Over the course of last week I’ve went from zero samples or bottles that need to be reviewed to fresh 18 samples or some of which need to be reviewed… I guess time to get to it.
Glen Keith 28; 1993 Old Malt Cask, K&L SP, 56.9%
Let’s start this with an Old Malt Cask. Nose is intense buttery shortbread with fresh green apple skins and a solid alcohol kick as appropriate to the proof. Palate got pears and apples, some grass notes, a little bit of lemon, and more of that vanilla complexity that’s often seeps from oak casks after long time. The texture of the palate is quite velvety. The aftertaste is quite long with lingering light pepper, ginger and other sweet spice notes. Overall: I’m really quite enjoying it. It’s definitely got that spiced pears and green apple going. Possibly one of the best Old Malt Casks I’ve ever had but with 28 years under its belt… it better be good assuming you like ex-bourbon vanilla and orchard fruits. Value: Actually quite solid price ~$150 for the age . I think I didn’t get it only because I already have some Glen Keith and didn’t want a repeat from the distillery.
https://www.whiskyba … iskies/whisky/192442
Still available as of this writing; https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1565106
Score: A-
Benrinnes 23, 1997, Old Malt Cask, K&L SP, 58.4%
Refill hogshead (ex-bourbon) from 1997… This seems a little darker than a simple bourbon refill. Nose is… confusingly… Bubble gum-forward with slight varnish in the back, and real light apple notes. The palate is both red apple crisp and peppery with anise and nutmeg notes somewhere in the background. Still, it feels like its got a slight hint of sherry in there somewhere. Aftertaste is quite long, drying with some wood taking a prominence after a bit and becoming almost metallic. Overall: Some folks may like it some won’t a quite funky and something different which could be both good or bad. This is also certainly hard one to grade but I would go with my preference here, quite solid stuff at the end of the glass. Oddly, the more it sits around the more sherried it feels to the palate. Value: At $120 for the age this is fairly decent value, though as usual with OMC beware of the ‘mediocrity’ that is good but not outstanding. The Laings know what they are doing so they wouldn’t bottle something truly amazing at that price considering they also got other brands (ie: “Old and Rare”) for truly interesting casks.
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1524628
Score: B+
Dailuaine 10, 2010 Sovereign K&L SP, 59.4%
Young sherry cask that’s not a sherry bomb. Quick blurb that I didn’t write yesterday as I wasn’t planning to review it as I have a lot of Dailuaine bottles. Solid stuff at $55 that’s worth picking up if you need a single malt. Not mind-breaking but will do the job without breaking budget. Upgrade the score to a solid B if there’s a spot in your bottle shelf that needs to be filled.
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1556892
Score: B-
Craigellachie 16, Old Particular, K&L SP, 56.3%
A sneak peek of a bottle I own. Thanks friend Charu (and for many other samples)! An Old Particular bottle for a 16 years old in refill sherry. The nose is nutty, spicy, unsweetened, dry fruit compote, very slightly rubbery. Really needs some air to open up. Woody, nutty, sweet with sherry palate. I really like the palate here actually. Aftertaste is drying spices, leather and serious amount of toasted apple skins. Overall: This is funky spiced and dried apple compote, quite enjoyable if one enjoys sherry. Value: A 16 year old single cask for $109 about average. Though the sherry adds a little bit to the cost so slightly below average to be fair.
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1510168
Score: B+
Inchgower 22, Sovereign, K&L SP, 56.3%
A rare labeled single malt from a distillery that’s mostly used in blends. The nose is interestingly funky and alternates between sherry figs and pine resin or perhaps a little bit of rubber. The palate is a little rubbery but in a pleasant way that integrates with the sweetness, definitely gets better after first sip with mostly molasses and fig compote remaining. The aftertaste brings sweet vanilla, sherry fruits and spices and is nice and medium; with few sweet notes lingering for a while. Overall: Very sweet and funky flavor combination that’s unlike most other single malts that I can think of. It really is alike to some sort of spiced fruitcake. Yes, let’s go with ginger fig fruitcake on this one. Not particularly sold on the overall palate being a little too sweet for my tastes. Value: About medium at $109 for a mostly unknown 22 year old Single Malt Scotch.
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1565757
Score: C+
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown