New Arrivals…

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

1997 Bunnahabhain 13 Year Old Murray McDavid Port Finish Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($65.99)

1999 Laphroaig 11 Year Old, Murray McDavid, Lafite Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($69.99)

Back in Stock…

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

1999 Bowmore 11 Year Old Murray McDavid Yquem Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($59.99)

1999 Bowmore 11 Year Old Signatory Unchillfiltered Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 8 available ($54.99)

2002 Bowmore 8 Year Old Murray McDavid Latour Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 5 available ($49.99)

Clynelish 11 year old, Unchillfiltered Signatory Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($49.99)

1971 Macallan Speymalt 38 year old Gordon & MacPhail Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($359.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com/
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Ralfy at www.ralfy.com has uncovered a hidden Whisky-Gem in Whisky Review 242 – Sheep Dip Old Hebridean 1990 . . . Ralfy recommended!

Polo Crowd Celebrate the Ultimate New Year in India

Royal Salute, the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, marked its third year as title sponsor of The Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup, with its largest and most international crowd watching the Central Academy team win the impressive tournament.

The annual New Year’s Eve Procession, lead by His Highness the Maharaja of Jodhpur, marked the end of the five day polo event with the Central Academy team taking the title, outshining the Yuvraj Knights on the day with some scintillating polo.

The tournament attracted a high quality field including India’s Samir Suhag and Argentina’s Andres Weisz, both 5 goal players. Guests of nobility such as Prince Carl-Eugen Oettingen-Wallerstein and his wife Princess Anna of Bavaria also took part.

Set in the majestic shadows of Umaid Bhawan Palace, guests of Royal Salute were hosted from 26 – 31 December by His Highness with guest of honour, the 13th Duke of Argyll, the Hereditary Master of the Royal Household in Scotland. VIPs from every continent enjoyed the five days of international polo which culminated in the exclusive Royal Salute Golden Jubilee Ball.

Neil Macdonald, Global Brand Director for Royal Salute, commented: “There is no event quite like the Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup. Set within one of the world’s most majestic cities, guests have been treated to breathtaking experiences and a world-class polo tournament. This has truly been a spectacular event.”

The Maharaja’s famous New Year’s Eve procession and celebration at Mehrangarh Fort provided an unforgettable conclusion to the Jodhpur polo season, with an extraordinary spectacle of traditional dance, music, fireworks and festivities, ending on the rooftop above the blue city with a party under the stars.

The Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup further highlights Royal Salute’s growing commitment to international polo, with sponsorships of some of the world’s most prestigious polo events across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Royal Salute World Polo Series continues in January 2012 at the Royal Salute Nations Cup in Dubai.

Royal Salute
The pinnacle of Scotch whisky, award-winning Royal Salute was first created as a tribute by Chivas Brothers to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II upon her coronation in 1953. This defining luxury whisky has a very powerful and sophisticated style, and has become the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky brand.

Royal Salute has a long legacy of paying tribute to nobility and leadership; it is part of the brand’s DNA
• 1953: Royal Salute created to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen’s coronation
• 2003: Royal Salute 50 Year Old launched for the 50th anniversary of the coronation, also paid tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary’s and Sir Tensing Norgay’s on the anniversary of their successful ascent of Everest
• 2005: Royal Salute 38 Year Old launched – a tribute from Scotland, inspired by the Stone of Destiny
• 2010: Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute launched paying tribute to the craftsmanship of the four master blenders who have safeguarded the Royal Salute legacy since 1953
• 2011: Royal Salute Tribute to Honour launched, the Honours are most notable and compelling symbols of Scottish royalty

Royal Salute World Polo
In addition to the Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup, Jodhpur, India, the Scotch whisky is proud to support some of the world’s most prestigious and luxurious polo tournaments.
• China Royal Salute Tang Polo Cup, Beijing
• China Royal Salute China Open, Beijing
• UAE Royal Salute Nations Cup, Dubai
• Brazil Triple Coroa Tournament, Helvetia Polo Club, Sao Paulo
• Australia Sydney Gold Cup, Sydney
• Korea Country Polo Club, Jeju

In 2011, Royal Salute World Polo was proud to support several charity polo tournaments, supporting charities whose patrons include the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
• U.S The Foundation Polo Challenge 2011, Santa Barbara, California in aid of the U.S Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry
• UK The Sentebale Polo Cup 2011, Coworth Park, Berkshire,
• UK Bernard Weatherhill Polo Cup, Tetbury, England

Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.

Let other poets raise a fracas
“Bout vines, an’ wines, an’ drucken Bacchus,
An’ crabbit names an’stories wrack us,
An’ grate our lug:
I sing the juice Scotch bear can mak us,
In glass or jug.
Taken from Scotch Drink , Robert Burns 1785
 
As we approach Burns Night, around the globe a glass will be raised to toast the Bard and his poetry. The above translates nicely after a few Duncan Taylor drams – contact us now for replenishments! 

New Dimensions Bottlings Available:

Dimensions Glen Elgin 1999 12yo 46.0% Batch 1
Colour:  Gold
Nose:  Gooseberries, lime becomes thicker. Beeswax, lemon sherbet and then some menthol notes.
Taste: Lots of fruits, touch of chocolate and faint aniseed notes.
Finish: Becomes a little grassier, touch of cinnamon stocks, grated nutmeg and slightly bruised bananas.
Comment:  A lot going on, mainly fruit and grassy – I like it!!
 
Dimensions Glenlossie 2000 11yo 46.0% Batch 1
Colour:  Pale Gold
Nose: Rhubarb & custard. Pine nuts and a touch of dry smoke.
Taste: Crisp and robust. Very rounded. Fruit and spices with a buttery coating.
Finish: Long and citrusy becoming dry right at the end.
Comment:  A well-balanced delicious dram!!
 
Dimensions Glen Moray 1994 17YO 46.0% Batch 1
Colour: Bright Gold
Nose: Fresh mint, lime cordial and candy cane (or have I been over-indulging on the Christmas goodies!)
Taste: Wow – Rich, fruits, pistachio nuts, barley, sugar and a juicy oakiness.
Finish: Light spices, white pepper and caramel chews.
Comment:  This is Delicious!
 
Dimensions Glentauchers 1996 15yo 46.0% Batch 1
Colour:  Gold
Nose:  Sweet vanilla, strawberries, cream and some kiwi fruit. Touch of ground ginger, butterscotch, honey and then toffee.
Taste: Vanilla, orange zest, some grassy notes emerge with coconut milk, lemon grass and more ground ginger.
Finish: Soft, whisps of lemon bon bons and crème brulee.
Comment: Lots of fruit with slight Thai notes.
 
Dimensions Linkwood 1997 14yo 46.0% Batch 1
Colour:  Pale Straw
Nose: Iced gingerbread. Lovely creaminess, vanilla essence.
Taste: Lemon grass. Chewy and thick mouth feel. Apples, green bananas. A veritable fruit salad.
Finish: Lingering fruitiness with buttery shortbread.
Comment:  A juicy dram!
 
Dimensions Macduff 1997 14yo 46.0% Batch 1
Colour: Warm Gold
Nose:  Sweet grass, Fresh oak, lemongrass, creamy toffee notes and toasted almonds.
Taste: Sweet apples, hint of ginger, lemon. Touch of aniseed, creamy.
Finish: Initial fruity notes gives way to oaky creaminess.
Comment:  A refreshing dram!
 
Dimensions Braes of Glenlivet 1989 22yo 55.4% Cask 979
Colour: Pale Straw
Nose: Touch of menthol, buttered brown bread. Ground ginger, some toffee notes with light hay and greenhouses!
Taste: Sweet, lots of vanilla with a hint of bitter chocolate. Some fresh cut grass still stuck in the mower (Warm grass)!  Touch of mint and faint coconut.
Finish: Medium to long with honey, ground almonds and a trace of pistachios.
Comment:  Braeval/Braes of Glenlivet? Whatever you call it this is a great 11am dram!
 
Dimensions Glen Moray 1991 20yo 54.8% Cask 9408
Colour: Gold
Nose: Spearmint, vanilla and orange zest. Jelly beans.
Taste: Vanilla spices, creamy fudge. Touch of cinnamon, sprinklings of icing sugar.
Finish: Tremendous length. Lush!
Comment:  A “Cracking” Dram!!
 
Dimensions Glen Moray 1986 25yo 51.6% Cask 2311
Colour: Warm Gold
Nose: Cocoa powder, oxo cubes, flat cola, orange blossoms and candy floss.
Taste: Honey, some more fruits, honeycomb. Touch of saltiness and then some ginger root (whole) and all spice.
Finish: More grassy notes emerge – touch of cranberries and iced sponge cake.
Comment:  Perfect for a crisp winter morning!
 
Dimensions Glenlivet 1981 30yo 44.3% Cask 9624
Colour:  Warm Gold
Nose: Almonds, leather, peaches, liquorice, cream rhubarb, soft pickles and grain mustard.
Taste:  Caramel, gooseberries, soft oakiness and then some heavier fruits. Figs and dates, and then mint. Toffee sweets gets bigger and bigger.
Finish: Lots of toffee, traces of wood smoke and lots of raisin butter.
Comment:  Glenlivet really does age well – toffee and fruits all the way!!
 
Dimensions Teaninich 1983 28yo 48.0% Cask 6717
Colour:  Bright Gold
Nose: Fresh mint, sugar coated almonds and a dollop of vanilla custard.
Taste:  Greengages, lime, lemon zest. Hint of aniseed and a touch of juicy oak.
Finish: Long and refreshing with the fruits lingering.
Comment:  A fresh vibrant dram.
 
Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited

Glenfarclas NAS 175th Anniversary (43%, OB, 2011)

A conflicted no age statement Glenfarclas; a lack of clear age statement on the label however 1836 and 2011 also on the label. No matter this bottling is to celebrate their 175th Anniversary, well done indeed. The nose is very big and very sherried with some leather and tobacco (representing wood notes) in the back ground but the sherry is center stage and it’s very good. Rich and sweet, this is all very nice and very seductive. The taste is gentle and the wood notes arrive first, a little dryness and then the sherry arrives, once again very rich and sweet. Quite excellent! Dried fruits (apricot, raisins, black currents) and of course some Christmas cake. The finish is very spicy and dry at first and then dry sherry arrives along with more of the oak spice and it continues to for quite a while and remains very good to the end.

What an excellent dram! A sherry bomb that fits the bill very nicely indeed.

£80

Score 89 points

Join Us for a very special event!

5007 Underwood Ave
Omaha, Nebraska 68132
402-553-9501
http://www.dundeedell.com/

Hello Dell Friends! We hope everyone had a safe and Happy New Years!  We are having a very special scotch tasting this month, Ed Kohl is presenting the tasting on Thursday, January 19th @ 7 p.m.  Make sure to make a reservation before it sells out (http://www.dundeedell.com/ / 402.553.9501).

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

A Happy New Year to you all and all the best in 2012!

2011 was a whirlwind year for whisky at KWM, and judging by the whiskies en route and the events already planned 2012 will continue to build on that momentum. I have many, many new whiskies to tell you about in the next full Malt Messenger, but in the meantime there are three fantastic events coming up which deserve some attention.

Firstly, this Thursday I will be hosting The Ultimate Glenmorangie Tasting at the Kensington Wine Market. This tasting will showcase all the whiskies in in the Glenmorangie range: starting with the 10 Year Old Original we will work our way through the Extra Matured range: Lasanta, Quinta Ruban and Nectar D’Or; following it with the 18 Year Old, Signet and Quarter Century before capping off this already spectacular tasting with the new Glenmorangie Pride 1981 ($4499.99). The Pride is a 28 year old expression of Glenmorangie distilled in 1981 which was finished for 10 years in Chateau D”Yquem Sauternes casks. Only 1000 1L bottles have been released worldwide, filled into bespoke curvaceous Baccarat crystal decanters and presented in the most unique box of any whisky I’ve ever seen. Created by Wouter Schueblin, levers in the box gently lower the whisky as the box is opened. Less than a dozen bottles of this whisky has come to Canada, and it is rarer still in Alberta. This is without exaggeration the Ultimate Glenmorangie tasting, and for the occasion we’ve had a special Glencairn glass commissioned. For just $150, you will have the opportunity to sample a flight of whiskies which would set you back nearly $6,000.00! As a final incentive all the Glenmorangies will be 10% off. Call 403-283-8000 or visit our website: https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php  to register.

Next up is the MS Calgary Whisky Festival on Thursday January 19th, 6PM, at the Art Gallery of Calgary. The MS Society of Calgary and Southern Alberta in partnership with Kensington Wine Market and some of the finest whisky brands in the world is putting on a Calgary Whisky Festival to raise funds to provide community support and cutting edge research. The event will feature over 100 whiskies from: distilleries like Bowmore, Macallan, Benromach, Springbank, Bruichladdich, Highland Park, Tullibardine, Glenfarclas, The Diageo Classic Malts and others; there will also be whiskies from Independent Bottlers such as Adelphi, Gordon & MacPhail and William Cadenhead; and other whiskies from around the World like Amrut, Sullivan’s Cove and Rough Stock. Many distilleries are sending their brand ambassadors including Jamie MacKenzie of Morrison Bowmore, James Robertson of Tullibardine, Ranald Watson of Springbank and Michael Urquhart of Benromach/Gordon & MacPhail. The event will feature great food, fabulous silent auction items, art and of course some incredible whiskies. Tickets are $95 and can either be purchased through Kensington Wine Market: by phone and online https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php; and through the MS Society of Calgary and Southern Alberta: http://mssociety.zoobis.com/ ..

Finally, January is also the month of Robert Burns and Kensington Wine Market is thrilled to be hosting its 7th Annual Robbie Burns Supper, Scots Wha Hae on Wednesday January 25th at Fort Calgary. Every year we invite a special guest from one of Scotland’s finest distilleries, and over the last 4 years we also launched a special new whisky at each event. This year will be no exception, our special guest is the larger than life George Grant of Glenfarclas Distillery, and he will be joining us to celebrate the launch of a new cask exclusive to the Kensington Wine Market. This will be the first such cask of Glenfarclas in Canada! Participants at the event will be treated to six whiskies (including our new cask and the Chairman’s Reserve 175th Anniversary bottling – $703.99), song, dance, poetry and a traditional Burns Supper. Tickets are $99 and include all drinks, food, service and gratuities. There are still tickets available, but they sell out every year and won’t last long. As with the other two tasting you can register for Scots Wha Hae, our 7th Annual Burn Supper by phone 403-283-8000 or online at https://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php ..

I hope this Malt Messenger Bulletin finds you in good spirits.

Stay tuned for the next full Malt Messenger in the next week or so.

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson
Kensington Wine Market
http://www.kensingtonwinemarket.com/

MORRISON BOWMORE DISTILLERS APPOINTS RACHEL BARRIE AS MASTER BLENDER

Glasgow, Scotland (January 10, 2012) – Morrison Bowmore Distillers (MBD), one of the major names in Scotch Whisky and producers of Auchentoshan, Bowmore and Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, announces the appointment of Rachel Barrie to the newly created position of Master Blender effective immediately. Barrie willalso head up the company’s Spirit Quality Control and laboratory functions. She will join Morrison Bowmore’s Operational Senior Executive Group and report directly to Andrew Rankin, MBD Operations Director and Chief Blender. Barrie joins the company bringing a vast amount of knowledge and experience having served many years in a similar role within The Glenmorangie Company.

Commenting on the appointment Andrew Rankin says, “Rachel is one of the most experienced Master Blenders in our Industry and I am extremely delighted that she will be joining our team here at MBD. We have a very strong blending team within the company and this appointment will massively strengthen and reinforce our commitment to producing the ultimate in quality Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.”

Barrie’s background before joining MBD is steeped in the whisky industry. Barrie comes to Morrison Bowmore from The Glenmorangie Company where she held the positions of Product Development Manager and ultimately their Whisky Creator and Master Blender and was responsible for creating some of their award-winning whiskies including Glenmorangie Signet and Ardbeg Corryvreckan. Prior to that, Barrie worked for Macdonald & Muir Ltd as the Quality Lab Manager and for the Scottish Whisky Research Institute as a research scientist. 

MBD’s Auchentoshan, Bowmore and Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch Whiskies are distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. Contact: +44 (0) 1283 217703 or enquiries@cellartrends.co.uk

ABOUT MORRISON BOWMORE DISTILLERS (http://www.morrisonbowmore.com/)

Founded in 1951, Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Suntory Limited and is one of the major names in Scotch whisky. With three Malt Whisky Distilleries situated in the majorproduction areas of Islay (Bowmore), the Highlands (Glen Garioch) and the Lowlands (Auchentoshan),as well as significant blending, bottling and warehousing facilities, the company has established a leading role in the export of bulk blend, vatted malt and in particular `Bottled in Scotland’ Blends and Single Malts. The success of Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited is based upon maintenance of traditional values and innovation in the marketplace.

We are opening 2012 with a wide ranging selection of nine (9) different OLD MALT CASK bottlings , three (3) OLD AND RAREs (including an Ardbeg 20) – not forgetting one each from PREMIER BARREL, DIRECTOR’S CUT and a CLAN DENNY SPEYSIDE vatting.

Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK:

OMC2119 BUNNAHABHAIN 10 YEARS
Nose: Big, salty, malty – spicy – oily and softly peated.
Palate: Big – mouthcoatingly oily, barleyed and smoky.
Finish: Big – warmingly spiced – still oily and malty. (F)

OMC2107 LAPHROAIG 12 YEARS
Nose: Distinctly Islay – carrying sweet peat smoke + soft chewy tar
Palate: Immediately mouth coating – sweet smoke + rich liquorice
Finish: Long – replicating nose & palate with smoke & bonfire ashes (J)

OMC2131 LAPHROAIG 15 YEARS
Nose: Pungently peated + sweet barley + damp autumn bonfires
Palate: Ashy – sooty – sweetly gristed + light creosote + honey
Finish: Smoked, still ashy/sooty + liquorice & hickory (F)

OMC2129 TOBERMORY 15 YEARS
Nose: Dry hay, cut grass, wet muddy puddles & light peat.
Palate: Sweetly phenolic + liquorice, camphor and barley.
Finish: The spices are sweet, the pat is softer, the grass drier. (F)

OMC2127 CAOL ILA 16 YEARS
Nose: Oily rags in style + honey, smoke & soft peat.
Palate: Phenolic – sweetly spiced with late creosoted beachy fences.
Finish: Gently smoked + Scotch tablet + warming spices & late peat. (F)

OMC2128 GLENALLACHIE 16 YEARS
Nose: Clean, gristy + honeycomb, oak & grass and vanilla.
Palate: Sweet, sugary, barley-sugared & warmingly spiced.
Finish: Softly spiced now with more of that barley sugar style. (F)
OMC2135 GLENTURRET SHERRY 17 YEARS
Nose: Christmas pudding style – sweet spices + nuts + candied fruit + toffee
Palate: Sweet & softly spiced + a home baked quality with macerated raisins
Finish: Remains sweetly spiced then runs to dried orange zest character (J)

OMC2133 GLEN KEITH 18 YEARS
Nose: Full, creamy, round + cedar wood, red fruit and a gristy style
Palate: Mouthcoatingly oily, Bourbon in style, vanilla sweet & herbal
Finish: Sugar candy sweet + barley gristiness + more great herbs/spices (F)

OMC2136 TOMATIN 21 YEARS
Nose: Sweet & softly spiced + vanilla + honey on buttered toast
Palate: Fresh & mellow – sweetly spiced + a soft oak quality
Finish: Medium long – still spicy – running to an oak and now citric tang (J)

Tasting Notes for PREMIER BARREL:

PBR0112 MORTLACH 8 YEARS
Beyond a beguiling blonde bombshell of bona fides – sup upon sweetly scented spices balancing a bastion of bold barley and a halo’ed halcyon of hearty honey – H-H-HOT TODDY style (F)

Tasting Notes follow here for OLD AND RARE

OAR0160 ARDBEG 20 YEARS
Massively tarry and distinctly Islay in style on the nose plus creosote, soot and hot beach sand all apparent. Palatewise the tar is still evident, now sweet – now with creosote, soft leather and heavily malted barley – running to a finish which is Scotch tablet sweet, more barley’d now with late bonfire ash and more of that same tar. (F)

OAR0157 MACALLAN 32 YEARS
On the nose, detect honey, barley sugar and toffee running to a sweet, ripe banana character. The palate is smooth and carries a gentle mix of sweet spices plus a creamy butterscotch-on-vanilla-ice-cream style. The finish replicates these earlier qualities then develops a considerable drier aspect with subtle, light oaky traits. (J)

OAR0155 BUNNAHABHAIN SHERRY 33 YEARS
The nose opens with a spicy character carrying a cedar wood & tobacco style reminiscent of polished cigar boxes. The palate is smooth and sweetly mouth coating with soft spices, toffee and milk chocolate. The finish is long, now drier, lightly oaked and remains richly spiced. (J)

DIRECTOR’S CUT Tasting Notes:

DIR0005 MACALLAN 21 YEARS
Nose: Opens sweet with ripe banana, toffee + a home baked quality
Palate: Fresh, carrying a creamy, vanilla’d sweet style + ripe fruit (peaches?)
Finish: Medium long – still attractively sweet + an orange pith character (J)

The CLAN DENNY (Speyside) Vatting tastes like this –

Opens sweet and spicy on the nose – carrying a caramelised fruit character. The palate is reminiscent of a malt chocolate drink – sweet with mouthcoating spices from those sherry matured malts in the vatting. The finish is soft, still sweet and with an attractive light nutty character. (J)

We hope your year end trading season has been good for you …. we thank you for business we have conducted together in the past and look forward to more in the future.

All best wishes for 2012 for a wealthy and HEALTHY 2012!

Fred Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing & Co at www.douglaslaing.com

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Edradour 10yo (46%, Signatory UCF Collection, C#157, 634 Bts., D’17/04/1996 B’16th/02/2007)

A single cask bottling from the owners of Edradour distillery; Signatory Vintage Scotch Whisky Company and bottled without chill filtration and at natural colour however it is reduced from cask strength to 46%. The nose is rich with tinned fruit cocktail (quite sweet) and Christmas cake (think of sticking your nose right down close to the cake). There is also a good earthiness is the back ground enhanced by some chocolate and bees wax. All very delightful. The taste is very good sweetness and some really excellent sherry and then the oak spice, earthiness and chocolate really takes over. It is really very nice and not a wobbly moment in sight. The finish is warming and quite long; more of the oak spice, dried tobacco and then some cream sherry at the last.

A first rate Edradour with the bonus of being from a first rate sherry cask. A good tussle between the sweetness of the sherry and the earthiness/tobacco.

£38 (a recent 2000 example is available from Loch Fyne Whiskies)

Score 88 points