CLYNELISH 2008 10YO - SIGNATORY FOR TWE

There was a time when this distillery flew quietly under the radar - a time when malts like this one were only drunk by the whisky anorak, a time when what was in the bottle mattered but those days are over...

Today, the contents still matters to some, of course, but we also now see Clynelish being snapped up for investment purposes, sadly... This has created a surge in prices both on the primary but also secondary markets over the past couple of years.

Another whisky drinkers whisky this has happened to, is Springbank - a distillery that will have a harder time than Clynelish keeping up with demand and an ever growing fan base.

The first real sign of this, was the ever growing number of participants for the Campbeltown Malt Whisky Festival these past 4 years (not counting 2020, of course) Also now, for the first time ever there will be a ballot for the bottles for the Springbank Society Fan Club - a club that should have stopped signing up new members when it was clear that Springbank couldn't keep up the same level of service to existing members as previously. A controversial statement, I know - but rather that than risk loosing hard-core returning customers down the line...
They are, after all, the customers they must rely on when times gets hard again - and it will, eventually... 

A sign of the times, I'm afraid - a time where I truly feel sorry for people just starting their whisky journey. A journey that will be both more expensive and poorer in quality than even just a few years ago.

Let's return to the whisky in question, though...
This whisky was selected and bottled for the 20th anniversary of that London heavyweight, The Whisky Exchange along with a small handful of other bottlings.
Signatory has a pretty good reputatation surrounding them as has the cask pickers at The Whisky Exchange so I just straight in and bought a bottle back when it came out in 2019  - Check below for the verdict

Clynelish Distillery, October 10th 2014 - © The Malt Desk

Clynelish 2008 10yo (06.06.2008/01.04.2019) 57,4%, 1st fill ex-bourbon cask#800139, 237 bottles, Signatory Vintage for TWE's 20th Anniversary

Nose:

Upon first approach, the smells you get when you open the spice cabinet. Both with regular spices and ones used in baking, vanilla, all spice, white pepper, icing sugar, licorice root.

Also in there are a hint of camphor drops, delicious oak notes, a slight floral note and green malt mixed in with a mineral note (chalk/flint ??)
Also initially got a hint of fresh onions (Imagine that! :-O ) though it disappeared again when the other notes came through. All in all quite fresh and lively...

Taste:

Not really finding much the usual Clynelish waxy style here, though hints of it do seem to come through. My thoughts are that this might need a few more years to have the notes we know so well come through? I certainly see why they're bottling the standard expression at 14yo.

There seems to be a rumor floating around that a few of the production years during the 00's didn't quite deliver the style of spirit they were aiming for - maybe this is one of them? Then maybe not as I am picking up a slight note of that
recognizeable Clynelish style :-)

Anyway, the cask generally seems to be of good quality allowing a good amount of malt/barley sugars to shine, natural oils, bags of white fruit, quite a floral honey note and some lemony notes dominating along with the malt

All in all, this is quite nice, but I prefer my Clynelish with a bit more age to them... Still, this has potential

86/100!

CLYNELISH 1995 23YO - SIGNATORY VINTAGE

Tonights single malt indulgence...

Clynelish 1995 23yo bottled at 56,4% from a single sherry butt#11242. Opened little over a week ago. Back then gave off some undesireable sulphury notes. A huge disappointment then...

It has now in the past 9 days been sitting with the cork off for a few hours and left to breathe (cork in) for this past week and has developed nicely. It still has a little trace of sulphur on the palate but this can be drowned out with water without hurting the overall experience.

What your experience with letting sulphury drams breathe for a periode of time?

And do you like your Clynelish better fra bourbon casks rather than sherry casks? I think I do...    

Clynelish 1995 23yo Dist. 21.11.1995 Bott. 16.06.2019, Refill sherry butt#11242, 592 bottles, Sigantory Vintage series Nose: The nose is now on stewed overripe fruits, heavy on dark honey with a hint of something herbal and camphor.

Taste: The palate has a slight hint of the sulphury still, even after adding 2 teaspoons of water, but its heavy on dark fruits and slight burnt caramel. Think the top of your Creme Brulee.

Its thick and oily and fruity, but maybe not as waxy as we normally see from Clynelish. Here, I'm sensing the sherry cask masking it somewhat.

Still, a great dram once its been allowed to breathe and with water added it definitely moves up a class!

What your experience with letting sulphury drams breathe for a period of time?

And do you like your Clynelish better fra bourbon casks rather than sherry casks? I think I do...    

82/100! ... and thats with added water to drown out the sulphur

IMPERIAL 1995 19YO - SIGNATORY VINTAGE SERIES

The New Year 2012/2013 saw the end of the old Imperial Distillery... the plans for its demolition was put into action, leaving only the old warehouses on site. Originally founded in 1897, it was given the name 'Imperial' in honor of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria I, though there wasn't much imperial greatness over its production span. It was closed several times over the years, so much that its actually spent 60% of being closed, rather than producing and it was mothballed for the last time in 1998.

By summer 2015 site owners, Pernod Ricard/Chivas Bros had finish building their new super distillery on site - Dalmunach, capable of producing some 10 mill. liters of spirit annually, placing it the same league as Glenfiddich, Ailsa Bay, Macallan and Glenlivet (might have forgotten about 1 or 2 more...).

Upon hearing about the plans to build a new distillery on site, I remember thinking and hoping for a new place that would not spoil the sights and tranquillity of the place. The old distillery wasn't a beauty - far from, but looking at Dalmunach, I think they've done a more than decent design job - to me it looks like a combination of both something new and old... so good job!

Time for the review...

Imperial Distillery, August 26th 2012 © The Malt Desk

Dalmunach Distillery, May 1st 2015 © The Malt Desk

Imperial 1995 19yo (21.08.1995/02.12.2014) 52,2%, Hogsheads#50165+50166, 546 bottles, Signatory Vintage

Colour is light amber

Nose:
Very rich and full - this has the making of an after-dinner dram to me...
I guessing the 2 refill sherry hoggies maybe? Lots of nuts, orange and overripe apple, lashings of thick juicy malt, a little vanilla caramel, honey. With time the nose starts heading in a clear citrussy direction. Leaving it for longer even notes of hops can be found...

Stunning nose!

Taste:
Very graceful bitter-sweet arrival, oranges and butter caramels. More fruits, apple and pears mostly along with cinnamon buns. Mid to end palate lots of malt and citrus comes through along with vanilla sticks and some peppery notes. The whole experience is very well balanced and creamy making this one of the best Imperials I've tried...

Glad I have a full bottle of this a rainy day! Excellent stuff!

89/100!

CAOL ILA 1982 - SIGNATORY

Do visit Caol Ila of you get to Islay... vist for the sheer size of the place, now able to produce 6,5 million liters of spirit a year. Its been the largest distillery on Islay for years and now its even bigger! Located just beside the village and ferry berthing of Port Askaig it enjoys pretty much the same view as Bunnahabhain a little further north. That said, the Bunnahabhain site is much more tranquil, as I've also mentioned in other posts. Oh, also if visiting, remember that Caol Ila is a Diageo site, so no pictures inside of the production areas.

Caol Ila is also the whisky to go for if you want something similar in style to Port Ellen and not want to pay for what equals a booster rocket for a Space Shuttle. Especially older Caol Ila like the one I'm about to review, are similar to similar aged Port Ellens in style.

That's the peated Cal Ilas covered - do also try the unpeated versions!! well, relatively unpeated that is. The style is called 'Caol Ila Highland' but up until the recent 14yo release there has still been a noticeable peat influence in them... but they're fun to try for sure :-)

Now onto the review...

Old fashioned cask scale outside Caol Ila, October 8th 2008 © The Malt Desk 

Caol Ila 1982 29yo (14.12.1982/05.12.2012) 57,1%, Hogshead#6485, 263 bottles, Signatory

Colour is full straw

Nose:
Mellow peat, oak, coastal (brine and seafront), nutmeg, some fruit and plastic ropes. Getting slightly medicinal with time

Taste:
Smoky, salt water, citrus, tarry, grilled shellfish and a mineral notes as in warm rocks cut by a diamond blade and salted peanuts

A very nice older Caol Ila for sure! ... and certainly on par with some of the overpriced Port Ellens you can find out there.

87/100!

BUNNAHABHAIN 1980 - SIGNATORY

I've said almost all what can be said about Bunnahabhain at this point, so I'll keep my mouth shut for now - I don't even have a rant for you tonight ;-) ... well, I'll kepp it almost shut - I do have a review for you :-) and a picture that relates to another post of mine about the things that can affect the distillation process. See picture description...

Inside a Bunnahabhain still - May 6th 2011 © The Malt Desk

Bunnahabhain 1980 32yo (28.03.1980/05.12.2012) 51,4%, Refill sherry butt#4390, 478 bottles, Signatory

Colour is straw


Nose:
Initially a hint of sulphur that goes away after a short while (that, or my nose just gets used to it). Then malt (pot ale), citrus, a gingery note and herbal note. Also quite some musty bung cloth in there

Taste:
Grilled (green) veggies (mostly leek and green bell pepper) and surprisingly a more than notiable hint of peat in there too. Goes on with a lovely malty sweetness and soft fruit and melon.

Not the greatest of old Bunnahabhains, but still good...

84/100!

HIGHLAND PARK 1990 - SIGNATORY

Phew, lots of words have been expressed about Highland Park since they started with the storytelling from old Norse mythology and Orkney sagas. Honestly, I think its pretty cool cause I like stuff like that, but I don't like paying for it in my whisky. I just want good whisky!

I like like Highland Park very much and I still have very fond memories of going to the Orkneys and I will definitely be going again sometime. Stunning scenery and historical sites... oh, and Highland Park - even though they need to cater some more for us anoraks and not just the businessman passing through the airport buying some expensive whisky as he passes to catch his next flight!

That said, I really like the Valhalla Collection, but I could do without the Longship packaging. It just makes the whole thing about £15/$30/€20 more expensive... as if whisky isn't getting expensive enough :O



The Stones of Stenness, just a short distance from the Ring of Brodgar, August 5th 2009 © The Malt Desk

Highland Park 1990 (13.12.1990/07.02.2013) 22yo, 51,9%, sherry butt#15702, 405 bottles, Signatory

Colour is light amber

Nose:
Ohh, lovely Highland Park profile... Very honeyed and floral, fried/grilled meats, citrus (oranges) and malt. In the background some very faint notes of yeast.

Taste:
Very light arrival, much lighter than expected. Starting in crisp barley to the breaking point, very citrussy, apples even, honey again... A malty middle with salt and peat and some oaky peppery finish

A lighter Highland Park than expected, especially on the sherry, but it works well even if the notes seem a bit simple

Certainly a Cask Strength rival to the official 21yo...

88/100!

SPRINGBANK 1970 37YO OLOROSO CASK - SIGNATORY

Have you ever walked into your local wine dealer and been eyeing that bottle for a while - but you wouldn't spend the money on it, 'cause it's just too bl**dy expensive?

But recently I did buy it when I was shopping for bottles for a tasting in the local club, so that's another way of getting to try that bottle you've had your eyes on for what seems too long. Bottled in 2007, it still carried a hefty price tag, though it might have been increased a couple of times - I'm honestly not sure... It had been carrying the recent tag for quite some time, so I'm not sure if the price has been bumped up a couple of times.

You may think that this headed in the direction of another rant on whisky pricing, but instead I'll urge you to visit those small out of the way whisky shops either when you travel or just visit another town/city close to you... the prices may have gone up, but I know -also from a couple of friends- its still possible to find some older bottlings on the shelves at, maybe not entirely fair prices, but still within range for a few of you to maybe share a bottle or buy it as a club as I did with this particular one.

As you might have figured out by now from reading the headline I'll be reviewing some old Springbank and that alone have brought my expectations up a bit. It's also very sherried, so there's also a chance of it being all winey and/or even s*lph*r tainted... Let's hope not!


Stencil room @ Springbank May 10th 2011 © The Malt Desk


Springbank 1970 37yo (16.06.1970/28.06.2007) 53,9% sherry butt#1621, 370 bottles, Signatory Vintage Decanter Series

Colour is mahogany

Nose:
Old cellar, Drambuie and rum-like, peppery notes tickles your nose, hint of varnish that goes away with time, figs, I'm thinking strawberries dipped in chocolate or like sticking you nose into a box of liqueur filled chocolates.

Taste:
Old heavy sherry style, leather and a slightly burnt edge, tobacco shop, kirsch and oranges, raisins, soy sauce, sun dried tomatoes, very sherried but a distinct 'Springer' as its Campbeltown backbone is still noticeable, but only just...

A lovely dram, but on the edge and bottled in the nick of time, I think!

90/100!

CLYNELISH 1991 13YO - SIGNATORY

I'll follow up the Brora review from a couple of days ago with a review from across the road, literally! from the new Clynelish distillery. I'll keep the whole thing short and sweet today...

Clynelish 1991 13yo (23.11.1991/11.05.2005) 46%, Hogshead#12723, 373 bottles, Signatory Un-Chillfiltered Collection

Colour is pale white wine

Nose:
Pear, hint of tequila, ash, bit of yeast, some raw fruity spirit, slight honey too, grassy and a hint of metal shavings, white chocolate and diesel. Sometimes this reminds me very much of an Irish Whiskey on the nose

Taste:
Gentle arrival on white fruits, peppery, salty citrus and a bit of wet newspaper/cardboard. Again grassy, old cellar feel and again a slightly metallic note, mainly dominant on the finish.

Decent drinking whisky, this one... especially with 5 drops of water that takes out the metallic notes in it... Again thanks to Kalle for the sample

83/100!

BRORA 1981 23YO - SIGNATORY

I just loved to wander around the grounds of the old Brora Distillery. I know it has a lot to do with its status as one of the cult malts, but using my imagination I could almost see the place running as I was having a stroll around the place. Last time I stopped by was in 2009 and I would sure love to go back and see what state the place is in now...

Looking at the picture below you could tell back then Diageo's not doing anything to the place. Sad, really but hey! I'm a whisky romantic! the black doors, btw, just visible to the right in the picture leads into the old stillhouse - where the 2 stills were still present in 2009. I've had other report saying they're still there today...

Anyway, enough romanticism - I'll get on with my Brora review!

Brora Distillery yard, August 4th 2009 © The Malt Desk

Brora 1981 23yo (08.12.1981/08.06.2005) 46%, refill butt#05/372, 314 bottles, Signatory Un-chillfiltered Collection

Colour is straw

Nose:
Flinty, minerals, fruits, oily, mold and yeasty - fresh dough and half baked bread?. Also very floral along of fresh laundry smell

Taste:
Light arrival, then a lovely fruit burst along with barley sugars. The palate then drops after that only to return with a very flora attack, jasmine maybe? a bit soapy even? Also a hint of pistachio nuts in there... Finishes on fruit, honey and a wood/tobacco note.

This dram actually took me some time to get acquainted with. But once I did I enjoyed it, even though its not the best Brora I've had... and finally Thanks to Kalle for the sample!

85/100!

SPECIAL: VATTING AND BLENDING AT HOME

Over a period of time, I've accumulated some (more) open bottles and samples from which I'll be doing this fun little home experiment. I've been wanting to do this for a while, but have been busy with non-whisky stuff lately, but now its time to get busy... at the same time I'd like to excuse for a boring text-only post. ;-)

Some resources says that the optimal blending proportion of ex-bourbon and sherry cask is 70% bourbon/30% sherry - so I'll be using this as a starting point. Also the fact that older and heavier style + peated whiskies can be used to create more 'body' in the final result is significant knowledge... besides that, glasses and pipettes are also ready for this experiment...

I've poured 3 glasses of the 70/30 ratio mix for comparison. I will have a 4th glass on the side with a similar pours to use as a taste reference. The experiment will be done at full strength i.e. no water will be added.

Please also read the individual reviews and tasting notes of each whisky elsewhere on the blog to get the most out of my experiment.

Here's a list of the whiskies I'll be using:

Aberlour 1996 (04.03.1996) 16yo 54,4% 1st fill bourbon cask#6837, Distillery - Bottle your own (reviewed on its own here)

Aberlour 1996 (04.03.1996) 16yo 58,3% 1st fill sherry cask#2987, Distillery - Bottle your own (reviewed on its own here)

Dailuaine 1983 27yo 55,9% sherry hogshead#4318, 189 bottles, Adelphi
(reviewed on its own here)

Ardbeg 1993 14yo 46%, bottled 02.2008, ex-bourbon cask, 288 bottles, Cadenhead Original Collection (reviewed on its own here)

North British 1997 15yo 14.05.1997/06/10.2012 54,5%, Ex-bourbon barrel#246282, 175 bottles, Signatory Vintage Denmark Exclusive (reviewed on its own here)

Starting by mixing the 2 Aberlours (bourbon and sherry) at a 70/30 ratio...

20mls of bourbon Aberlour + 6mls of sherry Aberlour

Observation upon mixing - part 1:

Colour goes from straw to gold

The 30% of sherry matured Aberlour mixed with the 70% bourbon matured at first seems to overpower the bourbon at first... I'll leave it to settle for a few mins...

Much better now - the mainly bourbon backbone is still in front, but much more laid back now it has gotten proportion of sherry mixed in. Getting some sherry notes, agreed, but the 1st fill bourbon cask is still very loud and I think I need to up the sherry content.

Taste is more balanced than on the nose, though the wood from the bourbon cask still shows itself on the finish. Time to try and add some depth to this... since the bourbon cask is still dominant I'll add some older whisky - the Dailuaine mentioned above.

2mls of the Dailuaine is now added and left to settle for 5mins. The addition of the Dailuaine at the same time, turned this experiment into a blended (vatted) malt. I'm now also using one of the other initial pours as reference.

Observation upon mixing - part 2:

Colour is gold+
2mls of Dailuaine certainly help to quiet down the bourbon cask, but I feel its still not enough.
I'm adding 1ml more of the Dailuaine...

Observation upon mixing - part 3:

Colour is still gold+
The extra added 1ml of Dailuaine has brought down the backbone of the bourbon cask down to vanilla and oak on an acceptable level, where as before both were very loud, bordering on varnish - again see original tasting notes on the Aberlour Bourbon Cask here.

Here is also when it becomes interesting as I now compare with the original pour of just 70/30 Aberlour. Without taking exact tasting notes, I notice that the nose has clearly become much more heavy and deep and more xmas cake and dark fruits coming through, where as the starting point sample is still very loud and somewhat unbalanced to me.

After a good while more I now find the Ref#2 a tad bitter and drying on the finish...

At the same time I'm now taking initial Ref#3 and adding 3mls of Dailuaine to it for reference before the next step.

Next step - This mix into a blend!

Lets sum up what reference drams I have here:

Ref#1 - Initial pour 70/30 mix (20mls/6mls) of the 2 Aberlours
Ref#2 - 70/30 pour of Aberlour + 3mls of Dailuaine
Ref#3 - 70/30 pour of Aberlour + 3mls of Dailuaine

Now, I'm taking North British 15yo grain and adding 15mls it to the mix of Ref#2 and again, its time to let it settle for a short while... Now, I'm aiming to reach a ratio of about 50% malt and 50% grain, which I think succeeded - so now its time to nose from Ref#2

Now to take a reference here again I've decided to split the now app. 45mls in the mix into app. 2 x 22mls - one go experiment further with and one to taste...

Adding the North British grain is easily detectable on the nose - a much more vanilla, coconut and spicy sweetness shows up immediately, though you can still clearly detect the underlying malt as the ratio is still 50/50 malt/grain. The Ref#3 is still carrying the heavier malt notes and especially the sherry notes.

The taste confirms the nose here (a no. 5 glass). I'm getting the grain on first arrival, but the malt and especially the sherried malt has added an edge here - a decent blend - for a home made kind :-)

Islay in the mix?

I just have to try and add a few drops of peated whisky to this mix - just to see what happens and how much will make the dram go OTT rather than add to the experience...

For that purpose I have an Ardbeg from Cadenhead.
I'll start by adding just 5 drops-  which has no significant effect on the app. 20ml mix, same amount is added to the tasting glass.. on the nose it just show tiny, tiny whiffs of peat, if any... maybe its just a peat imprint in my mind? On the palate its like the mix now has a firmer body.

Now adding 1ml to about a 20ml mix gives it a clearer profile and detectable peat for sure, which goes to show how a little peated malt goes a long way - at least for me here... adding a few more drops bring it to maybe about the level of Johnny Walker Green label (best comparison - I think). The other 22ml mix is clearly unpeated when nosing/tasting.

This has been a fun experiment to do and I hope you've enjoyed reading it.
I'd like to encourage you all to get blending at home... though you should reserve much of an evening for it as its very time consuming and and potentially tiring as your senses are working overtime.

GLENROTHES 1996 - SIGNATORY DENMARK EXCLUSIVE

We're back in the village of Rothes in central Speyside for this next review.
This is, as announced in the previous review, the 2nd Signatory release exclusively for Denmark this Autumn.

Had a wee nip of this one in the store about a week ago, where it came across as very promising. Back in the comfort of my 4 walls, I tried out the sample I was generously provided with...

Glenrothes 1996 16yo 17.05.1996/06.10.2012 57,5%, Hogshead#715113, 293 bottles, Signatory Vintage Exclusively for Denmark

Full straw in colour

Nose:
Honeyed and peppery, heavy on malt with an alcohol nip, hint of apple, nutmeg and tangerines - very warming...

Taste:
Medium arrival on spices and barley sugar and malt - very straight forward. Turns a bit drying but never bitter. Oranges and hints of chocolate pops up along with hints of strawberries, licorice root and honey.

I found this one very hard to dissect which I find very intriguing.
This is a great drinking malt - and that's what malts are for, right?

88/100!

NORTH BRITISH 1997 - SIGNATORY DENMARK EXCLUSIVE

North British is probably my favorite grain distillery since I find it more spicy and not cloyingly sweet like most other grains.

This one is a Denmark Exclusive by indie bottler Signatory, imported to Denmark by FC Whisky.
We usually seems a few of these every year and the last few bottlings I've tried have ranged from good to excellent - very good picks from FC Whisky for sure!

2 casks have been bottled and are now ready for the upcoming Xmas sale here in Denmark - a 1996 Glenrothes (will be reviewed later) and this North British - so how is it:

North British 1997 15yo 14.05.1997/06/10.2012 54,5%, Ex-bourbon barrel#246282, 175 bottles, Signatory Vintage Denmark Exclusive

Colour is pale straw

Nose:
Very sweet, but also very closed at first nosing. I'm not getting much else than a little varnish, wet wood and very little fruit. 15 mins later this baby comes alive with clear vanilla, apricot, creamy coconut, fresh linen and white chocolate. Lovely!

Taste:
Light arrival, first a spicy oak nip but then it rushes on to a stone fruit theme, mainly nectarines and apricots. The character then turns on more traditional grain whisky notes with a spicy sweetness - all very clean, delicate and crisp.
The finish is very much on tropical fruit, coconut and ginger. Again very delicious!

This one is far from as heavy on the sweetness as older grain whiskies usually are. Instead it shows a vibrant young side to grains that we don't see that much of - and I like that!

Good stuff - no doubt about that!

87/100!

LAPHROAIG 2000 DENMARK EXCLUSIVE - SIGNATORY VINTAGE

We're heading back to the south shore of Islay for this next review. Laphroaig is -to many- a love or hate whisky... but judging by their sales - especially in the US, the lovers sure outweighs the latter.

Laphroaig Visitors Centre entrance - May 2011 © The Malt Desk

This review is about a Laphroaig as it should be... Cask strength, non coloured and non-chill filtered. Laphroaig needs that punchy delivery that can only be done through a high abv% - and this one does that to full effect.

Lets see what we're dealing with here:

Laphroaig 10yo 12.04.2000/28.02.2010, 62,3%, Refill sherry butt#700052, 569 bottles, Signatory Vintage - Denmark Exclusive bottling

Amber in colour

Nose:
Slightly sulphured, though nothing disturbing - like its adding to the experience rather that dragging it down. Some spirit burn but underneath there's seaweed and the peat, though not as dominant as one would expect in a young Laphroaig. Also some mint in there and a little 'dirty' sherry cask though it does give off some nice dark fruit sweetness - other things that comes to mind are cardboard, tobacco and cow dung.

Taste:
Very different! as if the peat only runs at the side of your mouth as your mouth waters from the alcohol. A bit kippery for sure too and more of a rubbery style sulphur here on the palate. Burnt plastic, struck matches and wet tobacco leaves + spicy oak and oranges. Water makes it more drying and bitter on the finish.

A powerful young Laphroaig with lots more to offer than its original brethren.
It has quite an edge and is IMO best drunk neat...

86/100! as its still a bit 'dirty' in style - but good fun!

SIGNATORY PRESTONFIELD - CLYNELISH 1973

Old Clynelish, especially from the era around where they did large batches of peated malt at the distillery is held in high esteem among malt fans. Oh, and then there's the fact that both distilleries - the new and the old Clynelish were producing at the time - read: they hadn't renamed the old Clynelish to Brora yet...

So does this one come off the new stills on the left side of the road or the old 2 stills on the right side? we'll never know - but lets have a dram here:

Clynelish 1973 33yo 23.07.1973/xx.xx.2006 54,3%, cask#8912, 405 bottles, Signatory Prestonfield

Colour is light straw

Nose:
Initially grape fruit bitterness, vanilla and oak spices, more than a hint of smoke that dies down to very gentle layer after a while. Some trademark Clynelish waxiness as well as some honeyed notes. It gets much sweeter with time the fruitiness turns a bit more tropical.

Taste:
Coal smoke, tropical fruits galore here - getting especially banana and citrus fruits and a bit of ginger here, a peppery feeling runs to the front of the mouth and then a layer of smoke reappears with more honeyed fruits on the aftertaste.

This dram will keep you occupied for hours (though you maybe have to re-pour a couple of times!) Just simply a beautiful dram, this one!

91/100!

NEW RELEASES - DENMARK EXCLUSIVES + GLANN AR MOR

The Autumn always sees new releases and Danish importer FC Whisky has again secured some bottlings exclusively for Denmark.

Like earlier in the year we got 2 single cask bottlings coming our way from indie bottler Signatory. The previous 2 - a Bowmore and an Imperial which were both really good are reviewed here and here.

This time we have a cask of Glenrothes 1996 and a North British 1997 grain hitting the shelves before long. Details on the bottlings can be found on the labels below:
























FC Whisky also imports Kilchoman to Denmark and the 7th danish single cask is a 6yo Kilchoman from a fresh ex-bourbon barrel. FC Whisky is the first to bottle a 6yo Kilchoman ever...

Full details on this one are:

Kilchoman 6yo Distillery bottling - Denmark Single Cask Release 7,  fresh bourbon barrel#162/2006.
Distilled 26.07.2006 – Bottled 08.10.2012 - 59,4% - 234 bottles!

On a bright final note, FC Whisky has also announced that they will start importing French Single Malt 'Glann ar Mor' and its peated twin - the 'Kornog'.

The Danish market will get these 3 bottlings from them:

- Kornog - 46%
- Kornog cask strength - 58,7% 'Taouarc'h an Hañv 2012'
- Glann ar Mor - 46%
















As the production from Glann ar Mor distillery is limited FC Whisky is very proud to get to represent Glann ar Mor in Denmark. The 'Kornog' peated version recently picked up 95points and a 'Liquid Gold Award' from whisky writer Jim Murray.

BOWMORE 2002 DENMARK EXCLUSIVE - SIGNATORY

Of course, one of the ever so popular Islay whiskies had to sneak into this Signatory review - so lets have a Bowmore!

Bowmore 2002 9yo 60,3% 05.09.2002/14.05.2012 ex-bourbon barrel#800406, 223 bottles, Signatory Exclusively for Denmark

Bright gold in colour

Nose:
Vanilla hit, then peat and flowers, heather and earthy notes.
Then butter on a hot frying pan and warm sand.

Taste:
A fire in a flower shop? The Bowmore style is there for sure, but its pleasant and not FWP in style. Extremely drinkable at full strength (60,3%).

Vanillas and flowers by the truckload in the aftertaste on this one. I'm also thinking pancakes made on a metal plate over a campfire. Water brings out more peat and softens the vanilla.

My guess is this was a 1st fill bourbon barrel...

A delicious young Bowmore!

Finally, Thanks to Søren for the samples

86/100!

IMPERIAL 1995 DENMARK EXCLUSIVE - SIGNATORY

Just recently, the Danish importer of Signatory has had another couple of bottlings done, exclusively for Denmark.

Generally the Danish importer has been very good at getting bottlings exclusively for Denmark, but notes on previous ones have escaped me and others I have not tasted, but lets have a look at 2 very recent ones.

First up, a whisky from the mothballed Imperial distillery in Speyside...

Imperial 1995 16yo 58% 09.10.1995/14.05.2012, hogshead#50317, 216 bottles, Signatory Exclusively for Denmark

Gold coloured

Nose:
Nutty, creamy, light coat of (refill) sherry, very honeyed with hints of citrus and wet leaves.

Taste:
Loads of things going on! Spice hit, mouthfilling, spicy alchohol marinated fruits, somthing like a mild sherry infusion and caramel. Waxy...
Adding a couple of drops of water makes it very citric after a while. Finishes on whisky flavoured bbq oak flakes.


Reminded me of a Clynelish several times during the tasting. Lovely!

87/100!

CAMERONBRIDGE 1959 - SIGNATORY

Cameronbridge 35yo, 11.09.59/xx.09.94, cask#33/88, 53,2%, 155 bottles, Signatory

Nose:
Coconut, high end american bourbon, woody

Taste:
Moderate alchohol attack, weak middle palate, a little acidic
Gains by adding a few drops of water, palate gets more balanced

82/100! (tasted 05-11-2011)