Highlander Inn x Friends With Drams In support of Highlander Inn: Daftmill 11 yo 2008 / 2019 Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland #068/2008 55.5% vs Highland Park 14 yo 2005 / 2019 Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland #2390 57.8% vs Ballechin 15 yo 2004 / 2018 Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland #74+76 52% vs Glenallachie 13 yo 2005 / 2020 Distillery Handfill #901037 59.8%
Daftmill 11 yo 2008 / 2019 Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland #068/2008 55.5%
Green fruit, sweet barley sugar, cut grass and clear oil. So far so good. Slight metallic touches and gummy bears. Understandably bourbon led with plenty of toffee, coconut and varnish. Showing itself to be a light oily spirit, clean, with green fruit and not particularly malty. White pepper to the finish. Expect good things of the future.
Highland Park 14 yo 2005 / 2019 Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland #2390 57.8%
Full of character and a great showing from a great distillery. Damp earth, petrichor, wet clay, sailcloth, dirty sand, smoky toast oat cakes, dry charcoal. That said the oak was active too, and the sharp spice and bitter tannins are getting a move on. Dry rye and over boiled tea. Best young I think.
Ballechin 15 yo 2004 / 2018 Independent Whisky Bars of Scotland #74+76 52%
Straight on peat. Heavy, tarry, dried roots, compost, black earth, black smoke. Earthy sort of peat that isn’t medicinal, might have a maritime suggestion. Or that could be Pavlov calling. Curious whisky that seems to be entirely front loaded with a body too thin to support the peat. Sort of fizzles out after the initial drink.
Glenallachie 13 yo 2005 / 2020 Distillery Handfill #901037 59.8%
Some of these young distillery specials in first fill sherry can be frightening but not this one, this is a good one. The balance is well managed and I find notes recalling an older sherry style – must have been an excellent cask. Dark fruit, aniseed, liquorice, the hardest ryebread, medicinal bark and black tea. Charcoal, touches of tar, but also black jam, marzipan, unsweetened cocoa and bitters. All that while managing the admittedly heavy tannins.
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- Ben Nevis 23 yo 1996 / 2019 Single Malts of Scotland for the Nectar #536 51.3% vs A Speyside Distillery 32 yo 1989 / 2022 Thompson Bros 51.4%
- Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 61.1% vs Brora 22 yo 1972 / 1995 Rare Malts 58.7%
- Talimburg 19 yo 1986 / 2005 The Whisky Fair #1485 45.9% vs Talisker 20 yo 1981 / 2002 62%
- Caol Ila 12 yo Bulloch Lade for Zenith 43% vs Caol Ila 30 yo 1979 / 2010 Berry Bros #4604/5 55.6%
- Clynelish 29 yo 1965 Whyte & Whyte 52.1%
- Brora 21 yo 1982 / 2003 Signatory #416 58.4% vs Clynelish 27 yo 1982 / 2009 Synch Eli Daily Dram 46%
- Dornoch 5 yo 2017 / 2023 #46 ‘Jasper Broers’ 57.9% vs Shizuoka ‘private cask’ 2017 / 2022 #2017-108 61%
- Clynelish 26 yo 1993 / 2020 Carn Mor #11215 52.7% vs Bowmore 17 yo 2004 /2021 SMWS 3.327 ‘Siren’s Song’ 57.1%
- Talisker 25 yo ‘Bottle TA25 3987’ 45.8% ~ bottle code L0296CM004 bottled 2020 vs Ledaig 11 yo 2008 / 2019 The Swan Song & 1BRD #700104 58.7%
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