Single Malt Lover!

Macallan 7YO (40%, OB)
I don't know if this is a Italy Edition or an International Ediition.  But as a 7yo bottling, this is beter than I thought.  Balanced Sherry nose, Golden brown color.  Flowerish, flowerish, very dry woodiness.  Not too much caramel.  A little bit simple but not too un-acceptable. Score: 79.

Macallan 1841 Replica (41.7%, OB)
Golden color.  Smoky.  citrus fruit, not very sherry.  Finished dry.  15yo? Quite enjoyable but not worth that much money.  Standard Macallan, Dry, Oil. Score:  80.

Glengoyne 10yo 40% OB
Standard Low Land Style, Score: 75.

Glengoyne 17yo 43% OB
Very beautiful Malt nose.  Fresh, Storng, littel fruity.  Solid body, very surprising one. better than 21yo ob.  Score: 82.

My friend Richard told me, "Kingfisher, I noticed that you haven't tried this malt, trust me, you'll be surprised by the quality.  Indeed, I can't believe the PERFECT speyside nose I got at the first impression.

Banff 24yo 1976/2001 (53.7%, Blackadder Natural Strength, Cask#2247, 256b. Hogshead)

I got this sample from Richard, they have no plan to introduce to Taiwan, a special sample for me.  Golden color, my favorite.  Nice legs, Great Speyside nose.  Fruity, malty, some orange, some flower.  Freshing but quite deep and thick.  I would say this is almost close to perfect if only judge by nosing.  A little bit weak in pallet, not to complex and certainly not as good in finish.  However, still Finished long and mature.  Adding water does not bring out new flavor but seems help in taste.  Score: 86.  Too bad, I thought I could give it 90 at the first impression.

Macallan-Glenlivet 20yo 1980/2001 (46%, Kingsbury's, Cask#16453, Sherry Butt)

Kingsbury's is a very rare and seems focused on some old sherry butt bottles.  Un-confirmed information said this is a special lable bottled by Murray McDavid for their Japanese importer.  Color: Brown.  Lot's sherry, chocolate, vanella, tropical fruit, very little smoke.  Quite Oil and powerful.  Creaming.  I actully opened this bottled earlier this month.  And by now, without notice, already 2/3 bottle gone.  I think I quite enjoyed this one.  Though, I would say it's not a very typical Sherry Macallan.  Score: 88.

Some very nice samples to share with Stephen.

Springbank 14yo (46.7%, SMWS, No.#27.52, Port Pipe)

Brown to Red color.  Port Sweet, Citrus, Mint, Dry.  Finished port like.  Suger.  Could be one of the best port finish I had before.  Second to Balvenie 21yo.  And one thing further, it create a very unique taste, nothing like other port finsih.  Score: 84. (S: 84)

Springbank 25yo Limited Edition (46%, OB)

Brown color.  Sherry, flowerish.  Very nice balanced nose.  Freshing.  Strong, finisled quite long and mature.  A little bit salty at the end, but not sea.  Very oil, even adding water, still an outstanding malt.  A winner, no doubt.  Score: 92. (S: 93)

Several new samples tasted:

Dufftown 19yo 1982/2001 (43%, Cooper's Choice, Cask#9281/8, 1181b., Sherry Cask.)

Second time taste.  Even worse.  Score: 70.

Glenglassaugh 1973 The Family Silver (40%, OB)

Sample from Bird.  Said to be collectors' item, many people didn't know it's actually an OB.  Yellow to Brown color.  Thick legs, seems too much water.  Very standard old speyside burbon cask nose.  Fruity, sweet.  Maybe a little bit sherry cask but should be little.  Nice and smooth taste, finished weak.  Adding water has more malty and nutty feel.  Generally speaking, not bad.  Score: 80.

Two samples taste in the Macallan new bottle market party.  It's very marketing.

Macallan 12yo (40%, OB, new bottle 2004, Sherry Cask)

Quite similar to the old one, but comes from good batch, not too much caremal.  Score: 80.  Reminds me the good time I had with this standard version in early years.  Kind of strange to hear the Macallan people said it has no "pigment" inside.  It's all naturl color.

Macallan 18yo Fine Oak (43%, OB)

Still very obvious sherry influency by nose.  But more fruitier and flowerer than old sherry cask version.  Golden color.  Very dry finish.  Kind of strong in body.  Layer taste.  Originally I gave it 80, but later I decided to give it Score: 82.  I actually quite like it.  Too bad I didn't have enough sample to add some water in.  I guess I only had 5~8 ml in the glass.

Highland Park 1988/2003 (57.3%, Sprirt of the Isles, Cask#706)

Second time taste.  Sample from Rubinstein.  Kind of weak in nose.  Good in Palate.  Seems better than the first time.  should be almost 80.  I think this is a very good value choice.  only USD25.00 per bottle.  Score 78.  A little bit higher than last time.

Scapa 25yo 1974/2000 (50%, OMC, 524b.)

Sample from Bird.  Thanks!  Brown color.  Is it sherry Cask? Beautiful legs.  Very easy to tell it's shrry influence.  But not that strong.  Sherry, sweet, fruity.  A very intersting stange taste in palate.  Is it peanut? Finished long and mature.  Very nice Scapa.  Adding water seems too weak. Score: 86.

Bunnahabhain 1979 (57%, James MacArthu's, Miniature)

After reading Johannes report on the Bowmore sample, I decided to re-taste again, along with some samples from my friends.

Bowmore 35yo 1968/2003 (42.05%, Peerless, Cask#1424, 201b.)

I gave it 90 at the Bowmore 1968 tasting.  Johannes got the sample from me and only gave it 49 bacause it disappear too soon.  I decide to taste it again.  The only conclusion: yes it disappear comparing soon by nosing but after taste it, the nose comes out again.  And I waited for 10 mins. and found not too different.  Maybe it's the sample bottle problem.  I don't know.  I think I'll take another sample and send to Johannes again.  Score: 88.  A little bit lower than the first time.

Macleod's Islay 8yo 40%

The second time to taste it.  Face to face with the Lagavulin 1987 Distiller Edition.  I can almost 100% sure this one is the Lagavulin.  By nosing, almost the same distilleriry charactor.  Except the 1987 DE has some sweet sherry nose.  However, again, the palate is too weak and creat some unbelievable drop.  Score :78.  A little bit higher than last time.  I still think this one is a value choice.

Rosebank12yo 1991/2003 (43%, Blackadder Aberdeen Label, Cask#236))

Very light yellow color.  Malty, a little bit mint.  Very strong buring nose.  little fruit.  Oily.  Taste thin and dry.  Finished short.  Generally speaking a very nice and strong Lowland malt.  Score: 80.

Glenkinchie 1986 Distillers Edition (43%, Cask#G/273-7-D, Amontillodo Cask wood, Double Mature)

Brown color.  Again, bruning nose, strong.  Sherry, Peat? Mint, Sulfer, Tropical fruit.  Medium Body.  Smooth but some storng feeling.  I think I smell some 豆花?  Quite oil.  Become malty after adding some water.  As an Lowland malt, this is quite nice and drinkable.  A little bit better than Rosebank 12yo.  Score: 81.

Macallan 1990/2003 (57.5%, Spirit of the Isles, 600b.)

Spirit of the Isles appear in Taiwan maket around one year ago.  Not very expensive, but has some famous first class distilleries.  I have taste some of them but I've never buy one.  This one was sold at a comparing low price.  Light Yellow.  Some speyside hint but almost can't feel it's a Macallan.  Not too strong, either.(Just open.) The only thing I can be sure is that it is a speyside single malt.  Score: 72.

Macallan 1986/2004 (54.8%, Scott's Sel.)

Very nice bourbon Macallan. Though, kind of simple, but still a nice dram.  Score: 83.

Macallan 1978/1999 (40%, G&M Speymalt)

Dufftown 19yo 1982/2001 (43%, Cooper's Choice, Cask#19281/82, 1181b., Sherry Cask)

This sample was provide by my friend Bird.  Just in time to compare with the Chieftain's choice 12yo bottle. Dark Brown color.  Heavily sherried for sure.  Plum, nutty, a little bit honey and malty.  Finished weak.  Robust.   It is quite stange the tow Dufftown bottling are qutie robust.  Is it the Dufftown distillery charactor?  Not very Speyside. Adding water does not perform better.  I think the Chieftain's choice is better.  Score: 74.

Clenfarclas NAS 105 Cask Strength (60%, OB)

Sample provided provided by my friend murder.  Nice legs. Balanced sherry influence.  Strong, simple.  Some fruit, coming from bourbon? Nice dram.  Score: 82.

Topic: The five existing and still botting Dufftown distillery

Attendents: Kingfisher, Murder, Rubinstein, Bird(man in the mirror), David, Stephen.

Dufftown 12yo (43%,Chieftain's Choice, Sherry Wood Finish)

There were several Dufftown IB bottles can be found in Taiwan.  However, I have never being able to taste any of them.  This one was the old Chieftain's bottling. Gold brown color.  Quite good nose, fruity with a hint of smoke. Taste quite nice but finished thin. The sherry influence become obvious after adding water. Young and robust. Score: 78. (M:78, R:76, B:C+, D:79, S:80)