Scapa Glansa Review


“Where There’s Smoke, There’s No Fire”

Whisky Review # 706

Country: Scotland
Region: Highlands - Islands - Orkney
Brand: Scapa (The Orcadian) Glansa Batch GL 01 
Bottled: August 2016
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Bourbon casks with Peated Whisky Cask Finish   
Chill Filtration: Yes         
Price Range: US$ 50-70 (March 2018) 
Buying Advice: 😒 Light Simple Malt. Negative P/Q ratio. Pick it up at 40 US$. 

Colour:

Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Light, Young, Waxy, Sweet and Fruity. A few Floral notes as well. The influence of the Peated Whisky cask Finish is rather limited. The Fruit Flavours are a bit Artificial like in Candies. 

Main Aromas:

Malt Biscuits, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Toffee, Nuts, Heather-Honey, Straw, Apple, Pear, Tinned Pineapple and Cinnamon,         

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Smoke, Dirty Earth, Cigar Ashes, Vanilla, Herbs, Salt, Banana, Nectarine, Oak and Cocoa.

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Palate:

The Delivery is very Thin, almost Watery. On the Palate, the Glansa is Young and still Nervous. Unfinished business. The Smoke and Dirty Earth are noticeable now but they remain in the background. Mostly Bitter-Sweet. A few Meaty and Sour notes as well. 

Main Flavours:

Burnt Toast, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar, Heather-Honey, Citrus Peel, Toasted Barley, Wax, Nuts, Apple, Pear, Nectarine, Cinnamon and Pepper.    

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Smoke, Dirty Earth, Vanilla, Raw Meat, Resin, Banana, Oak, Tobacco, slightly Sour Grapes, Caffe Latte and Aniseed.      

Finish:

On the Short side. A little Dry towards the end. The Finish is Bitter-Sweet and quite Thin. I find Sweet Barley, Toffee, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Oak, Wax, Nuts, Pepper, Nectarine, Aniseed, Earth and very light Smoke. I also detect a minor Metallic off-note.


Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Glansa. It's already Thin enough as it is.

Rating: 80 

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

Drinking Experience:

Light and Young mainstream Single Malt. Both drinkable and forgettable.  

Conclusion:

The Glansa was released in September 2016 as part of the new distillery line up. Its name was taken from the old Norse word for "Shining Storm-Laden Skies". The Maturation Process is unique for an Orkney Single Malt.Regular NAS Scapa Spirit matures in Ex-Bourbons casks before being finished in Oak casks that previously held Peated Whisky. Most likely these casks were purchased on Islay. Certainly an interesting experiment. The Peated Finish was quite Short though apparently and its influence is very limited. The Glansa is one of those forgettable and overpriced mainstream NAS Malts. Very nice presentation but a quite average Malt. There's nothing really wrong with it but it lacks depth and character. It's quite lifeless and bland, especially on the Palate and in the Finish. A drinking whisky rather than a sipping whisky. So far Scapa has not been able to offer a truly decent replacement for the discontinued 16 Years. And that's a pity! 

Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 27, 2018

Fettercairn 15 Years Review - Aberfeldy 12 Years Review - Old Pulteney Clipper Review - Blair Athol 12 Years Flora & Fauna Review


“Highland Special # 1”

Introduction:

Most of you know that I mainly use samples and miniatures when preparing my Reviews. I usually buy these in Holland and sometimes in Germany or the UK. Sometimes I receive samples from friends or readers or independent bottlers. In only two cases I received a few samples directly from distilleries. When planning my reviews for the coming months I always try to give attention to all Scottish Whisky regions as well as other Whisky/Whiskey/Bourbon producing regions all over the world with special attention to the USA, Ireland and Japan. And last but not least the blends. At the request of many readers I give preference to more recent expressions. As a result my backlog of older samples has increased quite a bit. To do justice to those samples I will review them in the format of Specials. These specials will deal with a specific region like today or with specific bottlers, countries or distilleries. The reviews in these Specials will concentrate on the Whisky and won't go into details about distilleries, maturation etc. I do hope you will like these Specials just as much as my regular reviews and I look forward to your reactions and suggestions. In today's special I will review 4 Highland Single Malts. Enjoy!
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Whisky Review # 702

Country: Scotland
Region: Eastern Highlands
Brand: Fettercairn - Distilled on March 22, 1995
Bottled by: Signatory Vintage on March 14, 2011 - 198 Bottles
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Whisky
Age: 15 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 59.8% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Bourbon Cask   
Chill Filtration: No         
Price Range: Around US$ 80 (March 2018) - Discontinued
Buying Advice: 😐 Good P/Q ratio. If you like Springbank, give it a try!

Colour:

Chardonnay (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Alcohol is quite strong. I think it's the highest ABV I've encountered so far. Give it enough time in the glass to open up. There's the typical Varnish Aroma I so often find when Fresh Wood is used. The Nose is Light, slightly Oily and Medium-Sweet with some Fruity, Floral, Nutty and Grassy Aromas. 

Main Aromas:

Sweet Toasted Barley, Butterkekse (German Butter Biscuits), Vanilla, Caramel, Grass, Straw, Peardrops, Orange, Lemon, Dusty Road and Dyon Mustard.     

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather Honey, Wet Stone, Earth, Milk Chocolate, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Salt, Tobacco and Coffee with Milk.

Print

Palate:

The Delivery is quite strong thanks to the high ABV. On the Palate, this Malt is Bitter-Sweet, Green, Woody, Spicy and Earthy. It's different when compared to your average modern Whisky.   

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Toffee, Orange, Lemon, Peardrops, Dusty Road, Menthol, Heather-Honey, Pepper, Dried Herbs, Dyon Mustard, Hazelnut, Oak, Grass, Milk Chocolate and Caffe Latte.      

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Green Grape Seeds, Dusty Attic, Marzipan, Green Apple, Ginger and Nutmeg.  

Finish:

Medium-Long. Sweet at first but with an increasing Bitterness towards the Dry end. I find Toasted Malt, Heather-Honey, Dyon Mustard, Dusty Attic, Plum Jam, Lemon, Grass, Straw, Cherry-Flavoured Cough Syrup, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Menthol, Oak, Hazelnuts, Toffee and a light Metallic (Iron) note.  

Drinking Advice:

I added a tea spoon of Water that helps to calm down the Alcohol. The main Aromas on the Nose are reinforced, especially Orange, Vanilla and Grass. I even think I pick up a little Earthy Peat. Not sure though. On the Palate, the Orange, Vanilla, Hazelnuts and Spices develop. I perceive increased Menthol, Oak and a little Licorice on the Finish. This Malt requires added Water.

Rating: 82.5 

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

Drinking Experience:

Interesting. The ABV is a bit too high.  

Conclusion:

Certainly an interesting Single Malt. Quite different from your average modern Mainstream Malt. Some unusual notes like the Dyon Mustard. A little Dirty at times but if you like Springbank you might give this a try if you can find it. The ABV is really strong and this Malt needs some added Water. Despite the fact that this Fettercairn does not quite match my preferred Aroma/Flavour profile, I did enjoy the Tasting session. If only because it stands out as different.


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Image result for aberfeldy 12 years

Whisky Review # 703

Country: Scotland
Region: Southern Highlands
Brand: Aberfeldy 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Bourbon casks 
Chill Filtration: Yes         
Price Range: US$ 40-55 (March 2018).
Buying Advice: 😏 Very simple entry Single Malt. At 40 US Dollars it's okay. 

Colour

Full (Old) Gold (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Light and Sweet with Fruity, Floral and Grainy notes and a whiff of Smoke. The Alcohol is not fully integrated and is slightly Edgy. There's a light Blended Scotch feeling to the Nose. 

Main Aromas:

Toasted Cereals, Toast with a mixture of Butter and Margarine, Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Toffee, Orange, Heather-Honey, Herbal Tea, Hay, Green Apple and Pear.    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Floral Perfume, Melon, Smoke, Milk-Raisin Chocolate, Refill Oak, Lemon, White Grape Juice and Almonds. 


Palate:

Thin Delivery. Bitter and Sugary Sweet at the same time. I'm not too sure if I would have recognised it as a Single Malt in a Blind Tasting. It tastes more like a Blended Whisky with an increased Malt percentage.   

Main Flavours:

Toasted Cereals, Toast with Margarine, Brown Sugar, Caramel, Vanilla, Apple, Mandarin Juice, Grass, Straw and Refill Oak.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Melon, Lemon, Almonds, Pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger, Cinnamon, Canned Pineapple, Herbal Tea, Aniseed, light Menthol and Milk Chocolate. 

Finish:

Bitter-Sweet, a little Musty, Medium-Dry and Short. I find Toasted Cereals, Hay, Grass, Sugar, Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Vanilla, Orange, light Smoke, Dusty Road,  Orange, Nuts, Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Refill Oak, light Menthol and Licorice. A little Cocoa Powder perhaps. The Blend feeling remains. 

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and the Nose becomes friendly. Malt and Fruit develop a bit more and the sharp Alcohol retreats. It smells more like a simple Single Malt now. Palate and Finish become quite Thin. Still, I recommend to add a few drops of Water to this Aberfeldy. I did not expect that to be honest.

Rating: 79.5

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 20 

Drinking Experience:

Average. Thin and Uninspired Single Malt. Almost like a Blend. Improves with Water. 

Conclusion:

The Aberfeldy 12 Years is a simple entry Single Malt with a few Blended Scotch characteristics. It does not offend in any way but it does not provide lots of fun as a sipping Malt either. Okay if you are just entering the world of Single Malts but too Thin and without depth for advanced Single Malt lovers. If you can get it at 40 US Dollars you will be okay. Don't pay much more though. Or save a bit more and go for the blended Dewar's 18 Years instead.   


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Image result for old pulteney clipper

Whisky Review # 704

Country: Scotland
Region: Northern Highlands
Brand: Old Pulteney Clipper (Round the World) - Limited Edition
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Mix of Refill Bourbon and Sherry casks 
Chill Filtration: No         
Price Range: US$ 60-80 (March 2018).
Buying Advice: 😏 Young Summer Malt. Negative P/Q ratio. US$ 40 max!   

Colour

Golden Sunlight (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Alcohol is present so be sure to give this Old Pulteney sufficient time in the glass before Nosing. The Clipper is mainly Fruity, Mineral, Grassy and Lemony but I find a few Salty and slightly Sour notes. Quite Young and Clean Nose. The Sherry Cask influence is limited.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toast and Margarine, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Green Apple, Pear, Grapes, Banana, Fruitcake with lots of Raisins and Sultanas, Lemon and Grass.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Brown Sugar, Orange, Heather Honey, Hazelnut/Milk Chocolate, Green Plums, Tinned Pineapple, Nutmeg and Cinnamon.   

old pulteney distillery

Palate:

Sweet, Fruity, Young, Yeasty, Light and a little Harsh. 

Main Flavours:

Toasted Barley, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut-Milk Chocolate, Heather-Honey, Oak, Orange, Lemon and Grass. 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Fruitcake with Raisins, Brown Sugar, Ginger, Pepper, Herbs and Caffe Latte.   

Finish:

Middle-Long, Creamy and Bitter Sweet. The Bitterness slightly increases towards the Dry and Salty end. I find Toasted Malt, Orange, Banana, Milk-Hazelnut Chocolate, Heather-Honey, Apple, Banana, Herbs, Lemon, Cinnamon, Ginger, Pepper and Oak.         

Drinking Advice:

I added a few drops of Water and the Nose becomes very Light but also very Fruity. Palate and Finish do not show significant changes but you can add a few drops. No more than 5 to a small dram though!

Rating: 81  

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

Drinking Experience:

Good. Very Light and Clean. Summer Whisky.

Conclusion:

The Clipper was launched in 2014 to celebrate the 2013/2014 Round the World Yacht Race sponsored by the distillery. Only 2700 cases of 6 were made available to the market. The costs of the Sponsorship are to be partly recovered via the price of the Clipper Malt apparently. I say that because this coastal Whisky has a Salty price tag. It's obviously a young Whisky and the price should be below the standard 12 Years. That's not the case however. I know there are a few Refill Sherry casks in the mix but this Clipper should have been priced at around 40 to 45 US Dollars maximum. I've said it before and I will say it again. We should pay for Whisky and not for stories, however interesting they might be. Other than that the Clipper is a Young, Light, Clean and Fruity dram to be enjoyed on a hot Summer day.  


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Image result for blair athol 12 years flora & fauna

Whisky Review # 705

Country: Scotland
Region: Eastern Highlands
Brand: Blair Athol Flora & Fauna
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 12 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Mix of Sherry and Bourbon casks   
Chill Filtration: Yes        
Price Range: US$ 55-70 (March 2018).
Buying Advice: 😊 Positive. Nice and Well-Balanced Sherried Highlander.   

Colour

Oloroso with traces of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

The Sherry Cask influence is very clear. I detect a little Sulphur but it stays well within limits. On the Nose this Blair Athol is Sweet and relatively Robust. The main Sherry Aromas are deepened with some interesting supportive tones. The Alcohol is nicely integrated.

Main Aromas:

Slightly Burn Toast, Salted Butter, Dried Fruit like Apricot, Raisins and Sultanas, Vanilla, Treacle, X-mas Cake, Orange, Almonds, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Fortified Red Wine and Red Apples.         

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Resin, Heather-Honey, Dusty Shelves, Smoke, Leather, Tobacco, Grass, Acetone, Tar, Cured Meat and Chocolate. 


Palate:

The Delivery is a little on the Thin side. An ABV of 46% would have been more adequate for this Blair Athol. On the Palate the Flora & Fauna is Bitter-Sweet with well-balanced Sherry influences. Quite nice. 

Main Flavours:

Toasted Malt, Dried Fruit like Apricot, Raisins, Sultanas and Figs, Heather-Honey, Dirty Earth, Orange, Dark Chocolate, Caramel, Cinnamon and Nutmeg       

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Plum Jam, Espresso, Rubber, Licorice, Leather, Smoke, Lemon, Vanilla, Grass, Oak, Walnuts, Tobacco, Apple, Pepper and Cloves.      

Finish:

Bitter-Sweet. The Bitterness increases somewhat towards the Medium-Dry end. I detect Toasted Malt, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla, Dried Fruit, Marzipan, Hazelnut, Oak, Slightly Sour Red Wine, Dirty Earth, light Smoke, Dried Herbs, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Pepper, Cloves, Aniseed, Tobacco, Roasted Coffee Beans, Walnuts and Licorice.    

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and on the Nose the Dried Fruit and X-mas Cake develop. I find more balance between Casks and Spirit. Palate and Finish do not really benefit from the added Water but a few drops won't hurt either.

Rating: 84.5  

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

Drinking Experience:

Good.

Conclusion:

The Blair Athol 12 Years Flora & Fauna is a well-balanced Sherried Highlander. I like the way the Sherry interacts with the other Aromas and Flavours. It is never overwhelming. I'm pretty sure Blair Athol uses some of their better casks for this Single Malt. It's not really cheap but if you like the Aroma/Flavour profile I can certainly recommend this Blair Athol although it might not be easy to find it. My only suggestion would be to bottle it at 46%. Still, next time I'm in the Highlands I will certainly grab a bottle! Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 23, 2018



Some of the Pictures were taken during our visits to these distilleries in May 2014.

Bowmore The Devil's Casks Limited Edition III Review


“The Devil Went Down to Bowmore”

Whisky Review # 701

Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Bowmore The Devil's Casks (Limited Edition III Double the Devil) 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 56.7% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Mix of First-Fill Oloroso and First-Fill PX casks   
Chill Filtration: No         
Price Range: US$ 175-275 (March 2018). Large price differences. Be careful!
Buying Advice:😕 Should we really pay around US$ 200 for such a young Malt?   
Colour:

Mahogany (Possibly Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Sweet, Young, Medium-Dry and a little Dusty with deep characteristic First Fill Sherry cask Aromas and a touch of Islay. The Alcohol is not fully integrated.  

Main Aromas:

Lots of Dried Fruit like Raisins, Sultanas, Plums, ripe Figs, Berries and Currants. I also find Brown Sugar, Treacle, Orange Peel, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate, Toasted Barley, Fresh Wood, Rum soaked X-mas Cake, Tobacco and Nuts.         

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Slightly Burnt Toast, Cognac, Dusty Shelves, Floral Perfume, Tar, Ashes, Iodine, Burnt Grass, light Smoke, Meat and Bacon on the BBQ, Old Leather, Pepper, Ginger and Menthol.   

You Can Run But You Can't Hide!
Palate:

Strong delivery with noticeable Alcohol. Bitter-Sweet and relatively Young. I would guess the Spirit matured for around 8 Years. There's a rough feeling to it.

Main Flavours:

Salted Caramel, Treacle, Dark Red Fruit, Chocolate, Orange Peel, Walnuts, Fresh Oak, Cherry-Flavoured Cough Syrup, Pepper, Ginger, Dried Herbs and Licorice.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Smoke, Dirty Earth, Toasted Barley, Vanilla, Cloves, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Strong Espresso and Leather.     

Finish:

Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet and quite Dry. The Alcohol is still strong. I find Dark Red Fruit, Cherry-Flavoured Cough Syrup, Malted Barley, Dark Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Dried Herbs, Nuts, Tar, Old Leather, Tobacco, Strong Espresso, Orange Peel, Earthy Peat, Smoke, Fresh Oak, Varnish, Walnuts, Licorice, Pepper, Ginger, Cloves and Cardamom.

Related image

Drinking Advice:

I added a few drops of Water and on the Nose the strong Alcohol disappears. More Red Fruit appears like Strawberries, Raspberries and Blackcurrants. A bit of Honey perhaps. The Finish becomes rather Short and Leathery but the Palate becomes more balanced. My advice would be to add a few drops of Water to this Bowmore.

Rating: 84.5  

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

Drinking Experience:

Certainly interesting but too Young for my taste. There's not enough balance between Fresh Wood, Wood Spices, Sherry and Spirit. But then again, you can't expect the Devil to be smooth and elegant!  

Conclusion:

This Bowmore is the 3rd and final Limited Edition of the Devil's Cask Series. The first Edition was released in 2013, a 10 Year Old Bowmore that matured in First Fill Oloroso Sherry casks. The second edition followed a year later and was also a 10 Year old but  this time the Spirit matured in First Fill Pedro Ximenez casks. The third NAS edition was released in 2015 and matured in a mix of First Fill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso casks. It's the latter one that I'm reviewing today. The story behind the Devil's Casks series is the following. One day, the devil tried to hide in the round Bowmore church. The people of Bowmore chased him out of the church but the devil escaped through the distillery. It was assumed that he made his escape in a Whisky cask heading for the mainland on a boat called The Maid of Islay. Nice story!

The Bowmore The Devil's Cask Limited Release III is not a bad Single Malt and the Tasting Experience is quite interesting. This is not at all a mainstream boring Malt. You must love Sherry and/or Red Wine Finishing though to be able to fully enjoy this Single Malt. The Islay characteristics are there but the Sherry is quite overwhelming. My main issue with this Bowmore is its apparent youth. As a result, there's not enough balance between the various Aromas and Flavours. It all smells and tastes a bit unfinished. I'm glad I had the opportunity to taste a sample of this Single Malt but I wouldn't pay the odd US$ 200,-- for a bottle of this Bowmore. It's simply too young for that kind of money!

Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 20, 2018

Glen Grant The Major's Reserve Review - Glenlivet Founder's Reserve Review - Glenlivet 18 Years Review - Aberlour 15 Select Cask Reserve Review


“Speyside Special # 1”

Introduction:

Most of you know that I mainly use samples and miniatures when preparing my Reviews. I usually buy these in Holland and sometimes in Germany or the UK. Sometimes I receive samples from friends or readers or independent bottlers. In only two cases I received a few samples directly from distilleries. When planning my reviews for the coming months I always try to give attention to all Scottish Whisky regions as well as other Whisky/Whiskey/Bourbon producing regions all over the world with special attention to the USA, Ireland and Japan. And last but not least the blends. At the request of many readers I give preference to more recent expressions. As a result my backlog of older samples has increased quite a bit. To do justice to those samples I will review them in the format of Specials. These specials will deal with a specific region like today or with specific bottlers, countries or distilleries. The reviews in these Specials will concentrate on the Whisky and won't go into details about distilleries, maturation etc. I do hope you will like these Specials just as much as my regular reviews and I look forward to your reactions and suggestions. Today's special will look at 4 Speyside Single Malts. Enjoy!
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Image result for glen grant the major's reserve

Whisky Review # 697

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Brand: Glen Grant The Major's Reserve 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Refill Bourbon Casks  
Chill Filtration: Yes        
Price Range: US$ 25-30 (March 2018).
Buying Advice:😒 Not good enough as a Sipping Malt. Better leave it alone! 

Colour

Pale Gold/Chardonnay (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

The first impression is a bit unpleasant. A mix of sharp Alcohol, Refill Wood and Cooked Vegetables. There aren't a whole lot of goodies to discover here. Sugary Sweet with a few faint Floral notes. The overall feeling is Young and Light. It smells like a cheap Blended Scotch Whisky. Be sure to give it enough air time!

Main Aromas:

Cooked Vegetables, Refill Wood, Sugar, Yeast, Acetone, Alcohol, Grass, Straw, Vanilla, Green Apple, Unripe Pear, Bitter Almonds and Cinnamon.     

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Heather-Honey, Toast and Margarine, Citrus (Lemon and Orange), Coconut, light Licorice, light Menthol and Banana.


Palate:

Thin, Young and Edgy. Mainly Sugary Sweet with a few additional Sour, Floral and Herbal notes. 

Main Flavours:

Sugar, Vanilla, Caramel, Resin, Alcohol (Grappa), Green Apple, Pear, Lemon, Dried Herbs, Pepper,  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Malted Cereals, Toffee, Heather-Honey, Cocoa Butter, Hazelnut, Clove, Nutmeg, Banana and Tea with artificial Strawberry flavour.

Finish:

Quite Short. Sugary Sweet at first but with an increasing Bitterness towards the Dry end. I find Alcohol, Refill Wood, Resin, Vanilla, Pepper, Lemon, Green Apple, Caramel and hints of Hazelnut, Clove, Heather-Honey, Banana and Margarine.    

Drinking Advice:

Due to the small size of the sample I only Nosed and Tasted the Major's Reserve neat. The Single Malt is named after James "The Major" Grant who inherited the distillery in 1872. He introduced Purifiers in both Wash - and Spirit Stills to be able to produce the light Whisky that the distillery is known for.

Rating: 74.5

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

Drinking Experience:

Below Average. The first Nosing impressions were almost unpleasant. 

Conclusion:

When I look at the picture below that was taken during our visit to the distillery in 2014, you will observe the distance between the guide and me. Is it a mere coincidence? I must admit I'm not a big fan of this distillery and The Major's Reserve does nothing to change my opinion. In fact it's one of the worst Glen Grants I have tasted so far. It's unfit as a sipping Whisky. I can imagine it might taste okay over Ice on a warm day but that's about it. It's not for nothing that the Glen Grant Whiskies are very popular in Italy. But personally I fail to see why distilleries would risk their popularity by launching weak Malts like this. It might yield Short Term Profit but there's the real risk that consumers will turn their back on Glen Grant given the poor performance of this entry Malt. I also wouldn't link this specific Single Malt to James "The Major" Grant who was known to be a man looking for quality and innovation. Well, enough said. Let's move on to Glenlivet!



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Image result for glenlivet founder's reserve

Whisky Review # 698

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Brand: Glenlivet Founder's Reserve 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Mix of First-Fill and Refill Bourbon casks  
Chill Filtration: Yes        
Price Range: US$ 30-38 (March 2018).
Buying Advice:😒 It's not expensive but it lacks character, depth and quality. 

Colour

Golden (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

This is slightly better than the Glen Grant. The First Fill casks provide a bit of freshness that was lacking in the Glen Grant. The Founder's Reserve is mainly Sugary Sweet on the Nose but a few Sour, Mineral and Floral notes are there as well. The Aromas are quite Light and this is obviously a very young Whisky. The Fruity notes remind me of Artificially Flavoured Candies rather than Fresh Fruit.

Main Aromas:

Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Caramel, Apple, Pear, Grass, Orange, Raisin, Freshly cut Wood, Floral Perfume and Mint.    

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Honey, Mandarin, Almonds, Cocoa Powder, Cinnamon, Malted Barley and Ginger.


Palate:

Young and Thin. The Harsh Alcohol is noticeable. On the Palate, the Glenlivet is Sugary Sweet, slightly Sour and Grassy. Oak and Spices come to the forefront.  

Main Flavours:

Caramel, Toffee, Apple, Pear, Grass, Vanilla, Alcohol, Orange, Freshly Cut Wood, Pepper, Cinnamon, Mint and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Malted Cereals, Milk Chocolate, Aniseed, Honey, Nutmeg, Acetone, Dusty Road and Tin Cans.

Finish:

Light, Short and a little Raw. The Alcohol is quite noticeable. It starts Sugary Sweet but a little Bitter Wood appears towards the Medium-Dry end. I find some Caramel, Toffee, Honey, Apple, Raisins, Vanilla, Coconut, Pepper, Milk Chocolate, Barley Sugar, Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Mandarin), Ginger and Mint.  

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and the Nose becomes quite Thin with lots of Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, Pear and Barley Sugar. The Palate becomes quite Malty. Lots of Pear as well. With added Water the Sharp Alcohol retreats of course but you're left with a very Thin and Fragile Spirit. Don't add more than 4 drops!

Rating: 78 

Nose: 20 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19 - Overall: 19.5

Drinking Experience:

Okay. Utterly forgettable. 

Conclusion:

This entry Glenlivet Malt was named to honour George Smith, the founder of the distillery and was released in 2014. It's part of the core range at the moment. It is one of those Young Whiskies that seem to flood the market these days. It's not totally bad but I don't find any depth or character in this Single Malt. It's all very Bland. I'm not a big fan of the 12 Years either but it's better than Founder's Reserve. Not by a whole lot though. They are both Malts that you will forget as soon as you have swallowed them. Again, if I were the distillery owner, I would never name such a simple young Spirit after the founder of the Distillery. He deserves much better!

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Image result for glenlivet 18 years

Whisky Review # 699

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Brand: Glenlivet 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 18 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: A mix of First - and Second Fill Bourbon - and European Oak casks
Chill Filtration: Yes        
Price Range: US$ 65-85 (March 2018).
Buying Advice: 😐 Good $/Quality Ratio. Pretty standard Sherried Speysider. 

Colour

Old Gold (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

It's not a Sherry-Bomb but the influence of the Sherry casks is quite clear. The 18 Years is quite Sweet with an array of Dried Fruit, Nuts and Spices. It's a bit Thinner than I had expected. Surprisingly the Alcohol is quite strong. Be sure to give this Glenlivet enough time in the glass.  

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Butter-Kekse (German Butter Biscuits), Caramel, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins & Plums, Dark Chocolate, Clove, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Orange and Toasted Almonds.     

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Maraschino Cherry, Heather-Honey, Cooked Apple, Tinned Pineapple, Cinnamon, Ginger, Brown Sugar, Coconut, Dusty Road, Marzipan and Banana.


Palate:

The delivery is slightly Thin and this Glenlivet should have been bottled at 46%. The Palate basically follows the Nose. But more Bitter-Sweet now and with a few Sour notes.

Main Flavours:

Caramel, Brown Sugar, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Apples and Apricot, slightly Sour Berries, Pepper, Nutmeg, Clove, Orange and Menthol.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Toffee, Nuts, Heather-Honey, Sweet Barley, Charred Oak, Dried Herbs, Cinnamon, Ginger, Licorice, Marzipan, Aniseed, Plum Jam, Wet Stone, Tobacco and Tinned Pineapple.  

Finish:

Quite short actually. Mainly Sweet with a slight Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. A few Sour notes as well. I find Sweet Barley, Dried Fruit like Raisins & Plums, Spices like Pepper, Nutmeg, Clove and Ginger, Toasted Almonds, Charred Oak, Orange, Menthol, slightly sharp Alcohol and hints of Tobacco, Dried Herbs, Licorice, Espresso, Grapefruit and Maraschino Cherries.        

Drinking Advice:

I added a few drops of Water and on the Nose I get extra Floral notes. More Barley and Orange as well. The Alcohol retreats of course. More Barley, Vanilla and Spices on the Palate and a lot more Licorice in the Finish. My advise would be to add a few drops (around 5) to your dram as it helps control the Alcohol despite the fact that it does become a little Thin.

Rating: 84.5 

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

Drinking Experience:

Good. 

Conclusion:

The Glenlivet 18 Years is part of the core range of the distillery. It's a pretty solid Sherried Speysider. It's also quite straight-forward, uncomplicated and without highs and lows. There is no Wow factor at any given moment during the Nosing and Tasting. If you're a fan of The Balvenie Double Wood for example, you will quite like this Glenlivet. Those of you who look for a bit of character and adventure should look elsewhere though. And, before I forget, this should have been bottled at 46%.

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Image result for aberlour 15 select cask reserve

Whisky Review # 700 (🎇)

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Brand: Aberlour Select Cask Reserve 
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 15 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Mix of Bourbon and Sherry casks   
Chill Filtration: Yes        
Price Range: US$ 50-60 (March 2018).
Buying Advice: 😒 Barely qualifies as Sipping Malt. Good over Ice!  

Colour

Medium Auburn (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

This is not as good as the 18 years I reviewed a while ago. Some indifferent casks I suppose. My first impressions are a mix of Vegetal notes, Sour Dough, Wood Coating Agents and Fresh Saw Dust. These Aromas diminish over time so be sure to give this Aberlour enough time in the glass. The Sherry casks make their presence known but not at all in an overwhelming way. The Nose is mainly Sweet but I find some Sour and Herbal notes as well. The Alcohol is noticeable.  

Main Aromas:

Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Caramel, Brown Sugar, Milk Chocolate, Sawdust, Grass, Straw, Orange, Banana sprinkled with Cinnamon, Sour Dough, Stewed Apples, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Apricot, Fresh Herbs and Strawberry Jam. The odd Wood Coating Agent (Wood Stain) Aroma does not quite go away and that's a pity!       

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Sweet Barley, Heather-Honey, Toffee, Almonds, Marzipan, Charred Oak, Lemon, Peach, Mint, Pepper and Nutmeg.


Palate:

The Delivery is on the Thin side. Bitter-Sweet and Sour notes fight for the lead. A few Dry Earthy tones as well. 

Main Flavours:

Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Milk Chocolate, Banana, Orange, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Sultanas, Strawberry Jam, Grass, Straw, Cinnamon, Herbal Tea and Menthol. The Alcohol is quite harsh.      

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Refill Oak, Floral Soap, Sweet Barley, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Honey, Almond, Saw Dust, Coconut, Lemon, Aniseed, Licorice, Pepper and Nutmeg.  


Finish:

Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet and little Thin. Quite Dry towards the end. The Harsh Alcohol is really present. It's hard to believe this Spirit matured for 15 long years. Says something about the quality of (at least some of the) casks if you ask me. I find Caramel, Vanilla, Floral Soap, Dried Herbs, Milk Chocolate, Bitter Orange, Dried Fruit (mainly Apricot), Cinnamon, Licorice, Nutmeg, Pepper, Dusty Road, Banana, Refill Wood and Menthol.

Drinking Advice:

I added around 5 drops of Water but I can still smell a wood stained fence made from Fresh Wood. At least the Alcohol has retreated. But there's not too much left of the Aromas. It's more Malty now and I find some Peach and Strawberry. Palate and Finish don't improve and the harsh Alcohol remains. Since I had a full bottle of this Aberlour (bought in Germany) I tried it over Ice as well and that's how I liked it best. It barely qualifies as a sipping Whisky. 

Rating: 81.5 

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

Drinking Experience:

Okay. Good over Ice.

Conclusion:

The Select Cask Reserve was originally released in France only. In the meantime it is available in other countries as well, mainly in Europe. Aberlour is the best selling Single Malt in France and perhaps the distillery is sure they can sell some of their let's say less interesting casks over there. I'm not saying that this is actually happening but that's the impression I get when tasting this Select Cask Reserve. Select Casks indeed! But based on what! In any case I really don't recommend this Aberlour as a sipping Whisky. It's quite okay over Ice though and that's just what many people might do in sunny France. In the rest of the world we better stay with the A 'Bunadh series.


Jan van den Ende                                                                   March 12, 2018



The Pictures were taken during our visits to these distilleries in May 2014.