Talisker The Distillers Edition 2021

“Not So Red Hot Chili Peppers”

Whisky Review # 1065

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands - Islands - Skye

Brand: Talisker 2021 The Distillers Edition 

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: Around 10 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57.3% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: New USA Oak with a finish in Amoroso Sherried USA Wood
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 60-75 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good

Buying Advice: 😐 I prefer the regular 10 but this is not bad as well

Colour:

Golden with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

There's a bit of Alcohol around so please refrain from Nosing in the middle of your glass. Allow this Talisker some air before nosing as well. It's quite Sweet and the Amoroso Finish is noticeable. Lots of Dried Fruit and Green and Coastal notes. The Peat and Smoke are not at all dominant and blend in well with the other Aromas. It is a little Young and Dirty but not unpleasant.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Plums and Apricots, slightly Dirty Coastal Peat, Smoke from a Distant Fire, Pork and Shell-Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Brine, Old Tarred Driftwood, Wet Grass, Grapefruit, Pepper, Aniseed, Mint and Milk Chocolate. Charred Pineapple after a while.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, slightly Sour Berries, Apple Vinegar, Wet Forest Floor, Ash, Leather, Salted Peanut Butter, Dusty Shelves with Old Books and Floral notes.  

Palate:

Mainly Sweet but with some Bitter, Sour and Salty notes for balance. It's a little on the Young side and a bit Edgy. I miss some body as well but overall it's certainly not unpleasant.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Dirty Peat, Smoke from a distant Fire, Bacon, Fish and Shell-Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Charred Oak, Berries & Grapefruit, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates & Apples, Roasted Nuts, Dark Chocolate with Orange flavor, Pepper, Aniseed and Mint/Menthol.        

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Demerara Sugar, Toffee, Vanilla, Hospital, Ashes, Burnt Heather and Cigar Smoke, Apple Vinegar, Dusty Track, Cherry-flavored Cough Syrup, Leather, Forest Floor, Espresso, Cinnamon, Yellow Mustard and Grilled Pineapple.        

Finish:

Middle-Long and mainly Bitter Sweet but also presenting Sour and Salty notes for balance. It's Oily but at the same a little Thinner than I expected given the strong ABV.  It's a little Rough with some Talisker Chili towards the Medium-Dry end. I also find Sweet Barley, Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dirty Peat, Smoke from a distant Fire, Ashes, Salted Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon, Roasted Nuts, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Apples and Raisins, Apple Vinegar, slightly Sour Berries, Grapefruit, Dusty Road, Dusty Casks, Wet Rocks, Bitter Chocolate, Espresso, Mint, Licorice, Cinnamon, Pepper and Leather. Charred Pineapple is back after a while.

    
Drinking Advice:

Added Water leaves this Talisker very dull & thin despite the high ABV. Better enjoy it neat. 

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - 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 & 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. A little Dirty and Edgy. 

Conclusion:

Talisker was founded in 1830 and is part of the Diageo Group. It produces around 3.5 Million litres of Alcohol per year. The core range consists of the the NAS Skye and Storm, the 10, 18, 25 and 30 Years, The Distillers Edition and Port Ruighe.

The 2021 Talisker Distillers Edition is Young, Mellow, Modern & not Unpleasant. But I don't really want that from Talisker. I want the fiery Peppers from the 10 Years or the mature balance of the 18 Years. Those two are certainly amongst my favorite peated Single Malts. This Distillers Edition 2021 is not but it's not a bad place to start your adventure with peated Whisky. And it's pleasantly priced! 

 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                            May 1, 2025

Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2

“Burning Love”

Whisky Review # 1064

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2 (129.7 PPM)

Series: The Impossible Equation 

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled: July 2021

Age: Around 5 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57.3% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with 18 months finish in Sauternes casks
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: Around US$ 220 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😒 Quite Expensive for such a young Single Malt

Buying Advice: 😃 Not as good as the 10.2 but certainly enjoyable

Colour:

Golden/Light Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The slightly Dirty Smoke and Peat are there but the 12.2 is not a Peat Monster as the high PPM might suggest. They are leading the way though, accompanied by Fruity, Burnt, Coastal and Herbal notes. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Yeast, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Cooked Fruit (Pineapple, Pear & Apple), Salted Pork, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Charred Oak, Dairy, Nectarine, Red Berries and Chili Pepper.   

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Burnt Matches, Glue, Ashes, Hospital, Forest Floor, Orange, Melon, Wet Rocks and Sand, Pine Resin, Milka Raisin and Hazelnut Chocolate, Perfumed Tea, Polished Leather, Seaweed, Soot and a hint of Licorice.  

Palate:

There is a bit of Alcohol but you don't really feel the 57.3%. The Palate is in line with the Nose. The Sauternes Finish combines nicely with the raw Island spirit. It is still a bit Dirty and not overly well-rounded but enjoyable nevertheless.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Yeast and Dough, Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Soot, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Salted Fork and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Cooked Apples and Pears, Charred Oak, Chili Pepper and Cinnamon.   

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Wax, Tar, Hospital, Ashtray, Forest Floor, Tobacco, Leather, Nectarine, Toasted Almonds, slightly Sour Orange & Grapefruit, Cocoa Powder, Apple Vinegar, Slivovitz, Ginger, Aniseed, Paprika Powder, Nutmeg and Licorice.      

Finish:

Middle-Long. Bitter-Sweet with additional Sour & Salty notes. The Alcohol is more noticeable now but the Finish certainly invites you to have another sip. It's still a bit Dirty and Edgy but at this point you're almost used to it. Medium-Dry towards the end. I find Toasted Grains, Dirty Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Soot, Ash, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Vanilla, Toffee, Salted Pork and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Cooked Apple & Pears, Espresso, Dark Chocolate, Charred Oak, Licorice, slightly Sour Green Papaya & Yellow Plum, Mint, Aniseed, Leather, Chili Pepper as in Talisker, Paprika Powder, Cinnamon & Ginger.     
Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and while the Nose loses Power you will get extra Fruit on the Palate. Peach and/or Apricot come to mind. I prefer it neat but you can play with a little Water.

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 

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.

Bruichladdich spirit combines well with a Sauternes finish. My personal favorite is the 10.2 as it is more rounded and compact when compared to the 12.2. But the latter, while more "Dirty", "Burnt" & Nervous is still quite enjoyable and consistent from Nose to Finish. It's a bit expensive given its Youth but it's certainly worth a try. 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 24, 2025

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

Wolfburn Morven

“Fire on the Mountain”

Whisky Review # 1062

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Wolfburn Morven

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Lightly Peated: 10 PPM

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: 50% 1st Fill Bourbon Casks and 50% Quarter Casks from Islay

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 35-45 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good, if you like Young, lightly Peated Whisky
Buying Advice: 😐 It's Light, Thin, Young and Simple but not really bad

Colour: White Wine/Pale Straw  (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Light, Young and a little Edgy. The Alcohol is noticeable. Quite a few Burnt notes (Resin, Straw, Plastic). Orchard Fruit and Citrus. It's similar to Young Islay but less pungent. 

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toast & Margarine, Vanilla, Yeast, Burnt Resin, Plastic, Matches and Straw, Cold Smoke,Dirty Earthy Peat, Red Apple, Lemon, Nectarine, Dairy, Rubber, Floral Perfume and Metal.     

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Wax, Grass, Iodine, Tar, Ashes, Pear, Orange, Grilled Pineapple, Nuts, Dusty Oak, Tobacco, Varnish, Wet Sand, Cooked Vegetables, Smoked Meat, Mint, Cinnamon and Pepper.   

Palate:

Young, Light, Thin, Fresh & slightly Sharp. There's a Menthol-like Freshness to it. It's Sweet but it also offers some Sour & Salty notes. Simple but not unpleasant. The Alcohol remains noticeable. 

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Hospital, Grass and Straw, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Fresh Herbs, Salt, Menthol, Pepper and Ginger.  

    

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Orange, Pear, Nectarine, Green Tea, Dusty Oak, White Chocolate, Almonds, Rubber, Leather, Licorice, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and BBQ.

Finish:

Middle-Long. Light, Thin and Young. Mainly Sweet but with a few Sour and Salty notes for contrast. A slight Herbal Bitterness towards the end. I also find Sweet & Malted Barley, Vanilla, Yeast, Grass, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Grapefruit, Orange, Lemon, Nectarine, Green Apple, Unripe Pear, Ashes, Hospital, Licorice, Aniseed, Fresh Herbs, Cooked Vegetables, Alcohol, Toasted Almonds, Brine, Salt, Pepper, Ginger, Menthol, Dusty Oak, Cocoa Powder and Smoked Meat.   

Drinking Advice:

With added Water this Morven becomes Liquid, Thin Peat. Better enjoy it neat. 

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** 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: Okay/Good

Conclusion:

Wolfburn is a young distillery. It was founded in 2013 on the outskirts of Thurso, very close to the ruins of the old Wolfburn distillery that was founded in 1821 but closed down at the end of the 19th century. Wolfburn is owned by Aurora Brewing Ltd & has a current production capacity of around 135.000 litres. The core range includes the 10 Year old, Northland, Aurora, Morven and Langskip. We visited the distillery in May 2019 and enjoyed it. Certainly worth a visit! The Morven was first released in 2017, It is named after the highest mountain (706 m) in the county of Caithness.

Morven is a young, thin and lightly peated Single Malt. It's quite straightforward & simple but not totally unpleasant. The P/Q ratio is good. If you like young peated Islay you might give it a go. But if you like longer matured peated whisky like the Lagavulin 16 you should not consider climbing this Morven.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 10, 2025

Macallan Lumina

“You’re No Good”

Whisky Review # 1059

Country: Scotland
Region: Highland/Speyside

Brand: Macallan Lumina - The Quest Collection

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 41.3%
Maturation: Mix of Sherry-Seasoned European/American Oak casks & Hogsheads 
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 120-180 (March 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 👎 Better stick to the standard distillery bottlings

Colour:

Golden (Natural Color)

Nose:

Young and on the Thin side. Not the best casks for sure. Probably 2nd and/or 3rd Refill. Some Oloroso influence. Sweet Candy, Orchard Fruit & Vanilla are the main drivers. Not good enough for a Macallan at this price level.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Sugar, Sweet Apples & Pears, Sweet Candy (Strawberry, Raspberry, Orange, Grape), Lemon, Dusty Oak, Pepper and Ginger.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Glue, Treacle, Slivovitz, Nuts, Milk Chocolate, Floral Soap, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cloves.  

Palate:

Young and Thin. Light Sherry influence. There's something Artificial/Industrial to this Lumina. It's not giving me a lot of pleasure that's for sure.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Apples & Pears, Mixed Red Berries, Lemon and Grapefruit, Milk Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger.    

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Caramel, Buttered Toast, Wax, Floral Soap, Hazelnuts, Cloves and Nutmeg.  

Finish:

On the Short Side. Sugary Sweet at first but with a light Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. A slightl Metallic off-note. I also find Sweet Barley, Vanilla and Toffee, Sugar, Tart Apple Pie with Raisins and sprinkled with Cinnamon & Powder Sugar, Pear, Milk Chocolate, Lemon, Grapefruit, Dairy, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Clove, Nutmeg, Ginger and Licorice.  

Drinking Advice:

Added Water kills this Lumina.

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 6 

*** 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: Below average

Conclusion:

The Macallan distillery was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid and is located in the village of Craigellachie (Morayshire). The majority of the shares is owned by the Edrington Group. The current production amounts to around 15 million litres per year. The core range includes a/o Sherry Oak, 12, 18, 25, 30 and the 12, 15, 18 and 30 Double Cask. We have visited both the old & the new distillery and liked the old one better. For some reason I don't like the combination of Modern infra-structure and Whisky. I'm more the Springbank kinda guy!

The Lumina was part of the Travel Retail Quest Collection, together with Quest, Terra and Enigma. This collection was replaced in 2023 by the 12,15,18,21 and 30 Years Colour Collection. I will try to find samples of this new collection.

Lumina is the Goddess of Wisdom and Illumination. Both not applicable to this Single Malt unfortunately. It's such a pity that most of the Travel Retail Malts are simply lacking quality casks & sufficient maturation. This Macallan is no exception to the rule I'm afraid. Good thing it has been discontinued in the meantime!

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                      March 19, 2025

Dalmore The Quintet

“Dalmore Than I Can Bear” 

Whisky Review # 1056

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Dalmore The Quintet

Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 44.5%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with a finish in a very interesting mix of Moscatel, Madeira, Sherry, Port and Red Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon) casks 
Chill Filtration: No
Average Price: US$ 100 (February 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😏 A bit too expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 👎 Better stay with the regular 12 Years or 15 Years

Colour:

Chestnut with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Thinner than expected. The Red Wine & Port casks seem to have gained the upper hand although I get some old Sherry as well. The Nose is a mix of Sweet & Sour notes with lots of Dark Red Fruit. I get a little Sulfur but it's harmless. The Alcohol is noticeable. I do suggest to give this Dalmore sufficient time in the glass before Nosing as it opens up slowly. It's a bit Acidic as well.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Yeast, Dark Red Berries & Cherries, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Plums, Prunes, Apricots and Figs, Mixed Nuts, Seville-Orange, Red Grapes/Wine, Dusty Earth, Casks in a Dunnage Warehouse, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Cloves. A bit of Chocolate after a while. 

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Brown Sugar, Dough, Straw, Blueberry Muffins, Banana, Pineapple, Cranberry, Dried Herbs, Wet Leaves & Paper, Polished Leather Upholstery, Pepper and Mint.        

Palate:

A slightly Young, Thin and Hot mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. Nevertheless the Palate is my favorite part of this Dalmore for a change. Quite Dry and Tannic.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Grain, Vanilla, Dark Red Berries and Cherries, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Plums, Prunes, Figs & Apples, Mixed Nuts, Seville-Orange, Licorice, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves and Menthol/Mint.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Syrup, Straw, Nectarine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Dusty Earth, Polished Leather Upholstery, Espresso, Wet Leaves, Coconut, Cinnamon, Cardamom and  Ginger.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Tannic and a little Hot and on the Thin side. Sweet at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the Dry end. Some Sour notes as well. I find Sweet Toasted Barley, Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Dark Red Berries & Cherries, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Prunes, Plums & Figs, Mixed Nuts, Honey, Straw, Dried Herbs, Red Grapes/Wine, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Dusty Track, Wet Leaves, Polished old Leather Upholstery, Cigar Box, Seville-Orange, Espresso, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Licorice and Menthol/Mint.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve The Quintet.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5 

*** 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:

It's not really bad but I expected a lot more! 

Conclusion:

The Dalmore distillery is located close to Alness and was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson. It is owned by Whyte & Mackay Ltd, part of Emperador Inc. During the last 15 years or so, Master Blender Richard Patterson did a lot to reposition Dalmore as a worldwide Single Malt. The distillery currently produces around 5.3 million litres but will increase the capacity to 9 million litres. in 2025. Everything should be ready by August this year. The core range exists of the 12, 12 Sherry Cask Select, 15, 18, 21, 25, King Alexander III, Cigar Malt Reserve and Port Wood Reserve. The current Travel Retail range introduced in 2019 includes The Trio, The Quartet and The Quintet.

In the majority of cases Single Malts that are part of the Travel Retail series tend to disappoint. The Quintet is no exception to the rule unfortunately. Exotic casks like the Moscatel and Madeira barrels, the 30 Year-old Matusalem Sherry barrels, the 10 year-old Port barrels and the Cabernet Sauvignon barrels can only partially hide the Youth of this Dalmore. And despite the adequate ABV there's a Thin feeling to this Quintet. I would love to see distilleries concentrating on good casks and their core range. And while I understand the commercial strategy behind Special Editions & Travel Retail Exclusives, you should probably stay with the core range as well. Despite the nice presentation and the stories!

Cheers! Jan. 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                    February 2, 2025

Singleton of Glendullan 19 Years

“You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone”

Whisky Review # 1055

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: The Singleton of Glendullan - 2021 Special Edition - Distilled: 2001

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky 

Age: 19 Years - Bottled: 2021

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 54.6% (At or around Cask Strength)
Maturation: Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks with Cognac-Seasoned Cask Finish
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: US$ 160 (January 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for what it offers

Buying Advice: 😑 It doesn't really work for me. Try a sample first! 

Color:

Light Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Alcohol is quite strong so avoid Nosing in the middle of your glass. I also get the European Oak of the Cognac cask finish at once. The Nose feels Light and on the Thin side and you wouldn't give it 19 years at first glance. It opens slowly so you will need some patience here. The Nose presents a mix of Sweet & Sour notes with lots of Yellow Fruit around. I had expected more to be honest.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Green Apple, Lemon, Mixed Dried Fruits and Nuts (Studentenhaver), Wine Cellar, Grass, Coconut, Wet Stones & Sand, Wet Leaves and Earth, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Mint.        

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Blueberry Muffins, Nectarine, Grapefruit, Seville Orange, Pear, Yogurt with Tropical Fruit mixture, Wax, Floral Perfume, Tobacco & Cocoa. A hint of Polished Leather. 

 

Palate:

A slightly Hot and Unbalanced mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes. The Alcohol is really present. Quite Dry as well.

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, Vanilla, Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Grapefruit, Grass, Wine Cellar, Charred Oak, Wet Rocks, Floral Soap, Chili, Ginger, Aniseed and Mint.           

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Wax, Seville-Orange, Nectarine, Slivovitz, Bounty Bars, Polished Leather, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Cloves and Oriental Spice mix.    

Finish:

Middle-Long with Bitter, Sweet & Sour elements. The Bitterness increases towards the Dry end. Quite Tannic. The Cognac Finish is noticeable. I find Malted Barley, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Yeast, Mixed Dried Fruits and Nuts, Pear, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Seville-Orange, Floral Soap, Bitter Chocolate, Artificial Sweetener, Aspirin, Dusty Charred Oak, Espresso, Slivovitz, Leather and Tobacco, Wine Cellar, Wet Rocks, Metal, Chilli, Cinnamon, Ginger, Oriental Spice Mix and Mint. The Alcohol is slightly aggressive after swallowing.   

Drinking Advice:

Added Water helps to ease the Heat somewhat but does not improve the package as a whole although I get more Fruity notes (Peach/Nectarine) on the Palate. I still prefer it neat though. 

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - 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

Conclusion:

The first Glendullan Distillery was founded in Dufftown by William Williams & Sons in 1896. In 1972, a second Glendullan Distillery was constructed 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 Diageo Blends. Since 2007, the Single Malts produced at Glendullan, Glen Ord and Dufftown are marketed under the name "The Singleton". The Glendullan core range includes the  12, 15 and 18 Years as well as the Reserve Collection. Annual output amounts to around 5 million litres of alcohol.

Once in a while you encounter a whisky that is neither fish nor fowl as the British say. This Glendullan is one of them in my opinion. It's not really bad but neither is it well-structured. It's a Bitter, Sweet, Sour, Spicy & Hot mix of Flavors & Aromas that somehow are at war with each other. The very high ABV does not help here as well. It does not work for me and my advise to you would be to try a sample first before deciding to buy a full bottle.

Cheers 🥃 

Jan                                                                                        January 26, 2025