Most of my post are multi-dram tastings with clear themes. But sometimes it doesn’t work out that way.
This first dram was the only one in my “black box” for November last year:
Glen Garioch* | “Secret Highland Distillery” | 14yo (2008) | 52.9% | Sansibar
from a 5cl sample bottle
🗒️ Tasting notes
Nosing:
First thought is nutty and floral, grassy, then blending into citrus (notably grapefruit) and some nectarines. Undergirding these lighter notes, coffee, sherry, dunnage, and dry, tannic oak.
Sipping:
Oily, sweet, salty, and a bit of quinine bitterness – in other words, an engaging display of taste. Very juicy flavour, with yellow fruits (ripe nectarines), some toffee, and a woodsmoke/sooty note.
💭 Comments
Before reveal:
Today I’ll be a straight shooter: I think this is Tullibardine, 14yo, 57%, and finished in PX cask. I have no memory that my stash actually contains just such a dram, though.
After reveal:
Actually, Glen Garioch makes sense! Just before I had the regular 12yo, and there is congruency. A floral note is typical of both Tulli and GG (more lavender in the former, heather in the latter) so it’s not a bad guess.
* It’s a “secret highland” but the label shows and image of GG distillery.
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Value for money
Final impression
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A tasteful journey
This second dram was the 2cl sample that I got when buying the full (well, 50cl) bottle from Simple Sample. Curious to try, I did so in December.
Clynelish | “Secret ‘Waxy’ Sutherland” | 13 | 51.3% | Simple Sample
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Scotch single malt
🪵
first-fill ex-bourbon
🔆
unchillfiltered & natural color
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€60 (50cl); sold out
from a 2cl sample bottle tasted blindly
🗒️ Tasting notes
Nosing
Fresh, zesty and apply; some young pineapple, lemon cake thereto. Hint of dunnage and jute, honeycomb
Sipping
A little nippy in the alcohol, but tempered by water. Quite dry, and somewhat briny, with big, fruity flavours, especially lemon, stone fruits, banana. There is indeed some waxiness (but not loads). Slightly ashy, but clearly unpeated.
💭 Comments
(I got this sample when I bought
I adore the nose; sipping it is definitely good and in my style but not spectacular. I imagine the bottle exposes to some oxidation will get better
Deliciousness
Fun factor
Value for money
Punchline
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Solid contemporary Clynelish
DuckDrams 
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