If there is a real must-have bottle when you appreciate whisky, especially cask strenght, it’s the Aberlour A’Bunadh. Non cold filtered, aged in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled directly out of the barrel, it is a full of character Speyside that always pleases, whatever the batch. This batch #49 is nevertheless one of the best (at least of those that I’ve tasted). Here come the tasting notes 😀
Today, let’s discover some Swedish whisky with a nice single malt, the Mackmyra Skördetid (46.1%). This one is a special bottling from their seasonal range, this Macmyra Skördetid has spend some time in old barrels of Amarone Masi Costasera (Masi is an Italian house, world famous for its wines). Before this special ending, this whisky spent time in bourbon barrels, American oak, sherry Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez… Just that. That sounds great, isn’t it? Let’s see if he lives up to his promises.
The 18-year-old Glendronach Allardice (46% – 2017) is a single malt aged in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, which was put on the market at the initiative of the new owner of the distillery. An happy initiative? We discover this right now 😀
When you start discovering whisky, Glenmorangie is a must-have label, especially when you have the (pretty good) idea to try its special finishes, such as the Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or finished in Sauternes casks.
The Teeling Single Grain, coming from the famous Irish distillery of the same name, is one of the very few Irish Bourbons and was first marketed in 2013. The ex- owner of the Cooley distillery has some hope to renew the success of Greenore, the first and until now only single Irish grain available on the market. Sold without age mention, it was aged in wine casks (Cabernet Sauvignon) before being bottled at 46% without cold filtration. I’m usually not a big fan of bourbon but considering the quality of the products offered by Teeling, I had to test it: D
We continue with another vintage gem, a Balmenach 32 years old (53.1%) by Maltbarn. Maltbarn is one of those independent bottlers who have the nose to select exceptional casks. Most of their bottles are sold out in a few days or even a few hours.
A whisky from Douglas Laing quickly calling another one, here is one more for a tasting that has surpassed, until this day, almost all tastings i’ve had. This 32 year old Strathmill (51.0% – cask n° DL 10912) is part of their very nice collection X.O.P. (for Xtra Old Particular) which counts some wonderful whiskys and this is one of them!
Timorous Beastie (46.8%) is what we call a vatted malt, basically it’s a luxury blend of single malts from different distilleries of quality. It comes from the excellent independent bottler Douglas Laing (you will read more about him here, believe me, you’ll only ask for that). The “purists” that pretend that the single malt is the only real good whisky will have to accept the idea that today (and for some years in fact) some people make very (very) good blends.
Another famous distillery, among my favorites, Highland Park! People who moderatly appreciate peat should find their account with this whisky which is just moderatly peated. This Highland Park 18yo is a classic.
It has to start with a first review and it was obvious to me to start with the first bottle of “real” whisky that I bought (with a gift certificate, thank you Audrey :D), the Aberlour 10yo.
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