Scotland, Eastern Highlands: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes
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North Port (Brechin)

Description of the whisky

The distillery

North Port Distillery
Brechin,
Angus DD9 6BE
Owner: United Distillers & Vintners (Diageo)
Creation date 1820

The image above does not really look like a distillery because the distillery is destroyed and a Safeway supermarket has been build on the site North Port distillery

Situated North of the royal burgh Brechin, the North Port distillery has been build in 1820 by a family of bankers and farmers. It remained a family distillery until its buying over by the D.C.L. (Distillers Company Ltd.) in 1922.
Distillery was closed in 1983 and demolished.
Its single malt remains available at some independent bottlers, of officially in the range "Rare Malts" under the name North Port Brechin.

The whisky

A propos des notes de dégustation Your own tasting notes

List of the bottles

Description of the distillery

North Port: official bottlings

North-Port

Rare Malts 20 years
Collection
 Rare Malts
Age
 20 years
Alcohol percentage
 61,2 %
Bottler
 Official
Dates
 Distil: 1979 Bottling: 10-1999
Bottle
 3318 of
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
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links & average quote
 79/100
North Port Rare Malts 20
A very clear nose. A mix of citrus (slightly acid) and malt (clearly sweeter) smells, some spices, pepper. The mouth is dry, and the percentage of alochol very present. Rather complex, but without exaggeration, the palate developes between spices and malt. The dry character makes soon room to nice sensations where the citrus hints mix deliciously with smoother malty notes. The finish is amazingly "peaceful" (the aggression of alcohol has disappeared), lingering and warm, and lets some nice malt and chocolate notes appear.
79/100
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North-Port

Brechin 28
Age
 28 years
Alcohol percentage
 53,3 %
Bottler
 Official
Dates
 Distil: 1977 Bottling: 2005
Bottle
 562 of
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links & average quote
 79/100
North Port Brechin 28

Quite a fresh nose, with clear hay hints and some slightly fruity notes. The nose is rather discrete and the whisky not marked by wood, even after long years in an oak cask. The mouth is torn between bitter and acid notes. The bitterness is not related to wood, and the acidity not related to citrus fruits. The palate seems to suffer from a lack at depth, contrast and colour. The taste is special, and this bottle probably deserves another tasting as it seems to need more aeration time to reveal all it's qualities. The finish is lingering and the same bitter/acid pair seems to dominate the finish.
79/100
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 North Port: independent bottlings
 

North-Port

Vintage 1975 (Signatory)
Collection
 Vintage
Age
 24 years
Alcohol percentage
 61,1 %
Bottler
 Signatory
Cask
 Sherry
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links & average quote
 79/100
 
 

This bottle, more important from a historic point of view than from a gastronomic one didn't however disappoint me at all.  After 24 years in an oak cask, this not well known whisky has become a rather pleasant malt. The Signatory range is definitely a kindness in the world of whisky lovers. Its exceptionally high alcohol degree does not hinder the tasting at all.
74/100
The second tasting revealed more complexity and charms of this whisky than the first time. A smell and a taste, both marked by citrus fruits (orange?) and slightly acid, followed by a finish of average length make this (historical now) bottle something you do not regret to have bought.
79/100
At the third tasting, the first impression was that the very high degree of alcohol is a little aggressive. After having added a drop of water, the slightly acid character of this malt (citrus fruits) together with a great complexity of smells and tastes became clear. The finish is a little short.
79/100
A rather fresh nose, with slightly acid hints and remote touches of smoke. A kind of tingling sensation as well, due to the high alcohol percentage. In the palate, a certain complexity and some acid hints on a malted background. The finish is of average length, and recalls malt and some remote citrus touches.
79/100
The first nose is slightly aggressive, but after a few minutes of aeration, it gets rather fresh, with notes of cut grass perfumed with hint of vanilla. Alcohol is obviously present in the palate, and this mouth is dominated by a mix of fruity (pear) hints and vanilla aroma's, the whole being nicely fresh. Rather complex. A beautiful smoothness and e nice presence in the mouth. The finish is long, both marked by the warmth of the alcohol and the memory of the freshness of the mouth.
84/100
he first nose is rather difficult to define. Quite tingling and evoking some fruits, after the first impression of aggression. It develops then on ripe fruit, honey, sweetness.
The first mouth is a mix of acidity and bitterness. From pear spirit to much more bitter, woody notes, and an obvious presence of alcohol. Much more an aggressive whisky than a complex one.
A lingering finish which is first fresh and which develops just like to the mouth, on bitterness and after a while only some chocolate notes are left.

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North-Port

Scott's Selection 1980
Collection
 Natural Cask Strength
Age
 24 years
Alcohol percentage
 58,0 %
Bottler
 Scott's Selection
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
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links & average quote
 88/100
North Port 1980 Scott's selection
Creamy caramel toffee, light and dry, a bit moreish
(notes of the producer)
A very nice and expressive nose, marked by spices (pepper) and sweet citrus fruits. Hintes of peach and a touch of smoke on the background. Very promising anyway. The palate is wonderfuly complex, mixing all kinds of tastes, from hazelnut to citrus fruits, through nice spicy notes. Spices, acidity and bitterness, a very nice range o ftastes. A real explosion in the mouth. Really very nice whisky, where the mouth is even better than the promising nose was. The finish is of equal quality, with some woody dominance. Lingering, warm and pleasant. Definitely a great bottle....
88/100
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North-Port

Rarest of the Rare 25 years
Collection
 Rarest of the Rare
Age
 25 years
Alcohol percentage
 54,3 %
Bottler
 Duncan Taylor
Cask number
single cask 780
Dates
 Distil: 01-1981 Bottling: 11-2006
Bottle
 21 of 202 btls
Particularity
 Non chillfiltered cask strength
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links & average quote
 84/100
North Port Rarest of the rare 25
A nice and clear spicy nose (pepper), Sour fruit hints and some tingling probably due to the alcohol percentage.
The first mouth is amazingly complex, merging harmoniously and alternatively acid notes and bitter ones before developing on nice smooth malty notes. The bitterness is not really woody (much more like bitter vegetables or fruit) and the acid hints do not taste like citrus fruit, rather unripe fruit.
The finish seems to be somewhat metallic first, before developing on the same sensation like in the palate. Long and pleasant. After some minutes, bitter fruit hints (gentian) come and put the finishing touch to this nice impressions.
84/100
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Eastern Highlands n

Eastern Highlands map

Dozens of distilleries have been created in this area during the 19th century. The area is situated at the East of the Highlands, covering the Angusshire, parts of Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire and even of Invernesshire. The Spey river has its source in the area.
Currently about half a dozen distilleries are active in the area.

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Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information about the Eastern Highlands area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow