.glenturret - 2002-2015 - the macphails collection - g&m

Except for the teaspoons of whisky disappearing in the Famous Grouse blends (if that still happens), you don't see a lot of Glenturret whiskies out there. Every now and then an indy bottler releases a little something, and recently, the tiny distillery is releasing their own bottlings too.

43% abv, €50
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, ripe fruit, red apples, yellow pears, white grapes

Palate: sweet, fruit, apples, nuts, almonds, chocolate milk, citrus, oranges, a hint of tobacco leaves

Finish: sweet, milk chocolate, medium long, sweetened pipe tobacco
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Good stuff, you will not be disappointed.

More info: distilled in 2002, matured in first fill ex Sherry puncheons, and bottled on 21/12/2015.

.highland park - 8yo - macphail's collection - g&m

We were on Orkney recently, and found the Highland Park distillery to be very welcoming to us. The excavations at Skara Brea were a little disappointing to us, so we skipped to the store and found a sample of this young Highland Park.

43% abv, €40
single malt

Nose: sweet, a hint of marshmallows, a slight floral touch, heather, violets, fresh cut grass

Palate: spicy, white pepper, sweet, thin honey, red fruit, res berries, raspberries

Finish: warm, sweet, vanilla, red fruit, a hint of smoke and a touch of mint
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Not very quick on the nose, this one, I had to add a splash of water to get her going, and then still... Fair game, but not a stunner.
Funny how things can be worlds apart in our tasting notes, with only so little time in between.

.bunnahabhain - 2006-2015 - g&m

When your boat arrives in Port Askaig on the isls of Islay, the most famous whisky island of Scotland, you can choose to drive to the 'Sound of Islay', the first distillery on your right, or you choose to drive a little further, turn right at the sign and meander another seven miles until you reach the end of the road and reach the 'Mouth of the River' - the Bunnahabhain distillery.

43% abv, €30
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: thick sweet soy sauce, sweet heather honey, floral, honeycomb, dried fruit, mango, apricot, citrus, orange juice and zest

Palate: fresh, not too sweet but still a hint of vanilla, spicy, white pepper, cinnamon, dried fruits, apricots, rather dry mouth feel

Finish: medium long, creamy, sweet, vanilla, citrus, lemon peel
Mark: +++/++ 

Conclusion: It is good, bottled at the right time, or the Sherry notes might have taken over the beauty of the spirit itself. A very nice daily dram, very likeable, very affordable.

More info: distilled in 2008, bottled on 02/04/2015, after having matured in a combination of first and refill ex-Sherry Hogsheads.

.many thanks to Gordon & Macphail for sending us this sample from their #WoodMTW campaign

.the glenrothes - 8yo - g&m

From the MacPhail's Collection of Gordon & MacPhail's the Wood makes the Whisky programme, a nice, creamy and fruity Glenrothes.

.bunnahabhain - 8yo - heavily peated - g&m

A heavily peated version of Bunnahabhain, where the "standard" whiskies are ordinarily non-peated. She has matured in a refill ex-Sherry butt and is bottled on 18/04/2014.