A few weeks have passed since the last entry. Which doesn’t mean that I haven’t had any malts. The corresponding tasting notes will follow in the coming days. The first one today is the Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 yo.
Nose A pleasant soft and very mild nose with sweet notes of berries and honey. There is also some white chocolate and the mild aroma of caramel. The contrast is provided by light oak notes and the spiciness of ginger.
The Lagavulin 16 yo is a true classic, well known in almost every whisky collection. And for good reason, because it is a beautiful representative of this important region.
Nose It plays around the nose with initial salt and unusual iodine. Peat and smoke are found only a little, but a little cold ashtray. The scent of citrus fruits and flowers round off the nose.
Taste At the beginning, the tongue receives a nice round initial sharpness and also the iodine from the nose.
Some drops I let stand a little long, this one five years. But I’m glad that with my The Glenlivet 18 yo the cork is not dry and the now opened bottle continues to seal well. It will not get much older now, but a good closure is already important.
Nose A wonderful aroma reaches the nose on the Glenlivet. Sweet berries start things off, but are then complemented by hearty and fresh moss and leather notes.
A drop that had to wait almost three years for me to open it. But now there has been an event that I wanted to reward myself for. So I looked for my The GlenDronach Parliament 21 yo from my stash and allowed this old Highland speciality with 48% to find its way into my nosing glass.
Nose A really nice and intense blend, of plums and sultanas, of light walnut notes, violets and spices.
The Glenmorangie 14 yo Quinta Ruban is a beautiful variant of the Glenmorangie. Aged longer than typical 10 or 12 year olds, matured in ex-bourbon casks with a finish in Ruby Port Pipes. The result is an affordable Highland malt with 46%.
Nose The Quinta Ruban caresses the nose with a scent of beautiful dark and strong oranges and chocolate. There is damp wood in the background. Scents of exotic spices and flowers complete the beautiful picture.
You may know my preferences for cask strength whiskies in general as well as whiskies by Highland Park. And so the Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 1 is a very special whisky for me. I bought it last year and today I opened it today. It has 63,3% alcohol and is very well balanced. I like it.
Nose What an intense aroma, given by the high alcohol content. It immediately rises to the nose and is accompanied by fresh and fruity notes.
Today I’m talking about a rather young malt in my collection. However, the “young” does not refer to its age, which is 15 years. But I bought it only last month. Today it’s about the Glenlivet 15 yo French Oak Reserve. It was allowed to mature in French Limousin oak casks from the Dordogne and is one of the cheapest on the market.
Nose This is a pleasant and strong aroma, dominated by the beautiful scent of cedar wood.
In today’s Tasting Notes, I’m describing a special single malt. It is the Highland Park Spirit of the Bear. But what makes it special for me? It’s not the age, the alcohol content or the price. It’s much more the place of purchase. It was in a duty free at Munich airport. Otherwise, the malt is not exactly special. Matured in a sherry cask and with 40 % alcohol, it comes without age and is quite cheap.
Sometimes there is something special. This Christmas it was the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte PC10 Tro Na Linntean, which I got as a birthday present from my family last year. It’s a 10-year-old Islay at 59.8%. the peat content is 40ppm. This Christmas I finally opened it.
Nose A very nice and strong aroma of lemon, barley malt, nuts, oak and maritime notes. Further in the background pineapple, honeydew melon and some peppermint.
The next malt, which I have had open for a long time, but have now systematically tasted again, is the Ardbeg An Oa. It is a little sweeter than the well-known Ardbeg TEN, as it is matured in PX sherry casks and new oak casks in addition to the bourbon casks. The blend at the end is already special. It has 46.6 %.
Nose The nose of Ardbeg An Oa is greeted by damp wood and various fruity notes.
