Clynelish 5 yo di Chiano 43% ~ mid 70s vs Highland New Spirit, distilled June 2008 at Clynelish Rochdale 62.8% ~ bottled 2010
Clynelish 5 yo di Chiano 43% ~ mid 70s A winning profile. Fatty ambrette seed which is a thick waxy scent with animalic touches, thin clear minerals, turpenic waxes and, … Continue reading
Highland Park 21 yo 1961 / 1983 Broadwell Vintners by R.W Duthie 46% vs Highland Park 27 yo 1968 Hart Brothers 43%
Highland Park 21 yo 1961 / 1983 Broadwell Vintners by R.W Duthie 46% A surprisingly peaty Highland Park. With an oozing boggy heart, black and dripping, greasy smoke and burning … Continue reading
Laphroaig 1968 Sestante Pinerolo Import 40% ~triangular bottle vs Laphroaig 1968 Gordon & MacPhail for Donini 55.3%
Laphroaig 1968 Sestante Pinerolo Import 40% ~triangular bottle Old bottle effect is present with some obvious glass and chrysanthemum tea but it’s not too loud here. Sharp seaweed-laced sea breeze, … Continue reading
Port Ellen 1969 Gordon & MacPhail for Donini 63.1%
Port Ellen 1969 Gordon & MacPhail for Donini 63.1% Unequivocally superb. A massive Port Ellen of monumental power, no matter how you define the word. I recall this was my … Continue reading
Caol Ila 1969 Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail ‘brown label’ 40% vs Caol Ila 1969 Gordon & Macphail for Donini 58.1%
Caol Ila 1969 Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail ‘brown label’ 40% Fresh! Classic Caol Ila profile, remember this is not the same Caol Ila as we have today. Zippy, zingy … Continue reading
Mortlach 1969 Gordon & Macphail for Donini 56.3%
Mortlach 1969 Gordon & Macphail for Donini 56.3% This whisky is elegance liquefied. Universally dry, but a nose full of heady woody aromatics, bringing to mind a variety of polished … Continue reading
Irish Single Malt 24 yo 1991 / 2016 Formosa Whisky Society #12019 48.2% vs Irish Single Malt 28 yo 1989 / 2018 The Perfect Dram 49.9%
Irish Single Malt 24 yo 1991 / 2016 Formosa Whisky Society #12019 48.2% Not explosively fruity though enough fruit, in the shape of blackcurrants, kyoho grape and mango on oily … Continue reading
Longmorn 1964 James MacArthur 57.5% vs Longmorn 1976 James MacArthur 54.7%
Longmorn 1964 James MacArthur 57.5% Old Longmorn is usually fabulous, but I haven’t had much luck with this bottler’s minis. So, disappointing again. A musty sort of whisky with cooking … Continue reading
Lochside 20 yo 1981 / 2001 Blackadder #615 58.4% vs Lochside 20 yo 1981 / 2001 SMWS 92.10 61%
Lochside 20 yo 1981 / 2001 Blackadder #615 58.4% Sunny, fruity and joyous. A style that sets a high water mark for all whisky. Tart-sweet red berries, blackcurrants and sliced … Continue reading
Ardbeg 24 yo Cadenhead for Sestante 54.4% ~ attributed 1965
Ardbeg 24 yo Cadenhead for Sestante 54.4% ~ attributed 1965 This seems like the right day to have an old Sestante. A nose to make you sigh and check its … Continue reading
Craigellachie 1991 / 2010 Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail 43% vs Craigellachie 44.115 12 yo 2007 / 2019 SMWS 60.8%
Craigellachie 1991 / 2010 Connoisseurs Choice Gordon & Macphail 43% A distillery which I am late to. Wow this is excellent for a regular old Connoisseurs Choice. Full of meditative … Continue reading
Ardbeg 25 yo 1975 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask 702 bottles 50% vs Ardbeg 24 yo 1975 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask 234 bottles 50%
Ardbeg 25 yo 1975 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask 702 bottles 50% Firmly in the 70s Ardbeg style. A precise peat, bullets of oily earth, a thin blade of sodium … Continue reading
‘Tactical’ (Talisker) 20 yo 1980 / 2000 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask MC 359 bottles 50% vs Hebrides (Talisker) 30 yo 1970 Kingsbury 53.2%
‘Tactical’ (Talisker) 20 yo 1980 / 2000 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask MC 359 bottles 50% The sea with all it’s briny salty sharpness is evident here. And warm lemon … Continue reading
Linkwood 13 yo 1999 Berry Bros #11969 56.8% vs Linkwood 21 yo 1969 / 1991 Cadenhead 55.8%
Linkwood 13 yo 1999 Berry Bros #11969 56.8% Barley sugar and molten candy at hard ball stage. Dusty grains, malt and museli. So its a young, fresh faced malt that … Continue reading
Glen Mhor 10 yo Finest Old Highland Malt Moccia Import 43% vs Jura 8 yo Pure Malt Charles MacKinlay 43%
Both were owned by Charles MacKinlay Co Ltd. during in the 70s: Glen Mhor 10 yo Finest Old Highland Malt Moccia Import 43% ~ early 70s This one has dried banana … Continue reading
Banff 1976 James MacArthur 57.1% vs Banff 37 yo 1971 / 2008 Dead Whisky Society #633 53.3% vs Banff Malts of Scotland 1975 / 2013 Malts of Scotland #13056 43.7%
Banff 1976 James MacArthur 57.1% Musty oil, composting leaves, wet leather and metal polish. It might have been more interesting to study further but for the sip I ventured to … Continue reading
Mortlach 14 yo 1973 / 1987 Intertrade 54.6% vs Mortlach 21 yo 1970 / 1991 Turatello 56.7%
Mortlach 14 yo 1973 / 1987 Intertrade 54.6% Beef bouillon and sticky jammy black-purples. Burnt gravy, oily pans in a hot oven, cooked wine and unsweetened cocoa. Big whisky. Savoury … Continue reading
Highland Park 28 yo 1984 / 2013 Douglas Laing #DL9968 48.5% vs Highland Park 22 yo 1981 Kingsbury #6047 52.9% vs Highland Park 1987 / 1997 Gordon & Macphail #15474-15477, 15490-15492 63.7%
Highland Park 28 yo 1984 / 2013 Douglas Laing #DL9968 48.5% Mild sherry influence showing notes of sweet jam, neroli, blackcurrants and black tea. Phenolics check in as well with … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Glendronach 40 yo 1972 / 2012 #713 50.2% vs Glendronach 38 yo 1972 / 2010 #718 51.5% vs Glendronach 37 yo 1972 / 2009 #719 54.8%
Glendronach 40 yo 1972 / 2012 #713 50.2% Frankly, a perfect sherry nose. A monument of dry richness, stuffed to the ears in jammy shrivelled fruit of various shades of … Continue reading
Benriach 36 yo 1976 / 2012 #3031 for Usquebaugh Society 43.1% vs Benriach 35 yo 1975 / 2011 #7227 for Asta Morris 51 %
Benriach 36 yo 1976 / 2012 #3031 for Usquebaugh Society 43.1% Fruity! As in, along tropical lines, like a Lochside or Bowmore. Bright, warm and sunny, bursting guava, passion fruit, … Continue reading
Port Ellen 27 yo 1978 / 2006 Platinum Douglas Laing 55.3% vs Port Ellen 1979 / 2004 Acredyke 60%
Port Ellen 27 yo 1978 / 2006 Platinum Douglas Laing 55.3% A softer sort of peat where the power has turned to elegance. Unburnt tobacco, dried bark, resins, gentian – … Continue reading
Glamis Unblended Pot Still Malt 10 yo 86 proof vs Lauder’s Royal Northern Cream Scotch Whisky vs Ballantines 30 yo 43% vs Four Roses Louisville brown embossed glass bottle vs Miyagikyo 18 yo 1991 / 2009 #114675 Whiskylive 10th Anniversary 54%
I seem to have missed World Whisky Day, so digging deep into the drawer named ‘Others’ now and this is what I pulled out: Glamis Unblended Pot Still Malt 10 … Continue reading
Bowmore 15 yo 1996 / 2012 Douglas Laing #8034 52.2% vs Bowmore 16 yo 2001 / 2017 Cadenhead 175th Anniversary 54.8%
Bowmore 15 yo 1996 / 2012 Douglas Laing #8034 52.2% It’s what we want in a modern Bowmore. Sharp coastal notes like salt zing, sea air, open BBQ pits, and … Continue reading
Clynelish 36 yo 1971 / 2007 Murray McDavid 51.5% vs Clynelish 32 yo 1974 / 2006 The Whisky Fair 58.6%
Clynelish 36 yo 1971 / 2007 Murray McDavid 51.5% Brilliant whisky. Clynelish is a standalone great. Bathe in hot wax here, lots of it, and stinging sap. Minerals and clean … Continue reading
Clynelish 20 yo 1995 Gleann Mor #11308 53.9% vs Clynelish 21 yo 1995 Signatory #11228 55.7%
Clynelish 20 yo 1995 Gleann Mor #11308 53.9% I love these Clynelishes. Classic elements of flints and minerals, paraffin wax, clean clay pots, rubbed lime, fresh cut green fruit and … Continue reading
Longmorn 30 yo 1973 / 2004 Duncan Taylor 51.1% vs Longmorn-Glenlivet 12 yo Gordon & Macphail ‘Pure Malt’ 100 proof 57% ~80s bottling
Longmorn 30 yo 1973 / 2004 Duncan Taylor 51.1% Great distillery, great whisky. This period of Longmorn was marked by fruit and it shows here, warm sunny hues of green … Continue reading
Balblair 1964 James MacArthur 56.8% vs Balblair 1983 1st release 46%
Balblair 1964 James MacArthur 56.8% Right, start with the good – Salt air, wisps of smoke, black loamy earth, and then pine cones. Unfortunately this becomes stale violets, mothballs and … Continue reading
Bunnahabhain 26 yo 1989 Signatory #5811+5812 56.2% vs Bunnahabhain 24 yo 1990 Highland Laird 47.2% vs Driftwood 1997 Wemyss Malt 46% (Peated Bunnahabhain)
Bunnahabhain 26 yo 1989 Signatory #5811 + 5812 45.2% Full and weighty whisky with big oily, buttery, malty, nutty notes. Very typical for Bunnahabhain. Salt air, crushed spinach, honeyed cloves, … Continue reading
Laphroaig 30 yo 1966/1996 Signatory #560 48.7% vs Laphroaig 31 yo 1966/1997 Signatory #1094 49.3% vs Laphroaig 28 yo 1967/1996 Signatory #2201 50.2% vs Laphroaig 28 yo 1967/1995 Signatory #2205 50.3%
It’s my 40th birthday and I’m forced to have a stay at home party. Fortunately, I am amply stocked. Laphroaig 30 yo 1966 / 1996 Signatory #560 48.7% Myriad little … Continue reading
Arran 21 yo 1996 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask 636 bottles 50% vs Benromach 10 yo 43% vs Cragganmore 1976 / 1991 Gordon & Macphail Cask #3583-3584 55.8%
Arran 21 yo 1996 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask 636 bottles 50% A load of sweet cooked notes from butterscotch and boiled orange peel. Clove candy too. Flambed banana, brine, … Continue reading
Glen Garioch 21 yo 1995 Old Particular Douglas Laing #11471 51.5% vs Glen Garioch 21 yo 1993 Old Particular Douglas Laing #10776 57.7%
Glen Garioch 21 yo 1995 Old Particular Douglas Laing #11471 51.5% A very particular style I love coming back to recalibrate on. Bursting lime peel, battery acid, mineral oil, chalk … Continue reading
Caol Ila 15 yo Gold Jug decanter Zenith 43% vs Caol Ila 12 yo The Single Cask for Singapore Whisky Bars including The Swan Song #307362 2007/ 2019 58.7% vs Caol Ila 17 yo 1977 / 1994 Cadenhead 59.2%
Caol Ila 15 yo Gold Jug decanter Zenith 43% ~ mid 80s Lots of phenols and depth for a whisky that fells like its starting to shift down a gear. … Continue reading
Inchgower 12 yo 40% ‘Arthur Bell’ ~ mid 80s vs Inchgower 1993 / 2011 Connoisseurs Choice 43% vs Loch Lomond (Inchmurrin) 9 yo 1985/ 1994 Cadenhead 64%
Inchgower 12 yo 40% ‘Arthur Bell’ ~ mid 80s Very nice, some old soot laden grease, with dry bracken and crunching leaf litter underfoot. Cold coal stoves, burnt butter and … Continue reading
Springbank 21 yo 1996 / 2018 ‘peated type’ Whisky Agency 50.9% vs Springbank 23 yo 1994 / 2017 Nectar of the Daily Drams 50.6%
Springbank 21 yo 1996 / 2018 ‘peated type’ Whisky Agency 50.9% Why isn’t this Longrow then? Because Longrow is double distilled and this was made with the 2 plus distillation … Continue reading
Speyside Region Single Malt 40 yo 1975 Sansibar 50.6% vs Speyside Region Single Malt 43 yo 1973 / 2017 Liquid Treasures #9 46.5%
As unspoken a lockdown as these unspoken malts. Stay sane. Speyside Region Single Malt 40 yo 1975 Sansibar 50.6% As autumnal a whisky as can be. Heaps of parched brown … Continue reading
Balvenie 15 yo 1974 / 1990 Signatory #18103-18130 57.1% vs Balvenie SMWS 40.1 1976 / 1997 60.6%
It’s been a rocky 2 weeks with the pandemic control measures and all. May the whisky gods grant us, and all Singapore whisky bars, a second lease of life soon. … Continue reading
White Horse America’s Cup 43% vs Pillaged Malt 10 yo Vatted Malt 57.1% ~ 1st edition bottled 2003
This head to head comes courtesy of a friend who clearly loves Lagavulin. White Horse America’s Cup 43% ~ 1987 Note this qualifies as a 12 yo Scotch Whisky. It … Continue reading
Teaninich 19 yo That Boutique-y Whisky Company Batch 1 48.6% vs Teaninich 32 yo 1983 Adelphi #6738 47.8%
Teaninich 19 yo That Boutique-y Whisky Company Batch 1 48.6% A gentle nose and a light touch with lithe and somewhat spartan scents. Soft warm wax, green scrapings and off … Continue reading
Bowmore 24 yo 1991 Carn Mor #616 54.9% vs Bowmore 25 yo 1989 Douglas Laing Old Particular #10581 55.1%
Bowmore 24 yo 1991 Carn Mor #616 54.9% It’s a rebound style that leaves behind a decade best forgotten. Can something be both immaculate and peaty? Pure liquid smoke, salt … Continue reading
Irish Single Malt Whiskey 24 yo Batch 1 That Boutique-y Whisky Company 46.8% vs Limerick Slaney Malt Irish 23 yo 1991 / 2005 Adelphi #8585 59%
Irish Single Malt Whiskey 24 yo Batch 1 That Boutique-y Whisky Company 46.8% Brilliantly fruity with a real warmth; And shades of tropical-ness that hearken back to an older era … Continue reading
Isle of Jura 30 yo 1966 / 1996 Signatory #1868/69 52.6% vs Isle of Jura 30 yo 1966 / 1996 Kingsbury #1867 49.7%
Isle of Jura 30 yo 1966 / 1996 Signatory #1868/69 52.6% Love at first whiff. Unbelievable whisky. Deep resinous wood, coal, camphor, oily black leather harnesses, burning caramel, wet tobacco. … Continue reading
Rosebank 1991 / 2009 Gordon & Macphail #2119/2120/2121 55.3% vs Rosebank 21 yo 1989 / 2010 Lombard for Three Rivers #866 58.1%
Rosebank 1991 / 2009 Gordon & Macphail #2119/2120/2121 55.3% Simple, fresh and clean. What more do we need. Soft cream, white sugar, butter on rye bread, plain malt, lemon rind, … Continue reading
Ben Nevis 19 yo 1996 Distiller’s Art 48% vs Ben Nevis 20 yo 1995 Gleann Mor #11308 53.4% vs Ben Nevis 22 yo 1992 Cadenhead 53.5%
Ben Nevis 19 yo 1996 Distiller’s Art 48% Crystal clear and to the point. Poached pears, white wine, gentian root, ivy leaf syrup. An austere and mineral sort of Ben … Continue reading
Lagavulin 25 yo 200th Anniversary 51.7% ~2016 vs Lagavulin 30 yo 52.6% ~ 2006
Lagavulin 25 yo 200th Anniversary 51.7% ~2016 Big meaty nose with sear and burnt bits. A lot of wood in this Lagavulin so much so that its vaunted grizzled oiliness … Continue reading
Craigellachie 31 yo Batch Batch 04-6137 52.2% vs Cragganmore 29 yo 1973 / 2003 Special Release 52.5%
Craigellachie 31 yo Batch Batch 04-6137 52.2% Waxy to a Clynelish-esque extent. It beggared my belief to be sure. Chamomile, hay, sunny days and runny honey. Baked butter tarts and … Continue reading
Convalmore 36 yo 1977 / 2013 Special Release 58% vs Convalmore 36 yo 1977 / 2013 Cadenhead 58.2%
Convalmore 36 yo 1977 / 2013 Special Release 58% Orange chocolate, thick heavy marmalade, loads of cinnamon and cloves, dried apricot, preserved orange peel, touches of astringent and woody petitgrain. … Continue reading
Littlemill 24 yo 1989 / 2013 The Whisky Agency and Acla 52.9% vs Lochside 27yo Single Grain James MacArthur’s Old Master 60.5%
Littlemill 24 yo 1989 / 2013 The Whisky Agency and Acla 52.9% Classic fruity sort of littlemill, with grapefruit and citrons, peaches, passionfruit and rhubarb. More fresh, tart and … Continue reading
Springbank 10 yo 46% vs Springbank 26 yo 1992 / 2019 Whisky Kingdom #153b 47.7% vs Springbank 22 yo 1993 / 2015 The Bottlers #227 51.9%
Springbank 10 yo 46% ~ mid 2010s It’s a lean sort of whisky that’s all very unoffensive though somewhat dull. It’s vegetable peelings. brine, burning butane, working machinery and hot … Continue reading
Imperial 1979 / 1991 Gordon & Macphail 40% vs Imperial 1991 / 2008 Gordon & Macphail 43%
Imperial 1979 / 1991 Gordon & Macphail 40% Honestly a lovely fresh nose with white pepper, cut green fruit, browned grass, rubbed limes, clean clear oil and a touch of … Continue reading
