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WhiskyLive Madrid 2011 Tastings

By Miguel in Tasting , News , Featured , Destilerias Liber , Laphroaig , DYC , The Macallan , Compass Box , Suntory , Yamazaki , Edradour , Talisker

WhiskyLive Madrid 2011 celebrated at May, 26 on Hotel Villamagna, has been a great whisky show against all the odds: Great whisky, pretty girls, good friend. Whatelse?!

Touching a bottle of Macallan 25 years old at Macallan Masterclass in WhiskyLive MadridFinally I got time to write down the tasting notes and here they are. I am quite happy of the result. The whisky show has been great and I tried lots of expressions that it is not easy to taste here in Spain.

During the evening at WhiskyLive Madrid, that I spent with Richard Barr of WhiskyIsrael, we tasted more than twenty whiskies so bear with me if last tasting notes are not accurate.
If you haven’t read yet about our visit to WhiskyLive do it now!. We had a great evening together.

So here are the tasting notes. I am still missing some of them that I wasn’t able to properly write while on the show.

Dominic Roskrow masterclass: “Effects of wood in whisky”

Our first stop at Whiskylive was the great masterclass of Dominic Roskrow.

Auchestoshan 12 year

88
Auchentoshan 12 year
A more recent release from the Auchentoshan distillery, replacing the previous staple 10 year old, this 12 year old bottling exhibits the new, slightly Imperial aesthetics Auchentoshan have rebranded themselves with.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. sweet, fruity, peaches, spices, a little floral.

Palate (88): light, smooth, dry. sweet, peaches, wood, spices, floral.

Finish (85): average. honey, floral, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Auchentoshan 12 year with 88 points over 100.

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Macallan 12 year Fine Oak

89
Macallan 12 year Fine Oak
A seamless whisky of great integrity! Full amber color. A rich, fragrant aroma fills the nose with honeyed sherry, smoke, and light fruit. Its flavor delivers what the aroma promised, with a very full, voluptuous, balance of sherry, caramel malt, delicate fruit and smoke. A beautiful, full-bodied, sherried Speyside

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. sweet, honey, spices, oranges, chocolate, nuts.

Palate (89): light, smooth. sweet, honey, spices, wood, a little oranges, chocolate.

Finish (88): average. honey, wood, spices, a little oranges.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 12 year Fine Oak with 89 points over 100.

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Compass Box The Spice Tree

“So much honey on this malt with lots of spices and a long citrus finish.”

90
Compass Box The Spice Tree
The very welcome return of Compass Box's 'Spice Tree', originally barred by order of the officious twerps at the SWA, but now reincarnated after a slight tweak in production technique - and there's nothing they can do about it. Huzzah!

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): strong. honey, fruits, pepper, cocoa, wood, spices, floral, grass. The more time it is on the glass the more develop the spicy aromas.

Palate (91): smooth, powerful. fruits, honey, spices, wood, pepper, floral.

Finish (90): long. honey, floral, citrus, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Compass Box The Spice Tree with 90 points over 100.

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Suntory Yamazaki 12 year

“Awesome japanese whisky on the budget range. Really love how complex it is and its fruity character. There are not many Scotch whiskies so good at this price”

91
Suntory Yamazaki 12 year
'A pioneering malt in Japan, for which Suntory deserve great credit. In its early days, it was rounded and delicate...now it is more intense, confident and elegant. 8/10' Michael Jackson, Whisky Magazine, Oct 2002

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (91): strong. honey, floral, wood, fruity, pears, spices, cinnamon, vanilla. Simply amazing! It's hard to believe it is only 12 years old.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. honey, spices, vanilla, wood, cinnamon, cocoa, pepper.

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

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Suntory Yamazaki 12 year with 91 points over 100.

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Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

87
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select
This truly unique small batch bourbon honors the heritage of The Woodford Reserve Distillery, America's oldest bourbon distillery.

This dram has a cooper-like color.

Nose (85): strong. corn, sweet, wood, mint, fruits, mango, banana.

Palate (90): smooth, oily, powerful. corn, sweet, fruits, spices.

Finish (87): long. corn, spices, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select with 87 points over 100.

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Destilerias Liber

Embrujo de Granada

“Maturing at full speed right now and developing interesting new aromas, a nice spanish whisky from Destilerias Liber”

86
Embrujo de Granada
A great Spanish whisky ellaborated at Granada, just under Sierra Nevada using their fabulous water supplies and the best Spanish barley. Then this dark tawny whisky is aged for years in Pedro Ximenez cask from Jerez giving the result of a dark, sweet whisky with lots of raisins and cocoa. It is very floral.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (86): more than average. honey, wood, floral, raisins, baked apples, cinnamon, cocoa. Smells older than the previous batch new notes of cinnamon and baked apples.

Palate (86): powerful. honey, malt, floral, raisins, cocoa, cinnamon.

Finish (86): longer than average. raisins, cocoa, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Embrujo de Granada with 86 points over 100.

I am still pending about tasting the new bottle with contains older whisky. From what I tasted at Whiskylive, it is less floral with more raisins and cocoa taste, really dark.

DYC

DYC 10 year Coleccion Barricas Single Malt

“Matured in bourbon casks this whisky is perhaps the best spanish whisky I have tried. Rather good but limited release.”

89
DYC 10 year Coleccion Barricas Single Malt
The DYC Single Malt "Coleccion Barricas". It is the first of a set of limited editions whiskies. This first edition has been aged for 10 years in a bourbon cask.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (87): strong. peaches, honey, vanilla, wood, citrus.

Palate (90): smooth, oily, powerful. peaches, malt, honey, vanilla, wood, spices, molasses.

Finish (89): long. honey, floral, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this DYC 10 year Coleccion Barricas Single Malt with 89 points over 100.

DYC Pure Malt

84
DYC Pure Malt
DYC Pure Malt is a new whisky introduced by DYC in the late 2000 to compete with Scotch whiskies. Made completely using malt whiskies from Spain and Scotland and bottled at 40ŗ ABV, it is a light whisky with lots of vanilla. Great for mixing or straight on the rocks.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (85): average. sweet, spice, vanilla, floral, light, a littlesmoky.

Palate (85): light, powerful. sweet,vanilla,floral, fruity.

Finish (82): average. vanilla, honey, a littlespices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this DYC Pure Malt with 84 points over 100.

Suntory

Hakushu 12 year

“Nice but a hell more subtle than Yamazaki. Although Hakushu single malt is supposed to be peated I get no peat on this one”

89
Hakushu 12 year
A perennial favourite and a must-try for anyone interested in discovering Japanese whisky. Hakushu is owned by Suntory, founders of the first Japanese distillery, Yamazaki. The original Hakushu distillery was built in 1973, with another distillery building called Hakushu Higashi (west) added in 1981.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (89): more than average. honey, floral, citrus, peat, wax. Interesting but more subtle than Yamazaki.

Palate (89): powerful, oily. honey, floral, wood, spices, pepper, vanilla, smoke, citrus. Nice. Really complex taste.

Finish (89): longer than average. honey, citrus.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Hakushu 12 year with 89 points over 100.

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Hakushu 18 year

90
Hakushu 18 year
A massive step up in quality from the standard Hakushu 12 yrs, this 18yo is amazingly well-defined (as we've come to expect from Japanese whisky) with deliciously rounded fruit and cereal flavours, at times surprisingly reminiscent of the finest Irish potstill whisky

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (89): strong. fruity, apples, ginger, citrus, peat, wood.

Palate (91): oily, powerful. floral, honey, peat, malt, wood, spices, a little candies.

Finish (90): long. peat, wood, earthy, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Hakushu 18 year with 90 points over 100.

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Bowmore stand: Glen Garioch

Glen Garioch 12 year

88
Glen Garioch 12 year
Released in 2010, Glen Garioch's new 12 year old is matured in both bourbon and sherry casks, and it has loads of character, as well as being bottled at the sensible strength of 48%.

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (85): more than average. sweet, floral, spices, vanilla.

Palate (90): oily, creamy, powerful. sweet, honey, floral, apples, citrus, honey, grass.

Finish (89): long. spices, sweet, vanilla.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Garioch 12 year with 88 points over 100.

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Glen Garioch Founders Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

“Not bad Glen Garioch, not bad at all...a bit on the sherry side but nothing like a monster”

88
Glen Garioch Founders Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Founders reserve is the new offering from Glen Garioch (pronounced Glen Geerie)

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (88): more than average. honey, spices, citrus, peaches, cinnamon.

Palate (88): smooth, oily. honey, spices, citrus, barley, fruits, peaches, cinnamon.

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

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glen Garioch Founders Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky with 88 points over 100.

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Diageo’s Malts of Scotland

Talisker 10 year

“Deliciously peated complexity with more than a serving of the sweetest honey. Lovely Talisker”

90
Talisker 10 year
“Famously distinctive Island malt. From the western Scottish island of Skye. I believe that the volcanic rock of Skye contributes to the pungent aroma; peppery flavour; and big finish. Unusual still design may add a further dimension." Michael Jackson

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. peat, honey, citrus, vanilla, cinnamon, wood. Deliciously complex.

Palate (91): powerful, oily. peat, wood, floral, citrus, spices, wood, cinnamon.

Finish (90): longer than average. peat, floral, wood, spices.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Talisker 10 year with 90 points over 100.

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WkyRegal

Laphroaig 2000 Vintage Signatory

“Good Laphroaig Signatory has here... Sweet and with a lot of peat. It reminds me of Quarter Cask.”

91
Laphroaig 2000 Vintage Signatory
Another young bottling of Laphroaig from Signatory, and really great stuff if you like your drams up front and peaty.

Pure peat muscle bottled at cask strength. You can't get wrong with this one.

Delicious single malt whisky that reminds me of the stunning Laphroaig Quarter Cask.

This dram has a fino-like color.

Nose (93): strong. honey, peat, malt, iodine, salt, citrus.

Palate (90): oily, powerful. peat, honey, citrus, iodine, wood.

Finish (90): long. peat, citrus, floral, woo.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Laphroaig 2000 Vintage Signatory with 91 points over 100.

Edradour 12 year Caledonia

88
Edradour Caledonia 12 Year Old With 2 Glasses
A special bottling of Edradour 12yo. Songwriter Dougie Maclean has selected this single Oloroso cask from 1997 as part of the Homecoming celebrations and named it after his most famous song, Caledonia. This is the first in what will be an ongoing series from Edradour.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (90): strong. sweet, wood, spices, orange, floral.

Palate (90): oily, creamy, viscous, powerful. sweet, vanilla, peaches, spices, wood, fruits, barley.

Finish (85): average. smokey, sweet, spices, wood.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Edradour Caledonia 12 Year Old With 2 Glasses with 88 points over 100.

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Macallan masterclass: The Fine Oak range

Macallan 12 year Fine Oak

89
Macallan 12 year Fine Oak
A seamless whisky of great integrity! Full amber color. A rich, fragrant aroma fills the nose with honeyed sherry, smoke, and light fruit. Its flavor delivers what the aroma promised, with a very full, voluptuous, balance of sherry, caramel malt, delicate fruit and smoke. A beautiful, full-bodied, sherried Speyside

This dram has a gold-like color.

Nose (90): more than average. sweet, honey, spices, oranges, chocolate, nuts.

Palate (89): light, smooth. sweet, honey, spices, wood, a little oranges, chocolate.

Finish (88): average. honey, wood, spices, a little oranges.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 12 year Fine Oak with 89 points over 100.

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Macallan 18 year Fine Oak

91
Macallan 18 year Fine Oak
The Macallan Fine Oak is triple cask matured in a unique, complex combination of exceptional oak casks;

1. European oak casks seasoned with sherry impart a rich character with hints of dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange.

2. American oak casks seasoned with sherry deliver delicate hints of citrus lemon, coconut and toffee sweetness.

3. American oak casks seasoned with bourbon deliver floral aromas and sweet notes of vanilla and fresh fruits.

This triple cask combination delivers an extraordinarily smooth, delicate yet complex Single Malt matured at The Macallan distillery for a minimum of 18 years.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, nuts, honey, wood, spices, a little oloroso. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, honey, wood, oloroso, spices, smoke. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. honey, wood, spices, smoke. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 18 year Fine Oak with 91 points over 100.

Macallan 25 year Fine Oak

91
Macallan 25 year Fine Oak
The Macallan Fine Oak is triple cask matured in a unique, complex combination of exceptional oak casks;

1. European oak casks seasoned with sherry impart a rich character with hints of dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange.

2. American oak casks seasoned with sherry deliver delicate hints of citrus lemon, coconut and toffee sweetness.

3. American oak casks seasoned with bourbon deliver floral aromas and sweet notes of vanilla and fresh fruits.

This triple cask combination delivers an extraordinarily smooth, delicate yet complex Single Malt matured at The Macallan distillery for a minimum of 25 years.

This dram has a tawny-like color.

Nose (92): strong. sweet, floral, spices, citrus, tropical fruits, wood, chocolate.

Palate (90): smooth, oily, viscous, powerful. sweet, wood, spices, vanilla, hot, raisins, chocolate.

Finish (90): very long. sweet, wood, spices, cocoa.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 25 year Fine Oak with 91 points over 100.

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Macallan 30 year Fine Oak

“Really delicate nose with an outstanding taste and a long a delicious finish. If only this whisky were done for humans being like you and me...”

91
Macallan 30 year Fine Oak
Thirty year old Macallan is a rare and rarefied whisky. The time spent maturing in carefully selected European and American oak casks which have previously held Sherry or Bourbon creates a rich, intense liquid, with a deep colour achieved wholly naturally through the interaction between spirit and wood.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (91): strong. candies, floral, honey, wood, a little cocoa.

Palate (92): smooth, oily. peaches, dried fruits, wood, candies, smoke, floral, cocoa.

Finish (91): very long. dried fruits, raisins, wood, honey, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Macallan 30 year Fine Oak with 91 points over 100.

Conclusion

I tasted more whiskies but really at that time of the evening I wasn’t thinking about writing tastings notes but to taste as much as I could before the whisky show finish.
On the following weeks I plan to retaste most of them and give a proper try at home, in silence, relaxed, without hurry: dramlaxing.



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