Some whiskies at Viisi Penniä

Saturday afternoon at Viisi Penniä. Just had few whiskies and couple of beers. The whiskies I had were Tullibardine, Caol Ila and Glen Moray. First was Tullibardine's Aged Oak Edition. Pale white wine coloured whisky was fruity, perume and woody scented with fruity, grassy and vanilla flavours. Nice whisky for the everyday use. Points: 83/100. Caol Ila was bottled by Duncan Taylor and it was 30 years old. It had smoky and band-aid aromas and fruity, honey and smoky flavours. Taste is definitely better than nose. This whisky would be a good ingredient to a sauce for a steak. Points: 83/100. The last dram was by Glen Moray 24 year old and this was also bottled by Duncan Taylor. First sniff and the nose was filled with toffee.Lots of toffee. I just can't get anything else out of it. Taste had fruity and sweet notes. On the other hand this was nice but still quite boring and one-sided. Points: 78/100.

Nice whiskies but none of those three were really thrilling. Great afternoon at the local pub, though.

Whisky tasting at home (19 November 2011)

It's Saturday and I'm tasting some whiskies. You don't have to wander around from pub to pub whenever you want to have a dram. You can do it at home and that's what I'm about to do. I tasted six whiskies and here are my thoughts.

1) Glen Scotia, aged 12 years. Amber-coloured whisky had scents like coffee, cooked vegs, grassy, leather and cereals. On the palate I found maltyness. It had a medium long finish. Points: n19+t19+f20+b19 = 77/100 (that's Grade 7.5).

2) Caol Ila natural cask strength. Nose has scents of leather, tobacco and band-aid while on the palate I noticed peatyness, salt and smoke. Finish was long and peaty. Points: n21+t22+f22+b22 = 87/100 (that's Grade 8.5).

3) Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve. Pale ambered whisky had a scent of fruitiness and honey. Taste was fruity and toffee. Finish was fruity and medium long. Points: n20+t21+f20+b20 = 81/100 (that's Grade 8).

4) Tobermory aged 10 years, new bottling, 46.3%. This was a huge step forward. The old 10 was a bit too boring and light-bodied. This edition had citric, floral and grassy scents but also fruity, honey and salty flavours. Much better than the old one. Points: n20+t21+f22+b21 = 84/100 (that's Grade 8+).

5) Bunnahabhain, aged 12 years, new bottling, 46.3%. I remember the old 12 YO what was 43% and that was good. Then came 40% version and now they've released this 46.3% version. This is awsome. Very deep amber colour and nose has many characters like chocolate, fruity, honey, nutty, spicy and winey. Taste has caramel, coffee, fruity, honey, sweetness and toffee. Excellent whisky. Points: n23+t23+f23+b23 = 92/100 (that's Grade 9).

6) Royal Lochnagar Distiller's Edition batch RL/96 - 9T. I've always like the 12 year old version which was very fruity. This wasn't that good but still very nice. Nose: chocolate, coffee, fruity, honey, winey and after water grassy. Taste: fruity, malty and sweet. Points: n22+t22+f21+b22 = 87/100 (that's Grade 8.5).

The new Bunna 12 YO was the clear winner today.


Dinnae girn an' ging off tae buy a flask.

Bowmore Legend and Old Pulteney Row To The Pole later on...

Few drams at Galle, Pori (22 November 2010)

Spent some time with friends at Steak and Whisky House Galle at Pori couple of days ago. After Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish and Glenkinchie 1989/2002 DE drams that nevertheless weren't that bad starters of the evening I yearned something better. I took a dram of fantastic smoky and smooth Caol Ila 18 years old. It had fruity and tobacco nose and ripe fruits on the palate and excellent long and smoky finish. But that wasn't the highlight of the evening. It was Glenfarclas 1954. This version was distilled at 16 June 1954 and bottled at 27 July 2000. So it was 46 years old! That's a long time. My father was 16 years old when it was distilled and I was 30 when it was bottled. The colour is amber, looks very tasty. After nosing this sweet whisky I could find sherryish notes, medicine, honey, red wine and some strange way sauna with a wooden stove (kiuas in Finnish) and it's getting colder. This was a full-bodied whisky and on the palate I could trace notes like winey, fruity, treacle, fudge and spices. The finish was sherryish, spicy and long. Quite complicated whisky. After drinking the empty copita glass still had strong scents inside. Marvelous whisky.

Points:
1) Glenfarclas 1954 (n24+t24+f23+b23. Total points: 96, Grade: 9.5)
2) Caol Ila Aged 18 Years (n23+t23+f23+b23. Total points: 92, Grade: 9)
3) Glenkinchie 1989/2002 DE (n20+t22+f21+b21. Total points: 84, Grade 8+)
4) Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish (n20+t20+f21+b20. Total points: 81, Grade: 8 )