Today I will talk about the Macallan Quest (40%). This whisky, developed for the Macallan travel retail collection, has been aged in 4 different types of casks: old American and European sherry casks, American bourbon casks and small hogsheads. This whisky is a tribute to those people who travel thousands of miles each year in quest of the best casks for their whisky. So, does it worth the trip? :p
Today I am sharing my impressions about the excellent Aultmore 25yo AD Rattray, a whisky distilled in 1990, aged in sherry casks and bottled in 2015. The Aultmore distillery, located in Speyside, is highly renowned for the quality of its single malts. No need to say that the expectations for one of his whiskys, especially of this age (and even more because you’ll not often find independant bottlings from this distillery and this age), are particularly important 😀 And, super bonus, it has aged in sherry casks and it is a combination that has already proved its worth, some pleasure moments in sight!
I had not tested this famous Glenfarclas 105 yet, it’s now done! “Better late than never!” would some say, “Another Speyside?” Others will say… It’s not my fault if Speyside produces so many good whiskeys and if I can not follow eh! But back to our sheep, hum, rather to my glass. This cask strenght whisky, with a high degree of alcohol (60%… Well no, not 105, sorry eh), is presented as bringing together the aromas of all the Glenfarclas in a single glass… I tell myself that this is a lot for only one glass but we’ll see that! 😀
Today, let me introduce to you the Glendronach 12yo, a classic that is one of those must-sees when you start discovering the fabulous world of whisky. Aged in barrels of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso, this one comes from Speyside (43.0%). So… a good old sherry cask like most of Glendronach’s whiskies (by the way, Glendronach means “valley of mulberries” in Gaelic. Ok, the poetry moment is past, admit that you were afraid to ear me declaiming verses :p) and it must be said that this type of barrel allows their whisky to be fully revealed.
The Teeling Stout Cask comes from the marriage between two Irish spirits, the whisky and the famous dark beer. This product was developed in collaboration with the Irish Galway Bay Brewery, one more time we can say that Teeling demonstrates its creativity. This innovative association offers a limited edition (12,000 bottles) announced as being rich in flavors and character. This whisky was aged more than 6 months in casks containing the beer “200 Fathoms Imperial Stout”, and this beer just spent time in… old Teeling bourbon casks! So these casks just come back home with some bonus. Let’s see this! 😀
The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is a whisky that has spent about ten years in Bourbon casks, before finishing its maturation in Porto Ruby barrels. The “quintas” are the famous Porto houses in Portugal. And to perfect your general knowledge, Ruby has for translation “Ruban” in Gaelic, this explains it. But, yes, I know, what interests everyone is what it’s worth … Let’s see that with the tasting notes 😉
Tasting notes of the Auchentoshan Springwood. Since two-three years, it looks fashionable to release bottles without mention of age but with nice names, even original, also to expand a distillery range. Well, the name is often bearing promises without necessarily being followed. Let’s see it with this Lowlands whisky 😉
As they say, “never three without four”, at least in a quadrilogy, here is the Highland Park Odin. Succeeding Thor, Loki and Freya, this 16 year old whisky was released in a 17,000 bottle edition. At 55.8%, it is the most “sturdy” in this collection. Aged in sherry casks and Hogsheads of second filling, all dressed in black, it announces a different profile than the others. Different AND better? We see that with the tasting notes 😉
We’re staying in the Valhalla collection with the 3rd of the name … The Highland Park Freya 😀 This whisky spent 15 years in bourbon casks of first filling. With an alcohol level of 51.2%, this whisky was apparently first planned to be used in a blend before they finally found it too good for this. I was curious to see if this Nordic goddess would bring a feminine and different touch to the collection, let’s discover that 😉
Do you want to discover more of the Valhalla collection from Highland Park? Alright! After Thor, here is the Highland Park Loki 😀 Bottled at the strength of the barrel (48.7%), it is, like the rest of the collection, presented in an elegant wooden box figuring the bow of a viking ship. Is this one as good as his brother? Let’s discover this with the tasting notes!
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