Grant’s No Age Statement ‘The Family Reserve’ (40%, OB, +/-2009)

The nose reveals black pepper, fruit, cereal and the vaguest hint of smoke (real or imagined) along with some really good grain whisky and honey, some hints of dark chocolate. The taste is a really good mix of grain, malt, the fruit, chocolate and very light raw tobacco giving it a strong back bone; the taste is really, really good. Oh, the marvelous sweetness and grain all intermingled together, this is sensational. The finish is warming, full of grain and malt, tobacco, black pepper and is long and sweet. After a number of minutes the finish still crashes on and on….

It’s simply very good and well worth the money. Well done Grant’s.

C$25

Score 87 Points

At Whisky Intelligence we do not drag out the garlic juice, 1,000,000 candle power arc lights and wooden stakes at the first sign of a blended whisky and generally celebrate them while recognizing the economics of the situation that without blended whiskies there wouldn’t be any single malts. During this week we’ve examinrd a few blended whiskies but next week it’ll be back to the malts!

The English Whisky Company reports

27th November 2009 we tasted our first English Whisky alongside the renowned Jim Murray who writes ‘The Whisky Bible’. It was a fantastic moment. We will be posting some tasting notes very soon.

Chapter 6 3yr old Single Malt Whisky is available 16thDecember online and instore.

The distillery produced its first ‘run’ in November 2006 and it was with much excitement and with an enormous sense of achievement that we filled the first barrel of ‘St. George’s whisky’. We now produce on average 13 casks a week, building up a good stock of delicious English Malt Spirit.

Visit the English Whisky Company at http://www.englishwhisky.co.uk

The story of the  Douglas ~ of Drumlanrig ~ Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Distilled those many years ago, our selected malt whiskies have matured in a cold, dark, Scottish warehouse until sampling has ensured their specific selection. Our subsidiary Langside Distillers has worked closely with the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry on his ever increasing range of preferred cask bottling

The common interest shared by Langside Distillers and His Grace in the finest products Scotland can offer, has led to the development of the DOUGLAS ~ of Drumlanrig ~ Single Malt Whiskies. “As with our other Malts DOUGLAS is offered un-coloured and in the old fashioned manner of not being chill filtered.

More recently, the whole packaging has undergone a restyle to make the whisky as appealing to the eye as it is to the taste. The symbolic winged heart crest of the Douglas family commemorates the courage of Sir James Douglas “The Good”, killed in action conveying the heart of King Robert The Bruce on a crusade to the Holy Land. The Duke’s Drumlanrig Castle, which is depicted on the label, has welcomed many distinguished visitors from Mary Queen of Scots to the first moon astronaut Neil Armstrong, except for one – “Bonnie Prince Charlie”, retreating in his ill-faited 1745 rebellion invaded the castle with 2000 followers two days before Christmas, eating them out of house and home!

The all important information on the Malt – it’s age, bottling date, cask style, number of bottles filled etc, appears on the paper label below the “branding” label. It’s gift box carries the same Malt information which appears on the bottle – all designed to appeal to the novice and the connoisseur alike.

THE PORTFOLIO

•World famous master distiller
•Single Malt Single Cask
•Rare single malts from world class distilleries:

•Benriach 18 yrs
•Benrinnes 13 yr
•Blair Athol 13 yrs
•Bowmore 18 yrs
•Braeval 18 yrs
•Bunnahabhain 12 yrs
•Glen Garioch 16 yrs
•Glen Grant 31 yrs
•Macallan 20 yrs
•Laphroaig 15 yrs
•Port Ellen 25 yrs

Established in 1948 – Members of the Scotch Whisky Association – Winner of the Queen’s Award of Export Excellence

http://www.douglaslaingwhisky.com/home.php?WEBYEP_DI=29

Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked two new items from Glen Garioch Distillery

Glen Garioch 1990
54.6% abv
£64.50 inc vat
£56.09 ex vat

Glen Garioch 1978
57.8% abv
£285.00 inc vat
£247.83 ex vat

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Please visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at www.lfw.co.uk

Bell’s No Age Statement ‘Original’ (40%, OB, +/-2009)

The nose is sweet and distinctly of grain whisky, it’s not overly complicated but pleasant without any off notes. Also some brown sugar, light citrus, pear and well, whisky. There are no aromas one would associate with age but there is a distinct lack of harshness one would usually associate with youth. The taste is much like the nose, sweet, pleasant and not overly complicated but starts to broaden after a short while and the grain is quite evident. Once again there are no off notes and it’s not overly complicated but it’s surprisingly good and it’s quite evident why many, many people enjoy it. The finish is not overly long and once again it’s not complicated with the grain sweetness being in full effect. After a few minutes the grain expands to reveal some raw tobacco and some leather but these last two descriptors are very light.

Actually a very well balanced dram with lots of flavour and sweetness and whisky, not the most complicated blended Scotch whisky on the market but certainly worth the money; this is going to be sprung on friends, blind. It does the job, a bit of a surprise here, has the recipe been tinkered with? It’s certainly not the same whisky for years ago or perhaps it’s merely a change in palate.

C$25

Score 80 Points

Some quick searching on google revealed that this new no age statement bottling of Bell’s was introduced in 2008 replacing the Bell’s 8yo to much disappointment and angst of loyal Bell’s drinkers who declared the new whisky to be ‘harsh’. It seems they’ve been heard becasue this bottling is not harsh. – WI

At Whisky Intelligence we do not drag out the garlic juice, 1,000,000 candle power arc lights and wooden stakes at the first sign of a blended whisky and generally celebrate them while recognizing the economics of the situation that without blended whiskies there wouldn’t be any single malts. During the next few days we’ll be examining a few blended whiskies but next week it’ll be back to the malts!

The Macphunn 18yo 57% November 2009

Bottled November 2009

Fascinating story here… (from LFW)

Price excluding VAT: £59.91
£68.90 Including VAT at 15%

This fourth cask (dated November 2009) of a single sherry-matured Speysider at cask strength bottled for Sir Charles Maclean of Strachur, Loch Fyne.

As a counter to the last bottling which was as black as black is, this one glows from within like amber – the stone rather than amber the colour, a real shine!

Another big sherry-wood dram, but not over the top, so you can speculate that it’s from American oak rather than European, I’ve no idea, but that seems a good, pointless discussion to start with, this is going to be a long and enjoyable evening…

Macphunn ‘November 2009’ (as described on the label to distinguish it from previous bottlings) is a single sherry butt with a whopping yield of 610 bottles. Inside there is golden syrup to begin with… A nice intro then the real drama starts with a tannic note that twists into an increasingly sherry-sulphury crescendo that never seems to level off – or end – until the swallow when the match-heads peak and the tongue is left as a well-sprung dance-floor for Indiana Jones to fandango! There is a smoky residue that fades with the credits.

Another boffo Macphunn, I’m taking one to share with my chums this evening, let speculation begin! I don’t want to call all Macphunns ‘ace’ because it questions the accolade, but it’s definitely boffo.

THE KEEPER OF DUNCONNEL IN THE ISLES OF THE SEA

or

A TALE OF TWO CHARLIES

“The Macphunn” was the whisky of Sir Fitzroy Maclean’s hotel, The Creggans in Strachur across Loch Fyne from Inveraray. Named after Archie Macphunn who was hung ’till deid’ for sheep stealing in about 1608 – yet recovered once revived with an interesting whisky cocktail. Sir Fitzroy is no longer with us but his son Charles Maclean (no, not that one) has revived the brand. For his first bottling Charles Maclean (yes that one) has selected a single cask of an 18 year old sherry matured Speyside single malt and it is exceptional, a yield of under 300 bottles so don’t delay.

In case you don’t know, Sir Fitzroy is considered to be the inspiration for our James Bond. Charles Maclean (no, not that one) denies any such claim but it has been noted that he has never been seen in the same room as Charles Maclean (yes, that one) at the same time, I tried to get a picture of Charles (the other one) but it proved very difficult…

Sir Charles

Charlie Maclean (no, the other one)’s tasting note:

Old MacPhunn 18YO (the first ONE)
Single cask Speyside @56.9%Vol

Appearance: Deep amber. Big beads, medium linger

Aroma: A big, rich nose, with only slight prickle. Dry marzipan and fruit cake moistened with Madeira. The cake has burnt edges, which after a while lend a slightly smoky scent to the whisky. The marzipan segues into almonds; there are cherries in the cake. Nose flattens somewhat when water is added and the fruity notes shift slightly, now joined by buttery/oily notes.

Flavour: Tasted straight, the overall flavour is very sweet, rich and warming, with a soft, full texture. Slightly tannic and mouth drying. Long finish. Drinks well straight, but benefits from a drop of water (two tea-spoons). The texture remains viscous; the taste not so sweet. Now there are some light gorse notes, with spice (allspice and white pepper) – the pepper stimulating the tongue and warming the throat.

Comment: A warming, reviving dram – perfect for recovering from a hanging! Unusually for a whisky drawn from a European oak cask, there is no trace of sulphur, and remarkably little tannic dryness. An exceptional example of this Top Class malt.

According to Our Joynson, this is a dram that will soon become as legendary as the stoy that give it its name.

To purchase MacPhunn November 2009 visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at http://www.lfw.co.uk/

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010

Over 3,850 whiskies tasted and evaluated by the most famous nose in world whisky, Jim Murray.  The most comprehensive whisky guide ever written, now further expanded with around 1,000 new entries and hundreds more updated.

The best selling ratings guide to all types of whisky, including Scotch single malt, blends, vatted malts, single grains; Irish pot still, malts, blends, grains; Bourbon, rye, Japanese, Canadian, Australian, European and many others.

Detailed, professionally analysed yet easy to understand tasting notes on more than 3,850 of the world’s leading and lesser-known whiskies.

Reviews of all that’s new and worth looking out for in the world of whisky.

Specially designed for quick and easy reference in any liquor store or supermarket.  Each whisky evaluated by celebrated whisky guru Jim Murray in his unique, forthright, honest, amusing, fiercely independent and non-pretentious style.

The perfect gift. Or just an essential aid for yourself.

ISBN:978-0-9554729-4-7   Publishers: Dram Good Books Limited
ISBN:0-9554729-4-6
$21.95

360 pages + cover and jacket

You make order your copy of the 2010 Whisky Bible from Meluki at http://store.meluki.ca/ or 604-925-4415 (tel)

Octave & Quarter Cask Range “The O&Q Range”

You possibly have noticed on visits to our premises here in Huntly that we have been experimenting for quite a few years on the use of Octave and Quarter casks. In fact we have been maturing whiskies this way since the mid 90’s but only more recently on a commercial scale. We currently have around a hundred Octave casks maturing with loads of new whiskies going into cask soon. Quarters will be available for sale soon.

We haven’t held back in any way with the type of  whiskies being used in our casks as we want to continue experimenting with many different whiskies, ages, woods and cask sizes. So far the outcome has been very positive, with excellent feedback on tastings and resultant sales to private UK clients.

Octaves are the ideal size for a broad spectrum of customers, they contain on average 70 bottles, are affordable and therefore not going to break the bank in these recessionary times. Private buyers, corporate customers, professional organisations, bars, private clubs, restaurants are all target markets for low volume single cask , cask strength bottlings.

This range is a separate concept from what we do with the Duncan Taylor Rare Auld range which is clearly single casks from first fill through to final bottling. The Octave and Quarter cask range contains whiskies of all ages, mainly from casks that have been matured for a number of years beforehand.

The “O and Q range” is available for bottling under any label and casks are only being sold on the basis that they are ultimately bottled at Duncan Taylor’s bottling plant.

We have produced an actual label “The Octave” or “The Quarter” for those people who want to identify the brand directly with Duncan Taylor, please see a copy of the label on the attached pdf. If a private or customer label is required then approval must be given by Duncan Taylor & Co Ltd beforehand.

Casks are only being sold on a CWO basis ( cash with order) and discounts are only given on multiple cask purchases. Duncan Taylor reserve the right of sale. Casks will be held after sale for a period of up to one year before bottling. All bottling costs and storage are included in the price. Label costs for own label will be the responsibility of the customer. Note that we do have a cask ratio system built into our sales so that we do not have too much emphasis on demand of our rarer whiskies.

If you require any further information please feel free to contact info@duncantaylor.com

We hope you are going to participate in our cask programme and good luck with sales.

Kind Regards

Karen Law

Marketing Manager

Duncan Taylor & Co Limited
Scotch Whisky Merchants & Bottlers
4 Upperkirkgate
Huntly
Aberdeenshire, AB54 8JU
Scotland
Tel.: +44 (0)1466 794055
Fax:  +44 (0)1466 794618
www.duncantaylor.com
IWSC 2008 , 2009 Trophy Winner
Independent Bottler of the Year 2008 – 2009

Our latest new bottlings comprised of eleven (11) from the OLD MALT CASK, three (3) of the CLAN DENNY Old Grains (in its new livery) with one from OLD & RARE, the fourth batch of BIG PEAT (who is currently setting the Islay heather alight!) and one last Anniversary bottling “For The Road”.

Tasting notes follow:

The OLD MALT CASK Tasting Notes follow:

OMC 1786 HIGHLAND PARK 12 YEAR OLD
Nose: Fresh & clean + toffee + stewed strawberries + liquorice
Palate: Opens sweet, still fresh, runs to light smoke and tobacco
Finish: Short but complex with gentle smoke and a maritime style (J)

OMC 1799 Mortlach 12 YEAR OLD
Nose: Sweet with stewed fruit & home baking + rhubard crumble (?)
Palate: More stewed fruit, now with an interestingly spicy character.
Finish: Medium long, remains sweet & fruity, carries to nuts & plums (J)

OMC 1793 BEN NEVIS 13 YEAR OLD WINE FINISHED
Nose: Carries syrup, lemon sherbet and macerated fruit.
Palate: Citric, syrupy and spiced + vanilla fudge and light smoke.
Finish: Spicey sweet, peppery, with more smoke/more spice (F)

OMC 1785 LAPHROAIG 13 YEAR OLD
Nose: Sweet & smoky. Honey on burnt toast + a maritime quality
Palate: Opens sweetly runs quickly to peat smoke, tar and creosote
Finish: Long with damp bonfire ashes, iodine and more peat smoke (J)

OMC 1780 GLENLIVET 13 YEAR OLD SHERRY
Nose: Barley sugar + macerated mandarins + soft sweets
Palate: Round + sweet spices, orange zest + dark chocolate
Finish: A spicy oak character + an orange tang linger on (J)

OMC 1787 GLENLIVET 17 YEAR OLD
Nose: Clean, spicy and gristy. Lightly citric (+ pomade?)
Palate: Nicely replicates the palate + toffee/sugared butter
Finish: Well balanced and subtle – replicating nose and palate. (F)

OMC 1788 MACALLAN 19 YEAR OLD RED WINE FINISH
Nose: Opens with a baked quality + red fruit & cream + soft leather
Palate: Overall fresh & fruitily sweet + cream & fruit character returning
Finish: Medium long – still sweet, gristy, with a red fruit tang (J)

OMC 1779 CRAGGANMORE 20 YEAR OLD
Nose: Opens with vanilla + fruit, develops to strawberry + cream
Palate: Round, still sweet runs to ripe peaches and soft spices
Finish: Medium long, remains fresh and fruity + more vanilla (J)

OMC 1791 HIGHLAND PARK 26 YEAR OLD SHERRY
Nose: Fruity and spiced initially. It runs to clean and dry ozone.
Palate: Hallmarked “sherry” it becomes lightly smoked, spiced and drier.
Finish: Carries barley sugar, cough sweets and more spices. (F)

OMC 1792 GLEN GRANT 34 YEAR OLD
Nose: Barleyed and toffee’d with buttered sugar and citrus.
Palate: Initially light – running to spices, syrup and honey.
Finish: Distinctly smoked + more toffee, sugar and spices. (F)

OMC 1778 BLAIR ATHOL 35 YEAR OLD
Nose: Old fashioned sweetshop: polished wood, cedar, mixed fruit caramels
Palate: Complex, round, sweet + mouthcoating spices + stewed caramelized fruit.
Finish: More spices + burnt caramel on fruit: a “tarte tatin” character. (J)

The OLD & RARE Tasting Note follows:

OAR 0080 BRORA 28 YEAR OLD SHERRY
Barley sugar sweet initially on the nose – it then runs citrically fruited, spicy, and displays some of its Sherry cask heritage – lightly oaked – plus something interestingly oceanic. Palate wise it carries some
desiccating salt – yet is backed by that same earlier barley and fruit, plus a tobacco – and – mocha character. That all runs to a massivly sweet, spicy and warming style, with a light peated quality. (F)

The CLAN DANNY (OLD GRAIN) Tasting Notes follow:

DEN 0026 NORTH BRITISH 30 YEAR OLD
Discover vanilla tablet with a light smoky character on the nose. The palate opens oily, with Chinese spices, then a sweet and nutty style develops to caramelised fruit and butter. The finish is long for a Grain with soft sweet spices and orange zest. (J)

DEN 0027 NORTH OF SCOTLAND 35 YEAR OLD
This is fresh with macerated fruit, interesting spices plus sweet toffee/milky coffee and vanilla on the nose. Rich spices and flambee’ed oranges run on the palate with a hint of smoke and leather. On the medium long finish, detect a zesty orange tang and a burnt caramel sweetness. (J)

DEN 0029 INVERGORDON 44 YEAR OLD
Amazing attractive sweetness appearing on the nose with banoffee pie, creamy caramel flan and rich vanilla. The palate is spicy, still sweet with almonds and a coffee liqueur style. The finish is not so long but deliciously round with caramelized oranges. (J)

North of Scotland 1975 35yo
The Tasting Notes for Anniversary “One for the Road” Bottling of Speyside’s Finest 18 Year Old (Wine finished): are for information only as they do not appear on the label. Nose : Gristy sweet with barley sugar and black cherries
Palate: Warmingly spiced, chewy, with sweet leather – a mulled wine character. Finish: Long and dry – still spicy with an oak tang (J)

Best wishes
Fred Laing

Visit Douglas Laing at http://www.douglaslaing.com/