Auchroisk 20 y.o. (bottled 2010, 58.1%):
Fruity, oaky, complex nose with notes of cocoa, honey, orange marmalade, vanilla, custard and peppermint;
fresh, very nice palate with sweet citrus fruits, also a little spicy; very nice fruity/oaky finish; all in all beautifully
balanced and very moreish
(90 p)
Benrinnes 1985 23 y.o. (bottled 2009, 58.8%):
Fragrant, complex nose, quite oaky with caramelized sugar (like a Spanish brandy), also quite sherried with notes of
gingerbread and white pepper; sweet, rich yet delightfully smooth palate, oaky and spicy with notes of honey and dried
fruits (figs, prunes), very nicely balanced; nice finish - oaky and spicy but with light notes of citrus and vanilla
(88 p)
Brora 30 y.o. (bottled 2009, 53.2%):
The nose is smoky, malty, oaky and a little rough but also fruity and buttery with light, fresh notes of vanilla, citrus
and mint; the palate is light, smooth and sweet at first with citrus and custard but drying, develops oak and spices -
complex and very nice; oaky finish with citrus and peat - nice yet a little too oaky
(90 p)
Caol Ila 12 y.o. (bottled 2010, 57.6%):
Malty, peaty nose with citrus, honey and black pepper; the palate is sweet and fruity, also malty, peppery and
powerful - nice yet a bit rough; not as nice, clean and balanced as the 10 y.o. bottled in 2009
(interestingly, this one's quite peaty even though the malt wasn't peated)
(85 p)
Lagavulin 12 y.o. (bottled 2010, 56.5%):
Peaty, malty nose with notes of citrus and peppermint; the palate is fairly dry, light but very peaty with
fresh minty notes, restrained and nicely balanced; peaty, spicy finish
(88 p)
Mannochmore 1990 18 y.o. (bottled 2009, 54.9%):
Dense, powerful nose with sherry, oak and caramelized sugar, also lighter notes of green fruits; rich palate
with very nice fruity notes, at first sweet then drying, develops spicy oak; spicy, fairly hot finish
(84 p)
Pittyvaich 1989 20 y.o. (bottled 2009, 57.5%):
Complex, a little quiet nose, rather nice with oak, tobacco and notes of peat, mint and citrus; light, sweet
and fruity palate with vanilla and citrus, develops oak and malt, drying, grows more powerful; nice finish
with fruits and oak in a nice balance; all in all nice but the oak tends to dominate the delicate fruity notes
(86 p)