PC 2007:CC01 & Octomore 8.2 Reviews

Hi everyone,

While stumbling through Amsterdam airport the other day I found the Bruichladdich bar! A proper little Bruichladdich corner, hidden away in one of the duty free shops. Complete with Bruichladdich satchel bags and Glencairn glasses. So of course I had a little taster of a Port Charlotte I hadn’t had the chance to try.

I was back in the same spot a week later heading to Milan (for another whisky festival) and it had all changed. Now I believe it’s a Remy Cointreau corner, which I think is a shame. Anyway, I managed to scrounge a taster of the new 8.2 Octomore too.

PC 2007 CC:01 57.8%

Colour: Dark Gold

Body: Full

Nose: Peat and sweetness, mineral, wet rocks, sauternes-esque sulphur, white grape. With water you get more vanilla and it’s more ethereal.

Taste: Soft and fruity, white grape, then the Cognac and mineral peat, sea salt, some peach, very peaty stuff.

Finish: Long length. Very peaty, very mineral. With water its longer and more balance.

8 years old. Funnily enough, this seems more brutishly peaty than the Octomore! Serious stuff this.

81/100

Octomore 8.2 58.4%

Colour: Gold

Body: Full

Nose: Similar style to 7.1/2. Intense, meaty, mineral. Ethereal fruit, tame for an Octomore though (perhaps from the older age). Red apple, red wine, red grape.

Taste: Intense, velvety oils, fruit then spice and BIG peat, very mineral, a little red apple, then softens with more earthy tones. Oily. Very spicy development though, perhaps from the French oak, ginger.

Finish: Long length. Very dry, wood, mineral.

8 years old from 167ppm. This only just scrapes the PC, and based on price I’d be buying that over this.

82/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #512-#513

Whisky Network Reviews #592-#593

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Longmorn & Auchentoshan 1992 for Swiss Reviews

Hi everyone,

Two more single casks from Berry Bro’s & Rudd today, both from 1992, both exclusive for the Swiss market. I’ve said it before, but it’s worth reiterating that, yes, you probably aren’t going to find these unless you live in Switzerland but Berry Bros might have similar casks that they might end up releasing in your country, so it’s worth reviewing them I think.

I’ve heard good things about older Longmorn (even better things about MUCH older Longmorn) and indie Auchentoshan, so I was looking forward to ending my Swiss tasting with these.

 

Longmorn 1992 Berry Bro’s for Swiss 50.1%
Colour: Gold

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: Slightly tropical fruit, mango, dry oak, quite austere but nice. Like an old Springbank without the smoke.

Taste: Juicy, mango, some pineapple, lovely mouthfeel, chalky, some white pepper but very soft.

Finish: Medium/Long length. Soft but keeps going, chalky and tropical.

Bottled 2014 at 22 years old. A nice style. This is only the second Longmorn I’ve had but their stuff seems to have those nice tropical notes you’d get in older Springbank or Laphroaig.

79/100

Auchentoshan 1992 Berry Bro’s for Swiss 52.8%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Ah, off. Burnt rubber like a wall, burning tyres. No getting past it.

Taste: Vanilla and burnt rubber, a bit harsh too, harsh spice.

Finish: Long length. Dry, oak, not as bad.

I was looking forward to a light, delicate Lowland to finish the Swiss tasting and unfortunately, I got this rubber monster. Don’t know how it ever got to this state, was the spirit like that in the first place? I doubt it, perhaps the barrel? Or could be an off bottle?

53/100

Honourable mention needs to go to the 50 year old Madeira I tasted at the dinner after the event. Has to be the best after dinner drink ever. So, bloody good.

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Reviews #510-#511

Whisky Network Reviews #590-#591

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Arran 18, Machrie Moor Cask Strength & 2001 PX 50cl Reviews

Hi everyone,

Got a couple of Arran’s I tasted recently in Switzerland for your reading pleasure today.

To be perfectly honest I’ve never really rated Arran in the same league as a lot of the other Island/Islay distilleries but perhaps because I haven’t tried lots of them. Really I need to get on the indies, but for the moment I’ve got these.

Arran 18 46%

Colour: Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Lovely. Great style with spices and dry oak, raspberry, strawberry and cream, salted caramel and nettle.

Taste: Soft arrival, builds up, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, shortbread, oak, ginger and coriander.

Finish: Medium length. Some chocolate and milky coffee. Nice.

For when you don't want a sherry or peat bomb.

79/100

Arran Machrie Moor Cask Strength 58.1%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: Fruity style, fresh fruit, lime peel, green grape, sooty and ashy. Salted caramel and honeycomb.

Taste: Powar! Spicy kick, glowing ash and soot, then the fresh fruit with green grape, some apple and lime peel.

Finish: Medium length. Sooty again, ash has cooled, mellowed.

Really powerful and spicy on the mid-palate. Again, quality is definitely there but doesn’t really have the substance of Islay or Mull.

77/100

And this next one is what I was talking about in my latest Tomatin review. Another 35cl Sherry finish with a 35cl of the Sherry they used. Cool idea, but Arran have done it better. Way better.

Arran 2001 PX Finish 52.4%

Colour: Amber

Body: Medium/Full

Nose: That’s better! Amazing cherry from the off, vanilla and real aged PX (had a 20yo the other day that this reminds me of), stewed dark raisin, oily tobacco.

Taste: Great. Arrives soft, then spice and sherry kicks in, PX, thick raisin, dark chocolate, vanilla pod. Dense sweetness, nice balance. Really works.

Finish: Medium/Long length. Vanilla and soft PX. Lovely.

Fantastic stuff. A great example of a good PX finish. Unfortunately I think this is a private cask and may not be available.

84/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Reviews #507-#509

Whisky Network Reviews #587-#589

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Bib & Tucker Single Barrel for Switzerland Review

Hi everyone,

Thanks to the mods of r/Bourbon over on Reddit, I've got a bit more motivation to try some more Bourbons (they introduced new flair levels for more reviews).

And in that spirit I have a bunch of Bourbon reviews coming up (finally tasted 50 now, but still nothing compared to the Scotch’s I’ve tried). Also I’m heading over to the US for holiday soon, and I’m hoping I’ll find some Bourbon’s to try too.

Anyway, recently I’ve been in Switzerland and spotted this single barrel pick that intrigued me…

Bib & Tucker Single Barrel for Swiss 63.55%

Colour: Light Bronze

Body: Full

Nose: Herbal, minty, dry and complex, peppermint, a bowl of mixed nuts! Really. Very nutty.

Taste: Soft, wood, dry, very nutty, hazelnut, brazil nut, peanut, just a whole bowl of 'em. Again, a lot of nuts here.

Finish: Short/Medium length. Oils (very nice) and vanilla pod, nice wood.

Very untypical. Water extenuates everything. A very nice one I think!

79/100

Thanks for reading!

American Review #36

Whisky Network Review #586

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Laphroaig 1997 Berry Bros for Switzerland Review

Hi everyone,

Quick one from me today. Another one from Berry Bros, and this one in particular was the best of the ones I tasted from them. Then again, it’s older Laphroaig, so it might not be a fair fight.

Laphroaig 1997 Berry Bros & Rudd 51.6%

Colour: Gold

Body: Full

Nose: Lovely balance of mineral and sweet. Medicine cabinet, rock pools, vanilla, dried seaweed.

Taste: Sweet first, vanilla hit, then smoke kicks in, mineral, seaweed and rock pools, Kilchoman-esque mineral notes.

Finish: Long length. Ends with more sweetness, orange and honey.

Bottled 2015 at 18 years old. Quite sweet for a Laphroaig. Blind I might have guessed Kilchoman. But great whisky!

84/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #506

Whisky Network Review #585

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

Springbank 1993 BBR Review [Swiss Army Man]

Hi everyone,

Another review today, because I’ve got a tonne to get through and lots of exciting stuff. This one is another Berry Bros & Rudd, a wine company cased in London, that also do some whiskies and rum. This is from their single cask stuff.

On another, completely different note, I’m in Rotterdam for the Whiskybase Gathering, so come say hi if you’re around!

Springbank 1993 BBR 46%

Colour: Light Gold

Body: Medium

Nose: Classically dry, chalky, austere and sooty. Sharp oak, vanilla pod, soft notes but a little sharp abv.

Taste: Soft, dry oak, very chalky, ash, chimeney soot, lacking power.

Finish: Short length. A little sour fruit.

Disappointing. I’m starting to learn that not all of these old Springbanks are great. They can be a little austere and ‘tight’ I would say. Even being from my birth year doesn’t save this one.

Bottled 2015, 21yo for Switzerland.

73/100

Thanks for reading!

Scotch Review #505

Whisky Network Review #584

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?

The Whistler 7, 10 & 7 Cask Strength Reviews

Hi everyone,

Today I’ve got a brand I hadn’t heard of before: The Whistler. It’s a new Irish distillery that doesn’t have any whiskey yet, so they’ve sourced some like the rest of them have. What thye’ve done next is interesting though. They bought some 35 year old Bodega Sherry casks and used them to finish a bunch of the whiskey. Giving these particular ones a nice Sherry kick to them.

Gotta say as well, I love the corks with the musical notes going around the side.

The Whistler 7 Cask Strength 59%

Colour: Amber

Body: Full

Nose: A little rubbery on the sherry, raisin, orange chewy sweets, a little sharp abv, some porridge keeping it natural.

Water: More natural sherry, lovely toffee, raisin and orange.

Taste: Good arrival, intense, chewy orange and raisin, great natural yellow apple, spice.

Water: More balance and structure, still powerful. Natural oily malt.

Finish: Short length. Goes, but some orange left. Longer with water.

A 2 year Sherry finish. Double distilled single malt. Swims really well! Limited to 1200 bottles.

78/100

The Whistler 7 46%

Colour: Light Amber

Body: Medium

Nose: Lovely sherried fruit, raisin and orange.

Taste: Great orange and sherry fruit, cherry.

Finish: Medium length. Toffee and orange.

I was told this was the same whisky as the cask strength. Which makes sense because it tastes the same too.

76/100

The Whistler 10 46%

Colour: Amber

Body: Medium

Nose: Same strain as the other two. Nice sherry, orange, blood orange.

Taste: Soft, malty, orange, Christmas spices, cinnamon.

Finish: Medium length. Toffee, chocolate and orange.

Very similar style to the 7 but actually I prefer that. Only by a little though. Overall, these are some really nice Irish Whiskies I would definitely recommend having a look at.

75/100

Thanks for reading!

Irish Reviews #19-#21

Whisky Network Reviews #581-#583

Irish Average: 68.9

Network Average: 74.6

Best Score: 92

Worst Score: 22

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent

Full Disclosure Disclaimer: I currently work as a Brand Ambassador for Penderyn Distillery. The views expressed here are purely my own and do not reflect the views of Penderyn Distillery or The Welsh Whisky Company. I try to maintain as much objectivity as I can but feel free to take my reviews with as big a pinch of salt as you like. Furthermore, my rating scale is NOT based on a Parker type wine scoring scale or a school/college/university % or A-F grade score. You can find more on my scoring here. I apologise for any seemly low or 'bad' scores given with my system and am sorry I can't say only nice things. Please keep in mind that I am ethically compromised and am unable to produce 100% unbiased reviews.

Why is this here?