Here’s the details of what I tasted this weekend and some very quick notes! Everything was tasted neat in Glencairn glasses.

1) Dailuaine 2008 17 year old - FF Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish - 57.2% ABV
Prefer the OB in this case as I like the base distillate. This expression doesn’t meld in the bottle well for me if that makes sense. The wood in the finish feels like it’s fighting the whisky.

2) Glen Ord 2009 16 year old - FF Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish - 56.4% ABV
Decent Sherry finish expression. Very drinkable even at the ABV.

3)Auchroisk 2008 16 year old - FF Pedro Ximenez Hogshead Finish - 57.8% ABV
Highly bitter. Again, the distillate is fighting the finishing wood. There’s a clash here that makes this not great to drink.

4) Glen Spey 2007 17 year old - FF Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish - 57.3% ABV
Good. The Oloroso here is present but not intrusive. It’s very drinkable, but not remarkable.

5) Mortlach 2007 17 year old - FF Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish - 56.8% ABV
Plant matter, hint of earth/smoke, doesn’t work for me. I prefer the IB, especially the 16. The earthiness was a surprise. The addition of water did not help.

6) Longmorn 2005 19 year old - FF Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish - 62.6% ABV
Again, prefer the OB, this doesn’t work even after O2. The ABV is just too high and even after two rounds of water, the overall experience was not improved. The OB is very good and this was just not.

7) Glen Grant 2000 25 year old - FF Oloroso Sherry Butt - 56.8% ABV
Fruits, Spice, Vanilla - Cherry juice, Christmas spice, excellent interplay with distillate and wood. Very good indeed.

8) Glen Keith 1996 26 year old - 2nd Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt
Light - golden fruit. Not as good as the Glen Grant but still a good Sherry expression.

9) Benrinnes 1995 30 year old - 2nd Fill Pedro Ximenez Hogshead Finish - 49.1% ABV
Buttery, floral, sherry spice, powdered sugar. An excellent dram! Everything here works!

10) Fettercairn 1995 30 year old - single Hogshead - 58.5% ABV
One of the only non-Sherry cask influenced IBs I own. I’m a big fan of the OB. Apples, pear, fruit salad, light, crisp but buttery, bright. This is also an excellent dram!

11) Glenburgie 1995 30 year old - FF Pedro Ximenez Hogshead Finish - 48.5% ABV
Super smooth, light, balanced . Possibly the highlight of the lot. PX is a great finish here and this is one of the best executed SVs I’ve had to date.

Cheers everyone!

Working my way through some Signatory Vintage IBs. Tonight’s Tasting:

1. Aultmore 2011 14 year old - FF PX Hogshead Finish - 61.9% ABV

2. Blair Athol 2011 13 year old - FF Ruby Hogshead - 57.7% ABV

Quick Notes: The Aultmore is fantastic! Easily drinkable even at the high ABV. The Pedro Ximenez finish adds some sweetness but also that extra spice in the nose and on the palate. It’s a beautifully balanced dram.

The Blair Athol drinks very HOT despite the lower ABV. This is less balanced, but you can pick up the sour and wine forward notes from the Port. This is a good dram, a good example of port cask influence, but not nearly as good as the Aultmore IMO.

Tasting some wonderful Linkwood expressions from Signatory.

1. Linkwood 2009 15 year old - FF Oloroso Sherry Butt - 56.2% ABV

2. Linkwood 1995 30 year old - FF Oloroso Sherry Hogshead - 50.9% ABV

Nose: Both have fantastic sherry finish notes. Cinnamon, brown sugar, Christmas spice, red fruit and jam.

Taste: The 15 has slight sour notes consistent with Oloroso finishes. There is less sweetness than in PX expressions. Both are very well executed - the 30 has the most depth and breadth, but the 15 is very very good in its own right. Both drink drier than the G&M IBs I’ve had. There is more brown or burnt sugar in the 30. Overall, for the price, these are exceptional. The G&M bottles I tasted previously are better, but these are still exceptional in taste and execution.

1. Linkwood 2009 15 year old - FF Sherry Hogshead - 53.8% ABV

2. Linkwood 2002 22 year old - FF Sherry Hogshead - 54.8% ABV

3. Linkwood 1993 30 year old - FF Sherry Puncheon - 49.2% ABV

A late Birthday celebration tasting of Linkwood from Gordon & MacPhail’s Connoisseur’s Choice lineup (probably my favorite IB series).

Previously, I’d tasted and purchased the 15 and loved it, so I also picked up the 22 and for my Birthday, I picked up the 30. Tasted all of these neat in Glencairn glasses after 30 min of rest.

Incredible. Just incredible. There is a lot of complexity, sweetness and spice going on. Deep stewed fruits and Christmas spice… just wow.

Quick Notes:

Nose
15 - dark spiced tea, stewed fruit, cinnamon
22 - hibiscus? Cinnamon candy, sugared fruits
30 - so much depth, and breadth. It’s a Sherry bomb in the nostril but it’s hard to describe everything I pick up. It’s literally insane.

Taste
15 - probably one of the best Sherry Cask 15s (or 15 year old anything) I’ve ever had. Incredible. Just a wonderful balance across the tongue.

22 - sweeter, not as rich as the 15. Lighter. The sherry here is more delicate.

30 - lights out. Balance. Depth. There is no wood interference. There’s not a trace of sour. It is truly exceptional.

The 30 here is clearly the champ, but for value, the 15 is really outstanding!

Cheers, everyone! 🥃🥃🥃

All drams tasted neat in Glencairn glasses after 30 min of rest.

Started the afternoon off with the Tamdhu Batch Strength - Batch No 004. It is exclusively matured in first-fill and refill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 57.8%

Ended the evening with:

Tamdhu 15 - matured entirely in Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 46% ABV.

Tamdhu 18 - matured exclusively in European and American oak Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 46.8% ABV.

Tamdhu 21 - matured entirely in first-fill and refill Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 47.5% ABV.

Quick Notes:

Batch No 004: For the fans of high ABV whisky, this is going to be an ideal dram for you. You get the Tamdhu Sherry cask mastery with a very high ABV and yet, it’s still drinkable neat. This is a very good batch strength whisky!

Tamdhu 15 - fruity, spicy, but delicately balanced. A step up from the 10, 12 and 14.

Tamdhu 18 - another step up, and not just in ABV. You can taste the added age in Oloroso. The spicy notes are deeper and richer, less sweet fruit on the nose. Again, a delicate balance in taste.

Tamdhu 21 - Now THIS… THIS is special. Chocolate, rich spice. This is full bodied like a wine. Insanely easy to drink even at 47.5%. I can see why this is so highly regarded. So far, this is the best Tamdhu I’ve had.

Tamdhu 10

Tamdhu 12

Tamdhu 14 Ambar (Travel Retail Exclusive)

All tasted neat with 1oz pour in a Glencairn glass after 15 minutes of rest.

Each is a well balanced use of Oloroso Sherry maturation - not overpowering in these expressions. The 12 and 14 were more complex and both had the nose and taste of some wood funk. Each was very drinkable at 43%ABV. I really enjoy Tamdhu and am looking forward to some older expressions.

GlenAllachie 2014 10 Year Old Oloroso Cask 62.3% ABV

GlenAllachie 2007 18 Year Old Virgin Oak Barrel 59.1% ABV

Both 1.0oz pours tasted neat in a Glencairn after 30 min rest.

The 10 year old has some mild heat to it and some decent spice, but even after 1 tsp of water as added, it’s just too young for my taste. Some additional notes of chocolate and even a strange gentle smoke are released with water, but there’s not much depth here. It’s good but nothing special.

The 18 year old is VERY good. The wood really shines here but is not too forward. The age here translates into a much better experience than the 10. This is a really good example of how GlenAllachie can shine with a focus on wood (like their Master of Wood Collection series).

Cheers, Everyone! 🥃🥃

Tasting my way through GlenAllachie Single Casks!

Tonight:

2011 12 Year Old - Oloroso Hogshead 57.1% ABV. This was an exclusive release from the GlenAllachie Distillery online shop.

2014 10 Year Old - Oloroso Hogshead 60.5% ABV. Exclusive UK release.

The Distillery Online Shop exclusive is pretty amazing! Surprisingly easy to drink at 57.1%. The Oloroso is sweet here.

The UK exclusive is considerably hotter at more than 60%. Some interesting root beer notes on the nose, equally spicy as the 12 but less sweet. Tasted neat first, then separately after adding 1/4 tsp of water and swirling. Two rounds of added water helped reduce the burn and open the nose and palate.

I think the 12 here is the clear winner!

Cheers! 🥃🥃

Tasting my way through GlenAllachie Single Casks!

Last night:

2009 14 Year Old - Oloroso Hogshead 57.8% ABV

2006 17 Year Old - Oloroso Puncheon 59% ABV

Some water is recommended! These drink pretty darn HOT! Both are great Sherry Bombs! Cheers! 🥃🥃

Part I: 2014 Chinquapin & Pedro Ximénez (57.8% ABV) – A blend of Missouri Chinquapin oak and first-fill PX sherry puncheons. Aged ≈ 10 years.

Part II: 2015 Scottish Virgin Oak & Oloroso (58.2% ABV) – Aged in rare Scottish oak and Oloroso casks. Aged 9 years.

Part III: 2014 French Virgin Oak & Oloroso (57.4% ABV) – Released in early 2026, featuring air-dried French Limousin oak and Oloroso sherry casks. Aged 11 years.

Tasted 1.5oz pours, neat, after 30min or rest.

Quick Rank: I > III > II

Quick Notes:
Series I - I’m a sucker for PX casks, and the Series I is pretty special. The Missouri Oak is subtle but noticeable, and very balanced here. The PX is evident on the nose and spice is spectacular on the palate. It’s surprisingly easy to sip neat even at 57.8%.

Series II - oily immediately. Slight sweeter tones from the Oloroso. Wood and spice is turned up here and yet, still somewhat easy to drink at 58.2%.

Series III - more melon and cinnamon. Less wood harshness from the II. Very balanced. Another easy drinker even at high ABV.

These are all fantastic. The Series I is my favorite for total balance and PX notes, but they’re all so well made. These expressions along with the 17 and 35 are the stars of the lineup in my opinion.

Cheers! 🥃🥃🥃

Quick Thoughts - All tasted neat in a Glencairn glass after 1 hr of rest:

Glen Scotia 12
Excellent entry into the lineup. Matured in FF Bourbon barrels. Delicate, light and fruit forward.

Glen Scotia 15
Moving up to full maturation in American Oak barrels. The oak is prominent here. There’s still balance, but I prefer the crisp fruit on the 12.

Glen Scotia 18
Matured for 17 years in refill Bourbon barrels and American Oak hogsheads, then finished for a year in FF Oloroso casks. The sherry is immediate on the nose and gently mixed on the palate. Much more presence of stewed fruits. Very good balance!

Glen Scotia 21
Matured for 20 years in refill Bourbon barrels and American Oak hogsheads, then finished for a year in FF Oloroso casks. Once again, you can pick up the Oloroso immediately but it’s far from a sherry bomb. This is nice balance of oak, fruit, and spice. The coastal influence is there as well - but very subtle.

Best Value: The 12

Best Overall: The 21

Rank: 21 > 12 > 18 > 15

GLENFIDDICH XS 15 YEAR OLD

Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks

Matured in American and European oak, then finished in indulgent Oloroso sherry casks, it balances green apple brightness with warming cinnamon spice. Layers of oak sweetness bring vibrancy and depth- a refined expression for every occasion.

Tasting Notes: I’m a big fan of the regular Glenfiddich 15 and so I was really looking forward to this. You can still taste that distillate, but there’s no mistaking the presence of the Oloroso. The spice is prominent here but not overpowering. There’s a tad more sweetness too, but also not too much. Overall, it does present as more spicy than the core 15 but it’s so smooth and enjoyable it really makes for a nice change to the regular 15.

GLENFIDDICH XS 18 YEAR OLD

Finished in Moscatel Sherry Casks

Double-matured in American and European oak before a finishing flourish in rare Moscatel sherry casks, this expression deliversvelvety richness and full-bodied depth. Fragrant caramelised fruit, treacle toffee and dried apricot evolve with every sip.

Tasting Notes: The Moscatel is subtle but adds more sweetness IMO than what is in the XS 15. There is definitely more wood present and more complex notes as expected with the increased age. It’s very delicate for the age though as with the core 18. This is quite good! And it’s another fine alternative to the regular 18.

Just thought I’d share… 40 years ago today, I attended my first DM show during their 1986 tour to support Black Celebration. This is my actual ticket stub from the show!

D🖤M

GLENFIDDICH XS 15 YEAR OLD

Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks

Matured in American and European oak, then finished in indulgent Oloroso sherry casks, it balances green apple brightness with warming cinnamon spice. Layers of oak sweetness bring vibrancy and depth- a refined expression for every occasion.

GLENFIDDICH XS 18 YEAR OLD

Finished in Moscatel Sherry Casks

Double-matured in American and European oak before a finishing flourish in rare Moscatel sherry casks, this expression deliversvelvety richness and full-bodied depth. Fragrant caramelised fruit, treacle toffee and dried apricot evolve with every sip.

GlenAllachie 16 - 50th Anniversary Past Edition 57.1% ABV

GlenAllachie 17 - Mizunara & Oloroso Sherry Cask Edition 50% ABV

GlenAllachie 18 - Core Release 46% ABV

Cheers, Everyone!

Working my way through the GlenAllachie expressions:

GlenAllachie 13 - Medeira Wood Finish 54.3%

GlenAllachie 14 - Oloroso Woof Finish 55.4%

GlenAllachie 15 - Core Release 46%

GlenAllachie 10 - Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish

GlenAllachie 10 - Cask Strength Batch 12

GlenAllachie 12

Unbelievably lucky to find a 2018 bottling and grabbed it without question! Cheers to everyone! 🥃🥃

Glenfiddich tasting tonight… (left to right) 21 Gran Reserva old bottling, 21 Gran Reserva new bottling, 22 Gran Cortes, 23 Gran Cru, 25 Rare Oak, 26 Excellence, 26 Grande Couronne, 30 year old bottling, and 31 Grand Château

Cheers everyone! 🥃🥃

12 Sherry Cask, 14, 15, 17, 18 and 25! Cheers everyone! Enjoy your weekend!