Knockdhu 1998 Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland - East

Brand: Knockdhu 1998 (Coopers Choice) 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  10 Years

ABV: 46 %

Date: 06/07/2013

Colour: Pale Straw

Nose: Clearly a young whisky. Fresh and Fruity like slightly sour Green Plums and Apples. Grass and Straw. Some Herbs, Tea, Sweet Malt and lightly Buttered Toast with a bit of Honey. Light Oak and Alcohol can be found in the background. It's refreshing but not quite my style.

Palate: Light and Sweet with Vanilla, Malt, Honey, Grass, Black Pepper, Lemon, Green Apples, light Licorice and Herbs.

Finish: Short and Crisp with Fruitcake, Grass, Lemon, light Licorice and Black Pepper.

I added a bit of Water and the Nose becomes quite Herbal and Malty. On the Palate and in the Finish, Black Pepper and Licorice start to dominate. Try two drops at a time and see what happens but don't drown it!

Rating: 83.5

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

General Remarks: This Distillery was founded in 1893 by John Morrison in the village of Knock (Banffshire) on the edge of the Speyside region. This region was known for its quality Barley and Peat. In the end it was closed in 1983 and sold to Inver House Distillers in 1988. Production resumed in 1989. The whisky produced in the distillery was renamed anCnoc (The Hill) in 1994 to avoid confusion with Knockando, a Speyside distillery belonging to the Diageo Group.

This Knockdhu was distilled in 1998 and bottled in 2008. It was matured by - and bottled for The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Ltd under their brand name Coopers Choice. This Independent Bottler was founded in 1992 by Brian Cook, a guy with 20 years of experience in the Malt Whisky Industry. It probably matured in an Ex-Bourbon Cask and costs around 55 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: I can imagine myself sipping this Knockdhu from time to time over a little Ice as an aperitif on a fine morning in Spring. It's light, crisp, young and sour-sweet. I don't see myself returning to this Single Malt on a regular basis however. Too light and Grassy for me. If you love spicy White Wines however, this might be a great whisky to introduce you to Single Malt Scotch. And it's still reasonably priced. Cheers! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                           July 2013

MacLeod's Speyside 8 Years Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: MacLeod's

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Speyside

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol: 40%

Colour: Golden Amber

Nose: Rather Weak Nose with light Spice, light Honey, Lemon Peel, light Sherry, Wood, Malt, Dried Fruit, Nut-Casks, Pencils and hints of Tea, Vanilla and Artificial Fruit Flavour (Strawberry). 

Palate: Thin, lifeless and Bitter Sweet delivery. Still slightly better than I expected after the weak Nose. I get Sweet Barley, Citrus, Sugar, Nuts, Dried Fruits, Honey, Bitter Wood and a touch of Caramel and Heather.

Finish: Short and Dry with Bitter Oak, Heather, Grass, Pepper, Menthol and Lemon.

The Macleod's Speyside does not take Water very well. On the Nose you will get some Fruit Flavoured Candies and lightly Buttered Toast. Palate and Finish simply disappear.

Rating: 75

Nose: 18.5 – Taste: 19.5 – Finish: 18.5 – Overall: 18.5

General Remarks: This Speyside Single Malt was produced and bottled by Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd, an Independent Bottler established in 1934 and a.o. owner of the Glengoyne Distillery and various Blends such as Isle of Skye and Smokehead. Many people will know their Chieftain's range as well. The Speyside is part of a small collection known as MacLeod's Scotch Whisky Trail that also includes a Single Malt from Lowland, Highland, Island and Islay as well as the before mentioned Isle of Skye Blend. A full bottle of the Speyside costs around 40 US Dollars. A  Miniature Gift Set is also widely available. (See Picture Below)

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average

Conclusion: I can't find too much of the Fruit and Floral Tones that characterise good Speyside Single Malts. Lots of Bitter Wood spoil the party. It tastes more like a simple Blend really. I have no idea where this whisky was distilled and I honestly don't want to know. So far I'm not at all impressed by MacLeod's Whisky Trail Set. Still, we have three more regions to go so there's still hope of better times!

Jan van den Ende                                                                    July 4, 2013

Dailuaine 1983 Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland - Speyside

Brand: Dailuaine 1983 (Archives) - First Release

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  28 Years

ABV: 47.3 %

Date: 02/07/2013

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: You have to be patient because this Dailuaine takes her time to open up. Mineral and White Wine tones are quickly replaced by Ripe Fruit and Flowery Notes. I get Citrus (Lemon and Orange), Mango, Papaya, Strawberry, Heather, Honey, Grass, Earth and Straw. Also some Malt, Butter and Vanilla. Hardly any Oak despite its 28 years. The Alcohol is nicely hidden amongst the other Aromas. 

Palate: The Oak, Pepper and Wood Spice are much clearer now. In a way the Palate is much more aggressive than the Nose would lead you to believe. Underneath it all the Fruit is still there of course, especially Strawberry, Mandarin and Grapefruit. I also get Malt, Buttered Puff Pastry, Ginger, Vanilla (Custard Pudding) and Caramel.

Finish: Nice but on the short side with clear Lemon, Ginger and Vanilla accompanied by Spices like Pepper, Cloves and Nutmeg. Also some Nuts, Oak, Apple, Mandarin and a touch of Menthol at the end. The Cloves and Nutmeg stay with you a bit longer and certainly make you want to take another sip.

I added a bit of Water and the Citrus gets even stronger on the Nose, especially Lemon. On the Palate the added Water helps to subdue the Oak and Spice somewhat but on the Palate and especially in the Finish, Menthol and slightly bitter Nuts become too dominant. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 21. 5 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 22 - Overall: 21.5

General Remarks: Archives is the relatively young own label of Independent Whisky Bottler Whiskybase from the Netherlands. This Dailuaine (First Release) was distilled on February 23, 1983 and was bottled at Cask Strength on January 4, 2012. It matured in Hogshead # 865. Two hundred and Sixty-Five bottles were reserved by Whiskybase. This whisky is non chill-filtered and non coloured. The 1983 expression is sold at around 110 US Dollars.

The Dailuaine Distillery (Green Valley in Gaelic) was built in 1852 and is part of the Diageo Group since 1998. It has an annual production capacity of 3,4 million litres of Alcohol. Most of the production is used in the Johnnie Walker Blends. Occasionally, good casks are sold to Independent  Bottlers like Whiskybase.

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Nice

Conclusion: The Nose is slightly introvert perhaps but still well done. A very nice combination of Fruit and Flowers. On the Palate this Single Malt is much more robust and Oak, Pepper and Wood Spice take the lead causing the Fruit to retire to the background. The Finish is perhaps the best part of this Dailuaine. Lemon, Vanilla and a handful of very clear Spices, especially Cloves make you long for another sip. It's not the most balanced of Single Malts I have tasted but it's still highly enjoyable.

Jan van den Ende                                                                  July 2013