Speyside Whisky
Aberlour 14
ABV 40%
Double cask matured in Sherry and American Bourbon casks
Nose: Big and bold! Cloves, cardamom, toffee, milk chocolate, and orange.
Palate: Indulge in a velvety smooth texture! Full, thick, and creamy, bursting with juicy cherries, decadent fudge, and a touch of roasted coffee.
Finish: A lingering warmth! Honeyed sweetness and gentle wood spices create a long, satisfying finish.
Rating 7.9/10
Pleasant yet predictable. This Aberlour release is a good age statement at a good price. The cask influence comes through nicely and you can see why it is popular! Just lacks any really memorability!
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Benromach 10
43% ABV
Matured in ex-bourbon and sherry casks
Nose: First notes are of fresh orchard fruits incl pears and apples. Complemented with vanilla and honey. A hint of peat smoke to balance the sweet flavours.
Palate: Smooth and creamy, caramel. Develops into a hit of fruity sweetness with the continued accompaniment of vanilla and honey from the cask influence.
Finish: Slow and warm where the peat smoke comes into it's own.
Rating: 8.9/10
An excellent dram which combines sweet fruit and savoury peat smoke flavours with perfect balance.
GlenAllachie 15
ABV: 46%
Aged in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks
Nose: Waves of honeyed malt, richly layered with notes of sherried dried fruits—figs, dates, and sultanas—melded with a dark treacle sweetness. Hints of mocha and a dusting of cocoa powder, complemented by a touch of cinnamon spice and orange zest. A note of toasted oak rand vanilla.
Palate: A full-bodied dram, delivering an initial burst of rich dark chocolate and toffee. Plump raisins and juicy red berries interplay with nutmeg, cinnamon, and a light coffee bitterness. The sherry influence is profound, providing a backdrop of sweet pipe tobacco, stewed plums, and a hint of balsamic reduction. There's a creamy, almost chewy texture that envelops the palate, balancing sweetness and spice in perfect harmony.
Finish: Long, warming, and satisfyingly complex. Lingering notes of rich cocoa, honeycomb, and dried figs, with a subtle smoky edge and a final flourish of spiced oak.
8.5/10
An exemplary expression from GlenAllachie that showcases their masterful Sherry cask maturation. Perfect for those who love a richly sherried Speyside malt with layers of complexity and warmth.
GlenDronach - Port Wood
46% ABV
Natural colour
Non-chill filtered
Finished in port casks form the Duoro Valley in Portugal after initially being matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks
Nos: Heavy fruit, fresh berries, dried booze soaked fruit, dates, prunes, and a hint of spice
Palate: Brown sugar, chocolate, stewed berries and rich oak
Finish: High tannins, fruit sweetness and oak
Rating: 8.9/10
I like it, it's heavy on fruit which suits my palate. Some may find it overwhelming. The port and sherry casks do deliver what you expect.
Glenfiddich 12
40% ABV
Matured in American Oak and Spanish Oak ex-Sherry casks.
Nose: Creamy toffee, butterscotch, hints of autumnal orchard fruits.
Palate: Light spicing, floral, fresh sweetness from fruit notes.
Finish: Touch of oak, short but balanced.
Rating: 7.5/10
An unremarkable, mass produced 12 year old. However for £35 a bottle it delivers exactly what you'd expect. It's a fair price for the quality.
Glenfiddich 15 - Solera
40% ABV
Matured in a mixture of ex-Bourbon, Sherry and Virgin Oak Casks
Nose: Barley sugar, toasted cereals and grains, caramel and honey sweetness. Mild orchard fruits with a slight citrus note.
Palate: Vanilla and soaked raisins, continued notes of toasted grains, bitter citrus peel and burnt caramel.
Finish: Short and unrefined. Rough and non-descript other than mild sweetness.
Rating: 5/10
Not for me I'm afraid. You'll find much better Sherry Cask influenced whiskies at a similar price point which are much better quality.
Their endeavour to produce a complex whisky at a distillery which focuses on mass production has fallen flat in my book.
Macallan 12 - Double Cask
40% ABV
American oak ex-bourbon matured while seasoned in sherry casks
Nose: Warm vanilla, dried fruits and warm spice. Touch of oak and rich cream. Balanced by sweetness of honey and butterscotch.
Palate: Fresh apple, citrus zest, ginger, honey and double cream. The sherry cask notes add elements of dried fruits, winter spice and dark chocolate.
Finish: Medium to long, the warm spice notes continue with echoes of dried fruit and oak.
Rating: 8/10
Like the Sherry cask 12 year old, the double cask is well known world wide. This release provides a harmony between fresh and dried fruit notes with not over powering hints of spice. I'd chose this over the sherry cask if you prefer a mellower flavour profile.
Macallan 12 - Sherry Oak Cask
40% ABV
Matured in Olorosso Sherry Casks
Nose: Rich and inviting with notes of dried fruits like raisins and sultanas. Layered with citrus zest, warm spices and vanilla. A touch of oak to balance.
Palate: Smooth and full-bodied. Flavours of toffee, butterscotch, dried fruit and citrus. Hints of nutmeg and clove with oak.
Finish: Long finish with the sherry sweetness and warm spice the predominant notes.
Rating: 8.5/10
A dram which is known worldwide. The Macallan brand aims for quality and sophistication and achieves both. It may be a little mainstream for the more experienced and adventurous palate and some may find it's popularity a little cliché. But the quality of the contents in the bottle is undeniable.
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