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Please
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Cadenhead-2H-2H......
or
The 9 +2
Drams of November
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I recently received
a parcel of 9 samples
from a good whisky-friend who just happens to own a whisky shop
in Vienna called "Cadenhead's" so it makes sense that the
samples were all current Cadenhead releases. I've spent the last
couple of weeks going through them so here are my tasting notes
and thoughts on the nine releases in the order I tried them: |
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Cognac 40 years
old, 61.6%ABV
Glass Cognac
lead crystal goblet
Colour Light
Oak
Nose Very
aromatic, almost gently perfumed (in a good way) then a
nuttiness develops, perhaps almond-marzipan-y. After a short
time it further develops some herbal notes.
Palate An
initial tingly nuttiness tantalises the palate with a distinct
almond-y marzipan-y character. The tingle is right on the front
of the palate as a rich body caresses the whole palate.
Finish
Medium to long
Overall
Impression Delightful, I love it, especially that full
bodied tingly nuttiness. 91pts from me and almost 92.
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Ledaig 11 years
old, 55.2% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour Very
pale yellow gold
Nose Fruity
in a green apple or pear manner. Followed by a mustiness which
is mildly peaty, perhaps almost fishy too.
Palate
Initially offering a very smooth mouth-feel before developing a
spicy pepperiness with that peaty fishiness being quite
prominent. It also has an almost milky character, but not quite.
Finish
Medium to long
Overall
Impression I did find a strange but pleasant hint of
milkiness on the palate but where I often experience a "baby
vomit" character from Ledaig whisky, it just wasn't present
here, so a lovely surprise. Even that peaty fishiness was very
enjoyable. 87pts from me.
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Tennessee 15 years
old, 51.1% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour
Slightly cloudy (dark) oak
Nose
Extremely aromatic in a floral way with a mild nuttiness
(almond, marzipan). Some faint hints of coconut too before
turning almost vegetable-y.
Palate
Everything from the nose plus a spicy pepperiness repeated on
the palate.
Finish Long
Overall
Impression Interesting. I love the floral notes on the nose
but not sure about them being served with vegetables. 84pts
from me.
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Deanston 10 years
old, 53.6% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour
Extremely pale yellow gold
Nose Creamy
custard-iness is at the forefront. Creme Brulee perhaps? Then
come hints of freshly baked wholemeal bread.
Palate That
wholemeal bread-iness from the nose is accompanied by a
pepperiness on the palate. Perhaps all soaked in vanilla sauce,
or even custard.
Finish Long
and slightly peppery.
Overall
Impression I generally like hints of bread-iness in a
whisky, but otherwise this Deanston is just mild and innocuous
with a nice pepperiness. Just not quite distinct enough for me
79pts from me.
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Mackmyra 11 years
old, 49.5% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour Very
pale yellow gold
Nose After
the Deanston here's another whisky with initial hints of creamy
custard-iness and vanilla. It develops a leafiness after some
time in the glass which spreads gently across the palate. It's
dry, musty and gently floral in a leafy way.
Palate Lots
of grass-iness and leaf-iness accompany faintly floral notes as
it turns almost herbal.
Finish
Surprisingly long and floral.
Overall
Impression Fresh, aromatic, leafy, grassy, herbal? Really
very nice. 85pts from me.
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Hazelburn 11 years
old, 51.7% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour Pale
yellow, almond-ish
Nose Once
again a creme brulee type of creaminess then suddenly a dry
leafiness develops which turns into a distinct metallic-ness.
Palate
Initially a typically smooth Hazelburn mouth-feel but it's
spoiled by the metallic-ness continuing from the nose through
the palate. It's also given a bitter character from hints of
green apple, pear or even star fruit.
Finish Long
and slightly bitter.
Overall
Impression Bitter, fruity, metallic? Let's say strangely
Autumnal. 80pts from me.
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Benrinnes 18 years
old, 55.7% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour Pale
yellow gold
Nose
Creamily Autumnal with a gentle leafiness which develops a
lovely warm fruitiness. Apple crumble anyone?
Palate
Everything from the nose repeated on the palate plus a mild
pepperiness eventually turning dry and leafy, aye, Autumnal for
sure.
Finish
Medium to Long.
Overall
Impression Apple crumble? Got to love it. 87pts from
me.
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Glenallachie 25
years old, 56% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour
Glowing yellow gold
Nose Musty
but yet fruity. Green fruitiness, Apple? Pear?
Palate A
grenn fruitiness but with hints of raspberry. Delightful but
quite difficult to describe.
Finish Long.
Overall
Impression Difficult to describe but delightful. I love it.
88pts from me.
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Linkwood 30 years
old, 57.2% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour
Vibrant yellow gold
Nose A very
mild leafiness turns fruity after a short time in the glass.
Palate Leafy
coconut? Yes, definite suggestions of coconut.
Finish Long
with those suggestions of coconut.
Overall
Impression Delightful. I love the coconut. 89pts from
me, almost 90.
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A bonus
brace of beauties
Earlier this year I
visited the Cadenhead shop in Vienna and spent a fantastic
couple of days with Manfred & Florian (the proprietors) trying
some excellent drams and of course leaving some of my
hard-earned with them as I selected a couple of what I thought
to be stunning drams. This seems to be the right time (and
place) to pontificate over that brace and share my thoughts.
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Glentauchers 27
years old, distilled 1990, bourbon barrel, 54.4% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour
Marzipan
Nose Very
aromatic with suggestions of floral green fruit mixed with hints
of raspberry all in a slightly musty way.
Palate
Initially a big raspberry 'hit' with a creamy mouth-feel. Later
developing a mild spiciness alongside the fruitiness. A tiny
hint of coconut to finish things off? Maybe.
Finish Long
and fruity.
Overall
Impression Love it, a Great! 91pts from me.
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Laphroaig 20 years
old, 1998-2018, 2x bourbon hogsheads, 474 bottles, 54.3% ABV
Glass
Classic Malt
Colour
Golden oak
Nose An
initial massive suggestion of smokiness turns fruity (green
apple)) and almost gently sour or bitter.
Palate Smoky
fruitiness gives way to a delightful slightly salty
maritime-ness.
4 Drops of water
Sadly didn't do very much other than to dliute what is otherwise
a fantastic whisky.
Finish Long.
Overall
Impression This so much reminds me of a fantastic 'old
school' Laphroaig, especially with the maritime elements. A true
Great! 92pts from me.
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Summary and food
for thought:
Firstly let me
address what I've called the bonus brace; that Glentauchers is
stunningly good and with more than 90 points it's also what I
refer to as a "Great". Not an honour I award lightly. I was
lucky enough to get the last 20cl sample when I visited earlier
this year, my malt-mate Klaus was even luckier to get the last
full (70cl) bottle.
The Laphroaig is
also long sold out, this time I got the last full (70cl) bottle
and do I consider myself lucky? You bet! It's what I call a
great old school Laphroaig which is quite unusual in a 20 year
old version. I just had to have that bottle, in fact both of
these.
Now for the 'November 9' in order of "Great-ness":
91pts for the
40y Cognac Another stunningly good sample, even better than
the 30y cognac I bought during my visit earlier in the year.
It's so good this is anpother that I just have to own. My order
is placed!
89pts for the
Linkwood 30y
I just love this whisky and it's not so often one has the chance
to try a 30y Linkwood. You guessed, another I need to have so
order already placed.
88pts for the
Glenallachie 25y
Fantastic whisky and only my lack of funds has stopped me
getting one of these too.
87pts for the
Benrinnes 18y
A most enjoyable whisky. Sadly one can't own everything.
87pts for the
Ledaig 11y
Is this really only my 3rd ever Ledaig without that 'baby vomit'
experience. Lovely.
85pts for the
Mackmyra 11y
Leafy, Autumnal but still freshly Scandinavian.
84pts for the
Tennessee 15y
Those floral undertones make this a most enjoyable whiskey.
80pts for the
Hazelburn 11y
I've had some truly fantastic Hazelburns in the past, but the
metallic character of this whisky just didn't do it for me.
79pts for the
Deanston 10y
This isn't a bad whisky, it's just not my style, but then we all
have different tastes.
Many thanks to
Manfred & Florian for the chance to try these whiskies (and
whiskey) but they are pretty canny chaps as my order has now
been placed for my two preferred bottles which also just happen
to be the two most expensive on the list.
Ahh, just in case
you're sitting reading this in Germany and thinking of placing
an order with them they sadly don't deliver to Germany, so
you'll just have to head over to Vienna for a short (or even
long) visit and collect them yourself. Nothing sad about that
then. |
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A
selection of previous Dram-atics highlights
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Coming eventually
(postponed due to
Covid-19)
"Bring a Blend 2020"
Or will it be 2021? |
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The Malt
Maniacs Awards - MMA |
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Dec.
2010 |
December's Advent-urous drams,
Nant Distillery,
The road to Certification |
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Nov. 2010 |
Journey to end of Scotverse,
Wick,
Pulteney,
Balblair,
Knockdhu,
Homecoming,
Tweetup,
Chilling with Cooley |
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Oct.
2010 |
The John Walker,
Sampling with Master of Malts,
Changing jobs,
Whisky Round Table |
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Sept.
2010 |
Playing Chinese whispers,
Oktoberfest,
SMWS Spirit Cellar,
500,000 |
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August
2010 |
Elementary my dear Islay,
Handbags at dawn,
Dram-arkable 500,
Cheapo Challenge,
Ah Dooagh,
1 from 3 left |
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July
2010 |
Age
matters. A series of whisky reviews concentrating upon 'Age' |
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June
2010 |
Jules
Rimet, pickles & crisps.
Mon coeur, mon amour oh mon sherry.
A
taste of the great outdoors. |
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May
2010 |
The
highly-acclaimed and record-breaking "Desert Island Drams" |
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April
2010 |
My
peat's bigger than your peat,
A foursome with a famous Scottish
bird |
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March
2010 |
Sample
Mania tasting notes,
The Good, the Bad & The Loch Dh-Ugly,
A return to sanity,
The Choice of Managers |
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Jan-Feb
2010 |
Keep
taking the medicine,
It's Festival time,
Maker's Mark,
Sleeveless in Munich |
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Dec. 2009 |
All
power to bean-counters,
protecting Scotch,
seasonal drams,
Definitive Xmas Drams,
2009 Whisky Awards |
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Nov. 2009 |
How it
all started,
Bonfire night,
Autumnal musings,
EU Tax & Duty,
What's in a (whisky) name? |
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2009-2020 by Keith Wood - All rights reserved - Whisky-Emporium |
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