4 latest malts from Decadent Drinks on this session. We mix the penultimate Whisky Sponge launch (Glen Moray) with bottlings from the brand new Decadent Drams vary (as much as £ 350 kind of).
We begin with a 23 yr outdated Blended Malt. After maturation in a sherry cask, it was completed for one yr in an ex-Ardbeg refill sherry butt, previously used for the Kildalton 2008 (Islay Sponge III).
Blended Malt 23 yo 2001 (45,1%, Decadent Drinks 2024, sherrywood, 587 btl.)
Nostril: a light nostril, displaying leathery notes, plums and raisins. Jams of strawberries and blackberries, in addition to good tobacco. An incredible mixture of old-school sherry notes with juicy fruits and polished oak. Then there’s additionally a delicate smoky contact – Ardbeg provides an incredible layer of charcoal and ash right here.
Mouth: extra darkish forest fruits but additionally cherry jam, with raisins and a delicate minty freshness. Fairly vibrant – a really clear type of sherry. Then again to earthy notes, delicate smoke, a touch of camphor and tobacco leaves. Delicate hints of black peppercorns and Spanish cedar.
End: medium, taking this mixture of darkish, fruity sherry, tobacco and delicate smoke additional.
Such a magnificence. First there’s the stunning type of sherry, lifted even additional by the smoky Ardbeg word. Some might argue it’s just a little delicate, however that makes it extremely drinkable. I purchased a bottle myself, because it’s nonetheless obtainable from Decadent Drinks or retailers like Royal Mile Whiskies.
Glen Moray 32 yo 1990 + 1991 (51,8%, Whisky Sponge 2024, refill hogshead + second-fill sherry hogshead, 304 btl.)
Nostril: dang. Juicy cherries, half-dried apricots, with hints of melons and jammy figs. Blood oranges too – loads of ripe fruits. Then a great deal of beeswax and polished furnishings, in addition to hints of oriental wooden. Mild natural components, in addition to spherical hints of very outdated grain whisky. Orange peels and really mild hints of dried flower petals within the background, reminding me of outdated cognacs.
Mouth: very mature, and precisely my kinda sherry! Purple berries up entrance, together with blood orange and quinces. Will get drier, with cinnamon and resinous hints, in addition to some natural tea-like notes. This mingles with oak polish and darkish honey. Then some cedar wooden and cinnamon.
End: medium to lengthy, fruity and resinous, with cigar bins and warming spice like aniseed.
Advanced and stylish, with stunning, polished wooden beneath. I’ve had this pattern for some time, however I simply didn’t count on it to be so good. Definitely costly, however that is proper up my alley! Loads of retailers that also have it: Decadent Drinks itself, but additionally TWE, RWM or MoM as an illustration. Rating: 92/100
Loch Lomond + Inchmurrin 15 yo 2009 (53%, Decadent Drinks 2024, two hogsheads)
Nostril: fairly thick, on cake and apple, in addition to oily / buttery notes. Then outdated cash and honey, in addition to papaya. Typical quirky Loch Lomond thus far. Hints of dried wildflowers too. The longer you wait, the fruitier it will get.
Mouth: way more fascinating now, for my part. It combines mild peat with tropical fruits, in a means that jogs my memory of those Irish 1991 bottlings. Mango, pineapple and pink grapefruit. Then pinewood freshness, lemon peels, delicate candied ginger and extra oily goodness.
End: lengthy, nonetheless tropical, blended with some minty oak.
I wasn’t getting a full-blown fruit basket on the nostril (I’ve been bothered by Loch Lomond’s cumbersome noses earlier than), however on the palate it undoubtedly wins me over. Actually good and comparatively inexpensive. For this one Whisky-Maniac seems to be your solely likelihood. Rating: 89/100
Glen Garioch 21 yo 2003 (55%, Decadent Drinks 2024, first fill bourbon hogshead, 248 btl.)
Nostril: begins actually waxy, with yellow plums and apple peels, blended with candles and grassy inexperienced tea. Bay leaves, mint and faint chalk. Buttery cookie dough. Then lemon peels and hints of materials. Loads of character.
Mouth: nonetheless waxy and barely chalky, blended with flippantly tropical fruits, although by no means actually exuberant. Hints of pineapple, inexperienced banana and mint, with some pinewood and natural tea. Then zesty grapefruit and lemon sweet. Delicate peppery notes.
End: lengthy, on citrus zest, white pepper, delicate chalk and floral touches.
Some austerity right here, however good complexity with fruits and waxes as a supporting act. Not essentially my favorite bottling on this line-up, however that’s solely as a result of the opposite ones had been extra to my private desire. Prime quality. Obtainable from Decadent Drinks. Rating: 89/100
