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

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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

Lismore NAS ‘Speyside’ (50%, William Lundie & Co, +/-2011)

Not a single clue as to the distillery however it is a single malt and bottled at 50%. Some good malt notes on the nose and all very familiar but cannot lay a finger on the distillery, no matter, forge on. Green grassy notes intermingled with the aforementioned malt (which still remains very good), some light fruit notes join the fun. Taken altogether it smacks of some youth but not too young (8-10years?). The taste is much like the nose (good balance so far) however some spicy oak notes arrive and quite frankly taking all the flavours together it’s very pleasant. Good malt and oak spice with a little heather thrown in. The finish is slightly floral and then sweet quickly followed by the welcome oak spice and it’s all quite long and some really good malt pops up at the last moment.

Very drinkable.

$18!

Score 80 points

BenRiach NAS ‘Birnie Moss’ (48%, OB, 2011)

Birnie Moss is an area of windswept moorland situated close to the BenRiach Distillery and it is this wild place that gives our single malt its name.

This fine single malt is the first bespoke whisky to be delivered from the BenRiach Distillery under its current stewardship and heralds a new chapter in production.

An audacious first under the guidance and enthusiasm of the distillery’s new owners, Birnie Moss is a whisky bursting with originality. Different in style for a Speyside malt, this unique expression wields its peaty, smoky character with a precocious vigour.

The nose is indeed intensely peat however it is just less than intensely floral also; this vanishes (mostly) after some time in the glass. There are also some malt moments but these notes are over shadowed by the big peat presence (apologies DL&Co) along with short bread and green peas. With water the nose changes to coal tar and coca-cola. Time in the glass brings out increased grain/malty notes. The undiluted taste is as expected quite peaty and malty; if tasted blind it could be mistaken for an Islay. The diluted taste is significantly different; creamy, still peated and just as good. The finish is once again peated and malty with the floral vegetal notes in the fore and then towards the tail the malt takes over. It’s long and follows through with the other peat notes with a touch of bitterness at the last.

Youthful, vibrant and good but some what a carbon copy of many other peated whiskies.

$70

Score 79 points

Part five of five featuring whiskies that are peated; ‘Peat Week’!

Bowmore 14yo (54.8%, A. Dewar Rattray for Bevmo!, Bourbon, C#2873, 239 Bts., D’ 27/03/96 B’ 04/08/2010)

A private bottling by A. Dewar Rattray for Bevmo! in California; the nose is very rich and very good right out of the gate, dusty malt, peat reek, oak spice and some very good fruit leather. Hints of maple and oranges. Oh joy what a collection of aromas to encounter, let’s hope is all holds together throughout. (with water it holds together very well) The taste is very good; some brine, loads of peat smoke, cocoa, black pepper and a little of the citrus/orange and maple although the later is some what diminished. A little cinnamon perhaps? No matter, it’s all very good. (again, with the addition of water all is well; much the same as undiluted but slightly muted) The finish is much as the nose and the taste with the added surprise of some increased brine characteristics but the glorious peak reek is ever present and some good malt. The finish is very long.

A lovely dram indeed. Excellent balance.

$80 or only $60 as a ClubBev! member

Score 90 points

Part four of five featuring whiskies that are peated; ‘Peat Week’!

Many thanks to Duncan for samples 1,2 & 4 featured in ‘Peat Week’ 

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Bunnahabhain 4yo 2005/2009 (57.7%, Creative Whisky Co., C#28, 257 Bts.,)

Distilled 21st, December 2005 and bottle by the Creative Whisky Company with an owl on the label but bottled under the “Exclusive Malts” range and purchased from the Chester Whisky Company. Good peat reek on the nose which is extremely vibrant and engaging, further notes of juniper, cedar and some hints of unspecified grain. All very nice. Water changes the sample somewhat and brings out further sweet richness; diesel and peat reek. The diluted taste (just a splash) is gentle at first and then there’s a sedate rush of the peat smoke and some good sweetness, again all very nice. The undiluted taste is steel cut rye, oats and chocolate malt followed by rich aggressive peat reek. Big! The finish show cases the arrival of the malt (peated naturally) and then some dry oak spice but not over whelming and still some hints of juniper and cedar. The diesel is in the also, milling about. After a few minutes the malt really does emerge and again it’s very good. Creaminess shows late in the finish…and then lashings of malt.

Tastes significantly older than 4 years and it all works quite well.

£45

Score 88 points

Part three of five featuring whiskies that are peated; ‘Peat Week’!

Laphroaig 11yo (46%, MMcD, Bourbon/Paulliac, ACE’d in Chateau Lafite Casks, 1400 Bts.)

An unusual color to say the least however the nose is very peated and strong with some unusual notes that are quite simply unidentifiable but not negative in nature. There is also some cracked black pepper but the maritime notes (if ever present) have packed up and left. To the hell with it, onto the taste is surprisingly gentle at first and then the peat arrives but without too much fuss. A little Marmite and sourness hides in the back ground. Also a little cream soda and some fruit… quite frankly it’s all a little odd. The finish is warming and long however the odd notes as described in the taste linger but there is a late redemption as the peat reek struggles free of the wine cloak dragging some nice malt with it.

Mostly likely a grand dram prior to the ACE-ing….

$79

Score 70 points

Part two of five featuring whiskies that are peated; ‘Peat Week’!

Big Peat Santa NAS Batch (57.8%, DL & Co, 2011)

BIG PEAT ISLAY BLENDED/VATTED MALT – (Really) heavily peated including amongst others: ARDBEG, BOWMORE, CAOL ILA and PORT ELLEN.

Unsurprisingly lashings of peat reek on the nose along with some nice malt and over ripe fruit, goose berries and some brown sugar (a little). All in all a grand collection of aromas along with peanut butter, dark unsweetened chocolate and maybe a hint or two of espresso? The taste is also very big and exceedingly dry with initial sweetness but then the cask strength turbo charged peat reek arrives on the scene like Godzilla trashing everything in sight. Hints of prawn crackers. Black pepper, chilies and that stuff they use to start up nuclear power stations. The finish is well worth wading through the Godzilla attack and it does not disappoint with wave and wave of peat reek crashing onto the shore. A late arrival of the peanut butter and more of the peat. Well, enough of that, there’s a lot of it.

Well done to Douglas Laing…a big peat experience indeed.

$70

Score 90 points

Part one of five featuring whiskies that are peated; ‘Peat Week’!

Amrut NAS Portonova (62.1%, OB, 2011)

Ah, Amrut! The familiar joy on the nose there is a rich earthiness intertwined with fruit and a delightful spiciness from the cask. There is also some good fragrance but ever present is the richness. A little cocoa and cinnamon; all very delightful. A little water reveals brings out some warmth and further sweetness. The taste is still Amrut (happily enough) and quite strong, dry, peppered and very active. Luscious fruit and a huge spiciness that is quite excellent. With water it is decidedly gentler and becomes very syrupy and some tobacco is very evident. The finish is also very spicy however the Amrut character is never far away nor is the fruitiness and the continued effect of the pepper. It’s very long and very good. After a minute or two some nice malt arrives.

Strap yourself to the chair and enjoy the rollercoaster without water.

Advance sample no price available

Score 86 points

Isle of Arran 14yo (56.3%, OB, Premium Cask Selection, C#719, 520 Bts., D’09/05/97 B’11/08/11)

A series from the Isle of Arran distillers that reflects that the Premium Cask Selection are their very best whiskies. The undiluted nose is overripe fruit, dried cherries, raisins with hints of vanilla and without a doubt sherry with a little backing from some malt. Enjoyable to say the least. With the addition of a little water the nose opens up but remains true to form. The undiluted taste is vibrant with some good fizz and then the sherry and malt arrive in equal doses and the flavour builds and builds, a cascade of sherry and malt. With water once again it remains true to the undiluted sample however it has been tamed some what (not dulled) and is still quite excellent. The finish is very active, after a moment or two there is some of the really good sherry as previously mentioned, the malt and then some unlit cured tobacco and finally the malt takes over. The finish is very, very long. It is all very good…

A must…

£62 available from Loch Fyne Whiskeis and the Whisky Exchange

92 points