Category Archives: Speyside

Macbeth’s First Ghost (Cambus 31) and Bloody Sergeant (Blair Athol 10)!

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At London’s Whisky Show 2023, we were introduced to Elixir’s  Macbeth series. That year we selected for our “Dream Drams” a pair of Thanes – Lady MacDuff (Linkwood 31) and Menthieth (BenRiach 31 year).

This year, we were drawn to the Ghost and Household range: First Ghost (Cambus 31) and Bloody Sergeant (Blair Athol 10). This was partly because these whiskies did not require “Dream Dram” tokens!

What did we think in our sniff and swish?

We began with the grain from the closed Lowland distillery Cambus… With 650 bottles from a refill bourbon, we anticipated something light… 

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.

The Ghosts: Cambus 31-year Single Grain “First Ghost” 43.2% (Lowland) GBP 301

  • Nose – Soft, and sweet, with a hint of tart lemon or limes, warms in the glass to reveal vanilla
  • Palate – Delicious! Light bourbon vanilla ice cream, with a hint of fruit  
  • Finish – Quite subtle

This whisky clearly fell into the “day dram” category – uncomplicated, light, and easy to sip.

What do they have to say?

The first ghostly apparition in the Macbeth series is portrayed by an elegant, mature single grain from the long-deceased Cambus distillery. More than three decades resting in oak has left this old Lowlander with an ethereal profile of green fruits, vanilla cream, coconut milk and a hint of sweet anise. An excellent choice of casks by whisky makers Elixir Distillers really brings this portentous figure to life… So to speak.

This bottling is the first of six whiskies representing The Ghosts in this series inspired by The Tragedy of Macbeth. Each bottling features specially commissioned artwork by famed illustrator Sir Quentin Blake.

Nice! And another reminder that Cambus produced some lovely grains once upon a time! Whilst I’ve had a few mixed experiences, this one reminded me of the lovely 24 year from Signatory that I bought from Singapore’s Whisky Live 2017.

Up next was a shift in gears from light to dark with xx

The Households: Blair Athol 10 year “Bloody Sergeant” 51.8% (Highland) GBP 95

  • Nose – Quite a hit of dry fruits, peppery spice… needs time to open
  • Palate – Sweet, rich with loads of dark fruits, spice
  • Finish – Has a kick
  • Water – We thought perhaps to tone it down with water in hopes it would reveal more elements. It certainly helped round out the palate however it also lost some of its character too 

Whilst the Cambus was soft and inviting, the Blair Athol was punchy and bold! This is entirely in keeping with Blair Athol’s character – some love its brash approach whereas for others it is simply a bit “too much”. 

What do they have to say?

An excellent addition to Livingstone’s ground-breaking Macbeth series. The Bloody Sergeant – who recounts Macbeth’s heroic deeds to King Duncan in the Play’s first act – had to be embodied by a rugged Highlander and this Blair Athol does the job perfectly. Matured in a combination of bourbon hogsheads and red wine casks, this is a richly texture dram packed with fruit and complex tannins. Expect blackberries and baking spices on the nose before a weighty palate of toffee and malt with a pickle of gunpowder in the finish.

This bottling is one of 10 characterful whiskies chosen to represent The Household of Macbeth. Each expression in this collectable series features character insights from whisky writer Dave Broom and specially commissioned illustrations by Sir Quentin Blake.

Both are different yet interesting. I hope we can continue to explore more from the Macbeth series in the future! 

From Macbeth Act One, there were… 

  • The Leads: Glen Grant 56 year “Old King Duncan” 48.2% (Speyside) GBP 10,000
  • The Ghosts: Cambus 31-year Single Grain “First Ghost” 43.2% (Lowland) GBP 301 – Sampled in 2024
  • The Witches: Ardbeg 19 year “First Witch” 51.7% (Islay) GBP 550 
  • The Murderers: Ledaig 18 year “First Murderer” 50.5% (Island) GBP 220 

The Thanes:

The Households:

  • Ardmore 12 year “Seyton” 52.5% (Highland) GBP 100
  • Blair Athol 10 year “Bloody Sergeant” 51.8% (Highland) GBP 95 – Sampled in 2024

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2024 Dream Dram – SMWS’s 72.3 Miltonduff 1977 49.6%

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For the 2nd year in a row, my “Dream Dram” at London’s Whisky Show was a Miltonduff. Last year it was a 40-year-old expression bottled by Adelphi. This year it was a Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) dram from 1977.

The only challenge was tracking it down… the folks at the right stand were not so clear on what exactly was or was not available. Searching through all the bottles, I pointed out this one. However to be fair not everyone knows that 72 = Miltonduff and .3 = the 3rd Miltonduff bottling by the SMWS… right? 

It also did not have the distinctive and fanciful titles that SMWS is now known for like “Busy buzzing bees” or “Long conversations by the crackling log fire“… Nope! This bottle was clearly from an earlier period. 

SMWS 72.3 18 year (Sep 1977 / May 1996) 49.6% 

  • Nose – Delicate, citrus, floral, fruits – especially white peach 
  • Palate – Sharp at first then settled down into caramel candy
  • Water – Yes, please! The palate became softer, and fruitier with cream, and even some subtle nuttiness crept in
  • Finish – Long and lovely

This was not the kind of whisky you want to have at a Whisky Show. Instead, you need to give it time to open. A bit shy on the nose and sharp on the palate, it needs time to warm up. 

So what exactly is it about Miltonduff? There is something about its lighter fruity sometimes even elegant character.

It may also have something to do with the fact that I’ve only had special bottles carefully selected by different independent bottlers – from Chorlton to Gordon & Macphail with a few others too! Curious to explore more? Check out these beauties!

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The Whisky Warehouse No. 8 – Allt á Bhainne, Benrinnes, Craigellachie, Dundalk Dew

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For a whisky explorer, small 20 ml bottles are a perfect way to try! Enter the Whisky Warehouse No 8 quartet – a mix of different drams that made its way from Nuremberg to Winnipeg… and then waited for more than a year for just the right evening in October 2024!

We decided to try the drams in the following order…. Some were “Yes please”, some were “Not for me”. Overall it was good fun to split between the three of us!

  • Ireland – Dundalk Dew 9 year (2009) Single Grain  58,7 %
  • Speyside –  Craigellachie 12 year (2007) 50 %
  • Speyside – Allt á Bhainne 11 year (2008) 61,5%
  • Speyside – Benrinnes 23 year (1997) 1st Fill Barrique Chateau Lafite 55.9%

We naturally started with the Irish grain, anticipating it would be a nice way to ease into our tasting set.

Dundalk Dew 9 year (June 2009 – Sep 2018) Single Grain, Bourbon Barrel Cask No W8118  58,7 %. 126 Bottles

  • Nose – Curious… it began a bit musty, then florals, some cereals, honey, opening further into cream and vanilla
  • Palate – Had a strength of character with no harshness, surprisingly balanced, uncomplicated yet imminently sippable, some bitter tart crisp apples
  • Finish – Not much but then not much was expected either

For a young grain, it was quite remarkable. There was a fresh summery quality – a nice warm weather dram where the appealing aromas follow through with a pleasant palate.

Rather a nice way to begin our evening!

We carried on with the Craigellachie – opting for a touch of sherry at a lower ABV over the Allt á Bhainne at 61.5%!

Craigellachie 12 year (Oct 2007 – Dec 2019) Olorosso Sherry Hogshead Cask No W8 900680 50,5%. 279 Bottles

  • Nose – Sour mash, apple sauce, toffee, over-ripe peaches, eases into red striped caramel hard candy
  • Palate – Bland… a bit blah actually with just generic fruit
  • Finish – Limited

Without water, it wasn’t much. The sour mash and over-ripe fruit aromas were almost overwhelming. However with water? It was a different dram entirely!

  • Nose – Is that toast and butter? Slathered in marmalade
  • Palate – Smooth honeyed sweetness
  • Finish – Lingers

As we contemplated our glasses, it was hard to think this was the same whisky! The more time in the glass, the warmer and more enjoyable it became.

Next up was another Speyside – this time from Allt á Bhainne – I believe the first I’ve tried from their distillery. Interestingly, it has a Canadian connect –  founded in 1975 by Seagrams, passing to Pernard Ricard, assigned to its Chivas Regal division, largely used in blends with a period of even mothballed for a couple of years before being re-activated in 2005.

Allt á Bhainne 11 year (Aug 2008 – Jan 2020) Garrison Bourbon Cask No W8 120815 61,5%. 72 bottles

  • Nose – Ah! Now we are talking! We were greeted by orchard fruits – crisp green apples and pears, then it shifted into chocolate and fruit – think a high-end orange peel and dark chocolate. Yum! The more it opened, the more enticing it became – strawberry and cream
  • Palate – Quite a bit of spice – not so surprising at 61.5%! Warm
  • Finish – Sweet spices of cloves and cinnamon
  • Water – Do try. Whilst it dampens the nose, it does wonders for the palate. Whilst it still has a prickle of spice, it is now more like Christmas pudding with a warm whisky sauce than hot spice!

This one really grew on us… I wasn’t sure what to expect but this dram had promise.

Last up we went to an older Benrinnes. Now I must admit, I’ve had some mixed experiences with this distillery.

Benrinnes 23 year (Oct 1997 – July 2021) 1st Fill Barrique Chateau Lafite Cask No W8 5721 55.9%. 84 Bottles.

  • Nose – Woah? Is that peat? Yup! A clean dry wood smoke – unmistakable and completely unexpected. Think apple wood chips smoldering. Also hay bales, roasted hazelnut.
  • Palate – Start well then changes, catching one at the back of the throat, unbalanced
  • Finish – More smoke
  • Water – Like the others – water is recommended. It makes it a bit more approachable

I was prepared for a great or disappointing experience. However, I was not prepared for peat. Which is a good reminder to keep an open mind and be ready to be surprised!

What about prior explorations from Whisky Warehouse No. 8? Over the last couple of years, we’ve sampled a few – with the Glencadam 8 being exceptional! Here is a short summary:

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The Hearach Batch 9, 46%

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From a venerable family-run distillery operating since 1836 (Glenfarclas) to a new community-run player from 2015 with Harris Distillery, our evening was full of delightful contrasts!

Their origin story is simple – a desire to preserve the Island of Harris community facing declining population and limited career prospects. Hence the idea of distillery:

In 2015, the distillery started life with just 10 people and an ambition to double in number over the next five years. Today, we’re proud to say we employ over 50 permanent staff, a highly significant number in an island of fewer than 2000 inhabitants.

As a catalyst for positive change within our community, we continue to work with purpose, bringing new life to our island and supporting its aspirations to survive and thrive as we move forward together.

And now, less than 10 years from founding, a bottle found its way to Nurnberg for an evening of exploration…

The Hearach 4 years (January 2024) HE 00009 24 46% 12,385 Bottles ~Eur 80

  • Nose – Barnyard, farm-like in a good way – think farm fresh fragrances, winds over wheat fields, sweet grass, barley, and then awash with a maritime breeze, burnt cake, and wood smoke
  • Palate – Super sweet and a bit vegetal, think green veggies, it had a youthful fresh exuberance, peppers, perhaps even a bit herbaceous, a hint of mineral, tobacco leaf, a bit rustic, salty, shifting into campfire embers
  • Finish – Salty cinnamon candy
  • Water – Oh my goodness! Makes it even sweeter! Like candy sweet, transformed from peat to super duper sweet!

The bottle was quite beautiful, however, what matters more than the packaging is the liquid. We were overall optimistic, it may not be the style for everyone but worth seeing how the team at The Hearach take things from here!

After our session, I did a wee check to see what the folks at Hearach have to say about this particular batch 9. Conveniently with the label details, one can find tasting notes by Gemma McNally Tarbert, Isle of Harris:

“I get a light, fresh sort of woodsmoke on the nose straight away, it reminds me of campfires at Scarista beach on those long summer nights we get in Harris. I get cereal notes, and spiciness on the palate, a sort of pepperiness like rocket leaves. There’s not much smoke when I sip it, but there’s a nice clean greenness instead. A little water makes it very sweet, like the sticky toffee pudding I bake myself at home with dates. It’s smooth and there’s so many lovely flavours unfolding.”

Whilst I didn’t find sticky toffee pudding, the cereal, pepperiness like rocket leaves – now that she mentions it – rings true!

What more do we know? Well, it is ex-Bourbon, Olorosso and Fino with 12,9 PPM. Also for this specific batch, Mike Donald, Chief Story Teller had this to say:

“A new year is underway and the first bottles of our whisky in 2024 have begun to be filled. We are deep into a Harris winter and fat snowflakes have been falling thick and fast across our island, transforming the landscape into beautiful patchwork of dark gneiss and bright ice. Many of us live at the end of long and winding narrow roads so it’s a slow start to proceedings as staff struggle to reach the distillery in the bad weather. But, we bottle batch number 9 with all the hands we can muster and the new white neck seals applied to every stopper fittingly match the snow which continues to float from our Harris skies”

And there you have it – our introduction to yet another new player in the whisky market. With it becoming so crowded and the winds of tightening wallets around the world, one wonders how The Hearach will fare longer term. Already on to their 16th batch, with this core expression joined by a pricier 100% Oloroso expression, time will tell!

What else did I try that September evening in Nurnberg?

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Glenfarclas (2004-2017) 59.4%

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Glenfarclas remains one of the few long-standing family-run distilleries that have equally kept consistent with their house style – known to be quite generous in the use of sherry casks. You won’t find a light afternoon dram – instead, Glenfarclas delivers a more robust experience. The kind of dram you would enjoy to warm you up on a cool winter evening, mayhaps by a crackling fire.

We are no strangers to Glenfarclas and yet always delight in exploring “just one more”! Especially if it so happens to be a vintage cask-strength expression.

Glenfarclas 13 year (2004 / 2017) 59.4%

  • Nose – Lovely! Christmas market in liquid form! A gorgeous sherry, warming with dark fruits of figs and dates, generous sweet spices of ginger, cloves, and nutmeg, which were joined by cocoa, like a chocolate, dried fruit, and raisins bar
  • Palate – At first it greeted us with a sparkling spice, deepening into dark fruits, balanced, rich with considerable substance. Beneath all the swirling sherry was both oak and a sprinkling of brown sugar. In short – yum!
  • Finish – More of that rich chocolate, though now more mocha with a faintly bitter coffee tweak

Overall we found it a terrific example of a quintessential classic sherry. Most enjoyable, a solid performer that performs really rather well. I was reminded of the Whic.de Clubflasche from 2009 – which is a compliment! However, the price difference is considerable! This 2004 is no longer available except on auction for ~150 vs the ~60 I paid for the 2009!

Talk turned to the overall whisky character. It was just as expected – a perfect winter dram to cosy up and enjoy! Many thanks to our contributor and the company!

What else did I try that September evening in Nurnberg?

And past brushes with Glenfarclas? There have certainly been a few!

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Knockando 18 year (1996) Sherry 43%

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Truth be told, we are much more familiar with Highland Knockdhu distillery offerings that go by the name AnCnoc, than Diageo’s Knockando distillery in Speyside. Both were set up in the late 1890s, both are considered on the smaller side with 1.3 – 1.5 milllion liters produced per year, however, in terms of character and positioning, they are in quite different spaces. To put it into perspective, an 18 year old Knockandu is still largely used for blends and will set you back around Eur 65. Whereas an anCnoc 18-year-old single malt is in the range of Eur 94 – 149!

Knockando 18 year (1996) Sherry 43%

  • Nose – Starts off very fruity with plums, then starts to shift into coffee cream, with more time it reveals a nuttier quality and even some minerals
  • Palate – A lovely spice, clear sherry influence with some mocha, malt, almonds and oak as well
  • Finish – Quite spicy for a mere 43%

The folks at Knockando describe the 18 year old as being “Woody & Fruity” – for which I would tend to agree.

What else did I try that September evening in Nurnberg?

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Gordon + MacPhail’s Glenburgie 26 year 56.8%

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Our Nurnberg Whisky Explorers group were super duper fortunate to have an extra special treat! One member was so enchanted by trying the Glenburgie 26 year at The Village that when he wanted to celebrate a new role this is how he chose to do it! And lucky us, to share it!

Glenburgie 26 year (1995 – 27/04/2022)  1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Puncheon Cask No 6349, Batch 22/090 56.8% (Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice) 564 Bottles ~Eur 295

  • Colour –
  • Nose – It began with a nuanced and elegant aroma, light spice with kumquat sweet and sour citrus, joined by allspice and pink peppercorns, all in beautiful harmony. As it opened, we noted apricot, red apple peel, deepening over time. From light and fruity to old dark wood furniture with heavy furnishings, then back to fruity – this time marmalade!
  • Palate – Simply wonderful! Hazelnut coffee cream, wonderfully balanced with a gorgeous mouthfeel. By the 3rd sip, it began to settle into a heavy fruitcake with  delicious dates, nuts, and raisins, complex and satisfying.
  • Finish – Sigh…. one to just savour!

We were entranced. Talk turned to how the last sunbeam of the evening glances on the water. A bit fanciful yet sometimes a particularly good dram inspires flights of fancy!

I too had a teasing opportunity to try a wee sample in 2022 at Paris Whisky Live. Whilst well beyond my budget, it was one of those rare treats I dearly wanted to try again. So am VERY grateful it was possible to revisit at home in a leisurely setting. Even more, a generous sample was shared which enabled me to share it in London with a favourite tasting companion. I took no further tasting notes – simply enjoyed it.

So what else did we try in our special Glen themed evening?

I openly admit that I have a weakness for Glenburgie – particularly those from 2000 or earlier.

Live around Nurnberg, Germany, and are interested in joining our Nurnberg Whisky Explorer private tasting group? Just comment here with the best way to reach you! 

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Signatory’s Glenlivet 17 year 62.3%

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Before the summer break, our Nurnberg Whisky Explorers group held an evening devoted to special “Glens” – not your ordinary every day “Glens” but the “top shelf” variety!

I generally think I’m not very snobbish about my single malt. Yes I prefer quality but I’ve also been known to enjoy a value for money dram too! When it comes to Glenlivet, I’ve mostly experienced the standard fare with the occasional exception mixed in for good measure. So when this bottle was offered for our special Glens evening, I was curious but had no big expectations.

Glenlivet 17 year (15/08/2006 – 21/11/2023) 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt, Cask No 900806 62.3% (Signatory Vintage) Bottle 74 of 599 ~Eur 128.50

  • Colour – Dark gold
  • Nose – Mmmmm fruity! Followed by wet leaves after a heavy rain, quite mellow, sweet with a medium dark wildflower honey, a warm perfume shifting into dark plums combining fresh forest scents – marvelous! The longer we contemplated the nose, the more it evolved – dark fruits, chocolate, and behind the berries was a citrus twist! Then toast with marmite…
  • Palate – Wow! Sherry and how! Strong and full, with real substance… rolling around, it built on the aromas with a combination of dark fruits and mocha
  • Finish – Long and really incredibly satisfying

Overall we were impressed. The aroma without water had a beautiful evolution from light to dark, inviting and enticing us to give it more and more time to open up. Whereas on the palate, there was no mystery! It was clear that we were sipping a 1st fill Sherry – more intense, flavourful, and forceful than anticipated from the nose alone… however, this should be expected at a powerful 62.3% ABV! One person described the palate as crashing waves (brandung)!

This is not a lightweight and yet also has some serious highlights too! So we were curious, what about the impact of adding some water? It was like having two whiskies in one!

  • Nose – Malty and citrus, ground coffee and dates, resin and English marmalade
  • Palate – Much more approachable but in some ways not quite as interesting
  • Finish – Remains with a hint of red licorice joining

We set this whisky aside and revisited to find the one with water had clearly veered towards the sweet side – candied apple, bubblegum, marshmallow, pear – delicious!

Alas I could not find any official tasting notes from Signatory – this particular edition was from an earlier batch than currently available. Suffice to say, it was indeed a 1st fill Sherry Butt and truly an unexpected treat.

A clear reminder – do not underestimate the big boys! They are big for a reason and equally have a prodigious range of casks – so no surprise there are gems to be found.

What else did we try in our special Glens-themed evening?

  • A revisit of Chorlton’s Glentauchers 8 year and 14 year
  • Glenburgie 26 year (1995 – 27/04/2022)  1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Puncheon Cask No 6349, Batch 22/090 56.8% (Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice) 564 Bottles

Curious about other Glenlivet tasting experiences? Read on…

Live around Nurnberg, Germany, and are interested in joining our Nurnberg Whisky Explorer private tasting group? Just comment here with the best way to reach you! 

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Nurnberg Whisky Explorer’s Special Glens Evening

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Our Nurnberg Whisky Explorers group decided to skip summer sessions, however still managed to sneak in an early July session. Why? It was an opportunity to celebrate a member’s new job with an extra special Glenburgie as the fabulous excuse!

So what did we try in our special Glen themed evening?

We kicked off our evening with a wee calibration dram – in this case, we thought the open Arran would do the trick!

We then compared the Glentauchers 14 year followed by the more robust 8 year. Alas the Glentauchers 14 lost some of its charm through oxidation – more sour green apple and strawberry yoghurt than an elegant and nuanced rum topf.

However, the Glentauchers 8 year remained a delight with a fabulous mouthfeel, spice, black forest cake, and more!

As for the Glenburgie? It entranced us with its nuanced, complex character – fruity yet with substance. An absolute treat!

Interested in joining our Nurnberg Whisky Explorer events? Just comment here with the best way to reach you.

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Islay’s Caol Ila & Lagavulin – Blend, Independent, Cask Strength

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Our Nurnberg Whisky Explorers group doesn’t have many “peat heads” in our mix. Most veer away from the smoky stuff. Hence when we had a specially “curated” evening that started to move in the peat direction, we were opening new doors!

This trio was anchored by two distilleries – Caol Ila and Lagavulin. Both are from Islay. Both put out Original Distillery Bottlings, are found in both blends and independent expressions. Our evening explored all three approaches!

  • Johnnie Walker Black Label Islay Origin 12 year 42% ~Eur 65
  • Scarabus Islay 10 year 46% (Hunter Laing) ~Eur 48
  • Caol Ila Cask Strength 60.1% (OB) ~Eur 100 for 200ml (auction only)

Knowing this was a “first foray” for many in our group, our curator kindly prepared a document that included a description of both distilleries – key features, their house style, and a recommendation on what standard dram best depicts its character. Additionally, QR codes were provided, linking to more details about the three specific whiskies we were about to sample. Talk about organised!

We kicked off our peat trio with a limited edition “Islay Origin” expression from Johnnie Walker. In India, Black Label was once upon a time synonymous with “good” whisky. Priced relatively high yet prevalently available, it was featured in many homes, Bollywood movies, and more! It defined scotch whisky – a consistent blend with sweet and peat – which held up well with chunks of ice and mixed with water.

A typical Black Label will blend together Diageo’s different distilleries: Clynelish in the Highlands, Cardhu from Speyside, malt from Glenkinchie, grain from Cameronbridge… whilst some will say the smoky character comes from Lagavulin, others credit it to Caol Ila.

So when the folks at Johnnie Walker decided to launch in 2021 their “Origin” series without the grain, intended to heighten the focus on the featured regional elements – it was widely speculated that the Islay expression was probably both Caol Ila & Lagavulin.

Johnnie Walker Black Label Islay Origin 12 year 2021 42%

  • Colour – It was nearly orange!
  • Nose – Hello peat! Clear, clean peat stamp with a strong seaside salty air too. We also found mango BBQ chutney, some iodine
  • Palate – Way fruitier than expected – lots of dark fruits, smokey, salty, oily peat and sweet, some pepper joining the honeyed fruits
  • Finish – Very sweet with just a puff of smoke

Now, I must admit I was pleasantly impressed by how much I enjoyed the Johnnie Walker. It was surprisingly good, with a well-balanced palate, fruitier than anticipated to the point that I wondered if and how much sherry influence could be at play? We also speculated the extent to which Johnnie Walker’s relatively new master blender – Emma Walker – steered the approach.

From a variation on a well-known theme, we moved on to indie bottler Hunter Laing’s celebration of Islay.

Scarabus Islay 10 year 46% (Hunter Laing)

  • Colour – Light hay
  • Nose – Oaky and salty, cereals, malt and honey, a bit nutty
  • Palate – Fermented fruit, black pepper, oily
  • Finish – Cinnamon smoke then minty and herbal

The most debated element about this expression is whether it is Caol Ila or Lagavulin. I will admit that I also vacillated between the two – in one whiff thinking surely this must be Caol Ila then another sip, veered towards Lagavulin.

What we do know is that it is a single malt, aged for 10 years in a refill, ex-bourbon and virgin American oak cask. And that’s about it!

After the mystery malt, we closed with a clear Caol Ila – yet with a twist! It was a rare Original Distillery Bottling at cask strength. Part of a 200 ml tasting set together with a 12 year and 18 year expression, you won’t find this easily to add to your whisky cabinet!

Caol Ila (2005) Cask Strength 60.1% (OB)

  • Colour – So pale it almost appeared clear
  • Nose – Earthy gentle peat, dry smoke, a hint of citrus
  • Palate – Bright, very pleasant, no punch, just roll around in a well-balanced peat with sweet, some herbaceous almost medicinal elements too
  • Finish – Lingers, softly fading away

This was a classic Caol Ila, more restrained than anticipated for a cask-strength dram – certainly more so than most independent cask-strength expressions I’ve tried.

Wow – what an evening! There was so much care that went into curating two sessions into one! What a terrific way to discover two quite different sets of whiskies!

In case you missed the earlier post, here are the Glen Elgin‘s we tried in our April session:

Interested in joining our Nurnberg Whisky Explorer events? Just find us on Meetup! https://www.meetup.com/nurnberg-whisky-explorers/events/

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