Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2

“Burning Love”

Whisky Review # 1064

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2 (129.7 PPM)

Series: The Impossible Equation 

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled: July 2021

Age: Around 5 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57.3% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with 18 months finish in Sauternes casks
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: Around US$ 220 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😒 Quite Expensive for such a young Single Malt

Buying Advice: 😃 Not as good as the 10.2 but certainly enjoyable

Colour:

Golden/Light Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The slightly Dirty Smoke and Peat are there but the 12.2 is not a Peat Monster as the high PPM might suggest. They are leading the way though, accompanied by Fruity, Burnt, Coastal and Herbal notes. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Yeast, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Cooked Fruit (Pineapple, Pear & Apple), Salted Pork, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Charred Oak, Dairy, Nectarine, Red Berries and Chili Pepper.   

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Burnt Matches, Glue, Ashes, Hospital, Forest Floor, Orange, Melon, Wet Rocks and Sand, Pine Resin, Milka Raisin and Hazelnut Chocolate, Perfumed Tea, Polished Leather, Seaweed, Soot and a hint of Licorice.  

Palate:

There is a bit of Alcohol but you don't really feel the 57.3%. The Palate is in line with the Nose. The Sauternes Finish combines nicely with the raw Island spirit. It is still a bit Dirty and not overly well-rounded but enjoyable nevertheless.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Yeast and Dough, Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Soot, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Salted Fork and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Cooked Apples and Pears, Charred Oak, Chili Pepper and Cinnamon.   

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Wax, Tar, Hospital, Ashtray, Forest Floor, Tobacco, Leather, Nectarine, Toasted Almonds, slightly Sour Orange & Grapefruit, Cocoa Powder, Apple Vinegar, Slivovitz, Ginger, Aniseed, Paprika Powder, Nutmeg and Licorice.      

Finish:

Middle-Long. Bitter-Sweet with additional Sour & Salty notes. The Alcohol is more noticeable now but the Finish certainly invites you to have another sip. It's still a bit Dirty and Edgy but at this point you're almost used to it. Medium-Dry towards the end. I find Toasted Grains, Dirty Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Soot, Ash, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Vanilla, Toffee, Salted Pork and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Cooked Apple & Pears, Espresso, Dark Chocolate, Charred Oak, Licorice, slightly Sour Green Papaya & Yellow Plum, Mint, Aniseed, Leather, Chili Pepper as in Talisker, Paprika Powder, Cinnamon & Ginger.     
Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and while the Nose loses Power you will get extra Fruit on the Palate. Peach and/or Apricot come to mind. I prefer it neat but you can play with a little Water.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion:

Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by Barnett Harvey. During its history it was mothballed various times, the last time in 1998. In 2012 the Islay distillery was bought by Remy Cointreau (France). Since, Bruichladdich is showing a healthy growth again. The distillery produces 3 types of Single Malt, i.e. the unpeated Bruichladdich & the heavily peated Port Charlotte & Octomore. The basic core range includes the Classic Laddie and a 10-year old Port Charlotte. The annual production amounts to around 1.1 million litres. About 10% of that is Octomore. Octomore means " The Big Eighth". This is a medieval division of common ground.

Bruichladdich spirit combines well with a Sauternes finish. My personal favorite is the 10.2 as it is more rounded and compact when compared to the 12.2. But the latter, while more "Dirty", "Burnt" & Nervous is still quite enjoyable and consistent from Nose to Finish. It's a bit expensive given its Youth but it's certainly worth a try. 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 24, 2025

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

Caol Ila 2008 (Cooper's Choice)

“A Soap Opera”

Whisky Review # 1063

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Caol Ila 2008 - Distilled in May 2008 - Bottled in 2020

Bottled By: The Vintage Malt Whisky Comp. Ltd (VM) -  Cooper's Choice series

Type: Single Malt "Single Cask" Scotch Whisky - Cask # 9116 - 324 Bottles

Age: 12 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 54.5%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with Amarone Red Wine cask Finish

Chill Filtration: No 

Price Average: US$ 100 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 Borderline Acceptable

Buying Advice: 👎 Look for alternatives like the Longrow 11 Years Cabernet 

Color:

Golden with a shade of red (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Be sure to avoid nosing in the middle of the glass to avoid the initial strong waves of Alcohol and Varnish. I'm a big fan of Caol Ila but this Nose does not really work for me. There's an early unpleasant undertone that reminds me of burnt Garden Waste and cheap Soap. I never perceived these notes when tasting the regular Distillery 12 Years so it's likely a cask issue. Over time the Nose improves so be sure to give this Caol Ila enough time in the glass before Nosing. Other than the above the Nose is mostly Sweet but also presents some Sour notes. The typical Islay notes are still there but they are slightly obscured by the Amarone Finish.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Toast with a Margarine spread, Bacon, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Dried Fruit like Sultanas & Raisins, Cold Smoke, Wet Peat, Hospital, Rubber, cheap Soap, Leather, Pepper & Ginger.  

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Salted Caramel or Toffee, Vanilla, Roasted Nuts, Grapefruit, Soy Sauce, Balsamic Vinegar, slightly Sour Red Wine, Grass & Straw, Tar, Wet Rocks and Sand, Burnt Orange Skins, Tobacco, Seaweed and Dusty Oak.      

Palate:

Again, I'm not really pleased with the result. There must have been some issue with the initial Ex-Bourbon casks or the Amarone cask used for the Finishing. It's Dirty but not in a pleasant way. I've had a Longrow 11 Years Cabernet Sauvignon Cask once and that was so much better in every aspect. 

Main Flavours:

Toasted Grains, Salted Caramel/Toffee, Bacon/Fish/Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and mixed Herbs, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Tar, Ashes, Hospital, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Aniseed.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Toasted Nuts, Cooked Vegetables, slightly Sour Red Wine, Soy Sauce and Balsamic Vinegar, Leather, Wet Stones and Sand, Floral Soap, Rubber, Nutmeg and Burnt Grass.

Finish:

Medium-Long. Sweet at first but with developing Bitterness towards the Medium-Dry end. The aftertaste is slightly "Dirty" and Metallic. I also find Toasted Grains & Nuts, Cooked Fruits and Vegetables, Cold Smoke, Dirty Peat, Tar, Ashes, Hospital, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Bacon, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Herbs and Lemon, Grapefruit, slightly Sour Red Wine, Dusty Oak, Floral Soap, Aniseed, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Rubber, Leather and old Cigar Boxes.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Malt. It adds more Acidic notes to the nose.

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is  8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Borderline okay

 

Conclusion:

The Caol Ila Distillery was founded in 1846 and is located close to Port Askaig on Islay. It was bought by DCL in 1927 and through some mergers finally became part of Diageo. The distillery was rebuilt in 1974 and only one old Warehouse reminds us of former days. Traditionally, Caol Ila is an important component of Blends like Johnnie Walker, Bell's and White Horse. But during the last 15 years Diageo has made great efforts to position the Distillery as a Single Malt as well. Caol Ila is really beautifully located alongside the strait between the islands of Islay & Jura. The Core range includes the 12, 18 & 25 Years, the Distiller's Edition as well as the NAS Moch. We thoroughly enjoyed both our visits to the distillery in 2014 & 2017 respectively despite the fact that you're not allowed to take pictures. Caol Ila is certainly one of my favorite distilleries and Single Malts.

Amarone is an Italian Red Wine from the Valpolicella region in Veneto made from partially dried grapes, mainly of the Corvina variety. The Caol Ila I'm reviewing here was finished in a cask (# 9116) that previously held Amarone Wine. I must confess I'm not too pleased with the result. It smells and tastes "Dirty" like an Unfinished Symphony. I must blame the Cask Management. It's either that or I'm having a complete off-day. Because normally I quite enjoy Caol Ila in any shape or form. As it is however I can't recommend this specific VM expression. Too Much Soap Will Kill You as Brian May sang back in the days 😜

Cheers 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                        April 17, 2025

Wolfburn Morven

“Fire on the Mountain”

Whisky Review # 1062

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Northern Highlands

Brand: Wolfburn Morven

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Lightly Peated: 10 PPM

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: 50% 1st Fill Bourbon Casks and 50% Quarter Casks from Islay

Chill Filtration: No

Price Range: US$ 35-45 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good, if you like Young, lightly Peated Whisky
Buying Advice: 😐 It's Light, Thin, Young and Simple but not really bad

Colour: White Wine/Pale Straw  (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Light, Young and a little Edgy. The Alcohol is noticeable. Quite a few Burnt notes (Resin, Straw, Plastic). Orchard Fruit and Citrus. It's similar to Young Islay but less pungent. 

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toast & Margarine, Vanilla, Yeast, Burnt Resin, Plastic, Matches and Straw, Cold Smoke,Dirty Earthy Peat, Red Apple, Lemon, Nectarine, Dairy, Rubber, Floral Perfume and Metal.     

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Wax, Grass, Iodine, Tar, Ashes, Pear, Orange, Grilled Pineapple, Nuts, Dusty Oak, Tobacco, Varnish, Wet Sand, Cooked Vegetables, Smoked Meat, Mint, Cinnamon and Pepper.   

Palate:

Young, Light, Thin, Fresh & slightly Sharp. There's a Menthol-like Freshness to it. It's Sweet but it also offers some Sour & Salty notes. Simple but not unpleasant. The Alcohol remains noticeable. 

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Hospital, Grass and Straw, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Fresh Herbs, Salt, Menthol, Pepper and Ginger.  

    

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Orange, Pear, Nectarine, Green Tea, Dusty Oak, White Chocolate, Almonds, Rubber, Leather, Licorice, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and BBQ.

Finish:

Middle-Long. Light, Thin and Young. Mainly Sweet but with a few Sour and Salty notes for contrast. A slight Herbal Bitterness towards the end. I also find Sweet & Malted Barley, Vanilla, Yeast, Grass, Cold Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Grapefruit, Orange, Lemon, Nectarine, Green Apple, Unripe Pear, Ashes, Hospital, Licorice, Aniseed, Fresh Herbs, Cooked Vegetables, Alcohol, Toasted Almonds, Brine, Salt, Pepper, Ginger, Menthol, Dusty Oak, Cocoa Powder and Smoked Meat.   

Drinking Advice:

With added Water this Morven becomes Liquid, Thin Peat. Better enjoy it neat. 

Rating: 7 (*******)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 7 - Finish: 6.5

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion:

Wolfburn is a young distillery. It was founded in 2013 on the outskirts of Thurso, very close to the ruins of the old Wolfburn distillery that was founded in 1821 but closed down at the end of the 19th century. Wolfburn is owned by Aurora Brewing Ltd & has a current production capacity of around 135.000 litres. The core range includes the 10 Year old, Northland, Aurora, Morven and Langskip. We visited the distillery in May 2019 and enjoyed it. Certainly worth a visit! The Morven was first released in 2017, It is named after the highest mountain (706 m) in the county of Caithness.

Morven is a young, thin and lightly peated Single Malt. It's quite straightforward & simple but not totally unpleasant. The P/Q ratio is good. If you like young peated Islay you might give it a go. But if you like longer matured peated whisky like the Lagavulin 16 you should not consider climbing this Morven.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 10, 2025

Mackmyra Mack

“Not a Big Mack”

Whisky Review # 1061

Country: Sweden 🇸🇪

Region: Valbo - Gävle

Brand: Mackmyra Mack 

Type: Single Malt Swedish Whisky

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks

Chill Filtration: No 

Average Price: US$ 30 (April 2025) 500 ML - US$ 45 (April 2025) 700 ML
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Okay

Buying Advice: 👎 Boring thin stuff - Not good enough as a sipping whisky

Colour:

Golden -  Artificially Coloured

Nose:

Young, Sugary Sweet and a little Rough. Not a lot going on here. Apple and Citrus are the main drivers. Please avoid nosing in the middle of your glass as there's a bit of Alcohol around.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Sugared Grains, Vanilla, Green Apple and Unripe Pear, Artificially-flavored Candy (Strawberry, Banana, Orange, Mandarin), Dusty Oak, Aniseed and Ginger. A Musty note I can't quite place.   

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Grass and Straw, Dough, Cheap White Wine, Wet Cardboard and Paper, Tangerine, Toast and Margarine, Floral notes, Herbs, Glue and Menthol.

Palate:

Sugary Sweet with a few Sour and Bitter notes. Thin & almost Watery. The Alcohol is quite noticeable. It's a little Rough and not unlike a German Obstler. Medium Dry. Not interesting enough as a sipping Malt.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Sugared Grains, Green Apples, Unripe Pears, Slightly Sour Citrus (Orange, Tangerine, Grapefruit), Yellow Plum, Grass and Straw, Cinnamon, Pepper, Ginger and Menthol. 

Supportive Flavour Accents:
   
Honey, Caramel, Toffee, Artificially-flavored Fruit Candy (Green Grape, Banana, Tangerine and Peach), Fresh Herbs, Wort, Nutmeg and Cloves. 

Finish:

Short, Very Thin and mainly Sugary Sweet. A light Bitterness developing towards the Medium Dry end. At times it feels more like a German Obstler than a Single Malt Whisky. I find Sweet Barley, Toffee, Sugared Grains, Vanilla, Apple Vinegar, Grass, Yellow Plums, Banana, slightly Sour Citrus (Orange, Grapefruit, Tangerine), Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Menthol and Ginger.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water kills this Mackmyra.

Rating: 6 (******) 

Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 6 - Finish: 5.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is 8 or higher you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Borderline okay

Conclusion:

The first Mackmyra distillery was founded in 1999. In 2012 a new distillery started production. It is located just outside Gävle, only a few miles away from the first distillery. The new structure is one of the highest in its kind and follows the gravity model where the production process starts on the upper floor and works it way downwards. This process decreases the energy costs substantially. The owners (Mackmyra Svensk Whisky AB) suffered some financial problems in 2014, probably as a result of the huge investment in the new distillery. As a result production went down considerably. 

Latest news: It seemed that the situation was back under control but one of my readers informed me that the distillery filed for bankruptcy on August 19,2024. In October 24 it was acquired by former board member Lennart Hero and investment firm No. 1 Capital AB.

This is not a Big Mack indeed. Totally uninteresting as a sipping Whisky and Thin and Watery. Not much on the positive side I'm afraid but for the fact that it's not expensive. The distillery mentions it's good for mixing and I'm not gonna argue with that although I personally prefer Bourbon for mixed drinks. All in all I would advise you to stay away from this Mack. 

Skål 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                          April 3, 2025

Glenburgie 1989 (Gordon & MacPhail)

“Old Man”

Whisky Review # 1060

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Brand: Glenburgie 1989 - Distilled: 20-09-1989 - Bottled: 25-09-2019 
Bottled by: Gordon & MacPhail - Connaisseurs Choice Series  - 185 bottles

Type: Single Malt Single Cask Whisky - Cask # 14142
Age: 30 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 53.2% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Refill Sherry Hogshead
Chill Filtration: No
Price: Around US$ 900 (March 2025) - Hard to find

Price/Quality Ratio: 😟 It can't be cheap of course but it's not worth the price

Buying Advice: 😐 It's nice enough although it overstayed its time in the cask 
 
Colour:

Mahogany with deep shades of Brown (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Mature Sherried Nose. Not too powerful thanks to the Refill cask. The Oak is very present and I believe this Glenburgie could/should have been bottled a few years earlier. Still it's not bad at all with Dried Fruits, Nuts, Honey, Oak & Spices in the lead. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated. Sweet with some Sour accents.A little Sulfur perhaps but nothing to worry about.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Cereals, Buttered Toast, Honey, X-Mas Cake, Dried Fruits (Raisins, Sultanas, Plums, Dates), Dark Red Berries, Toasted Nuts, Grass & Straw, Dusty Oak, Dark Chocolate, Pepper, Cloves and Mint/Menthol.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Marzipan, Wax, Stewed Apples, Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit), Tobacco, Leather, Dusty Earth, Brandy, Raw Meat, Wet Rocks, Dried Herbs, Milk, Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Palate:

The Palate follows the Nose. However, the Oak and the Spices come to the play at this point. I also get light hints of a Petrol station and Sulfur but nothing to get worried about. The Palate is a reasonably balanced mix of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes. 

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, Toasted Cereals, Toasted Nuts, Dark Honey, Dried Fruit like Plums, Raisins, Dates and Sultanas, Dark Berries, X-Mas Cake, Orange-Flavored Bitter Chocolate, Grass and Straw, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Licorice and Menthol.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Toffee, Caramel, Buttered Toast, Butterscotch, Wax, Herbal Tea, Lemon, Grapefruit, Tobacco, Leather, Milk, Stewed Apple, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cloves and Cinnamon.  

Finish:

Middle-Long. Sweet at first but with increasing Bitter and Sour notes towards the Dry end. Oak and Spices really take control at this point. I also find Sweet Barley, Toasted Cereals, Toasted Nuts, Dark Honey, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Sultanas, Orange-Flavored Dark Chocolate, Dark Berries, Grapefruit, Lemon, Stewed Apples, Grass and Straw, Wax, Dusty Track, Tobacco, Leather, Wet Rocks, Coconut, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Licorice and Menthol.   

Drinking Advice:

I added a few drops of Water and that makes this Glenburgie more accessible. You will lose some depth though. As is the case most of the times I prefer it neat. But you can certainly play with a little Water.

Rating: 8 (********)

Nose: 8 - Taste: 8 - Finish: 7.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience:

Good

Conclusion:

The Glenburgie distillery was founded in 1810 by William Paul, initially under the name Kilnflat, It closed in 1870 & reopened as Glenburgie in 1878. Since 2005 the distillery is owned by Chivas Regal (Pernod Ricard). Glenburgie is one of the three main Malt components of the Ballantine's Blend. The other two being Miltonduff & Glentauchers. The core range merely consists of the 12, 15 and 18 year old. Production amounts to around 4.2 litres per year.

I'm a great fan of Gordon & McPhail in general but in this case they should have bottled cask # 14142 3-5 years earlier in my opinion. As presented Oak and Spice become too dominant on the Palate and in the Finish. There's still enough to enjoy though and I did spend a nice two hours with this Glenburgie. Of course a Single Malt of this age can't be cheap but at current prices the P/Q ratio of this Malt does not look great. It was nice to taste a sample though!

Cheers, Jan 🥃                                                                         March 27, 2025