| |
Residence
1000’s of tastings,
all of the music,
all of the rambligs
and all of the enjoyable
(hopefully!)
Whiskyfun.com
Assured ad-free
copyright 2002-2024
|
 |
|
| Hello, that is considered one of our (virtually) each day tastings. Santé! |
| |
|
| |
| |
|
October 4, 2024
|
|
  |
|
A little biofuel.
I imply, grain whiskies
We used to name them maltless blends, however these days there is a sure snobbery in favouring grain whiskies, a bit like our ancestors who would slum it within the shady components of massive cities. Admittedly, there are some good and even superior grains, however provided that they’ve spent at the very least 30 years in top-quality casks, ideally the easiest sherry casks. However in fact, I am open to altering my thoughts.
|
North of Scotland, 1958-1980.
(clackmannanshire.scot) |
|
|
North of Scotland 1964/1981 (100° proof UK, George Strachan, cask #37526, 5cl) 
Aka Alloa, additionally residence of Strahmore Malt till 1959. Closed in 1980. We tasted this some fifteen years in the past, however A. it wasn’t nice, B. it was from a full bottle, and C. this one’s a miniature that’s simply surfaced from the cellar. And D. North of Scotland has turn out to be exceedingly uncommon. Color: gold. Nostril: effectively, it’s nonetheless not nice. Grocery store coconut liqueur, wooden glue, vanillin, and that’s concerning the extent of it. Now, when tasting from a miniature, it’s necessary to make sure the fill stage is sweet, the liquid stays clear, and there’s no signal of that dreadful lacquer collectors usually use to ‘seal’ these mini-bottles. Anyway, not nice. With water: vanilla syrup, cane sugar syrup, and actually, low-cost rum. Mouth (neat): it’s alright, with vanilla and coconut, although there’s a soapy rose observe lurking about. Meh. With water: extra of the identical. End: medium size, with impartial and sugary flavours. Feedback: I’m undecided if North of Scotland used excessive multi-column stills like Dumbarton, but it surely seemingly produced one thing slightly impartial. I reckon my 78 factors in 2009 have been the results of an excessively beneficiant temper.
SGP:520 – 59 factors. |
|
|
North British 34 yo 1989/2024 (43.7%, Liquid Treasures, bourbon barrel, fifteenth anniversary) 
Now, let’s be clear: North British and North of Scotland should not the identical factor (see, Whiskyfun does turn out to be useful). Color: straw. Nostril: a lot better. Yellow flowers, gorse, dandelion, acacia honey, acacia blossoms, and freshly squeezed orange juice, adopted by some very younger first-flush tea, silver needles, and even a contact of fried rice. Mouth: there’s nonetheless that barely ‘empty’ high quality you get with grain whisky, however right here the floral aspect and notes of small apples, jujubes, sorb berries, and medlars add a little bit of complexity we gained’t deny. There’s additionally a little bit of tangerine within the combine. End: not lengthy, however pleasantly candy. Jogs my memory of Havana Membership from the Nineteen Sixties. Feedback: what can I say, it’s no Port Ellen, however for grain whisky, it’s actually on the high of the ladder. Or let’s say, the second rung.
SGP:630 – 82 factors. |
|
|
Invergordon 27 yo 1997/2024 (52.2%, Dràm Mor, refill bourbon barrel, cask #300709, 218 bottles)
I’ve all the time discovered Invergordon to have a bit extra texture, maybe even some further richness in comparison with different Scottish grains, although I’ve by no means actually dug into why. Subsequent time I see Candy Richard P., I’ll need to ask. Color: white wine. Nostril: certainly, sunflower oil, peanut oil, toasted bread, plantain bananas, a little bit of engine grease, and even a touch of artichoke… All aromas you wouldn’t sometimes anticipate in a grain whisky. With water: a little bit of barbecue bacon—am I dreaming? Mouth (neat): it’s as gentle as a grain ought to be, however there’s a contact of the liveliness you’d affiliate with a malt. Apples, lemons. The construction continues to be a bit fragile, although. With water: barley and agave syrups, vanilla, and apple juice. The feel stays gentle, with faint touches of pineapple. End: slightly quick, candy, and liqueur-like. Coconut. Feedback: it’s a great grain, little question about that, however this isn’t Port Ellen both.
SGP:630 – 80 factors. |
|
|
Port Dundas 23 yo 2000/2024 (62.2%, Frank McHardy, Signature Reserve, 270 bottles)
I discover it slightly amusing that the legendary Frank McHardy, who helped remodel a small, forgotten distillery in Campbeltown into maybe the one 1er Grand Cru of Scotch, would select to bottle grain whiskies below his identify—grains being, in essence, the exact opposite of what Springbank stands for. Color: straw. Nostril: varnish and tinned peaches. It’s very comfortable and fairly muted, regardless of the hefty 62.2%. With water: lemonade, 7up, and a faint chalky observe. Mouth (neat): ah, right here it opens up a bit extra. Lemon juice, sauvignon blanc, apricot, white peach juice, sugar syrup… With water: no actual change, but it surely’s slightly good. Apricot and peach syrup. End: predictably quick, however candy, cheerful, and nice, regardless of a late arrival of coconut milk. Feedback: Frank McHardy is Jimmy Web page for whisky lovers like me. To be trustworthy, these grains would rating round 75 factors of their fundamental variations—that’s, not rigorously chosen by an undisputed legend like him. However nonetheless, it’s grain whisky.
SGP:630 – 82 factors. |
|
|
Girvan 26 yo 1997/2024 (46.5%, Frank McHardy, Signature Reserve, 230 bottles)
I’ve all the time discovered the current official Girvans to be slightly poor and overpriced. I don’t assume anybody, even in journey retail, may mistake grain for malt—or at the very least be keen to pay malt costs for grain. Color: white wine. Nostril: very gentle, however impeccably clear. Apples and sunflower oil, white chocolate, dried flowers, some twigs and roots… Mouth: nice, gentle, and really a lot on coconut milk and South American rum. Not significantly expressive, however slightly soothing. End: pretty lengthy, with good notes of barley sugar. Sugary Easter eggs linger within the aftertaste. Feedback: positively superior to the official releases, particularly in comparison with the slightly terrifying ‘Girvan Patent Nonetheless’ from a couple of years again (WF 60).
SGP:730 – 81 factors. |
|
|
Cameronbridge 31 yo 1992/2024 (51.5%, Frank McHardy, Signature Reserve, 234 bottles)
We’ve had some good Cameronbridges, I imagine, although they’re not significantly memorable. Color: gold. Nostril: ultra-light, virtually absent, although that’s not essentially a foul factor. Some hints of coconut and bark, together with a contact of anise. With water: equally very gentle, virtually diaphanous. Rainwater and white sugar. Mouth (neat): nice, with oranges and apples, plus a little bit of dill and liquorice. With water: the liqueur notes come ahead—orange, apple, possibly even rum liqueur—adopted by barley and agave syrup. However it stays very gentle, virtually ethereal. End: pretty quick, very ‘grain’. Feedback: the insufferable lightness of grain whisky. Severely although, it’s fairly very good.
SGP:630 – 82 factors. |
|
Come on, let’s hit tougher…
|
|
|
Invergordon 50 yo 1972/2023 ‘Clan McBean’ (42.9%, The Whisky Barrel, cask #TWB1034, 128 bottles) 
Effectively, it’s not as if we have to perceive each final element, however what we do know is that it is a 50-year-old Invergordon, and on the subject of grain whiskies, the previous Invergordons are unquestionably the cream of the crop. Color: gold. Nostril: completely pretty, with a comfortable and treasured magnificence. You’ve acquired ripe apples, a contact of previous white Burgundy (dare we are saying Meursault as soon as once more?), white chocolate, and people traditional Werther’s Originals. No signal of any sherry, however we’ll soldier on. Mouth: every little thing in delicate steadiness right here, maybe a bit of fragile attributable to its age, however what it presents is solely pleasant. There’s white chocolate once more, alongside tiramisu, orange juice, coconut milk, and a few pretty mirabelles. Not overly highly effective however actually not weak both. End: longer than anticipated, with an intriguing mixture of cappuccino, coconut, and, would you imagine, a touch of IPA beer. Feedback: actually a whisky other than the norm. In that sense, I can perceive why somebody may affiliate it with the house race, in some roundabout means.
SGP:631 – 85 factors. |
|
|
North British 30 yo 1993/2024 (52%, The Style of Whisky, refill sherry butt, cask #52169, 187 bottles) 
Ah, right here we go along with some sherry. I need to say, grain whisky actually does profit from a little bit of sherry cask affect (sure, I do know, we do are likely to go on about that). Color: amber. Nostril: hints of gunpowder, walnut skins, and spent matches… With water: contemporary rubber. Mouth (neat): burnt caramel and a contact of truffle. With water: roasted chestnuts, toasted semolina, and inexperienced walnuts. End: lengthy, vegetal, burnt, and fairly bitter. The aftertaste is way nicer although, with notes of coconut balls and a touch of younger rancio. Feedback: I agree, one should know what they need on the subject of grain whisky. Both one thing slightly innocent however not all that fascinating, or one thing extra strong, like this one, however seemingly with a couple of apparent flaws. Maybe a little bit of a wild grain, suited extra to cursed poets than your on a regular basis drammer?
SGP:372 – 78 factors. |
|
We have to cease this barely foolish session. Come on, only one extra…
|
|
|
Cambus 34 yo 1989/2023 (58.9%, Alambic Classique, Uncommon & Previous Choice, sherry cask, cask #23082, 169 bottles)
I am not fully certain we ought to be assigning areas to those grain whiskies—Highlands, Lowlands—it performs no actual half, solely provides confusion with our beloved malts. However let’s not go all crusader on this once more, lets? Color: gold. Nostril: not quite a lot of depth, however there are some nice notes of hay and some wild raspberries. White chocolate with little bits of raspberry, and the worst half is, they promote that at Ikea—oh, the horror! It is known as ‘Belöning,’ what a humorous identify. Even expensive HP would not use it. With water: touches of metallic (copper), natural teas, chamomile, hawthorn, thyme… Mouth (neat): ah sure, sure certainly, this might virtually go for malt. Not a stellar malt, thoughts you, however at the very least there’s some texture and spine. Overripe apples and a little bit of fermented orange juice. With water: some williams pear comes ahead and takes cost. There are worse candidates. End: pretty quick, not disagreeable. Just a few bits of zest. Feedback: it stays a grain whisky. Even at 34 years previous, even by Alambic Classique, it is nonetheless grain, but it surely’s good.
SGP: 430 – 81 factors. |
|
Be aware to self for the longer term: it is fantastic to do grain tastings infrequently, however not more than 5 directly and not more than as soon as 1 / 4 (the worst half is, we have nonetheless acquired hundreds left to style).
|
|
Would you imagine it, simply as we thought, we had extra grain whiskies within the queue. This time I promise we cannot have any extra for a protracted whereas.
|
|
|
North British 31 yo 1991/2023 (45%, Whisky Age, 1st fill barrel, 189 bottles)
Maybe a type of first fill barrels that, within the old school means, have been softened or seasoned with grain earlier than getting used for the valuable malt whiskies – after which ‘forgotten’. A way that appears slightly out of vogue as of late. Color: white wine. Nostril: maintain on, one thing particular right here. Pretty notes of Sauvignon Blanc and white currants, with a discreet trace of coconut and touches of fennel and dill. There’s additionally a little bit of moist chalk lingering within the background. A really fairly nostril certainly, and it was seemingly an excellent thought to carry this right down to 45% ABV. Mouth: mullein flower liqueur and quince, then these dill notes return alongside a little bit of coconut from the first fill cask. You actually get the sense that the barrel has accomplished its job. End: medium in size, leaning a bit sweeter. Some Malibu, as an example, which could not be its greatest characteristic. Feedback: a tad candy for my style, however actually a fantastic previous grain.
SGP:630 – 82 factors. |
|
|
Invergordon 36 yo 1988/2024 (48.7%, Cask 88 and Tiffany’s New York Bar Hong Kong, PX end, 240 bottles)
Color: gentle gold. Nostril: pretty metallic notes, like previous copper cash, and dried flowers, then a contact of PX certainly, however ‘seco’, which we love. Some slightly great hints of carrots and celeriac, virtually like a top-notch rémoulade, together with cedarwood, humidors, and the like. It’s all fairly uncommon, however very charming. Ah, Invergordon (and PX)! Mouth: maybe a bit much less ‘idiosyncratic’—we do love that phrase—with a sure bitterness balanced by sweeter PX and vanilla notes. There’s additionally a fragile slice of buttered pumpernickel, good, together with Armagnac-soaked prunes and kirsch cherries. End: medium in size, with a contact of tobacco and nonetheless a little bit of sweetness. It stays very satisfying. Feedback: some say that Invergordon, as soon as it reaches a sure age, turns into a little bit of a malt amongst grain whiskies, although I’m undecided that makes a lot sense.
SGP:641 – 86 factors. |
|
|
Invergordon 37 yo 1986/2023 (46%, Whisky Dudes, refill butt + 1st fill PX quarter, cask #23654A, 203 bottles)
Color: copper gold. Nostril: an identical model to make certain, however this time with a bit extra incense, alongside peonies and dried flowers (together with rose petals). It’s additionally fairly earthy, like wealthy darkish potting soil, and ends with a touch of cedarwood that evokes an historical Buddhist temple. Time to cue up the Nice Compassion mantra, aka Da Bei Zhou… “I frequently adore the one who dispels all fears…” Mouth: very uncommon, deeply earthy, with mushrooms, espresso liqueur, chocolate, fermenting raisins, and roots, giving it a form of ‘meditation whisky’ vibe—no matter that may imply. End: lengthy, with a fermenting high quality like a darkish Bière de Garde. Pure chocolate lingers within the aftertaste. Feedback: actually fairly uncommon, with that intensely earthy and considerably non secular aspect.
SGP:551 – 86 factors. |
|
Again to Girvan, which isn’t Invergordon (effectively noticed, S.).
|
|
|
Girvan 27 yo 1996/2023 (55.1%, The Whisky Blues, hogshead, cask #37956, 301 bottles) 
Color: gentle gold. Nostril: slightly gentle, with notes of vanilla ice cream and some cherries. There’s a contact of contemporary wooden and a touch of autumn leaves. With water: sweetened white tea, if that have been ever wanted, with a drizzle of honey. A little bit blancmange, adopted by apples. Simply common apples, nothing fancy. Mouth (neat): oranges in brandy come to the rescue, whereas the background stays barely grassy, with fruit peelings. With water: it turns comfortable, mild, gentle, and really effectively balanced. The important thing level right here is that there’s no overpowering coconut or vanilla bomb to talk of. End: medium, candy, nonetheless on natural tea with honey. Feedback: an excellent Girvan this time, although it’s nonetheless very a lot within the ‘grain’ camp.
SGP:630 – 84 factors. |
|
|
Girvan 26 yo 1997/2024 (57.6%, Whisky Dudes, hogshead + 1st fill amontillado, 194 bottles)
Ah, we do love a great Amontillado, do not we? What’s slightly exceptional is how the fantastic people at William Grant appear to have no qualms about permitting the ‘Girvan’ identify on indie labels, regardless of guarding the likes of Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Kininvie, and even Ailsa Bay with the ferocity of a pack of Malinois fuelled on nothing however champagne. Color: gold. Nostril: oh, that is pretty—there’s beeswax and a tray of contemporary pollen, maybe from rockrose. Past that, you get the anticipated notes of vanilla and a little bit of desiccated coconut. With water: little hints of Dutch gin come via. Mouth (neat): ah, that Amontillado! I’d say it’s doing many of the heavy lifting right here, with notes of latte, touches of gentian, tobacco, cardamom, walnut wine, and a splash of orange. With water: caraway liqueur seems, together with some myrtle liqueur too. End: pretty lengthy, with that Amontillado espresso observe reigning supreme, and it does so splendidly. Feedback: have we maybe discovered the proper use for wine casks, ending grain whiskies?
SGP:641 – 86 factors. |
|
Fourteen drinks in two days are means an excessive amount of. I hope I have not talked an excessive amount of nonsense. Would you say so?
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
