A Pour Man's Tasting Notes

[AdamMY]

Caol Ila 10yo Unpeated 2009 65.8%

N: At first nosing a big whiff of nail polish remover. Then getting salty, faint ash, some melon and citrus (lemons mostly). More brine and some vanilla.
P: Salted lemons and melon. Brine and vanilla. Sea air and the ash.
F: shortish on lemons and brine. Just a touch of the vanilla as well.

With water

N: Much more fruity. Tons of lemonheads, honeydew, and a faint saltiness. Rather sweet smelling.
P: Salt and fruit. Simple but enjoyable. Also a little of the vanilla and wood varnish is there but it really is loads of melons, lemons, and salt.
F: Still rather short on salted lemon juice.

My previous ratings of this whisky has been 85-87 but tonight it is an 82. So take it with a grain of salt. Just seemed simpler tonight.

It is actually funny that you mentioned that the aroma reminds you of nail polish remover. When I first poured a dram of Caol Ila 12 ( the regular not unpeated), I loved the aroma, and had to share it with the only other person around, my sister, who said it smelled like nail polish remover to her.

[Laphroaig]

William Larue Weller 2010

N: Almonds, leather, ginger, toffee, and Nutmeg. Hints of cinnamon and vanilla.
P: Honey almonds, leather (new leather), toffee and ginger. Some nutmeg and cinnamon. Also a little maple syrup.
F: medium short on almonds, nutmeg, toffee and maple syrup.

A little simpler but still very enjoyable. 89 points.

Interesting, I'm just seeing this but did not bite on the 2010 WLW bottle (at least not yet), but I've heard quite a few comments that echo your last sentence to some degree.

A lot of folks feel the 2010 was inferior to the 2009, and it sounds like it's to a degree of dissatisfaction that goes beyond the vintages simply being "different". I'm curious how current views might play into future bottlings of the Van Winkle line if in fact it's flipping (as anticipated) to Buffalo Trace's wheat recipe production/whiskey.

[MacDeffe]

Batch 3 just came out!

I'd do the hard job and taste it for you guys in a few weeks

Steffen

[rayor]

Nice notes...I enjoyed reading and I'm gonna taste some of them
Why you stop writing? I want more

[johan brugge]

Hey Sean, how do you compare these new batches against the old version of the Laphroaig CS?

[The Third Dram]

Fascinating to cross-compare your notes of the 'Rendezvous' with my own, Sean...

Batch No. 44, Bottle No. 825 – 46%

Nose: Quite exceptionally delicate, complex and alluring. Toffee coated apples. Caramel. Turkish Delight. Vanilla icing. French toast. Lemon oil. Leather. Moist grass. Mentholated tobacco.

Palate: Clean with intense sweetness. Then bittersweet notes accompanied by spiciness. Buttermilk pancakes. Apple sauce. Oranges. Milk chocolate. A soft surge of Sahara-dry peppery heat rises from beneath, broadens and finally fuses with the other sensations. Vanilla. Smoked almonds. Cinnamon. The bittersweet rye aspect displays a rather subtle, gentle nature until the spices of the younger distillate begin to 'pop' near the finish. And a cooling hint of mint lingers long afterward.

Comment: Incredibly smooth, either poured over a single ice cube or served neat. There's a lot going on here. But you need to pay attention and take the time to fully appreciate the underlying complexity. Simply stunning whiskey!

Yes... I like this one a great deal!

[The Third Dram]

Great tasting note Doug.

Thanks Sean.

I really felt this one counted amongst the very best of my 'discoveries' over the last year... which just goes to show that, sometimes, the result of good source material combined with a stroke of masterful blending can equal, if not surpass, any traditional notions concerning provenance.

[Drrich1965]

It has been a while since I have posted here- need to do so more. Good seeing Ganga and some others I "know."

Sore 93 Sm Miltonduff 20yo (46%, D & M afficianado's Club Distilled June 199) June 12, 2011. If I had this blind, I would have thought it was a very old and outstanding bourbon cask Highland Park, or perhaps a vatting of HP with sherry and bourbon (or perhaps, best, not first filled sherry). Why? It is outstanding, with all the complexities and multiplicities that are the best HP. Nose: A deep and rich maltyness, early morning cressants. Spiced cookies. A hint of old port. Just a bit of smoke at the rare moment. Truely complex-spellbinding. Mouth: More smoke and peat than I would have thought. I deep spicyness balances a rich malty center.This is one that will just not last long- I just love it. This is one of those malts that makes me rememmber why I love whisky so damn much, and is full of complexities and suprises that only come from balance. The last few years, I have preferenced and privledged Islay whiskies, but this is one of those ones that makes you reevaluate your tastes. Stunning.

[johan brugge]

Caol Ila 25yo OB 58.4% 2005 release

N: Olive brine, lemon, malt and some smoked fish. hints of green bean and vanilla. Almost a smell of some roast beef.
P: similar to the nose. Olive brine, smoked fish, lemon and some barley. Hints of the green bean, cucumber and vanilla. Maybe a little root and licorice.
F: Medium long on smoked fish, olive brine and lemon. A little root and vanilla hang on till the end.

A very nice malt. A tad more complex and well rounded but not as in your face.

90 points. and yummy to me.

This sounds really nice, Sean. I'm curious to find out if my Caol Ila 25yo 1978 tastes about the same.

[johan brugge]

New Belgium Somersault

What the hell is that? Are you sure this is a Belgian beer? I've never heard of it before.

[nash60975]

Very good and different than the first two but not quite as good as the 2011.

90 points.

Its interesting to see someone else try some verticals of the Larue Weller. I've tasted the '07, '09, and '10 (I have a bottle of '08 unopened), and I'd say my favorite is the '09 thus far. Before the 2011 release, I'd always heard everyone talking about the '09 being the best of the editions, but it seems like I might have to try the '11 soon and pick up a bottle, which won't bode well for my goal to cut down on purchasing BTAC releases.

[Peater The Great]

I like reading these tasting notes.

Personally I'd like to see a write up of any whisky you have rated a 93+.

I have always found reading a few 93+ write ups gives better perspective to the reviewers personal biases (which we all have of course).

Anyway... keep up the good work.

[goalong88]

glassware is quite important as well

[noface0711]

I have a spare bottle of Uigeadail L5 left. I'll tell you how this one tastes as soon as I opened the bottle.