Ledaig 10yo

Nightcap 36 Ledaig 10yo

A nice bright straw colour in the glass. The nose is a complex blend of peat, honey, nuts, the ocean, and plenty of malt. What a huge blast! Pungent flavours together in harmony make a fabulous drink. Brine from the sea, peat, black pepper and earthy! Rich flavour, but no burn. Very warming and the finish glows with peat, integrated with spices; a ginger zing with a hint of liquorice. A pungent, engaging and complex scotch that I had not heard of. A veritable monster! It is distilled at Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. The water is heavily peated, and the barley is peat dried. Yet the peat does not dominate. A well balanced big scotch!

Ledaig 10yo

 

Dimple 15yo

Nightcap 35 Dimple 15yo

A bright straw colour in the glass. There is a lot happening on the nose; some spice and leather, some cut grass and even floral hints. The bourbon barrel is noticable as well as vanilla. Really nice mouthfeel with lots of malt and raisins as well as honey and a complex range of other enjoyable flavours. It has a long pleasant finish showing both dry spice and sweetness. A very balanced scotch. It is a blended scotch mainly from Glenkinchie and Linkwood. i bought it on special and it is a very handily placed on the second shelf!

Dimple 15yo

 

The Famous Grouse 12yo

Nightcap 33 The Famous Grouse 12yo

This is a bright deep golden colour in the glass. The nose was a little restricted due to my long lasting head cold, but I detected honeycomb and malt with good oak. The first sip is smooth and mouth filling, but it warms the oesophagus nicely. Honey and spice are evident on the palate and it leaves pleasant flavours in the mouth. A little bit of peat maybe? The finish has vanilla and also liquorice. This is a very handy drop given the fact that it is a blend of malts. It lives on the second shelf but could easily replace a poor performer on the top shelf. I visited Glenturret, the home of Famous Grouse and even made an etching entitled “Self Portrait with Big Breasted Bird”.

The Famous Grouse 12yo

 

 

Jura 16yo

Nightcap 32 Jura 16yo

The whisky is a bright deep amber colour. I struggled to find a nose but that is mainly because of my head cold; perhaps a hint of malt, and the sea. It is a beautiful smooth and elegant scotch; creamy and buttery with tinges of oranges and spices. Caramel and toffee are certainly there on the palate and the finish. A very pleasant and elegant drink. Nothing is particularly lifted, but beautifully together in balance. A good scotch to mull over as one reflects on the day that could have been!

Jura 16yo

 

The Lark Distiller’s Selection

Nightcap 31 The Lark Distiller’s Selection N.A.S.

A Tasmanian whisky! I had been inclined to overlook these as I thought they did not have much character, and they are quite expensive. Through a very kind gift I have received a bottle of this whisky (not scotch because it is not made in Scotland) and have given it the taste test. It is a beautifully bright deep amber colour with mahogany tinges. On the nose I detected caramel and spice with a gentle syrup theme. A little added water opened up a number of floral characters. It has a lovely flavour in the mouth. It is rich and full of oak and lots of fruits. It also has sweet port characters from the barrels used. Even a hint of chocolate. A huge spicy explosion warms the cockles of the heart on swallowing, as well as the oesophagus. The finish continues for a long time with toffee and plum pudding notes. It also finishes very dry. This has been an eye opener and is now a very welcome addition to my stash. The only problem is I have run out of shelf space. I might have to move the bourbons.

The Lark Distiller’s Selection