Monday 30 July 2012

Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX 46%

Interesting tasting this not long after the Lasanta. It's sort of what the Lasanta wants to be: rich, heavily sherried on the nose, but honey and dried fruits also coming though on the mouth. There's a warming, smooth finish. No off-notes this time.

I suppose it's just another one of many good sherried Speyside malts: nothing particularly unique, and perhaps a little too sweet and sherried for an Olympic summer evening. But very nice nonetheless.

Wednesday 25 July 2012

Glenmorangie "The Lasanta", 12 yr old, 46%

It's got a good nose, if you like sherry. Actually, it's all sherry, sherry, sherry, but slightly spoilt with a twist of something acrid on the mouth and finish.

On offer at the supermarket and only a half-sized bottle, so no harm done. It'll satisfy the occasional sherry craving and get finished, one day.

Glen Scotia 1992 (Berry Bros, bottled 2008) 55.7%

6 July

Nose: subtle smoke and peat.
Mouth: the smoke and peat get subtler still; light fruit, honey, wood, and grain come through in stages, dissolving into a curious burnt ash taste each time. This sounds unpleasant, but it's not at all.
Finish: long and warm.

A surprising and difficult-to-describe experience. Really very different, but in a good way. Certainly one of those unusual "I didn't know whisky could do this" malts. Highly recommended.

Balmenach 1975 (Connoiseur's Choice, bottled 2007) 43%

6 July

Nose: heavily sherried, dried fruits.
Mouth: sherry, fruit, rich and warming. Maybe toffee and chocolate (or else it's the the dark colour prompting synaesthesia)
Finish: pleasant, very filling.

Friday 6 July 2012

Tullibardine, John Black cask 5. 1992 53.8%

Nose: sherried but not overwhelmingly so.
Palate: sherry, but good slugs of barley, oak and honey in the mix. It all works well together- a very balanced malt. Very smooth for a cask strength.
Finish: smooth, warming, sweet but not cloying.

A good 'un.

Boisdale Glen Grant 1972 46% (Berry Bros)

Wood, vanilla and barley. Mostly smooth but a slight catch on the finish. It's good, but can't help feeling slightly disappointed. It lacks distinction or character; maybe it's too old/over-oaked for the spirit.

The corporate types clogging up the bar didn't help.