I believe that's the collective noun for Caol Ila. At least it feels correct when you realise a sufficient quantity of samples have amassed on your shelves to do a wee Whiskyfun sesh. We're anticipating impeccable distillate, consistency and purity… Port Ellen 25 yo 1983/2008 (58.4%, Scotch Single Malt Circle, cask #2542, refill sherry, 247 bottles)

Announced in 3rd Annual Scottish Whisky Awards Winners Announced in 3rd Annual Scottish Whisky Awards

SILVER MEDAL AWARD: Artful Dodger Whisky Collective 1978 41 Year Old; Artful Dodger Whisky CollectiveThis is a sourced blend as well, but some parts are Japanese, from Gotemba. Rumour has it that this contains Four Roses, as Kirin own Four Roses. Really? Colour: gold. Nose: between Scottish grain and bourbon indeed. No clear maltiness that I can detect, rather barbecued corn and rather a lot of maple syrup and liquid caramel. Vanilla. I'm not a fan, but things may improve… With water: light maize, earth, vanilla, rye… Good bourbon? Mouth (neat): sweet and light, but there's some textured smoke to it, possibly from Gotemba. The rest is light and thin, sweet, on vanilla and coconut water. With water: not much to complain about, this would be a young bourbon with a malty edge. Now careful, it does not swim too well and tends to get shattered if you add too much H2O. Finish: rather short. Sweet and sour. Comments: 'pure' I don't know, 'mellow' for sure!

Deanston, Balvenie Whiskyfun February 2021 - part 1 - Deanston, Balvenie

Plentiful orange and honey with a little waxiness and plenty of oak and spice would sum this dram up for me. It’s fairly straightforward but full of flavour and as much as I do find aspects of it I like, my personal preference as somebody who doesn’t get on with virgin oak, it’s not one I am fond of when it comes to the palate. On the plus side, it does bring in some nice dark chocolate and liquorice notes with it. Palate: Butter toffee, then a slug of American cream soda; balanced with sweet oak and a light cinnamon spice. No, not sure about that title either. But we've had Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila these past couple of weeks, so why not stay on Islay and do Port Ellen while we're 'spiritually' on location. However, first of all, a bonus aperitif, if you please.

Another one that I should have tried before, but years have only 365 days, have they not. Colour: white wine. Nose: sits right between the ueber-fruity 25 yo 'pop' one and the salty Signatory. It's even got this greasy fatness that we enjoy so much in several high-class malts, soy sauce, as well as a lot of crushed chalk the next morning after a rainy day. More or less. I may have said Hazelburn, you know. Mouth: no distillery should ever be overlooked. Extremely good Auchroisk, very tight, sooty, almost phenolic, greasy and, may I add, Springbanky. I have to say I'm not well-acquainted with Auchroisk and remember only too well the Singleton of Auchroisk of times gone by. So this is almost a revelation – well not quite but there, you get the drift. Finish: loses one or two points here, which happens pretty often as finishes tend to lose focus in many cases, and to get a little too dry and jumbled. Comments: Ohthrusk, your Majesty! As much as I’ve tried to get into bourbon from the limited selection we get on these shores, I’ve never found one I thought was better than just okay. Drinkable, but I’d rather have something else if it’s available. Wild Turkey 101, Rare Breed, Eagle Rare 10 and Maker’s Mark 46 all sit on my shelf, but have all been open for some time and are rarely reached for. Maybe if we had more choice in the UK at reasonable prices I could develop a keener interest, but we don’t, and I am happy with all the options scotch can offer me. Then again, if I don’t like the more subtle virgin oak matured scotches, then maybe bourbon will never be for me.

Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl

The Service has been prepared by us solely for information purposes to Members and the Service is based on information we consider reliable and we obtain the contents of the Service from a number of different third party sources (including Contributions), but we do not endorse, support, represent, warrant or guarantee the completeness, truthfulness, accuracy, or reliability of the Services and any information therein.However, if you’ve found a particular article valuable, you also have the option to make a direct donation to the writer, here: buy me a dram - you’d make their day. Thank you. Smooth bourbon profile with elements of pearl barley tones, bread mash / sourdough, Abbot pear, red-green apple, vanilla, cream, sweet, floral, cosmetic powder, there is a branded clove, but it is very muted, a lot of wood honey

Deanston Malt Scotch Whisky Kentucky Cask

I’ve mentioned bourbon a lot here, and this isn’t like drinking that particular whiskey from our American friends with its completely different mash bill. If you try it alongside one like I’ve done, you’ll see how different they are. However, it does share a little of the wood-driven characteristics I don’t get on with so well. Other people who enjoy their virgin oak scotches and bourbons would enjoy this much more than I do. We may sell, license, transfer, assign or in any other way dispose of the Service (including Members) to any third party without any notification to you, e.g. (but without limitation) in connection with any reorganization, restructuring, merger or sale, or other transfer of assets. Anyway, you see where I’m headed; I was recently presented with a dram of Deanston Virgin Oak and enjoyed it immensely. I will, at this point, admit to not even guessing the correct continent, settling for an American single malt. Blind, I found a slight acetone and marker pen note that I find only when deliberately searching for it tonight. Whisky likes to play with us.

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, the remainder of the Terms shall continue in full force and effect. I know I've literally floored you with that headline de la muerte. One day, they'll mention it in books and even have it on Topito: "The Ten Laziest Headline Ever". Let's see what we'd have today… I believe these are all first fill. I doubt different casks will be very different, it's probably all under control. Colour: white wine. Nose: fresh and citric at first, chalky and lemony, with touches of fresh oak (not totally dry) and just cut grass. A little iron too. It's very tight, with growing notes of paraffin and fresh cement, then green apples and a wee menthol/camphor combination. Refreshing altogether. Mouth: really very good. Lemon sherbet, tight grasses, the greenest green apples and the greenest limes, then perhaps mirabelles and damsons, but it'll never get as mellow and rounded as some other casks that I had tried earlier. Finish: long and sweeter, more on jellybeans, then just a lot of grass. Perhaps a little too much sourness in the aftertaste, sour fruits… Comments: it's remarkable that it never got vanilla-driven given that this was first fill. Each and every Member must be of legal drinking age in its country of residence to be allowed to use the Service. If no such law exists in a Member’s country of residence, the Member has to be over 21 years old to use the Service. We have the right to ask you to provide proof of your age and/or to provide further identification to prevent underage usage and/or for any other legal or legitimate purpose. By using the Service, and by creating an account you represent, warrant and confirm that you are of legal age. Yes wouldn't we do a little Auchroisk today? Remember some experts say we should pronounce that 'Ohthrusk', but I can tell you if you ever go to a shop in France and ask for 'Ohthrusk', they say wrong place and send you straight to the Tourist Office. Let's do this randomly if you please…