Friday popurri: Tobermory 15 yo 46.3%, Macallan 12 yo (Flli Rinaldi) 43%, Linkwood 1975 Rare Malts 56.1% and Auchroisk 1996 Scyfion choice 42.8%

Two rare bottles today: Macallan 12 yo (bottled in 80-s) vs Linkwood 1975 RM.

Tobermory 15 yo 46.3% - this one was brought by Sergii as blind sample, my version was Ledaig which wasn't completely wrong :) 

Nose: dirty rags (quite typical for Ledaig) but without such distinct peat, traffic fumes with sherry, malty and sea notes. Very unusual combination, though I like it. 

Taste: salty, quite oily, tastes better without water imo. Peppers of different colours and oaky bitterness. 

Finish: long with lots of sea salt and spices, hints of coffee and chocolate as well.

Overall: curious malt that needs some time, though if you accept such aroma profile in your glass - you will be satisfied, otherwise you'd better have a dram or sample before buying the bottle. 

Score = 21 22 22 22, 87/100!

Macallan 12 yo bottled for Flli Rinaldi 43% - said to be bottled at the beginning of 80-s, so distillation year should be between end of 60-s - beginning of 70-s. Pay attention to Campari-style cork.

Nose: elegant and old-style quite resembling older 18 yo from 60-s: lots of grapes, rasins, pears and even a touch of vegetables. 

Taste: not so powerful but enjoyable, cream, leather and coffee notes, large sips are recommended. 

Finish: oh, just great, waves and waves of sherry, grapes and leather.

Overall: very nice old 12 yo Macallan, hard to imagine what it would be as cask strength... 

Score = 22 21 23 22, 88/100!

Linkwood 1975/2002 Rare Malts 56.1% - 15 years spent in the bottle, let's see if the varnish is gone. 

Nose: soft varnish notes (usually I don't like them but here they are quite ok), salted cucumbers, citrus fruits, apples and spices, touch of grass and vanilla.

Taste: strong and oily with lots of pepper, oak and eau-de-cologne. 

Finish: long, develops on oak, ginger, cloves and lemons.

Overall: very good in every component, though perhaps not my favourite style. Could easily be scored 23 23 23 23 = 92/100 if you're Linkwood fan. 

Score = 22 22 22 22, 88+/100!

Auchroisk 1996/2016 BR Scyfion choice 42.8% - another release from Scyfion finished in Black Doctor wine cask. 

Nose: malty and spicy with obvious wine influence. 

Taste: imagine you're chewing red grapes skin :) Very enjoyable. 

Finish: long enough on spices and wine. Probably you can have it in winter instead of mulled wine :) 

Overall: wine finishes are often controversial, but it's not this case, nice work from Ruslan Zamoskovnyy. 

Score = 21 22 22 21, 86/100!