• about us
  • waterfalls
  • our travels
  • galleries

where's your sense of adventure?

an eric and leandra production

  • international travel
  • usa travel
  • food & drink
  • street art

posted on June 30, 2018 by eric

Scotland 2018: Spirit of Speyside independent bottlers

During the Spirit of Speyside festival we attend three events that featured independent bottlers, groups that buy casks through brokers (usually) and then decide when and how to bottle the insides.

Craigellachie Hall Whisky Tasting
Thursday evening ‘Whisky Tasting and New Releases’ in Craigellachie Hall.

Craigellachie Hall Whisky Tasting

Hosted by two smaller independent bottlers, Spirit Still and Dramfool. Only four tables for this event, but quite fun and informative, with a nice range of interesting whiskies.

  1. Carsbridge 51yr – grain whisky from 1964! Brown sugar & vanilla, like a creme brulee, with a little apricot and some oakiness. Very light, a little heat on finish. Tasting it later brought out more coconut and citrus notes, less heat.
  2.  ‘Burnside’ 18yr (Balvenie with a little Glenfiddich) – A little honey, apple and cherry at first, then clover and spice with some astringency.
  3. ‘Give and tell’ (Glenlivet) 25yr – Initial: iodine saltiness, fruit. Big! Light citrus, some honey, fig and raisin, light toffee. Later: earthy, more wood, cinnamon and creaminess. Mike’s fave.
  4. The Speyside 22yr – Nose: light sulfur, wine notes. Palate: Sherry! Smooth and rich with lots of cedar and leather. Later: more fruit and chocolate. Reminiscent of a Loch Gorm. Eric’s fave.
  5. ‘Like a Villan’ (Lagavulin) 15yr – Nose: fruit and peat. Palate: medium smoke, some salt and metallic notes, smooth with a slightly astringent finish.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company
A Friday afternoon tasting in St James Hall, Dufftown.

  Boutique-y Whisky Company print auction

The only event we actually had our names checked. Whiskies were pleasant, but we felt a bit rushed the whole time – definitely less informative than the New Releases tasting on Thursday.

  1. Glenallachie 8yr (51.7%) Nose: medicinal. Palate: vanilla, heather, fig, honey. Dry finish, tingly. Some sulfur later on.
  2. Tormore 21yr  (46.8%) Nose: grassy, floral. Palate: creamy, flower. Tingly finish.
  3. GlenTauchers 17yr (48.8%) Nose: woodiness. Palate: creamy, vanilla, cherry and lt apricot. Lots of wood. Ballantine blend component.
  4.  Glenfarclas 9yr (51.7%) Nose: Astringent, light leather, a little vegetable. Palate: big oak and cedar, fruit from the Sherry. Creamier with water, nose is nicer too.
  5. Glenfiddich 19 yr teaspoon malt (50.2%) Nose: light fruit, berry. Palate: honey, tropical fruit, lovely and light. More spice on nose with water.
  6. Mortlach 22 yr (52.6%) Nose: light smoke. Palate: nice smoke, rich with some fruit.

The Scottish Malt Whiskey Society
Friday afternoon tasting in the Quaich bar.

Malt Whisky Society free tasting

This was an informal tasting with two reps from SMWS, and it was quite fun to try these cask bottlings.

  1. ‘Andalusian gazpacho’ (Glenallachie) – Nose: fig, grape, Sherryesque. Nice light peat, rich chocolate and fruit, very nice. Eric’s fave.
  2. ‘Swimming in trifle’ – Nose: strong, mellows with water. Ginger, rose and biscuit.
  3. ‘Indulgence by the sea’ (Bunnahabhain) – Nice with some smoke and iodine, but quite light.

Related posts:

  1. Scotland 2018: Spirit of Speyside distillery tours
  2. Scotland 2018: Spirit of Speyside Craigellachie Bridge tasting
  3. Scotland 2017: Spirit of Speyside day 2
  4. Scotland 2017: Spirit of Speyside day 1

Tagged With: Scotland, Scotland 2018, UK, whisky

« Scotland 2018: Spirit of Speyside Craigellachie Bridge tasting
Scotland 2018: Spirit of Speyside whisky bars »

2023 Trips

San Diego (Jan)
Disney World (Feb)
Italy (Apr)
Rugby World Cup (Sept)
Seychelles (Nov)

2022 Trips

Florida (Feb)
NC Mountains (Apr)
Washington DC (Apr)
Valencia, Spain (May)
Hilton Head, SC (May)
Pacific NW (Jun)
Long Island (Jul)
Florida (Sept)
Chicago (Sept)
Poland (Sept)
NC Mountains (Nov)
Euro Xmas Markets (Dec)

2021 Trips

Florida (Apr)
Outer Banks, NC (May)
Long Island (Jul)
NC Mountains (Aug)
Dundee, OR (Sept)
New England (Oct)
Florida (Dec)
Chicago, IL (Dec)

1 Second Everyday: October 2022

Archives

search our blog!

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Eric + Leandra Ganko