Ukrainian Whisky Connoisseur's Club tasting #105 tasting: Dalwhinnie Triple matured 48%, Mortlach 11 yo 2002/2013 Whiskies Of Scotland 54.8%, Mortlach 17 yo 1997/2014 Whiskies Of Scotland 54.8%, GlenDronach 12 yo Manager's cask choice 58.3%, Aberlour 15 yo distillery only bottling 53.7%, Aberlour 16 yo (bottled 2015) distillery only bottling 56.5%, Longmorn 18 yo 1996/2014 Whiskies Of Scotland 52.5%, Glen Moray 20 yo 1994/2014 Whiskies Of Scotland 46%, Strathisla 25 yo 1988/2014 CS 53.2%

My dear readers! Awfully sorry for fewer posts in 2017, actually I've got plenty of notes saved in my phone but not published yet, will try to catch up during this winter :) This very tasting took place in 2016 and was dedicated to Speyside and in particular the malts that are hardly available anywhere except for the distilleries. 

Dalwhinnie Triple Matured Edition 48% - made by 3 different maturations, the label is silent regarding what specific casks were used, most likely bourbon + sherry + new oak, beacause there is quite a lot of oak for NAS whisky. Not too bad as for aperitif, score = 81/100!

Mortlach 11 yo 2002/2013 Whiskies Of Scotland 54.8% - haven't found it on WB. Yeasty and malty nose, quite honest in its straightforwardness. The cask seemed to be inactive (2-nd fill?..), the colour almost transparent.

Score = 82/100 (for honesty and vigour).

Mortlach 17 yo 1997/2014 Whiskies Of Scotland 54.8% - haven't found it on WB. If previous malt was undermatured, then this one managed to grow old and die in a cask. Dusty furniture aromas. Bottler's cask is always a lottery. 

Score = 79/100!

GlenDronach 12 yo Manager's cask choice 58.3% - matured in sherry puncheon. Dark amber in glass, super-dense nutty sherry nose, the Manager seems to know something about whisky. Powerful and warming. 

Score = 88/100!

Aberlour 15 yo distillery only bottling 53.7% - oh goodness, how refined and subtle can bourbon cask influence be... Lightest aromas of pears, banana, pineapple and tropical fruits. Quite resembling of Benriach from mid 70-s. Body is quite hot, warming and malty. Excellent cask it was. 

Score = 89/100!

Aberlour 16 yo (bottled 2015) distillery only bottling 56.5% - more refined sherry influence that in sample #4, the same pear, but boiled in a compote and covered with sugar.

Score = 87/100!

Longmorn 18 yo 1996/2014 Whiskies Of Scotland 52.5% - haven't found this one on WB. Longmorn - is one of the most appreciated spirits of Speyside among blenders. Though it behaves always different in single malts bottlings. The one we're tasting is very good. Malty nose with hint of fruit stones (fino cask?..). Then you get fruits themselves: crushed green apple and tannic sour note. Creamy and dense body with malty notes again. Changes and develops in a glass. 

Score = 89/100! 

Glen Moray 20 yo 1994/2014 Whiskies Of Scotland 46% - haven't found this one on WB. The most drinkable malt of the evening. Light and grassy with notes of grapes juice, we need a white wine glass perhaps. Sweet, rounded, ideal for dessert. 

Score = 87/100!

Strathisla 25 yo 1988/2014 CS 53.2% - matured in bourbon barrel. Everyone was hoping for something great, but we were wrong. That was woody, dry and peppery spirit. A bit flat and impersonal. Almost 300 pounds per bottle look like Thomas Crown affaire. 

Score = 85/100 (just to pay hommage to aged Strathisla).