GlenDronach 1994 K&L Exclusive
At $116 for 750ml, I can’t say I recommend that everyone run out and buy this. However, if you’re looking for a splurge and love complex, meaty sherried Speysiders, this one is hard to beat.
Tag: Single Malt
A.D. Rattray: Craigellachie (8 year)
Nicely complex. This whisky does not tow the line of Speyside style, instead branching out in eclectic ways. Raw cane? Anise and lime juice? I would not have pegged this as a sherried Speysider.
A.D. Rattray: Macduff (10 year)
Not a great introduction to Macduff. It’s hard to say if the few unpleasant notes were a result of cask choice or simply reflect the distillery style. If I had spent $66 on a bottle of this, I might be disappointed. At least it’s cask strength and craft presentation.
A.D. Rattray: Glen Ord (12 year)
I don’t really consider mild 12 year-old highlanders without complexity to be worth $60 a bottle, so I can’t say I would shell out for this. However, there are exactly zero flaws in the presentation here, and if you’re trying to check every distillery off your list, this one may be worth seeking out.
The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve
This is a guest post from Denis from CigarInspector.com. He knows far more than I do about pairing cigars (and cigars in general), and does justice to the topic.
Alchemist: The Macallan (15 year)
A very different and enjoyable alternative to distillery-released Macallan. It clearly deviates from the distillery profile of sweetness, bright red fruit, and elegant old sherry. Here there are wilder notes and sharper edges. Almost savory at times, and eclectic.
Bowmore 12
Although overshadowed by its mighty (both in flavor and in following) neighbors to the south, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, and Ardbeg, Bowmore’s whisky displays a restraint that provides grateful relief to the bog-soddened palates of peat lovers.
Kilchoman Spring 2011
We’re looking at a craft presentation (46% ABV, unchilfiltered, and no color added) peated malt from a working farm. This shows a LOT of promise, but it’s only really promise at this point.
Top 10 Whisky Gifts under $60 for 2011
Whisky enthusiasts are easy to buy for. Most of us are happy to try a new and unfamiliar Scotch, and will be enthused to drain the bottle even if it doesn’t become a new favorite. Here are my top 10 suggestions for giving whisky gifts in 2011.
The Glenrothes 1995 Vintage
Elegant and pure. Not too young, and not particularly old. A very straightforward picture of Speyside style. If you’ll excuse the hyperbole, this tastes like sunshine on a cool spring day. Yum.