Dailuaine 16, Flora & Fauna, 43%
A rare original bottling from Dailuane, this is part of Diageo’s collected releases that have been ongoing since about 1991, and the name has stuck. This is a 43% ABV, sherry cask-aged single malt aged for 16 years. I’m not quite sure when it was bottled, but it’s likely around the 2018-2020 timeframe. This is a sherried Speyside whiskey, so I’m expecting sherried Speyside notes. The nose features intense dark fruit compote with nutty undertones and toasted caramels. The palate brings more caramel, some surprising hot peppers, dried orange peels, and a touch of tobacco. The finish mostly continues from the palate and pleasantly lingers for a long time. Overall, this is quite delightfully easy to consume. While it lacks a lot of complexity, it more than makes up for it in approachability. It’s an incredibly easy drinker with no particular negatives, other than the fact it disappears too fast. The lower proof isn’t going to win any awards with enthusiasts, but it would delight beginners. Value: Priced around $80 if you can find it, it’s a very solid deal for an uncommon bottling.
Score: B+
Linkwood 13, Single Malts of Scotland, US Release, 48%
A blend of 3 casks by Single Malts of Scotland. This is a US Exclusive release. I generally love Linkwood and I’m looking forward to this. The color is very pale straw, reminds me strongly of the Old Malt Cask line. The nose is wax, spicy, vanilla, apples, classic ex-bourbon fare, yet leans towards the lighter side in its alignment. The palate’s rather punchy with peaches, refined sugar, a touch of lemon, and light yet peppery vanilla again. The aftertaste lingers for a bit and alternates between sugar and hot spices as it slowly fades for a long finish. Overall: Enjoyable, but I was hoping for more. This is very much a 2nd or 3rd refill ex-bourbon casks where the casks are nearly spent. Enjoyable for malt purists but not as good as a good Linkwood could be. It’s basically a high-quality canvas with respectful yet minimal treatment. Value: I paid $80, which was a decent value, though I’ve seen it on store shelves for a more typical $99, which would be arguably too much for this.
Score: B
Linkwood 13, Mahler-Besse, Ruby Port Cask, 58.2%
Another Linkwood 13, this time by Mahler-Besse IB, Cask #3127, ruby port. The nose is rather aged port character-forward and sweetly sulfuric. The palate is sweet, nutty, spicy and mouth-coating, yet still very much overpowered by the ruby port notes. Aftertaste lingers for a long while with hot spices, sweetness, and a touch of cinnamon very slowly fading. This does take water like a champ becoming much more pleasant. Overall: As expected wonderful malt, close to be overwhelmed by ruby port character, as is often times the case. Value: Paid $80 for it… Decent deal for this particular cask finish. Otherwise I’d advice to skip
Score: B- (B w/water)
Linkwood 13, A Blend, ~53%
Bonus! Let’s blend the two above together in about 1:1 ratio! The nose is now peppery red fruits, vanilla, sour cherry preserves. The palate is well balanced between sweetness, oak, tannins, port wine notes, and plums. Actually, cycling back, it’s rather plummy overall. The aftertaste continues what’s on the palate and goes from plum compote to a touch of heat, but oddly only lingers for medium length of time. Overall: This is where it’s at! A sum that’s better than it’s parts. Value: N/A because it’s a blend… though technically it’s $80 and a solid value considering the cost of the components.
Score: A-
Dewar’s 21, Double Double, 46%
Dewar’s 21 year old blend under double-double label, finished in Mizunara oak casks. Available in costco in 2024Q3. The double double refers to double maturation in two types of casks from two of the Dewar’s distilleries that compose the blend. Which distilleries they are are a very tightly-held secret. The nose is all about creamy vanilla and ex-bourbon fruit notes. There’s also a surprising amount of alcohol notes and a touch of wet tobacco in the nose too. The palate is a touch like a not-too-sweet and slightly bitter cream soda. We’ve got lemons, light fruits, and a touch of wood smoke that’s very subtle but present. The aftertaste is medium and not particularly noteworthy other than a note of whipped cream from can, sorta airy, creamy vanilla with very light substance. Overall: Eeeeh… I’m of two minds about this. It’s serviceable and not memorable at the same time. If anything, it strongly reminds me of Compass Box Artist Blend. Value: At $89 at Costco that’s not too bad of a deal if nothing is available, but yet again, it competes with Compass Box single casks that’s 20 bucks cheaper. I’ll mark the value at Costco’s price as passable as it is but a pass at past 100.
Score: B
Clynelish 26, Signatory Vintage, 53.4%
A 26 year old Clynelish in Oloroso from 1996, cask number 11383. A treat! A dark dark pour. The nose is musty wood and leathery, slightly sulfuric, sherry. I can sit and smell this for a while. The palate is rather gentle and soft, an interesting contrast to a branch and punchy nose. Lots of wood, burnt caramel, bitter chocolate, some sort of dried orange peel, cloves, all spice. The aftertaste lingers for a while with more bitter chocolate, espresso, a touch of tobacco, and more or less more of a what was on the palate. Water doesn’t move the scale one way or another. Overall: Old school funk and intensity. I really want to love it but I cannot bring myself to truly do. It’s almost too much intensity to feel the malt that’s drowned by the cask. Is it still very good? Yes. But not outstanding in a way that a refill cask would do at that age. Would I love drinking it… yes. Value: N/A; Too much.
This fine bottle: https://www.whiskyba … 11/clynelish-1996-sv
Score: A-
Glenrothes 28, Signatory Vintage, 51.0%
A 28 year old Glenrothes in 1st fill Oloroso, from 1995 this time, cask number 6176. Another treat! I don’t get these enough. Please send more nice things! Another example of old school funky sherry. The leans towards hot and more balanced with the malt vs being overwhelmed by wood. Nutty, spicy, slightly sweet, hot chili chocolate. This doesn’t quite read toasted nuttyness that some glenrothes do, with heat dominating the chocolate-covered nuts, but it’s all there. More heat and balance between oak, sherry and malt on the aftertaste. Did i mention it drinks chili-hot yet? Water dulls the spice slightly, letting sweet chocolate and walnuts to the fore. Overall: Highly enjoyable, even if appealing more towards those that like their food spicy. This is a good contrast to the sample above this review where cask swings the profile into entirely different direction. Value: N/A
This fine bottle: https://www.whiskyba … iskies/whisky/237379
Score: A
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown