Monthly Archives: October 2025

2025 Whisky Show – Gordon and MacPhail

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Over the years, I’ve looked forward to the Gordon & MacPhail stand at any whisky show. The folks there know their stuff and have remarkable stuff to share too! With 130 years in the business, one could count on both great insights and great liquid, making spending time there a real highlight.

And then came the announcement in 2023 that the team would cease independent bottling – stopping the purchase of new make spirit from 2024 – to focus on their distilleries: Benromach and The Cairn. Whilst they still have a prodigious amount of stock maturing, it was a clear signal of change. Backing this up, they were notably absent at London’s 2024 Whisky Show.

All to say – we were pleasantly surprised to see their return at London’s 2025 Whisky Show.

Having previously sampled the Auchroisk and Miltonduff from their Discovery line, and it being too early in the day for the peaty Ledaig, we went directly to the Connoisseurs Choice range. What did we try?

  • Linkwood 15 year (2009 / 18 Nov 2024) Batch 24/036 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Cask #22605907 53.8% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice – UK Exclusive) 329 Bottles, 2025 Whisky Show £127
  • Balblair 31 year (1993 / 29 Aug 2024) Batch 24/020, First Fill Sherry Puncheon Cask #1961 49.5% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 549 Bottles, 2025 Whisky Show £710
  • Tamnavulan 31 year (1991 / 12 Dec 2022) Batch 23/002 Refill Sherry Puncheon Cask #9040502 51.79% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 418 Bottles, 2025 Whisky Show £711
  • Glenrothes 16 year (2009 / 6 Jun 2025) Batch 25/016, 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Cask #19602410 55.5% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 2025 Whisky Show £138
  • Highland Park 17 year (2007 / 3 June 2025) Batch 25/017, 1st Fill Sherry Butt Cask #5358 59.9% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice – UK Exclusive) 606 Bottles, 2025 Whisky Show £156
  • Benromach 40 year (1982 / 2022) Cask #3024413 59.9% (G&MP Private Collection) 2025 Whisky Show £1950

Our tasting notes are a bit light as this was a sniff, swish, and spit – my typical approach to remain standing at Whisky Shows! Where possible, I’ve added additional insights from the bottle…

Gordon & MacPhail calls Linkwood “An unsung hero in the world of single malts.” I would tend to agree that this Speyside distillery produces solid drams with less attention. At the show, we tried a UK exclusive…

Linkwood 15 year (2009 / 18 Nov 2024) Batch 24/036 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Cask No 22605907 53.8% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice, UK Exclusive) 329 Bottles

  • Nose – What a delight! It was bright and fruity on the nose – think red apples, ginger with a bit of orange zest, joined by cherries and cake
  • Palate – It was much more powerful than the aromas! Rich and full-flavoured, we found stewed apples, mocha, peppers, and something a bit nutty.
  • Finish – Dry, with a nice oak and spice tail. Yum!

What did the G&MP folks have to say? Their official tasting notes shared:

Fruit cake and marzipan aromas intertwine with cherry and strawberry liquorice. Stewed fruit combines with autumnal spice and milk chocolate. A full finish with forest fruits and toasted oak.

There is also a related expression available for worldwide distribution.

Next up was an offering from Balblair, with the folks at G&MP sharing:

As a single malt, Balblair heads into a sweet, buttery territory, working extremely well in a variety of casks – from refill hogsheads to more robust puncheons. Balblair proudly sits in ‘The MacPhail’s Collection’ range, it is considered as a top class Highland single malt whisky.

My tasting companion and I bonded over a Balblair 38 year, so what did we think of the 31-year-old?

Balblair 31 year (1993 / 29 Aug 2024) Batch 24/020, First Fill Sherry Puncheon Cask #1961 49.5% 2025 (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 

  • Nose – Outstanding! Orchard fruits, red berries, warming into dried fruits and dark chocolate
  • Palate – Fabulous! Wonderfully well-rounded, a touch of spice, very jammy, shifting into a delicious marmalade… I kept thinking of these marvellous
  • Finish – Strong, long, and mighty fine

Their official tasting notes from the bottle shared the following:

Roast coffee bean aromas lead to vanilla fudge and dried fruits. Sweet with light fruitcake, chocolate and Seville orange flavours balanced by charred oak. Full bodied, with a hint of pepper.

There is also a related expression available.

Next up was a less familiar Speyside. G&MP had this to say about the distillery:

Tamnavulin comes from the Gaelic meaning ‘mill on the hill’, it was built in 1966 as one of the newer distilleries during a period of several opening in the region. It was mothballed less than 30 years later in early 1995. The distillery has six stills and is completely computerised.

It is the only distillery positioned on the River Livet, from which the cooling waters are drawn. The distillery resumed production in 2007 and makes a whisky, which very much characterises the smooth, creamy qualities of the Speyside region.

The liquid we tried was distilled in 1991 – before it was mothballed.

Tamnavulan 31 year (1991 / 12 Dec 2022) Batch 23/002 Refill Sherry Puncheon Cask #9040502 51.79% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 

  • Nose – Elegant, orchard fruits, caramel sweet, mmmm…. a dark chocolate fudge
  • Palate – Surprisingly dry! Tannins, good body, full and rich. And yes – blackcurrants, black pepper – exactly as we later read as tasting notes on the label!
  • Finish – Carried through

We were entranced – particularly the fabulous aromas caught our fancy! It may seem like a contradiction, however, it was “creamier” on the nose than the palate – for us at least.

What a treat to try this! I’m curious if the new avatar re-opened in 2007 will produce such liquid? Whilst I had purchased pre-COVID a bottle from their new stock, it was gifted to a dear whisky connoisseur in Mumbai to replenish depleted stocks in a time of shortage!

What did their official tasting notes on the bottle say?

Autumnal spice intertwine with aromas of apple and hazelnuts, vanilla fudge combines with blackcurrant flavours, balanced by black pepper. A full finish with lingering herbal influences.

Currently, there are no Tamnavulin expressions listed as available directly from G&MP, however, The Whisky Exchange still has a few bottles of this one!

We followed with an expression from The Glenrothes distillery… Here’s what G&MP share about this distillery:

This single malt has become something of a cult whisky in the past decade or so, famed for its Battenburg cake flavours, and has grown decade after decade between the 1960s and 2000s, seemingly swerving all the pitfalls of the industry. Clearly a blessed spirit indeed.

What did we think?

Glenrothes 16 year (2009 / 6 Jun 2025) Batch 25/016, 1st Fill Sherry Hogshead Cask #19602410 55.5% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice) 

  • Nose – All the expected dark fruits, Christmas cake chock full of dried fruits, raisins, was in competition with an apple crumble with brown sugar and cinnamon
  • Palate – Hmm… not so balanced. Fruity, sweet, but somehow was a bit “much”

What was a playful interplay on the nose, just didn’t come together on the palate. Simply put, there was just too much going on and not enough harmony.

And the official tasting notes?

Fruitcake aromas combine with raspberry and cinnamon, stewed apples and raisin flavours complement demera sugar and a hint of aniseed. A full and long finish with forest fruits and spice.

Ahhh, the Orkney Islands and the venerable Highland Park! What do the G&MP folks have to say?

From its blustery home in Kirkwall, the distillery still utilises a small traditional floor malting set up to supplement its production and the peat is cut from Hobbister Moor, where due to the unforgiving weather conditions, no trees grow, meaning the peat has taken on a distinct floral character from the low lying plants and heather.

As a whisky, Highland Park is rich and honeyed, with a delicate-yet-dry smoky fragrance. A characterful and highly distinctive malt which is utterly adored by the global whisky community.

Highland Park 17 year (2007 / 3 June 2025) Batch 25/017, 1st Fill Sherry Butt Cask #5358 59.9% (G&MP Connoisseurs Choice – UK Exclusive)

  • Nose – Yum! Salty peanuts, mocha with a hint of citrus too
  • Palate – Peat and sweet and fun!
  • Finish – Light spice and everything nice!

Whilst perhaps not as complex as my memories of the old Highland Park 18 year, this was a lovely example of what a Highland Park whisky can be!

What did the folks at G&MP have to say?

Fragrant raisin aromas complement peanuts and tangerine peel. Apple and raspberry are followed by fudge and a hint of coffee bean. A medium length finish with lingering spice.

We closed with a special dram from Gordon & Macphail’s own distillery – Benromach – with whisky distilled before their purchase in 1993.

Benromach 40 year (1982 / 2022) Cask #3024413 59.9% (G&MP Private Collection) 

  • Nose – Rich, complex, plums, coffee, cloves, ginger, zest of an orange peel
  • Palate – Bold, heavy, tannins, cherry, and black pepper spice… this is one serious dram! Just let it roll around, enveloping with full flavours!
  • Finish – Spicy, smoke, and very, very long…

Wow! This was one powerful dram. We drained our wee sample to the last drop and enjoyed the remaining aromas in our glasses.

What a brilliant finish to a fabulous line-up from Gordon & MacPhail. Whilst I’m glad they still have a decade or more of stock, I still hope that in a few years, there is a renewed commitment to maturing and bottling the best the whisky industry has to offer!

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BMC’s Nc’Nean Night: Original, Huntress Orchard Cobbler, Quiet Rebels Gordon

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A few years ago, at Nürnberg’s The Village whisky fair, I was introduced to a new Highland distillery – Nc’Nean. The ladies were passionate about their venture – committed to crafting an organic whisky in harmony with the environment, aiming to make a big impression with a small footprint. In a short time, their founder Annabel Thomas and team have made their mark.

Here’s how the folks at Nc’Nean introduce their distillery:

Hello, we’re Nc’nean. A small team of eco-conscious drinks fanatics on a mission to change the way the world thinks about whisky from Scotland. To create delicious, experimental spirits which can exist in harmony with this planet we call home.

Our small distillery is located in the village of Drimnin on the Morvern peninsula on the West Coast of Scotland, and our copper pot stills are powered by 100% renewable energy. B Corp certified and verified net zero carbon emissions for scopes 1 and 2, we put the planet first. Using only organic Scottish barley, long mashing and fermentation times, and playing with yeasts not always used in whisky distilling, we produce elegant unpeated whiskies which are fruity on the palate, and are bottled in 100% recycled glass bottles.

The Nc’Nean whiskies selected by our Bombay Malt & Cigar club host were:

  • Nc’Nean Organic Single Malt Original 46% £51.75
  • Nc’Nean Huntress – Orchard Cobbler (2019 / 2024) 3rd Release 48.5% £85.71
  • Nc’Nean Quiet Rebels – Gordon (2018 / 2023) 3rd Release 48.5% £71.55

Nc’Nean Organic Single Malt Original 46%

  • Nose – Delicate, floral, fresh farm to apples and honey. It was fruity and fun, with loads of fresh apple juice, with the florals fading as it opened up. Over time, it was joined by sweet lemon barley water
  • Palate – Initially a bit spicy, with a debate whether it is more cayenne or black pepper. It settled down into a warm apple pie
  • Finish – A long, peppery finish
  • Water – We added just to see what it would do. It enhanced the bitterness, tempering the sweetness, so that the apple sauce morphed into the apple core with seeds
  • Revisit – With the revisit, the lemon barley became more pronounced than the apple cider

It was described as being like walking through a garden into an orchard… It was a pleasant, easy-going dram, making it a rather good start to our explorations.

What more do we know?

This is our flagship whisky – elegant and fruity with flavours of citrus, peach, apricot and spice. Those lovely citrus and peach flavours come from our spirit, the spice from our STR casks and the signature body and texture comes from our 100% organic barley. Find out more about what casks we’ve used for which batch, the source of the barley, the yeast used or the date it was bottled using the dropdown menu below. You’ll find the batch number or code on the back of the neck label.

Unfortunately, I didn’t catch a glimpse of the batch, so didn’t want to guess any further details!

The Huntress series is an annual limited release. The team at Nc’Nean introduces this Huntress – Orchard Cobbler expression as follows:

This particular Huntress release is incredibly unique, in that the spirit used is only produced once a year when the distillers cross over from one distillation recipe to another.

We run two different spirit runs each year, one for whisky set to be released at a younger age, and one set to be released after ten plus years. The spirit matured for Huntress Orchard Cobbler comes from the distillation in the week after this spirit recipe is switched over – a time where cut points are changed and unusually high fruity compounds flood into the spirit. So fruity, that the whisky is named after one of the team’s favourite desserts.

What did we think?

Nc’Nean Huntress – Orchard Cobbler (Aug 2019 / March 2024) 3rd Release 48.5%

  • Nose – Quite active to start, unripe plums, some ginger spice, lots of candied apples, toffee that was nearly fudge, banana peel, ripe fruits
  • Palate – Warm apple sauce, toffee sweetness. Think of an apple mille-feuille with vanilla custard!
  • Finish – A nice peppery finish
  • Water – Amps up the spice, then settles nicely

We found this interesting – youthful yet with enough going on to work.

Casks make all the difference; this Huntress expression is a product of three casks: STR (66%), ex-Bourbon (31%), and Oloroso (3%).

Nc’Nean calls their team the Quiet Rebels. Hence, it is only fitting that they have a series devoted to key members of their team!

Our bottle? We tried “Gordon” for Gordon Wood, distillery manager, described as having:

Spent 23 years with one of the giants of the industry. Loves the West Coast. Bringing it all together at Nc’nean. Has a life goal to get to work by boat one day.

And what about the whisky expression?

Nc’Nean Quiet Rebels Gordon (2018/2019 – Aug/Sep 2023) 3rd Release 48.5%

  • Nose – Very different than both the Original and Huntress! Instead of apples, we were greeted with lemon drops, an evolved floral, vanilla, and yellow fruit blend – particularly yellow plum, lemon custard pie, apple compote, candied ginger, lightly milky, and dulce de leche. Yum!
  • Palate – So smooth, buttery, a great mouthfeel, candied orange rind, gentle spice, oak, vanilla, ripe orchard fruits… all in great balance!
  • Finish – Lovely
  • Water – Not necessary; however, if you want to add, it enhances the wood element
  • Revisit – After remaining in the glass for some time, it was even creamier. A delight!

We really enjoyed this one. It was by far our favourite! For me, this was the dram to settle down with for the rest of our evening!

What more do we know? It is made from a trio of casks filled between September 2018 and July 2019, and a third undisclosed cask from an earlier period: 74% STR red wine casks, 19% ex-sherry, and 7% ex-Rivesaltes (French fortified wine). Bottled between August to September 2023, it is unfortunately sold out.

There you have it – a nice leisurely exploration of a trio from Nc’Nean!

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2025 Whisky Show – Arbikie’s Field to Bottle Rye

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Our 2025 London Whisky Show tastings were beginning to pick up pace! From a ‘breakfast dram’ to our Lochside Dream Dram, Elixir’s Single Malts of Scotland offerings to a remarkable flight with Glen Grant’s core expressions – including the more mature drams, then a short pit stop in our home country India with Amrut… it was time to delve into something new!

There has been talk for some time of Rye’s revival. Certainly, Canada and the US remain dominant players. New craft distilleries are popping up all over – particularly in the US and Europe. More recently, we’ve enjoyed meeting the Finnish gents behind Kyrö Malt Rye, Denmark’s Stauning Rye, Germany’s Stork Club Rye…

In the midst of all of this, is there also a “Rye-naissance” in Scotland? Technically, a “Scottish Rye” doesn’t exist as a separate category and falls under “Grain” whisky. A pioneer in bringing a focus specifically on Rye is Arbikie.

Now, I must admit, before we stopped by their stand, we knew very little about this new Highland distillery – Arbikie.

Now, I must admit, before we stopped by their stand, we knew very little about this new Highland distillery – Arbikie. Their philosophy is straight-foward yet challenging with a Field to Bottle approach:

Today, our distillery sits a stones throw from our fields with an incredible Distillery Experience overlooking them.

We’ve always farmed with absolute respect for the land. The addition of a distillery has not changed our commitment to minimising any environmental impact. Provenance and traceability at Arbikie doesn’t stop with just our crops and water. We use juniper in our spirits – so we grow our own juniper. We use honey – produced by the bees on our farm. We use solar power, and our distilling from start to finish uses negligible miles for its production. The primary waste product from distilling is recycled wherever possible as feed for cattle.

We explored most of the Ryes on offer, skipping over the Chilli Vodka and Artists Edition… Whilst not confirmed, these are all likely 2025 editions.

The lovely lass at the booth led us through the expressions – beginning with their starting point – The Original.

Arbikie The Original Highland Rye 1794 48%

What did we find?

  • Aroma – Lots of cereals, black tea, some tight berries, a bit feinty, quite unique
  • Palate – Rather nice, peppery, more of the cereals – lightly roasted this time – joined by fruits, like apple in a crumble
  • Finish – Follows through, whilst not very long, it worked well

And that chocolate that they had to accompany the Rye’s? Perfection! It paired very well and brought out a hint of marmalade in the Rye too.

Here’s what they have to say:

We combine our unique use of rye with new charred American oak, and leave this lively oak to do its magic. The result is a highly original whisky that fires the imagination and the senses with exciting flavours and aromas. The new charred American oak barrel complements the flavours of the rye, wheat and malted barley grains-imparting rich colour and deep flavour.

What more do we know? From the bottle, they shared that they use a Winter Rye (60%), Spring Malted Barley (25%), and Winter Wheat (15%) from their own fields.

Next up, we shifted into their sherry expression – more specifically with a PX cask.

Arbikie The PX Highland Rye 1794 48%

What did we think?

  • Aroma – Remember those cereals with The Original that had a hint of marmalade hiding? Well, it was quite pronounced with the PX, joined by some sweet spices like cloves, dark honey, or perhaps maple syrup?
  • Palate – Warm fruity and really rather nice
  • Finish – Not much but nice

Here’s what the Arbikie folks shared about their PX Rye:

As with THE ORIGINAL, we combine our unique use of rye with new charred American oak, and leave this lively oak to do its magic. With THE PX we don’t stop there. The spirit is then matched with PEDRO XIMÉNEZ casks, a traditional Andalusian Sherry Wine, adding an exciting flavour dimension to our characterful and rich Original 1794.

What more do we know? It has the same grain/malt break-up as The Original with Winter Rye (60%), Spring Malted Barley (25%), and Winter Wheat (15%). Basically, it was The Original with a 6 month PX finish!

We were enjoying our experience so far, but what about their Peated expression? Whilst a bit early in the day for peat, our guide explained that they used an ex-Laphroig cask rather than peated barley for a lighter approach.

Arbikie The Peated Highland Rye 1794 48%

What was our experience?

  • Nose – How is this possible? There is EVEN MORE marmalade here! Think a heavy had with orange rind joining the cereals and some salted caramel
  • Palate – Softer than expected, a subtle peat, cereals remain with spice
  • Finish – Carries through with a puff of smoke

Exactly like The PX, they use The Original as their base for The Peated expression:

The journey of The PEATED Rye begins in our fields. We sow the crops from our land and this blend begins with Winter Rye (60%), Spring Malted Barley (25%), and Winter Wheat (15%)…

The spirit is then matched with casks previously used to mature PEATED ISLAY whisky, adding an exciting flavour dimension to our characterful and rich Original 1794.

I’ve come to really appreciate the influence of an ex-peaty cask over peated barley. And, again, – the dark chocolate is a great combination with the Rye!

We closed our flight with their Distiller’s Edition No 1.

Arbikie Distillers Edition  No 1, 5 year Cask Strength #53, 73, 76, 77 59.7%

What did we find?

  • Nose – Subtle, that consistent cereal quality, is there also a hint of peat too? And that lovely marmalade, roasted caramelised pineapples and oranges, sweet spices
  • Palate – Sweet, spice, think black tea with cardamon, cloves, and black pepper with loads of milk and sugar, joined by a hint of peat
  • Finish – To be honest, I didn’t make a note!

Here’s what they have to say:

This series adds a unique element to our 1794 Highland Rye Single Grain Scotch Whisky. It will feature limited releases of inspiring and deeply flavoured editions of our rye whisky, chosen by our expert distillers. Each edition will possess its own nuanced flavour and character.

This first edition of our Distillers Cask Strength Series features a hand-picked combination of four 5-year-old casks, chosen to accentuate the complexity and depth of our estate grown rye coupled with the influence of the selected casks.

This original meld creates aromas of chai tea, baked oranges, crème brûlée and smoke.
On the palate are complex layers of chai tea, caramelised pears, baked oranges and smoke. A truly unique experience not to be missed – with only 966 bottles created.

What more do we know? The 4 casks were also a combination of ingredients too: Magnifico Scottish Rye, Zulu Scottish Wheat, and Concerto Scottish Malted Barley.

Overall, these four expressions were a rather good introduction. And whilst I’m still not a major Rye fan, it is nice to see a single farm estate pull together quite credible results with everything local!

Curious about other Rye tasting experiences? Here are a few notable ones over the years:

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Duncan Taylor’s Octave – Craigellachie 17 year (20025) 54% 

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Technically, my whisky hosting for the Bombay Malt & Cigar evening in October 2025 was only a trio. And a mighty fine trio it was – starting with a lovely Lowland Glenkinchie; followed by a wonderfully balanced Speyside with a simply delicious Aultmore; closing with a beautiful Balblair from the Highlands.

However, we came back from the Whisky Show with a wee bonus dram that simply could not be missed!

Craigellachie 17 year (Jun 2008 / 25 Aug 2025) Madeira Wine Cask No 7547103 54% (Duncan Taylor – Octave)

  • Nose – Gorgeous! Dark, steeped fruit, Christmas pudding, sweet spices, big, bold, and beautiful
  • Palate – The Madeira element was unmistakable – in a wonderful way. Sweet and full- flavoured, it is quite powerful at full strength
  • Finish – Sweet, long, and chewy
  • Water – An absolute must! It opens the whisky up in the most marvelous way, loads of creamy aromas join the luscious dark fruits

This was a stunner – made even better with a generous splash of water. We found it quite autumnal – mature, full, and fabulous. A worthy dram to definitively close our whisky tasting and accompany the next section of the evening – the cigars.

What about other Craigellachie experiences? Read on…

It was a great bonus after a terrific trio of consistently good drams:

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Chorlton’s Balblair 16 year (2025) 55.8%

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The Bombay Malt & Cigar club began over a Balblair 38 year from 1966… and continues to have a soft spot for special drams from this Highland distillery. When my most recent purchase from Chorlton arrived in Mumbai in time for my October 2025 hosting, I simply had to include it in my session!

Balblair 16 year (Spring 2025) hogshead 55.8% 271 bottles

  • Nose – Honeysuckle, peaches, bananas, sweet pastry, a “French Fancy” in a glass, joyful and bright, a hint of mineral, then moves more into berries and herbs
  • Palate – Starts off a bit prickly, quite active, and calls out for some water
  • Water – Do please add, it then became a marvelous mess of Madeira cake, marmalade, joined by minerals in a lovely way – delicious!
  • Finish – Dry, very wood forward

This too was another beautiful Balblair. It was “dessert in a glass”! Bright, fruity, classic, more than able to hold its own.

Here’s what David shared on his website about this Balblari:

I’m delighted to present the first Chorlton bottling from one of my favourite distilleries! Reliably the fruitiest Highlander this side of Hector McDram.

The nose is enticing and a little idiosyncratic, with honey, dessert wines, rose petals, blackcurrant branches and fruit cordials. The texture on the palate is remarkable – chewy and dense, while somehow also light and lively. Taste-wise I find cherries, Gewürztraminer, oranges and limes, and a blackberry pie with cinnamon and brown sugar. A drop of water has green apple sweets and citrus popping out.

This is a wonderfully fruity, floral and complex whisky. What a spirit!

I bought this whisky online in the UK directly from David in April 2025 for £95 + 8 shipping (Eur 120). Which puts this into a pricier category for me, except for special treats. 

Curious about other Balblair experiences? Read on…

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Whisky Auction – Provenance’s Aultmore 9 year (2000) 46% 

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Next up from my Whisky Auctions bottle was an Aultmore from 2000. It was the perfect progression from the lovely Lowland Glenkinchie 10 year…  Over the years, I’ve encountered a few rather yummy Aultmore’s so I had high hopes for this one too!

We didn’t get off to a good start… Before we could even get the whisky in the glass, we had a small challenge with the cork crumbling! Now… to be fair, this bottle had some 15 years of waiting before being opened for our tasting, so it wasn’t a complete shocker. Whilst I have a habit of periodically turning my bottles upside down to wet the cork and sometimes even sealing the top with parafin, as an auction purchase, I have no clue how it was stored. Instead of getting upset, we simply used it as an excuse to decant and dive in!

So… what did we discover?

Aultmore 9 year Provenance (Autumn 2000 / Spring 2010) Sherry Cask No 6211 46.8% (Douglas McGibbon & Co. Ltd)

  • Nose – Sour cherry, becoming increasingly fruity the longer it was in the glass, creamy vanilla, such a dessert dram! Moist carrot muffin with cream cheese icing, apricots, ice cream soda, topped with a warm caramel custard – yum!
  • Palate – Soft, fruity, balanced with a wonderful mouthfeel, more of that dessert dram quality!
  • Finish – Light spice
  • Water – I didn’t think it needed it, however, when added, I’m so glad that I did! It brought so much more – augmenting and marrying the various elements together even more beautifully

There was little doubt this dram hit the spot. Many returned to it over and over to accompany their cigars later in the evening. I managed to snag a bit to bring home and found it got even better with a little oxidation. I’m sure what remained in the decanter must be a most enjoyable dram!

Tasting notes were shared on the label:

Distinctly spicy and sweet as it opens – then more of a macerated fruit content comes through with more spice all on the nose. The palate is more Sherried than the colour suggests – being sweet, smooth and rather fruity – even with some light camphor and late dulcet barley sugar. The finish replicates the palate nicely.

What about other Aultmore experiences?

Yet again, we thoroughly enjoyed this expression and were ready for the next whisky!

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Whisky Auction – Glenkinchie 10 year 40%

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The Lowlands of Scotland are often over-looked, given it had only 2 single malt distilleries active in 2000 – Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie.  Yet it was once known for malts with a gentle elegance, stunning drams like Rosebank and old grains like Cambus from discontinued distilleries…  Today we have many new players like Lindores Abbey, Lochlea, Alisa Bay, Lagg, and others – some of whom have shifted deeply into peat rather than the earlier lighter Lowland “style”.

As I went through the Whisky Auction and spotted a 200ml of Glenkinchie 10 year from before 2008, I thought it would be a perfect example of an earlier Lowland experience. Whilst the period for this expression was 1987 – 2007, based on the “Classic Malts of Scotland” label, box colour, I believe it is from the late 1990s, though I could be mistaken. I picked it up for ~Eur 27 (including shipping & auction fees).

Glenkinchie 10 year (~late 1990s) 43%

  • Nose – Bright, floral – particularly white flowers then tube roses, sharp green apple, inviting, cereals, honey suckle sweet, then gradually became more subdued, a little shy, shifting from green apples to red, from spring to summer…
  • Palate – Dry, apricot pits, simple and straightforward yet with a rather nice mouthfeel, whilst light, there was some substance there too
  • Finish – Medium long

Sometimes being “quite pleasant” is simply perfect! That’s exactly what we welcome. I was completely satisfied with this expression and delighted we had a chance to try it.

There remained a few drams in the bottle, enabling an opportunity to revisit at home for a quiet evening, free from distractions. It was even more enjoyable.

Based on this experience, I think I may need to keep an eye out for more Glenkinchie tasting opportunities! Prior to this, my experience was limited to just two expressions:

What else did we try in our rare evening?

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BMC Lowland, Highland, Speyside across the decades

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For our October 2025 Bombay Malt & Cigar Club evening, I decided to do a bit of housecleaning. Some years ago, I experimented with whisky auctions. In truth, I did a spray and pray approach and walked away with a fairly random trio. Fast forward to the move back to India, I managed to sell the Adnamurchan yet kept the Glenkinchie and Aultmore. So when it came time to craft a tasting, I decided to pull out the remaining pair and select a 3rd bottle that I just desperately wanted to open!

What did I pick?

Glenkinchie 10 year (~1990s) 43%

We began with a 10-year Lowland, likely from the 1990s. It was an original bottle put out by the distillery at a perfect size for sampling at 200ml. I picked it up for ~Eur 27 (including shipping & auction fees).

Aultmore 9 year (Autumn 2000 / Spring 2010) Provenance Cask No 6211 46.8% (Douglas McGibbon & Co. Ltd)

We then shifted gears to a youthful Speyside from the turn of the millennium. I’ve not had many “Provenance” Casks from independent bottler Douglas McGibbon & Co, so I was curious. This was another whisky auction purchase for ~Eur 59 (including shipping & auction fees).

Balblair 16 year (Spring 2025) hogshead 55.8% (Chorlton)

We moved on to the highlands with a brand new Chorlton – independent bottler from Manchester. You’ve seen enough Chorlton’s to know, I’m a fan. As for Balblair? I also admit to having a soft spot. I purchased it directly from Chorlton for £95 plus shipping.

Craigallachie 17 year (Jun 2008 / 25 Aug 2025) Madeira Wine Cask No 7547103 54% (Duncan Taylor – Octave) 63 bottles

I should have stopped there, yet I couldn’t resist adding a little bonus from London’s 2025 Whisky Show. Yum!

Just click on the links above for tasting notes and our overall experience! Sláinte!

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2025 Whisky Show – Amrut

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The 2025 London Whisky Show is a brilliant way to explore world whiskies. Whilst the focus was on the Nordics, with a Nordic Zone this year, we simply had to make a pit stop by Amrut to check out their new expressions!

Nilesh kindly walked us through two samples:

  • Amrut 7 year Special Limited Edition (2016 – 2025) Single Cask 197 UK Exclusive 60% (2025 Whisky Show – GBP 146)
  • Amrut Single Malts Of India Marudham 46% (2025 Whisky Show – GBP 83)

Whilst this was just a brief sniff, swish and spit, it was great to taste a few drams outside their core range.

Amrut Special Limited Edition 7 year (01/2016 – 2025) Ex-Bourbon Single Cask 197, 60% UK Exclusive 143 Bottles

  • Nose – Fruity, sweet, juicy raisins, dripping in caramel
  • Palate – Spicy! Can see the strength of 60% punching through, powerful and full force – tropical fruits, most heated spice
  • Finish – Carries through

With just a wee splash in our glass, we couldn’t really add a few drops of water, however, I have a feeling that’s exactly what this whisky needs!

Amrut Marudham (2024) 46% (Single Malts of India)

  • Nose – Tropical fruits bursting out of the glass, joined by a delicious chocolate hazelnut
  • Palate – Softer than anticipated, well balanced with tropical fruits, wood, spice, and sweet – think condensed maple syrup
  • Finish – Nice tingle, caramel, and vanilla

Whilst there is a lot going on, it is surprisingly approachable. And with that, we were ready to move on to our next whisky stand, grateful to have a chance for a quick pit stop!

If you are curious about other Amrut experiences, please check out:

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2025 Whisky Show – Glen Grant Flight Part 2

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At London’s 2025 Whisky Show, I was reminded of the importance of refreshing our whisky tasting range – including stalwarts. Til date, I’ve mostly shared tasting notes on rare and elusive Glen Grant expressions. If it is a 12-year-old expression, then it must be from the 1970s! If it’s a young 5-year-old, well then, it was bottled 50 years ago! Or perhaps it was matured for a “mere” 60 years or 64 years before being bottled?!? Let’s be honest, these were all incredible once-in-a-lifetime experiences! Ones that I would never be able to repeat.

So, what about us normal folks who don’t mind the occasional indulgence that is still somewhat accessible? Enter the special yet still available mature Glen Grant expressions with their current core collection:

  • Glen Grant 21 year (2024) 46% (2025 Whisky Show – GBP 252)
  • Glen Grant 25 year 46% (2025 Whisky Show – GBP 699 aka 1 Dream Dram Token)
  • Glen Grant 30 year 55% (2025 Whisky Show – GBP 1250 aka 3 Dream Dram Tokens)

Glen Grant 21 year (2024) 46%

With 20% Oloroso, this was bound to have a sherry touch, yet more restrained. What did we think?

  • Nose – Bright, nuanced, complex yet incredibly well-balanced between the warm, juicy fruits (think peach or nectarine), gentle baking spices (cinnamon, ginger, allspice), and caramel
  • Palate – Delicate, elegant, and well-rounded. The fruit shifted from sunny orchards to humid tropics.
  • Finish – Soft, toffee sweet, lovely!

It was like the first sunlight – the rays gently warm, the light gradually increasing… A delight to the nose and palate.

What do they have to say?

The exquisite palate of 21-Year-Old whisky presents a soft, welcoming mouthfeel, with an explosion of rich tropical fruits and creamy butter notes, followed by a long, luxurious finish of caramelised crème brûlée.

Would we agree? Yes indeed!

Glen Grant 25 year 46%

Increasing the sherry quotient to around 40% had a clear influence on this expression.

  • Nose – Loads of dark fruits, dusky, dusty, then brightens into candied sweet
  • Palate – A wonderfully full mouthfeel, roll it around, savouring the soft fruits, some melted chocolate, delicious!
  • Finish – Simply stunning

As for Grant & Sons, they share the following about this expression:

The Glen Grant 25-Year-Old promises discovery and delight. With velvety smoothness and definitive notes dried stone fruit and toffee. Sweet aromas open up to rich dark chocolate flavours and a lingering warm spice and soft smoke finish.

We would certainly agree.

Glen Grant 30 year 55%

Whilst this isn’t yet widely available, a teaser was available at London’s Whisky Show.

  • Nose – Subtle at first, with soft fruits, gradually opening in the glass. It was a “comfort” dram, we were enveloped in a warm blanket of welcome aromas – fruity, sweet, and more!
  • Palate – Soft, with a hint of mineral, like the shavings of a graphite pencil, then the fruits came forward, followed by gentle sweet spices, a deeper undertone
  • Finish – Simply beautiful. An incredibly long finish

Here is what Glen Grant has to say about this upcoming expression:

A rare and exquisite 30-Year-Old whisky. It reveals a rich and complex bouquet that, after its rich and distinctive finish, will leave you longing for more. Uniting The Glen Grant’s delicate, fruity character with a deeper, darker profile.

Like previous older Glen Grant expressions, this was the gift they kept on giving. Long after our glass was empty, we could revisit simply by sniffing the glass. As we knew this would be a hard act to follow, it was clearly time to take a wee lunch break before heading back into the fray!

Curious to know more? Check out the Glen Grant Whisky Flight – Part 1

As for other older expressions? I’ve been so fortunate to try a few rare and mature drams:

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