Scotch – Page 6 – DramWorlds

March 9, 2018May 28, 2021

Bowmore Old Particular K&L Excl., 20yo, 1997/2017

Bowmore Old Particular K&L Excl., 1997/2017, 20yo., close-up

*Rating*	31/40
*Origin*	Scotland, Islay, Loch Indaal
*Distillery*	Bowmore
*Owner*	Suntory Holdings via Beam Suntory via Morrison Bowmore Distillers
*Distilled*	March 1997
*Bottler*	Douglas Laing & Co.
*Series*	Old Particular
*Style*	Single Barrel Single Malt
*Peated*	Yes
*Cask*	Refill Hogshead #DL11677
*Bottled*	April 2017
*Bottles*	281
*Strength*	55.7% (111.4 proof)
*Retailer*	K&L Wine Merchants

Nose: When first opening the bottle there is peat smoked paprika rubbed on grilled sardines that had been washed with lavender soap. Once aired out the very Bowmore lavender component disappears. Very nice! (9/10)

Palate: Damn. The Bowmore floweriness comes through on the first hit with hot lavender flavored muratic acid. Really brightens the old grout between your teeth. A field of lavender. On fire. (7/10)

Finish: The initial wave of fire breaks in the back and floods the throat with wood and heat. This one gets rougher and dirtier with water. Some dry dark chocolate emerges. (7/10)

Balance: Not my favorite perhaps but nice and interesting enough. (8/10)

March 3, 2018May 28, 2021

Bowmore Sovereign K&L Excl., 22yo, 1995/2017

Bowmore Sovereign K&L Exclusive, 1995/2017, 22yo, close-up

*Rating*	30/40
*Origin*	Scotland, Islay, Loch Indaal
*Distillery*	Bowmore
*Owner*	Suntory Holdings via Beam Suntory via Morrison Bowmore Distillers
*Distilled*	May 1995
*Bottler*	Hunter Laing & Co.
*Series*	Sovereign
*Style*	Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky
*Cask*	Refill Hogshead #HL13035
*Bottled*	August 2017
*Bottles*	256
*Strength*	51.8% (103.6 proof)
*Retailer*	K&L Wine Merchants

Nose: Fresh cut plums polished with shoe wax. Someone is eating milk chocolate in the distance. (8/10)

Palate: Bowmore-ish right off the start. Hot. Someone said “coffee” while I was tasting it and, boom!, there it is. (8/10)

Finish: Waiting for the finish… surely it must be coming soon!… but so far all I got is just a bit of a burn on the tongue. Hey! Moving my tongue hither and to does kick up a few splashes of nice flavors. But if I stop moving they instantly disappear again. Strange one, this one. (7/10)

Balance: Not too shabby in the front but just a bit weird in the back. (7/10)

February 28, 2018May 28, 2021

Highland Park Old Particular K&L Excl., 20yo, 1997/2017

Highland Park Old Particular K&L Excl. 1997, 20yo, Close-up

*Rating*	33/40
*Origin*	Scotland, Islands, Orkney
*Distillery*	Highland Park
*Owner*	William Grant & Sons via the Edrington Group
*Distilled*	September 1997
*Bottler*	Douglas Laing & Co.
*Series*	Old Particular
*Style*	Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky
*Cask*	Refill Hogshead #DL12125
*Bottled*	September 27th, 2017
*Bottles*	263
*Strength*	53.1% (106.2 proof)
*Retailer*	K&L Wine Merchants

Nose: Honey, something… incense? Later tart apples. (8/10)

Palate: Dry. Very dry. Barely qualifies as a liquid. (9/10)

Finish: Bit of a drop off here… it just doesn’t seem to want to reach deep on the back end. (8/10)

Balance: One of the great ones but it takes a LOT of time in the glass. Be patient with this liquid and it will reward you. (8/10)

February 23, 2018January 23, 2020

Lagavulin Natural Cask Strength #16, 200th Anniversary Edition, 12yo, 2016

Lagavulin 200th Anniversary Cask Strength Edition, 2016, 16yo.

*Rating*	37/40
*Origin*	Scotland, Islay, South Shore
*Distillery*	Lagavulin
*Owner*	Diageo
*Series*	Natural Cask Strength, 16th Release, 200th Anniversary Edition
*Style*	Single Malt Whisky
*Peated*	yes
*Bottled*	2016
*Strength*	57.7% (115.4 proof)
Price	$100-200

Nose: Minty peat chocolate. (9/10)

Palate: Hot! Good! Peat! (9/10)

Finish: Oooooh! Aaaah! (10/10)

Balance: Yes. (9/10)

February 23, 2018January 23, 2020

Talisker Distillers Edition, 11yo, 2002/2013

Talisker Distillers Edition, 2002/2013, 11yo., close-up

*Rating*	32/40
*Origin*	Scotland, Islands, Skye
*Distillery*	Talisker
*Owner*	Diageo
*Distilled*	2002
*Series*	Distillers Edition
*Style*	Single Malt Whisky
*Peated*	Yes
*Cask*	Amoroso Sherry Double Maturation
*Bottled*	2013
*Strength*	45.8% (91.6 proof)
Price	$55-80

Nose: A bunch of grapes are having a smoke. (8/10)

Palate: A dusty bar of chocolate on which someone wrote “Peat!” with white chalk. (8/10)

Finish: Hangs around up top at first but eventually relaxes and lowers itself into the chest cavity layer by layer (8/10)

Balance: Well done! (8/10)

February 9, 2018January 22, 2020

Macallan Classic Cut 2017 Ltd. Ed.

*Rating*	35/40
*Origin*	Scotland, Central Speyside
*Distillery*	Macallan
*Owner*	William Grant & Sons via Edrington Group
*Series*	Classic Cut
*Style*	Single Malt Whisky
*Cask*	Sherry Seasoned Oak Casks from Jerez
*Bottled*	April 2017
*Bottles*	90,000
*Strength*	58.4% (116.8 proof)
Price	$75-140

Nose: Deliciously deep! (9/10)

Palate: (8/10)

Finish: Leaves a lovely warm glow with some residual smokiness. (9/10)

Balance: Oddly thin in the very middle. (9/10)

January 31, 2018January 23, 2020

Springbank Bourbon Wood, 14yo, 2002/2017

Springbank Bourbon Cask, 2002/2017, 14yo., close-up

*Rating*	34/40
*Origin*	Scotland, Campeltown
*Distillery*	Springbank
*Distilled*	November 2002
*Style*	Small Batch Single Malt Whisky
*Cask*	Fresh and Refill Bourbon Barrels
*Bottled*	August 2017
*Bottles*	9000
*Strength*	55.8% (111.6 proof)
Price	$115-150

Nose: Plums and peaches. (9/10)

Palate: Delicious alcohol-soaked peach slices served on a wooden cutting board. (9/10)

Finish: One is first left with just a few acerbic notes but then, eventually, fruity echoes rise followed by a deep warmth. This takes serious time to develop though. (9/10)

Balance: I’m dinging it on the balance because the finish sure takes some time to sort itself out. But, hoo boy, is it awesome when it finally does! (7/10)

May 1, 2013January 23, 2020

GlenDronach Revival, 15yo, 2019

*Rating*	29/40
*Origin*	Scotland, Speyside, Deveron
*Distillery*	GlenDronach
*Owner*	Brown Forman via BenRiach Distillery Co. Ltd.
*Style*	Single Malt Whisky
*Casks*	Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso Sherry
*Bottled*	August 1st, 2019
*Strength*	46% (92 Proof)
Whiskybase	Whiskybase
*Wine Searcher*	Wine Searcher

Nose: Grapes and blood oranges. Grassy notes hit fresh out of the bottle and then fade away to make room for the Sherry to stick its head out. (7/10)

Palate: Rich but, oddly, also slightly thin and somewhat dry. (7/10)

Finish: Truly the best part! (8/10)

Balance: (7/10)

October 28, 2011February 7, 2020

Bruichladdich Infinity [3] Edition_3.10, 2011

Bruichladdich Infinity [3] Edition_3.10 close-up

*Rating*	88/100
*Origin*	Scotland, Islay, Loch Indaal
*Distillery*	Bruichladdich
*Owner*	Rémy Cointreau
*Series*	Infinity
*Edition*	3_10
*Style*	Small Batch Single Malt Whisky
*Peated*	Yes
*Cask*	American Oak Bourbon, Syrah
*Bottled*	August 16th, 2011
*Strength*	50% (100 Proof)
Whiskybase	Whiskybase
*Wine Searcher*	Wine Searcher

Nose: That Bruichladdich raw vanilla dough and peat. (90/100)

Palate: Rich and full. (90/100)

Finish: Could be a tad better. (80/100)

Balance: Lovely stuff! (90/100)