GlenDronach 1993 Master Vintage

Dear Whisky Friends,

Today is a very special moment for me and Best Shot Whisky Reviews. After some time in Europe with our family there I'm back in Brazil and ready to write Review # 1000. I never thought I would reach this number when I started back in November of 2011. I thought it would be nice to look back at Review # 1 where I reviewed the Johnnie Walker Red Label. I've learned a lot about Nosing and Tasting Whisky since then! Here it is: 

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Review # 1

Country: Scotland

Brand: Johnnie Walker Red Label

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age:   Around 8 Years

Alcohol: 40%

Colour: Light Amber

Nose: Grain, a light Malty Sweetness, a bit of Peat and Islay Smoke (Caol Ila) and lots of young Grain Alcohol.

Taste: Rough, Some Smoke, Burns a bit on the tongue. Very faint Vanilla.

Finish: Sharp, Hot and Spicy (Pepper). Your mouth becomes very dry after a short while.

Rating: 76 

Nose: 20 – Taste: 19 – Finish: 18 – Overall: 19

General Remarks: Whilst a little Water eases the burning sensation, it kills the blend completely.

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good

Conclusion:  Hard to explain why this is the world’s most popular blended whisky. It shows what good marketing can do. Save a bit more and go for the Black Label. What a difference! As for Red, preferably on the rocks or for mixing.

Jan van den Ende                                                                    November 7, 2011

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But that was then and this now! For Whisky Review # 1000 I have selected a very special Whisky that I tasted for the first time at the distillery back in 2017. It was probably the best Distillery Visit and Tasting Session out of all those we experienced during our Whisky trips in 2014, 2017 and 2019! I'm really looking forward to have a look at this 25 Year old GlenDronach!

I would like to thank all Whisky friends that have made Best Shot Whisky Reviews their point of reference. More than 4.5 million page views since 2011. Who could have thought that! The famous whisky writer Ingvar Ronde made me the greatest compliment possible. He wrote that "he liked my honest reviews" and also that "if Jan thinks a whisky is not good he will tell you". Of course I realize that personal taste is strictly subjective. You might love a Whisky that I don't like. But after 1000 Reviews I can at least tell you if the new made spirit and casks used where of good quality and if maturation time was sufficient. I'm really looking forward to continue writing my reviews and I hope you will continue to read them!

Cheers!

Jan

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“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”

Whisky Review # 1000

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands

Brand: GlenDronach 1993 Master Vintage - Bottled 29-01-2019

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky 

Age: 25 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48.2% (On or around Cask Strength)
Maturation: A mix of Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso casks from Spain

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 400-800 (November 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 It can't be cheap of course but it is too expensive!
Buying Advice: 😐 Good Single Malt but so is the better priced Allardice 18

Colour: Dark Mahogany (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Please be sure to give this GlenDronach enough time in the glass before Nosing as it opens up slowly. There's a bit of Sulphur around but nothing to get worried about. The Nose is mostly Sweet but not annoyingly so. There are also Sour, Salty and Mineral notes. The Oak is noticeable but does not overwhelm, leading me to believe that probably mostly (2nd) Re-Fill casks were used for maturation. Christmas is in the Air as Christmas Cake, Dried Fruit, Spices and Nuts lead the way. The Alcohol is well-integrated. Well-Matured Rum and Brandy come to mind as well. I like it!

Main Aromas:

Toasted Barley, Molasses, Caramel, Dried Fruit such as Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots, Plums and Figs, Mixed Nuts (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Walnuts), X-Mas Cake, Marzipan, Chocolate, Espresso, Polished Old Leather Upholstery, Oak, Earth, Nutmeg, Cloves, Cinnamon and Mint/Menthol.     

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Yeast, Wax, Vanilla, slightly Sour Mulled Wine, Dunnage Warehouse, Salted Meat, Prune Jam, Tobacco, Soy Sauce, Dark Berries, Citrus, Green Apple, Pepper, Garam Masala and Ginger.    

Palate:

It basically follows the Nose but in a less balanced way. The Alcohol, Oak &  Spices are stronger now and threaten the Fruit. The Palate is mostly Bitter-Sweet with some Salty, Sour and Mineral notes for balance. Quite Dry. I was expecting more to be honest!

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Molasses, Caramel, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Plums, Figs & Prunes, Marzipan, Nougat, Mixed Nuts, Seville-Orange, X-Mas Cake, Oak, Dark Chocolate, Leather, Earth, Soy Sauce, Black Tea, Espresso, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves, Garam Masala and Menthol/Mint. 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Wax, Vanilla, slightly Sour Mulled Wine, Dried and Salted Meat, Dried Herbs, Dunnage Warehouse, Tobacco, Iron, Dark Berries, Cinnamon and Ginger.    

Finish:

Long, quite Tannic, slightly Hot and Dry. Sweet at first but with developing Bitter & Sour notes towards the end. The Alcohol is more noticeable now and so is the Oak.I find Toasted Barley, Molasses, Caramel, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates, Figs, Sultanas & Prunes, Mixed Nuts, Dark Cocoa, Oloroso Sherry, Orange Liqueur, Black Tea, Espresso, Soy Sauce, Tobacco, Leather, Oak, Iron, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg,  Garam Masala, Ginger, Cinnamon and Menthol. The Finish is the less interesting part of this GlenDronach.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that eases the Alcohol and the Sharp notes in general. I also get some Fresh Stone Fruit on the Nose now. The Finish becomes even longer with lots of Tannic notes and Menthol. It's certainly worthwhile to experiment with a little Water in this case.

Rating: 8 (********)

Nose: 8.5 - Taste: 8 - 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 Tannic and Oaky.

Conclusion:

GlenDronach was founded in 1826 by James Allardice in Forgue, Aberdeenshire. It changed hands various times before being acquired in 2016 by Brown Forman. The core range consists of the 12 Years, the 15 Years Revival, the 18 Years Allardice and the 21 Years Parliament. We visited the distillery in May 2019 and we had an unforgettable time there. I will treasure this memory for always. A very nice Tour and a tasting that included the whole range of the distillery plus some extras. Great! I can only fully recommend a visit!

The casks for the 1993 Vintage were selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie. It must be said that various of the best 1993 casks have been released over the years as Single Cask editions.

I specially selected this GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 to be my Review # 1000. I bought it especially for this purpose at the distillery in 2017. I tasted a 25 Years there that blew my mind & I expected this Master Vintage to be very good as well. I am a bit disappointed though with this 25 Years edition. It's a good Single Malt of course but it's a bit of a one track pony. I quite like the balanced nose but the Dry Palate and Finish are hijacked by Tannic Oak and loads of Spices. It's a nice after-dinner Whisky to be enjoyed under the Christmas Tree. But it's not exceptional and it should be at this price level!

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                 November 30, 2023

Tormore 16 Years

 

“Wood I Lie To You”

Whisky Review # 999

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Tormore

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Batch #: Unknown

Age: 16 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48%
Maturation: Unknown. I presume a mix of American Oak (Bourbon + Sherry)

Chill Filtration: No

Price: Around US$ 90 (August 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Okay
Buying Advice: 😐 Not quite my style as Wood and Spices dominate but...

Colour: Amber with shades of Orange  (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Be sure to give this Tormore sufficient time in the glass before Nosing as it opens up rather slowly. The nose is a mix of Sweet, Sour and Musty notes with Malt, cooked Fruits and Orange leading the way. Quite Creamy.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Cooked Apples & Pears, Dried Fruit like Figs, Raisins, Plums, Apricot & Banana, Orange Marmalade, Dusty Casks, Peanut Butter, slightly Sour Red Berries, Cinnamon, Ginger, Paprika powder and Leather.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Mixed Nuts, Grass, Forest Floor, Floral Perfume, Wet Rocks, Wet Newspaper, Artificially-Flavoured Candies (Nectarine, Melon, Pineapple), Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cardamom and Aniseed.

Palate:

Bitter-Sweet, Creamy and slightly Hot. Heavy Cask influence. The Fruit is still there but Malt, Cask and Spices start to take the upper hand. Quite Dry & slightly Meaty.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Malted Barley, Vanilla, Mixed Chocolate, Nuts and Nut Shells, Orange, Pear, Red Apple, Dried Fruit like Raisins & Plums, Red Berry Liqueur, Dusty Casks, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Cardamom and hints of Leather and Tobacco.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Butterscotch, Resin, Coconut, Yogurt with Tropical Fruit Flavour, Coconut, Cinnamon, Aniseed, Licorice, Wet Rocks, Grapefruit, Stale Espresso and Varnish.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Creamy, Bitter-Sweet and quite Dry. Oak and Spices are in control by now. I also find Toasted Malted Barley, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Nuts and Nut Shells, Coconut, Dusty Oak, Red Apple, Orange, Red Berry Liqueur, Cocoa and Coffee, Dried Herbs, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom and Cloves.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water sort of kills this Tormore.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7.5 - 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:

Tormore is certainly a relatively new distillery and was founded in 1958 by Schenley Int. Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard) acquired the distillery in 2005 when it took over Allied Domecq. It is located in Grantown-on-Spey (Morayshire). The distillery has a production capacity of 4.8 million litres. Most of the Tormore Spirit is used in Blends like Ballentine's, Long John, Cream of the Barley and Chivas. The core range merely consists of the 14 and 16 Years. Surprisingly, Chivas sold Tormore in 2022 to Elixir Distillers. The new owners (Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh) plan to refurbish the distillery and construct a Visitor Centre. I'm convinced they will also try to position Tormore globally as a valid Single Malt and not just as an (important) component of Blended Whisky.

The first batch of this Tormore was released in 2014 but I have no information as to what Batch I'm reviewing today. Most batches have matured in Ex-Bourbon casks but I'm pretty sure that the Batch I'm tasting right now matured in both Bourbon casks and sherry-infused American Oak.

I've had some independent well-matured Tormore malts in the past and rather liked them because of their character although they perhaps overstayed their time in the casks. The latter might be true for this 16 Years as well as Wood and Spices are quite dominant on the Palate and in the Finish. But I don't find that character here in the same density. It's rather dull actually. It's Malty, Creamy and Powerful what makes it perfectly suitable as a Blended Whisky component. But on a stand alone basis this Tormore 16 years does not convince me. The price level is okay though so if you like the Aroma and Flavour profile you should try it out.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                        August 10, 2023

Tomatin 2007 (Gordon & MacPhail Discovery)

“So Many Casks So Little Time”

Whisky Review # 997

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands

Brand: Tomatin 2007

Matured & Bottled By/For: Gordon & MacPhail - Discovery Series - Bottled: 2018

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: Almost 11 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: First-Fill Ex-Bourbon casks

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 50-60 (July 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay
Buying Advice: 😑 It's okay but not more than that

Colour: Light Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose:

It's like walking into a Bakery. Dough, Grain, Yeast, Sugar and Butter are all there. It's a Young Spirit by all means and the Alcohol is slightly noticeable. The Nose is not bad and the casks are of good quality. There's some Fruit in the background but all in all it's a bit forgettable.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, German Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Bounty Candy Bars, Dough, Yeast, Apfel Strudel, Banana Ice Cream, Floral Perfume, Cigar Box and Grass.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Lemon, Nectarine, Poire Belle Helene, Cashew Nuts and Peanuts, Cinnamon and Mint.

Palate:

Young, Light but Creamy and mostly Sweet. Nothing that really calls my attention I'm afraid.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Apfel Strudel, Banana Ice Cream, Bounty Candy Bars, Pine Nuts, Grass, Cigar Box, Cinnamon and Pepper.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Demerara Sugar, Buttered Toast with some Marmalade, Nectarine, Lemon, Pineapple, Floral tones, Herbs, Ginger and Mint.

Finish:

On the Short side and rather Thin despite a Creamy mouthfeel. Mainly Sweet but with some light Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. Easily the weakest part of this Tomatin. I find Sweet Barley, Caramel, Vanilla, Buttered Toast, Honey, Nuts Candy Bars, Warm Apple Sauce, Peanut Butter, Pineapple on Heavy Syrup, Floral tones, Fresh Herbs, Lemon, Cigar Box, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Menthol and Pepper. A little Hot in the aftertaste.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Tomatin.

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7.5 - 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

Conclusion:

Tomatin was founded in 1897 by the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company. In 1985 the distillery went into liquidation and was bought in 1987 by Takara Shuzo Co. and Okara & Co, both from Japan which was quite remarkable at that time. In fact, Tomatin was the first Scottish distillery that became fully owned by Japanese companies. Currently the shares are being hold by Takara Shuzo (81%)  Marubeni (14%) and Kokubu (5%). Tomatin has always been a distillery that produced large quantities of Spirit for Blends but in the last 15 years they started to concentrate on producing and marketing Single Malts as well. As a result, the production decreased from well over 10 million litres in the 1970's/1980's to around 1,8 million litres in 2022. They still produce Blends as well though. (Antiquary, Big T and the Talisman). Today's Single Malt core range includes the NAS Legacy, the 12, 18, 30 and 36 years. In 2016, new packaging and bottles were introduced for the entire core range.

I'm a big fan of Gordon & MacPhail and I was looking forward to taste this Tomatin but I have to say that I'm rather disappointed with this Highland Whisky. The idea of the Discovery Series is to let people get acquainted with the most used Cask-types at an affordable price. As such this Tomatin works. The casks are of good quality and the Vanilla shines highlighting the Ex-Bourbon casks. But as a whole it's a rather Thin and uneventful Single Malt that would have benefited from more time in the casks. I know that it would have become more expensive but still....

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                         July 24, 2023

Glenlivet 21 Years Archive

“Money For Nothing” 

Whisky Review # 996

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: The Glenlivet Archive - Batch #: Unknown

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: 21 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Mix of Ex-Bourbon casks and Sherry Butts

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 170-200 (July 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 👎 Go for the 18 Years instead

Colour: Golden Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Please give this 21 Years some time in the glass before Nosing. This way you will allow the Aromas to develop and avoid the initial waft of Varnish. The Nose is a bit on the Thin side for such a mature Malt suggesting Re-Fill casks in the mix. There are certainly an important number of Sherried casks in the mix as well as Dark Red Fruit, Dried Fruit and Nuts lead the way. It certainly evokes memories of X-Mas cakes. The Alcohol is well-integrated here. It's not bad at all but somehow you would expect more of a 21 Year-Old Single Malt at this price level.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Brown Sugar, slightly Burnt Caramel, Wax, X-Mas Pudding, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Apricots, Plums and Figs, Mixed Nuts, Dark Chocolate, Oak, Citrus Peel, Cinnamon, Ginger, Mint and hints of Tropical Fruits.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Vanilla, Nougat, Marzipan, Wet Stones, Varnish, Dark Berries and Cherries, Unripe Apples and Pears, Floral Soap, Dusty Road, Tobacco, Herbal Tea, Leather, Pepper and Cloves.

Palate:

Too Thin for this age and price-level. The Casks, Cask-Spices and Alcohol become more noticeable. The slightly Dry palate offers a balanced mix of Bitter, Sweet and Sour notes.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Brown Sugar, X-Mas Cake, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums, Apples, Apricots and Bananas, Dark Berries and Cherries, Mixed Nuts, Floral Soap, Dark Chocolate, Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Marzipan, Nougat, Wet Stones, Orange Peel, Tropical Fruit, Herbal Tea, Leather, Tobacco, Grapefruit, Espresso, Cloves, Aniseed, Licorice, Menthol & a Green note I can't quite place.

Finish:

Thin, Bitter-Sweet and on the Short side. Some Sour and Peppery notes develop towards the Medium-Dry end. I find Toasted Barley, Brown Sugar, Caramel,Treacle, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums, Apples and Banana, slightly Sour Red Berries and Cherries, Honey, Caramel, Orange Peel, Resin, Oak, Dark Chocolate, Espresso and Spices like Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves and Nutmeg, Licorice, Mint, Herbal Tea and Grapefruit Juice. The Oak and Oak Spices are (too) prominent suggesting that this Glenlivet Spirit has overstayed its time in the casks.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Glenlivet. It's already too Thin as presented.

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

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 12, 15, 18 and 21 Years as well as the XXV and the Captain's Reserve.

The Glenlivet distillery is huge but most of their Single Malts are unspectacular & very Main-Stream. That is alright of course if you like that type of Whisky and can get it at a reasonable price. But that's exactly where this 21 Years goes awry. It's unspectacular and very Main-Stream but it comes with a hefty price tag. Not to mention the facts that it's Chill-Filtered and is bottled at a worrisome 43% that leaves this Single Malt way too Thin. I therefore advise you to leave this 21 Years alone and buy the 18 Years instead if you like this Aroma and Flavour profile.

*PS: Quality and type of casks used may vary from Batch to Batch.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                         July 13, 2023

Bruichladdich Octomore 11.1

“The Peat Is On”

Whisky Review # 995

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Octomore 11.1 (139.6 PPM) - Distilled: 2014

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky -  Bottled: 2020 - Bottles: 30.000
Age: 5 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 59.4% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: First Fill Ex-Bourbon casks (Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Heaven Hill)
Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 140-180 (July 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for such a Young Malt.

Buying Advice: 😐 Look for cheaper alternatives like Kilchoman.

Colour:

Pale Straw/White Wine (Natural Color)

Nose:

Young and a little Thin despite the High ABV. The Peat & Smoke are there of course but certainly not in an overwhelming way. Be sure to give the 11.1 some time in the glass though in order to develop the other Aromas. The Alcohol is noticeable but not in a bad way. The Nose is a slightly modest mix of Sweet, Salty, Yeasty and Coastal notes.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Yeast, Dough, Wet Clay and Campfire Smoke, Ashes, Smoked Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Salt, Apple, Pear, Banana, Red Berries, Cinnamon and Ginger.   

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Brown Sugar, Wax, Soot, Burnt Grass & Heather, Dried Herbs, German Raw Smoked Ham (Schwarzwald), Orange, Grapefruit, Papaya Cream, Apricot-Flavored Yogurt, Burnt Rubber, Cooked Vegetables and Cow Shed.

Palate:

Young, Bitter-Sweet, a little Hot and Nervous and quite Dry. The Smoke & Peat are much more pronounced now. The Alcohol is also more present. It's not bad but it lacks Balance and Maturation.

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Burnt Caramel, Campfire Smoke, Wet Peat, Ashes, Smoked Fish & Bacon on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon, Curry & Salt, Red Apple, Banana, Pear, Charred Oak, Dark Chocolate, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg and Cloves.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Soot, Yeast, Wet Rock, Herbal Liqueur, Mixed Roasted Nuts, Dried Fruit, Grapefruit, Peach, Burnt Grass, Cinnamon and Tobacco. 

Finish:

In general Middle Long although the Ashes will remain in your throat for a good deal more. It's Sweet at first with developing Bitterness towards the Dry end. It's a rather Young Malt and it shows here. Slightly Hot and Peppery as well. The Alcohol really makes itself known and Smoke and Peat are in control now. I also find Sweet Malt, Burnt Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Ashes, Soot, Smoked Fish and Meat on the BBQ sprinkled with Salt, Curry and Lemon, Herbal Liqueur, Red Apple, Grapefruit, Mixed Roasted Nuts and Dried Fruit, Dark Chocolate, Charred Oak, Tobacco, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg and Ginger. Some Burnt Rubber Tires after a while.  

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that helps control the Alcohol of course. The Citrus Fruit develops and notes of Sugar Cane Juice and Rum appear. You should try this both ways.

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 & 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 Young.

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 1.3 million litres. About 10% of that is Octomore. Octomore by the way means " The Big Eighth". This is a medieval division of common ground.

The Octomore 11.1 was made with 100% Scottish Barley (Concerto and Propeno) of the 2013 Harvest.

The 11.1 is not really bad but is certainly not the best Octomore I have tasted so far. Out of my head the 7.2 and 8.2 were among my favorites. Except on the Nose, the 11.1 can't hide its Youth and works a little raw and un-balanced in places. It's not a strong Peat-Monster despite the 139.6 PPM. Octomore is quite expensive and the 11.1 is no exception. It's simply too expensive for what it offers and I would advise you to look elsewhere if you like young Islay Malt. Ardbeg, Kilchoman and Peat's Beast come to mind.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                         July 10, 2023

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

Balvenie The Creation of a Classic

“Being Boring”

Whisky Review # 994

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Speyside

Brand: Balvenie The Creation of a Classic - Original Cask Finish Series

Type: Single Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Barrel with finish in Oloroso-Sherried European Oak 

Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 60-100 (June 2023)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Okay at around US$ 60. It's not worth much more.
Buying Advice: 😑 Too boring for me but if you're into Mainstream Malt, go for it! 

Colour: Golden Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Relatively Young, Light & Sweet. A few Sour notes in the background. Not bad but a bit unassuming. Quite mainstream. It won't offend anybody but there's certainly no Wow factor as well.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Straw, Sweet Apple, Orange, Nectarine, Sour Red Grapes, Dusty Track, Oak and Wood Chips, Ginger and Cloves.       
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Pancakes sprinkled with Syrup, Ripe Banana, Sultanas, Raisins,  Plums, Waxed Furniture, Green Tea, Pastry Dough and hints of Milk Chocolate and Tobacco. 

Palate:

Light, Young and Bitter Sweet. Quite Dry. The Alcohol starts popping up. Typical Middle of the Road Mainstream Duty Free Malt. It's not really bad but it doesn't do a thing for me. 

Main Flavours:

Sweet Malt, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Sweet Apple, Dried Apricot, Orange, Oak, Pepper,  Cinnamon, Ginger and Menthol.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Sultanas, Raisins, Pancakes with Syrup, Nectarine, Bounty Bars, Espresso, Herbal Tea, Nutmeg and Cloves. 

Finish:

Middle-Long. Sweet at first but with increasing Bitter notes towards the Dry end. It misses Volume & this Balvenie can't hide its Youth. The Alcohol becomes noticeable as well. I also find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Sweet Apple and Orange, Nectarine, Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves and lots of Menthol. 

Drinking Advice:

With Water it becomes quite Malty on the Nose. Peach and Rose-Water appear. The Palate starts to taste like Cardhu and/or JW and in the Finish you'll get even more Menthol. Try it out both ways!

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. Very Mainstream.

Conclusion:

The Balvenie distillery was founded in 1892 by William Grant in Dufftown, Keith, Banffshire. Production started in 1893. It's still in the hands of William Grant & Sons. They have an extensive core range that includes the 12 Doublewood, the 14 Caribbean Cask, the 15 Years Sherry Cask and the Portwood 21. We tried to visit the distillery in 2014 & 2019 but both times it was closed for maintenance. Balvenie is currently ranked nr. 6 in the list of world wide Single Malt sales. Current annual production amounts to around 6,5 million litres.

This Single Malt was made to remember the fact that the Balvenie Malt Master David C. Stewart back in the 70's and 80's was the first Malt Master to Finish a Single Malt in different casks from the one it initially matured in. Nowadays almost all distilleries follow this idea. David now considers well-earned retirement after well over 50 years with the distillery.

Those of you who follow my posts on a regular basis know that I'm not a fan of the Modern Mainstream Malt. Almost like M & M's but I like those! I think this Balvenie is quite okay for beginning Malt adepts as it does nothing to deeply offend your Nose and Palate. But if you're into Single Malt for a number of years now you will get bored when sipping this. Nothing exciting going on. The silent majority of Malt these days I'm afraid. Nice presentation and bottle though! 

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           June 29, 2023