Tomatin 1965 Duncan Taylor Review

Similar Bottle

November 1965 (Oh What a Nose)

Country: Scotland

Region: Central Highlands 

Brand: Tomatin 1965 Rare Auld (Duncan & Taylor)

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 42 Years

ABV: 50 %

Date: 21/02/2014

Sample provided by Marcus from Germany. Many Thanks!

Colour: Golden

Nose: Full and Mature with a lovely combination of Buttered Toast and Pine- Apple Marmalade, Papaya Cream, Peach, Melon, Vanilla Ice, Milk Chocolate, Honey, Malt and Bourbon. The Oak is there of course but it isn't dominant. It enhances the other Flavours. I also find some Raisins, Orange Peel, Toffee, light Acetone, Flowery tones and Hazelnuts. The Alcohol is nicely integrated and the ABV is Spot-On. Close to Perfection!

Taste: The Oak is much stronger now and so are Ginger and Spices like Pepper, Cinnamon and Nutmeg. It's almost like a Spicy Rum Bowl with Tropical Fruits. I also find Salted Lemons, Vanilla, Bourbon and Malt. It's nice but not nearly as spectacular as the Nose promised. On the Palate, 42 years in a Cask is indeed a long long time!

Finish: Long! Rum Soaked Tropical Fruit Cake, Pepper, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Oak and Sugared Ginger. Quite Dry towards the end. 

I would not add Water to this Tomatin as the ABV is perfect for this Spirit.  

Rating: 89.5

Nose: 24 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 21.5 - Overall: 22.5

This is the actual bottle # 151. Thanks Marcus!

General Remarks: The Tomatin Distillery was founded in 1897 and is located close to the A9 Motorway, halfway between Aviemore and Inverness. Over the years it grew very fast and today it has one the largest production capacities in the industry, although the distillery is currently not producing at full capacity. It is owned by the Japanese Takara Shuzo and Okura Group. A large part of the production (80%) goes into blends like Antiquary and Talisman. Lately the distillery is making an effort to promote its Single Malts. It's really a special occasion as today's dram was distilled in November 1965. I was 13 years of age back then! It matured for 42 long years in an Ex-Bourbon Cask with # 20939 until it was finally bottled around Cask Strength in April 2008 by Duncan Taylor. This Tomatin is not Chill-Filtered and no colouring substances were added. It is still for sale in some places but it's quite expensive of course with prices that vary between 350 and 500 US Dollars.

Duncan Taylor of Huntly near Speyside are Whisky Merchants with a history that goes back to around 1860. The company selects and matures Casks from all over Scotland and currently owns probably the world's largest private collection of vintage Scotch Whisky. 

Drinking Experience Neat: Very Good. The Nose is nearly Perfect!

Conclusion: What a great Nosing experience! I thoroughly enjoyed nosing this Tomatin for more than an hour. This must come close to perfection for this type of (Highland) Whisky. The Nose is a wonderful mixture of Tropical Fruit, Vanilla Ice and Milk Chocolate. Sometimes my mind wandered through the Highlands, sometimes it felt I would encounter a Bourbon Distillery just around the corner. This is the best Nose I've encountered so far. The Fruit smells so Fresh it's hard to believe this Spirit was distilled in 1965. As so often the Palate and Finish can't live up to expectations. After this spectacular Nose I would have expected them to be great but they are merely good. The Oak and Spices do take over now and the Fruit starts playing second fiddle. The Long Finish follows the Nose. This is by all accounts a great Single Malt but I can't help wondering how the Palate would have been if Duncan Taylor would have bottled this Spirit 15 years earlier. Well, we will never know will we! In any case I have tasted a bit of History tonight. Thanks once again for the sample Marcus! 

PS: In 1976 the Four Seasons had a big hit all over the world with the song "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)". It was this song that provoked today's Headline!

Jan van den Ende                                                        February 2014

Aberlour 15 Double Cask Matured Review

No Match For The A’ Bunadh

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Brand: Aberlour Double Cask Matured

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age: 15 Years

Alcohol: 40%

Tasting Date: 18/02/2014
Sample provided by my colleague Ricardo. Many Thanks!

Colour: Amber

Nose: Sweet and quite Soft, almost Thin. The Sherry is accompanied by Grassy, Flowery, Earthy, Nutty and Herbal tones. I also find Wood, Malt, Toffee, light Vanilla, Orange Peel, Heather/Honey, Dried Fruits (Raisins and Sultanas), light Spices and hints of Cooked Red Fruit (Cherries), Espresso and Milk Chocolate. A little bit of Alcohol in the background. I do find sufficient Flavours and they are certainly not unpleasant but I miss Power and Punch. The standard ABV of 40% does not do justice to this spirit.

Taste: Slightly Thin Delivery. Quite disappointing after the Nose. A Single Malt of 15 Years deserves to be bottled at around 46%. I find Nuts, Lemon Peel, Grapefruit, Mint, light Licorice, Oak, light Sherry, light Pepper and some Earthy and Herbal tones.

Finish: On the Short Side with some Butterscotch, Oak, light Sherry, Malt, light Spices (Pepper), Nuts, light Licorice and Mint.

With a bit of Water, Malt, Orange and Honey become stronger on the Nose. But Palate and Finish do not accept Water very well.

Rating: 81

Nose: 21 – Taste: 20 – Finish: 19.5 – Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Aberlour Distillery was founded in 1826 and had to be reconstructed in 1879 after a huge fire. Today it is owned by Chivas Brothers Ltd, part of Pernod-Ricard from France. The 15 Years Double Cask Matured I'm  tasting today matured for 14 years in a mixture of Ex-Bourbon Hogsheads and Ex-Sherry Butts before being blended and transferred to selected Ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks for the last 12 months. It sells at around 70 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: I'm not impressed by this Aberlour. The nose is okay although it lacks Power. Palate and Finish are thin and unconvincing. For sure, this Single Malt suffers from the low ABV. It's a pity really. If you like the Aberlour Flavour Profile you should go for the A'Bunadh expressions. That's quite a different cup of Whisky!

Jan van den Ende                                                          February 2014

Nikka 12 Years Pure Malt Review

Country: Japan

Brand: Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt

Type: Blended Malt Whisky

Age: 12 Years 

ABV: 40 % 

Date: 16/02/2013

Colour: Golden Amber

Nose: The Nikka 12 needs some time in the glass before you start Nosing. But after a while you will be rewarded with nice and reasonably sophisticated Floral and Fruity Aromas. I find Buttered Toast and Apricot Marmalade, Caramel, Malt, Ripe Fruit like Plums, Apples and Peaches, Mahogany Wood, Vanilla, a nice Espresso note, Grass, Honey, Treacle, Lemon and Orange Zest and a generous sprinkle of Cinnamon. There's a little bit of Alcohol around. 

Palate: Quite Thin, Sweet and Watery with Sugared Tea, Toffee, Caramel, Oak, Nuts, light Vanilla, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Orange Zest, Grass, Apples and Dried Apricots.  

Finish: Short and mainly Sweet with Sugared Tea, light Honey, Vanilla, Cereals, Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger and some Cocoa Powder.

With a bit of water the Nose gets a bit more Fruit and Honey. Palate and Finish gain still more Spices but otherwise become too Thin.

Rating: 80.5

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20  - Finish: 19  - Overall: 20

The Yoichi Distillery

General Remarks: The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. Ltd owns two Single Malt Distilleries in Japan (Yoichi and Miyagikyo) as well as Ben Nevis in Scotland. 

They also produce a lot of Blended Whisky and the 12 Years Taketsuru (named after the founder of Nikka) I am tasting today is a Blended or Vatted Malt Whisky from Spirit produced at the two above mentioned Japanese distilleries. It sells at around 70 US Dollars. There are also 17 and 21 Years Expressions in the Taketsuru Series. The best known blends are probably Nikka from the Barrel and Black Nikka, the latter mainly in Japan. Nikka was founded by Masataka Taketsuru He studied Chemistry at the University of Glasgow between 1918 and 1920 and worked and learnt as apprentice at Distilleries like Longmorn and Hazelburn. Apparently he was very gifted because later on Masataka became a Master-Blender. Nowadays the Nikka Whisky Distilling Company is part of Asahi Breweries. 

Drinking Experience Neat: The Nose is Good. The rest is Average.

Conclusion: I am disappointed with this Vatted/Blended Malt. The Nose is quite nice and has some distinct Fruity, Floral, Mahogany and Coffee Aromas. But on the Palate the Nikka 12 Years Pure Malt is Thin and Sugary Sweet with some Oak, Toffee and Spices. The Finish is similar to the Palate and quite Short. It's too expensive for what it offers and not good enough to be considered as one of my daily to-go-to Blends.

Jan van den Ende                                                       February, 2014

Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Review

"Party Time"

Country: Scotland

Brand: Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Age: NAS

ABV: 40%

Date: 12/02/2014

Colour: Light Amber

Nose: There's a young feeling to the Nose. I find Grains, Heather and Honey, Toffee and Caramel, Oak, a little Sherry, a touch of Sulphur of the Vegetative type, Floral, Vegetable and Earthy tones, Straw, Banana Cake, Apple Pie with Raisins, Malt, Citrus Peel, a little Perfume and a pinch of Nutmeg. It's a bit of everything but nothing is really convincing. The Alcohol is not fully integrated.

Taste: The Delivery is quite Thin and Watery. Nothing to get excited about. I find Honey, Toffee/Butterscotch, Wax, Citrus Peel, Dried Fruits, light Oak, Grain  and light Spices.

Finish: Rather Short and Disappointing. Sweet at first, Dry later on. A bit of Toffee, Honey, Orange Peel, Pepper, Raisins, Wax and Oak.

The Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve does not accept Water very well. It's best enjoyed over a little Ice.

Rating: 79.5 

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

The New Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve

General Remarks: The Johnnie Walker Brand is owned since 1997 by the Diageo Group. The Gold Label Reserve was released in 2012/2013 and was crafted by the current JW Master Blender Jim Beveridge to celebrate almost 200 Years of the JW Blends. At the heart of this Blend lies Clynelish. This distillery uses Water from the Kildonan Hills were Gold was found in 1868. The new Gold Reserve is supposed to replace the old Gold Label 18 Years that has been discontinued. The Blend sells at between 65 and 90 US Dollars, quite expensive for a NAS Blend. Nice modern bottle though!

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay/Good 

Conclusion: Quite disappointing. At this price level I would simply expect a better Blend. The Nose is okay but not really exciting. On the Palate and in the Finish, the Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve is easily drinkable but Thin, Boring and Bland. It's impossible to compare this NAS Gold Label Reserve to the old Gold Label 18 years although their prices are quite similar! The old Gold Label was meant to be appreciated, perhaps on a special occasion, like the Green and the Blue. The new Gold Reserve screams " Take Me, I'm Easy To Drink" and "It's Party Time"  and clearly aims at a different and younger public. At a lower cost of production (younger whiskies) and with more or less the same sales price this means good business! At least in the short term. But many Whisky fans, including me, miss the Old Comfortable Gold and the Vatted Quality Green! 

Jan van den Ende                                                           February 2014

The Old Johnnie Walker Gold Label

"I Miss You"