Virtually a yr after the earlier batch, there may be now Parcel 12 of the Reserve Casks within the Single Malts of Scotland sequence. These releases are at all times a composition of a number of casks of the identical sort (on this case between 4 and seven casks). This time there may be Aultmore, Royal Brackla and Ben Nevis.
Aultmore 12 yo 2011 (48%, Single Malts of Scotland ‘Reserve Casks’ 2023, Parcel 12, barrels)
Nostril: the floral facet of Aultmore comes out (dandelions), mingling with grassy notes and rounder vanilla. Then mild ginger, lemon skins and hints of cider apple. After some time extra sweetness seems, with natural honey and lingonberry.
Mouth: pretty creamy, with a pleasant texture, some vanilla and butter biscuit. Peach and light-weight toffee comes out. That is countered by lemon zest, grapefruits and rhubarb. Additionally white pepper, candy oak and natural notes in direction of the top.
End: medium, with extra citrus and liquorice, hints of coconut flakes and candy sawdust.
We had an identical providing of Aultmore 2011 in Parcel 4. The additional two years balanced it out and added complexity, however I nonetheless discover it lacks that little one thing to make it stand out. In inventory at Tyndrum Whisky and Grasp of Malt for example.
Royal Brackla 9 yo 2014 (48%, Single Malts of Scotland ‘Reserve Casks’ 2023, Parcel 12, barrels)
Nostril: just a little lactic at first, with hints of candy buttermilk and bread dough. Then fudge, some honey and browing pears. Yellow apple, shortbread and lemonade. Very younger nonetheless.
Mouth: sturdy spirit, with a thick texture but in addition a youngish profile (malty notes, Pilsner beer). Barley sugars, buttery notes and lemon gums. Mid-palate a pleasant wave of espresso notes and chocolate comes out, in addition to warming hints of peppercorns.
End: medium, with extra warming wooden spice and cereals.
An unusual profile, beginning youngish and never solely balanced. The evolution on the palate is kind of good although. Maybe bottled just a little too quickly, proper now it seems like a blender’s whisky. Out there from The Whisky Trade and Tyndrum Whisky for example. Rating: 82/100
Ben Nevis 9 yo 2013 (48%, Single Malts of Scotland ‘Reserve Casks’ 2023, Parcel 12, refill butts)
Nostril: the sulphurous type, with cooked cabbage and spent matchstick heads. Moist hay, porridge, hazelnuts and malt. Hints of praline and cocoa within the background. Hints of toast and candied peels. Wants time to open up and by no means clears up solely.
Mouth: wealthy, with purple apples, cocoa and light-weight hints of wooden smoke. That sulphurous contact is omnipresent although. A refined meaty contact, together with clove and pepper. Then drops of espresso and leafy notes. A imprecise sweetness beneath, however hardly any fruits as such.
End: fairly lengthy, on chocolate mousse, bittersweet spice, orange peel and a roasted nuts.
So yeah, no highflyers on this session – a matter of private desire after all. This cumbersome and soiled Ben Nevis character can’t win me over. In that sense it jogs my memory of that different 2013 I had from SMOS, most likely from the identical batch of casks. Discovered it at The Whisky Trade and Royal Mile Whiskies, amongst others. Rating: 79/100
