Went to check out the sale at a whisky bar/retailer today, and was massively disappointed. The fb event page suggested that the sale was going to be big, with discounts of up to 50% on some brands, like the Old Malt Cask series, which I've liked. So, I was really gutted to realize that the bar had its original prices so marked up, the bottles were still expensive after the 50% discount. A 15 year Clynelish OMC for $180? A 14 year Clynelish from Signatory for $170? And these prices were after a 50% and 35% discount respectively. Ouch. PY and I went down, and walked out without getting anything. I think I can get things of similar age and quality at La Maison for a lower price, before discount.
So, off we went, and what better way to wash away the disappointment than a short walk to Auld Alliance?
Clynelish 14 (OB, 46% abv)
Nose - Fairly big malty nose, supplemented by a healthy dose of smoke, oranges, lemon, and something that smells a little like leather. Did this mature in a refill sherry cask? The balance on this nosing is towards the zesty fruits after the big malty attack fades. A bit spicy as well! Pretty promising!
Palate - This is oily, but a fairly thin texture. The texture doesn't detract from the quality of the whisky though! Big oranges this time, with quite a bit of lemons as well. There is a strong bitter note too. Not sure where that came from, but after a while, it feels a bit like... you know, the white part of the orange? The white fibrous thing between the juicy parts and the skin? Yea, that one. What do you call that?? A bit drying, with suggestions of leather. This does feel suspiciously like a refill sherry cask. A little salty, but this is not as coastal as I thought it would be. Not much honey nor heather either, though it is sweet - vanilla, and something that feels like sherry. Maybe my suspicions about the cask are playing tricks on my tongue. A bit of caramel - colouring?
Finish - Smoke, oranges, and, surprisingly, the bitterness stays with you. Hmm. Not a very long finish, which is, I think, good, considering the bitter notes.
Overall - Good, but not amazing. I prefer Springbank (but you already know that), though this is better than the "modern" entry level whiskies from many other distillers. This is similar in age and region to the Oban 14 - this is better, but not by much. So, onto the Springbank!
Springbank 10 "100 Proof" (OB, 57%)
Nose - PY and I found this nose quite a Jekyll and Hyde, except that both sides are good. Does that make sense? First nosing is salty and very coastal. Sea breeze, salted fish, and umami. Strong mineral presence too. After a while in the glass, there's a lot of lemons and other citrusy stuff. Sweet - honey, I think, and a bit of...flowers? On first nosing, I hardly got the lemony and fruity side to this, but on second nosing, the saltiness wasn't present. Odd. But in a pleasant surprise sort of way. There's also some smoke, and a light touch of peat.
Palate - Big coastal attack - like a beach landing in a war. Just a little less dramatic. Salty, and a touch of seaweed, I think. This turns to oranges and lemons, with quite a bit of smoke and a little bit of peat. It's like the two noses came in different waves and had a rendezvous on the tongue. There's a lot of classic Springbank in this - mineral, slightly oily, and a raw edge that suggests something earthy or rocky. It's not as big as the 12 yo cask strength, but it's a big step up from the standard 10. Pity that it seems that this one was discontinued.
Finish - This one lasts forever. PY had a sip of water, and realized that the finish was still there after the water. Finishes on spices - ginger, cinnamon, pepper, saffron...? Smoke continues, as does hints of lemon.
Overall - This one is good.
No comments:
Post a Comment