10 of our regular members decamped to Robert Graham's Canongate whisky shop for an official tasting session, hosted by Andreas. Five whiskies (and nearly three hours) later, we'd all learned a fair bit about the world of whisky and some of its creations. Here is what we can recall about each bottle:
Deanston 15yo | Perthshire
Nose: Fruity, apples and banoffee pie, with a nice drizzle of honey.
Taste: Sweet, vanilla and fresh fruit.
Finish: Sweetness with a slight souring.
Score: 7.2/10
Taste: Sweet, vanilla and fresh fruit.
Finish: Sweetness with a slight souring.
Score: 7.2/10
Speyside 17yo | Speyside
Nose: Earthy, dried druits.
Taste: More earthy richness, Christmas. A medicinal start, but a sweeter end.
Finish: Slight watering with time.
Score: 6.4/10
Taste: More earthy richness, Christmas. A medicinal start, but a sweeter end.
Finish: Slight watering with time.
Score: 6.4/10
Glenallachie 1995 | Speyside
Nose: Ethanol, slightly medicinal and sweet.
Taste: Boosh! Strong and spicy, with a complex sweetness coming through.
Finish: Lasting sweetness, smaller spicy notes.
Score: 7.5/10
Taste: Boosh! Strong and spicy, with a complex sweetness coming through.
Finish: Lasting sweetness, smaller spicy notes.
Score: 7.5/10
Hoebeg | Islay
Nose: Bam! Strong peat smoke, medicinal and coal-tar soap.
Taste: More fire-smoke than peat with medicial notes. Savoury and dry.
Finish: Dissipates too quickly, a smoky goodbye.
Score: 6.1/10
Taste: More fire-smoke than peat with medicial notes. Savoury and dry.
Finish: Dissipates too quickly, a smoky goodbye.
Score: 6.1/10
Highland Park 13yo | Orkney
Nose: Rich, fruity - some toffee in there?
Taste: Complex - Slight spice, slight smoke, slight citrus. Boiled fruit sweets.
Finish: Stays complex as it hangs around - appley smoky notes.
Score: 7.6/10
Taste: Complex - Slight spice, slight smoke, slight citrus. Boiled fruit sweets.
Finish: Stays complex as it hangs around - appley smoky notes.
Score: 7.6/10