New Whiskies

Batch 176

by
Black Friday Orkney malt from Whisky Exchange, Glen Moray Fired Oak 10 year old, Whisky Illuminati Glentauchers 20 year old, Connoisseurs Choice Glentauchers 27, The Gualdrons batch 3 and Master of Malt's Caperdonich 22

Dave Broom sizes up six new whiskies as we head into the weekend and that most controversial of shopping occasions, Black Friday.

The Whisky Exchange’s Black Friday 2018 Edition, an 18-year-old from an unnamed Orkney distillery, starts ‘quietly intense’, and although Broom claims ‘you need to work at it’ he finds it ultimately worthwhile.

A 22-year-old Caperdonich from Master of Malt is a ‘cracking mature example’ from the lesser-known Speyside distillery. Earthy, meaty and bright, Broom finds plenty to get excited about.

The Gauldrons Batch 3, a Campbeltown blended malt from Douglas Laing and Co., is found to have a ‘sweet start’ of sugared almonds that dips into green, sappy qualities on the nose.

The Glen Moray 10-year-old Fired Oak, which has been finished in virgin oak, is all up front, with toasted wood (naturally), nutmeg and Crunchie bars. Broom concludes it’s ‘eminently quaffable and very keenly priced’ but bemoans its strength.

A pair of Glentauchers to finish, with a 20-year-old by Whisky Illuminati. There’s no conspiracy here – it’s ‘rather lovely’ with balance and sweet floral elements on the nose.

The second Glentauchers, a 27-year-old bottling from Gordon & MacPhail, was ‘made for the season’ with rich sweet fruits and pot pourri elements. Enjoy, says Broom – but keep the water on the side.

This week’s playlist veers from the Cure’s upbeat Friday I’m In Love to the more melancholy Alcoholiday and Ajar – a perfect illustration of an average weekend.

Scoring Explained

Overview

  • Black Friday 2018 Edition, 18 Years Old (Elixir Distillers)

    Score

    84

    Black Friday 2018 Edition, 18 Years Old (Elixir Distillers)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    54.6%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Islands
    Availability
    The Whisky Exchange exclusive
    Flavour camp
    Smoky & Peaty
    Nose

    Lightly smoky and medium-sweet with a mezcal-like element: vegetal, white peppercorns, before a more Scottish note of heather bell emerges alongside wild mushrooms. The smoke drifts towards moor-burn but given some brightness from a hint of citrus, especially orange. Water brings the smoke further forward and introduces a slight fattiness. In time, there’s smoored or dampened fire, cacao, and charcoal. A little shy.

    Palate

    Quietly intense. The sweet notes escape first, with lemon peel, apple blossom and a slightly floral edge. Expands well, adding in more of the smoke, oatcakes and butter, bay leaf and some sweet dried fruits. The agave elements re-emerge when water is added, but now it’s cooked and syrupy.

    Finish

    Citric and lightly smoked.

    Conclusion

    You need to work at it but it’s worthwhile. After all, what else will you be doing on Black Friday?

    Right place, right time

    Who cares about the rest of the week? On Friday I’m In Love.

    Caperdonich 22 Years Old, 1995 (Master of Malt)

    Score

    89

    Caperdonich 22 Years Old, 1995 (Master of Malt)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    59.2%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Availability
    Master of Malt exclusive
    Flavour camp
    Rich & Round
    Nose

    Mature and nutty with a whiff of well-fired rolls, roasted hazelnut and a lovely oxidised quality. Water is needed to show the full range of complexities while an earthy note starts to come through, along with the smell of a just-fired shotgun.

    Palate

    Slowly, steadily expansive with hints of light, nutty malt. By the middle of the palate it’s coating the entire mouth before an intense sumac-like burst adds brightness, counterbalancing the earthy, almost meaty qualities and the light tannic grip. Water reveals russet apples, quince and highly-scented pear.

    Finish

    Light mealiness. Still clinging.

    Conclusion

    Caper is less frequently spotted these days and this is a cracking mature example, with more than a hint of a life spent in decayed decadence.

    Right place, right time

    A langorous Lounge Lizard in a Harlem Nocturne.

    The Gauldrons Batch 3 (Douglas Laing)

    Score

    82

    The Gauldrons Batch 3 (Douglas Laing)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    46.2%
    Production type
    Blended malt whisky
    Region
    Campbeltown
    Flavour camp
    Fruity & Spicy
    Nose

    A sweet start of sugared almond that’s given a dry edge by some wheat flour and a high-toned quality akin to banana and Bazooka Joe bubblegum. While things are green, celery-like and lightly sappy to start with, it begins to soften and sweeten in time. Water brings out tangerine, dried salt on oiled canvas and the tiniest hint of smoke.

    Palate

    Much softer than the nose suggests with more of the oiliness seen on the reduced nose and a soft, lychee-like quality. Things take a surprisingly peppery turn in the middle while the brininess glimpsed on the nose has more of a role to play. Water brings the delicacy back to the tip of the tongue, but not at the expense of the gutsy mid-palate.

    Finish

    Old-fashioned lemonade, with some Brazil nut and a light minerality.

    Conclusion

    There’s more depth here than you might expect. One of those which becomes increasingly assured if given time.

    Right place, right time

    Where better than Campbeltown for an Alcoholiday?

     

    Available to buy from The Whisky Exchange. It may also be stocked by these other retailers.

    Glen Moray 10 Years Old, Fired Oak

    Score

    83

    Glen Moray 10 Years Old, Fired Oak
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    40%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Fruity & Spicy
    Nose

    Instantaneous charred and roasted qualities: amber malt, vanilla, and nutmeg mixed with barley sugar sweets and some draff (as you do). Glen Moray’s fragrant sweet qualities come out alongside poached pear and, in time, sugar puffs. Water shows more of the oak as well as dry-roasted peanut dust.

    Palate

    Quite intense to start, with cassia and mace-infused spiced apple juice, sweet malt and zesty citrus. Starts with a bang, but does lose a little energy towards the back. Oak is the driver here, something which is demonstrated when water is added. There’s some cashew and pistachio along with nutmeg, Crunchie bars (honeycomb chocolate) and toasted wood.

    Finish

    Slightly charred. Light liquorice.

    Conclusion

    Can’t help but feel that 43% might have added greater length. That said, it’s eminently quaffable and very keenly priced.

    Right place, right time

    Stand back. There’s some Smokestack Magic about to happen.

    Available to buy from The Whisky Exchange. It may also be stocked by these other retailers.

    Glentauchers 20 Years Old, 1997, Candlelight Series (Whisky Illuminati)

    Score

    85

    Glentauchers 20 Years Old, 1997, Candlelight Series (Whisky Illuminati)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    50.3%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Fragrant & Floral
    Nose

    Good, sweet, nectar-rich floral elements combined with juicy fruits and hints that things are starting to gravitate towards the resinous waxiness of middle age. There’s still vestigial notes of lemon cream, and when water is added, more dry wood and a chalkiness.

    Palate

    After a gossamer-light start, it anchors itself in the middle of the tongue when that maturity becomes more apparent, along with lightly gripping wood. Water brings out this mix of youth – Dolly Mixtures, powdery florals – with more unctuous apricot-like fruits and a little more oak.

    Finish

    Gingery spice, then powdery.

    Conclusion

    On the cusp between youth and age. Rather lovely.

    Right place, right time

    A quiet Shape Shifter.

    Glentauchers 27 Years Old, 1991, Connoisseurs Choice (G&M)

    Score

    90

    Glentauchers 27 Years Old, 1991, Connoisseurs Choice (G&M)
    Price band
    £ £ £ £ £
    ABV
    56.8%
    Production type
    Single malt whisky
    Region
    Speyside
    Flavour camp
    Fruity & Spicy
    Nose

    There’s more cask influence here than on the previous bottle alongside sultana, green fig jam, warm toast and honey and roast chestnut. Mature, elegant, complex with sumptuous aromas which then shift towards dry amontillado (still with a hint of chalkiness). Blooms in time into a heady mix of macchiato, cocoa, black fruit and then golden syrup, sultana cake and hot Swedish cinnamon buns.

    Palate

    You can pick out the structure immediately and it adds a note of seriousness to what is a pretty slinky mouthfeel that combines more of the roasted element that seems to be this week’s signature, alongside cinnamon, rich sweet dried fruits, and pot pourri. Things tighten slightly with the water.

    Finish

    Long, deep, touch of dried fruit.

    Conclusion

    Made for the season. Keep the water on the side and enjoy.

    Right place, right time

    Esbjörn’s Svensson’s kitchen door left Ajar. The aroma leans out.

    Available to buy from The Whisky Exchange. It may also be stocked by these other retailers.
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
Scroll To Top