Bowmore 25 y.o. Signatory Vintage 1975 – 2000, Cask 1924, 49,5%

Comment: This is a classic, and exactly in the middle of the old 1960ies style and the later lilac-type Bowmores, but without the perfume. One could say old 1960ies-Bowmore minus the extreme dextrose-fruitiness. Great wood of the dark kind and a maritime freshness with a lot of depth. Noble it is!

Score: 90

Glen Elgin 10 y.o. SMWS 85.20, 1999-2009, Refill Sherry Butt, 650 btl., 60,2%

Comment: Raisins, earth, not bad, but rather simple.

Score: 86

Dailuaine 23 y.o. SMWS 41.42, 1986 – 2010, Refill Hogshead, 220 btl., 57,3%

Comment: On the sweet side, good Bourbon woodiness, but a bit hot altogether, seems a bit younger.

Score: 87

Auchentoshan 11 y.o. SMWS 5.27, 1999-2011, 2nd-fill Bourbon Hogshead, 262 btl., 58,3%

Comment: As a friend of Auchentoshan (oh boy, they made some great whiskies, and the Three Wood is one of the great standard bottlings out there) I was a bit disappointed in this release. It displays lemon zest, malt, hay, heather, honey, licorice and vanilla, altogether nice but not very impressive. And another minus, it is not very smooth for a triple-distilled Lowland Malt. Look for better Auchies, they are not hard to find.

Score: 79