Special Report – Scotch Whisky Part 3

By Steve Thurlow

The first part of my report on Scotch Whisky discussed the processes used for the creation and maturation of Single Malt Scotch Whisky (SMSW) and then went on to focus on the distilleries of Islay. Islay is an island off the western coast of northern Scotland that has a major concentration of whisky production. The whiskies from there are notably smoky since the barley malt is dried using peat smoke.

The second part of the report was written following two whisky discovery trips to Scotland I made in 2019 and covered the distilleries on Speyside.

Scotland Whisky Regions

The 130 distilleries producing today are categorized into six regions.

Speyside, is by far the largest region with around 40 percent of the distilleries. This region lies around the River Spey and its tributaries in the central highlands south of Inverness. There are so many with so much variation that it is difficult to generalize on a Speyside regional style but many make a powerful style of whisky and many also use ex-sherry casks for maturation and finishing their malts.

There is another grouping on Islay that was the focus in Part 1 of this report. These SMSW are the smokiest and often have the tang of salt and hints of seaweed.

Around 30 percent are in the Highland region. This is essentially the mainland north of a line between Glasgow and Edinburgh. They are widely dispersed throughout the region. Their whiskies are generally a little smoky and very smooth, often with hints of sherry.

Ten percent are in the Islands region. That is to say they are located on an island other than Islay. They are scattered among Scotland’s many offshore islands. They are generally more peaty with sea flavours.

The Lowland region has 13 percent of the distilleries. The Lowlands are the Scottish mainland south of the Edinburgh/Glasgow line that I mentioned above. The whiskies here tend to be lighter and softer.

Finally, there are three distilleries on the Mull of Kintyre, a promontory in central western Scotland. They are located near the community of Campbeltown. It is not an island and it lies in the middle of the country so cannot be fitted into the other loose regions. Moreover it makes a distinct style of whisky that is lighter and shows the influence of the sea such that these whiskies are widely appreciated especially for making Blended Scotch and hence, though small, Campbeltown is an important region.

Campbeltown Region

Campbeltown is a  community on the Mull of Kintyre, a promontory in central western Scotland.

In the heyday of whisky in Scotland, in the mid- to late-1800s, there were more than 30 distilleries in the area.

It was known as the “Whisky Capital of the World.”

However the whiskies made at the time were heavy with peat smoke and very commercial, and they became less desirable when grain whisky and more subtle single malts became available.

The local coal mine, which provided cheap energy, closed and then U.S. Prohibition finally sealed the fate of whisky production. By 1934 only Springbank and Glen Scotia were left.

Today three operate, since Springbank’s owners bought Glengyle and started making whisky there again in 2004.

The future is looking much brighter, however, with plans for more distilleries to open soon.

Kilkerran (Mitchell’s Glengyle)

Mitchell’s Glengyle distillery in Campbeltown is the home of the Kilkerran malts. The facility produced whisky from 1872-1925. In 2004, after 79 years of non-production, the distillery reopened. On reopening it could not use the Glengyle brand name which had been sold to Bloch Bros, forcing the distillery’s new owners to consider an alternative name for its single malt. Kilkerran “Cille Chiarain” in Gaelic – is the original name of Campbeltown.

Kilkerran 12 Year Old Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $95.40, 46%
We are fortunate that small quantities of this superb and rare dram make it to Canada. It is a delicate pale gold and is a very understated elegant malt with an appealing mild harmonious nose with oak, fruit, floral and spicy component plus hints of peat smoke. The palate adds some apple crumble flavours. It is matured in a mixture of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks all chosen so as to not impact the natural flavours of the malt. Sophisticated, complex and delicate with perfect balance. Excellent length.

Glen Scotia

It was founded in 1832 as Scotia and its name was changed in 1935 to Glen Scotia.

In 2014, the distillery was bought by Loch Lomond Group who have invested heavily in the site by developing the brand, increasing capacity, opening warehouses and developing a distillery visitor centre. 

Glen Scotia 15 Y O, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $91.35, 46%
This is an amazingly complex malt for this price. Campbeltown malts like this are rare and are a great favourite of mine for their complexity and fruitiness with just a hint of peat smoke and subtle barrel notes. It is golden amber in colour with an intense fruity nose with sea salt spray to tone the woody barrel notes. Apricot jam, almond and toffee aromas are repeated on the palate. Excellent length and great purity with lingering flavours of nougat and hard candy. Savour after a great meal.

Springbank

Springbank produces three variants from its distillery by tweaking the production process at various stages. Hazelburn is a triple-distilled, non-peated whisky. Springbank is partially peated and Longrow has a full peat smoke treatment.

Springbank is the only Scottish distillery to perform every step in the whisky-making process, from malting the barley to bottling the spirit. Several distilleries malt some percentage of their barley and source the balance from an industrial malting facility, such as Port Ellen; however, Springbank maintains a traditional malting floor that provides for 100% of their distillate.

Longrow Peated Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $104.25, 46%
This pale golden malt is as expected from the label quite peaty and will be loved by fans of Islay malts. The peat smoke is evident on the nose but it does not dominate with lovely fruit-like chardonnay with vanilla and salt. There is some orange blossom also. It is round on the palate with lots of fruit to balance the alcohol and there is a lingering wine-like fruity finish. Excellent length. A gentle Campbeltown malt with rich chardonnay aromas and flavours mixed in the cereal, salt and smoke.

Highland Region

There are 37 distilleries scattered throughout the Scottish Highlands in addition to the 50 in the Speyside Highland sub-region.

Those in the Highland whisky region are spread far and wide. Stretching from Orkney in the north to the Isle of Arran in the south, the region takes in the northern isles and most of the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Argyll, Stirlingshire, Arran, parts of Perthshire and Aberdeenshire too.

Glenmorangie

On the glittering Dornoch Firth, about an hour’s drive north of Inverness lies the Glenmorangie Distillery. It was established in 1843 and is part of the luxury group LVMH. It has some of the tallest stills in Scotland.

So only the lightest most delicate vapours are able to rise high enough to be condensed which results in fresher and purer whiskies.

When I last visited in October 2019,  a new large tall still house was being constructed which will have a large viewing platform to look out over the firth.

I find that Glenmorangie whiskies are elegant and delicate with those that are finished in sherry casks a little richer.

Glenmorangie 18 Y O, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $180, 43%
This is a lovely delicate malt that is golden straw in colour. The nose is fruity and floral with lemon sherbet and almond notes mingling with gentle oak spice, creamed corn and caramel. The palate is midweight and finely balanced with excellent length. Delicate and very smooth. Good focus.

Glenmorangie 12 Y O Lasanta, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $95.85, 43%
This golden straw coloured malt has been aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon casks and is finished in a combination of oloroso and pedro ximenez sherry casks. It is an elegant dram with well balanced aromas and flavours of orange peel with sweet nutty, floral and toffee notes. The palate is creamy smooth with lovely balancing acidity and well integrated alcohol. Very good length with sultana notes appearing on the finish. Nicely done with subtle sherry cask finishing.

Glenmorangie 14 Y O The Quinta Ruban Port Cask Finished, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $106.10, 46%
This 14 year old malt is finished in ex-Port casks for a few months before bottling as can be seen by the red tinge to the amber liquid. It is a burnished copper in colour with a spicy tone to the white cherry and baked apple fruit aromas. The palate is midweight with the fruit flavours well balanced by gentle lemony acidity and well integrated wood and cereal tones. Very good length. Elegant with subtle Port finishing, expertly done. A classy well priced lovely malt.

Glenmorangie X Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $58.50, 40%
This malt is designed to be used in mixes and as a consequence is quite mild in aroma and flavour. It is pale amber in colour with aromas and flavours of dried fruits with hints of oak and digestive biscuit. It is light to midweight and balanced with good length. It was very refreshing when 50 ml were mixed with 75ml of tonic water with ice and a wedge of orange.

Glenmorangie Nectar D’or Highland Scotch Whisky, $127.55, 46%
This malt is designed to be used in mixes and as a consequence is quite mild in aroma and flavour. It is pale amber in colour with aromas and flavours of dried fruits with hints of oak and digestive biscuit. It is light to midweight and balanced with good length. It was very refreshing when 50 ml were mixed with 75ml of tonic water with ice and a wedge of orange.

Glenmorangie Signet Highland Scotch Whisky, $336.00, 46%
This is the richest whisky from Glenmorangie, a distillery usually known for their delicate expressions. They use some roasted “chocolate” barley malt, the same as is used by brewers to make dark stout ales, in the the wash. The malts from some old American white oak ex-bourbon casks are blended with younger expressions to give added complexity. It is quite dense. Expect dried fruits, oatmeal, hazelnut, cocoa, vanilla and caramel on the intense nose with hints of coffee and oak spice. The palate is very smooth and elegant with cocoa evident as a major flavour. Outstanding length. Enjoy on its own for its pureness and complexity.

Glenmorangie Original Scotch Whisky, $70.85, 40%
This is the richest whisky from Glenmorangie, a distillery usually known for their delicate expressions. They use some roasted “chocolate” barley malt, the same as is used by brewers to make dark stout ales, in the the wash. The malts from some old American white oak ex-bourbon casks are blended with younger expressions to give added complexity. It is quite dense. Expect dried fruits, oatmeal, hazelnut, cocoa, vanilla and caramel on the intense nose with hints of coffee and oak spice. The palate is very smooth and elegant with cocoa evident as a major flavour. Outstanding length. Enjoy on its own for its pureness and complexity.

Aberfeldy

Aberfeldy Distillery was founded by John Dewar & Sons, Ltd. in 1896 and opened in 1898.

The distillery is located on the eastern outskirts of Aberfeldy, on the southern bank of the upper Tay. It is now owned by Bacardi.

Aberfeldy 12 Y O, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $70.15, 40%
This is well priced given its complexity and freshness. It is pale amber in colour with  honey and mild spice on the nose and palate well balanced with the dried fruits. The hints of heather and malt become more evident on the lingering finish. Very good length.

Glen Garioch (pronounced Geery)

This distillery was founded in 1794 and is one of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland.

It is now owned by Beam Suntory.

It is the most eastern in Scotland and is about 25 km northwest of Aberdeen in the Southern Highlands.

Glen Garioch Founders Reserve Highland Scotch Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $84.95, 48%
This golden amber malt is well-priced and could be an excellent introduction to single malt for a beginner. Delicate aromas and flavours of blackberry fruit with nutty and mild oak spice notes. The palate is light to midweight and round with good length with some coffee notes showing up on the finish. Easy drinking and very pleasant if not that complex.

Balblair

The Balblair distillery is north of Inverness and is not far from Glenmorangie.

It was established in 1790 by John Ross. It fell on tough times during the great depression and was mothballed in 1932.

In 1949 it was purchased by Robert James “Bertie” Cumming, a solicitor from Banff. He expanded and modernized the place and in 1970 it was bought by Hiram Walker who in turn sold it to the current owner, Inver House Distillers.

Balblair 12yo Single Malt Scotch, $95.25, 46%
This pale golden malt was matured in double-fired American oak casks and ex-bourbon casks. It has a delicate nose of lemon citrus and honey with floral, oak and mild spice. The gentle palate shows pineapple with sweet notes of cookie dough and soft lemony acidity. Creamy smooth and finely balanced with very good to excellent length. Understated with cinnamon adding to the complexity of the finish. Quite refined. Graceful.

Balblair 15yo Single Malt Scotch, $150.25, 46%
This is a golden amber malt that was matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in first-fill Spanish oak butts and has a lifted nose of maple syrup with baked apple, apricot, banana with oak and mild spice. It is rich and sweet and quite powerful with a full bodied palate of toffee apple, mango and cinnamon with orange peel and hints of charred wood. Velvety smooth. Very good to excellent length.

Old Pulteney

This distillery is one of the most northerly on the Scottish mainland near the coastal town of Wick and has long been one of my favourites on the mainland. The malts are elegant with salt and gentle peat smoke adding to their complexity.

It was founded in 1826 by James Henderson but today it is another one in the Inver House portfolio.

Their pot stills have a unique ball shaped section and this is reflected in the bottles used by the distillery.

The stills feature an unusually large boiling ball which provides a lot more reflux which makes the whisky more fragrant.

Old Pulteney Flotilla Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whisky 2010, $86.25, 46%
The 2010 vintage was matured for 10 years in 1st fill ex-bourbon casks before bottling at 46%. It is pale gold in colour and like most of the malts from this distillery there are hints of salt and smoke to the banana and vanilla aromas with digestive biscuit and mild oak spice. The midweight palate is smooth and well balanced with soft acidity giving structure to the finish. Very good to excellent length.

Old Pulteney 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $77.00, 46%
The 12 year old is both complex and elegant. It is lighter in weight than many with a salty tang to both nose and palate. Expect delicate aromas of pineapple and grapefruit with some floral tones and hints of vanilla and gentle wood spice. It is midweight and well balanced with a lingering creamy finish. Excellent length.

Old Pulteney 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $130.45, 46%
This 15 year old is golden amber in colour and was matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and Spanish oak casks. It is intense but also shows elegance with rich fruit cake, lemon citrus and almond on the nose with custard and floral hints. The rich creamy palate shows toffee with some salty baked ham notes and a hint of sweet dried kelp. The distillery is by the sea and its influence shows up here on the 15 year old. Outstanding length.

Old Pulteney 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $772.80, 46%
The 25 year old is rich amber in colour with a nose that is fresh with floral tones above toffee, digestive biscuit and mild cinnamon with hints of oak spice and nicely integrated wood smoke. The midweight palate is finely balanced with outstanding length. Very classy for contemplation after a fine dinner.

Glendronach

This distillery is owned by Brown-Forman and is known for its use of ex-sherry casks that have been used previously in Spain for maturing pedro ximenez and oloroso sherries. It was founded in 1826 by James Allardice.

Glendronach 12 Y O Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $90.25, 43%
The 12 YO is a rich amber with reddish tones and is matured in a combination of Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks. The fragrant nose shows rich fruit cake with cinnamon, cloves and caramel. The fullbodied sweetish palate shows baked crumble, cereal and spicy flavours with some orange citrus tones. It has a long rich finish. Lovers of sherried malts will be well pleased here, but for me the sherry finish is just too much. Very good length.

Loch Lomond

This distillery is able to make very fruity malts without employing used sherry, port or wine casks as is common elsewhere. They achieve this fruitiness by using sauvignon blanc and chardonnay yeasts as well as traditional distiller’s yeast and by a long slow 90 hour fermentation. However a major contribution comes from their 6 unique Lomond stills two of which can be seen in this photo.

These are tubular copper stills with a Deph cooling ring that share distillery space with 2 traditional swan neck pot stills.

Using all these elements and three different smoked peat malts they regularly make 11 different spirits which they mature separately and then blend to create their different age expressions

Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, $66.90, 46%
This very fruity malt was only matured in American oak so the fruit comes from the spirit not from the casks. It is certainly complex, balanced and very fruity with a burnt amber colour. The nose is quite intense with peach and baked pear aromas and flavours that mingle with peat smoke and oak plus a hint of malt and spice. It is full bodied and very smooth and round with no harshness and with very good length. The alcohol is well integrated and the lingering finish is all fruit. Excellent value.

Tomatin

The distillery was founded in 1897 and was in 1974 the largest distillery in Scotland with 23 stills.

However this was not to last and in 1985 it was forced into liquidation and bought by the current owner Takara Shuzo.

Today six wash stills and four spirit stills are still in use today. The wash stills have a capacity of 15,000 litres and the first distillation takes 13 hours.

The spirit stills are the same size and shape, as the stills are still based on the original design. The second distillation takes 12 hours, which is proportionally very slow and produces a soft spirit.

Tomatin Legacy Highland Single Malt, $59.95, 43%
This is a delicate entry level single malt with quite a lot going on for the money. Expect aromas of vanilla, pineapple, lemon and candy. It is fairly rich with a firm structure having spent time in bourbon and new oak barriques. Lingering finish.

Ardnamurchan

This distillery was founded in 1826 on the banks of the River Clyde close to Glasgow. Known as the Loch Katrine Adephi distillery. It produced whisky until it was closed and demolished in 1971.

A new distillery was built in Argyll in the Western Highlands. It opened in 2014 and the first bottles of AD were released in 2016.

Ardnamurchan A D, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $85.75, 46.8%
The AD is a fruity, sweet malt made from a combination of peated and un-peated malt about 50:50 that was matured in both ex-bourbon casks and ex-sherry casks. The peat smoke on the delicate nose is nicely integrated with cereal, fruit and floral aromas. There are hints of lemon and salt which continue on the palate which is a little harsh and the finish is hot from the alcohol. The sweet fruit tones on the nose are overwhelmed on the finish. Very good length.

Tullibardine

The Tullibardine Distillery first produced whisky in 1949 and is named after the moor where it is located NE of Blackford in Perthshire.

In 1994 it was mothballed like many other distilleries in Scotland and laid dormant until 2003 when it was bought by a consortium of five businessmen who have brought it back to life.

Tullibardine Sovereign Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $65.00, 43%
This light golden malt is a delicious creamy malt which was aged in first-fill bourbon barrels before bottling. It has an appealing delicate nose of white chocolate with some mild spice, lemon and pine cone. The palate is delicate in keeping with nose and colour and there is some elegance. Round and fruity with pineapple and white peach flavours well balanced by soft acidity. Excellent length. Quite charming. Well priced.

Tullibardine 228 Burgundy Finish Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $91.95, 43%
This is a burnished copper coloured malt with red tinges that come from the finishing for one year in Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet red Burgundy casks which hold 228 litres;  hence its name and colour. There is a metallic tone to the gentle nose with red berry fruit, vanilla and gentle oak spice. The palate is round and intensely flavoured but the alcohol is a little harsh. It finishes dry with very good length. Could be better integrated.

The Dalmore

The Dalmore’s heritage dates to 1263 when the Mackenzie Clan, owners of Dalmore Distillery saved King Alexander III from a charging stag. For this they were granted the right to use a 12 point stag representing a Royal on their coat of arms. The icon has been used ever since and is on all their whisky bottles. The distillery has been producing since 1839 using the clear water from the River Alness.

The distillery was purpose built in 1839. At this time most distilleries were additions to farms to utilize excess grain.

For the last 50 years Master Distiller Richard Patterson has been the creative force behind The Dalmore. He is famed for his mastery of cask curation.

The Dalmore 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $110.20, 40%
The 12 year old is aged for the first nine years of maturation in American white oak ex-bourbon casks.  50% is then moved to ex-oloroso sherry casks for the final three years. The result is a blend of the two lots which gives a sweet and rich malt with noticeable sherry flavours. It is burnt amber in colour. Expect a harmonious nose of coffee with stewed apricot, vanilla, toffee and fruit cake. The palate is rich and round with fine acidity for balance. It is sweet and raisiny with a long lingering finish.

The Dalmore Port Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $130.20, 46.5%
The port wood reserve is a burnished copper colour with red tinges from the port casks evident. It is initially matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks; it is then finished in Grahams port casks. Complex creamy and fruity with some sweetness. The palate is not as harmonious as I was expecting after the lovely nose aromas. The length is very good.

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $199.95, 44%
This is a lovely fruity round rich malt that was designed for enjoyment with a big cigar. It was actually benchmarked for pairing with a hefty Partagas Serie D No. 4. Nevertheless it can be enjoyed on its own and savoured with some figs and a chunk of very old cheddar. Aging starts in American white oak, then ex-sherry casks and finally it is finished in used cabernet sauvignon barrels. It has a nose that shows oatmeal, toffee and dark chocolate. Complex and very harmonious as is the palate which though powerful is also graceful. Outstanding length with lingering toffee, mint and apricot jam.

Oban

The coastal town of Oban grew up around the Oban Distillery, which now sits in the town centre. Founded in 1794, Oban Distillery is part of Diageo.

Oban Little Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $100.95, 43%
This golden amber malt is clean and fresh and has spent much of its life in small ex-bourbon casks. Expect peach and orange fruit with oatmeal biscuit notes. It is midweight to full bodied with nice focus from nose to palate to finish. Floral tones add to the freshness and the finish is so very smooth with fine balance of wood, cereal and fruit flavours.

Oban 14 Yo Highland Scotch Single Malt, $150.20, 43%
This is a classic malt from the Western Highlands that is a golden straw in colour and is very harmonious with cereal, spice, wood and fruit all equally contributing with hints of smoke and nutty caramel. The palate is midweight to fullbodied and creamy smooth with herbal and iodine flavours added to the fruit and spice. Very good length. Lingering salty, apricot and a fig flavours give complexity to the finish. Try with smoked salmon and cream cheese.

Oban Distiller’s Edition Single Malt Scotch 2005 (Bottled 2019), $149.95, 43%
The Distiller’s Edition is bottled each year from a selection of 14 year old malt that has been finished in ex-Montilla Fino “sherry” casks for up to one year. I am not often a big fan of oloroso finished malts where the sherry often imposes too much of its presence on the malt. By using fino casks the malt’s salty peaty tones are complemented by some sweetness but also by the dry mineral and herbal flavours derived from flor in the wine. The malt is super smooth and rich gold in colour with floral and fruity aromas toned subtly by smoke and salt with hints of oak. It is elegant and well balanced with excellent length. It is a distinct step-up from the regular 14 YO.

Island Region

Highland Park

This distillery is on the Orkney Islands just to the north of the Scottish mainland. It is the most northerly distillery in Scotland. It was founded by Magnus Eunson, a butcher and church officer by day and illicit distiller and whisky smuggler by night. In 1798 he was caught illegally distilling whisky on the site. In 1826, nearly 30 years later, Highland Park received an official licence to distill whisky.

The name of the distillery does not refer to the Scottish Highlands, but rather to the fact that the distillery was founded on an area called ‘High Park’.

Highland Park Viking Honour 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, $85.25
This is one of the most popular single malts and can be found all over the world in stores and bars. It is golden amber in colour and is powerful, fragrant and floral with honey and oak in fine proportion plus hints of spice. The wood smoke is most evident on the finish. Very smooth on the palate with citrus fruits, malt, and honey nicely in balance. Very good length. A nice after dinner dram as an alternative to a cognac.

Highland Park 15 Y O Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $149.95, 46%
The 15 year old is golden straw in colour and is a blend from ex-sherry European and American oak casks. It is midweight and well balanced with a nose of baked orange and oak with hints of smoke and warm spice. The intense palate has biscuit and pineapple with hints of smoke and cinnamon. Very good length.

Highland Park 21 Y O Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $449.95
Though this is a 21 year old malt, it lacks the elegance that one expects from such long aging in cask. It is a powerful and complex malt that is yellow gold in colour. The nose is intense with wood dominated aromas of oat bran with baked apple, warm spice and grapefruit. The midweight palate is soft and a little flabby though the length is very good. I was expecting more grace but if it is power and complexity you are seeking then this will surely please..

Isle of Arran

Isle of Arran distillers is one of the few remaining independent distillers in Scotland. The island is off the shore of Ayrshire and is the closest distillery to the birthplace of Robert Burns.

The Isle of Arran was at various times home to more than 50 illicit distilleries, with the only licenced whisky-making facility at Lagg operating from 1825 to 1837.

Whisky production returned to the island during the 1990s, with Isle of Arran Distillers being established in 1995 with a distillery at Lochranza in the north of Arran.

In 2017, with the business flourishing, Isle of Arran Distillers added two additional stills at its Lochranza site, and began the construction of a second distillery on the south side of the island at Lagg.

Having started production in March 2019, Lagg distillery will take care of all the company’s peated whisky requirements.

Robert Burns Arran Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $56.75, 43%
This malt has an endorsement from the Burns World Federation, presumably since it is closest to his birthplace. Burns would have been able to see the island on most days when working in his family’s fields. It is a rich gold in colour and is matured mostly in ex-bourbon casks with some spending time in ex-sherry casks. The nose is harmonious with oak, fruit and floral components nicely integrated with cinnamon spice and vanilla. The palate is smooth and well balanced with nutty flavours appearing. Very good length. Good value for an easy drinking single malt.

Arran 10 Year Old, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $54.50, 46%
This malt is very well priced given its complexity and degree of elegance. It is a rich amber in colour. This distillery has come a long way since it was only founded in 1995. Expect aromas of dried hay with no smoke and digestive biscuit plus some lemon marmalade. The palate is soft and raisiny fruity with a lovely roundness and good depth of flavour. Very good length. Soft, round and a little sweet. Quite charming and a step up from the distillery’s Robert Burns single malt.

Talisker

This distillery is on the Isle of Skye and is one of the most visited in Scotland. It is owned by Diageo.

It was founded in 1830 but was soon in financial trouble and it was not until 1880 that the business became consistently profitable.

Unfortunately it burnt down in 1960 but was soon rebuilt and has become an increasingly important part of Diageo’s operations.

My first visit to the Talisker distillery on the Isle of Skye was in 1969 and I have been enjoying their whisky ever since.

Talisker 10 Y O, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $119.95, 45.8%
The 10 Year Old is a rich amber in colour. It has an intense nose of peat smoke with orange marmalade, salty kelp and bbq meat with hints of oak spice. Nicely done. The palate is rich and fruity with baked pineapple and toast with hints of peat smoke and black pepper. Very smooth with very good length. Good focus. Some elegance and well balanced with just enough peat smoke to add to its character.

Jura

The Isle of Jura lies just the west of Islay. The islands are separated by a narrow channel. There is only one distillery there. The population of the island is small such that there are more whisky casks on the island than there are inhabitants. It is owned by Whyte & Mackay.

Isle Of Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $60.20, 40%
This is golden amber in colour with a nose that shows some smoke but it is oatmeal with brown sugar toned by salt with hints of raisins that you are left with. The palate is well balanced but not that complex with good length and modest flavour. There is a hint of licorice on the finish with some stewed apple and custard.

Isle Of Jura 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $150.25, 44%
This 18 year old was aged in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels before enjoying a finishing period in Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux barrels, imparting a rich fruitiness. It is burnt amber in colour.  The complex nose shows hints of smoke with vanilla, strawberry, hazelnut plus cinnamon spice and orange citrus with hints of toffee and chocolate. It is super smooth with rich toffee and fruit cake flavours balanced by soft acidity and brown sugar richness. Outstanding length. Complex and finely balanced with charm. This is for long contemplation after a great meal.

Isle Of Jura Seven Wood Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $100.10, 42%
The name of this superb malt gives away some of its secrets, since it is made with spirit drawn from seven different types of cask. American white oak casks and casks made from oak from six different French forests, Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles, and Les Bertranges. It is yellow gold in colour. There is a touch of smoke on the nose with raisin fruit and red berry jam with oak spice and walnut. It is smooth and intense on the palate with soft acidity and very good length. The wood does not dominate and adds to the complexity.

Lowland Region

There are several notable distilleries in the Lowland region.

Auchentoshan

Och’n’tosh’n is how you pronounce the name of this distillery that is located close to Glasgow.

It used to be very common for Lowland distilleries to use triple distillation. Thus making the spirit smoother with more of the harsh elements removed during the third distillation. Now it is rare, but Auchentoshan continues the practise.

In the 1990s most of the Lowland distilleries went out of business. Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie were the only two to survive. These days it is thriving and is a popular visitor destination partly due to its proximity to Glasgow, I suspect. It is owned by Beam Suntory.

Auchentoshan 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $65.20, 40%
This rich golden single malt is triple distilled which is rare among single malts. It is matured in a mixture of ex-sherry and bourbon oak casks. Expect an oaky nose of caramel, floral, baked lemon and vanilla aromas with hints of spice and oatmeal. The palate is midweight and super smooth but the alcohol is a little harsh, so it is best with a splash or two of water. Flavours of baked peach and apple mingle with the oak caramel and vanilla. Intensely flavoured finish.

Auchentoshan P X Sherry Cask Finish 1988, Single Malt Scotch Whisky. $749.95, 49.7%
This golden amber malt spent its life since 1988 in an ex-pedro ximenes sherry cask. It is elegant and has a lovely lifted fruity and floral nose of baked peach and mango fruit with heather plus porridge and maple syrup with hints of cinnamon and mild oak spice. It has a delicate palate that is perfectly balanced with excellent length. Good focus. Classy after dinner dram for endless contemplation.

Lindores Abbey

Lindores Abbey is officially recognized as the site of the first recorded distillation of Scotch whisky in 1494 (that is the date in roman numbers on the bottle). It was in that year that King James IV commissioned Brother John Cor to make aqua vitae with eight bolls of malt. This was about 500 kg of malt and this would have produced about 400 bottles of whisky.

So one of the Scotch whisky industry’s most historic locations is now home to a brand new distillery.

The project is the brainchild of Drew McKenzie-Smith, whose family have owned the 12th Century abbey and neighbouring farm for more than 100 years.

Lindores Abbey M C D X C I V, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, $96.95, 46%
The date in roman numbers on the bottle is 1494 when whisky was first made in Scotland. The barley used to make this whisky comes from nearby farms in Fife. It is pale gold in colour with a delicate nose of oatmeal, honey, lemon and vanilla. It was aged in ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and STR ex-Burgundy red wine casks. The palate is round and well balanced and is quite full bodied with an intense finish. Excellent length.

There are many reviews of whisky from there at WineAlign. Use this link to open the search engine.

Then search Scotch from Scotland in the database.

Cheers or maybe I should say Slange Var which means good health. (Written Slainte Mhath in Gaelic).

Steve Thurlow