Catto's 12 Years Deluxe Review

“Catto’s 12 Years beaten by its Younger Brother NAS in the Price Vs Quality Ratio“  

Country: Scotland 

Brand: Catto's Deluxe 

Produced by: James Catto & Co Ltd, Airdrie

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky 

Age: 12 Years

ABV: 40 %

Colour: Straw

Nose: Sweet and less aggressive when compared to the NAS. The probable higher Malt content and the longer maturation did their job. I find Citrus Fruit, Peach, Pineapple, Fresh Herbs like Parsley, Malt, Breakfast Cereals, Buttered Toast, Wax, light Wood, Coconut Shells, Toffee and light Vanilla. The Alcohol is hardly noticeable.

Palate: Light and Sweet Delivery with Sugared Breakfast Cereals, Nut Shells, Refill Oak, Straw, Grass, light Honey, light Vanilla, Lemon Zest and Wood Spices. This is quite a deception after the promising Nose.

Finish: Middle-Long and Sugary Sweet with Fruit Candies, Breakfast Cereals, light Vanilla, Toffee, Butter Biscuits, light Oak and a sprinkle of Pepper & Salt. 

Catto's 12 Years does not benefit from added Water. 

Rating: 79.5

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 20

Picture Credit: Catto's

General Remarks: The Brand can be traced back to 1861 when James Catto started blending Highland Malt - and Lowland Grain Whiskies in Aberdeen. It's still around and is nicknamed "The Artisan Blend". Today the Blend is created by Catto's Master Blender Stuart Harvey. The 12 Years is a Mature Version of the NAS Rare Old Blend and contains Malt - and Grain Whiskies from the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands that matured at least for 12 Years before being married. As we know, the heart of the NAS Rare Old Blend is formed by Single Malt Whisky from Balblair, Balmenach, Knockdhu, Pulteney & Speyburn. In all, the NAS Blend is said to contain 18 Single Malt - and 3 Grain Whiskies. Catto also produces a 25 Years. The 12 Years is sold at around 32 US Dollars. In the year 1990, Inver House Distillers bought the Brand Name but were not given the Recipe. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Conclusion: Catto's 12 Years Blended Scotch is not an expensive Whisky. But it's twice the price of the NAS Rare & Old Blend. Therefore I had expected more of it. It's starts off well enough with a Nose that is slightly better than the NAS. Quite Fruity, lots of Cereals and a nicely restrained Alcohol. But on the Palate and in the Finish it's Light, Thin and Sugary Sweet and simply misses Flavour. At this price level you will certainly find weaker whiskies than Catto's 12 Years. But I don't find sufficient Flavours and Aromas that would warrant Catto's 12 years a permanent place in my whisky cabinet. In fact, the NAS has a better Price Quality ratio. And that comes as a bit of a surprise!

Jan van den Ende                                                             January 27, 2015

Glenlossie 10 Years Flora & Fauna Review

“Simple Entry Level Speysider”

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside  

Brand: Glenlossie Flora & Fauna

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 10 Years

ABV: 43%

Colour: Light Gold/Hay

Nose: Young, Malty, Waxy, Fruity and Sweet with Barley Sugar, Buttered Toast, Breakfast Cereals, Sweet Red Apple, Banana Milk Shake, Straw, light Vanilla, Corn Syrup, Sugared Almonds, Plum Jam, Pineapple in Heavy Juice, Citrus Peel, Honey, Pencil Shavings, Floral tones and a hint of Varnish. It's quite predictable but I can see why it's such an important and regular supplier to the Blended Whisky industry. Because no one will feel in the slightest way offended by the Nose of this Glenlossie. The ABV is Spot-On.

Palate: Sweet and mildly Spicy with Malt, Toffee, Caramel, Syrup, Lemon Zest, Honey, Banana, Grapefruit, Nuts, light Oak, Dried Herbs, Nutmeg, Ginger and Pepper.  

Finish: Middle-Long, slightly Edgy and Sweet-and-Sour with Barley Sugar, light Oak, Nutmeg, Pepper, Light Licorice, Grapefruit Juice, Cocoa Powder, Butter and Dark Chocolate. After a little while, Waxy and Soapy tones appear. A bit Dry in the end.

With some Water I find more Malt, Fruit as well as some Coconut Juice on the Nose. But as the ABV of 43% is Spot-On, Palate and Finish do not require the added Water.

Rating: 82.5

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

General Remarks: The Glenlossie distillery was founded in 1876 by John Duff and is located in Birnie-Elgin (Morayshire). In 1919 DCL bought the distillery and subsequent mergers and take-overs brought it under the wings of the Diageo Group. The Spirit is recognised as an important Blending Whisky and is mainly used in the Haig and Dimple Blends. In 1990, the 10 Year Old I'm reviewing today was introduced as part of the Flora & Fauna Series. It sells at an average 70 US Dollars. Today it's the only available official Distillery Bottling.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: A simple Fruity and Malty Speysider. Pleasant on the Nose and Easy on the Palate and in the Finish. A Bit Grainy and Waxy for my liking. But it's a very nice Entry-Whisky for beginning Whisky drinkers as it kinda builds a bridge between Blended non-peated Whiskies and Speyside Single Malt. It's a bit too expensive for what it offers in my opinion!

Jan van den Ende                                                                  January 22, 2015