glendronach – Page 2

Whisky 2017 – 41-48 – The Auld Alliance, Singapore

OK – So I went to the Auld Alliance in Singapore. Wow! I understand why it is regarded as the world’s best whisky bar. Yes, it was expensive but completely worth it – my only problem was my mistake ordering the Benrinnes. It is a fabulous dram, don’t get me wrong but didn’t really sit well with the other drams – a slight misstep when you are overwhelmed with such an imposing list.

The Card Series were impeccable. I know there is a brouhaha regarding Japanese whisky prices and is it worth it. For me I tried three stunning, unique and consistent drams that deserve significant praise.

The staff presented me with a mystery dram at the end a 1977 Sherry cask bottling of something Speyside. For me this was Ben Nevis but who knows.

41 – Springbank 15 Years Old Tall Bottle from the 80s
Apricots, hand cream, brown sugar, plump raisins. Stunning mouthfeel, wonderfully spiced, salty, slight warm malt cake, stewed apricots dolloped with cream, cake mix.

42 – Springbank 12 Years Old tall bottle from the 80s
Fruit on a cheese platter, coffee grounds, tropical cordial. Leather, cream, perfumed soap, salt, slight tropical fruit sweetness, woody spices on the finish, malty.

43 – Benrinnes Silver Seal 30 Years 1984 Cask 2268
Malty, stone fruit, banana leaf. Hot, cake, leather, salt, maraschino cherries, Sacher torte, malt loaf with butter.

44 – Glendronach 31 Years 1978 Olorosso Sherry Cask 1040
Gravox, maple syrup, rubber, chocolate mousse, sulphur. Heavy and unctuous just crazy mouth feel, berry jam taken within an inch of its life, angry caramel, match heads, boot polish, motor oil.

45 – Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series 7 of Diamonds 1991 19 Years PX 2nd fill Cask 9031
Caramel, grappa, peanuts, stewed apple, vanilla, turps, sarsaparilla, German spice biscuits. Woody, perfume, bacon fat, smoked praprika, peanut brittle, gooseberries and stone fruit, milk chocolate.

46 – Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series 10 of Clubs 1990 PX 2nd fill Cask 9032
Wonderful cocoa and musk nose, orange marmalade, crepes with butter and cream, boozy stewed stone fruit. Toffee apples, cream, orange blossoms, leather, cream, white pepper, slight meaty note, white peaches, salt.

l47 – Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series King of Hearts 1986 PX 2nd fill Cask 9033
Smoked paprika, grape skins, roast chicken, Coke spider, sarsaparilla, musk, dark chocolate. Maple syrup, roasted vegetables, smoked paprika, cream on Xmas pudding, rockmelon, salty, rose hips, dry ginger.

48 – The Auld Alliance 1977 Sherry Cask (perhaps Ben Nevis)
Chocolate, dried apricots, salty butter, cake mix, yeast. Cake mix, apricots, leather, green peppercorns, cocoa, green herbs and salt, chocolate mousse, tobacco, spiced pumpkin.

Whisky 2015 – 113-116

113 – SMWS 123.9 The Big Fat Tipsy Wedding (Glengoyne)
Chocolate, menthol, pine needles, dates, maraschino cherries, pink marshmallow, cinnamon ice cream. Spicy, cola, star anise, nutmeg and eggnog.

114 – Blackadder 1991 Glencadam
Prunes, marzipan, vanilla pudding, slight plastic note, light cinnamon and chocolate mousse. Orange marmalade, salt, herbs, citrus, glacé cherries. Slightly bitter finish that isn’t quite right but gives way to marzipan.

115 – Glenfarclas 103 Proof 15 Years
Liquid paper, peach schnapps, chocolate pudding, pain aux raisin. Big fruitcake, stone fruit and raisins. Nice.

116 – Glendronach Tawny Port Finish 18 Years
Chocolate, cucumber, Brazil nuts, Mexican hot chocolate, dates, overripe banana. Sweet and elegant – slightly rubbery, chocolate and cake spice. Had a refreshing finish, almost like an iced tea with some salt and pepper.

Whisky 2015 – 108-111

108 – New World Double Cask Release #1 (port refill port first fill)
Brown bread, butter, malt, vanilla. Vanilla, pepper, malt. Best New World in ages. The huge banana bread thing is gone. More elegant and interesting. Great length due to the subdued sweetness.

109 – SMWS 119.14 (Yamazaki) Raspberry Imperial Stout
Freeze dried raspberries, vino cotto, chocolate, fake cherry flavoring, something green I can’t quite place, some woody notes, egg whites. Raspberries, maraschino cherries, cloves, slight cream, umami, cinnamon.

110 – Silver Seal Glendronach 22 years (Distilled 1990)
Musk sticks, flowers, golden syrup, molasses, honey, vanilla, yoghurt, stewed apricots, chocolate chips, rocky road. Woody, sarsaparilla, creaming soda, butter.

111 – Cadenhead Glendronach 23 year (Distilled 1990)
Coconut lemon cake, almond meal, eggy cake mix, bran. Grain, eggplant, almonds, weak honey and lemon. A bit disappointing next to the Silver Seal.

Whisky 2015 – 12-18

12 – Kavalan Solist Vinho
Cola, apricot and formic acid. Loads of vanilla. Tasty.

13 – Springbank Society Members 8 year old
Earthy chocolate, sugar cane, maple wood and dried apricots. Intense fruit sweetness on the palate to begin with candy cane, tobacco, herbaceous, lemon pepper, cream.

14 – Hakushu Bourbon Barrel
Banana bread, cloves and all spice, citrus, vanilla ice cream and formic acid. Fairy floss, banana flavouring and banana fucking milkshake, toasted coconut, even slightly cheesy notes and meringue.

15 – The Single Malt Scotch Whisky Tobermory 19 years – Whisky Exchange
Coconut rough, rubber and vanilla essence. Dried figs and dates, slight rubber and vanilla.

16 – Glendronach 1994 PX barrel 326
Melted butter, cake mix and brown sugar. Butter, vanilla, woody, rock candy. Huge and delicious.

17 – Balvenie Portwood 21
malted vanilla milkshake, dusty, banana. Vanilla and quite underpowered for me. Disappointing.

18 – Limeburners Tiger Snake
Really big hit of cloves, lime zest and ever so slightly dusty. Great palate of cola, cloves, vanilla and coffee.