Braeval 1994 C&S Braes of Glenlivet Review

“Too Much Wood Will Kill You In The End”

Country: Scotland

Region: Highlands - Speyside

Brand: Braeval 1994  (C & S Braes of Glenlivet - Dram Collection - 197 Bottles)

Bottled by: The Scottish Liqueur Center Ltd, Perth
Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 19 Years

ABV: 54.4% 

Colour: Pale Straw/Light Gold (Natural Colour)

Nose: Sweet, Malty, Fruity and with a nice underlying Oak Aroma. The Alcohol is quite strong so you will have to wind your way around it. I find Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Grass, Straw, Oak, Vanilla, Caramel, Dried Fruits (Apricots and Raisins), Honey Nuts, Pineapple, Banana, Tutti-Frutti, Orange, Lemon, Peach, Apple and Pear. All the time I find different Fruit Aromas. It's really like a Fruit Cocktail. The Oak Aroma reminds me of Cognac from time to time. Finally I get some Herbs and light Spices like Ginger, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.   

Palate: Sweet at first but quite Woody, slightly Sour and Bitter afterwards with Charred Oak, Toasted Barley, Straw, Toffee, Vanilla, Lemon, Apple, Mandarin, White Grapes, Honey, Dried Fruit, Sour Berries, Pepper, Nutmeg and Licorice. 

Finish: Middle-Long. Bitter Sweet at first but Dry and a little Hot towards the end with Toasted Barley, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Orange, Mandarin, White Grapes, Dried Fruit, Chocolate, Pepper, Nutmeg, light Menthol and Licorice. A little Off Note that reminds me of plastic (PVC) pipes of all things.  

I merely had a small sample at my disposal so I only tasted this Braeval neat.  

Rating: 83 

Nose: 22.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: This Braeval was distilled on the 8th of December 1994 and was bottled at Cask Strength on the 8th of September 2014. It matured in an Ex-Bourbon Barrel with Cask # 159158. This Single Cask expression is Non-Chill-Filtered. It's still available, a/o at Whiskybase in Rotterdam, at around 90 US Dollars.

The Braeval distillery is located in the Braes of Glenlivet and was founded by The Chivas and Glenlivet Group in 1973. Originally the Distillery was named Braes of Glenlivet but it changed to Braeval in 1994. Pernod Ricard bought Chivas Brothers in 2001 and mothballed Braeval from 2002 to July 2008 when it started producing again. Most of the production is destined for the Chivas Regal Blends. There are no Official Distillery Bottlings under the name of Braeval so we depend on Independent Bottlers like C & S.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good, especially on the Nose. A bit too Woody on the Palate and in the Finish for my taste.

Conclusion: This is only my second Braeval and once I again I find it a pity that practically all its Spirit disappears in the Chivas Blends. This distillery certainly could produce a successful standard Single Malt. I think that a 12 - and a 15 Y would make a perfect core range. Even at 19 years it's still very good on the Nose but on the Palate and in the Finish the Wood and Wood Spice become too dominant as far as I'm concerned. If you don't mind the Wood and have 90 US Dollars to spare I can assure you that you will enjoy pleasant moments when nosing this Braeval. 

Jan van den Ende                                                                           May 13, 2016

Miltonduff 2009 and Tomatin 2008 Review (Cask Samples Casqueteers)

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Brand: Miltonduff 2009 (Cask Sample Casqueteers)

Type: Single Malt

Age: 7 Years (April 2016)

ABV: Unknown. Probably 55-60%.

Whisky Review # 534

Sample provided by Adri from the Netherlands. Many Thanks!

Colour: Pale White Wine (Natural Colour). Compare this to your average Scottish Blend to know how much Caramel is used to artificially colour young whisky!

Nose: I'm very excited because I have never before Nosed and Tasted Cask samples from (relatively) young and immature whiskies. So here we go! On the Nose this Miltonduff indeed presents itself as a young Whisky. There is still a New Make feel to the Spirit and, consequently, the Alcohol is quite noticeable. To be honest, I expected a little more Cask influence given the fact that we are talking about a 7 Year old Malt. After a bit more air contact some light Floral and Fruity tones appear. I get Heather-Honey, Nectarine, Grass, Straw and light Citrus. Some Sugared Cereals, lightly Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Coconut, young Refill Oak and both Fresh - and Dried Herbs pop up as well. It did remind me somewhat of the Ballantine's Finest Blend.

Taste: Young, Hot and Edgy. The Alcohol is very strong and so are the Wood and Wood Spices. It's quite clear the Cask and the Spirit only have started to get to know each other. Again I would have expected the cask to be a little more active. I understand that the cask was 6 years old when the Miltonduff entered so it's certainly not a worn out cask. Only time will tell how the Spirit will further develop. At the moment I find Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Sugared Cereals, light Toffee, Green Apple, light Citrus, Nut Shells, Grass, Straw, light Licorice, Salt and Pepper.  

Finish: Short, Sharp, Hot and Bitter-Sweet with Toasted Barley, light Toffee, light Caramel, light Butterscotch, Nut Shells, Grass, Straw, Floral Soap, Refill Oak, Lemon, Grapefruit, Salt, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and light Licorice. There is a medium strong Alcohol Bite towards the end.

Casqueteers 

In 2011 three Whisky fans from the Netherlands jointly decided to buy a cask of Bunnahabhain 1986. The experiment was a success and the idea was taken a step further. Other selected casks would be bought and each cask would be offered up for sale in a limited number of parts per cask. The idea was to have a relatively small number of owners per cask that would facilitate joint tasting sessions. In the meantime 200 owners from Europe and Asia possess 45 casks from distilleries like Clynelish, Tomatin, Littlemill, Wolfburn, Strathearn, Isle of Harris, Tormore, Mortlach and Miltonduff. If you are interested to participate in this project, please visit their website: www.casQueteers.com

Miltonduff

This distillery was founded in 1824 and is located in Elgin. A huge reconstruction of the distillery took place in 1974. It changed hands various times over the years but since 2005 it is owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard). Most of the production is destined for the Chivas blends. More specifically, Miltonduff and Glenburgie form the heart of Ballantine's. The Miltonduff Cask Sample I'm tasting today was distilled on the 11th of March 2009. It matures in a Refill Ex-Bourbon cask with Cask # 900068. It will probably be bottled around 2021/22.

Drinking Experience Neat: Young, Hot and Immature. 

Conclusion: I really enjoyed this Nosing and Tasting session as it was the first in its kind for me. I must admit I had expected a little bit more Cask influence after 7 years. The Miltonduff 2009 still has a New Make Spirit Feel to it. You know it's gonna be a Whisky in a number of years but taste-wise it also still reminds me of German Fruit Liqueur (Obstler) and/or Flavoured Vodka as the Spirit is Young, Hot, Sharp and Nervous. It will be very interesting to see how this Spirit will develop in the coming years. My impression at the moment is that this Miltonduff might reach full maturity in 10 years or so.  

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Country: Scotland

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Tomatin 2008 (Cask Sample Casqueteers)

Type: Single Malt

Age: 8 Years (April 2016)

ABV: Unknown. Probably 55-60%.

Whisky Review # 535

Sample provided by Adri from the Netherlands. Many Thanks!

Colour: Pale White Wine (Natural Colour)

Nose: Although the Alcohol is strong and noticeable, the Tomatin presents itself generally speaking as a Light and Milder Spirit when compared to the Miltonduff. It's obviously a different kind of cask. Again however I would have expected a few more Aromas and a little more colour after 8 years in the Ex-Sherry cask. The Tomatin is quite clean on the Nose and my first impressions are of Pear, Biscuits and Vanilla. After a while I find Floral tones, Perfumed Soap, Grass, Fresh Herbs, Lemon and light Spices. There is nothing really aggressive here and I suspect this Spirit will develop into a very nice Fruity Aperitif Whisky to be enjoyed on sunny days. After 10 minutes or so I find light additional notes of dark Red Forest Fruit.

Taste: Young, slightly Edgy but with developing Fruity Flavours. I find Malt, Vanilla, Toffee, light Caramel, Grass, Floral Soap, Pear, Apple, Berries, Fresh - and Dried Herbs, light Oak, Lemon, Ginger and Pepper. The Alcohol is quite noticeable but it appears to me it will nicely integrate over time.       

Finish: Short, Fruity and a little Rough and Sugary Sweet with a light Bitterness towards the end. I find Malt, Buttered Toast, light Toffee, light Caramel, light Oak, Grass, Herbs, Alcohol, Spices like Pepper, Ginger and Cardamom and Fruity Flavours like Red Grapes, Red Berries, Green Apples and Pears.

Tomatin

The Tomatin Distillery was founded in 1897 and is located close to the A9 Motorway, halfway between Aviemore and Inverness. Over the years it grew very fast and today it has one the largest production capacities in the industry, although the distillery is currently not producing at full capacity. It is owned by the Japanese Takara Shuzo and Okura Group. A large part of the production (80%) goes into blends like Antiquary and Talisman. Lately the distillery is making an effort to promote its Single Malts. The Tomatin Cask Sample I'm tasting today was distilled on the 7th of February 2008. It matures in an Ex- Sherry Puncheon with Cask # 900042. It is likely to be bottled around 2024.

Drinking Experience Neat: Young, a little Edgy but Fruity and Promising. 

Conclusion: The Tomatin 2008 is still a relatively Young whisky but Cask and Spirit seem to like each other. I get some nice developing Fruity Flavours and the Spices are not just Hot but also well defined. The overall impression is that of a Light, Smooth, Fruity and mildly Spicy Spirit that will likely turn out to be a delightful Summer Dram in 8 years or so!  

Final Note: I only score bottled Whiskies.

Jan van den Ende                                                                        May 2, 2016

Highland Park 16 Years Review

“Another Storm in a Tea Cup”

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highlands-Islands-Orkney

Brand: Highland Park

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 16 Years

ABV: 40% 

Colour: Deep Gold/Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose: The Refill Sherry Cask influence is clear and I immediately pick up Dried Fruits like Apricot, Raisins and Sultanas as well as assorted Nuts. On the Nose, this HP is mainly Sweet and a bit on the Light side. It's a pity that most of these Travel Retail expressions are bottled at 40%. I also find Banana Bread, Sweet Apples, Fresh Pastry, German Butter Biscuits (Butterkekse), Heather Honey, Vanilla, Toffee, Sugared Orange Peel, light Oak, light Aniseed and a distant note of Varnish. Behind it all a Thin web of Vegetable Peat and Campfire Smoke has been woven. The Alcohol is not completely integrated. Although I find various Aromas, most of them are mere hints. Cereals, Dried Fruits and Honey are the main drivers. On the Nose, I find this Highland Park Thin and Underdeveloped for a 16 Year old Single Malt.      

Palate: Bitter Sweet and on the Thin Side. Single Malts of this age really deserve to be bottled at, at least, 43%. I find Malted Barley, Heather Honey, Dried Fruit, Vanilla, Salted Nuts, Orange, Grass, Herbal Tea, light Licorice, light Pepper, light Ginger, light Cinnamon, light Smoke and Peat and slightly Sour Red Grapes.     

Finish: Rather Short, mostly Sweet but with a light Acidity. I find Dry Earth, Grass and Straw, Cereals, Vanilla, Toffee, Honey, Dried Fruit, Orange Liqueur, light Pepper, light Aniseed, light Licorice, light Cinnamon, Oak, slightly Sour Red Grapes Jam and Smoke of a distant Campfire.

With added Water I find more Cereals and Honey on the Nose. Palate and Finish become too weak for my taste. Better sip it neat. 

Rating: 82 

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5 

General Remarks: Highland Park was founded in 1798 and is located on the Orkney Isles off the North-East coast of Scotland. The distillery uses local Orcadian Peat, that mostly consists of Heather and other Plants. Highland Park matures most of its spirits in Ex-Sherry casks from both Spanish and, curiously, American Oak. Highland Park is one the very few remaining distilleries that malts around 30% of its Barley needs on their own malting floor. The HP 16 years is not part of the core range and was created exclusively for the Travel Retail Market in October 2005. Back in 2012 I tasted another 16 Year Old HP Travel Retail expression. That was a Vintage 1994 however that was bottled in 2010. I found that one quite disappointing by the way. The HP 16 I'm reviewing today won't be easy to find in the meantime. Expects prices way over 100 US Dollars (April 2016).

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good but Indifferent.

Conclusion: I usually like Single Malts that have matured for 16 Years but I must admit I find this Highland Park to be unimpressive. I blame indifferent Cask Management and an insufficient ABV. More and more I find Travel Retail expressions to be rather weak versions of similar Standard Distillery Bottlings. This is a general observation on my part and certainly not limited to Highland Park. If you like HP and I'm sure many do as it's a very easy going Whisky, you are better off with the regular 12, 15 or 18 years depending on your taste and cash flow. This 16 Year old unfortunately does not do justice to the HP Spirit.   

Jan van den Ende                                                                     April 25, 2016

Laphroaig 15 Years Review (Bottled Around 1985)

“Great Old Laphroaig”

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Laphroaig

Type: Single Malt Whisky 

Age: 15 Years (Bottled Around 1985)

ABV: 43 %

Sample provided by Marcus from Germany. Many Thanks!

Colour: Golden Sunlight

Nose: Very nice and well-balanced. I believe the spirit matured in a mix of Ex- Bourbon and Ex-Sherry casks. On the Nose this Laphroaig is mostly sweet and well-rounded. The Peat is there but in a very subtle way. It merely enhances the other Aromas. If you were looking for a Peat Monster, look elsewhere! I find Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Vanilla, Charred Oak, Sherry, Dried Fruit, Nuts, light Peat, light Smoke, light Iodine, light Medicinal notes, Straw, Wet Stone, Milk Chocolate, Flavoured Pipe Tobacco, Orange, Grapefruit, Apple, Tropical Fruit Mix, Mint and Salt. Traces of Leather, Tar, Floral Soap and smoked Meat. The Alcohol is perfectly integrated. I nosed this Laphroaig for over half an hour and found quite some traces of Aromas. Still, it isn't overly complicated. Just very Pleasant and Soothing. I could smell this for hours! 

Palate: Medium Sweet but a little on the Light Side. This Spirit deserves an ABV of 46%. I find Malt, light Sweet Peat, light Smoke, light Tar, light Iodine, light Sherry,  Nuts, Caramel, Espresso, Straw, Charred Oak, Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Green Tea, Fresh Herbs, light Cinnamon, Licorice, Pepper, Salt and Nutmeg.   

Finish: Quite long and simply delicious. A little Dry and Salty towards the end. I find Sweet Barley, light Peat, light Smoke, light Soot, light Ashes, Chocolate, Vanilla-Flavoured Pipe Tobacco, light Sherry, Espresso, Salty Licorice, Charred Oak, a little Pepper and a hint of Nutmeg. 

Due to the fact that I only had a small sample at my disposal, I merely tasted this Laphroaig neat.

Rating: 89

Nose: 22.5 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 22 - Overall: 22.5

The Bottle That Provided The Sample!

General Remarks: Laphroaig was founded in 1815 by Donald and Alexander Johnston. Nowadays the shares are hold by Beam Inc. It's located in Port Ellen and uses Water from the Kilbride Dam. The 15 years was first released in the 80's but was discontinued around 2010 when it was replaced by the 18 years. A limited edition of the 15 years was launched in 2015 to celebrate 200 Years Laphroaig. The (recent) 15 years is still for sale in places at an average price of around 150 US Dollars. But depending on where you live, this price could be higher. You might find some Laphroaig 15 bottled around 1985 in auctions. You can expect prices in the range of 700 US Dollars or more (April 2016).

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Good 

Conclusion: I wasn't a Whisky drinker in the 80's and after having tasted this Laphroaig I thoroughly regret that. Because this is good stuff! I know it's a cliche to say that they don't make them like this anymore but in fact they don't so what can I do. The first thing that comes to mind when describing this Single Malt is Balance. I love it when subtle Peat, Smoke, Maritime and Mineral notes support the other Flavours and Aromas without being dominant. It's the type of Whisky I like the most. I basically only have one complaint about this Whisky. It should have been bottled at around 46%. Because it is a bit on the Thin side on the Palate, especially for a Laphroaig. Other than that I thoroughly enjoyed this Single Malt and it sails straight into my Top 10 so far. I wished I had a couple of bottles lying around. Unfortunately that's not the case. Once again a big thanks to Marcus for sending me the sample. Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 7, 2016