I'll say it again, I've always been a fan of this little 'budget' range. Some 18 yo Port Ellen for 25€, anyone? Granted, that was a long time ago… Colour: very pale white wine. Nose: paraffin and pear juice, I would say, plus lemon. Very elementary but I believe it captures the real style of the distillery. Mouth: very good, with a little toasted oak, otherwise apple crumble and again this dry paraffiny side. Finish: medium yet fat, sooty, slightly dusty and dirty but once again, that's part of the game here. Williams pear spirit. Salt and smoked salmon in the aftertaste – really. Comments: very very good and a clear BFYB whisky. The saltiness came unexpected. Great little whisky, great series. I know I've literally floored you with that headline de la muerte. One day, they'll mention it in books and even have it on Topito: "The Ten Laziest Headline Ever". Let's see what we'd have today… We've already tried some great ones from this range, especially an Uitvlugt 1997. Uitvlugt 1997? Rings a bell… Colour: white wine. Nose: at the Old Harbour in Marseilles. Indeed that would involve the right amount of fish and… pastis. Also fresh paint, tyres again, seawater, also some orchard fruits such as apples and pears, a wee bit of barbecued marshmallow (ever been a boy scout?) and perhaps a tiny touch of new leatherette. A drop of cologne: Acqua di Gio? Mouth: very good, goes extremely well after the Hampden and would explain that Monymusk is dirtier, more rubbery, certainly more on plastics and, as we sometimes write, 'new electronics'. Big saltiness again, fish and old tarry ropes on a boat, whelks (love love love whelks). I know not many people love whelks, that's why they're cheap ;-). Finish: long, very salty and very dry. Would be challenging to many, I think. The tarry side is just huge. Only the aftertaste is a tad 'too' dirty, with a feeling of having swallowed an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Comments: I love this but wouldn't argue if someone would claim that it's a little difficult. It is, and? Torabhaig 2017/2020 (46%, OB, Inaugural Release, Legacy Series, first fill bourbon, cask #300-600, 32,000 bottles)

Deanston Virgin Oak — DRAMFACE Deanston Virgin Oak — DRAMFACE

This is a sourced blend as well, but some parts are Japanese, from Gotemba. Rumour has it that this contains Four Roses, as Kirin own Four Roses. Really? Colour: gold. Nose: between Scottish grain and bourbon indeed. No clear maltiness that I can detect, rather barbecued corn and rather a lot of maple syrup and liquid caramel. Vanilla. I'm not a fan, but things may improve… With water: light maize, earth, vanilla, rye… Good bourbon? Mouth (neat): sweet and light, but there's some textured smoke to it, possibly from Gotemba. The rest is light and thin, sweet, on vanilla and coconut water. With water: not much to complain about, this would be a young bourbon with a malty edge. Now careful, it does not swim too well and tends to get shattered if you add too much H2O. Finish: rather short. Sweet and sour. Comments: 'pure' I don't know, 'mellow' for sure! Whiskybase B.V. is the Dutch private limited liability company, having its statutory seat in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and its office at Zwaanshals 530, 3035 KS Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Whiskybase B.V. is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under no. 52072819. Craigellachie 12 yo (59.3%, OB for Quaich Bar 12th Anniversary, Singapore, PX hogshead, 264 bottles, 2019)Kilchoman 13 yo 2007/2020 (55.5%, OB private cask for Max & Julia, cask #69, bourbon barrel, 215 bottles)

Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl

Among the big winners in the evening were Glenmorangie who won 2 gold award medals for Glenmorangie The Signet and The Accord, their 12 year old Single Malt.North Star Spirits were celebrated for their haul of awards as Independent Bottler of the Year and also for collecting three Gold Medals for their Spica 40 Year Old Blend, Supersonic Mach 4 Blended Malt and for their 11 year old Bunnahabhain Single Malt Single Cask bottling. Sadly I haven't got any very recent Storm up my sleeves, but this one should do the job. Colour: light gold. Nose: it is extremely bready and farmy, it just reeks of ground barley, farmyard, mud and damp peat, with rather less pencil shavings and tropical fruits than in earlier batches. On the other side of the spectrum, there would be more camphor, embrocations, chalk and hessian. We're actually almost nosing a handful of fresh smoked malted barley. Mouth: pretty much the same feeling, this is almost seawater with a lot of pepper, chalk and grist. Bandages. Lemons and oak spices would make a late appearance in this very gristy malt. Finish: long, dry, salty. Brine and chilies. Comments: I used to like the Storm better, I believe the 10 keeps beating it. But it's a very fine dram. We may try some other Talisker… This one from their 'Pop Art Collection'. Colour: white wine. Nose: oh olives and capers matured in used engine oil with pieces of lemon and orange, then pollen, mead, avocado and papaya juice, and a drop of banana wine for good measure. I'm really a fan this far, but how well will this unusual profile translate to the palate? Let's see... (come on S. this is not the BBC)… Mouth: forget about the oils, we're right on tropical fruits and the juices or liqueurs made thereof. Bananas, papayas… The structure remains malty having said that, and rather creamy. I don't know if this is art, but it is clearly pop. Finish: medium, very fruity. Notes of fruit jellies, beans, crocodiles, bears… Comments: I was not quite expecting this, although we'd somewhat go towards the very good Special Release 1990 the owners did a few years ago. Same quality.It seems that the very honourable bottlers did this cask at various strengths. Indeed this one's lighter than the 52.1% seen elsewhere (same cask number). By the way, I suppose BA, in this context, means Beerenauslese rather than British Airways. Better like that. Colour: gold. Nose: a funny two-step nose. First a gentle, classic rum that just won't tear you apart in any way (some would even say it's slightly bland) but then a lovely, delicate and pretty fragrant development on flowers and oriental cakes. Baklavas, orange blossom water, wisteria, even rose petals and Turkish delights, wondering if that BA was gewurztraminer. Or grauburgunder? Mouth: I believe the wine was clearly an asset (who said for once?) Very nice notes of apple cake, possibly more cane juice than in the original rum, with these earthy touches, and some soft liquorice and perhaps a drop of litchi juice. Finish: not long, but aromatic and balanced. Notes of Liquorice allsorts. Comments: smart and good! Balblair9 yo 2011/2020 (56.3%, Whisky Is The Limit and Bar du Nord, 1st fill oloroso sherry barrel finish, cask #800129/2011, 298 bottles) Whiskybase B.V. (“Whiskybase”, “we” or “us”, company details below) offers a whisky enthusiasts online platform that provides its members access to the most comprehensive, transparent and trusted resource of whisky bottles and allows and stimulates its members to contribute information about whisky bottles to the platform (“Service”). Anyway, you see where I’m headed; I was recently presented with a dram of Deanston Virgin Oak and enjoyed it immensely. I will, at this point, admit to not even guessing the correct continent, settling for an American single malt. Blind, I found a slight acetone and marker pen note that I find only when deliberately searching for it tonight. Whisky likes to play with us. It's been a 2 year finish, so almost double-maturation, although I'm afraid no one's ever come up with a proper definition of what's a finishing vs double maturation. Colour: gold. Nose: oh, after the fresh fruits we're rather having the pastries and other fine specialties made thereof, first and foremost cassata and that thing we call 'brie au kirsch', which is not cheese at all mind you. Whiffs of warm focaccia, a touch of concrete and metal polish, walnut wine, blond pipe tobacco (I remember Amsterdamer), cherry stem tea… I find this nose awesomely complex, so far, this baby clearly stands up to the fruit bomb. With water: what a glorious sherry barrel! Looks like they've used good quality oloroso here, from a good tonneleria. Unless it came straight from a Scottish cooperage. Anyway, the nose didn't change much, it just became even more complex and with rather more citrus, and mosses… Mouth (neat): notes of eucalyptus and perhaps myrtle, a very curious earthiness, surely many walnuts, a little mustard, grapefruits, some kind of spicy cough medicine, crunching pine needles… It's very singular and most lovable. I would have believed this was ex-Madeira wood. With water: works but you have to be careful and not make it a tad too leafy and leathery. Finish: long. Herbal teas, zests, nutmeg, cinnamon… And myrtle. We've come full circle. Comments: we're extremely close to perfection. If you like dry Madeira wine…

Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl

The event also presented the first ever Dr Jim Swan Award for Services to Scotch Whisky. The award was presented to Sheila Burtles, a sensory expert who was the first ever female scientist to advise the Scotch Whisky industry on flavour. Her most famous achievement is as co-inventor of the first ever Whisky Flavour Wheel, created in 1979. Aged 92, Ms Burtles accepted the award at a private presentation at home with her award presented by Charlie Maclean the renowned whisky expert and judge in the Scottish Whisky Awards. He commented. GOLD MEDAL AWARD: Artful Dodger Whisky Collective (Burnside) 1989 30 Year Old; Artful Dodger Whisky Collective Chaos Edition No 2 (50%, North Star, 2 oloroso butts and one refill hogshead oloroso finish, bottled 2020, 1500 bottles) I don't think I've ever tried this one. It's all a little confusing at times… Or am I not paying attention? Colour: gold. Nose: it's a little troubling that we would not be too far from the Guyanese. This is even rather gentler, but there are olives, tar, tyres and liquorice. Some pencil shavings, cedar, lead… Some seawater too, while it would rather be an easier Hampden, globally. On the nose. Right. Mouth: easy? Not quite, as it would roar this time, feeling stronger than just forty-six, with rather a lot of rotting fruits (bananas), plus the harshest oils and always these salty fish, sardines, anchovies, olives. Yeah I know olives do not quite live in the high seas. Anyway, great Hampden, especially when you've had enough toying with water, pipettes or coffee spoons. As they all say, 'we did it for you'. Finish: really long, really salty, really tarry, and with a few drops of lemon juice for good mesure. Comments: I find it quite amazing that both profiles would be this close. Great rum that needs neither extra-volts, nor extra-watts. The official story is that for one week every year, the Distillery are burning peat (during, or just after malting, I suppose) and consequently make some peaty malt whisky. Okay…This was formerly named 'Peat Week' (liked them, WF 85), I suppose there's a reason to this change of names, but let's not dig any deeper… Colour: gold. Nose: it's a rather obvious, yet gentle peat ala Ardmore. Preserved plums and peaches, plus some bitterish herbs and this ginger that sometimes rises from Mainland peaters, I have no ideas why. Certainly something farmy, cow stable, horse saddle, also a little eucalyptus… Mouth: nicer on the palate, more on smoked limoncello and white peaches. I really cannot not think of Ardmore, I am sorry. Nice spices, around gentler Thai mixes. Pepper. Finish: rather long, smoky and 'green'. What I'm really missing from all these un-coastal peaters is… the coastal side. Peppery aftertaste. Comments: really good, but let me talk like a brochure: we're missing the Atlantic freshness. A wee bit… And sure that may only happen in my head.So the Belgian. Colour: straw. Nose: dipping your nose into a large glass of fruiticello. Indeed that doesn't exist yet but let's be creative and say that it would include citrus juice, melon juice, passion fruit juice and mango juice, plus a bottle of Absolut and a spoonful of agave syrup. With water: fresh baguette and chalk and porridge are up, but we're still having a huge quantity of fruiticello. Mouth (neat): oh so very Balblair! In truth I can't wait to bring it down to 45% vol. as I believe that's this make's ideal strength. For the time being, there are tiny touches of peary nail polish and varnish, which is absolutely normal. With water: yes, there, much better. Bananas and pineapples are chiming in, also starkrimsons and kiwis. Lemon squash, lemonade, and welcome hints of green walnuts to prevent it from becoming overly fruity. Yes that may have happened. Finish: medium, superbly fruity, rather on a banana and tangerine combo. Green walnuts and cinnamon in the aftertaste. Comments: a wonderfully structured ueber-fruity Balblair, a bit in the style of some 1970s Benriachs. Loves water. We're very close to perfection.

Deanstons - Whisky Fun

I believe that's the collective noun for Caol Ila. At least it feels correct when you realise a sufficient quantity of samples have amassed on your shelves to do a wee Whiskyfun sesh. We're anticipating impeccable distillate, consistency and purity…I'm really happy about several 'new' distilleries, that's all good for my interest in whisky (not that you should care). Daftmill, Chichibu, Bimber, Shizuoka, and Ardnamurchan's not too bad either… And several others. That's pretty stimulating, while many old glories are now almost extinct (Coleburn, Lochside…), should I want to push WF to 20,000 personal whisky notes. We'll see…