Loch Lomond 18

“I Like Your Style”

Whisky Review # 1049

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Western Highlands

Brand: Loch Lomond - Fruit & Spice series

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 18 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: American Oak Casks. Likely a mix of Bourbon casks & Sherried Wood

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 70-85 (December 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good

Buying Advice: 👍 Not perfect but interesting enough at this price level

Color:

Dark Amber with shades of Orange and Brown (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

There's Alcohol in the Air so please avoid the middle of your glass. There's also a bit of Sulphur around. It's a mix of Sweet and Sour notes and the general feeling is a little Musty, Dirty and Rough. Sort of a Diet Springbank or Glen Scotia. Not bad but a bit on the Light side. It smells a bit Old-Fashioned and that's a plus in my book!

Main Aromas:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Demerara Sugar, Heather-Honey, Vanilla, Dough, Grass, Dark Berry Fruit Compote, Red Apple, Banana Bread, Dried Herbs, Tobacco, Dusty Oak, Orange Liqueur, Grapefruit, Pepper, Nutmeg and Mint.

      

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Resin, Farmyard, Pencil Shavings, Musty Cellar, Wet Rocks, Wet Paper or Cardboard, Pear, Nectarine, Canned Pineapple in Syrup, Rubber, Sulphur, Leather, Slivovitz, Smoked Meat, Cinnamon and Artificial Sweetener.

Palate:

It's rare you have a Single Malt in the glass that is Musty, Edgy, Oily & Rough but Light at the same time. I feel that the cask management is to blame for that. The 18 Years presents a mix of Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Musty and Salty notes. Old Style on the one hand and a little Artificial on the other. A bit of an Enigma. The Alcohol is certainly noticeable.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dough, Farmyard, Straw, Apple, Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit, Dried Herbs, Cooked Red Fruits and Vegetables, Chocolate, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Charred Oak, Strong Black Tea or Espresso, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger and Mint.

   

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Nutshells, Dirty Earth, Pear, Nectarine, Musty Cellar, Leather, Rubber, Metal Coins, Canned Pineapple, Hospital & Artificial Sweetener.

    

Finish:

Middle-Long. Sweet and Sour at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the Dry end. It's certainly not bad but again on the Light side. The casks used can't totally hide the Distillery character. I would have liked to see a little more Body. The Alcohol is a bit Rough as well. I find Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Caramel, Apple, Nectarine, Grapefruit, Nutshells, Dried Herbs, Herbal Liqueur, Strong Black Tea or Espresso, Charred Oak, Ashes, Pencil Shavings, Farmyard, Hospital, Copper Coins, Tobacco, Leather, Licorice, Artificial Sweetener, Pepper, Cinnamon, Salt, Ginger, Nutmeg, Mint and Rubber.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water helps to calm down the Alcohol but does not improve the Aroma & Flavour structure. I prefer it neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 8 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is  8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but slightly on the Thin side.

Conclusion:

The Loch Lomond distillery was built in 1965. It closed between 1984 and 1987. It is currently owned by Hillhouse Capital Management, Scotland. In various types of stills the distillery produces both Grain and Malt whisky. The aim for 2025 is to produce around 5 million litres. Remember the stories and films of Tintin? Check it out, Captain Haddock's favourite whisky was the Loch Lomond! The 18 Years I am reviewing today was launched in 2016. It's part of the core range next to the Loch Lomond Classic Original 10 Years, the 12 Years, the Inchmurrin 12 Years and the Inchmoan 12 Years.

It's not easy to give a final verdict on this Loch Lomond. On the one hand I really like the "Old-Fashioned" slightly Dirty Lowland-Style of this 18 Years. But at the same I feel that the selected casks did not do full justice to the Light/Fruity style of the Loch Lomond spirit. The final product reminds me of a diet Glen Scotia or Springbank. Not bad but with lots of potential for improvement. Despite the flaws however this Loch Lomond still presents a very good P/Q ratio.

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                   December 4, 2024

Bruichladdich Octomore 12.1

“Zwarte Peat is Back”

Whisky Review # 1048

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Octomore 12.1 (130.8 PPM) - Distilled: Likely 2015

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled: 2021

Age: Around 5 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 59.9% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: Around US$ 200 (November 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for such a young and relatively simple Malt

Buying Advice: 😐 Only for the addicted Peatheads among us!

Colour:

Pale Straw/White Wine (Natural Colour)

Nose:

It takes a while for this 12.1 to open up a little so be sure to give it enough time in the glass. The Alcohol is quite strong so better avoid nosing in the middle of the glass. Even after a while the Peat and Smoke make it difficult to identify the other Aromas so you need to be patient with this Bruichladdich. It took me more than an hour to identify the Aromas. The Nose is Sweet but not overly so. It does feel a bit Young and Rough though.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Wax and Yeast, Heavy Smoke, Coastal Peat, Soot Tar, Iodine, Farmyard, Fish and Pork on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Burnt Straw, Wet Rocks and Sand, Green Apple, Banana, Dairy, Bounty Bar, Wet Oak, Iron, Pepper and Aniseed.   

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Snickers Candy Bar, Ashes, Hospital, Diesel, Rubber, Leather, Espresso, Dark Chocolate 80%, Musty Cellar, Pear, Pencil Shavings, Licorice, Cloves and a hint of Orange Liqueur.

Palate:

Young, slightly Rough and Bitter-Sweet. The Alcohol is very present at this point. The Peat, Smoke and Burnt notes are in full control. It's a bit of a One Trick Pony and you really need to concentrate to dig out the other Flavours.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Toasted Malt, Burnt Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Heavy Smoke and Peat, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Iodine, Farmyard, Wet Straw and Grass, Smoked Fish and Pork on the BBQ sprinkled with Herbs & Lemon, Green Apple, Orange-Flavoured Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Grapefruit, Pepper, Ginger and Aniseed.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee/Butterscotch, Hospital, Pear, Banana, Dairy, Black Espresso or Tea, Nuts and Nutshells, Peanut Butter, Wet Iron, Plastic, Rubber and Resin.

Finish:

Quite Long but mainly on Peat/Smoke and Burnt notes. Sweet at First but with increasing Bitter notes towards the Dry end. Quite Sharp and Fiery but that's to be expected at almost 60%. I find Sweet Toasted Malt, Salted Caramel, Toffee and Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Burnt Toast, Heavy Smoke, Coastal Peat, Yeast, Wet Mud, Ashes, Soot, Tar, Fish & Pork on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Farmyard, Wet Rocks and Sand, Dairy, Green Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Bounty Bar, Wet Oak, Wet Iron, Plastic, Espresso, Pepper, Ginger, Aniseed and this intriguing note that reminds me of eating Crepes Suzette in a Hospital.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and strangely enough that practically kills the Nose. Almost like Peated Water used in the distilling process. It softens up the Palate and Finish of course but does not improve both. At almost 60% you would expect that added Water would improve the 12.1 but that's not the case. I prefer it neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5  - Finish: 7.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but quite one-dimensional

Conclusion:

Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by Barnett Harvey. During its history it was mothballed various times, the last time in 1998. In 2012 the Islay distillery was bought by Remy Cointreau (France). Since, Bruichladdich is showing a healthy growth again. The distillery produces 3 types of Single Malt, i.e. the unpeated Bruichladdich & the heavily peated Port Charlotte & Octomore. The basic core range includes the Classic Laddie and a 10-year old Port Charlotte. The annual production amounts to around 1.1 million litres. About 10% of that is Octomore. Octomore means " The Big Eighth". This is a medieval division of common ground.

The Octomore 12.1 was made with Scottish Barley. It's not really a bad Octomore but it is one of the less exciting ones I've tasted. It is totally dominated by Peat & Smoke and it's really hard to detect other Aromas and Flavours below this Cloud of Smoke. If you like that by all means go for it although the price tag is hefty. But if you're looking for a smoky but balanced Octomore, the 12.1 is not for you.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                November 27, 2024

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve

“Rum and Coca Cola”

Whisky Review # 1047

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Hogsheads with partial Finish in Caribbean Rum barrels

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 35-60 (November 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Okay if you can find it at max US$ 45

Buying Advice: 😑 Not bad at this price level but quite plain. A Summer dram!

Color:

Dark Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

A bit on the Thin side but not unpleasant. The Sweetness of the partial Rum Cask Finish is noticeable. I find a few Sour and Mineral notes as well. Quite simple but not bad at this Price level.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast*, Vanilla, Sugar, Grass and Straw, Banana flambéed with Rum, Sweet Red Apple, Orange, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Mint.

      

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Golden Syrup, Toffee, Wax, Tropical Fruit Cocktail, Bounty Bar, Sugared Almonds, Pear, Mandarin, Lemon, Grapefruit, Floral Perfume, Wet Rocks, Raisins. Cloves and Ginger.

*When Nosing, put a little Whisky on the palm of your hand to be able to easily find the Buttered Toast note.

Palate:

Young and slightly Thin. The Alcohol is much more noticeable now.  A mix of Bitter, Sugary Sweet and Sour notes. It's not really bad but quite simple and predictable.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Caramel, Vanilla, Sugar, Grass & Straw, Sweet Red Apple, Mandarin, Orange, Tropical Fruit Cocktail, Grapefruit, Lemon, Bounty Bar, Cinnamon and Dusty Oak.

   

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Syrup, Pear, Rum soaked Raisins, Floral Perfume, Chamomile Tea, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Aniseed and Mint. A hint of Nail Remover perhaps.

    

Finish:

Quite plain and on the Short Side. A mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. Medium-Dry towards the end. The Alcohol is more noticeable at this point. I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Honey, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Tropical Fruit Cocktail, Rum soaked Raisins, Sweet Red Apple, Bounty Bar, Dusty Oak, Grass & Straw, Wet Paper, Pepper, Cinnamon, Mint, Ginger and light Licorice. A very clear Mandarin note after a while.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water kills this Glenlivet. It's already Thin enough as presented.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is  8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good

Conclusion:

The Glenlivet Distillery is located in Ballindalloch (Banfshire) and was founded in 1824 by George Smith. Since 2001 it is owned by Chivas Brothers Pernod Ricard In 2018 a new production extension became operational that has increased the production to around 21 million litres making it the largest Single Malt distillery in Scotland. The core range includes The Founder's Reserve (NAS), The Captain's Reserve (NAS), The Caribbean Reserve (NAS) and the 12, 15 and 18 Years.

The Caribbean Reserve was released in 2020. A portion of the whisky is finished in barrels which previously held Caribbean Rum. It's a drinking Whisky to enjoy with friends on a late sunny afternoon in the garden or on the balcony. The reasonable price level helps in this respect. It's too simple to really enjoy as a sipping Malt. Thanks to the partial Finish in Rum casks however I prefer it over the Founder's Reserve.

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                 November 20, 2024

Glenlivet XXV

“Powerless (Say What You Want)”

Whisky Review # 1040

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Glenlivet XXV

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Batch # unknown

Age: 25 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43% 
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Hogshead with 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish (2Y)

Chill Filtration: Yes 

Price Average: US$ 400-500 (November 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 It can't be cheap but at 43% the price should be lower

Buying Advice: 😐 It's a very nice Sherried Speysider but it lacks power.

Color:

Dark Amber with shades of Brown (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Sweet and Sour with clear and clean Sherry Cask influence. Lots of Dark Fruit and Caramel notes. It brings images of a private English club for Whisky, Brandy and Cigar lovers. It's a bit on the Thin side on account of the relatively low ABV. Not bad though!

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Caramel, Treacle, Wax, Dried Fruit like Plums, Figs, Apricots, Raisins and Apples, (Dark) Red Berries & Cherries, Banana Bread, Grass and Straw, Dark Chocolate, Polished Oak, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves & Aniseed.       

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Demerara Sugar, Pear, Citrus Peel, Marzipan, Sugared Nuts, Dusty Shelves with Old Books in a Damp Cellar, Dusty Track, Herbal Tea, Licorice, Green Leaves, Tobacco, Leather, Pepper, Mint and hints of Metal and Rubber. 

Palate:

Thin delivery on account of the insufficient ABV. Mostly Sweet and Sour with a few Bitter and Waxy notes for contrast. It's certainly not bad but it cries out for some extra Alcohol.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Caramel, Treacle, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Apples Apricots, Plums, Figs and Prunes, Dark Berries & Cherries, Wax, Dark Chocolate, Orange, Grass and Straw, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cardamom.   

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Leather, Tobacco, Citrus Peel, Marzipan, Banana Bread, Old Books, Dusty Track, Ginger, Menthol, Licorice, Cloves and Green Leaves.    

Finish:

Middle-Long but a bit on the Thin side. A mix of Bitter Sweet and Sour notes. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Toffee, Treacle, Vanilla, Honey, Orange, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apricots, Apples and Plums, Dark Berries & Cherries, Lemon, Dusty Oak, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Dark Espresso, Wax, Tobacco, Leather, Pepper, Licorice, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger & Menthol. Medium-Dry & a little Musty. My least favorite part of this XXV.  

Drinking Advice:

No Need to add Water to this XXV. It's Thin enough as presented.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2) 

Nose: 8 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7  

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is  8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but it lacks punch

 

Conclusion:

The Glenlivet Distillery is located in Ballindalloch (Banfshire) and was founded in 1824 by George Smith. Since 2001 it is owned by Chivas Brothers Pernod Ricard In 2018 a new production extension became operational that has increased the production to around 21 million litres making it the largest Single Malt distillery in Scotland. The core range includes The Founder's Reserve (NAS), The Captain's Reserve (NAS), The Caribbean Reserve (NAS) and the 12, 15 and 18 Years. 

The XXV is a well-made clear & clean Sherried Speysider that enjoyed good cask-management. And it comes in a beautiful bottle and cask. But why on earth the producers would cherish this Whisky for 25 years and then offer it at 43%. Mind you it's still a nice Single Malt but it totally lacks power and punch, something you should be able to expect at this price level. At this price level the consumers would be glad to spend an extra 50 bucks for a decent ABV. Sometimes it's difficult to understand the policy of a distillery. The Glenlivet is Scotland's largest Single Malt Distillery that already produces lots of Mainstream Malts. If they make something special on the side it should be really special. And the XXV is not something really special I'm afraid. It's just a good Single Malt and that's not enough at this price level. 

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                  November 7, 2024

Caol Ila 2010 (La Maison du Whisky)

“Fantasy Islay”

Whisky Review # 1038

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Caol Ila 2010

Bottled By: LMDW (La Maison du Whisky) in 2021 - Artist Collective # 5.3

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 10 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48%
Maturation: 3 Refill Ex-Sherry Butts - 2139 Bottles
Sample provided by Maurico from Brazil. Many Thanks!

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 110-140 (Oktober 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Borderline okay

Buying Advice: 👍 Very interesting and different Caol Ila. Worth the try!

Color:

Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Make sure to give this Caol Ila some time in the glass before Nosing as initially it is a little Dirty (think Ledaig). There's some Sulphur around as well. I don't think I would recognize this as Caol Ila in a blind tasting. The Sherry cask influence is obvious and dominates the Spirit somewhat. On the Nose you will get a Dusty and Young mix of Sweet and Bitter notes with some Salty and Sour notes as well in the background. The Smoke and Hospital notes are there but not in an overpowering way. Various Fruity notes as well. Not bad but quite different from your average Caol Ila. The Alcohol is noticeable but does not interfere with the Nosing.

Main Aromas:

Malted Barley, Salted Caramel, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earth (Peat), Ashes, Iodine and Hospital, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricots, Dark Berries and Cherries, Orange, Fish and Bacon on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Dusty Oak, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Toffee, Vanilla, Resin, Nuts, Nectarine, Pear, Wet Rocks and Sand, Sulphur, Varnish, Leather, Tobacco, Copper Coins, Dark Cocoa, Soy Sauce, Mango, Petrol/Oil and Pepper.

Palate:

Young, Bitter-Sweet and a little on the Thin side but quite agreeable despite a few Dirty notes. It's not mainstream stuff and that's a good thing!

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Ashes, Hospital, Fish and Bacon on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Resin, Dried Fruit like Plums, Dates, Apricots and Prunes, Dark Berries and Cherries, Orange, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Tar, Pepper, Nutmeg and Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Toffee, Wax, Nuts, Leather, Tobacco, Grapefruit, Nectarine, Pear, Burnt Matches, Burnt Herbs, Mango, Cinnamon, Ginger and Aniseed. 

Finish:

Young & a little Thin despite the adequate ABV. It's Sweet at first but some Bitter and Burnt notes appear towards the Dry end. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, slightly Burnt Bacon on the BBQ, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Ashes, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums & Apricots, Burnt Herbs, Dark Chocolate, Tobacco, Leather, Resin, Dusty Oak, Espresso, Gas Station, Soap, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mango, Hospital, Cinnamon, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Aniseed and Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Caol Ila.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is  8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

 

Conclusion:

The Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 and is located close to Port Askaig on Islay. It was bought by DCL in 1927 and through some mergers finally became part of Diageo. The distillery was rebuilt in 1974 and only one old Warehouse reminds us of former days. Traditionally, Caol Ila is an important component of Blends like Johnnie Walker, Bell's and White Horse. But during the last 15 years Diageo has made great efforts to position the Distillery as a Single Malt as well. Caol Ila is really beautifully located alongside the strait between the islands of Islay and Jura. The Core range includes the 12, 18 and 25 Years, the Distiller's Edition as well as the NAS Moch. We thoroughly enjoyed both our visits to the distillery in 2014 and 2017 respectively despite the fact that you're not allowed to take pictures. Caol Ila is certainly one of my favorite distilleries and Single Malts.

The Art on the Label was created by Loren Klein. I must admit I'm not familiar with the work of this Artist but the Label looks nice.

I don't think these slightly Dirty & Sulfury Ex-Sherry casks are the best vessels for the Caol Ila Spirit but the result is nevertheless interesting. I find that Caol Ila almost never really disappoints. So while this 2010 LMDW is not among my most favorite Caol Ila malts it's still good enough to recommend to those who like young peated Islay Malt with a slightly Dirty Sherried twist.

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                   Oktober 24, 2024

Teaninich 1999

“Ticket to the Tropics”

Whisky Review # 1036

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Teaninich 1999

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Diageo Special Release - 5352 Bottles

Age: 17 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 55.9%
Maturation: Refill American Oak Hogsheads and perhaps some Sherry Butts

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 200-300 (October 2024)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😒 Pretty stiff for a relatively unknown distillery
Buying Advice: 😐 It's not bad but really expensive

Colour: Light Golden Straw (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Please avoid nosing in the middle of the glass as the Alcohol is relatively strong. It is pretty Light and Fresh for a 17 year old Single Malt. This Teaninich presents a slightly Hot, Dry and Medium-Sweet mix of Fruity, Floral and Cereal notes. Not bad but a little unpretentious.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toast & Margarine, Vanilla, Dough, Grass & Straw, Orange, Lemon, Mandarin, Pear, Melon, Banana, Floral Perfume, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Salted Caramel, Wax, Grapefruit, Apple, Nectarine, Pineapple, Nuts and Nutshells, Dairy, Wet Rocks/Paper, Dusty Track, Marzipan, Ginger, Mint and hints of Tobacco, Leather and Varnish. After 15 minutes of Nosing I thought I got some Apricot-filled Puff-Pastry but it vanished quickly.

Palate:

I kinda like the Waxy mouthfeel although it's a little on the Thin side. The Palate is a Fruity mix of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes. Quite Dry and slightly Hot.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Grass and Straw, Wax, Orange, Mandarin, Lemon, Green Herbs & Vegetables, Candy with Tropical Fruit Flavour (Pineapple, Banana, Papaya, Nectarine), Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Honey, Dough, Dusty Track, Grapefruit, Gooseberry, Nuts, Banana, Green Apple, Pear, Wet Stones, Herbal Tea, Tobacco, Ginger and Mint.

Finish:

Middle-Long and very Dry. It's a mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes with a bit of Salt as well. I find Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Grass and Straw, Green Herbs and Vegetables, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Gooseberries, Green Apple & Pear, Banana, Nectarine, Nuts, Dusty Track, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Licorice and Acetone. A light Alcohol Burn in the end.

Drinking Advice:

A little Water helps to battle the Heat of course but it does not improve the Aroma and Flavour profile of this Teaninich. Despite the Alcohol I prefer it neat.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course and I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The Teaninich distillery was founded in 1817 by Captain Hugh Monro just south of the village of Alness. In 1933 DCL bought the distillery and subsequent mergers & take-overs brought it under the wings of the Diageo Group. The Spirit is mainly used in the Johnnie Walker Blends. There are some exceptions. In 1992, the 10 Year Old I'm reviewing today was introduced as part of the Flora & Fauna Series. Flora & Fauna has been discontinued in the meantime and it gets harder and harder to find this expression. The Limited Edition that I'm reviewing today was launched in 2017 to celebrate the 200th birthday of the distillery. Teaninich is the 3rd largest Diageo distillery and produces over 10 million litres per year.

If you like Citrus Fruit and Tropical Fruit Cocktails you will certainly enjoy this Malt although it is very Dry and slightly Hot. It has a mind of his own and that's rare these days. It's a pity that it's so expensive. People should be able to get to know this relatively unknown distillery, as far as Single Malts are concerned, at a more accessible price level. Because Teaninich certainly has Single Malt potential and I can also see the value of the Fruity Spirit in Blended Whiskies. But at this price level this knowledge will not reach a broad public and that's a pity.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                    October 10, 2024