Single Malt Scotch Tasters of

Tasting Notes - 2002 Home

Dalmore 21 Old
Color: Honey and amber with tones of gold and mahogany.
Nose: A complex clean nose of caramel and cream with elements of sweet vanilla and hints of wine, smoke and dates.
Flavor: Gently peppery and tangy with accompaniments of lingering smoke, spice, nut, and sweet caramel.
Finish: Of medium length but creamy smooth and quite sweet with a hint of spice. Lingering.
Brief Comment: A classy malt with a "civilized" bite ------ lots of character!
Score: 87

Moncrief Aberlour Glenlivet 24 year Old
Color: Pale light straw and honey with touches of rich lemon.
Nose: A distinct creamy vanilla with orangy and heather aspects.
Flavor: Fruity, salty, creamy, and quite sharp
Finish: Long and lingering. Tangy, sharp and hot with aspects of cream and salt.
Brief Comment: Our tasting group was quite divided on this one ------- so no aggregate summary comment is possible or warranted.
Score: 85
Compilers note: Since the group was very divided on this whisky only those comments that got at least a single repeat were used.

Talisker 21 year old
This malt was the Caledonia Selection Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distilled in 1979 and bottled in 2001 from Hogshead Cask 5939 at 48.8% ABV.
Color:. Golden straw suggestive of a Moroccan evening sunset.
Nose: Creamy aromatic honey sweet vanilla with a faintly understated peaty aroma accompanied by light smoke and caramel tones.
Flavor: A distinct clean complex but moderate smokiness with aspects of light peat, smooth sweet honey, and tinges of caramel and fruit.
Finish: Smooth, creamy, and lingering with a salty fire in the distance. Lovely with hints of sweet vanilla, caramel, sherry, and fruit.
Brief Comment: Wonderfully complex and sensually delectable.
Score: 91

Mortlach 17 Year Old
Color:. Golden honey with aspects of straw and pale amber.
Nose: Creamy sweet vanilla with limey citrus and caramel tones.
Flavor: Mild, smooth, mellow, straightforward, and quite sweet.
Finish: Medium length, sweet, spicy, and creamy.
Brief Comment: An appropriate scotch for the uninitiated ---- very pleasant, but soon forgotten.
Score: 88

Caol Ila 18 Year Old
Color:. Deep dark honey with touches of gold and straw
Nose: Smokey, peaty, creamy with tones of sweet inviting honey and caramel
Flavor: Complex penetrating sweet smoke; creamy peat and salt with spicy nut tones.
Finish: Very long, complex creamy smooth, with tinges of salt and seaweed.
Brief Comment:. Elegant and smooth ----- another Isla beauty.
Score: 91

Bruichladdich 15 Year Old
Color:. Golden honey with highlights of amber and straw.
Nose: Creamy, malty, and peaty with tinges of honey, straw, caramel, and vanilla.
Flavor: Light peat, oak, and citrus with an initial gentle impression. Evaporative. Light but edgy.
Finish: Medium to shortish in length but smooth and creamy.
Brief Comment:.A lovely dram but lacks the definitive Isla character.
Score: 86 Compiler's note: This one was tough to do because there was not very much agreement among the members.

Bunnahabhain 12
Color:. Amber with honey, orange, and bronze highlights.
Nose: Creamy sweet maple with overtones of smoke and burnt caramel.
Flavor: A hard to distinguish sweet peat along with a creamy smoke.
Finish: Fairly short with a noticeable pungence.
Brief Comment:. A stepchild of the big bold Isla's ------- relatively forgettable.
Score: 80

Talisker 25 Year Old
Bottle number 2014, one of 6000 Limited Edition bottles - of 25 year old Natural Cask Strength bottled in 2001 and 59.9% ABV.
Color:. Amber and mahogany with hints of tarnished gold and bronze.
Nose: Penetratingly smokey, peaty, and salty; accompanied by hints of sweet spicy vanilla and tart lemon.
Flavor: Deeply penetrating; decidedly salty, creamy, and complex along with an underlying peaty urge; also aspects of round oak and lingering smoke.
Finish: Limitlessly long, complex, spicy, smooth, sweet and dry. Incinerates the sinuses uncut, but blossoms beautifully with the addition of water.
Brief Comment: Memorable, bold, and robust -- a true Skye kilted gentleman of a malt.
Score: 95

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