Springbank 18 year old (46%, OB, +/-2010)

The new 2010 bottling of two and a half times distilled and lightly peated 18 year old. The first contact with this whisky was at the Victoria Whisky Festival in January of this year; Peter Currie of Springbank lifted a few bottles straight off the bottling line which was much appreciated. The first taste then was very positive however now is the opportunity for a second ‘sober’ look.

The nose is rich fruit and Demerara brown sugar, fat plump raisins, fruit cake intermingled with some light furniture polish and some nice oak and dark chocolate. The more time it spends in the glass the more it opens up it’s very pleasant and rich. There is also that very distinctive aroma of Springbank (think of wet cotton) and it’s nicely sherried. The taste is sweet, malty, large dollops of brine, leather and spicy wood notes all cleverly wrapped up in a sherried blanket. It’s delicious and a big whisky. This is even better than the 2009 18yo. The first impression when tasted at the Victoria Whisky Festival are correct; this is really good whisky. The finish is of leather, some smoke, the brine again (very light), spicy wood notes and the then the distinctive Springbank characteristics. After a few moments it’s very dry and  then the sherry comes charging through to make a final appearance. The finish is very long and complex (there’s a lot going on). It’s very good.

This is simply very nice, the finish may be a tad dry from some but appreciated here.

£62 from Loch Fyne Whiskies

Score 88 Points

Amrut NAS (46%, OB, ‘Peated’ Batch. No. 01 B’24/09/2008)

A peated Amrut “It is not chill filtered and comes straight from the barrel in its natural colour”. Good, that’s great news and the way we like it. The nose is woody at first with some hints of damp cloth and a rich earthy mustiness that is soon over taken but the by now familiar sweetness that seems to be an Amrut characteristic. Crème brulèe with a very vague sweet egg aroma hovering in the background. The oak spice arrives after a few minutes in the glass and the egg notes vanish and all is well; dried fruits, warm leather (think or a purse or a saddle that has been in the sun for a while). Some wobbly moments there however time in the glass makes things right. The taste is somewhat Islay in style rather than peated Speyside. The peat an oak spice notes and the really good solid sweetness/warm leather are all working in concert. There is also some slight hints of malt but this is solid stuff. The finish is of peated malt, dry oak spice notes and then some tinned fruit (like tinned peaches in syrup) followed by a more malt and dryness. The finish is very long and after some time the peat makes a reappearance.

Mouth smackingly good.

Score 82

C$65

Visit Amrut Distillery at www.amrutwhisky.com/

Amrut NAS (61.9%, OB, ‘Cask Strength’ bottled Sept 2007)

The second of three tasting notes this week featuring the single malts of Amrut Distillery. The undiluted nose is of tinned fruit cocktail and vaguely earthy at first but after some time in the glass it opens up and become floral followed by some un smoked pipe tobacco (the sweet kind) and then some nice wood spice notes (think of antique furniture). Very nice indeed. With water it become very familiar; ah yes, scotch! It is still very sweet and earthy followed by the wood spices. Everything is OK so far…. The undiluted taste is some unlike the nose at first but this quickly changes as it charges through sweet, earthy and then blasts into the wood notes and then the pipe tobacco. The floral notes make a late appearance but are very subtle. There is also some dry dusty malt an then some citrus. With water it’s more approachable and gentler; sweeter and mellower, the earthiness, the sweetness and the pipe tobacco all work together. The finish is very spiced and dry while being very long, after a short while the tinned fruit cocktail and the citrus make an appearance. The finish continues on for quite a while and is very pleasant. After a few minutes the finish is some smackingly good gentle malt and gentle oak notes.

Another very good whisky from Amrut Distillery (The NEW Bangalore Torpedo).

C$78

Score 85 Points

Visit Amrut Distillery at http://www.amrutwhisky.com/

2 of 3 scotch Indian Whisky by Amrut Distillery this week…….

Amrut NAS (50%, OB, ‘Fusion’, Batch No. 01 July 2009)

Amrut Fusion derives its name due to the fact that it uses two barleys: Indian and Scottish – with the latter being peated. The Whisky Bible 2010 awarded Amrut Fusion Indian Whisky of the Year; Third Finest Whisky in the World. Distilled, Matured and Bottled by Amrut Distilleries Limited, Kampirura, BAGALORE, India.

The nose is very pleasant, sweet with tropical fruit and toffee followed by some gentle peat smoke, fruit cake and then some really excellent wood spices (think of cedar, bees wax, brandy and perhaps a very slight hint of clove. This is cracking stuff. And what a lovely nose; it only improves with more time in the glass. With the addition of time some hints of malt also emerge, both slightly green and toasted. The taste is sweet and malty followed by some excellent peat smoke and then some amazing fruit comes charging in followed by some exquisite dryness and then the mild greenness (which is not a detraction). The wood spice is a beautiful complement to the overall taste. Amrut have hit all the right notes here. The finish is warming, sweet and fruity followed by the wood and peat notes, there’s wave after wave of the wood notes and then the finish changes to reveal the green malt, more wood spice that makes the latter part of the finish quite dry. The finish is very long and the overall effect is to look for another sip……

Sensational stuff, well done Amrut.

C$76

Score 87 Points

Visit Amrut Distillers at www.amrutwhisky.com

1 of 3 scotch Indian Whisky by Amrut Distillery this week…….

Caol Ila 10yo 1993/2004 (60.7%, SMWS of America, 53.82, Distilled 08 1993 Bottled 07 2004)

A good solid Islay nose; lashings of peat smoke, seashore, coal smoke and wood notes. What a Cracker Jack box full of surprises with a wee bit of white wine and peanut butter just to tie everything together. It seems a shame to add water, however it must be done. With a good dollop of water the nose opens up considerably with more of everything (especially the peat smoke, seashore, coal smoke) but down with a really nice background of sweetness. The taste is much like the nose and actually quite sweet; a good combination of the peat & coal smoke and the sweetness, the peat & coal smoke build after a short while, very pleasant. There is also a good heavy delivery of malt in the taste after the peat & coal smoke fade a little bit, a nice bonus in there. Without water the taste is a bit of a rocket ship taking off; the effect is huge; the high alcohol and the peat & coal smoke are incredible and it takes quite a will for the effect to subside. Much like cramming a whole package of peat smoke laden pop rocks into your mouth at once (using some imagination). The finish is much like the nose and the taste and is full of peat & coal smoke, with a bit of sweetness and then a really nice malt moment. The finish is very long and very good.

A nicely balanced dram with lots of vibrancy, try it neat just for fun.

US$95

88 Points

Visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/

The third review of three Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings this week…..something new next week.

Royal Brackla 10yo 1998/2008 (60%, SMWS of America, Refill Hogshead-Ex Bourbon, 55.19, 247 Bts.)

The nose is very strong with some green notes and a slight hint of dried apricots and some dusty malt and after a few minutes some chocolate. The addition of water is called for which straight away opens up the aromas nicely; sweetness, more fruit, wood notes and malt. The taste is both malty and has hints of leather followed by the fruit and some slight malt. It also has some soda or fizzy drink characteristics in the mouth feel. There is also some green malt however this is very slight, the overall taste is of a nice gentle enjoyable dram (once the water is added). The finish is malty and fruity, both are accompanied by the fizziness for quite a while, some what of an unusual finish in that regard other wise it’s middle of the road but still nice. After a few minutes the fizziness subsides and you’re left with some pleasant malt.

A good solid whisky.

$US90

Score 78

Visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/

The second review of three Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings this week…..Caol Ila tomorrow.

Highland Park 10yo 1999/2009 (57.3%, SMWS of America, 1st Fill Ex Bourbon, 4.135, 109 Bts.)

The nose reveals some initial sweetness followed by some spicy wood notes along with some really good fruit (think of tree fruit rather than citrus or berries).  There is also a growing rich sweetness that is very pleasant. After a few minutes in the glass it starts to open up and there is the slightest hint of green in the back ground which turns to very light juniper the more time it spends in the glass. Best solve this right away before this gets out of hand and have a sip…the taste is sweet, strong and slightly coffee’d as well as some light leather. There is also some malt and some heft to the mouth feel. Very nice. The finish is malty and green and then there is a mild blast of smoke that quick dissipates (like one of those really small purse dogs that are all the rage these days –  lots of noise at first but soon skulks back into the purse, tail between its legs).  After a minute or so the malt takes over and there is really no sign of the sweetness however the malt carries on for quite a while. After quite a while potato chips make an appearance…unsalted and simply plain.

With water the nose is much the same as without but is slightly more pleasant. The taste most definitely improves and its much rounder and smoother but don’t over do the water, it looses some of the vibrancy. It’s meatier however with water.

US$90

Score 82 points

Visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/

The first review of three Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings this week…..

Clan MacGregor 36 Months (40%, Imported, Blended Scotch Whisky, +/- 2009)

From http://www.grantusa.com/

Clan MacGregor, one of the world’s fastest growing major Scotch whisky brands, is enjoyed in over 60 countries around the world, from the USA to Venezuela and the Middle East to Thailand. It is a reassuringly high quality yet affordable Scotch whisky, proudly carrying the Clan MacGregor badge and motto, and with his kind permission, the personal crest of the 24th Clan Chief, Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor.

The Clan traces its ancestry and takes its name from Gregor, third son of Alpin, King of Scotland in the last part of the eighth century. This royal lineage gives rise to the Clan motto of ‘Royal is my Race’. The Clan MacGregor underwent centuries of persecution and turmoil, with their lands being confiscated and the very name MacGregor being outlawed. But they were brave and resilient, and eventually all of their rights and privileges were restored.

The Clan badge, a crowned Lion’s head on a wreath, encircled with a belt and buckle, signifies the unity and loyalty of the Clan. By using their badge on both bottle and label, Clan MacGregor Scotch Whisky honours the heritage of this strong ancient Clan.

Clan MacGregor is skillfully blended from a selection of Scotland’s finest malt and grain whiskies. It has hints of fruitiness and Speyside malts. It is a high quality, light and fragrant whisky with a well-balanced, smooth, mellow taste that resonates with modern whisky drinkers across the world.

The nose sweet and spicy and actually has the familiar aromas one normally associates with scotch whisky. Naturally it noses as quite young however it is actually pleasant, lively and vibrant (this is a pleasant surprise). There is not however any real hints of malt. The taste is smooth, sweet and spicy (just like the aroma) along with some vague hints of tobacco and leather and then some really nice sweetness one often associates with grain (as opposed to malt) whisky. This is actually nice (but not great). The finish is sweet, very ‘grainy’ along with some spice and some mild fruit. The finish is also quite long and reflects the previously commented characteristics. The finish actually improves with time and doesn’t degrade over time which is a surprise…..

This is actually a pleasant dram and drinkable and by far the most pleasant of the three whiskies reviewed this week. Quite a surprise for 36 months…

$11.99

Score 76 points

And thus $11.99 36 month old scotch whisky concludes…..

$11.99 Scotch Whisky Week Continues…….

Lauder’s 36 Months (40%, Imported, Blended Scotch Whisky, +/- 2009)

From http://www.bartonbrands.com/lauders.html  Lauder’s Blended Scotch Whisky: “A smooth, blended Scotch whisky imported from Scotland. Steeped in taste and history, it was a Gold Medal Winner at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. One of the finest imported Scotch whiskies-one of the world’s affordable luxuries.”

On the nose there is some strong acetone and industrial notes and not very much that would identify it as a scotch whisky and after some time there are some mild and vague green or vegetal notes. It’s a struggle to detect anything else. The taste is surprisingly smokey at first but that soon drops away to reveal some grain (finally) and the industrial notes. Hiding in the back ground is some sweetness. The finish has some light fruit, no appearance of the smoke and some bitterness that is slightly off putting. After several minutes some malt (or some overly active grain) makes an appearance but it’s too late to make any difference.

Some mere moments of happiness at the end but some lack of balance…and all the other unhappy characteristics…..one has to conclude that things have gone down hill since Chicago in1893.

$11.99

Score 59 points

$11.99 Scotch Whisky Week!

“36 months is so much more mature than 3 years” ….40% and 36 months… ‘just’ barely scotch whisky……W.I. is on the Hawaiian Island of Maui and taking a look at the lower end of the price spectrum…..

Scoresby 36 Months (40%, Very Rare, Blended Scotch Whisky, +/- 2009)

“The Connoisseur’s Scotch Whisky” so says the label……

An internet search revealed very little about Scoresby; it seems Diageo wants to keep details a secret?? Come on Diageo, you can do better than that……

The nose is very much of grain whisky with very little evidence of any malt whisky however while it is quite one sided towards grain there are no evil notes like gasoline or strong solvents but there simply isn’t much here. The taste is middle of the road in flavour profile and tastes like whisky with some nice sweetness which is a pleasant surprise. It’s also quite vibrant but there is still little evidence of any malt. Once again there is nothing alarming in the taste. The finish has some fruit and …… some grain ( think of corn or chewing on wheat grains straight from the field). Some chewy moments towards the end and once again nothing to set off the alarm bells, actually quite a vibrant finish, not dull. Some very light green notes towards the end of the finish that is surprisingly long. There some grain in there however not a hint of the malt that must be in there somewhere. After a few minutes there’s some slight hints of NutraSweet at the very tail end of the finish.

Just for fun, since the large majority of whisky consumed in the USA is poured over ice this was done, merely in the interests of science.

Not a huge change from the un-iced sample and perhaps a mild improvement however after a short while in the glass the ice begins to dominate and it changes somewhat to become slightly like a chilled vodka (think of that Polish Vodka with the blade of grass in the bottle). A nice drink and well done for maintaining balance throughout or perhaps this is merely due to the lack of character. However it should be noted that there are simply no dire notes; perhaps this is the most redeeming character?

US$11.99

Score 69 points

tomorrow….Lauder’s Blended Scotch Whisky……