Glen Grant 23 yo 1992 / 2016 Cadenhead 53.1% vs Glentauchers-Glenlivet 26 yo 1990 / 2017 Cadenhead 52.6% vs Fettercairn 28 yo 1988 / 2017 Cadenhead 55.4%
Glen Grant 23 yo 1992 / 2016 Cadenhead 53.1%
A little surprised by this one. It’s leafy but dry, and sharp with sap and freshly stripped bark. On the other hand there’s a real burnt edge here, with seared metal and an acrid sting from herb sprigs thrown in the fire. Watch out – Capsicums, green chilli and vegetable oil. Not a lush one at all, in fact probably closer to a very economical pear eau de vie. 83 pts
Fettercairn 28 yo 1988 / 2017 Cadenhead 55.4%
Attention Ben Nevis aficionados. Here’s something you’ll like. A thick whisky full of warm wax and cream oaken sweetness. Harvest fresh orchard fruit in a basket, sun warmed gravel and melting butter on fresh pastries. That said the palate is interesting as it brings an unexpected buzz of meaty sulphur a la Ben Nevis (amongst others), which is to say not a real sulphur and not a bad thing at all. The result is a broad shouldered, muscled whisky with equally bulky flavours. It is just unfortunate this particular whisky veers quickly towards a burnt acridity. 87 pts
Glentauchers-Glenlivet 26 yo 1990 / 2017 Cadenhead 52.6%
A surprisingly firm spirit, not meaty but rather rooted with a stiff ligneous core, here draped with palatable golden browns of maple, crisp autumn leaves, a dusting of warm wood spice, light hued tree resins and dried bark. That loveliness gives way to paraffin and raw green berries. This green herbaceous heart suggests culinary vegetables, both bitter and piquant, dense yet fresh. I can see how a blend doesn’t need much of this though on the other hand, as a single malt, 20 plus years seems like a minimum for such a magisterial spirit. 87 pts
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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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