| |
Recent releases, September 2006
Four at cask strength
This month we feature four cask strength releases, two from Orkney and two from Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd
Auchentoshan, 18-year-old (Scotland) 
Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd is continuing its policy of offering new cask strength releases of Auchtentoshan and Bowmore single malts, and the latest Auchentoshan is an 18-year-old, bottled at 55.8%ABV. Auchentoshan is one of three surviving Lowland distilleries, and the only one in Scotland to practice full tripe distillation. This 18-year-old expression has been matured in first and second fill Oloroso Sherry butts, and is limited to just 4,800 bottles.
Undiluted, the nose offers pear drops and distinctive fruit notes (fresh raspberries?), with more malt coming through when water is added. Elegant and eminently drinkable, even at cask strength, this Auchentoshan is fruity yet quite dry and nutty, with liquorice developing late on. The finish is progressively drying, with the fruitiness remaining right to the end, ultimately becoming akin to Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles.
55.8% ABV, 70cl, £67.95, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Bowmore, 1990 16-year-old (Scotland)
Following cask strength releases of Bowmore 1971 and 1989, Morrison Bowmore has now added a 1990 expression to the range. Like the Auchentoshan above, it has been matured in Oloroso Sherry casks. Bowmore is the oldest distillery on Islay, and this 16-year-old is big and briny on the nose, with more brine, less peat and less perfume than the ‘standard’ 12-year-old version. Dilution produces more profound notes of char and black treacle.
Peat smoke is very evident on the palate, and a sherbet, fruity sweetness subsequently appears. The sweet notes are far more pronounced than in the 12-year-old. Water dries the dram out significantly, bringing Sherry and spices to the surface. The finish is lengthy and drying, with a sprinkling of pepper at cask strength, along with hints of sticking plasters and peat.
53.8% ABV, 70cl, £47.95, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Highland Park, Ambassador Cask 2 (Scotland)
Following the great success of Highland Park’s first Ambassador’s Cask bottling, which sold out within three months, brand ambassador Gerry Tosh has now selected a second cask from the iconic Orkney distillery. ‘Ambassador’s Cask 2’ is the strongest and youngest whisky in the Highland Park range, and Tosh says “This second bottling will not disappoint. At first the lips tingle, then the fiery spirit of the Orkney climate comes through, and its finish is creamy, gentle and smoky.”
Big, rich and heathery on the nose, with vanilla fudge following through. The addition of water teases out more floral notes. Firm and full bodied on the palate, with ginger, dry Sherry and even a hint of pepper. A decidedly spicy Highland Park. The finish is very long and warming, with rich fruit cake and mixed spice notes towards the end, along with a persistent squeeze of lemon when sampled at cask strength. Smokier when diluted.
58.8% ABV, 70cl, £44.99, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Scapa, Cask Strength Edition 14-Year-Old (Scotland)
The latest addition to Chivas Brothers’ range of limited edition cask strength whiskies comes from the lesser known of Orkney’s two surviving distilleries. Scapa was established in 1885 and came into the possession of Chivas as part of the company’s acquisition of Allied Domecq assets last year. As a result, ‘standard’ expressions of Scapa are already gaining a higher profile in specialist retailers and even on supermarket shelves. This particular cask strength bottling was matured in first fill American Oak ex-Bourbon barrels, and the nose offers hints of butterscotch, bananas and custard. Rich, sweet and malty on the palate, with subtle spice and chocolate orange developing in the long, creamy finish. An elegant and sophisticated offering.
Available at Chivas Bros’ Strathisla, Glenlivet and Aberlour visitor centres.
60.6% ABV, 50cl, £32, maltwhiskydistilleries. |  |
|
|
features