Bowmore Black Rock Review


“Thin Line Between Love and Hate”

Whisky Review # 647

Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Bowmore Black Rock
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS (My guess: 8-10 Years) 
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Sherry and Bourbon Casks    
Chill Filtration: Yes    
Price Range: US$ 55-70 (September 2017) 
Buying Advice: 😒 Negative. Not worth the Money. Go for the Darkest

Colour: Dark Amber with a hint of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose: Young and Light. The Smoke and Earthy Peat are there but remain in the background. The Sherry cask influence is noticeable but these weren't extremely active casks. The Black Rock is by no means the Sherry monster of Loch Indaal. I don't get any Sulphur and that's positive. I get some Fruit like Blackberries and Cherries but it's not Fresh Fruit. More like artificially flavoured Candies. I also find Toasted Cereals, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Heather-Honey, Grass, Straw, Brine, Smoked Fish or Shellfish, Mandarin Juice, Dried Fruit like Sultanas and Figs, Dried Banana chips covered with Cocoa Powder, Dusty Road, Unlit Cigars, Leather, Citrus Peel and light Spices like Cinnamon, Ginger and Pepper. Please note that most of these Aromas are mere suggestions. Artificial Fruit, Salted Caramel and Dried Fruit are the main drivers accompanied by some Coastal and Peaty notes. After a while I also get a few hints of Burning Paper and new PVC bottles. They are not strong enough though to be considered as off-notes. The Alcohol is noticeable but not in a Harsh way. On the Nose, the Black Rock is not really bad but it's a bit bland. Taking Islay Light Malt to the next level.

Visit May 2017

Palate: Young, Thin, slightly Hot and Bitter Sweet with Toasted Cereals, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Molasses, Straw, Heather-Honey, Blackberry (The Fruit), Dusty Road, Citrus Peel, light Peat/Smoke, light Iodine, Ashes, Tobacco, Pepper, light Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Cocoa Powder, Menthol and hints of Burnt Paper and Bitter Chocolate.     

Finish: Light, Short, Watery and Bitter Sweet. Dry towards the Bitter end. I get notes of Metal, Plastic and Rubber that should not be there. I also find some light Factory Smoke, Dirty Earth, Ashes, Alcohol, Salted Caramel, Dried Herbs, Refill Wood, Tobacco, light Iodine, Burnt Paper, Orange Peel, Stale Sugared Espresso, Cocoa Powder, something like Rotten Fish and light Spices like Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon. A faint hint of Menthol cigarettes.

Visit May 2017
Drinking Advice:

Added Water completely kills this Bowmore.

Rating: 78

Nose: 21 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 18.5 - Overall: 19


General Remarks:

🏣   The Distillery and Today's Whisky:

Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay and was founded in 1779 by David Simpson. It changed hands a couple of times along the years but since 1994 the Japanese Suntory group controls Bowmore. Bowmore still malts around 30% of the Barley on their premises. They currently produce around 1,3 million liters of Alcohol. The core range includes the NAS Small Batch Reserve, the 12, the 15 Darkest, the 18 and 25 Years. Some of the Bowmore Spirit is used in Blends like Rob Roy and Black Bottle. We visited the distillery in 2014 and 2017. I really like the Malting Floor. Nice Shop and Visitor-Centre. Certainly well-worth the visit.

The Black Rock was released for the Travel Retail Market in 2014 as part of a trilogy that also includes the Gold Reef and the White Sands. In the meantime the Black Rock is available elsewhere as well. It is named after the Black Rock in Loch Indaal and is visible when you visit the distillery.

Visit May 2014

🍷  The Spirit:

Bowmore has 2 pairs of Stills. The Lyne arms point slightly upwards and produce a Medium-Bodied, lightly Medicinal Spirit. The Water is sourced from the River Laggan. Lack of rain can upset Bowmore's production as we have seen in the past.
Visit May 2014
🌲  The Wood:

The Black Rock matured in a mix of (mainly) Spanish Sherry casks and Bourbon barrels. Judging by Aroma and Flavour I would assume they were probably 2nd and 3rd Refill casks.

Drinking Experience: Below Average.

Conclusion:

Oh dear, first the Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair and now this Black Rock. If I could I would move to Islay tomorrow because I simply love the place. And I love a lot of their Single Malts. But not these two I'm afraid. I reviewed the Stiuireadair here so Back to Black Rock! The Nose is not too bad actually but on the Palate and in the Finish this Bowmore totally disappoints. Young, Thin, Bitter, Rubber and Metallic are not the terms I would like to apply to any Bowmore Single Malt. Better casks and a higher ABV could have upped the Black Rock but that's daydreaming. As it stands this is not a Single Malt I can recommend. If you like Sherried Bowmore go for The Darkest 15 Years instead. It's hard to believe that the Black Rock hails from a distillery that produced such stunners as the 17 Years

Jan van den Ende                                                             September 28, 2017

Visit May 2017

Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair Review


“Rush Job”

Whisky Review # 646

Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS 
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.3%
Maturation: Sherry Casks   
Chill Filtration: No   
Price Range: US$ 40-55 (September 2017) 
Buying Advice: 😒Negative. Go for the 12 Years instead.

Colour: Light Golden (Natural Colour)

Nose: This is pretty young Whisky if you ask me. The high ABV can't hide that. I get images of a cowshed, the floor of which is covered with a mix of Musty Straw and Manure. I also get Refill Sherry casks that were treated with Sulphur. In short, I've nosed better Bunnahabhains in my time. The Alcohol is slightly Sharp as well. Be sure to give this Malt sufficient time in the glass before Nosing. After a while I find Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dried Fruit like Sultanas and Apricot, Nuts and Nutshells, Vanilla, Cocoa Powder, Heather-Honey, Plum Marmalade, Overripe, almost rotten Apples, Mushrooms, light Citrus, Bitter Tea and hints of Spices like Cloves and Cinnamon.

Visit May 2017

Palate: Young, Edgy, Hot and Bitter-Sweet with Toasted Cereals, Salty Caramel, Brown Sugar, Heather-Honey, light Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Plums and Sultanas, Nuts and Nutshells, Mandarin Juice, Cocoa Powder, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamom, Herbal Tea, Refill Oak, Sulphur, Grappa and hints of Espresso and Tobacco.  

Finish: Rather Short, Bitter Sweet and slightly Hot, Sour and Sharp towards the Dry end. Some Sulphur and Metal as well. I also find Toasted Grain, Salty Caramel, Tea sweetened with Aspartame, Mandarin Juice, Lemon Peel, Dried Fruit like Plums and Sultanas, Bread Dough, Grass, Pepper, Cardamom, Refill Oak, Grappa and hints of Tobacco and Bitter Espresso.  

Drinking Advice:

I added a few drops of Water and on the Nose you get rid of most of the Alcohol and find some Creamy Malt and Caffe Latte. Palate and Finish don't improve in my opinion.

Rating: 79  

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


General Remarks:

🏣   The Distillery and Today's Whisky:

The Bunnahabhain distillery was founded in 1881 and is located on the isle of Islay, close to Port-Askaig. Since 2003 it is owned by Burn Stewart Distilleries, part of the South-African Distell Group Ltd. At the moment the distillery roughly produces 1,5 million liters per year. The core range consists of the 12, 18 and 25 Years as well as 2 peated expressions, the Toiteach and the Ceobanach. We last visited Bunnahabhain in May this year and were not impressed with the Tour, the Shop and the general outlook of the distillery. I'm pleased to report that very recently the owners have announced serious investments in the amount of 11 million Pounds. Improvements will be made both in infrastructure and in the production process. Everything will be ready by 2020 and I certainly would love to visit the distillery by then!

Stiuireadair (pronounced Stew-Rahdur) is the old Gaelic word for Helmsman and refers to the shoreline on the North-Eastern coast of Islay and the influence of the sea on the Bunnahabhain Whisky. This NAS expression has been released very recently, apparently to ease pressure on the dwindling stocks of the very popular 12 years. As such, it will probably not be added to the core range but then again you never know. The Stiuireadair is made with unpeated Malt.

Visit May 2017

🍷  The Spirit:

The distillery possesses two pairs of Stills with Lyne arms that either have a straight forward or slightly upwards angle. The Spirit is usually light bodied with Sweet Fruit and Nuts. The Water is both sourced from the River Margadadale (cooling) and Loch Staoisha (distilling).

Visit May 2017

🌲  The Wood:

The Stiuireadair matured in a mix of indifferent First - and Second Fill Sherry casks.

Drinking Experience: Below Average

Conclusion:

It's like someone ordered to quickly prepare a young Bunnahabhain and boost it with a high ABV, some indifferent Sherry casks and an unpronounceable Gaelic name. I know I sound quite harsh here but what can I do. This is not a very tasty Bunnahabhain and it's certainly no valid substitute for the 12 years. I fully understand the problem of rapidly dwindling stocks as a result of the increasing demand but this is not the correct way to solve the issue. Like I wrote above, the distillery looks neglected and it badly needs a face lift. I'm very glad that the owners are going to straighten that out. This Single Malt needs a face lift as well and I hope Bunnahabhain will address the issue. So we can all be proud of the Distillery and the Stiuireadair in 2020. For the time being however, the 12 Years is the better option by far.

Jan van den Ende                                                            September 25, 2017

Visit May 2017

Mackmyra Motorhead Review


“Ace of Spades Meets The Dancing Queen” 

Whisky Review # 645

Country: Sweden
Brand: Mackmyra Motorhead (Limited Edition - Batch # 1)
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS (Around 5 Years)
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Bourbon casks with Partial Sherry Finish  
Chill Filtration: Yes  
Price Range: US$ 65-80 (September 2017) 
Buying Advice: 😐 Neutral. Nice Mackmyra. Expensive for a 5 Year old!

Colour: Golden Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose: I immediately get the Aroma of the New Wood that is quite characteristic for West-European mainland Whisky. Light Resin, Alcohol and Varnish are there as well but not in a very aggressive way. I also find Freshly baked Croissant, Salted Butter, Butterkekse (German Butter Biscuits), Toasted Cereals, Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Sugared Almonds, Vanilla, Hay, Dried Fruit/Nuts mix, Dried and Fresh Herbs, Lemon, Aniseed and some faint hints of Green Tobacco, Tutti Frutti Bubble Gum and Freshly printed Newspaper. On the Nose, Motorhead is mostly Sweet with some Sour and Herbal notes. The First-Fill American Oak barrels lead the way but the Sherry cask finish is noticeable as well and slightly masks the youth of the Spirit. The Nose is certainly not unpleasant although it's more Abba than Motorhead. 

Palate: The Youth of the Spirit is more noticeable now. And so is the Alcohol. But fortunately it doesn't get out of control. On the Palate, Motorhead is Sweet, Herbal and slightly Spicy. I find Toasted Barley, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Hay, Almonds, Lemon, Raisins, Honey, Orchard Fruit, Dried and Fresh Herbs, light Aniseed, Menthol, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves and Toasted Oak. Abba is gone and Motorhead takes control!

Finish: Middle-Long, Sweet, Herbal, slightly Hot and Spicy. Dry towards the end with a light Metallic note that will please Motorhead fans😜. I also find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Raisins, Lemon-Flavoured Herbal Tea, Grass, Toasted Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves, light Aniseed, light Menthol, light Varnish and hints of Green Tobacco.

Drinking Advice:

The Motorhead does not improve with added Water. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 80.5 

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


General Remarks:

🏣   The Distillery and Today's Whisky:

The first Mackmyra distillery was founded in 1999. In 2012 a new distillery started production. It is located just outside Gavle, only a few miles away from the first distillery. The new structure is one of the highest in its kind and follows the gravity model where the production process starts on the upper floor and works it way downwards. This process decreases energy costs by almost 45%. The owners (Mackmyra Svensk Whisky AB) suffered some financial problems in 2014, probably as a result of the huge investment in the new distillery. As a result production went down considerably. But it seems that the situation is back under control now and the future looks bright. 

The British Rock/Heavy Metal Band Motorhead was formed in June 1975. In 2015 it celebrated its 40th Anniversary. To commemorate this achievement the Motorhead Whisky was released in collaboration with beverage partner Brands for Fans and the Mackmyra distillery. The band most likely choose Mackmyra because drummer Mikkey Dee hales from Sweden. Apparently the band played an active role in choosing the casks and the subsequent blending process. 2015 was to be a year of celebration but unfortunately Motorhead's founder and lead- vocalist/bass player Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister died from cancer on December 28, 2015. The following day the two other band members confirmed that Motorhead would not continue.

Mackmyra Stills (Picture Credit: Petr Dudin)

🍷  The Spirit:

The new distillery has one pair of Stills. The Lyne arms have a slight downwards angle. With the exception of the yeast, all raw materials are sourced within an area of 75 miles around the distillery. The water is filtered naturally before being sterilised with a high-intensity UV light. The distillation process is very slow creating a full, mature Spirit.


🌲  The Wood:

The Spirit used for this Whisky basically matured in new First-Fill American Oak Barrels. A small part of the Whisky was finished in Ex-Oloroso casks during the last 6 months before being re-married with the remaining Spirit before bottling.

Drinking Experience: Good

Conclusion:

When Nosing and Tasting European mainland Whiskies you should really switch off your Scotch references. In my opinion these mainland Whiskies have their own Aroma and Flavour profile and should be judged as such. In doing so I find this Motorhead quite enjoyable despite the fact that it's Young and dominated by the New Wood. It's easier to enjoy this type of Whisky if you're into Bourbon. On the Nose, this Mackmyra is more like Pop Music but on the Palate and in the Finish it's Sharper and Edgy and even presents a slight (Heavy) Metal note. This Whisky was not really "Born to Raise Hell" but I'm sure it will please Motorhead fans nevertheless as it was created to honour the musical legacy of this famous band. 

Jan van den Ende                                                            September 21, 2017

Mackmyra Gravity Distillery, Gavde (Picture Credit: Robin Hayes)

Compass Box The Circus Review


“There’s No Business Like Show Business”

Whisky Review # 644

Country: Scotland
Brand: Compass Box The Circus (Limited Edition)
Type: Blended Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 49%
Maturation: Pre-Blended and then married in Sherry Butts
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 250-300 (September 2017)
Buying Advice: 😒 Interesting but too expensive for what it offers.

Colour: Golden Amber - Bronze (Natural Colour)

Nose: Much lighter than I expected. My first impressions are Sweet Wood, Hay, and Cherry-Flavoured Cough Syrup. A little Varnish as well. Make sure to give The Circus enough time in the glass. The Grain Alcohol is clearly noticeable but certainly not in an aggressive way. The overall impression is a little Dusty & Musty with both Sweet and Sour notes. After a while I find Apple Strudel with a generous portion of Rum or Brandy-Soaked Raisins and Sultanas. I also identify Toasted Nuts and Cereals, Buttered Toast, Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Nougat, Blackberry Jam, Dusty Road, Orange Liqueur, Peaches with Whipped Cream, Cinnamon, Ginger and hints of Tobacco and Leather. It's not bad and certainly interesting but there is an old and slightly tired feel to the nose of The Circus.


Palate: Again not as intense as I was expecting. The Grain Alcohol is certainly more noticeable now. I find Toasted Cereals, Toasted Hazelnuts, Dried Fruit like Sultanas and Apricot, Caramel, Butterscotch, Brown Sugar, Nougat, Sugared Strawberries, Vanilla, Treacle, Dusty Road, Apple, Pear, Orange Liqueur, Cocoa Powder, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Varnish and some hints of Leather, Tobacco and Espresso.

Finish: Light, a little Sharp and on the Short side. Sweet at first but with quite a few Bitter Wood notes towards the Dry end. I find Toasted Cereals, Caramel, Vanilla, Dried Fruit and Toasted Nuts, Orange Liqueur, Grapefruit Juice, Menthol, Ginger, Pepper, Cinnamon, Clove and hints of Tobacco, Polished Leather, Bitter Chocolate and Espresso.

Drinking Advice:
I added a few drops of Water and some of the Fruity notes on the Nose open up.  Tinned Peach and Pineapple come to my mind. The added Water reduces the impact of the Alcohol in the Finish. On the Palate it becomes a little Thin though despite the high ABV. You can certainly experiment with a few drops at a time.

Rating: 83

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 20.5 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 21


General Remarks:

The Circus was launched in March 2016. It is named after the 1928 Charlie Chaplin silent movie. Like a Circus, this Blend seeks to offer a moment of magic! It's a very limited Edition and only 2490 bottles went to the market. Compass Box is known for its battle with the Whisky authorities as it favours the total disclosure of Blended Whisky components. This is not the case here however. Like The General, launched in 2013, The Circus was blended at a young age and subsequently married in Sherry Butts for 1/3 (Grain) and 2/3 (Blends) of the total maturation time. There are 4 main components in this Blend. Blended Scotch Whisky represents 57.2% and was married in Refill Sherry casks for a long time. Blended Scotch Grain Whisky represents 26% and was married in Refill Sherry casks for a long time. A Benrinnes Single Malt Whisky represents 15.4% and matured most likely for around 10 years in a First Fill Sherry butt. The last component representing 1.4% is a second batch of Blended Scotch Whisky and was married in Refill Sherry butts for a long time. I would roughly guess that the Grain content totals 60-65% and the Malt content 35-40%. Not much is known about the contents of the Blended part, not even to Compass Box themselves. It is possible that Single Malt from Glen Ord is part of the recipe. The Circus will be difficult to find these days.

Drinking Experience Neat: Interesting but lacking balance.

Conclusion: The Circus might be a perfect name for this Blend but perhaps not quite the way Compass had in mind. Because while this Blend is certainly quite interesting to nose and taste, it also seems to miss balance and direction. It's a bit like the horses and other animals running around in circles in the ring. It's nice to watch but they aren't going anywhere. This is the general feeling I have after having nosed and tasted The Circus. There are some nice notes there but also Varnish, Sharp Alcohol and Bitter Wood. It's a bit of a mixed bag I must say. And much lighter than I expected. Certainly not a Sherry Bomb. So while I enjoyed the tasting experience it's hard to recommend buying a full bottle as it's quite expensive. I was never much of a Circus guy anyway and this Blend hasn't changed my mind.

Jan van den Ende                                                             September 18, 2017

Benrinnes Distillery - Visit May 2014

Glen Deveron 10 Years Review - Glen Deveron 16 Years Review


Glen Deveron/Macduff Special”

🏣   The Distillery and Today's Whiskies:

The Macduff distillery was founded in 1960 and was bought in 1972 by William Lawson Distillers. Since then, most of the Macduff Spirit is used for the well-known William Lawson's Blend. Since 1993, the distillery is owned by John Dewar & Sons Ltd (Bacardi Group). Official Distillery bottlings of Single Malt have always been released under the Glen Deveron brand name. Macduff is known as Glen Deveron as well because it was constructed next to the River Deveron. In 2015 the new core range and packaging was released under the name The Deveron. It consists of the 10, 12 and 18 Years. Macduff produces around 3 million liters of Spirit per year (2017).

The 10 Years I'm reviewing today was part of the old Glen Deveron core range that was distilled and bottled before 2015.

The 16 Years I'm reviewing today was launched in 2013. Together with a 20 and a 30 year old it forms The Royal Burgh Collection, a Travel Retail exclusive at first. In the meantime however, it is available elsewhere as well. The collection commemorates the Royal Burgh of Banff, the old sea port beside the distillery granted charter by the Scottish King Robert II.
================

Whisky Review # 642

Country: Scotland
Region: Eastern Highlands
Brand: Glen Deveron
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Bourbon and Sherry Casks
Chill Filtration: Yes  
Price Range: US$ 30-45 (September 2017) 
Buying Advice: 😒 Not recommended.  

Colour: Full Gold (Artificially Coloured)

Nose: Relatively Young and Edgy, Simple, Sweet and Sour, Malty and Citrusy. A  few Floral notes as well. I find Toasted Breakfast Cereals, Oat Meal, Caramel, Toffee, light Vanilla, Yeast, Pine Needles, Dusty Road, Nut Shells, Orange Peel,  Apple Vinegar, Green Wood, Condensed Milk, Dried Fruit, Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger. Most of the above are mere hints. Cereals, Citrus, Orchard Fruit and Green Wood are the main drivers. The Alcohol is not fully integrated. There's not too much to get excited about actually.     

Palate: Young, Thin and Bitter-Sweet. I find Toasted Cereals, Caramel, Toffee, Treacle, Grass, Straw, light Heather-Honey, Orange, Dried Fruit, Nuts, Vanilla, Menthol, Licorice, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Dusty Road, Green Wood and a bit of Lemon Zest. 

Finish: Quite Short, Bitter-Sweet, Rough and Nervous. A rather unpleasant Metallic off-note towards the end. Sharp Vodka-type Alcohol notes. I also find Toasted Grain, Nut Shells, Caramel, Toffee, Green Wood, Green Apples, Straw, light Licorice, Menthol, Pepper and Nutmeg.


Drinking Advice:
The Glen Deveron 10 years completely disappears as a Single Malt Whisky after adding a few drops of Water. Is that good or bad? You decide! 

Rating: 75.5

Nose: 20 - Taste: 18.5 - Finish: 18 - Overall: 19 

Drinking Experience: Okay/Below Average

Conclusion:

It might be good Blend fodder but this Glen Deveron 10 Years doesn't present sufficient Aromas and Flavours to consider it as an interesting Single Malt. It's mainly Cereals with a bit of Citrus, Green Apple and a few Wood Spices. It's quite Watery and Thin and the Wood Management is indifferent. The percentage of Sherry casks is either low or the casks weren't very active. The Finish is too Short and too Sharp and the Metallic off-note should not be there. Not a Single Malt I would recommend. There are lots of better entry alternatives.   
================


🍷  The Spirit:

The Macduff Distillery has a very unusual uneven number of Stills. Two wash stills and three Spirit stills. The Lyne arms have various angles and produce a medium-bodied Sweet Spirit. The Malt is unpeated but the Water is sourced from the Gelly Burn and passes over peaty soil.

Picture Credit: Whisky.com

🌲  The Wood:

I have no specific information on this issue. Based on the Nosing and Tasting I would assume that both the 10 Years and 16 Years matured in mix of Bourbon and Sherry casks, the majority probably consisting of Refill Ex-Bourbon casks. I believe that the percentage of Sherry casks was certainly higher in the 16 Years.
================

Whisky Review # 643

Country: Scotland
Region: Eastern Highlands
Brand: Glen Deveron (Royal Burgh Collection)
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 16 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Bourbon and Sherry casks. 
Chill Filtration: Yes  
Price Range: US$ 60-80 (September 2017) 
Buying Advice: 😐 Okay if you can find it at around 60 US Dollars. 

Colour: Golden Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose: Clearly more Sherry cask influence here when compared to the 10 Years. I get a little Sulphur as well but it's within limits. The Alcohol is still noticeable but not in an aggressive way. Cereals, Citrus and Orchard Fruit remain in the lead but the balance is much better here. I find Sweet Barley, Pancakes with Golden Syrup, Buttered Toast, Heather-Honey, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Fresh cut Hay, Pine Needles, Apple Pie with Whipped Cream, Citrus Peel, Mandarin Juice, Dried Fruit, Hazelnuts, Cocoa Powder, Oak, light Spices, light Mint and Dusty Road. The Nose of the 16 Years is not breath-taking but much better and more pleasant than the 10 Years.

Palate: Rather Thin delivery. This Malt deserves an ABV of 46% and deserves to be bottled without adding Caramel. On the Palate, the 16 Years is mostly Sweet but there are some Sour and Bitter notes as well. I find Sweet Barley, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Nuts, Cocoa Powder, Green Apple, Pear, Heather-Honey, Oak, Mandarin Juice, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger, a little Sulphur, a bit of Lemon, Menthol and the faintest hint of Peat.

Finish: Middle-Long. Mainly Sweet but with some Sour Notes and Bitterness from the Oak as well. I still get a little Metal right at the end but it's more in the background here. I find Sweet Barley, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Tart Green Apple, Pear drops, Orange Peel, Mandarin Juice, Earth, Heather-Honey, Pepper, Cloves, light Nutmeg, Salted Peanuts, Menthol and a vague hint of Strawberry flavoured Yogurt.

Drinking Advice:
I added a few drops of Water and although the overall Aroma and Flavour profile does not change a whole lot, you do get rid of some of the Alcohol and Bitter Oak notes. It gets a little too Thin as well in my opinion but you can carefully add a few drops in this case. As I bought a full bottle of the 16 Years at the Duty Free Shop I also experienced it over a little Ice. Quite pleasant actually. 

Rating: 82 

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

Drinking Experience: Good

Conclusion:

On the basis of these two Glen Deveron expressions I can safely say that the Single Malts produced at the Macduff distillery are not among my favourites. Having said that I feel that the 16 Years does have potential. It just needs to be bottled at a more adequate ABV and without adding Caramel. A few more active Sherry casks would help as well. Still, the 16 Years is way better than the 10 and at around 60 Dollars for a liter it's certainly worth exploring if you like the general Aroma and Flavour profile where Cereals, Citrus, Orchard Fruit, Oak and Wood spice are the main drivers. For the time being, Macduff's main task is to produce Spirit for Blends. I do hope however they will invest some serious time and effort in their Single Malts as well. As always, the Spirit deserves it! 

Jan van den Ende                                                            September 11, 2017

Macduff Distillery