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| Hello, that is one among our (nearly) every day tastings. Santé! |
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Might 20, 2022
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Let’s try this, randomly. How would you kind out grain whiskies anyway, by age? By Distillery? By energy? By primary ingredient?
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North British 2006/2021 (50.5%, Whiskay, 223 bottles) 
Had been they nonetheless utilizing completely maize at North British Distillery, in 2006? Not too positive. What’s positive is that this can be a very humorous anti-Brexit label, once you transfer your bottle the 2 components of a damaged coronary heart (UK and EU) do stick collectively once more. Whether or not there’s one other hidden message behind the selection of North ‘British’, I do not know. Color: white wine. Nostril: typical younger grain, not disagreeable however fairly silent, with loads of nail polish and kirschwasser. With water: extra of all that, plus loads of mercurochrome (to heal the injuries of Brexit?) and a bit vanilla. Mouth (neat): varnish, glue, vodka, kirsch. With water: some cellulose popping out, bark, vanilla, sawdust… End: medium, ethanoly, vodka-y. Feedback: love Whiskay, love their different bottlings, love the humorous concepts behind this label, however I am simply not keen on younger grain whisky, whereas in my e-book, any grain that is youthful than say 30 is ‘younger grain’. Having mentioned that ans as I simply wrote, they might have chosen this one as a result of it is filled with mercurochrome – to heal the injuries of Brexit! Fluctuate good, on second thought…
SGP:331 – 75 factors. |
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North British 10 yo 2011/2022 (57.1%, Watt Whisky) 
What’s good is that the costs for these are very reasonable. Color: gold. Nostril: clearly comparable, with just a bit extra cake and vanilla, and consequently, much less varnish and mercurochrome. I am additionally discovering a bit contemporary maize, however I feel North British had already switched to different grains when this one was distilled. Not 100% positive… With water: a bit buttercream, which isn’t disagreeable. Mouth (neat): this one is sweeter, extra on saccharose. Vanilla sugar, bubblegum… With water: you’ll nearly consider that is Havana Membership or Bacardi. I mentioned nearly… End: medium, candy, with extra vanilla sugar, a bit melon syrup, and, this time, a couple of drops of mercurochrome certainly. Feedback: I don’t suppose I’ve ever discovered any younger single grain that is actually been to my liking. So, it is me…
SGP:431 – 77 factors. |
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Can we do this a final time?… With extra oak?
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North British 13 yo 2007/2021 (62.3%, WhiskyPeter, virgin oak barrel)
Let’s proceed with warning, now it appears that evidently the virgin oak was closely charred, so perhaps are going to seek out some type of bourbon… Color: straw. Nostril: within the type of the Watt W. Vanilla, maize, varnish. With water: fruit peel, grass, alcohol. Mouth (neat): very candy, bubblegummy, extraordinarily vodka-y. Vodka flavoured with bubblegum and some bits of bison grass. With water: some oaky sourness. End: a bit extra vanilla within the vodka. Feedback: these juices are actually not my factor, and I can let you know that I have been making an attempt exhausting for many years. Maybe go see a whisky physician?
SGP:441 – 75 factors. |
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Let’s attempt one other younger one, however from one other Distillery…
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Invergordon 12 yo 2007/2019 (64.6%, WhiskyPeter, virgin barrel end, cask #300857, 224 bottles) 
We have had good luck with Invergordon up to now, however these had been often each outdated whiskies and ex-oloroso. Let’s have a look at… Color: gold. Nostril: it is a rounder, cakier drop, with extra brioche, raisin rolls, shortbread… Additionally banana. In brief, a maltier grain, ought to that make any sense. With water: a pineyness and a few spearmint from the wooden. That works. Mouth (neat): merely extra flavourful than the NBs, with extra coconut, vanilla, barley sugar, lemon tarte… No feeling of vodka this time. With water: it’s nonetheless grain, however I’ve the impression that it’s a little fatter, I used to be about to write down ‘malty’, whereas the wooden was good and lively. Mint and pineapple, for some type of Cuban cocktail. End: medium, candy clear, fruity, tropical. Maybe a stronger pina colada? Effectively the pope is aware of extra about cocktails than your actually. Feedback: this one goes down properly.
SGP:730 – 82 factors. |
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I suppose extra Invergordon is the best way…
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Invergordon 32 yo 1990/2022 (52.8%, Alambic Classique, cask #22022, 158 bottles) 
Wait, there’s a trick right here, this one was completed for five full years in an ex-Hampden cask! So in heavy Jamaican rum wooden, though we would not know whether or not it was a really funky Hampden, or simply one of many low-ester kittens. Color: gold. Nostril: in fact. That is extra a blended rum, I am undecided the grain whisky has something to say right here. Not that we’re complaining, that is pretty, delicately petroly and olive-y, with a bit engine oil and anchovies in brine. Anchovies in Invergordon! With water: carbon paper and a bit camphor. Mouth (neat): certainly, an excellent blended rum, with overripe bananas, olives; liquorice and a bit acetone. With water: maybe a tiny smidgen of Invergordonness. This delicate vanilla? End: medium, salty and petroly. Salted liquorice within the aftertaste. Feedback: I am all for transparency however I am questioning if it would not have been even funnier when our German pals, on this label, would have saved quiet concerning the ending. Shock shock!
SGP:552 – 85 factors. |
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One other one by Alambic Classique. A Neisson end, I hope…
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Invergordon 47 yo 1975/2022 (50.3%, Alambic Classique, cask #22023, 128 bottles) 
No, this one was ‘matured in an ex-Laphroaig Islay Whisky barrel’. Forty-seven years in a Laphroaig barrel! That is extraordinarily intriguing, to say the least. Color: gold. Nostril: how would I put this. Think about a low-level bottle of Bonfanti or Cinzano 10, ought to that ring a bell. Hessian, gentian (within the entrance!), barely stale mango liqueur, that well-known seaside bonfire (nearly extinct right here), celeriac and fennel… With only one drop of water: all issues medicinal, bandages, embrocations, camphor… Mouth (neat): very good! Even when this may fairly be celeriac eau-de-vie by Jean-Paul Metté himself, aged in good oak. I imply, flavour-wise. With water: a unbelievable, delicate earthy, rooty improvement. I can not not consider Suze. Are you aware Suze? Now there are higher choices, examine as an example Distillerie du Grandmont’s Amer Gentiane. End: much more gentian. Feedback: some folks would declare that pasta with foie gras is just not correct pasta. I nonetheless choose pasta with foie gras, or Invergordon with Laphroaig. Nice in-cask mixing right here however as soon as once more, I am questioning whether or not this would not have been even funnier if they would not inform us on the label. Very good. Now, we are the empty cask?
SGP:563 – 90 factors. |
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Invergordon 49 yo 1973/2022 (40.3%, The Whisky Company, barrel, 191 bottles)
This one is likely to be a notch fragile, however we did make a brief break after that wonderful Inverphroaig. Color: gold. Nostril: I feel we already wrote fairly a couple of occasions that Invergordon was the maltiest grain whisky on the market, and that is simply one other good instance. Frankly, this might have been Glenlivet, as an example. Excellent honeys and beeswaxes, tarte tatin, contemporary raisin rolls, dried figs on location (in Turkey), dried jujubes and rambutans, honey biscuits… It’s totally unbelievable that no oak would have taken the helm after so a few years and with a spirit at such a low energy. Previous Sauternes. However at 40+, beware the palate… Mouth: there’s a little inexperienced and drying oak (tobacco, chlorophyll, English tea) however frankly, it’s nonetheless well-integrated and wouldn’t dominate these superior notes of ripe apples, subtler honeys, figs and jujubes, and above every part this outdated Sauternes that went drier over the many years. No graininess, no coconut, no simplistic vanilla. End: not even quick, nonetheless delicate, fairly on tarte tatin and mead. Feedback: two 90s in a row. See I am no anti-grain activist?
SGP:551 – 90 factors. |
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I might fortunately attempt a final outdated Invergordon, earlier than we rapidly examine a couple of different grain distilleries…
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Invergordon 49 yo 1972/2021 (44.4%, Maltbarn, bourbon)
No indicators of a ending in ex-Brora, Springbank or Lagavulin right here… A ending in an ex-mezcal clay jar, would that be authorized? (when you do not inform ;-)? Color: full gold. Nostril: this time it’s totally outdated bourbon, with some cellulosic varnish, rye, maize and vanilla, chestnuts, touches of maple syrup, outdated books, furnishings polish (outdated library), outdated Jag… Mouth: how is it doable that we might strike one other 90? Even when this one’s a bit less complicated at first, that’s to say extra on wee sweets, it might then unfold on delicate outdated teas and dried fruits. Rosehip, wild rose, additionally arrack, oriental pastries (orange blossom), Turkish delights… End: maybe a tad shortish this time, however properly honeyed and meady. Do you say ‘meady’? Feedback: advanced and delicate. I prefer it that they would not have waited till it is 50, like every ‘model’ would have achieved.
SGP:551 – 90 factors. |
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And so we mentioned different Distilleries…
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Cameronbridge 46 yo 1974/2021 (40.1%, The Whisky Company for Heads & Tails Canada, hogshead)
40.1% vol.? I might suppose they have been monitoring this wee cask day and night time… Color: gold. Nostril: it hasn’t obtained the depth and construction of the Invergordons, however there’s an especially delicate mixture of delicate cake doughs, sesame and peanut oils, vanilla, and probably a bit coconut water. Notes of preserved peaches and ripe starkrimsons. Mouth: ah, the bees! Mead, nectar, honeys, pollens, all that mezza-voce, plus a bit pineapple, inexperienced liquorice and a pinhead of turmeric. Unbelievable physique at 40.1%, however it’s true that 40.1 ‘pure’ and 40.1 ‘decreased’ are two various things. End: not even quick, on honeyed pineapples, with a bit spearmint and liquorice within the aftertaste. A hoppy and completely happy feeling. Feedback: you will consider we’re being lazy, however consider me, that is simply one other correct 90. Alternatively, ‘they know what they’re doing’.
SGP:641 – 90 factors. |
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Cambus 30 yo 1991/2021 (52.3%, The Whisky Cask) 
Seminal grain Distillery, DCL, closed 1993, now cooperage. Capeesh? Color: gold. Nostril: I fairly like them once they’re a bit acetic like this, a bit bitter, on fermenting fruits (plums, cherries), even lime juice, even bitter cream. With water: much more of all that, Pils beer, hops, bitter cherries, pine smoke, capers in brine. Mouth (neat): ex-malt cask? Normally, grain whiskies had been stuffed into new casks to season these earlier than they’d be stuffed with malt. That is the older orthodoxy. It is fairly fatter than anticipated, actually leafy and bitter, with a curious smokiness, even a sense of peat. With water: cigars, a peppery smokiness, notes of bitter guavas, riesling, gherkins… End: medium, on the identical flavours. The cask had contained a smoky malt earlier than, it appears. Feedback: we’re removed from any ethanoly, coconutty, gentle grain whisky. Actually value making an attempt.
SGP:362 – 84 factors. |
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Cambus 33 yo 1988/2022 (47.6%, Chapter 7, bourbon hogshead, octave end, cask #3325, 280 bottles)
This child was completed in octave casks having beforehand contained Linkwood and Glen Elgin. So the brand new orthodoxy, first malt, then grain, as malt is an increasing number of about wooden. Color: gentle gold. Nostril: wee whiffs of child vomit at first, then rotting pineapples, then inexperienced walnuts, pipe tobacco, tomato leaves, banana skins. Singular, let’s assume. Mouth: you do really feel the malts, as that is thicker, frankly barley-y, with a bit espresso and varied liqueurs. A drop of Malibu (we’ll survive) and two drops of ginger liqueur, plus some candy cider. We’ll even have to say limoncello. End: medium, with an oaky sourness that is completely not disagreeable. A varnishy aspect too. A drop of coconut and apple vinegar within the aftertaste, then high-class cider. It isn’t typically that the perfect aspect of a whisky can be to be present in its aftertaste. Good enjoyable right here. Feedback: from what? to yeah! inside a couple of minutes. A wilder grain.
SGP: 371- 85 factors. |
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One other session that went to eleven. Good grainy night time (in Georgia)!
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