Dailuaine 12, Old Malt Cask, 56.7%
A 2006 Dailuaine, bottled by Old Malt Cask in 2018 from finishing sherry butt #HL15044. This was bought from K&L. Toffee, some mint and milk chocolate on the nose; lively with alcohol. The palate got pepperiness, red berries, vanilla sponge. Medium length aftertaste with lingering wood and pepper spices. Overall: A surprisingly competent bottle from 2018-era of IB excellence. Reasonably straightforward and unexpectedly complex due to that ex-bourbon-into-sherry finish while the casks were still excellent. A touch too hot, it takes water well and doesn’t leave much to complain about here. Value: That was $50 in 2018, a screaming deal by any account.
Score: B+
Glenallachie 11, Signatory Vintage, 68.5%
A 2012 Glenallachie, bottled by Signatory Vintage (SigVin) in 2024 for K&L Wines, from a 1st fill oloroso butt #900077. Free-forming this one. Let’s get it out of the way it’s so fiery that I struggle to drink it without dilution. It’s intense, it’s sherry bomb in about as concentrated way as it gets. It’s unapologetic and it’s intense. After enough water is added it becomes… a chili peppers & dark chocolate situation with Glenallachie core malt notes. Something comparable to a better batches of their batch proof bottlings - the ones that were sherry only - after copious water was added. Value: Priced at $79 at K&L Wines… it’s a solid value… if one really really likes that fiery proof or figuring out how much water needs to be added here.
Score: B+ (w/ Water)
Glen Spey 12, SMWS 80.63, “Cheery Cherry Chocolate Party”, 59.9%
Glen Spey from 2012, aged in ex-bourbon cask and finished in a 1st fill ex-oloroso hogshead. Courtesy of my friend Mike, thank you! Very cherry nose indeed, rather fitting to the title. Chocolate and cherries here, plus good amount of alcohol. Strongly peppered palate, with more cherry and chocolate in the secondaries, though the pepper dominates here. Lingering aftertaste of a medium-long duration with more of the same from the palate with somewhat savoury note showing up eventually. Overall: A touch too much chili and lacking balance, the cherry chocolate notes are welcome here and do manage to somewhat redeem this bottle. Value: N/A a poured sample from 375ml bottle.
Score: B-
Springbank 5, 57%
General release from Springbank at 5 years old. Ex-bourbon casks by the color and description. Smoked butter on the nose initially, then cleanly leans into meyor lemons and yuzu. Medium-thick mouthfeel, creme soda, drying smoke, alcohol and somewhat straightforward ex-bourbon cask - it is rather young. The palate lingers around, with more lemon and yuzu, barrel spices, drying oak and robust peat smokiness. Overall: Young but not unpleasant, this is surprisingly well rounded for the age and what it is. Definitely for the fans of the distillery and compares well with other peated offerings. Value: Prices around $99… this is an expensive, yet fair, pricing on springbank based on quality alone, not by age; considering that 10 year old is priced slightly more and is of much lower proof.
Score: B
Knockdhu 9, Single Cask Nation, 58.4%
A 2014 Knockdhu 9, bottled in 2024 by Single Cask Nation, finished for 3 years in Spanish Oak Ex-Oloroso cask #170350. The sample is courtesy friend Jeff - thank you! Right off the bat, the color is quite chestnutty, so I’m looking forward to this. Potent alcohol on the nose, balanced by rich stewed fruits, candied fruit, and chocolate. Mouth-coating palate brings rich dried dark fruit notes, warm baking spice, dark cacao. Medium long aftertaste with subtle spice, soft charred oak and more of those dark dried fruit lingers around pleasantly. Overall: This really reminds of almost a mulled wine in a whiskey form. There’s that weird ‘hug’ feeling from inside the mouth and it’s rather pleasant. Value: Found it was priced online at $119… which seems somewhat inline with the pricing they set- considering the usual SCN extra 15% on the real value
Score: A-
Glentauchers 16, Cadenhead’s, 59.6%
A 2008 Glentauchers 16 bottled in 2024 by Cadenhead from a refill butt. Sample courtesy of friend Jeff. Thanks Jeff! Alcohol and walnuts covered toasted honey on the nose. Dense palate, sweet and tart, cherry and dark chocolates, some fine peppery barrel spices. Cocoa, raisins and figs in the aftertaste. Overall: I really like this, one. It is darn good and right up my alley. Maybe a touch too woody but that’s a minor nit. Value: Found a sold out entry for it in Hi Proof at $110… That’s legit good deal.
Score: A-
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown