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Dufftown Festival: Cadenheads

A bit disappointing this. I mean, I know Cadenheads have some really cracking drams in their stock, so getting something that’s just ok is not going to wow me…

Tasted blind, that is I wrote the notes before I was told what was in the glass.

Balmenach 22 years, dist. 1989, bot. June 2011, bourbon hogshead, 51.4%

Nose: With no water, mostly alchohol. With water added, meaty and orange.

Palate: Slate, spice, malt.

Comment: There is something distinct on nose and palate that I couldn’t put a name to before the glass was empty, so I wanted more simply to try to pin it down.

Score: 5 out of 10

Speyside 15 years, dist. 1994, bot. 2009, bourbon hogshead, 64.6%

Nose: Vegetation, pine, resin, suddenly sherry.

Palate: Resin.

Score: 7 out of 10 (well, I like resiny whiskies)

Hazelburn 12 years, Batch 3, all sherry, 46%

Nose: With water, fruit and smoke.

Palate: Clear peat on finish.

Score: 6 out of 10

(Note: No, I have no idea where the smoke/peat comes from, but it’s there.)

Ben Nevis 14 years, Rum cask, 58.1%

Nose: Rubber.

Palate: Rubber, salt, pepper, liquorice.

Score: 3 out of 10

Vatted malt for shop, 58.2%

Nose: Peat, dried fruits.

Palate: Peat, cold fireplace.

Cadenhead’s Lowland Pure Malt

Tasted at the dregs party, Spirit of Speyside 2007.

Just one word commenting this in my notebook:

“Undrinkable.”

Which says it all, I guess.