Whisky Archive

The initial antisceptic cream and carbolic soap on the nose becomes sweet vinegar and smoke on the palate.

The first nose is deep and sweet – Highland Toffee, but also glace fruits. There is a slight but not sharp nose-feel. After a while the scent of an extinguished fire made from resinous and slightly tarry pine logs is apparent.

Pale gold in colour, from a refill American hogshead, this has a wonderful beading – big and long lasting. The nose is all about “dirty fragrance”. Bog myrtle, out on the moor, sea tangle and then lollipops.

This example is from a refill Sherry butt (unusual for this malt, which is usually filled into American wood). It has a burnished amber hue, and the identity of both the wood and the make comes across well on first nosing: crème brulee, with scented smoke and candlewax, developing into treacle toffee.

This example, is from a refill hogshead and is pale gold in colour. At natural strength, the nose is of French apple tart, but made with Granny Smith apples (slightly acidic), and a hint of icing sugar with lemon juice. BRONZE MEDAL, MALT MANIACS 2006

This 14 year old example is from a refill American oak barrel. Pale gold in colour it is fresh and fragrant on the nose with summery scents of washing up water and herbal shampoo.

The first nose exhibits a lovely freshness, with paint thinners and hair lacquer in the background. This changes quickly into moorish smoked cheese.

The nose has that wonderful ‘rancio’ note only found in venerable whiskies: rich and fruity, with orange peel and Coopers Oxford marmalade; alcoholic Christmas cake with marzipan. SPEYSIDE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, MALT MANIACS 2006

The nose is typical of the make: hedgerows and rose-hips and succulent wild flowers – late summer scents. In a moment beeswax emerges, and traces of lemon-peel: natural, Highland scents. BRONZE MEDAL, MALT MANIACS 2006.

This cask, a re-fill sherry hogshead, has given its contents a glorious deep amber colour, although the first impression on the nose is not overly oaky.