MacDuff 9yo 2000/2010 (61.1%, Dewar Rattray, 1st Fill Sherry, 307 Bts., C#5778)

Only part of the cask (perhaps the remainder is being kept for bottling at a later date?) and from an unusual distillery; MacDuff is not the most prolific distillery in Scotland. The nose rich in dark fruits and some nice oak, with some time in the glass it becomes creamy and further richness surfaces. Loads of sherry which seems to mask some vibrancy but no matter it’s quite nice. The taste is now vibrant with lashings of sherry and leather backing it all up. It’s very, very dry after of a few moments with loads of oak and sherry. Some later late moments of caramel (think of the caramel/toffee on a warmed apple). The finish is still very dry and warming, it’s also very long and towards the end some malt emerges to look around but then is smacked in the head by some creaminess.

Good fun and a sensational vibrant dram, well sherried and enjoyable.

Score 87 points

Isle of Arran 13yo 1997/2010 (46%, A. Dewar Rattray, Bourbon, 255 Bts., C#97/509)

From the new (2010) 46% line from A. Dewar Rattray; still single cask but bottled at 46% instead of cask strength. The nose is citrus however almost like a lemon cough drop, some biscuity malt hiding shyly in the back ground reminding the entire famed Arran note. Very clean and pleasant; a fine start. The taste is still vibrant and now the malt comes crashing to the fore, this is Arran! Excellent maltiness here nicely backed by the bourbon and some clean oak spice. The lemon/citrus is still present but slightly muted however this does not detract. The finish is clean and filled with the trio of malt, lemon/bourbon and oak spice. It’s quite long and clean, not simple but not overly cluttered, this is whisky at work and it know the direction of its’ compass.

Isle of Arran striking some grand notes here.

Score 88 points.

Highland Park 18yo 1992/2010 (58.6%, A. Dewar Rattray, Bourbon/Rum, 118 bts., C#2)

A strikingly different nose from most Highland Park; actual rum and a distinct creaminess followed by even more rum. “Argh! prepare to be boarded matey’s”. Perhaps if one delves deep enough there is indeed some hints of Highland Park peat smoke however at first and second blush it’s amazingly of RUM. And hints of banana. Any more of this and we’ll be describing a Daiquiri. However it is pleasant. Onto the taste which represents Highland Park quite well, some malt, honey and peat smoke followed by the rum which is all very good, even hints of the bananas which in a fashion bind it all together. The light peat smoke is still evident throughout and is a welcome addition to the rum notes. The finish is warming and more of the rum but once again the very light peat smoke and typical Highland Park honey work well, a very enjoyable finish that goes on and on, very warming with some malt and toast popping up at the very last.

This is very nice whisky and the rum finish works very well.

Score 88 points.

BenRiach 19yo 1991/2010 (46%, A. Dewar Rattray, Bourbon, 226 bts., C#110682)

Another bottling from the new (2010) 46% line. The nose shows some gentle bourbon notes  along with some slight hints of pineapple and clove as well as hints of strawberry. After a few moments in the glass some dusty malt starts to emerge, this is all very nice. The taste is malt and oak spice backed by the bourbon notes but the American influence does not dominate, it only enhances. This is very good and shows the positive influence an ex-American cask can have on Scotch whisky. Despite being reduced to a mere 46% from cask strength there is still oodles of flavour here and perhaps the reduction has not hurt since the alcohol does not dominate. Dusty malt and oak spice towards the later part of the taste, sensational. The finish well behaved and a further reflection of the taste, very nice. A tad restrained but still loads of character lasts for a very long time. After some minutes you are left with some light mint, the dry mat and some dry oakiness. It’s all very long and good.

Brilliant stuff this BenRiach.

Score 89 points.

Bowmore 20yo 1990/2010 (50.2%, 1st fill Bourbon 204 Bts., C#272)

Lots of spice on the nose and some slightly green malt followed by some strong peat smoke all of which work well together however the peat smoke is not over whelming but a very pleasant addition to the sum. There are also some good fruit notes and the afore mentioned oak spice. The taste is very different from many Bowmore (at first), the 1st fill Bourbon hides the character some what but after a moment or two there is no hiding it and it is very evident and good. The peat smoke and some honey emerge and these two really bring it all together. It is also very dry with loads of wood notes which nicely add to the mix. The finish is very much of the lumber yard along with some fruit, cold dark unsweetened tea, peat smoke and leather/tobacco notes. It is all very long and warming and the peat smoke now finally starts to take the reins of power for the final number of minutes; the other descriptors are merely along for the ride.

Nice to see some restrained peat smoke with character.

Score 89 points.

Linkwood 26yo 1984/2010 (55.9%, A. Dewar Rattray, Bourbon, 306 bts., C#1624)

A little floral notes on the nose which differs from most of the flock and then some excellent bourbon aromas, all very good so far. Then some more subtle notes peek out from behind the floral (honey and brown sugar) but the floral, which is actually quite mild, is to the fore. Also some ‘dry’ notes (oak spice and mild unlit tobacco). All in all quite a subtle collection of aromas. The taste is very different from the nose and VERY dry and then surprisingly a little smoke peaks out and intertwines with dry notes. And malt, the malt and some light fruit now emerge, a bit of a jumble (along with the floral) but it works and it’s an superb dram. Light mustard too(!). The finish is malty with hints of floral and the dryness. After a few minutes some fruit and malt is present, fruit and malt and dryness from some oak spice.

Some will find the dryness a little over the top however others, who really like dry whiskies, will be thrilled with this style of whisky.

Score 89 points

Tamdhu 30yo 1980/2010 (55.5%, A. Dewar Rattray, Bourbon, 152 Bts., C#9224)

Some nicely sweetness on the nose, very ‘antique’ and pleasant along with some hints of malt. There are also vague hints of hints of ginger, black liquorice and honey. The combination of the ‘antique and the other characteristics are a heady mix indeed. This is sensational stuff…one must not forget the bourbon, that’s in their also along with some hints for the floral notes one often encounters in Makers Mark. The taste is not overly strong at first which quickly changes) but also some bourbon notes, citrus, malt and some really nice dryness. The finish is much as before however the addition of some dusty malt is a welcome moment to be sure. The finish continues for quite a while but is some what muted quite quickly but this is not a negative, it’s pleasant.

A really nice sample that is not beat about the head by dryness, well balanced. Great whisky.

Score 90 points

Inchgower 36yo 1974/2010 (56.4%, Dewar Rattray, Bourbon, 229 Bts., C#7762)

From A. Dewar Rattray Cask Collection #25. The nose is honeyed and very quickly followed and dominated by some strength in the shape of bourbon notes. The bourbon notes are also intermingled with some apple and pear notes, both of the warmed variety (fresh from the oven in a pie or such). Delightful. Candy floss and now some antique notes wearing the suit of leather and tobacco however the cloth is woven heavier in tobacco than the leather. The taste is a very accurate reflection of the nose but leans towards the antique and away from the honey and baked apples and pears. This is very nice and of a quality that only comes from age. The finish is once again a follow up of the taste. There is some serious consistency here. After some moments some really excellent malt emerges and swirls effortlessly with the oak spice, bourbon and antique notes.

Well done, excellent stuff.

Score 90 points

Tomintoul 43yo 1967/2010 (44.3%, A. Dewar Rattray, Bourbon, 123 Bts., C#2337)

An very aged Tomintoul with only a small number of bottles that survived the challenges of life to reach great age. The nose is slightly peppered at first blush however some fruit starts to emerge (slowly) with some time spent languishing in the glass and then some honeyed notes, all of which are very pleasant. There is also some dusty malt hovering in the back ground with some gentle, gentle leather notes. A heady combination that is very seductive and points to a quality dram. The taste is quite gentle and warming, mild pepper, leather notes and some fire weed honey. Also some truly excellent oak spice flavours tie everything together. It’s not overly complicated but it is quite sensational. The finish is a little dry at first but then the previously described aromas waft out and all is well. It’s along lingering finish that is really quite excellent. More oak moments and malt after a number of minutes.

Very nice indeed, well dome for sourcing this treasure.

Score 92 points.

Visit A. Dewar Rattray at www.dewarrattray.com  (Many thanks to Nick at A. Dewar Rattary and Jonathan at Purple Valley Imports for the excellent samples).