) on the 17th of September 2013. It was not Chill-Filtered before bottling. It might be hard to find but it was for sale at around 60 US Dollars last time I saw it.

The Glentauchers Distillery was founded in 1897 by James Buchanan and W.P. Lowrie. Today it is owned by Chivas (Pernod-Ricard). At this moment, almost all of the spirit is used in Blends like Chivas and, especially, Ballantine's. As far as I know, no Distillery Bottlings are available at the moment.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good 

Conclusion: Although the Nose is not bad, this Glentauchers is not quite my thing. Despite the influence of the Sherry Cask, I find this Single Malt to be Young, Nervous and slightly Acid. On the Palate it lacks balance mainly because of the absence of more Fruity notes. I'm not too fond of the Bitterness as well and I could easily do without the light Metallic Off-Note. If you like the Aroma and Flavour profile you could give it a try but I have launched this Glentauchers into space. Maybe Major Tom can wrap it up in his Tin Can and sell it as a Spaceside Single Malt to some Aliens.

Jan van den Ende                                                                February 4, 2016

Singleton of Glendullan Liberty Review

“Body Without Soul”

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside 

Brand: The Singleton of Glendullan Liberty (Reserve Collection)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS 

ABV: 40%

Colour: Golden Amber

Nose: I would say that the Liberty matured in a mix of Refill Ex-Bourbon casks and some Refill Ex-Sherry casks. On the Nose, the main drivers are Sugared Breakfast Cereals, Buttered Toast, Toffee, Caramel, Nuts and Dried Fruits. I also find Refill Oak, light Vanilla, Pineapple Jam, Red Apple, Ginger Bread and traces of Leather and Tobacco. The Liberty has a Young and Light feel to it. It's quite Sweet as well. The Alcohol is not fully integrated.   

Taste: Young, Light, slightly Thin and Sugary Sweet. It's a Single Malt that on the Palate might appeal to beginning Whisky Drinkers. For more experienced Malt drinkers however, the Liberty does not offer sufficient Depth. It's all a bit boring and plain-vanilla. I get mostly Toast, Caramel, Toffee, Dried Fruit, Apple White Grape Juice, Hazelnuts Pepper and Ginger. I also find hints of Chocolate, Honey, Refill Oak, Dried Herbs, Tobacco and Malt.      

Finish: Short, quite Sweet in the beginning but slightly Bitter-Sweet and a little Dry towards the end. I find Cocoa Powder, Dried Herbs, Ginger-Flavoured Tea, Toffee, light Honey and Pepper.  

I added a few drops of Water and the Nose becomes Thin and slightly Floral. The Barley and Apple also come to the foreground. Palate and Finish become too Thin. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 81.5   

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The first Glendullan Distillery was founded in Dufftown by William Williams & Sons in 1896. In 1962, a second Glendullan Distillery was built next to the old one. They operated together until the old distillery was closed in 1985. The current owner is Diageo. Most of the Spirit of Glendullan was and is -used in Blends like Old Parr, JW, Dewar's and Bell's. As of 2007, the Single Malts produced at Glendullan, Glen Ord and Dufftown are marketed under the name "The Singleton". The standard Glendullan is the 12 years. In 2013 two special Travel Retail Glendullan Reserve Collection expressions were launched in the Americas, the Trinity and the Liberty. They were both created by Maureen Robinson, the Singleton Master of Malts. The 1 liter bottle of the Liberty is sold at an average 90 US Dollars (January 2016).  

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good. As I got a full 1 liter bottle, I took the Liberty to enjoy it on the Rocks as well. And I must say it's simple but enjoyable.

Conclusion: The Glendullan Liberty is a Single Malt that is clearly composed to please as many people as possible, especially those who usually drink Blended Scotch and buy the occasional Glenlivet or Glenfiddich when they visit the Travel Retail Shops. I say this because the Liberty is smooth, easily drinkable, quite Sweet and without any aggressive notes. In this way the Liberty does what it's supposed to do although it's too expensive for what it really offers. For those of you though who enjoy Single Malts on a regular basis, the Liberty does not offer sufficient interesting Aromas and Flavours. It has a body but it ain't got Soul!

Jan van den Ende                                                                 February 1, 2016

Bowmore 17 Years Review

“The Way It Used To Be”

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Bowmore  

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 17 Years (The "Old" Version)

ABV: 43 %

Colour: Dark Gold with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose: Gentle Smoke and Delicate Coastal Peat form the welcome committee. I can't hide a smile as there are no young, immature, aggressive notes to be found. It's been a while since I've nosed such a pleasant and well-balanced Single Malt. I find light Iodine, light Brine, light Ashes, Leather, Buttered Toast, Toasted Barley, Toffee, Nutella, Dried Fruit (Plums), Apple, Pineapple, Mango, light Citrus, Rum, Floral Perfume and hints of Spices and Smoked Meat and Fish. The Alcohol and Oak are completely integrated. Quite a treat! 

Palate: It's almost a crime that this Single Malt wasn't bottled at 46%. It would have made this a great Bowmore. It's still good though but just a touch on the Thin side. I find Toasted Barley, Toffee, light Iodine, light Tar, light Smoke, Wet Clay, Ashes, Salted Butter, Chocolate, Hazelnuts, Dried Fruit (Apricot, Plum), light Pepper, light Menthol, Cinnamon, Lemon, Oak, Floral Perfume and hints of Smoked Meat and Fish.

Finish: Quite Long and Warming with Cold Smoke, Ashes, Wet Clay, Toasted Barley, Toffee, Chocolate, light Citrus, Dried Fruit (Apricot), Vanilla Flavoured Pipe Tobacco, Oak, light Pepper, Nutmeg, Licorice, Menthol and fine hints of Espresso and Smoked Meat. A few Mineral notes as well. A bit Dry in the end. After a while I get some Raspberry Flavoured Candies. I must say I didn't expect that!

The "Old" 17 Years

With a couple of drops of water, you will get a bit more Plums, Tropical Fruit, Barley and Citrus on the Nose. On the Palate and in the Finish, Raspberry and Strawberry Flavoured Candies become even more noticeable. I prefer it neat but you can play with a little Water.  

Rating: 88.5 

Nose: 23 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 21.5 - Overall: 22

The 17 Years Distillers Choice Expression

General Remarks: The Bowmore Distillery was founded in 1779 by John Simpson. It's the oldest Islay distillery, located in Bowmore. Since 1994 it is completely owned by Morrison Bowmore Distilleries, part of the Japanese Suntory Group. I'm reviewing the "old" Bowmore 17 Years today. It was replaced in 2007 by the 18 Years. There was also a 17 Years Distillers Choice around but it's discontinued as well. More recently, a "new" 17 Years Travel Retail expression was released under the name "White Sands". The "old" 17 Years matured in a mix of Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Sherry casks. It's still around in some places with prices between 100 and 300 US Dollars (January 2016).

Drinking Experience Neat: Very nice. I really liked the Nose.

Conclusion: With an ABV of 46% this would have been a stunner. As it is, the Bowmore 17 years is still a very good, delicate and well-balanced Single Malt. No immature, aggressive notes are to be found. Alcohol and Oak are blended in naturally. This is the way a mature medium peated Islay Malt should be. What a pity this type of Whisky has become rare and/or unaffordable. If you find this Bowmore somewhere, just buy it. You won't regret it!

Jan van den Ende                                                               January 28, 2016

Bowmore  (Our visit in May 2014)