Scotland: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making and tasting

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Received samples

Dewar Rattray

Stronachie

12 years 43%

Stronachie is the name of an old distillery, founded at the end of the 19th century in the village called Forgandenny, south of the town Perth. The distillery was build by Alexander & MacDonald and became the propriety of several owners before becoming part of the DCL group (which will become later UDV) in1926 before the St James Export Ltd, last owner, closed it definitively in 1928.
The distillery was dismantled later, in the 1950's.

The Dewar Rattray company was lucky enough to find one of the last bottlings of this distillery (dating back to 1904), and try to reproduce the taste of this original Stronachie bottle. Of course, this whisky is not produced by the Stronachie distillery, but it is supposed to be quite close to its original taste. The name of the distillery which produced this bottle is not known.
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The nose is rather rich, marked by heather and wet earth hints and some peaty touches.
The palate is very complex, allying the earthy hints earlier detected by the nose to some dry and fruity touches, on a woody background (walnut taste) which is quite pleasant.
The finish is rather dry, woody and should be longer. The bottle is really amazing and excellent. However, it would probably be better if it was bottled at 46% rather than 43%.

Invergordon

40 years 48,1%

Invergordon is a grain distillery belonging to Whyte & MacKay.

The distillery, settled in Invergordon in the Northern Highlands, not far away from Balblair and Alness (where Dalmore and Teaninich distilleries are settled).
Invergordon has been created in 1959 by Invergordon Distillers Ltd and has had several owners during its history.
At the beginning, the distillery has just one Coffey still, and two additional ones were installed in 1963. The fourth one, bigger, has been purchased in 1978 and has extra columns to produce neutral alcohol.

The Ben Wyvis distillery was located within the complex.

A very amazing nose, complex, marked by citrus fruits and woody hints. A spectacular nose, very "colourful", or even better, "odourful".
The palate confirms the nose, even if it is a little "alcoholy", but that unpleasant impression disappears after a (short) while and a firework of fruity, (apples, nuts), buttery and some woody fragrances takes it over.
A very nice finish too, with a good length, fruity and here there are some woody hints too, without dominating the whole.

Balblair

15 years, 62,9%

See the distillery description: Balblair

The nose is powerful and reveals some maritime (salted) and flowery (heather) hints. Just like sea foam in a humid undergrowth. The percentage of alcohol is particularly high and provokes some nose tingling's.
In the palate, this whisky is unusually complex, beginning on slightly acid citrus hints, and a quick evolution on chocolate, nuts and a short flash of pear alcohol, before finishing on quite nice cereal notes.
The finish is lingering, rather marked by nut hints, or woody touches. Quite a nice bottle, not too far away of the aromatic sensations of the official bottlings from this distillery.

Benriach

15 years 59,9%

See the distillery description: Benriach

Quite earthy, with hints of heather and citrus fruit, the nose is pleasant, but seems to announce a relatively "linear" whisky.
By opposition to the nose impressions, the mouth is very complex, rather fruity and far from the monochord properties the nose seemed to announce. All the sensations between sweet citrus fruits (tangerine) and pear on one hand, and on the other hand some gentle woody notes. A great pleasure, despite the high percentage of alcohol (nearly 60%). A very nice finish, lingering and pleasant, warm and varied, going from the citrus fruit to cereal, or even coffee with milk.

Benrinnes

13 years

See the distillery description: Benrinnes

The nose is marked by some hints of heather and wet earth, with a touch of peat.
In the palate, it appears to be quite more complex, first slightly acid, then developing on chocolaty notes before finishing on citrus fruit hints.
The finish is lingering, pleasant and warm.

Glenrothes

15 years 59,1%

See description of the distillery Glenrothes

The rather discrete nose is slightly fruity and detects some light floral fragrances, and announces a high percentage of alcohol by some tingling's.
The palate is clearly more complex than the nose, with a mix of exotic fruits, cereals and a kind of bitterness on a remote background of tangerines.
The finish is lingering and malted, but keeps above all the memory of the alcohol.

Last update: Sunday, 02-Nov-2008 11:56:05 CET
Sun 14 03 2010, 06:38 - 51 visiteurs au cours de la dernière heure et 2 visiteurs sur le site en ce moment.
Copyright:Jean-Marie Putz (2003-2007)

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