Balcones Cataleja Single Malt, 59%
A Texas single malt from Balcones, again. This is their 15th anniversary release of a malt that’s been aged in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in just about every sherry cask under the sun, or specifically “Moscatel Dorado, Amontillado Dulce, Ororoso & Palo Cortado”. The nose is very sweet sherry-forward and surprisingly malt-restrained considering the proof. The palate is full of sweet sherry, figs, cream, dark chocolate and some ginger spice. It’s very flavorful, yet drinks below the proof. The aftertaste is more figs, dark raisins and dates, raisins and dark chili chocolate. Overall: Surprisingly excellent drinker this is sweet and hot and chocolatey all around that drinks deceptively under proofed. Yet, it is full of strong and well-rounded flavors. Value: N/A, it was a present from friend Mark… Supposedly, MSRP was 120… that’s 20 over what I’d consider a good value here. Don’t let me stop you though… It’s tasty!
Score: B+
Balblair 10, 2005, 46%
A bottle of Highland single malt, this is a Balblair core release. This batch was distilled in 2005, bottled in 2015 and is labeled 1st release. Visually, it is clean ex-bourbon faire. Nose’s got tons of malt and heavy influence from white orchard fruits, apples and pears with some light notes of honeydew and melons. The palate is appropriately punchy, vanilla-creamy and malty as well as sweet-savory in its character. The aftertaste is somewhat more of the same from the palate, with addition of prominent, yet well-balanced, pepperiness as is common with good ex-bourbon casks. Overall: Super enjoyable, easy-drinking malt that’s not light on flavor. It’s excellent, flavorful and straightforward. The main downside here is lack of substantial secondary flavors. The primaries work well together but there’s nothing subtle or layered here; what is there in the primaries is pure in its clarity. Value: I picked up this on clearance for $30 which is a huge value, original price is $80 being an alright for value overall.
Score: B+
Amrut 9, Ex-port Pipe, Prestige-Ledroit SP, 60%
Amrut exclusively bottled for Prestige-Ledroit distributors after 9 years in ex-port cask, this is cask number 3882. Very purple bottle theme and a hot pink tube. More importantly this is quarter peated scottish barley, something like 80% unpeated and 20% peated and bottled in 2023. The nose is intense, very sherry-like, slightly smoky and spicy with juicy dollop of toasted wood. Amrut apparently has access to some spectacular port casks as this smells amazing. This tastes amazing too. Best sort of light cigar smoke, sundried dark fruits, rich baking spices in perfect harmony. Aftertaste stick around for a while with light campfire smoke aftertaste and just all the best notes from the palate. Overall: Essentially, a flawless bottle in its execution. One of the easiest ones to score in a while. Value: I got it for under 100 from friend David on clearance. A steal!
Score: A
Secret Orkney (Highland Park) 19, “Signatory”, K&L SP, 55.2%
Wrapping this set with a good one. A sample from friend Mark of a 2005 Highland Park #DRU 17/A63 #28 aged for 19 years in first fill oloroso sherry by Signatory Vintage. The nose is funky-sweet oloroso leather, wood and wet tobacco mix. It also feels hotter than it really should be for the proof. The plate is hot with sherry surprisingly restrained, we’ve got sweet dark fruits backed by oloroso leather notes and rounded off by just a touch of smoke, which is at best an accent here rather than a centerpiece. Hot chili aftertaste aftertaste with some bitter dark chocolate. With water: the chili note is now now in the background and the whole experience is notably sweeter tasting and much better balanced with sugar and some wood smoke notes taking the front. Overall: At original proof it is too hot and chili-forward. Much more enjoyable with water, but at a loss of some potency. Possibly higher with-water grade if the amount of water is perfectly measured. Value: Priced at $179 and 20 over the preorder price, it’s definitely out of my comfort zone, thought the $159 pre-order tag may have been tolerable?
This: https://shop.klwines.com/products/details/1789500
Score: B- (B+ with water)
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Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown