GlenDronach 11 Years Premiumcask Review

I Wish It Would Be Christmas Everyday!

Country: Scotland

Region: (Eastern) Highlands

Brand: GlenDronach Single Cask # 2042, Batch # 1 (Premiumcask)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 11 Years

ABV: 53.9 %

Sample Provided By: Thorsten, Germany. Thanks!  

Date: 06/03/2014

Colour: Chestnut/Oloroso Sherry. One of the Darkest Single Malts I've tasted so far.

Nose: Sweet and quite Mature for an 11 Year Old Single Malt. The Sherry is there but certainly not in an overwhelming way. I find Strawberry Flavoured Yogurt, Milk Chocolate, Honey, Toffee/Caramel, Creme Catalan, Oak, Cake, Butter Kekse (German Butter Biscuits), Marzipan, Red Fruit, Almonds, Cinnamon and Orange Peel. The Alcohol is nicely integrated. A very nice and not too heavy combination of Sweet Aromas.  

Palate: Sweet but also more Spicy now than on the Nose. I find Red Fruit (Grapes rather than Strawberry), Red Wine, Toffee/Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Walnuts, Dried Fruits (Raisins, Sultanas), light Sherry, Chocolate, Oak, Pepper and Cinnamon.

Finish: Long and Sweet with Strawberry Ice Cream, Red Fruits, Milk, Toffee, Walnuts, Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg and Cinnamon.

Despite the high ABV, the Alcohol is perfectly integrated and there is no need to add Water to this GlenDronach. If you must, add a couple of drops only.

Rating: 88.5

Nose: 23 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 22 - Overall: 22

General Remarks: The GlenDronach Distillery was founded in 1826 in Forgue (Aberdeenshire). It was sold in 2005 by Pernod-Ricard to the owners of the BenRiach Distillery (Billy Stewart and partners). Premiumcask DE, located in Fichtenberg, Germany is a starting exclusive On-Line Shop, founded in 2013 by Thorsten Niesner. The GlenDronach 11 Years I am tasting today was distilled on July 12, 2002 and bottled exclusively for Premiumcask on November 7, 2013. It matured in Ex-Pedro Jimenez Sherry Puncheon # 2042. A total of 660 bottles were available at a price of around 110 US Dollars. But I'm told they are selling very well. In April 2013, Batch # 2 will be available. This time it's gonna be an 18 Years PX Cask GlenDronach distilled in 1995. Look forward to that one as well! 

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Good

Conclusion: On the Nose this GlenDronach offers mostly Sweet but very nicely balanced Aromas. The Sherry never dominates and I can't find any traces of Sulphur. The Palate is perhaps slightly less balanced and Bourbon-like Flavours and Spices are wrestling for supremacy with the Red Fruits and Caramel. Here the relative young age of this Single Malt is more noticeable. Still, very nice! The Finish is very long and has a wonderful Strawberry Ice Cream Flavour. I added half a point for that specifically. To sum it all up, both Glenfarclas and Premiumcask did an excellent job! The result is a Sweet Full-Flavoured Single Malt, to be savoured after a nice dinner or simply when you got something to celebrate!

Jan van den Ende                                                              March 2014

Islay Storm Review

"Islay Breeze"

Country: Scotland 

Region: Islay

Brand: Islay Storm

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: NAS (At Least 6 Years)

ABV: 40 %

Date: 04/03/2014

Colour: Golden (Contains Colouring Agent)

Nose: Young and Mineral with Sweet Coastal Peat, Tar, Brine, Ashes, light Iodine, Raw Meat, Shell Fish, light Rubber, Lemon-Peel, light Honey, Toffee, Malt, Candies with Artificial Banana Flavour and hints of Vanilla and Menthol. It's very much a straightforward young Islay. 

Palate: Slightly Watery and Sweet with Peat, Smoke, Iodine, Menthol, Salt, light Plastic, light Custard, light Honey, Toffee, Lemon Peel, light Wood and light Spices like Pepper and Nutmeg. 

Finish: Short and Sweet with a little Wood, Smoke, Ashes, light Pepper and light Plastic.

I would not advise to add Water to the Islay Storm. It becomes too Thin.

Rating: 81.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20  - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: Another Mystery from Islay! This time it's a Single Malt, matured on Ex-Bourbon Casks. Nobody knows for sure where it was distilled. The bottle indicates Bruichladdich while the label reminds me of Bowmore. Too obvious to be true so I will rule out those two distilleries. Kilchoman is too recent to be considered. The Iodine on the Nose is not very strong so it's unlikely to be Laphroaig. That leaves basically Lagavulin, Bunnahabhain and Caol Isla. Based on my earlier Tasting Notes of these distilleries I don't think Lagavulin is a very likely candidate. So that leaves either Bunnahabhain or Caol Isla. My guess is as good as yours! If you happen to know the distillery please leave a note in the Comment Section. Islay Storm is not expensive at around 40 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: On the Nose the Islay Storm is a good example of a young Islay, pointing in the direction of Caol Ila. But the Thin Palate does not possess the necessary Power and Flavours that give Great Islay Malts their well deserved worldwide fame. For sure, this Single Malt is pleasantly priced but in my opinion " Islay Breeze" would have been a better name!

Jan van den Ende                                                             March 2014