Craigellachie 8yo Provenance by Douglas Laing

Bottle kill tasting notes with some added fond memories.

Looks like dirty water, this is 100% no added colour. Nice persistant legs forming on the glass.

On the nose it's lovely and malty, noticeably a little young but with some orange citrus there.

Lovely mouth feel, un-chillfiltered. Very Malty a little something vegetal. Decent warming spice finish that lingers for a while. 

Would buy others in the provenance range after this experience, also keen on trying more from Craigellachie. My only other experience with this distillery was of a sample I tried at Shan's which was amazingly fruity and almost gin like from memory.

Cheers!

Glen Marnoch 18 year old

Aldi own brand 18 year old purchased over 2 years ago, since buying I've had the 21 and 25 year old. The 21 year old was nice and fruity on the noclse. The 25 year old from memory was very nice with a decent amount of peat. I've also had the islay which was very good for a budget islay. Also had the bourbon cask and blended malt from Aldi which were ok.

This one claims to be a highlander and there are some.generic tasting notes on the label/ box/ tube and is bottled at an unsurprising 40% abv. From memory I think it was around 70$. Third dram from the bottle which was opened last night.

Looks like whiskey, golden with nice persistent legs.

On the nose it's light sweet and fruity sweet, fruity floral with a little citrus and sherbet.

Has a good mouth feel, some stone fruit, lighter sweeter stuff, peaches and nectarines, a little medicinal note with a hint of peat on the finish. Last.night I was getting more of a medicinal licorice or anise note on the pallet with a touch more peat and possibly something coastal.

Nice to try, don't think I would buy again, curiosity satisfied without my mind being blown.

Ben Riach 10 yr old Curiositas

10 ml sample 46%.

Light gold and decent legs.

Nice, not much on the nose, a little peat, something card board or sawdusty. Becoming more pronounced and Smokey.

On the pallet nice touch of peat and a good mouth feel with some lingering Ashley smoke. 

Would go this again for a proper try.

Ben Riach 10 yr old 43% abv 10 ml sample

Another 10 ml sample to help keep social isolation interesting. 2 sips.

Looks light gold in colour with nice legs forming on the glass.

Smells like a speyside on the nose, fruity - bananas and some tropical notes in there, something musty and or something like old books or leather.

On the Pallet, sweet with some spice some licorice or anise with a medicinal note and a touch of peat. 

Nice.

Arran 10yr old

Another 10 ml 3 sip sample.

Looks very light gold, persistent legs forming on the glass.

Sweet vanilla  and malt on the nose and not much else, pleasant but nothing to write home about. Perhaps I'm imagining it but maybe there's a waft of seaside meets country/farmland air on a warm summers day on the nose. Faint bit of licorice in there too.

On the Pallet, sweet, lemon sherbet, lovely oily mouthfeel, mmmm zingy with  hint of pineapple on the finish with butter and lemons, very nice.

This is good stuff, would consider buying a bottle of this for the summer or warmer parts of Spring and Autumn.

Arran lochranza malt

Another 10 ml sample review.

I have had a bottle of this before a gift from Dan.

Looks very pale gold, persistent legs forming on the glass, promising.

Very light on the nose with a faint malty biscuity note like shortbread, floral and some hint of sweet lemon.

On the pallet I'm getting lemon oil with some sweet spiciness if that makes sense, decent length on the finish. 

Not bad but not too interesting. Easy drinking stuff.

Aerstone 10yr sea cask

Another 10ml sample.

Looks ok, not many tears forming.

On the nose initially rich and maritime note with some marzipan fading to a lovely malty cearel note, kind of biscuity. Very nice.

To taste more malty biscuity goodness with some rich spiciness. Something close to licorice with a hint of menthol on the finish which lingers for a while.

Quite nice, would buy if on sale. Reminds me of powers gold label irish whiskey.