Whisky Tasting Session 2013-01

Hurray! New year, new blind tasting session.

As usual Jean-Marie Putz of Whisky-distilleries.info proposed six unnamed samples on a stunning box like previous tastings.

A blind tasting is a quite interesting experience because tasting whiskies in this way you really pay more attention to the whisky and less to the bottle. I have tasted whiskies that I have considered good but nothing special ( Is there such a thing as bad whisky?! ) and then I discovered that I were tasting a 39 years old single malt. Have I known before hand what I was tasting I am 100% sure it would have affected my rating.

So here are the drams…

The Whiskies

Two Glen Scotia whiskies, one Glenrothes, one Aberlour, one Glen Garioach ( pronounced Glen gee-ree ) and Allt á Bhainne. So let’s begin…

WTS 2013-01: The Glenrothes 1998 Wilson and Morgan Marsala Finish

“It's interesting. At first it looks too young but then a nice fruity character with lots of cocoa reveals.”

87

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (86): more than average. fruits, apples, cinnamon, wood, honey, citrus. It is a fruity dram with a young character.

Palate (87): powerful, oily. honey, wood, fruits, apples, spices, cocoa. Remind me of a highlands whisky... maybe a Glenmorangie?8.7

Finish (87): longer than average. wood, honey, cocoa.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this The Glenrothes 1998 Wlson & Morgan Marsala Finish with 87 points over 100.

WTS 2013-02: Aberlour 17 years old Single Cask Master of Malt

“Lovely fruity notes. Not young, maybe a bourbon cask... maybe Japanese?”

88

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (87): average. honey, citrus, floral, vanilla, apricot.

Palate (88): powerful, oily. honey, mango, citrus, floral, vanilla, spices.

Finish (88): longer than average. honey, spices, mango.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Aberlour 17 Year Old - Single Cask (Master of Malt) with 88 points over 100.

WTS 2013-03: Glen Garioch 21 years old Single Cask Master of Malt

“Nose is great; clean, sweet, lots of vanilla... but taste is a bit over woody for me. Maybe 15 or 20 years old whisky”

88

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. honey, vanilla, citrus, spices. Lots of honey and vanilla, It is really familiar... umm... maybe Springbank?

Palate (87): powerful, oily. honey, wood, spices, citrus, cardboard. Too woody.

Finish (87): longer than average. honey, citrus, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Garioch 21 Year Old Single Cask (Master of Malt) with 88 points over 100.

WTS 2013-04: Glen Scotia 19 years old Silver Seal

“Hahaha! Very welcome sherry character! Just the whisky I needed at the very moment I needed it! No idea which whisky could be... maybe 12 to 15 years?”

90

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. honey, nuts, citrus, floral. Good sherry! Aye!

Palate (90): powerful, oily. nuts, honey, citrus, wood, spices, herbs. Quite a lot of sherry here!

Finish (90): longer than average. nuts, wood, honey.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Scotia 19 year Silver Seal with 90 points over 100.

WTS 2013-05: Glen Scotia Twenty Wilson and Morgan

“This is is more subtle than sample 4^th but works a bit better overall. Anyway, it would be really hard to choose one over the other.”

90

This dram has a mahogany-like color.

Nose (91): more than average. honey, nuts, citrus, cinnamon. Smells slightly younger than sample 4. Maybe 10-15 years old?

Palate (90): powerful, oily. honey, nuts, wood, citrus, floral, cocoa.

Finish (90): longer than average. honey, citrus, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Scotia Twenty Wilson & Morgan with 90 points over 100.

WTS 2013-06: Allt-á-Bhainne 1992 Malts of Scotland

“Looks like a great bourbon cask whisky. Nice dram”

90

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. honey, citrus, wood, vanilla, spices, flowers. Maybe 20 years old whisky?

Palate (90): powerful, oily. honey, citrus, floral, spices, vanilla, wood.

Finish (91): longer than average. spices, honey, vanilla.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Allt-a-Bhainne 1992 Malts of Scotland with 90 points over 100.

Miguel says…

Three clear favorites, the two Glen Scotia drams and the Allt á Bhainne.

The two Glen Scotia are delightful sherried whiskies, just after tasting for weeks only bourbon casks I was in need, desperately I would say, of something more sherried. As I said above, it is hard to choose one over the other. The WTS-2013-05, the Glen Scotia of 20 years old works slightly better for my palate.

My samples of Whisky Tasting Sessions 2013-02 are now on the way! Stay tunned.

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