Tullibardine Sovereign Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Highland (Central)

Brand: Tullibardine Sovereign

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 43 %

Date: 26/09/2013

Colour: Light Gold/Fresh Hay

Nose: Very Straightforward, Mineral and Clean with Malt, Vanilla, Butter, Straw, Pear, Oak, Milk (Chocolate), light Spices and Cocoa Powder. It's not bad but there's not much to discover in this department.

Palate: Bitter Sweet, Malty and Spicy with Sugared Pear Drops, Herbs, Pepper, Cinnamon, Oak, Mint and Milk (Chocolate).

Finish: Creamy and Spicy with Vanilla, Cocoa Powder, slightly Bitter Oak, Apple Pie prepared with Butter, Pepper and Ginger.

I would advise against adding Water to this Tullibardine. 

Rating: 82.5

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

General Remarks: This NAS Tullibardine is the new Standard Distillery whisky. It aged in First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels. It costs around 50 US Dollars.

The Tullibardine Distillery was founded in 1949 and is located in Blackford (Perthshire) on the site of a former Brewery. In 1995, Tullibardine was mothballed by Whyte & Mackay, the owners at that time. Production was resumed in 2003 when the distillery was sold to Tullibardine Distillery Ltd. In 2011, the French Maison Michel Picard from Chassagne Montrachet became the new owner.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: Nothing spectacular but a solid entry Tullibardine. Highly drinkable if perhaps a tad too bitter on the Palate. The Finish invites you to take another sip. A Single Malt made for drinking, not for tasting. Certainly value for money.

Jan van den Ende                                                        September 2013

Laphroaig 1995 Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Brand: Laphroaig 1995 (Signatory Vintage) - Cask Strength Selection

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 16 Years

ABV: 59.4 %

Sample Provided By: Marcus, Germany. Thanks!  

Date: 24/09/2013

Colour: Light Amber

Nose: A combination of very ripe Fruit like Apple, Cherries, Banana, Pineapple and Strawberries and Sweet Peat, Leather and light Smoke. I also get Malt, Oak, Grass, Straw, Lemon, Raw Meat, Shell Fish, Salt, Toffee and light Spices like Pepper and Ginger. Maritime and Mineral tones are all over the place. Unfortunately I also get a bit of Rubber and/or PVC Pipe although this softens up over time.

Palate: Strong Delivery. Mouth-Coating, Fruity and Warming though a bit too Soapy for my taste. I find Vanilla, Sweet Peat, Smoked - and Cured Meat, Honey, Heather and other almost Perfumed Floral tones, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Lemon, Cocoa Powder and a touch of Iodine. 

Finish: Strong Finish! Quite Long, Meaty, slightly Rubbery, Soapy and Perfumed with Smoke and Ashes, Floral Soap, Smoked Meat, Sweet Peat, Vanilla, Caramel, Cinnamon, Ginger, Salt and Cigar Tobacco. 

With a bit of Water the Nose gets more Smoke and Malt. More Fruit and Perfumed Soap on the Palate and some Licorice and more Pepper in the Finish. Better sip it neat. 

Rating: 86

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

Marcus's Bottle that produced the Sample!

General Remarks: This Laphroaig was distilled on the 4th of April 1995 and was bottled on the 25th of October 2011. It matured in an Ex-Bourbon Barrel (Cask #43). Today we are tasting a sample out of bottle # 181 out of 221 special decanter bottles. All Casks for this Selection are individually selected and bottled by Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co.Ltd, located in Pitlochry, Scotland. It costs around 130 US Dollars.

Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Co.Ltd. is an independent bottler, founded in 1988 by Andrew - and Brian Symington. In 2002 they bough the Edradour Distillery.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good/Fascinating

Conclusion: A Single Malt like this is what makes Tasting Whisky and writing about it so fascinating. There's so much to discover. What a difference with the poor excuse of a Blend I had to suffer two days ago. Unfortunately I only had a small sample of this Laphroaig but it kept me busy and interested for almost 2 hours! It's an amazing combination of Coastal, Fruity, Earthy, Meaty, Smoky and Mineral Aromas. The Alcohol is perfectly integrated. Still, it didn't quite make it to the very top of my ranking because of two flaws that drew away my attention from the other Flavours and Aromas. On the Nose there's the slight off-note in the form of PVC Pipe. Many people won't be bothered by it perhaps but I find it distracting. And on the Palate and in the Finish the Soap and Perfume are a bit overdone for my taste. In conclusion I would say that this is an extraordinary Single Malt, well worth exploring. But not quite my favourite Flavour Profile.

Jan van den Ende                                                        September 2013