MrWizard's Ramblings

Some quick notes, some in-depth, mostly due to sample sizing. I have a lot of speyside bottles and samples. Perhaps I’ve got a type?

Secret Speyside 17 (Macallan 2005), 57.5%
Signatory Vintage collection, 1st fill Oloroso. The nose is dark rish varnish oloroso note, nearly bordering on smoke. The palate is hot and bursting with flavor richness. Spicy, woody palate, with toasted sugar and wood being just a sliver below bitter. Yet again, there are some nearly smoky notes in the most awesome ways. Aftertaste is medium length, spicy and sticks around for a while. Overall: This is some of the best representation of what a viscous cask can do to good quality malt. It’s good weird, but it’s still ‘weird’. Perhaps a little too saturated on the toasted notes after repeated sips, this starts to slip into bitterness. Value: N/A (~$210-ish)
https://www.whiskyba … ret-speyside-2005-sv
Score: B+
vs
Secret Speyside 17 (Macallan 2005), 57.6%
Another single cask, same year… same proof… same age… same cask type being 1st fill Oloroso. The nose is quite light for 1st fill, bursting with fruit compote composed of apples and oranges with perhaps some cherries in the background. The palate is much more classic Macallan cask strength. Malt, cherries, spices, orange rinds, speyside red apple notes. Aftertaste is more of the same from the palate and seems to last for a while before fading. Overall: This is very classic Macallan in its profile and blindly I’d struggle to call this an independent bottling. This is a good reminder of Macallan potential. An excellent, classically-represented sherried Speyside pour. Value: N/A (~190-ish)
https://www.whiskyba … ret-speyside-2005-sv
Score: A

Cragganmore 25 , Hunter Laing Old & Rare SiB, 57.4%
A single cask of Cragganmore from 1995. The cask is first fill sherry butt, not much other info; though see details in link below. Classically sherried speyside nose, with sherry taking the first note and fruits taking secondary roles. Definite apple/pear note in the background. Rich, sweet & sticky, sherried, spicy palate with more red apples. The notes continue to the medium-length aftertaste with spicy peppers that linger around with time turning into light ash notes. Overall: Good, but not uniquely outstanding. This is another solid speyside cask that showcases rich and fruity malt in a sherry cask. I’ve not had enough Cragganmore to really form an opinion as they tend to be rare and low proof. Am I tasting the cask or Cragganmore? I really don’t know. Value: N/A / Overpriced (~$250ish)
https://www.whiskyba … /cragganmore-1995-hl
Score: A-

Unnamed Speyside 30 years old, K&L / Thompson Brothers, Single Cask, 50.4%
Source… Unknown. A 30 year old refill american oak cask from speyside region from 1990. The nose is white peaches all the way in a very classic fruity speyside character. Some white honey, vanilla, pears. The palate is somewhat thin on texture for the age, oh so flavorful. Most of the notes from the nose continue but sichuan peppers really kick in from midway onwards and into the aftertaste. There’s a touch of a metallic note at the very end but it’s barely felt and if anything adds another dimension to the experience. Overall: This is bloody good. It won’t be sweeping competitions but 30 years of good malt in a good cask is nothing to scoff at. Well executed, great representation of 90s ex-bourbon cask malt. Random guess: Benriach. Value: K&L Sold these for $209… Kinda worth it perhaps, for the specs.
https://www.whiskyba … isky/212057/1990-pst
Score: A-

Secret Speyside (Macallan) 30, Maltman SiB, 45.2
A 1993 vintage, supposedly, Macallan single cask in sherry for The Maltman. The nose is insanely fruity with a touch of sherry spice note. This is well worth sniffing for a while. The experience is similar to smelling a glass of fruit punch, red fruits and sugars dominate. The palate is amazing, just the right amount of richness, sherry spices and fruit flavors in their concentration. It falls unfortunately flat in the aftertaste. There is nothing wrong with the overall experience but the aftertaste is mostly sweet toasted wood and some spice without anything outstanding to distinguish itself. Overall: Amazing overall experience, old school funky, slightly metallic sherry… until the aftertaste lets it become pedestrian. Is this a great pour? Yes. Is it amazing one? Not quite. Value: At $500+ for the bottle this is definitely not cheap but considering where Macallan 30 falls on the price tag when it’s an original bottling… Well I won’t mention that price. I’ll say that I won’t be spending this kind of money myself.
https://www.whiskyba … iskies/whisky/228661
Score: A
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Part 2 of the below post to make it less lengthy.

Bardstown Discovery Series #6, 55.55%
This is the “One with the Dickel in it” bottling. Let’s go! Mashbills and percentages are disclosed and published online in many places, so I won’t repeat them here. For better or worse, this is 16% Dickel that’s 17 years old… Which is to be fair rather respectable age for bourbon. The color is near-perfect chestnut. Straight out of the bottle there’s a touch of pecans on the nose, but that disappears after few minutes, leaving cologne-forward notes. There are certainly some nuttiness but it leans towards toasted bits of jam and crust from a berry pie. Let’s add some pecans on top of same pie before baking and… you get the picture. The palate is ripe with toasted cherry wood. There’s something about burnt cherry pie filling in the glass. Lots of toasted oak, cinnamon, cloves, and perhaps torched sugar with the overall profile leaning towards burnt, rather than caramelized. The aftertaste is a bit of a wash unfortunately with pecans coming back as well as that slightly bitter baking spice note letting itselves be known. Few drops of water calm the aftertaste down somewhat but it tones down everything across the board equally… Water is a preference here. Overall: Enjoyable all the way to aftertaste but instead of aftertaste elevating the experience this goes into the burnt notes. Quite drinkable and will likely please most bourbon lovers that want that firm kentucky hug in the aftertaste. The Dickel isn’t really a huge factor here, unless one is a staunch fan of Buffalo Trace products as this certainly leans to the Kentucky+Tennessee nutty style. Surprisingly, there’s some cherry on the palate and perhaps even on the nose, but that aftertaste firmly sticks it back into Tennessee for better or worse. Value: MSRP is too high at ~$120+, should be $99 IMHO… though their packaging and bottle design are well done.
Score: B

Bardstown Blended Rye x West Virginia Great Barrel Co, 55%
This is a weird one that’s for sure. 6 year MGP rye, aged in re-toasted cherrywood/oak hybrid casks, blended with 12 year old Canadian whiskey? What-a-mix! This is certainly off a beaten path for a reasonably well established company. Let’s try anyways! Disclaimer: This s a neck pour so there could be a some changes down the line once oxigen does its thing. The nose is fairly typical MGP rye, toasted wood with old varnish that’s been in the sun, medicinal pine forest, a bit of fermented/pickled dill in the background. The palate is rather sweet, with cherry notes coming in, sweet toasted vanilla and woody oak, gentle baking spices, and aromatic bitters notes. More of the same palate notes are in the aftertaste. Overall: Very enjoyable, despite the uncommon premise. This drinks like a very strong manhattan, or high rye bourbon rather than blended rye. In short, the more I drink it, the more I seem to enjoy it. I like a little more cherry in my manhattan though I’m still enjoying the experience. It doesn’t get too hot or too bitter or too rye-ish, preferring to back off that flavor peak just before becoming too much. This is certainly flavorful, interesting bottling. Value: I’ve picked this up at about $130 from Costco which for the spec seems a bit overpriced, as seems to be the norm with other ‘premium’ Bardstown bottles. Let’s set it as slightly above average on value here.
Score: B+

Velier Sassafras, Foursquare Barbados Rum, 14 year old, 61%
A sample from friend Charu. Bottled in November 2020 as one of 6000 bottles. This 14 year old bottling was aged 3 years in ex-bourbon and then 11 years in ex-cognac casks. It needs time to breathe in the glass, yet the notes I’m smelling all the way from the table surface are already amazing. The nose is toasted vanilla oak, touch of cigar tobacco, very light mint and… fruity perfume. The longer I leave it in the glass, the more perfume-forward it becomes. I’ll be honest with you, it’s really a cognac cask speaking with the fruits but it doesn’t detract from the experience. The palate… is pretty much everything from the nose… turned up to 11. The aftertaste… is… same as palate, gently fading with some barrel spice instead of fruity sweetness of a brandy. Overall: An astonishingly amazing and cohesive experience that’s very hard to duplicate in another bottling. Granted, this is a rum that’s wearing a woody cognac cape at the end of the day. I imagine when tasted blindly it could be hard to identify this as a rum and to call out a off-profile cognac instead. Still, the layers of flavor are great and there’s literally nothing to complain about in the glass. Borderline singular experience. Value: This is where it gets tricky… Originally priced at ~$200, and currently going for ~$450 on secondary… this isn’t a particularly great deal at first glance… yet considering that similar bourbon/cognac foursquares (ie 2006) are ~$1k on auctions and flavor-comparable cognacs are priced in the thousands… This is perhaps a worthwhile endeavor to chase down a bottle or a sample if your budget allows.
Score: A+

High West American Prairie Bourbon, K&L SP, Carcavelos Cask, 50.1%
This is a blend of straight bourbons, finished for 8 months in Carcavelos (White, somewhat spicy, port) and selected by K&L wines. Cask number is 18341. The nose is restrained and at best can be described as sweet & woody-something. There are toasted sugar, sweet spices, some vanilla, oak of course, yet none of it really stands out. The palate is thin on texture but rich in flavor. Lots of sugars, caramelized flavors, some wood, the sweetness doesn’t overwhelm but instead combines well with vanilla and spice. Aftertaste is rather szechuan-peppery, and surprisingly dry, providing a good contrast to the palate and nose. It’s not the most complex or the longest but pleasant enough to let it do its thing. Overall: Well this is an interesting one, I was expecting an everyday drinker and I’ve arguably gotten one. The port notes work surprisingly well with youthful (~2 year old) spirit in hiding bad things and bolstering spice and sweetness. In the end I’m left with enjoyable, casual, dessert pour which does not skimp on sweet & spicy peppers. Value: I’ve picked it up at $55… That’s a decent price for something like this. Let’s call it a good deal for Cask Select High West Bourbon for this price.
Score: B+
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Mixed bag of samples. I believe this takes care of anything that I’ve got open or a sample of that’s not a scotch.

Origin — Age — Score — Notes

Rums:

- Saint Lucia 2006, Chairman’s/Smuggler’s Cove SP, 51% — 14 years — C+ — Very medicinally funky, minty woodiness. Intense, borderline bitter but relents at the right time. Would be unpleasant if higher proof. Mix it
- Saint Lucia 2009, Chairman’s/Florida Rum Society SP, 57.7% — 11 years — B+ — Sweet caramel, vanilla and a touch of mint are balancing the wood nicely. This is well balanced, enjoyable sipper that drinks under it’s proof. Well played.
- Panama, Grander Toasted Oak, Florida Rum Society SP, 63.7% — 11 years — B — A little water needed. Very wood & vanilla caramel-forward. Warm spice hug afterwards. Enjoyable but over-casked, giving it a confused identity.

Tequila Ocho Tasting

- Tequila Ocho Plata 2022 — 0 — B- — Fresh, mineral, citrus and lime peel.
- Tequila Ocho Reposado 2022 — 8w+8d — B — Aged 72 days. Ocho being 8… Got it? Caramel, rosemary, black pepper, spiced orange peel, vegetable stew.
- Tequila Ocho Añejo 2021 — 1y+1d — B- — Savoury, earthy, mineral, anise, orange peel, black pepper, touch of mint.
- Tequila Ocho Extra Añejo 2018 — 3y+1d — B — Sweet and mineral, light and fruity, almond notes, herbs, light pepper dust.
- Tequila Ocho Reposado Barrel Select 2022 45.5% — N/A — B+ — Likely 72 days. Aged in Widow Jane Casks. Sweet candy, orange peel, white pepper, anice. Solid stuff. By far the best of the lineup.

Remus Gatsby Reserve 2022, MGP: 15 y/o, 48.9%
A small sample courtesy of friend Michael. This is of course a 15 year old MGP extra ‘premium’ version of the limited Remus release. The nose is caramel and wood and some fennel surprisingly and overall rather deep. Closest approximation of the palate I can come up with is ‘velvety smooth’ or ‘polished to perfection’. We’ve got brown sugar, vanilla, almost no bitterness even though wood is felt through and at 15 years of age, it certainly could have been over-oaked, but it’s not. Long aftertaste lingers with sichuan peppers, more vanilla sugars, gentle baking spices. Overall: This is in one word… ‘Decadent’! Bloody good and well done MGP/Remus. One of the best bourbons I’ve tried. It only lacks a few more points of proof to be spectacular; 107 proof isn’t out of reach here. Supposedly, this is cask strength, but it really needs a little bit of oomph to soar; it glides instead. Value: The MSRP of $200+ is a little bitey… but considering a slew of questionably premium releases from other well known distillers at same or higher price… It’s a ‘perhaps worth it’ at sub $250.
Score: A

Old Potrero Malted Rye, 7y 3mo, Single Cask Port Finish 64.48%
Old Potrero Single Malt Single Cask, this is port cask finished and 7 years and 3 months of age. The nose is full of ripe red fruits and sweetness backed by malted rye pine, eucalyptus wood and fennel. The palate is very sweet and woody, it’s got lots of funk but the wood seems to be nearing bitterness here which somewhat spoils the balance. Aftertaste starts sweet from the palate, then veers into tobacco and gobs of sichuan pepper and then comes back into sweet fruit syrup yet again. Water is needed here… And it blooms with water! Overall: As typical with Old Potrero, this is an absolute flavor bomb that’s influenced by port cask, adding a number of red fruits to the assault on the senses! The nose and aftertaste are fantastic but I’m finding myself swallowing it down a touch too fast in order to avoid that bitter note on the palate. To be clear, this is purely cask issue as I’ve encountered similar balance issues in the past. Few drops of water tone down that middle and it becomes very enjoyable dessert pour. Value: N/A
Score: B- (B /w water)

Old Potrero Malted Rye, 8y 7mo, Non-Chill Filtered 64.72%
Old Potrero Single Malt Single Cask, non-chill filtered and 8 years and 7 months of age. The nose is unapologetic, concentrated, toasted wood. The backing notes are familiar pine, eucalyptus and toasted vanilla. The palate is hot, lots of wood, yet again toasted vanilla, mint, eucalyptus. Really dark and quite similar to varnish in some ways it’s yet again near-bitter. On the very welcome positive, it’s got a velvety texture and mouthfeel. The aftertaste is more burnt sugar and continues from the palate. Overall: This is more or less everything I enjoy in Old Potrero Malted Rye in a reasonable balance. The bitterness note is yet again hard to get away from at the proof and age, but few water drops really calm it down without losing too much if it gets too overwhelming. Value: Priced at ~$90 in various retailers these are no longer awesome deals as they were a year or two ago, so this price is about average on the market though still a worth checking out the flavor bomb that these bottles are.
Score: B+

Old Potrero S-b-S: The winner is non-chill-filtered sample, easy win for this pairing. As flavor balance of single casks is variable this result should not be considered the rule.

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Pronounced “Smo-KAY”.

Also, at least one not Islay. As an aside… I don’t even like peated whiskeys… Why do I subject myself to this!? Oh yeah, it’s the FOMO. Let’s get it over with.

Talisker 11, 2009, Old Particular, K&L SP, 59.6%
Well this smells like ashy and salty smoke with very light perfume together in a glass; salt, iodine, wet ash, minerality, very high proof. Rich, slightly salty, citrusy and buttery palate with fairly high proof but almost no smoke notes. The smoke comes back into its form in the aftertaste but not oversaturating and provides a fitting salty-smoky send off to the experience. Overall: Flavorful, wild and disjointed in a good way. It’s youthful and exciting and all sorts of interesting, not to mention it’s bursting with flavors. All in all this is extremely drinkable. Value: At $119 I feel it is slightly overpriced and should have been $99 instead.
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1611881
Score: B+

GlenAllachie 4 Year Old “Future Edition” Billy Walker 50th Anniversary First Peated Cask Strength, 60.2%
Well, this is something alright. This is the 4th bottle in the series of limited Billie Walker Anniversary editions that look at past, present and future of the Glenallachie’s distillery. It also celebrates that fact that Billie Walker has been working in the whisky industry for 50 years. This is peated with mainland peat so it theory it shouldn’t be too much… Let’s dig in. I dunno what they say about mainland, the nose is very salty smoke. It smells almost exactly like a fish smoker smells like after just finishing a fresh batch in there. We’ve got salt, smoke, iodine, high alcohol content. The palate is… salt, smoke, sweet fruit, some bourbon spices, iodine, gentle on the alcohol surprisingly. Lingering aftertaste follows with salt sticking around the palate, but backed up by warming spices, light orchard fruits and more savouriness. Overall: To be clear, I personally flat out do not like how peated it is… and it’s very strongly peated. But I have to give credit where credit is worth and it’s not bad whiskey, especially surprising for the age. I’d have easily given this 12 years old blindly. Value: Listed at $129 at K&L this is certainly a better value vs Octomores… But it’s also not an Octomore. Quite terrible at the specs, perhaps worth it for collectors of limited edition bottles. For context, the British MSRP on this is 80 pounds ($99).
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1664415
Score: B

Ledaig 15, K&L SP, Old Particular, 51.8%
My first Ledaig (aka peated Tobermory). Distilled in 2006 and aged in refill sherry butt. Perhaps? Maybe? I do like sherry+peat in certain cases. The color is dark straw, so it’s going to be sherry-light for sure. Lots of wood smoke and only a little salt surprisingly for an Islay, perhaps the sherry is hiding that iodine. With time, more sherry fruit notes float to the surface giving an impression of dried fruit compote, complete with a touch of smoke and salt… Think sun-dried apricots and bbq-baked apples. On the palate, clean smoke, sherry sweetness. Notable absence of salt or iodine. Aftertaste adds light cigar ash to the palate and lasts for quite a while. With water… peat takes a step back but sherry doesn’t. I’m 50/50 on water as the overall experience also loses some of its edge. Overall: Hate to admit it, but this is solid. Yes, it’s peated. But it’s also sherried and I like this combo. Very tasty pour. Value: $99 for the 15 year old single cask spec. Solid price.
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1558743
Score: A-

Caol Ila 13, K&L SP, Old Particular, 56.9%
A 2008 distillate from a refill sherry butt… This cask has heard of sherry 40 years ago I feel… the color here is very white wine. Visually there’s nothing even remotely resembling sherry in here. The nose has some of the interesting sherry notes, though subdued and overwhelmed by intensely ashy peat smoke and lots of iodine with sea salt. Sweet and intensely salty palate, bright citrus and orchard fruits follow. With repeated sips, more fruit and sweetness with gobs of vanilla custard replacing salt. There’s an odd flavor note there I am unable to place, like a balled up cluster of every sherry spice together. Long aftertaste with warm spices and salty smoke. Overall: This is intense. Much more intense than any other Caol Ila I’ve tried before. Intense chameleon of flavors that goes from intense salt to intense sugar, also hello sherry leftovers! Was it white sherry of some kind? Also intensely smoky. Definitely off-profile Caol Ila. Value: This was $75 certainly a solid deal for smoke-heads.
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1558736
Score: B+

Port Askaig 10th Anniversary, 55.85%
Obviously Caol Ila here. At 10 years old, this is a blend of 33 casks of 3 different types: refill American Oak hogsheads used in Askaig 100%, first-fill bourbon casks, and ex-solera sherry casks. The color is rich straw, at best. The nose is sweet with few sherry sweetness notes, then mostly salty smoke as is typical of Caol Ila, the backing note is an interesting and slightly fishy funkyness. The palate is a mix of sherry sweetness and salty smoke. The sherry mostly brings the sugars and lets the peat shine through integrating together well. It’s basically salted light apples and smoked white fish. The aftertaste is extremely mellow, and while lingering smoke continues for a while, overall it’s a letdown. Overall: Enjoyable, sweet and uncomplicated 10 year old Islay is pretty much a solid casual pour. There’s nothing outstanding and nothing wrong, just a high proof Caol Ila done well. Amen for higher proof here! Otherwise, it’d be too thin. Value: At $99 this is a decent proposition to fans with the proof and age. Yet again, middle of the pack.
Score: B

Outro: I’m rating peated whiskeys with high grades. What’s wrong with me! Arg!
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Pronounced “Vague-LAY… Ai-LAY”. Here are some peated or lightly peated islays.

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011, 50%
2010 edition has been reviewed here. Yet again, this is a showcase of local barley producers. This time it is 2011 vintage year and if you care about colors this one came in a grey tin. Aged 6 years in oak casks there’s nowhere to hide. Ripe melons, honey, cantaloupe on the nose, some butter and a touch of sea salt. The palate starts sweet and citrusy crisp, then punches with char and smoke notes together with generous serving of numbing sichuan spice mix. Long finish with buttered, candied and very toasty nuts. There’s a touch of smokiness at the very end of the aftertaste that lingers, very alike to after-effects of breathing smoke during a night in front of a campfire. Overall: Well, this is a surprise! A very entertaining Laddie-in-a-glass. And while this is slightly smokey for me, it certainly got that ’smoke-not-peat’ thing going in spades. Chalk it up as a success for 2011. Value: Still findable for ~$70, this is a solid value for an interesting and perhaps underrated bottle.
Score: A-

Bunnahabhain 15, Old Particular, K&L SP, 53%
A 2006 unpeated Bunna. The nose is brightly acidic, reminding me of Sauvignon Blanc wine with citrus and melons. There’s also a bit of a perfume there which I rather quite like but I cannot put my finger on the actual source. Let’s just settle for it smelling like yellow citrus and flower blossoms. The palate starts sweet and buttery with light mineral saltiness, then there’s a one-two punch of spice and wood that hits a flavor peak. From the peak, it gently fades into more salty minerality mingled with some malt sweetness and a bitter end note that’s not all that enjoyable. A splash of water tames that flavor peak, for better or worse smoothing out some of the interesting edges in the process. Overall: Quite off the beaten path in terms of profile this was not a great cask to pair with a Bunna. It’s certainly a fresh, light, citrusy, and fragrant but also unbalanced in its experience. It flows from one facet to the next in a disjointed manner. I’m really not a fan of a touch of bitterness note in the aftertaste either. Value: On paper, this is solidly priced at $109 for a well known distillery and a very reasonable age statement.
Here’s the original listing
Score: C+

Bunnahabhain 12, Cask Strength, 2021 Edition, 55.1%
It’s a well known fact that limited editions from Bunna are quite tasty. Let’s try this 2021 edition of cask strength 12 year old. Color is dark amber. The nose is quite intense with dried fruit and bourbon spices. There also seems to be a touch of chocolate in the mix. More intensity on the palate but the profile is mostly same from the nose. Surprisingly consistent aftertaste follows with warming pepper that lingers for a while. It is a little intense on the proof to be an easy drinker, though it reacts decently to water, I’d recommend skipping water here due to relatively low age. Overall: This is clearly a mix of bourbon and sherry casks but it definitely leans towards bourbon side of things. I like this quite a bit. It’s extremely consistent and while multi-layered it’s also easy to ‘understand’. This is right up the alley for folks that enjoy bourbon cask influence in scotch. Value: This is ~$89… Probably solid value.
Score: B+

Bunnahabhain 12, Cask Strength, 2022 Edition, 56.6%
It’s a well known fact that limited editions from Bunna are quite tasty. Let’s try this 2022 edition of cask strength 12 year old. The color is light chestnut. Quite intense sherry on the nose, dried cherries and prunes. The palate has more of the dried cherry fruit and spices but not overly complex. Medium length aftertaste with sherry sweetness and yet again more dried fruits there. Due to some viscosity this stick around the mouth for a while. Water doesn’t change or adds much other than diluting flavor. Skip the water. Overall: Bunna pairs well with sherry, but it’s not a particularly complex proposition here, leaving some nuance being hidden by sherry. This bottling will please sherry cask lovers, but will have others asking for more. Value: At ~$89 this is a solid value.
Score: B+

Addendum:
In the Bunna 12 CS 2021/22 showdown, there’s no clear winner… It really comes down to what the drinker enjoys. If they enjoy sherry: then choose 2022; If it’s bourbon casks then 2021 has the edge… Mixing the two in a roughly 1:1 proportion is, to me, tastes a little better than having them apart.
For the record, the ‘old’ Bunna 18 is much better than the ‘new’ Bunna 18.

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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown