Littlemill 24 y.o. The First Editions 1988, 55,8%

Comment: Another good one from Littlemill, these are very consistent. As usual, we have the herbs (thyme, rosemary), grass, dried flowers, lemon and vanilla in the front seat. Then we get peaches, bergamotte, apple and quince. A typical Littlemill with a spicy edge.

Score: 89

Strathmill 21 y.o. The First Editions 1991, 57,3%

Comment: A highland-like Speysider. Spicy oak, hazel wood, licorice, bitter elements, yellow apple, macadamia nuts, pistachio, honey and pepper.

Score: 85

Allt A’Bhainne 18 y.o. The First Editions 1994, 54,5%

Comment: Ginger, lemon, aromatic smoke, quite some oak and vanilla, quince and peach liqueur.

Score: 87

Teaninich 24 y.o. The First Editions 1993, Sherry Cask, 58,1%

Comment: This is your typical well-matured whisky with some spice elements that bring freshness. The sherry cask rendered raisiny and sweet aromas that are well integrated. I am also getting apple pits. Well balanced overall.

Score: 87+

Longmorn 27 y.o. The First Editions 1985, 51%

Comment: This one is my favourite of this series. Bright and cristalline fruitiness like a Riesling Auslese, lime blossom, cassis, apricots, you name it. Reminiscenses of old Glenglassaugh or Tomatin whiskies come to mind. Just fab.

Score: 91

Blair Athol 20 y.o. The First Editions 1993, Sherry Cask, 57,8%

Comment: A very unusual dram, I must say. Italian bitter (Aperol), chocolate, dark wood and spice, green elements (kitchen herbs), sherry and what not. It gains quality on the palate.

Score: 89

Miltonduff 30 y.o. The First Editions 1982, 48,3%

Comment: Fruit basket meets pickle glass water (mustard seed, pickles, dill and herbs), soft smoke, leather, honey, vanilla and a medium dose of oak infusion.

Score: 89

Mortlach 24 y.o. The First Editions 1989, 57,9%

Comment: Burnt steak, black pepper, porridge, acidity, sulphur, white balsamico, kitchen smoke – a unique dram that delivers on the palate.

Score: 88

Highland Park 17 y.o. The First Editions 1995, 53,9%

Comment: A peaty one but still gentle and immensely complex and coastal, I love it. It shows its allrounder qualities.

Score: 90

Jura 18 y.o. The First Editions 1995, 52,8%

Comment: Nicely farmyardy, coffee, canned milk and leather, The sweeter elemensts are doughnuts, Nutella, vanilla cream, gingerbread and pistachio. It might not be overly complex but tastes just right und quite unique too, as a Single Malt should.

Score: 90

Glentauchers 7 y.o. Archives 2005, Sherry Butt, 52,5%

Comment: Off to a flowery and malty start, green grapes too, quite enticing, I must say. Gingerbread, marzipan bar in chocolate, bark, honey, honeysuckle, dried fruits and orange peel join the nose. It tastes surprisingly raisiny and grapey at first, then becoming dry, malty and honeyed. The long finish is sweet and full of reminiscenses of a fine Chardonnay. Give this one time!

Score: 87+

Deanston 15 y.o. Archives 1997, 55,8%

Comment: I find Deanston a totally underrated distillery, and this dram proves it again – the nose offers loads of peach core aromas and apricot marmelade, a real fruit basket for its age, canned milk, white chocolate, saw dust, vanilla and a discrete smokiness. The greatness, however, is on the palate: great balance of fruit, some Sauternes-like sweetness and the wood. Wow. This loveable Speysider finishes on the sweeter side of life. Moreish!

Score: 89+

Glenrothes 25 y.o. Archives 1988, Refill Sherry Hogshead, 53,0%

Comment: Pot Still Rum?! Could be, but turns into a whisky now: lemon freshness, herbal tea, bergamotte, fruits (apple, apricots) and vanilla on the nose. Nice spices like ginger and chili come in, and quinces, honeysuckle and jasmin. It tastes baroque, full and mature with the spicy edge to keep it interesting. A spicy tail too.

Score: 88+

Glendronach 11 y.o. Archives 2002, Oloroso Sherry Butt 2751, 57,2%

Comment: Dry and spicy Oloroso nose, very nutty. I am getting aromas of pepper, leather, coffee beans, wheatfields, peach liqueur/syrup, canned milk and vanilla. It tastes like a classic Glendronach, altogether more on the spicy side of things without too much sherry domination. Dry oats, crispy malt. It finishes great and sweeter than expected on maraschino cherries and exotic spices. Gimme more!

Score: 89

Bunnahabhain 26 y.o. Archives 1987, Sherry Cask, 50,2%

Comment: Probably my favourite out of this release – big stuff, maraschino cherries, port, cooked raisins, dark chocolate, leather and salt plus that maritime and freshness. In second row there is some white pepper and even more dark fruit. Not overly complex, but soooo nice altogether. On the palate it jumps back and forth between fruity sweetness and spice elements, leaving you with the dark cherry fruit to win, and even more chocolate. Christmas dram!

Score: 90

Ledaig 7 y.o. Archives 2005, Hogshead, 62,8%

Comment: Our friends know what I think of Ledaig 2005 (we bottled one for our club) – and this is a classic example, even one of the better ones. Mustard seeds, polished shoes, apples, iodine  and big flinty aromas. Daddy like!

Score: 90-

Tamdhu 25 y.o. Whisky-Fässle 1988 – 2013, Bourbon Hogshead, 50,7%

„Kirschschnapps with cereals“ I’d call it. This dram reveals a nice cherry aroma on a solid malty core, also dried flowers, hay straws, scorched earth, gentian, ginger, chili, lemon zest and peach liqueur. There is a good balance between the Bourbon wood and the fruit. Enjoyable! 88 points.

Auchroisk 22 y.o. Whisky-Fässle 1990 – 2013, Sherry Cask, 49,8%

„A bright version of a Christmas Cake“ is my reference here. Ruben said he didn’t get this dram completely. Let’s try it for ourselves: There is a well-integrated sweetness of sherry-related aromas just like in a soaked chocolate cake (with Port and Sherry) plus the dried fruits like raisins, dates, figs, cherries etc. I like the blood orange and cinnamon in the second row. It tastes not too dry for a sherry-matured dram with earthy and peaty undertones (discrete though) and wonderful Asian spices in the finish. Good stuff for under the tree! 89 points.

Glen Keith 20 y.o. Whisky-Fässle 1992 – 2013, Bourbon Barrel, 51,8%

Can this one follow its 90-point predecessor from 2012 (Duck series)? Yes it can, it is a fat and oily woodworm on vanilla, coconut and loads of Bourbon character (Willett?). Baileys Irish Whiskey Creme and creme brulee, almonds, macadamia, pineapple, peaches and other tropical fruits chime in. But you have to like oak. The fruit oils and coconut taste plus so much more are amazing on the palate. As mentioned before, I love how Glen Keith translates the Bourbon character into the Scotch realm, they must have had great casks back then which fitted the dram perfectly. 90 points.

Bunnahabhain 22 y.o. Whisky-Fässle 1990 – 2013, Sherry Cask, 52,0%

„Aldi chocolate-gingerbread hearts with cherry-filling“ – another one for under the tree. It starts off on leather, sherry and raisins. The sherry aromas are big, a touch too much for my personal taste as it bulldozes the salty and maritime distillery character a bit. Maraschino cherry, cardamom, white pepper, dates and figs stand in second row, but this dram is not overly complex altogether, a bit plump. Not bad though. 86 points.

Clynelish 16 y.o. Whisky-Fässle 1996 – 2013, Sherry Cask, 53,3%

A leafy and leathery (tannic) Clynelish with medium-strength sherry influence, not very typical at first, but then getting more ’normal‘ on beeswax, Atlantic depression and apples. I am also getting sea air, soy sauce, peaches, pears, spices, caramel and gentle smoke in fine balance. 88+ points.

Bowmore 18 y.o. Whisky-Fässle 1995 – 2013, Sherry Cask, 54,9%

„Beachfront BBQ with high class seafood at the Mediterranean sea“ – these words characterize the dram best. This amazing Bowmore displays aromas of grilled crayfish (langostin), lobster butter, oysters, green herbs, freshly cut cactus, cabbage (cole slaw) by the sea, pine needles, leather, cedar wood, peat smoke, childrens steam train, struck matches, English gunpowder tea and quite some soot. The sherry notes are maybe not too integrated but ride on top beautifully (morello cherry) and match the profile that is rounded off by smells of a walk in the woods close to the sea. What a great dram with impeccable balance and adventurous spirit! This could the best cask out of the series. 91+ points.