Whisky Tasting
In our opinion a little water brings out the true characteristics and enjoyment of a ‘wee dram’. Therefore, we recommend the following –
- Pour a good measure of whisky into a glass
- Smell and then taste a small amount – beware of the strong alcohol nose and the impending thump on the palate
- Add approximately a teaspoon of water
- Taste again. If the whisky still thumps the palate and is sharp, add another teaspoon
- Carry on adding water until the whisky smoothly slides over the palate
- Sit back, relax and enjoy!
Slainté
Tasting Notes
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Benrinnes Fresh grass with a hint of peat on the nose - with refreshing orange rind, a slight hint of peat and unusually, suet pudding also coming through. A delicate smokiness with cereal notes leads to a lingering spiciness on the palate. With a long and overflowing finish. |
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Macduff 14yrs Malty with a tingling lime zest feel on the nose. This Macduff has a discrete nose masking the impending thump on the palate. The palate is intense and invigorating leaving a good refreshing zing. There is an oily/creamy feel with delicate aniseed oozing through. The after taste lingers softly and returns with a delightful lightness. |
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No Ordinary Chocolate cake, cinnamon and dried apricots on the nose, with mint and a delicate hint of smoke. Fresh and lively on the palate, slightly oily with drying Moroccan spice. The smoke still penetrates on the palate but is balanced pleasantly with a touch of sweetness. The finish is elegant, robust and smooth with the sweetness repeating as the finish lingers. |
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Tamdhu The aroma of hay barns in the summer and warm, caramel waffles come through fantastically. New wood shavings and a hint of peat make for an interesting sweet nose. There is a natural soapy aroma that creates an exciting complexity and oily notes make this whisky almost Jekyll and Hyde like. There is a dark toffee feel on the palate and the general feel is rich and drying. The finish lingers and any sweetness soon disappears to leave a peaty dryness. |
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Macduff 15yrs Fresh and fruity on the nose reminding me of boiled citrus sweets. On the palate this Macduff is oily, creamy and has a pleasant syrupy sweetness. Eventually drying out with gentle tannins. An impressive, warming and intense dram. |
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Royal Lochnagar The colour is reminiscent of fresh Pinot Grigio, light and sparkling. As the colour would suggest, the first impression on the palate is one of delicate freshness and a sprightly, cheeky character begins to emerge. Highly perfumed springtime flowers and honey, seductively oozes through, with light malty notes reassuringly balancing out the sweetness. The palate is delicately warming and has a very clean mouth feel. There is an intensity that comes to the fore and new season stewed apples are the major similarity for the taste. The finish is long and lingering and the mouth waters, demanding another sip. A wonderful blast of aniseed tantalises at the end. |
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Macduff 46% The characteristics are similar to those of its cask strength sister but to a slightly less aggressive degree. Malty, with a tingling lime zest feel on the nose. This Macduff has a discrete nose, masking the impending thump on the palate. The palate is intense and invigorating, leaving a good refreshing zing. There is an oily/creamy feel, with delicate aniseed oozing through. The after taste lingers softly and returns with a delightful lightness. |
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Glen Grant The colour is light amber and there is a luxurious syrupy look to the whisky when swirled in the glass. The nose is beautifully complex, with amontillado sherry being the first aroma and then, with air, the notes move to those of aged bourbon. Orange liqueur and candied pears send the nasal receptors berserk. There is a youthfulness that emanates from this whisky that at times disguises its age. This Glen Grant is certainly rich and at the same time young at heart, perhaps a malty blast at times is the reasoning behind this. On the palate there are discrete tannins and rich winter fruit cake bounds through. As on the nose, ripe pears are a prominent feature. A delicate spice oozes through and honey and hazelnut mousse makes an interesting entrance. The finish is rich, warming, enticing and lingers wonderfully. |
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Vatted Islay Wonderful polished zinc colour, slightly green around the edges. The first impression is rich and unctuous. Iodine and warm charcoal embers come through on the nose. There is a refreshing prickle to the aroma similar to that of a forest early on a spring morning and at the same time a rich aroma similar to the smell of new leather. With water the nose becomes slightly musty and the strength of the phenolic aromas disperses to give way to an interesting Indian spice. Fantastic depth. The immediate mouth feel is awesome. Mouth watering to begin with, then instant dryness, only to see the return of the mouth watering richness. Water lifts the palate of this malt exceptionally well. A salty foretaste and woody notes quickly give way to a curious sweet, citrus tang. Wonderful peaty fumes float around the mouth. The finish is delightful and long with a delicious bitter peppermint aftertaste. |
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Dailuaine Enticing in the glass, with the colour of fino sherry, with a bright gold tinge. Lazy legs form and slide back to the reservoir of whisky in the bottom of the glass. There is a luscious barley nose, where the malt and fruit balance is clear to experience. Lime marmalade and a discreet sweet fruity nose entice you to take the first sip. With exposure to the air, there is an herbaceous character that floods through - delicate and complex for one so young. On the palate, there is a delightful fruit punch. A tingling light smokiness, a creamy mouth feel and barley in full abandon makes for a bright sparkly dram, full of life and vigour. The finish is big and long lasting, with malt re-appearing just in case you forgot the first impression on the nose. Absolutely delicious - another great anytime dram, with an excellent balance between the fruit spirit production at Dailuaine and the maturation in cask. |
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