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Aultmore 12yr Old

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As my job is focussed very much on the Moray coast this Banffshire malt caught my eye this evening. Bought in Gordon & MacPhail Whisky shop in Elgin back in October 21, it cost £58. I thought I'd have a wee dram whilst my better half watched some tv and I pottered about in my study.  I'd opened it but not had more than one or two tastes previously. To my nose there it is green, not the smell of cut stalks and leaves in a florist, not of freshly mown grass, but there is a greenness to it and not a lot else. I guess it's quite clean and there's not much flavour to it from either the barrel or the terroir.  The first taste is pretty bland to be honest, there's not a lot there at all. Caramel, soft in tone does come after the finish and perhaps a pear note too but nothing which is exciting. This is a light whisky, and probably more akin to Glen Grant than other whisky I have. A second sip is better but still nothing to write home about and on the whole I'm left ...
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Raasay

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I bought this down in the borders, in Duns after a rather nice afternoon at the wonderful Jim Clark museum, from Forte's Off License. It was a hot day in July 21and we were enjoying a wee break, still with masks in Scotland, but not in England if I recall correctly.  Forte's had quite a selection, but Raasay was new in and he had only two bottles. My bottle is from R-01, issued in May 21, and according to the distillery bottled in June, so pretty fresh!  Raasay is the island between Skye and the mainland, sheltered by its bigger sibling. I first really heard of the island when I read Calum's Road, but I later found a cousin of mine lived there too.  The whisky is light and quite drinkable. A slight peat smoke odour and a sharp fresh first taste. Lemony sharp vingeryness fading then berries and fruitcake and a touch of puff candy or cinder candy.  Looking at the distilleries own notes the whisky spends time in rye bourbon casks...a drink I love, and which brings the s...
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Caol Ila - Distillers edition

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This bottle I bought because I wanted something a little different from my Speyside and Lowland malts. Purchased form Gordon and MacPhail in Elgin on 29/12/21, so a purchase to see in the new year.  It has a sweet smokiness to start with. I have to say it reminded me of crisp maple cured bacon. That won't be on many tasting notes I should think. The peat is there - as aroma and taste. smoky rather than full sod, almost as if it takes the charring of the barrel more than the water.  Overall a mild finish rather than full on. Quite drinkable, especially after a meal and indeed a bbq rather  a roast.  Weirdly I also get "red"...don't know why - perhaps a touch of synesthesia on my part.  So that's my impression. What do the tasting notes say.... Annoyingly the distillery website was down. But the tasting notes on whiskybase.com are interesting  Guess I wasn't far off the mark, or at least on the same page as that fellow. A few pages suggested "overwhelming...
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First Post - Something Different

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This blog is intended to be a record of my whisky collection, tastings and trips. I've enjoyed whisky since my 20's but it's really into my 30's and 40's that I started enjoying the subtleties of it rather than just as another drink. I'm no being drinker, sometimes a drop won't touch my lips for a few weeks, sometimes I might have a couple of drams in an evening. I enjoy a beer or two as well, particularly Belgian beers so expect those to pop up from time to time too. I currently have 25 bottles in my collection - not large by any account, but each bottle has a story and a reason for having it. All of them are open and are meant to be drunk and enjoyed.  Some come from from Whisky Runs - trips with friends in my Alfa Spider to a distillery, an overnighter and scenic drive home. Great fun and a fantastic way to see the country.  Clynelish Blair Athol Glenkinchie Singleton of Glen Ord My bottle of Dalwhinnie from the first of these runs has been drunk, and ver...
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