Scotch Tasting Notes Jan 13-14 2023
GlenAllachie Speyside 8 Year Single Malt
We are proud to present the latest expression to join our award-winning core range, The GlenAllachie 8-year-old. Guided by his half-century of experience, Master Distiller Billy Walker has implemented a philosophy of wood innovation and sourced the world’s finest casks to elevate the spirit to its optimum, delivering a truly exceptional single malt.
Created from a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons along with a small quantity of Virgin Oak casks and red wine barriques, the resulting bronze spirit delivers sherry-matured sophistication. The GlenAllachie 8 Year Old is bottled at 46%, non-chill filtered and natural colour for maximum flavour experience.
Tasting Notes: COLOR; Sunset Bronze. NOSE; Heather honey, butterscotch and cinnamon, followed by waves of ginger, toasted almonds and mocha. TASTE; Lashings of treacle, dried sultanas and butterscotch, with cinnamon, peppermint and honeycomb. Kevin’s Notes: This is my favorite Under $80 Scotch Tasting Price $64.98
Glenfarclas Highland 12 Year Single Malt
Glenfarclas is one of the few remaining family-owned distilleries in Scotland. John Grant bought Recherlich Farm and its distillery in 1865 when founder Robert Hay passed away.
In the early days the family were more concerned with the farm than the distillery and the premises were let out to John Smith, who would go on to establish Cragganmore in 1869. Glenfarclas meanwhile passed from one Grant to another and in 1896 they formed a partnership with the Pattison brothers, an arrangement the family would come to regret. Robert and Walter Pattison were declared bankrupt soon after and in 1901 the pair were sent to prison, having been found guilty on several counts of fraud. The fallout from those events sent shockwaves through the industry, with creditors left empty handed and distilleries across the country forced to close. Glenfarclas managed to stay afloat but it took the family a generation to get back on an even keel.
Master’s of Malt Review – Whiskey Lots of sherry and fruit in this, Glenfarclas 12 was originally bottled for export and travel retail markets. In 2006, it was named the “Best Sherried Whisky” in the Single Malt World Cup, and in 2007 and 2008 it won Gold at the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival. Kevin’s Notes: Just arrived This week. Very Excited to taste Tasting Price $59.98
Springbank Campbeltown 10 Year Single Malt
Founded 194 years ago (1828), Springbank is a distillery of some renown and this whisky, Springbank 10 Years, is their current flagship offering. If you giggled when I said “some renown”, then you are a true whisky nerd and know that’s an understatement. Whisky nerds go ga-ga for Springbank which makes it increasingly difficult to find. Even with a price that continues to climb. Whiskey Jug
“Our 10 year old provides the perfect introduction to the Springbank range. Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, it is complex yet perfectly balanced from the first sip through to the sweet, salty finish.” – Springbank
* * * Ranked in the top 10 for number of awards won among whiskies from this region: This whisky won the World Whiskies Awards Best Campbeltown Single Malt 12 Years and Under award in 2014 and 2013. KevIn’s Notes: This will be a drawing. Very Very Rare Tasting Price $109.98
Lagavulin “Offerman” Islay 11 Year Charred Oak Edition Single Malt
Inspired by actor and comedian Nick Offerman’s devotion to Lagavulin single malt scotch, Islay distillery Lagavulin debuted its first Offerman Edition in 2019. This is the third release: Lagavulin Offerman Edition: Charred Oak Cask.
This 11 year old bottling was designed to pair specifically with steak and is made be aging the spirit in American and European oak casks that are shaved down and then heavily re-charred, really pouring on the wood influence
As expected, notes of chimney smoke waft immediately from the glass once it is poured, though after it blows off, a fruitier note becomes evident, impregnating the aromatics with some apple and spice elements. It’s less maritime than the typical Lagavulin expression, but not far from the center of the distillery’s standard issue dartboard. Initially lightly sweet on the palate, notes of baked apples give way quickly to a reprise of peat, here showcasing more salty sea spray — but not really much in the way of iodine or medicinal notes. DrinkHacker Tasting Price $82.98
