After the 2000 vintage I was half expecting to stick my nose in here and get masses of dried fruits but I didn't, instead I got lashings of creamy vanilla and butterscotch angel delight, fresh fruit salad with honeydew melons mixing with sweet soft apples, gentle leafy dewy grass and hints of the local florist shop come through next.
Toms Whisky Reviews
Tasting Notes / IHD Masterclass
IHD Masterclass Review
So a few weeks back I was invited to take part in the #IHDmasterclass but unfortunately I missed due to having to chauffeur my wife after her train was cancelled due to an accident on the line.
This meant that I didn't get to see the live stream of the drams being tasted, but thats been solved with a copy of that video which you can watch below.
My notes of all the drams sampled during this tasting (most of which are reviews I had published on the site previously) are shown below and once again thanks to Inverhouse Distillers for including me on this tasting
anCnoc 18 Year Old Review
These age statement anCnoc drams are still new to me but I'm really excited by them, the 2000 vintage was a fabulous dram that took me by surprise so I was really excited to try this 18 year old which would be at least 3/4 years older.
The nose took me by surprise and was much more ex bourbon influenced than the 2000 vintage, and much to my taste also, the palate not as sweet vanilla as the nose, almost a disappointment from that amazing nose but it's just so damned drinkable.
Thanks to anCnoc for the official sample.
Tasting Notes & Details
Creamy, buttery milky, angel delight both vanilla and butterscotch along with some gentle wood spices, oak leaf sauce and fresh green apple spices, almost a little tarte with a twist of fresh lemon and lime juice.
Bitter and twisted with lemon and lime juice and hints of creamy angel delight still lingering.
Bottle Name: anCnoc 18 Year Old
Age: 18
ABV: 46.00
Distiller: anCnoc
Bottler: anCnoc
Type: Single Malt
From: Scotland, Highland
Posted: 15/09/2015 by Tom
anCnoc 22 Year Old Review
I always enjoy tasting new expressions of whisky and this anCnoc 22 Year Old was one that i certainly did enjoy.
Only released very recently, the initial release information here, this Bourbon cask matured 22 year old is a cracking dram.
Why not drop by The Whisky Exchange and pick up a bottle.
Official Sample provided by Alembic Comms
Tasting Notes & Details
The nose on some whiskies really does make you want to sit and sniff it all night and this is one of them, theres some lovely citrus notes along with a large dose of vanilla and a touch of malty biscuit. This really is like smelling a fabulous lemon and lime cheesecake.
quite malty to start with but that melts into touches of citrus and vanilla, creme brule and more of the lemon and lime cheesecake.
nice long glow that keeps you warm, malty but citrusy.
Bottle Name: anCnoc 22 Year Old
Age: 22
ABV: 46.00
Distiller: anCnoc
Bottler: anCnoc
Type: Single Malt
From: Scotland, Highland
Posted: 22/02/2013 by Tom
Balblair 1983 Vintage Review
Tasting the Balblair 1983 as part the Balblair Vintages Tweet tasting.
A real old gent, this cracker of a dram, which is 30 years old, or there abouts really shows just how good the raw spirit is with balblair, fruity and malty, a gorgeous old dram
thanks again for the tweet tasting guys.
Tasting Notes & Details
Initially lots of bounty, chocolate coconut, with tropical fruits, banana fritters and melon chunks and hints of gentle spices
sweet and spicy, melon and kiwi and cloves with a lot of maltyness and oak
spicy and malty, with melon and pineapple
Bottle Name: Balblair 1983 Vintage
Age: 1983 Vintage
ABV: 46.00
Distiller: Balblair
Bottler: Balblair
Type: Single Malt
From: Scotland, Highland
Posted: 05/12/2013 by Tom
Balblair 1990 Vintage Review
Tasting the Balblair 1990 as part the Balblair Vintages Tweet tasting.
WOW what a fantastic dram that really works hard and certainly one of the better ones in the balblair box of tricks, which is difficult as the entire range are fantastic.
thanks again for the tweet tasting guys.
Tasting Notes & Details
Intitally this comes with huge notes of banana Fritters in a 70% dark chocolate fondue dip, with light fresh fruits, melon and kiwi with a hint of pineapple and sultanas, as it sits in the glass it becomes lighter and fruitier
Spiced dark chocolate and nutmeg with sultanas and hints of plum juices and cinnamon
hints of nutmeg and sultanas
Bottle Name: Balblair 1990 Vintage
Age: 1990 Vintage
ABV: 46.00
Distiller: Balblair
Bottler: Balblair
Type: Single Malt
From: Scotland, Highland
Posted: 05/12/2013 by Tom
Old Pulteney 17 Year Old Review
I can't believe I've not reviewed this before, it's a dram I've tried at many an event but I've still not managed to review it on the blog as yet.
This was tasted as part of the #IHDmasterclass which unfortunately I missed due to having to chauffeur my wife after her train was cancelled due to an accident on the line.
This was the only one of the drams in the masterclass that I've not previously reviewed on the site previously which were anCnoc 18, anCnoc 22, Balblair 83, Balblair 90 and Old Pulteney 21
This is lovely, the mouthfeel is fabulously waxy and luxurious, the salty almost coastal starchy rich chips flavours works well with rich dark fruits, it almost goes rubbery on the nose but not enough to cause me any concern. I need to add a bottle of this to my drinking shelf.
Thanks to Inverhouse Distillers for including me on this tasting
Tasting Notes & Details
Sweet sugar coated dark fruits, almost plum, prunes and sherry soaked raisins, hints of pencil eraser and mr sheen furniture polish and a touch of salty chip shop chips.
Sweet plums and raisins, spicy and almost peppery, that furniture polish is now more waxy, almost beeswax and honey or syrup, cinnamon dusting and again salty starchy chips.
Nutty and spicy, long tasting with a touch of salty chips
Bottle Name: Old Pulteney 17 Year Old
Age: 17
ABV: 46.00
Distiller: Old Pulteney
Bottler: Old Pulteney
Type: Single Malt
From: Scotland, Highland
Posted: 16/10/2015 by Tom
Old Pulteney 21 Year Old Review
My good friend Steve (@steveprentice) sent me a sample of this Lovely Old Pulteney 21 Year Old quite a while ago and it's been sitting in my "reviews to be posted" pile for a while now so it's about time i posted it.
This dram takes what Old Pulteney have done with the 12 Year Old and makes it much more refined, the citrus notes go more creamy key lime pie and are not as sharp but there's still a touch of oaky lovelyness in here too.
Out of stock at the moment but back soon at Master of Malt.
Tasting Notes & Details
initial waves are of tarte key lime pie with maple syrup and vanilla cream, there's an oaky woodiness underlying but it's the citrus flavours that hit with the biggest punch. After sitting a while i get fresh pine cones and dew.
more of the citrus but less oak and more pine cones, a bit of vanilla in there too.
long lasting finish, lots of warmth and a generous portion of citrus.
Bottle Name: Old Pulteney 21 Year Old
Age: 21
ABV: 46.00
Distiller: Old Pulteney
Bottler: Old Pulteney
Type: Single Malt
From: Scotland, Highland
Posted: 24/06/2013 by Tom
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