.ailsa bay 3yo - images of ayrshire

I am rather excited about this one. She was part of the usquebauch society's blind tasting competition in December 2015 as sample number 7. We did not participate because our livers had other responsibilities during the holidays, but our friend meneer Bos saved us quite a bit of the sample because... I don't know. He might just be a nice guy after all.

.glen highland class - 13yo - malts of Scotland

50% abv, €45, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: very dry red wine/ sherry, some wood, rather sweet with honey, caramel and toffee-apples, citrus, oranges and orange-peel, floral, geraniums, a hint of fresh ground coffee and a whiff of mint
Palate: strong, dry, heavily sherried and sweet like honey. There is a lot of dried stone fruits available, like raisins, plums and apricots, all mixed with a little marmalade
Finish: strong and dry. Lots of tannins, a slight marmalade-like bitter, sweet from honey and - again - raisins
Mark: ++/+++

Conclusion: very nice indeed, but nothing special. It is quite a sherry-bomb, which I happen to like very much. Sadly, it has this ultra-sweet finish that is very successful in getting the glaze of your teeth. With a drop of water it settles a little, but not much. A good price though, and it would hold up very well next to another sherry-bomb like, for example the Glenfaclas 105.

More info: It is thought to be a Glengoyne, but I have not found anything making it so. I did not drink enough Glengoyne yet to compare and confirm.

Distilled in 1999, obviously matured in ex-Sherry vessels, bottled in 2013 into 999 bottles at 50%. The last in a series of five different distilleries, of which this is the only undisclosed bottling.

.port charlotte - 2001-2013 - malts of scotland

.lovely

abv: 63,3%
type: single malt
fles: 70cl, €86,- geproefd tijdens Hielander whisky festival gold masterclass 2013
filtratie: niet koud gefilterd
karamel E150a: niet toegevoegd

neus: turf, hout, zoethout
smaak: zoet, honing, heidebloemen, pittig als witte peper
afdronk: lang, pittig, rook
score: +++++
conclusie: Een Port Charlotte zoals we ze gewend zijn. Goed vol van rook en turf, met zoete geuren en smaken. Heerlijk.

.port charlotte website

.bowmore - 1999-2011 - malts of scotland

61,2% abv, €55, non chill-filtered, natural colour

Nose: slight medicinal, peat, liquorice, very mild (unexpected with the high abv), mild brine notes
Palate: sweet, honey, less spicy as expected from the high abv, smoky, round, creamy
Finish: medium long, with (finally) the expected spiciness
score: +++++

Conclusion: I am not a Bowmore fan, but this is one I am considering if I would run into a bottle.

.the arran - 1996-2013 - malts of scotland

56,3% abv, €60, single malt, non chill-filtered, natural colour

Nose: round, gentle, caramel, red fruits, sweet
Palete: dry, spicy, pepper, chocolate, caramel
Finish: long, spicy
Marks: +++++
Conclusion: Not much to say about it. She was good, but not the best in the series of the masterclass we tasted this in. Possibly the predecessor was a little too nice...

.glenturret - 1977-2012 - malts of scotland

.single malt famous grouse

abv: 47,4%
type: single malt
fles: 70cl, €169,- geproefd tijdens Hielander whisky festival gold masterclass 2013
filtratie: niet koud gefilterd
karamel E150a: niet toegevoegd

neus: lijm, fris zuur, citrus, zoet, honing heide bloemen
smaak:  droog, pittig, honing, eik, heide bloemen
afdronk: lijm, lang, rond
score: +++++

conclusie: ondanks de af en toe aanwezige lijm is dit een erg mooie dram. Het was wat mij betreft zelfs de 'winnaar' tijdens de masterclass onder leiding van Robin Laing. Redelijk zeldzaam als single malt te vinden en eigenlijk alleen bij de onafhankelijke bottelaars, omdat het leeuwendeel van de productie verdwijnt in de blends van the Famous Grouse.

.famous grouse website

.bruichladdich - 1988-2012 - malts of scotland

.old laddie

abv: 54,3%
type: single malt
fles: 70cl, €125,- geproefd tijdens Hielander whisky festival gold masterclass 2013
filtratie: niet koud gefilterd
karamel E150a: niet toegevoegd

neus: mout, zoet, marshmallows, eik, chocola
smaak: scherp van de alcohol, zoet
afdronk: lang, scherp, caramel chocola
score: +++++

conclusie: deze mag er best zijn. Dit was nog een Bruichladdich van de vorige eigenaar, die met dezelfde ketels, maar ongetwijfeld met andere receptuur deze whisky gecreëerd heeft. Ze kan een goede hoeveelheid water hebben, waardoor ze wat getemd wordt en de zoete tonen vrij laat.

.bruichladdich website