It's been a 2 year finish, so almost double-maturation, although I'm afraid no one's ever come up with a proper definition of what's a finishing vs double maturation. Colour: gold. Nose: oh, after the fresh fruits we're rather having the pastries and other fine specialties made thereof, first and foremost cassata and that thing we call 'brie au kirsch', which is not cheese at all mind you. Whiffs of warm focaccia, a touch of concrete and metal polish, walnut wine, blond pipe tobacco (I remember Amsterdamer), cherry stem tea… I find this nose awesomely complex, so far, this baby clearly stands up to the fruit bomb. With water: what a glorious sherry barrel! Looks like they've used good quality oloroso here, from a good tonneleria. Unless it came straight from a Scottish cooperage. Anyway, the nose didn't change much, it just became even more complex and with rather more citrus, and mosses… Mouth (neat): notes of eucalyptus and perhaps myrtle, a very curious earthiness, surely many walnuts, a little mustard, grapefruits, some kind of spicy cough medicine, crunching pine needles… It's very singular and most lovable. I would have believed this was ex-Madeira wood. With water: works but you have to be careful and not make it a tad too leafy and leathery. Finish: long. Herbal teas, zests, nutmeg, cinnamon… And myrtle. We've come full circle. Comments: we're extremely close to perfection. If you like dry Madeira wine… That first official Shizuoka sure was a session killer, but aren't we supposed to be resourceful at WF? I have an idea… 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. 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…

Deanston Single Malt Scotch Whisky : The Whisky Exchange Deanston Single Malt Scotch Whisky : The Whisky Exchange

We've already tried some great ones from this range, especially an Uitvlugt 1997. Uitvlugt 1997? Rings a bell… Colour: white wine. Nose: at the Old Harbour in Marseilles. Indeed that would involve the right amount of fish and… pastis. Also fresh paint, tyres again, seawater, also some orchard fruits such as apples and pears, a wee bit of barbecued marshmallow (ever been a boy scout?) and perhaps a tiny touch of new leatherette. A drop of cologne: Acqua di Gio? Mouth: very good, goes extremely well after the Hampden and would explain that Monymusk is dirtier, more rubbery, certainly more on plastics and, as we sometimes write, 'new electronics'. Big saltiness again, fish and old tarry ropes on a boat, whelks (love love love whelks). I know not many people love whelks, that's why they're cheap ;-). Finish: long, very salty and very dry. Would be challenging to many, I think. The tarry side is just huge. Only the aftertaste is a tad 'too' dirty, with a feeling of having swallowed an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Comments: I love this but wouldn't argue if someone would claim that it's a little difficult. It is, and?

Deanston Kentucky Cask Details

I'll say it again, I've always been a fan of this little 'budget' range. Some 18 yo Port Ellen for 25€, anyone? Granted, that was a long time ago… Colour: very pale white wine. Nose: paraffin and pear juice, I would say, plus lemon. Very elementary but I believe it captures the real style of the distillery. Mouth: very good, with a little toasted oak, otherwise apple crumble and again this dry paraffiny side. Finish: medium yet fat, sooty, slightly dusty and dirty but once again, that's part of the game here. Williams pear spirit. Salt and smoked salmon in the aftertaste – really. Comments: very very good and a clear BFYB whisky. The saltiness came unexpected. Great little whisky, great series. GOLD MEDAL AWARD: Artful Dodger Whisky Collective (Burnside) 1989 30 Year Old; Artful Dodger Whisky Collective With such a name, I suppose this is a tribute to Johnnie Walker, is it not? And with such a bottler, we have expectations… Colour: pale gold. Nose: ah yes, it's a bit like the 'Metal' OB, but times ten. A large fruit salad (preserved pears and peaches, bananas, oranges, cherries…) with some mountain honey and dashes of chalk. A perfect breadiness is complementing all that (or fresh fruit brioche), as well as a wee glass of Sauternes for good measure. Mouth: perfect bright fruity freshness that would remind us of the 1960s and 1970s. Same flavours as on the nose, fresh and preserved fruits, an adorable lightness that's not light (are you following me?), possibly as subtle and delicate as, as, come on, drop Botticelli, say Giovanni Strazza's famous Veiled Virgin! Several kinds of lemons are particularly noticeable. Finish: medium, but possibly not totally the best part. Loses a bit of wee bit zing and gets a tad too grassy. Comments: this time we're nearing perfection. Very well done, Whisky Agency. Regardless of whether the Service offers the functionality to contribute, you are solely responsible and liable for any content and information that you create, upload, post, publish, link to, duplicate, transmit, record, display or otherwise make available on the Service or to other Members, such as chat messages, text messages, videos, audio, audio recordings, music, pictures, photographs, text and any other information or materials, whether publicly posted or privately transmitted (“Contributions”).

Deanston Kentucky Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl Deanston Kentucky Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70cl

Isle of Raasay Single Malt Peated Ex-Bordeaux Red Wine Single Cask Release; Isle of Raasay Distillery The official story is that for one week every year, the Distillery are burning peat (during, or just after malting, I suppose) and consequently make some peaty malt whisky. Okay…This was formerly named 'Peat Week' (liked them, WF 85), I suppose there's a reason to this change of names, but let's not dig any deeper… Colour: gold. Nose: it's a rather obvious, yet gentle peat ala Ardmore. Preserved plums and peaches, plus some bitterish herbs and this ginger that sometimes rises from Mainland peaters, I have no ideas why. Certainly something farmy, cow stable, horse saddle, also a little eucalyptus… Mouth: nicer on the palate, more on smoked limoncello and white peaches. I really cannot not think of Ardmore, I am sorry. Nice spices, around gentler Thai mixes. Pepper. Finish: rather long, smoky and 'green'. What I'm really missing from all these un-coastal peaters is… the coastal side. Peppery aftertaste. Comments: really good, but let me talk like a brochure: we're missing the Atlantic freshness. A wee bit… And sure that may only happen in my head. There might be certain aromas and flavours that don’t sit well with you when you find them in a whisky. Others will love them, but for you personally they don’t work. Peated whisky or whiskies with a sulphuric nature are some of the most common that can divide a room, but perhaps you don’t like sweet, floral, or salty whiskies. Let me know in the comments if there’s something you don’t like to find in your glass. We’re all different, and that’s absolutely fine. You are responsible for all activities through your account. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide to us in relation to your account, and for updating it where necessary. You are not allowed to create multiple accounts. We may terminate or temporarily suspend your account to protect you, ourselves or our partners from (suspected) identity theft or other (suspected) fraudulent (e.g. false, misleading, deceptive) activity. You have the obligation to keep your login credentials confidential. You shall not authorize any others to use or access your account. Whiskybase B.V. is the Dutch private limited liability company, having its statutory seat in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and its office at Zwaanshals 530, 3035 KS Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Whiskybase B.V. is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under no. 52072819.

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BRONZE MEDAL AWARD: Select Grain Series 13yo North British (Murca Tawny Port Finish); Murray McDavid If we decide not to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms, such decision shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Deanston Old Fashioned - Deanston Distillery The Deanston Old Fashioned - Deanston Distillery

The winners in the national awards programme for Scotch whisky have been announced following a St Andrews day dinner and celebration held in Glasgow last night. Colour: white wine. Nose: a fat and mineral spirit. Chalk and lemons, paraffin, sourdough, weissen beer, wet cement, cider apples, raw wool… Not much fun but I do like a little austerity in my malt whiskies. With water: nice earthy touches, apple peelings, muscovado sugar, beets… Mouth (neat): good sweet malt, sweet beer gueuze-style, sweeter apples (golden delicious), a few drops of agave syrup… The fact that they have millions of such casks sleeping in Scotland doesn't make it any less good, it is good. With water: it is good indeed. Sweet bread and notes of bananas. Orange drops. Finish: medium, more on sweets, orange drops, sweet bread, maize… Grass in the aftertaste. Comments: not sure I'll remember this one tomorrow, but it sure is good. Pretty, pretty good. Me, bored? Never! Sometimes you just cannot beat a good Caol Ila session. They may not always score the highest, but I find it one of the most comforting and reassuring distillates to sit and nose away at. And, in times such as these, don't we all need a little comfort and reassurance? Palate: Here it does feel more spirity, but it’s mostly along the same lines. Green apples, honey, grapefruit juice, and only a tiny bit of vanilla. The mouthfeel is decent, certainly not as thin as other whiskies at 40%.

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Smell: A little spirity heat but also the trademark Deanston honey with grist and barley malt. Shortbread. Toffee. Woody spice and a bit of charcoal. Whiskybase B.V. (“Whiskybase”, “we” or “us”, company details below) offers a whisky enthusiasts online platform that provides its members access to the most comprehensive, transparent and trusted resource of whisky bottles and allows and stimulates its members to contribute information about whisky bottles to the platform (“Service”).