2024 Scotch Tasting
Date Held: Saturday, June 29th, 2024
Benriach 16 Year
This relaunched bottling was matured for at least sixteen years in a trio of casks; bourbon barrels, sherry and virgin oak.
Nose: Expectedly light on the ethanol, lots of confectionary sweetness, icing sugar coated orchard fruits, honey, vanilla and chocolate caramel. It’s a very pleasant nose indeed. Some oak notes appear after some nosing, adding some balance to the sweeter elements. The chocolate aroma also builds as the dram matures.
Palate: Roasted salted peanuts, butter, dark chocolate, oak, cinnamon, faint liquorice and black pepper. Wheat digestive biscuits, a little astringency and some white grape. I’m not as much of a fan of the palate, it’s a little confused and that astringent edge isn’t pleasant.
Finish: Short to medium. Some sweetness, black pepper and a little chemical tasting.
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside Whisky
Distillery / Brand: Benriach
Price: $131.98
ABV: 43%
Loch Lomond 18 Year
This is an 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky from the Loch Lomond distillery in the Highlands region. After spending 18 years maturing in oak, this expression has developed a complex flavour profile featuring red berries, mature oak, vegetal peat and runny honey. Loch Lomond are renowned for being able to produce a variety of styles at their distillery, including malts, grains and blends. Top stuff!
Nose: Old oak furniture and tobacco, supported by sweeter notes of honey'd cereal.
Palate: Nutty brown bread with a thin layer of blackcurrant jam. Slight smokiness along the way.
Finish: Finish Lingering peat - not too strong, but easily noticeable.
Country: Scotland
Region: Highland Whisky
Distillery: Loch Lomond
Price: $199.99
ABV: 46.0%
Jura 18 Year
Journey is the entry level expression from the Isle of Jura range (which was relaunched in mid-2018). It was aged exclusively in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 40% ABV. A tasty introduction to Jura's single malts.
Nose: Melted butter, sugared almond, a very light hint of smoke.
Palate: Honeyed-drenched pear, toffee and pencil shavings.
Finish: Oily walnut and light apricot sweetness.
Country: Scotch Whisky
Region: Island
Distillery / Brand: Jura
Price: $114.99
ABV: 44.0%
Aberlour 18 Year
Tamdhu is well-known and much-adored for its excellent use of sherry casks, and those of you with a penchant for single malt with heavy sherry influence will be delighted to know that the distillery's 15 Year Old expression continues that theme. This one has spent is maturation in oloroso sherry casks, resulting in generous helpings of dark fruit and Christmas spice
Nose: Freshly baked apple and blackcurrant crumble with juicy pears, raspberries and lemon bon bons. Palate: Marzipan and Cranachan overlaid with lemon zest, toasted oak and milk chocolate. Finish: Smooth and sweet.
Palate: Delicate notes of apple, blackcurrant and lemon come from 18 years of maturation in a 2nd Fill Hogshead, this cask strength edition (51.6%) offers a smooth and sweet dram for the connoisseur.
Finish: Complex raisin and earthy notes
Country: Scotch Whisky
Region: Speyside Whisky
Distillery: Aberlour
Price: $279.99
ABV: 43%
Balvenie 21 Year Port Wood
To create The Balvenie PortWood 21 year old, a marriage of rare Balvenie is transferred to port casks, or pipes, which have previously held fine port wines. Here it is sampled regularly by The Balvenie Malt Master to ensure that just the right amount of character is imparted by the port casks, giving it greater complexity and depth whilst preserving its original characteristics.
Nose: A perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a nutty dryness
Palate: Refined with remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes
Finish: Long, gentle, nutty
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Distillery: Balvenie
Cost: $279.99
ABV: 46.0%