Abbey Whisky – The Secret Casks 30 Year Old Speyside / 3cl Sample

​Wonderful deep sexy colour oozes from this 30 year old Speyside malt. Matured at a secret Speyside distillery and bottled for ‘The Secret Casks’ series by Abbey Whisky. This 30 year old single malt whisky boasts deep sherry flavours combined with hints of toffee apple, butterscotch and baked apple crumble. Exudes all the character you would expect from a classic Speyside single malt aged and matured in Sherry casks.

£6.90 (£5.75 ex Vat)

Abbey Whisky – The Secret Casks 40 Year Old Speyside / 3cl Sample

Reminiscent of walnut & date pudding in both colour and flavour this 40 year old Speyside is a tremendous, silky tasting single malt whisky with wonderful deep flavours of treacle syrup, muscovado sugar and hints of oak.

Whiskies of this age are extremely rare and one at this price, demonstrating such depth of flavour and balance offers incredible value for money.

£8.50 (£7.08 ex Vat)

Abbey Whisky
enquiries@abbeywhisky.com
www.abbeywhisky.com

A note from Chris Goodrum of Gauntleys of Nottingham and the Good Dram Show

Just a quicknote to let you know that Episodes 6 and 7 of the Good Dram Show are now available to watch on our youtube channel. In Episode 6 I’ll be tasting three new single cask bottlings from A.D Rattray, those are the Glenlivet 1977 (34 year old) 48.2%, the Bunnahabhain 1974 (37 year old) 43% and the Dufftown 1976 (35 year old) 58%.

Click here to view (or paste into your browser) – http://youtu.be/K8jF1anNTM8

And in Episode 7 I’ll be tasting the latest Bruichladdich Octomore release called ‘Comus‘ against a sample of the new make Octomore Spirit.

Click here to view (or paste into your browser) – http://youtu.be/P7Hl-R3pYTE

I’m working on the latest issue of the Newsletter, so hopefully it’ll be with you soon.

Regards
Chris

For people with a passion for authentic Scottish pourings, there can be no more important event this spring than the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival (3rd-7th May).

The five-day festival is one of the most important on the whisky calendar and a ‘must’ for all devotees of the dram. Speyside boasts over half of Scotland’s distilleries which produce 7 of the top 10 best selling single malt whiskies in the world, and the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival offers an unrivalled opportunity to uncover the unique culture and heritage of Scotland’s famed whisky country.

Visitors with all levels of experience of enjoying whisky can join interesting, instructional and inspirational events – from distillery tours offering an insight into some of Speyside’s most famous names including Cardhu, Glen Grant, The Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, The Macallan and Benromach, as well as a number usually closed to the public such as Glen Elgin, Glenlossie and Mannochmore, Glen Spey, Speyburn and The Glenrothes, to masterclasses and demonstrations exploring the arts behind the creation of the traditional Scottish tipple.

Festival-goers will be initiated into the Speyside whisky secrets and immersed in the culture of whisky country – with ample opportunity to explore the stunning surroundings as well and the chance to discover the passion behind the world’s finest whiskies from some of the industry’s finest experts, from blenders to coopers and mashmen to managers.

Serious sippers can choose from a number of tours and tastings, hosted by those in the know at the area’s 50+ distilleries. Guests keen to hone their nosing and tasting tactics can choose to attend events designed to develop their understanding of the dram including the chance to sample award-winning offerings at Benromach or Gordon and MacPhail and introductions to the process behind famous name pourings such as Glenlivet and Glenfiddich and Chivas (complete with a chance to sample a selection of the products).

And visitors can take an inside look at an independent distillery at Glenfarclas, which will also be offering an opportunity to enjoy the “Chairman’s Reserve” – sampling single cask offerings from four key years as well as the spirit picked to celebrate 175 successful years at the stills.

For whisky-loving foodies there are invites to enjoy a nip and a nibble, and to explore the relationship between the whisky makers and farmers who enjoy a special symbiosis on Speyside. Guests can enjoy perfectly married meals where courses are paired with exquisite expressions, visit whisky and food workshops and learn to match dishes and drams or take the ‘Plough to Plate’ tour to discover more about Speyside’s superlative produce.

Visitors who are hungry to learn more about the history and heritage of the Speyside spirit can follow in the footsteps of the Speyside smugglers, exploring the backcountry braes that housed the first illicit stills or spend an evening with Scottish “Whisky Bard” Robin Laing. Alternatively they can join respected industry author David Wishart, who will this year launch the 10th anniversary edition of his trusted tome Whisky Classified, as he explores the Wonderful World of Whisky.

And if all that education leaves fans and followers hankering for a bit of hands on experience, they are in luck, with a choice between events such as the ‘Blend it Like’ workshop at the Cardhu distillery (home of Johnnie Walker) and the chance to help choose bottlings at the Glenfarclas or Gordon and MacPhail distilleries.

Since taking part in tutorials, tours and tastings will likely see visitors exposed to more than just the “angel’s share” of this authentic Scottish spirit, a range of events in the open air are on offer to help festival goers keep clear heads – from stream train tours through the heart of stunning Speyside, to wildlife walks up the region’s famed “Whisky Mountain”, Ben Rinnes. Fans of the outdoors can also explore the area with guided Landrover trips, or experience the outdoors in an amphibious Argocat.

Festival Chairman Jim Royan said: “The Spirit of Speyside festival offers whisky lovers the chance to pursue their passion and deepen their understanding of the processes, place and people that make this authentic Scottish spirit.

“As always, tickets for our exclusive events are selling fast and we are looking forward to 2012 being our finest festival yet.”

Notes

– Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, 3rd May – Monday, 7th May. Check out www.spiritofspeyside.com for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside

– The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors needing to travel to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options including a taxi voucher scheme (sponsored by Diageo) providing festival goers with a 25% reduction on fares with participating operators, various pre-bookable dedicated bus shuttles and even a “Dram Line” off-road Argocat taxi for a day long distillery tour or Saturday night whisky-country-crawl.

– The Festival also runs several competitions and awards including the prestigious Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards as well as the Photographic Competition

– Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from EventScotland and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners

– EventScotland: EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org.

– About the Year of Creative Scotland 2012: The Year of Creative Scotland began on January 1, 2012 and is a chance to showcase, celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage. Through a dynamic and exciting year-long programme of activity celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s culture and creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland. More information about the programme can be found at: www.visitscotland.com/creative. The Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.

Clynelish 15yo (59.9%, SMWS of Canada, 26.82, refill sherry butt, 571 Bts., +/-2011)

“Soft light at sunset” How can you possibly taste sunlight? It seems the SMWS tasting panel has cracked it. On the undiluted nose there is some good sherry notes with pine & pot-pourri notes and just a little closed however a little hand warming brings out some meatiness. With water it is still closed, oddly. The undiluted taste is fruity with some surprising smoke (a nice surprise) and then some dried coconut and a little dark unsweetened chocolate. With water there is some better sweetness and some card board and sand paper notes; not a lot but just enough to cause a ripple across the pond. A little sourness and some deep bitterness (oak influence). The finish is malty chewy and quite active, very lip smacking and the malt is much more evident than on the nose and the taste. After a few minutes some green malt notes comes to the fore. The finish continues to be active for quite a while. Black pepper and some smoke very far into the finish.

Curious. Mutli faceted. Perhaps Manfred Mann had it correct all those years ago.

$131

Score 81

Part three of four examining SMWS of Canada Bottlings….

Cooley’s Irish Whiskey Tasting Friday 16th March 2012
Held in the Station Hotel, over 100 Drambusters sat down to a selection of Irish Whiskeys, blended, grains and malts. Gordon Hughes, the speaker for the night was very grateful for the warm welcome received. We all learned a lot about the Irish Whiskey industry and the history of it and the favourite whiskey of the evening was the Greenore 8yo Single Grain. It was a smooth silky sweet and luscious dram.. perfect on its own or with a pint of Guinness!

Drambusters Whisky Festival 2012
Tickets will be on sale from May 1st for our second Whisky Festival. We have organised two Master Classes, Bruichladdich and either Tomintoul or McKillop’s Choice. More information will follow both in the newsletters and also online, so keep an eye on our email newsletters, website and facebook pages as well as our tweets @drambusters.

DRAMBUSTERS DATES FOR THE DIARY
Friday 27th April – Kilchoman Whisky tasting – details enclosed
Friday 1st June – Morrison Bowmore tasting – details enclosed
Saturday 30th June – Arran Malt & Music Festival – detail enclosed
Friday 13th July – Carn Mor tasting by Scottish Liqueur Centre (winner of the ‘Golden Dram 2011’ at our whisky festival with their Beinn a’Cheo Macallan)
Saturday 24th November – Whisky Festival

We are also trying to organise the following:
A ‘Whisky & Cheese’ tasting at The Room @ The Troqueer Arms as well as a rum tasting and a trip to Springbank and Glengyle distilleries later in the year with an overnight stay.. details will follow as soon as we know more!

Kilchoman Tasting Friday 27th August 2012
STATION HOTEL 7.30 for 7.45pm £13.50 per member

Dueto the success of our Whisky Festival in November last year, Anthony Wills of Kilchoman Distillery was very keen to do a tasting of his whiskies for us. As Kilchoman is a relatively new distillery, as well as tasting the whiskies, we are sure that the talk will be extremely interesting on the history of the distillery and the highs and lows of setting up and running a new distillery from scratch. With the tasting being just two weeks away please reply as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment. Please use the booking form enclosed with your newsletter that is coming through the post. If you wish to become a DRAMBUSTER so that you can attend this tasting please follow this link CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Morrison Bowmore Tasting
Friday 1st June 2012 STATION HOTEL 7.30 for 7.45pm £13.50 per member

Paul Goodwin, Whisky Ambassador for Morrison Bowmore, will be our guest speaker on the night. Paul took the Glen Garioch Master Class at the Whisky Festival last year. We will be trying whiskies from four distilleries on the evening, Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch and Yamazaki. The booking form will be sent out in next month’s newsletter.

ARRAN MALT & MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012
(formerly known as Arran Distillery Open Day) Saturday 30th June 2012 £50 per person
Due to the overwhelming success of last year’s visit and the very keen interest already shown for this year’s trip, we will be organising a bus for Saturday 30th June. The format will be the same as last year and please note that neither the bus nor the ferry will wait for any latecomers on the way there or on the way back! PRIORITY PLACES GO TO MEMBERS AND THEREAFTER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. The distillery has organised a special tasting for us (taken in two groups of 26) and times will be confirmed for this later.

ITINERARY
7:15am BUS LEAVES FROM WHITESANDS FOR ARDROSSAN
9:15am ARRIVE ARDROSSAN approximately
9:45am FERRY DEPARTS ARDROSSAN
10:40am ARRIVE BRODICK, ARRAN
10:50am BUS LEAVES FERRY TERMINAL FOR DISTILLERY approximately
11.30am ARRIVE ARRAN DISTILLERY approximately

15:30pm BUS LEAVES DISTILLERY (DON’T MISS IT!!)
16:10pm ARRIVE BRODICK FERRY TERMINAL approximately
16:40pm FERRY DEPARTS BRODICK
17.35pm ARRIVE ARDROSSAN
17:45pm BUS LEAVES FERRY TERMINAL AT ARDROSSAN approximately
19:45pm ARRIVE DUMFRIES WHITESANDS (approximately)

On arrival at the distillery you will receive a goodie bag which will include a tasting glass and vouchers to taste some Arran Malt Whiskies. The price of £50 is fully inclusive of the following

Return bus to Dumfries
Return ferry
Bus to and from Distillery
Entry to the Open Day
Special Drambusters tastings

There are only 53 seats on the bus for this fantastic trip, so if you want to come along, don’t dely and book today! Please use Booking Form enclosed with your newsletter coming in the post. Again, if you wish ensure that you are able to attend this trip, and you are not a member please follow the link above to join our Whisky Club. It only costs £10 to be a member until the end of the year. BRIAN’S MOBILE NUMBER IS 07872 937 439. SHOULD THERE BE ANY PROBLEMS ON THE DAY THEN PLEASE PHONE HIM. PLEASE ALSO ENSURE YOU LET US HAVE YOUR MOBILE NUMBER WHEN BOOKING FOR THIS EVENT.

EXTRA SPECIAL OFFERS

In addition to our fantastic Glenfarclas 15yo offer as per our email last week CLICK HERE IF YOU MISSED IT!

We also have the unmissable offers below on a selection of Old Malt Cask whiskies…

NORMAL PRICE SPECIAL PRICE EXTRAVAGANZA PRICE

BALBLAIR 20YO 50% £70 £50 NOW £40
DISTILLED JUNE 1990, BOTTLED JULY 2010 ONE OF 637 BOTTLES
NOSE: DARKLY SPICED, SOFTLY OAKED- GINGERY WITH LATE GRIST & HONEY
PALATE: MOUTH-TINGLINGLY SPICED – PEPPERY & FRUITY WITH BARLEY
FINISH: BUTTERSCOTCHED, STILL GRISTY & SPICED WITH A SOFT FADE

BLAIR ATHOL 15YO SHERRY BUTT 50% £54 £44 NOW £38
DISTILLED NOV 1995, BOTTLED NOVEMBER 2010, ONE OF 545 BOTTLES
NOSE: OPENS SWEETLY CARRYING GOLDEN SYRUP AND ORANGES
PALATE: WARMINGLY SPICED RUNNING TO A SWEET MOCHA CHARACTER
FINISH: LONG, STILL SPICY WITH A TANGY BURNT ORANGE PEEL QUALITY

LAPHROAIG 12YO 50% £55 N/A NOW £40
DISTILLED MARCH 1999, BOTTLED JUNE 2011 ONE OF 303 BOTTLES
NOSE: SWEETLY FRAGRANT WITH PEATED BARLEY & LATE SALT & CITRUS
PALATE: MOUTHCOATINGLY OILY/ASHY/TARRY & LATE GRIST AND HONEY
FINISH: BUTTERSCOTCH, DEMERARA SUGAR WITH PEAT & LATE LIQUORICE

AND FINALLY…
For those of you who are ‘DRAMBUSTERS’ having paid your £10 membership fee, your snail mail version of this newsletter will be popping through your door in the next couple of days. Be sure and reply quickly so you don’t miss out on any of these great events. JOIN HERE IF YOU NEED TO! 🙂

Our mailing address is:

T.B.Watson Ltd.
11/17 English Street
Dumfries, Scotland DG1 2BU
United Kingdom

Pipes & Drams Galore!

MCLEANSCOTLAND and Angels Whisky Club are offering a very special long weekend package to this exciting event. Not only will there be almost 9000 pipes & drums on show, but a whole week of events AND added whisky attractions, a few special drams, some superb whisky pub visits distillery and drams, plus – real ale beers! A limited availability here for a maximum of 16 people! You can (of course) add on more days/nights at either end of these dates and, easily add in more distillery visits and more whisky.

CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012
Come to the World’s with us!

THE WORLD’S As well as the coveted Pipeband championship title decider, exciting competitive action across all Grades and the Drum Major contest, there are many exciting additions to keep you entertained. Watch in awe as strong men from around the world compete across several disciplines in the bid to claim glory including caber toss, shot putt and the hammer. Enjoy the Scottish Highland Dancing arena as the best highland dancers from around the world. Not to mention a full week long series of piping events throughout Glasgow. There is something going on morning, noon and night. Its fast, fun, moving, entertaining, exhilarating – it’s Piping Live!

THURSDAY 9, FRIDAY 10 & SATURDAY 11 AUGUST 2012. package includes; 3 nights accommodation in a 4 star George Square (Millennium) hotel, overlooking the main events arena for the piping week, fully cooked Scottish breakfast each morning, ticket to the worlds, a ticket for the grand whisky pub tour with drams included, fully printed tour notes with food & drink and event guide, mcleanscotland staff at hotel each day, bottle of your own blended whisky and Auchentoshan distillery visit. COST per person from £355 COST per person sharing a double or twin room. The whisky trail tour; Award Winning Whisky Tour in Glasgow. Covering: History, Theatre, Culture, Whisky and the great Glasgow “banter”! Jump aboard The Glasgow Whisky Tour bus & explore the passion, characters and FUN behind Glasgow’s whisky history. Hear how Glasgow was built at the many engineering works and shipyards…but fuelled by whisky, which by the way, is included in this tour!

Contact us for speedy booking; worlds@mcleanscotland.com
www.mcleanscotland.com  www.angelswhiskyclub.com

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

1988 Glenrothes Speyside Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($109.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Four Roses K&L Exclusive Single Barrel OESV Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($59.99) This barrel, aged 10 years and 6 months at the distillery, is from formula OESV and it’s the most utilitarian whiskey we’ve yet selected from Four Roses. It’s not the richest, the spiciest, the most esoteric, or the sweetest, but I believe it to be the most balanced and delicious. At 59% you’d expect it to be a monster, but it’s quite restrained, almost brooding in its profile in that you expect it to explode at any moment. It never does, however – it remains in check and keeps its distance. The fruit is there, lush and soft, but it stays in the background. The richness is there, but it’s not obvious. The spice is robust, with hints of cherry and banana struggling to be tasted, but still there’s some reluctant force holding it back. The result is dangerously drinkable Bourbon, one that takes three or four sips just to get a grasp on before you know what’s hit you. There’s no denying that it’s good, even great – but there will be fierce attempts to penetrate its core and understand what its all about. This Bourbon will not cave, however. It just wants to be drunk, not contemplated. It seeks to be enjoyed, not studied. It demands to be appreciated, but it will not beg for your attention. Who knew a Bourbon could be so anthropomorphic? -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

Back in stock…

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Macallan “Fine Oak” 15 Year Old Single Malt 750ml ($79.99)

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

Chivas Regal Extends Support of Cannes Film Festival

Chivas Regal, the original luxury whisky, is set to reinforce its role as official partner of the Cannes Film Festival, after extending its support of the iconic event until at least 2014.

Now in its fourth year as official whisky partner, the new agreement will see Chivas Regal build on over a decade of association with the world’s most prestigious film festival.

In 2011, Chivas Regal launched a global partnership with charity FilmAid International in the presence of FilmAid supporter and legendary actor and director, Robert de Niro. The announcement was made at Chivas House on the famous Croisette with an initial $100,000 donation.

Since then, Chivas Regal has continued its support, most notably in December of last year at the Chivas Legends Dinner held in Dubai, where business leaders and luminaries including guest of honour, Sir David Frost, took part in a silent auction raising a further £60,000 for the charity.

Cannes 2012 will see Chivas Regal reaffirm its commitment to FilmAid with the unveiling of a new short film which aims to showcase the powerful work of FilmAid in its mission to help, educate and inspire communities in need through the power of film.

This, coupled with the increased presence during the festival fortnight, underlines Chivas Regal’s on-going commitment to cinema, explains James Slack, Global Brand Director, Chivas Regal:

“We are delighted to continue our support as official partner of the Cannes Film Festival. Like Cannes, Chivas Regal is synonymous with discerning style, luxury and legend, which makes this partnership a perfect one.”

Slack added: “Working alongside our partners FilmAid International, we look forward to bringing something special to this year’s festival, showcasing the incredible work of FilmAid and generosity of spirit at the heart of the Chivas Regal brand.”

At this year’s festival, Chivas will host film and cinema stars alongside pioneers of the industry from 18 countries for the duration of the festival which runs from 16th – 27th May.

Notes

About Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.6 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.

About 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.

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com

sample image

Glen Scotia 11yo (59.1%, SMWS of Canada, 93.42, Refill Butt, 735 Bts.)

“Explosion in a honey factory” On the nose some very nice sherry notes come through and some good smoke with some maritime brininess along with apricots. With some time in the glass the alcohol is replaced by the afore mentioned aromas and then some (once again) very nice tobacco and leather (sharp and clean) plus smoked grapefruit (whatever the hell that is; but you take the point). Distinctive and very much Glen Scotia. The taste is strong (but not ever whelming) with some good sweetness, the smokey brininess and the leather and tobacco. After a moment or to the smoke suddenly emerges to tie everything together. There is also some really good creaminess one often associates with sherry and then later moments of dryness. Very good so far. The finish is very good and warming with loads of the sherry and the smoke; the two really combine to make for a very good finish which is long and then after a moment or two the malt finally makes an appearance. Then the finish becomes smoke malt and yet is still very distinctively Glen Scotia. After 10 minutes some singularly brilliant dry crunchy peat smoked malt’ like scooping a handful from the storage bin!

An excellent example from this distillery. The interplay between the smoke, malt and sherry is delightful.

$120 (+/-)

89 points

Part two of four examining SMWS of Canada Bottlings….

April 2012

Dear Customer,

This month we have nine new (9) bottlings in the OMC range, seven (7) in the OMC 20 cl Advance Samples (now in Gift Boxes) and from the PROVENANCE range four (4) new offers together with our 20 cl x 4 mixed pack of flasks. There is one (1) new DOUBLE BARREL and lastly three (3) bottlings from the DIRECTOR’S CUT range.

Tasting Notes for OLD MALT CASK

OMC2157 GLENLIVET SHERRY 10 YEARS
Nose: Spicy with liquorice – Sherry + softly macerated fruit+ sweet barley.
Palate: Replicates the nose – detect dark fruit, abundant spice + strong liquorice.
Finish: Remarkably long – camphor laden – smoky & sweetly barley’d (F)

OMC2176 ROYAL BRACKLA – QUEEN’S JUBILEE 12 YEARS
Nose: Right royally spiced – clean – gristy + autumnal fruit & light oak.
Palate: Sovereignly sweet + a sceptre of barley & toffee + a cough drop style.
Finish: More cough drops – crowned with camphor, spices and late apple rind. (F)

OMC2150 BUNNAHABHAIN 14 YEARS
Nose: Opens sweet & fresh, carrying a candied citric quality + soft smoke
Palate: Sweetly spiced & lightly smoked + a honey on burnt toast character
Finish: Surprisingly smoky style with a camphor quality on the long finish (J)

OMC2152 CRAIGELLACHIE 14 YEARS
Nose: Sweetly spiced + a hazelnut quality + barley AND barley sugar
Palate: Opens in a toffee style – runs to soft leather & nuts
Finish: Long – still spicy carrying an attractive oak quality (J)

OMC2153 MACALLAN 18 YEARS
Nose: Softly fragrant and clean – carrying crushed sugar and citrus + cut grass.
Palate: Vanilla fudge in style plus soft spices and grist …. still rather sugary.
Finish: Mellow and subtle – still softly sweet & juicy – still spicy (like camphor). (F)

OMC2156 GLENCADAM 21 YEARS
Nose: Detect spices & cedar + a mellow, gristiness and citric quality
Palate: Replicates the nose neatly + accentuated barley & citrus
Finish: Carries tobacco, mixed spice, camphor & late sweet barley (F)

OMC2164 ROSEBANK 21 YEARS
Nose: Light & fragrant – floral & sugary – citric & barley’d.
Palate: Sweetly spiced + crunched sugar + herbs & late camphor.
Finish: Lightly oaked now vanilla’d + more warming spices (F)

OMC2154 GLEN SPEY 25 YEARS
Nose: Autumnally fruited + barley sugar, grist, dry spices and citrus zest.
Palate: Peppery and dry – warms to candy floss, barley and honey.
Finish: Carries cough drop spiciness and crunched sugariness (F)

OMC2118 STRATHMILL 35 YEARS
Nose: Sweet & clean – carrying barley + a spicy fruit cake quality
Palate: Soft & round – sweetly spiced + barley sugar + milk chocolate
Finish: Medium long, still attractively spiced – with a late oak character (J)

The 7 Advance Samples are as follows; all packed into the new windowed Gift Box visible, if you have not already seen it, on our website.

SMC0406 Allt A’Bhainne Sherry 11 years
SMC0412 Cragganmore 11 years
SMC0410 Craigellachie Sherry 12 years
SMC0411 Glengoyne 12 years
SMC0409 Benrinnes Sherry 13 years
SMC0407 Laphroaig 15 years
SMC0408 Glenturret Sherry 17 years

The PROVENANCE Tasting Notes are:

PRV0786 MORTLACH 9 YEARS
Round, sweet and full of toffee, spices, citrus and barley on the nose. Its palate is even more vanilla caramel in style with soft burnt/crunchy sugar drifting through – leading to a warmly spiced finish with more of that fudginess apparent (F)

PRV0785 MANNOCHMORE 12 YEARS
Lightly sugared initially on the nose – it warms to delicate spices, dry grist and cut grass. On the palate detect bigger, fuller spices, cedarwood and late vanilla toffee – running to a finish with tobacco, mocha, demerara sugar and subtle spices all apparent (F)

PRV0787 TAMDHU 12 YEARS
Sweetly honied and warmly spiced on the nose. The palate is chewy, vanilla toffee’d – even more spiced now – and runs to a finish which is cough drop warmingly spiced again, with late barley sugar tones evident. (F)

PRV0791 CAOL ILA YOUNG & FEISTY
Sweetly peated – massively Islay in style – on the nose – detect as it warms sweet tar and briny rock pools. On the palate the phenolic quality bursts forth with more tar and bonfire ash plus leaf smoke – all of which combine in a long (NOW even more smoked) – and lightly toffee’d! – finish. (F)

Tasting Notes for the 20 cl PROVENANCE Flasks (and please note these cases will be available from mid April, as they are still being filled at time of “going to press”).

PRV0798

CAOL ILA
The initially sweet character on the nose quickly develops to an earthy, peaty quality plus late chimney soot. The palate opens sweetly then runs to soft chewy tar with a salty liquorice style. The finish is long with a lingering salty ashy trait now carryng a burnt toast & honey character.

GLEN SPEY 9 YEARS
Fresh, clean and sugary – syrupy sweet on the nose ….. its palate is as (tablet) sweet, now plus barley grist and a light citric influence – leading to a clean, typically Speyside toffee’d finish. (F)

AUCHENTOSHAN 12 YEARS
Surprisingly “big” – beefy and spicily sweet on the nose. Palatewise – it is still as big – with chewy mouth feel – bold in flavour – with almonds, meringues and barley – all being replicated on the warm finish (F)

BLAIR ATHOL (SHERRY) 12 YEARS
Wonderfully fruity – lightly spiced – and warmly barleyed on the nose. The palate hits you with even more spiced, macerated fruit – and the finish carries much the same plus camphor/warming cough drops. (F)

DOUBLE BARREL Tasting Notes:

DBS0032 LEDAIG/BOWMORE – 1st RELEASE
Nose: Distinctly maritime character runs to a beachy bonfire style with peat smoke
Palate: Opens sweetly running to a drier, salty quality plus burnt butterscotch and a charred, BBQ’d character
Finish: Long with a lingering cough drop style, smoked spices and late peat.

Tasting Notes for DIRECTOR’S CUT:

DIR0019 LAPHROAIG 15 YEARS
Nose: Distinctly Islay – maritime & briny + a late sweet character of burnt BBQ sauce
Palate: Contrasting characteristics – sweet + salty smoke – liquorice + smoked mackerel
Finish: Long – still sweetly smoked with BBQ ashes and soft tar until a rich chocolate style appears(J)

DIR0018 DUFFTOWN SHERRY 30 YEARS
Nose: Dark macerated fruit abounds + distinctly spiced summer fruits + cedar wood & its Sherry cask history influence.
Palate: It is lightly oaked – being also overtly/warmly spiced ….. carrying liquorice tones & a big/full tannic “hit”
Finish: This is now more subtle – being rather spicy – and showing wafts of sweet honey beyond the soft oaky tones. (F)

DIR0016 GLENALLACHIE 40 YEARS
Nose: Opens with a macerated dried fruit quality + a flamed orange zest in dark chocolate style
Palate: Opens sherbety – runs to a rich, sweetly spiced fruit character + more dried orange zest
Finish: Dark, bitter chocolate then running drier with cedar wood and tobacco lingering (J)

We believe that offers you a wide selection of young and old Malts.

Yours faithfully

Fred Laing

www.douglaslaing.com