Balblair 1997 43%

Not been on here for a while so thought that I should get the finger out and add some new notes - so here goes!

Nose: Sweet, lots of vanilla, creme brulee and hard toffee. Brown sugar and a touch of icing sugar. Some lime and Kiwis coming through and hints of shortbread - (Deans Shortbread)

Taste: A little fresh wood, vanilla warm toffos. Becomes more grassy with water.

Finish: A little bit drying, then a bit of that citrusy kiwi notes coming through.

Comment: A decent summer dram, I actually quite like this. Decent drinking whisky.

Score 87/100

Heavily Peated Yamazaki 1993

I love Japanese whisky - ok I love all whisky - within reason! So when I got the chance to try this I jumped at the chance. Was just a shame I had already had a few drams before this one!

Cask 3Q70041 62%

Nose: Smoke is like that of a smoked cheese - and also a slight fishy note. The white oak doesnt give much vanilla though.

Taste: The smoke comes through on the taste and it id quite dry and almost a little young tasting. - does not taste like it is 62% abv though.

Finish: Warming and dry lingering dry ash and maybe a touch of lemon.

Comment: Nae a bad dram at all but nothing overly memorable.

Score: 87/100

For a better review head to the best Japanese whisky site there is Nojatta so good he includes reviews of a similar cask by Serge off of Whiskyfun.

Adelphi Glenrothes 2000 Cask 2413 56.5%

Right enough of this re-typing story malarky lets have a whisky - this one should be good! One of my favourite distilleries Glenrothes and this bottling is from Adelphi, although Adelphi bottlings tend to be expensive they also tend to be bloody good!

Their notes on this 6yo Cask strength glenrothes can be found here:

http://www.adelphidistillery.com/whisky/glenrothes2000

So lets see what my notes are - First thing I have to say is that for 6 years this dram has a cracking mahogany colour with a red hue about it! Anyway here goes:

Nose: Rich, obvious sherry and a meaty note like a roasting tin! Raisans, a touch of cream and malt loaf and butter

Taste: Big, big, big! Initially difficult to pin down on this one! has the big sherry character - almost verging on bad but still staying on the edge, of rich chocolate, a "red" note - god I wish I knew what that was! and verging on balloons but in a good way.

Finish: The finish is again big - a little to much verging towards the slightly rancid meat that a big sherry cask can give you.

Comment: I am not sure about this dram - I think it has slightly flawed "rancid" meat type sulphury notes but i don't mind them at all - it also has huge body and character - the sherry has perhaps dominated but you can still make out Glenrothes shouting behind the background.

All in all a good whisky but for a 6yo its a great whisky! (but only if you like sherry!)

Score: 87/100

Caol Ila 1993 Distillers Edition

I have been curious to try this since I heard it was coming out so I was glad to see it in my local last night so gave it a bash. Must admit though that I had partaken in several pints of Guiness before sampling so perhaps taste buds were not at there best! Any way this 1993 Caol Ila has been finished for 6 months in Dark Moscatel casks.

Here is what I thought last night!

Nose: Almost smells pink! A bit bigger than a standard Caol Ila but has a nose of raspberry jam as well.

Taste: Taste is not so big. Touch of orange and peat. Quite oily would maybe mistake it for a soft lagavulin. A little metallic actually I like it though.

Finish: Quite a short finish for an Islay

Comment: I like it but maybe the Moscatel dominates a little to much and dulls the Caol Ila character a little.

Score 87/100

Will try again when not already three sheets to the wind and will re-evaluate. Could be interesting!

Duncan Taylor Glengarioch 1988 17yo

Tonights wee dram a DTC Glengarioch 1988 - 17 year old at a nice 54.6% ABV - I had heard that this was from a sherry cask but doesnt state it on the label. This is from cask number 1555 have tried some of these when they were at 16yo so lets see.

Nose: Initially sweet, bannanas and a touch of spice, cardammon. background hint of mint!
Taste: Warming, mmm, drying lots of spiciness again at cask strength, can take a wee splash helps it along. More rummy flavours come through with water.
Finish: Slight hint of parma violets quickly fades to leave a rummy finish.
Comment: A nice spicy wee dram, that takes a splash just to let the rich spicy flavours out. A nice dram but perhaps more one for a winter night than a hot stuff summer night!
Score: 87/100 If it didn't have such a hot spiciness it would perhaps score higher - or if i taste it in December.