Single Malt Scotch Tasters of
Tasting
Notes - 2006 Home
Highland Park 23Yr, Cask 443, 57.9%ABV
Color: |
Dark honey and amber. |
Nose: |
Sweet vanilla, and citrus. Very spirity and creamy with heather. Aspects of spice, syrup, and seaweed. |
Flavor: |
Very creamy, sweet, smooth and spicy with a tinge of honey. A complex pungent mingling of oak wood, malt, and a trace of salt. |
Finish: |
Extremely long and lingering with a nice smooth balance of tinges of chewy fruit and sweet spice. |
Brief Comment: |
A masterpiece where one taste exemplifies some of the best of distilling’s history. Certainly one of the great malts. |
| Score: | 93 |
Glenfiddich 18 Ancient Reserve
Color: |
Mahogany with amber and copper aspects. |
Nose: |
Quite strong citrus with hint of fruity lime. Sweet vanilla. Floral. |
Flavor: |
Very creamy and spicy. Trace of oak and soupcon of salt. |
Finish: |
Longish accompanied by dash of salt. Sweet slice of feisty orange. Creamy, light, smooth. |
Brief Comment: |
Quite a nice dram. Rounded inviting autumnal qualities. |
| Score: | 82 |
Color: |
Mahogany, copper, and amber |
Nose: |
Quite sweet with subtle floral tones accompanied by honey and maple syrup aspects. |
Flavor: |
Lingering very sweet sherry. Bright fruity citrus with woody oak tones. |
Finish: |
Long, lingering, sweet ,and smooth sherry contrasting with a slight harshness. |
Brief Comment: |
A nice, smooth, comfortable, and enjoyable malt. |
| Score: | 82 |
Color: |
Rich golden amber having tones of lustrous warm copper and honey |
Nose: |
Vanilla with aspects of sweet cream, floral citrus, and nuts |
Flavor: |
Vanilla, sweet cream, salt and spice with faint hints of peat and smoke |
Finish: |
Long lingering heat. Smooth spice, and sweet cream contrasted with a pungent aspect |
Brief Comment: |
A focused wonderful Highland Park expression --- A taste bud’s delight |
| Score: | 89 |
Glenmorangie Traditional 100proof (57.1%ABV)
| Score: | 79 |
Color: |
Light straw. |
Nose: |
Very peaty, smokey, and spirity. Salty with elements of citrus, seaweed, and butter. |
Flavor: |
Pungent tangy salt, peat, and smoke. Well rounded sweetness. Elements of pepper, heather, and vanilla. |
Finish: |
Enduringly long, pungent, salty, and peaty. |
Brief Comment: |
Has the Lagavulin signature, but does not measure up to the 16. |
| Score: | 89 |
Color: |
Light pale straw, washed out amber, and diluted xxx. |
Nose: |
Slightly vanilla sweet, floral and citrus. A slightly musty corner of an old pantry. |
Flavor: |
Spicy, dry, sweet, herbal and creamy. A hint of cereal with elements of coffee, nutmeg, and cinnamon. |
Finish: |
Short to medium. Oily, with a light cherry sweetness. A touch of prickly citrus and fruit. |
Brief Comment: |
OK---- but pricey. A young dram that needs further maturity. |
| Score: | 73 |
Color: |
Golden with highlights of amber, honey, and sodden straw. |
Nose: |
Clean, smokey, and peaty. Sweet caramel and creamy butter. Fruity hints of orange peel, apricots, and lemon. |
Flavor: |
Smokey with an island edge. Peaty and lightly salty. A tangy treat of sweet spicy fruit and cream. |
Finish: |
Medium to long . Creamy smooth sweet spice with tinges of tangy toffee and salt. |
Brief Comment: |
Another wonderful expression from Talisker. A lovely quintessential malt.. |
| Score: | 90 |
|
Color: |
Light Honey and Straw |
|
Nose: |
Eye wateringly smokey and pungent. Sweet and herbal. Fruity with aspects of lemon, apple and oil |
|
Flavor: |
Highly smokey and peaty** with slightly bitter elements. Discordant musty notes of mothballs, oil, creosote. Faint viscous touch of raisins and ripe dates |
| Finish: |
Long with pungent aftertastes of peat, salt, smoke and oil. |
Brief Comment: |
Strong Isla signature but having some discordant elements. Improves when cut with water. |
| Score: | 78 |
** When I put the glassware into the dishwasher there was a strong distinct smokey peaty smell; it was the strongest ever for this whiskey–the Ardbeg Uigeadail
Color: |
Mahogany paneling with amber and dark honey tones. |
Nose: |
Sweet and floral with a pungent edge. Lightly smokey with a bit of peat. |
Flavor: |
Quite light, sweet, and salty . Spicy peppery and a bit oily with touches of bitter nuts. |
Finish: |
Short and complex with a perfumey tang. Unexcitingly clean having a tinge of salt. |
Brief Comment: |
A pleasant drinkable but unmemorable light dram. |
Score: |
73 |