.brora - 1982-2008 - g&m - cc

From the mothballed Brora distillery on the Clynelish site - one of my all-time favourite single malts, this was a highly anticipated dram to me. After having built the 'new' Clynelish site in 1969, the original site was shortly closed, to be reopened as 'Brora' and produce 'Caol Ila' style whisky for blending. Due to its own popularity, the distillery kept distilling until 1983, and is since then closed and mothballed.

My first ever Brora...


43% abv, €600

single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Neh. No notes, only leaving a mark.

Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Brilliant stuff, but not as brilliant as I had hoped. If you are looking for a nice beefy peated malt, look for a Caol Ila, which is far better available and affordable, also for similar aged products.

.abbey whisky - anon - batch one

Distilled in one of Scotland's finest distilleries (don't they all use that claim every now and then?), bottled for Abbey Whisky's rare cask series.

.isle of jura - cask sample - 1997-2011

Another sample from Ian Macleod's whisky warehouse. This is drawn from Hogshead #4768, on 28-09-2011.

.jim beam - white label

40% abv, €25, bourbon

no note

Mark: +/++++

.jim beam - signature craft - 12yo

43% abv, €45, bourbon

no note

Mark: +++/++

.jim beam - honey

35% abv, €30, whisky liqueur

no note

Mark: +/++++

.jim beam - black - triple aged

43% abv, €30, bourbon

no note

Mark: +++++

.jim beam - the devil's cut

45% abv, €35, bourbon

no note

Mark: +++/++

.maker's mark

45% abv, €35, bourbon

no notes

Mark: +++++

.littlemill - 25yo - douglas laing #10349

56.2% abv, €230, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: feint, grainy, floral, lavender, warehouse

Palate: sweet, cardboard, oily creamy mouth feel, Christmas cake

Finish: sweet, honey, medium dry, herbal, fruity
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: complex, semi affordable, great stuff.

Quick note made at Jan Beckers' Douglas Laing masterclass at Whisky Live Holland in the Hague, 15 November 2014

.rosebank - 21yo - douglas laing - director's cut #10146

53.8% abv, €600, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: jasmine tea, oolong lapsang tea, fruit, mushrooms, earthy

Palate: dry, fruity, floral, roses, fwp

Finish: floral, roses, sweet, vanilla, dry, tannins
Mark: +++/++

Conclusion: floral, tea, tannins, that sums it up. If you like that, go for it.

Quick note made at Jan Beckers' Douglas Laing masterclass at Whisky Live Holland in the Hague, 15 November 2014

.probably speyside's finest distillery - 46yo - douglas laing - director's cut #9176

49.7% abv, €480, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, winey, fruity, tobacco

Palate: sweet, chocolate, fruity, dried fruit

Finish: dry, sweet, medium long
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: a bit too dry for my taste. Confirmed this is Glenfarclas.

Quick note made at Jan Beckers' Douglas Laing masterclass at Whisky Live Holland in the Hague, 15 November 2014

.port dundas - 35yo - douglas laing - director's cur #9729

59.2% abv, €300, single grain, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: hot, sweet, chocolate, coconut, toffee, rye

Palate: sweet, toffee, HOT, roses, chocolate

Finish: rather short, hot, sweet
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: yumm...

Quick note made at Jan Beckers' Douglas Laing masterclass at Whisky Live Holland in the Hague, 15 November 2014

.north british - 52yo - douglas laing - director's cut #10356

41.1% abv, €480, single grain, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, fruity, dried fruit

Palate: sweet, liquorice, a hint of wood, pencil shavings

Finish: long, dry, sweet, fruity, chocolate
Mark: ++++/+

Conclusion: how nice is this..? I really wish I would have the budget to get my hands on this.

Quick note made at Jan Beckers' Douglas Laing masterclass at Whisky Live Holland in the Hague, 15 November 2014

.port ellen - 30yo - douglas laing - director's cut #10124

53.5% abv, €1000, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: pigs, hay, light smoke

Palate: sweet, dry, gentle, toffee, earthy, a hint of peatsmoke

Finish: dry, gentle, a touch of smoke
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: nothing special, even quite boring, I had expected more.
Value for money: +/++++ 

Quick note made at Jan Beckers' Douglas Laing masterclass at Whisky Live Holland in the Hague, 15 November 2014

.the balvenie - 1975 - 1985 - Robert Watson

57,5% abv, €??, single malt, cask strength

No notes, tasted at a nosing & tasting

Mark: ++/+++

.the balvenie - 14yo - wilson & morgan - 1979

??% abv, €??, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour, caramel E150 added

No notes, tasted at a nosing & tasting

Mark: +++/++

.the balvenie - 15yo - signatory - 1974-1990

52,1% abv, €??, single malt

No notes, tasted at a nosing & tasting

Mark: ++++/+

.the balvenie - 15yo - dun eideann - 1974-1990

43% abv, €??, single malt

No notes, tasted at a nosing& tasting

Mark: +++/++

.the balvenie - 12yo - single barrel #12690

47,8% abv, €50, single malt

No note, tasted at nosing & tasting

Mark: +++++