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Girvan / Ladyburn /
Rare Ayrshire
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Girvan
distillery was founded in 1963 by Wm. Grant &
Sons Ltd to supply grain whisky for their blends. In 1966 they
added an extra pair of stills to the complex to produce single
malt whisky under the name Ladyburn, also sometimes bottled as
Rare Ayrshire.
Sadly
they discontinued production of 'Ladyburn' and Rare Ayrshire in 1976 and
demolished the equipment in 1978 but there are a few bottlings
of Ladyburn or Rare Ayrshire if you look hard enough. Girvan
grain whisky continues being produced to this day. |
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Rare Ayrshire |
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General whisky characteristics: Fresh, intense and very
floral |
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Signatory,
Rare Ayrshire 1975, aged 34 years,
distilled 21.2.1975,
bottled Oct. 2.3.2009, 46.9% ABV
Cask Strength
Collection, Cask
No. 562, bottle No. 10 of only 172
Original cost of
this bottle; €€€€€ |
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour: Rich
gold
Nose:
Stunning! A complex
mixture of malt, perfume, flora and just a hint of the dentist's
chair.
Palate:
This grows on the
palate! It starts slowly with fresh herbs but quickly expands
with a floral delight which is both fresh and intense, but very
difficult to identify individual components, probably as there
are many.
Finish:
Long and intense, fading slowly.
Overall Impression:
Don't let my "dentist's
chair" comment put you off, I fear them with a vengeance, but
this whisky has a slightly antiseptic freshness and intensity
which initially reminded me of the dreaded dentist. Having said
that, it is fresh, intense, but also extremely floral, lightly
perfumed and a total delight! Now why can't the dentist
be like this?
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Girvan single grain
whisky |
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General whisky characteristics: Sweet, aromatic, fruity
butterscotch |
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Hunter Hamilton Co.,
Clan Denny, Girvan, 20y,
vintage 1990,
59.3% ABV
Bourbon barrel
cask No. HH 5794
Original cost of
this bottle; Unknown |
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour:
Honey, light gold
Nose:
Very aromatic with
honey, raspberries and quite floral, sweet malty butterscotch.
Palate:
A wonderfully
creamy mouth-feel and very floral with herb-butter, apricot and
butterscotch.
With 4 drops of
water: The nose is sweeter and more floral, whilst the
palate has turned even smoother and creamier with raspberries
and toffee.
With 4 more
drops: Oats, malt and butterscotch are now prominent on the
nose whilst a bouquet of wild herbs appear on the palate.
Finish:
Long and intense,
even longer with
water.
Overall Impression:
Delightful,
sweet herb bouquet in a glass.
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Wilson & Morgan,
Girvan, 35y,
1979-2015
Cask 900008
Original cost of
this bottle; Unknown |
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour:
Pale yellow gold
Nose:
Suggestions of dry grasses (hay?), even a slightly bitter
woodiness, fruitiness akin to sour apple and is that just a hint
of brasso?
Palate:
This
is really alive as it expands across the palate with a
pepperiness. It's also sweet with a hint of butterscotch but
then it seems to gain a mild bitterness towards the finish.
Finish:
Very long.
Overall Impression:
Bitter
sweet nice-ness.
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Old Particular,
Girvan, 25y,
51.5% ABV
Original cost of
this bottle; Unknown |
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour:
Very pale yellow
Nose:
Sweet,
candy floss, very mild nuttiness, gently perfumed like a meadow
of wild flowers in the sunshine. Lovely.
Palate:
This
really is sweet, even on the palate as it reminds me of the old
sweet shops from my childhood and in particular those chewy
little fruit salad sweets. It's also light, gentle and mildly
perfumed as was the nose.
Finish:
Long, light, perfumed.
Overall Impression:
Delightful.
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Hunter Laing,
Girvan, 30y,
53.9% ABV
The Sovereign,
Cask HL15559, bottle 45 of 254
Distilled Oct.
1988, bottled Nov. 2018
Original
cost of this bottle;
€€€€€ |
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Glass:
Classic Malt
Colour:
9ct gold
Nose:
Very
aromatic but yet quite delicate in style with butterscotch,
sweetness and butteriness.
Palate:
A
creamy mouth-feel offering suggestions of butterscotch,
hazelnut, buttery toffee and just a hint of caramel.
With 3-4 drops
of water: The nose is even milder in character and more
buttery. The palate has an even creamier or smoother mouth-feel.
Finish:
Long and gently nutty.
Overall Impression:
Lovely
whisky, but then I am a bit of a sucker for older grains.
Surprisingly I loved it even more with the few drops of water.
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