“Springbank/Glengyle Special”
Introduction:
Most of you know that I mainly use samples and miniatures when preparing my Reviews. I usually buy these in Holland and sometimes in Germany or the UK. Sometimes I receive samples from friends or readers or independent bottlers. In only two cases I received a few samples directly from distilleries. When planning my reviews for the coming months I always try to give attention to all Scottish Whisky regions as well as other Whisky/Whiskey/Bourbon producing regions all over the world with special attention to the USA, Ireland and Japan. And last but not least the blends. At the request of many readers I give preference to more recent expressions. As a result, my backlog of older samples has increased quite a bit. To do justice to those samples I will review them in the format of Specials. These specials will deal with a specific region like today or with specific bottlers, countries or distilleries. The reviews in these Specials will concentrate on the Whisky and won't go into details about distilleries, maturation etc. I do hope you will like these Specials just as much as my regular reviews and I look forward to your reactions and suggestions. In today's special I will have a look at 3 Single Malts from Campbeltown, 1 from Springbank and 2 from Glengyle (Kilkerran). Enjoy!
Country: Scotland
Palate: Slightly Thin despite the good ABV. Bitter Sweet with a few Sour notes as well. I find Malted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, the Straw and Cow Manure mix from the Nose, Orange Peel, Lemon, Green Apples, Dark Chocolate, Factory Smoke, Earthy Peat, Dusty Road, Dried Fruit and Nuts mix, Toasted Oak, Pepper, Clove, Cinnamon, Alcohol and a hint of Coconut.
Finish: Medium Long, Bitter Sweet, quite Dry and slightly Sour towards the end with lots of Dirty Notes like Factory Smoke, Diesel, Ashes, Soot and Tar. I also detect Earthy Peat, Toasted Cereals, Charred Oak, Salted Caramel, Candle Wax, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Apple, Pear, Nuts and Nut Shells, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Road, Malt, Dried Herbs, Menthol, Alcohol, Bitter Oranges and Dirty Sherry.
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Whisky Review # 673
Country: Scotland
Region: Campbeltown
Brand: Springbank Private Bottling for Distillery Visitors 2017
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation:Probably a mix of refill Bourbon and refill Sherry casks.
Chill Filtration: No
Buying Advice: Not Applicable.
Colour: Light Golden (Natural Colour)
Nose: Medium Light and relatively Young. Some Earthy Peat and Dirty Sherry are my first impressions. Quite Salty as well. I find Toasted Barley, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Straw mixed with Cow Manure, Diesel, Candle Wax, Dried Fruit like Plums, Heather-Honey, Nuts and Nut Shells, Orange Peel, Lemon, Green Apples, Toasted Refill Oak, Dusty Road and hints of Polished Leather and Bounty Bars. The Alcohol stings a little. The Nose is quite Light for a Springbank but it retains some of the "Dirty" Distillery characteristics.
Palate: Slightly Thin despite the good ABV. Bitter Sweet with a few Sour notes as well. I find Malted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, the Straw and Cow Manure mix from the Nose, Orange Peel, Lemon, Green Apples, Dark Chocolate, Factory Smoke, Earthy Peat, Dusty Road, Dried Fruit and Nuts mix, Toasted Oak, Pepper, Clove, Cinnamon, Alcohol and a hint of Coconut.
Finish: Medium Long, Bitter Sweet, quite Dry and slightly Sour towards the end with lots of Dirty Notes like Factory Smoke, Diesel, Ashes, Soot and Tar. I also detect Earthy Peat, Toasted Cereals, Charred Oak, Salted Caramel, Candle Wax, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Apple, Pear, Nuts and Nut Shells, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Road, Malt, Dried Herbs, Menthol, Alcohol, Bitter Oranges and Dirty Sherry.
Rating: 84
Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21
Conclusion:
This Young Springbank is a private Distillery bottling, released on an annual basis for the many visitors that come to Springbank. We got a free miniature at the end of our May 2017 Distillery Tour. Despite its Youth and the Alcohol it gives you a good idea of some of the "Dirty" Distillery notes that are so familiar and loved by Springbank fans. It's also quite consistent from Nose to Finish. I can certainly recommend a visit to Springbank. It's like going back in time at least a hundred years and you really get a feel how Whisky was made in the old days!
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Country: Scotland
Palate: Young, Raw and Spicy. Lightly peated New Make Spirit. I find Malted Cereals, Vanilla, light Smoke, Peat and Soot, Nut Shells, Alcohol, Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Grapefruit, Dusty Road, Grass, Fresh Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg.
Finish: Short, Edgy, Spicy and Sharp. The Alcohol is very present at this stage. I find Malted Cereals, Vanilla, Green Apple, Pear, Dairy, Lemon, Grapefruit, New Oak, very light Smoke, Peat, Soot and Tar, Grass, Pepper, Ginger and Herbs.
Rating: 79
Whisky Review # 674
Country: Scotland
Region: Campbeltown
Brand: Kilkerran Private Bottling for Distillery Visitors 2017
Distilled by: Glengyle Distillery
Distilled by: Glengyle Distillery
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Bourbon casks, probably (some) First Fill
Chill Filtration: No
Buying Advice: Not Applicable.
Colour: White Wine (Natural Colour)
Nose: Young and Light. There are New Make Spirit or Fruit Liqueur aspects. The Alcohol is quite noticeable. It's Fresh and Fruity with Malted Cereals, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Caramel, Light Smoke and Soot, Earth, Fresh Oak, Grapefruit, Lemon, Green Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Grass, Green Vegetables, Fresh Herbs, light Pepper, Cashew Nuts and hints of Ginger and Olive Oil. Sweet and Sour Aromas are fighting it out. It's not at all boring but also not very well-balanced. There's an Unfinished feel to it.
Palate: Young, Raw and Spicy. Lightly peated New Make Spirit. I find Malted Cereals, Vanilla, light Smoke, Peat and Soot, Nut Shells, Alcohol, Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Grapefruit, Dusty Road, Grass, Fresh Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg.
Finish: Short, Edgy, Spicy and Sharp. The Alcohol is very present at this stage. I find Malted Cereals, Vanilla, Green Apple, Pear, Dairy, Lemon, Grapefruit, New Oak, very light Smoke, Peat, Soot and Tar, Grass, Pepper, Ginger and Herbs.
Rating: 79
Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 20
Conclusion:
This Young Kilkerran is a private Distillery bottling, released on an annual basis for the many visitors that come to Glengyle. We got a free miniature at the end of our May 2017 Distillery Tour. I can't say I like it a lot. Unlike the Springbank above, this Glengyle does not really give us an idea how a well matured Single Malt of this Distillery would taste. It's basically a lightly Peated New Make Spirit. The Spirit is Fruity (Apple, Pear) and presents lot of Green elements as well. It's certainly not overly Sweet and there's a Nutty and Herbal feel to it. It certainly needs more maturation time and I'm really looking forward to taste the 12 Years now to see how the Spirit develops over time.
Country: Scotland
Palate: Bitter-Sweet, Sour and quite Citrusy. I find Toasted Cereals, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Green Apple, White Grapes, Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, light Earthy Peat, Smoke, Soot and Ashes, Heather-Honey, Dried Fruit and Nuts, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger, Grass, Fresh Herbs and hints of Leather, Wet Rocks and Band-Aid.
Finish: Shorter than I would have hoped for. Bitter-Sweet with plenty of Sour notes as well. I find Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, light Earthy Peat, Smoke, Soot, Ashes and Tar, Green Apple, Lemon, Grapefruit, Salted Nuts, Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Menthol, Licorice, Black Tea, Alcohol and hints of Smoked Kipper, Wet Rocks, Leather and Metal.
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Whisky Review # 675
Country: Scotland
Region: Campbeltown
Brand: Kilkerran
Distilled by: Glengyle Distillery
Distilled by: Glengyle Distillery
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Age: 12 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: A mix of Bourbon (70%) - and Sherry casks (30%)
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 50-60 (January 2018)
Price Range: US$ 50-60 (January 2018)
Buying Advice: 😕 Good Price/Quality ratio. Not quite my style though.
Colour: Golden Straw (Natural Colour)
Nose: The 12 Years still carries some of the Grassy and Vegetable Aromas that I found in the Private Bottling and I believe there's some Fresh Oak involved here as well. The main differences are the longer maturation and the use of Ex- Sherry casks. As a result the 12 Years has got much more Balance. The Alcohol is still there but in a far less aggressive way. I find Toasted Barley, slightly Burnt Toast, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Apple Vinegar, Pear, White Grapes, Lemon, light Earthy Peat, Smoke, Soot, Band-Aid, Diesel and Ashes, Grass, Heather-Honey, Fresh Herbs, Pepper, Cinnamon, Menthol, Licorice and a hint of Wet Newspaper. It's much cleaner on the Nose when compared to the "Dirty" Springbank.
Palate: Bitter-Sweet, Sour and quite Citrusy. I find Toasted Cereals, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Green Apple, White Grapes, Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, light Earthy Peat, Smoke, Soot and Ashes, Heather-Honey, Dried Fruit and Nuts, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger, Grass, Fresh Herbs and hints of Leather, Wet Rocks and Band-Aid.
Finish: Shorter than I would have hoped for. Bitter-Sweet with plenty of Sour notes as well. I find Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, light Earthy Peat, Smoke, Soot, Ashes and Tar, Green Apple, Lemon, Grapefruit, Salted Nuts, Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Menthol, Licorice, Black Tea, Alcohol and hints of Smoked Kipper, Wet Rocks, Leather and Metal.
Rating: 85.5
Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5
Conclusion:
The 12 Years is the first core range Single Malt release of the Glengyle distillery since it re-opened in 2004. It's a much cleaner Single Malt when compared to its neighbour Spingbank. Old-Fashioned Vs. Modern if you like. It's well-made and it has an excellent Price/Quality ratio. It's quite Green, Grassy and Citrusy. Not a Single Malt for beginning Whisky drinkers. In general, this first official Kilkerran was well received and the average scores are quite high. I must admit that it's not my favourite Aroma/Flavour profile so my score is a bit lower. I guess I'm old fashioned but I'll stick with Springbank 10 Years for the time being!
Drinking Advice:
I only Nosed and Tasted these three Single Malts neat. All pictures were taken during our visit to Springbank and Glengyle in May 2017
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Drinking Advice:
I only Nosed and Tasted these three Single Malts neat. All pictures were taken during our visit to Springbank and Glengyle in May 2017
Jan van den Ende January 8, 2018
