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    Reviews by: Williamson

    Talisker 10 Year Old

    Talisker 10 Year Old Jun 28th 2009

    88
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Ambergold
    Nose
    Subtle salt, with a hint of sweetness. Such balance, such grace. Some sawdust and woodchips, barley and honey.
    Body
    Slightly dry, smooth but fierce.
    Palate
    Fierce dryness, seasalt and lemon. Bittersweet and well-balanced, with some smoked fish.
    Finish
    Long and refreshing, a bit sweet. No one was lying about that peppery finish either, what a dram this is.

    This is everybody's friend, such character and style. Great balance, appetizing taste, fine finish. One of a kind.

    McClellands Islay

    McClellands Islay Jun 27th 2009

    79
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Dark gold
    Nose
    Iodine is the first note that strikes you. Then some oak, chocolate, mildly peated and gentle. Almost like a young Bowmore for that matter.
    Body
    Big and oily. Good temperament.
    Palate
    Sea air, but not so stormy. A bit tangy, which distracts. Citrus, almost sweet chocolate-like (Or will I go for vanilla?). Peaty oak and honey.
    Finish
    Sweeter notes tend to stick around, after a short moment of uprising peat. Still a bit tangy, and that's a shame since the taste is so much better than I read here.

    The Bowmore-like nose got me wondering, and I have gotten confirmed that this is indeed a young Bowmore, 5 years old. The Bowmore Legend is 8 years old, which illustrates that magic an additional 3 years can do. Still a good everyday dram, and despite the immaturity this is very illustrative for these characteristics we all like so much.

    McClellands Speyside

    McClellands Speyside Jun 26th 2009

    80
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Goldish
    Nose
    Fairly lively delivery of tutti-frutti, honey/vanilla and slight oak. Clean and delicate.
    Body
    Smooth, dry.
    Palate
    Dry oak, eau de vie de vin, and some sweeter notes. Straight forward with a good amount of bite.
    Finish
    Above average lentgh. Mostly the dryness sticks though.

    Probably the most mature and the most complete of the McClelland's series.

    Old Pulteney 12 Year Old

    Old Pulteney 12 Year Old Jun 25th 2009

    85
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Gold
    Nose
    Some seashore, malt, and flowers. Freshly washed clothes. Great balance.
    Body
    Smooth feel at average weight.
    Palate
    Resembles the nose pretty much. Maltyness lurking under a flowery, fruity palate with the littlest hint of island character.
    Finish
    Mild and long, flowery. Cooling summer breeze at the shore, endlessly. Spot on.

    Amazing balance, lovely nose, and such a dream-like finish.

    McClellands Highland

    McClellands Highland Jun 22nd 2009

    78
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Gold
    Nose
    Sweet, mellow notes of banana, sustained by a subtle potpourri of other ripe fruits.
    Body
    Thick and smooth.
    Palate
    Some oak, still sweet. Slighty sharp, with fruityness and such. Apples and nuts.
    Finish
    Average length, slightly bitter taste. Fortunately, fruits to the rescue.

    Good balance, quite enjoyable. And, not to forget, a real bargain.

    McClellands Lowland

    McClellands Lowland Jun 22nd 2009

    77
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Amber
    Nose
    Dry nose, with hints of grassy field, ripe fruits. Smooth, subtle and altering with each sniff. Dry and lively. Great nose.
    Body
    Dry and light.
    Palate
    Hmm, is that brandy? Some pear, some grass. A bit disappointing after a nose like that.
    Finish
    Short and dry.

    A lot is in the subtlety, since it doesn't really strike you. A nice smooth dram overall, with good Lowland characteristics.

    Highland Park 12 Years Old

    Highland Park 12 Years Old Apr 3rd 2009

    88
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Creme de peche
    Nose
    Fresh oranges with a fudgy chocolate feel, and, barely noticeable, subtle smokiness, of which the peat remains absent.
    Body
    A notable mass without too much weightiness.
    Palate
    Complex indeed, I am finding myself trying to follow the story here. Citrus fruits, although a bit on the background, turn ripe and soft, then a hint of vanilla appears, as if to announce a gentle but prominent oakiness, to let the smoke take over and stick around for a while. These all go hand in hand with fine milk chocolate. Magnificent.
    Finish
    One of the longer finishes around. Soothing and still smoky, whilst previous notes gently appear one by one.

    Deliciously satisfying, viciously complex. Functions well as a daily dram, as well as it makes a good favorite among other 12 year olds on an in-depth whisky tasting. This one is known for being the greatest all-rounder in the world of whisky, and it's not for nothing. Spectacular.

    The Dalmore 12 Year Old

    The Dalmore 12 Year Old Mar 28th 2009

    85
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Copper
    Nose
    Prominent sherry notes, a buttery feel acts as a bridge to a rather complex sea of toffee, vanilla and ripe fruits, topped off with a whiff of cream.
    Body
    Thick, heavy, oily and slippery. Remindings of Auchentoshan Threewood.
    Palate
    A solid whole of sherry, fruits, and butter. Some oak is suggested, though not enough not to keep you guessing. Dry, yet buttery. Smooth, yet complex. Toffee notes and buttery almond.
    Finish
    Contradictive somehow, and somewhat hard to desbrice. Slight but demanding tingling fooling the nerves and laying down after a while. Oak outlasts other notes, in the back of the mouth, whilst the tip of the tongue is left a numb, buttery feel. Minutes afterwards, the littlest hint of nuts & sherry comes forward. Has a bit of a cognac feel to it.

    Slightly better than I read here, and surely more interesting than the reviews below would suggest. Quite interesting, and even more enjoyable. A very fine experience.

    Tullamore Dew The Legendary Irish Whiskey

    Tullamore Dew The Legendary Irish Whiskey Mar 17th 2009

    70
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Gold / Amber
    Nose
    Cream, quickly followed by subtle vanilla notes and hazelnuts.
    Body
    Syrupy, reminding me of certain liqueurs
    Palate
    Chocolate-pie with honey, vanilla again, ripe fruits, plums. One for the sweet-toothed among us. Creamy.
    Finish
    Sticks around for a while, and takes off swiftly. Dry feel.

    Notes are so slight. This makes a good session drink though, and it's a real bargain too.

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask Jan 16th 2009

    93
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Gold
    Nose
    Oh, how vibrant. Good iodine and oak. Breathe closer and find earth and forest. Water it and find yourself getting lost in some beautiful citrus notes.
    Body
    Stormy, full bodied and weighty.
    Palate
    Big earth, with prominent peat and oak just lurking underneath, supported by the littlest hint of sweet malt. I have always thought of this one as campfire-like.
    Finish
    Ridiculously long, this campfire was built to last. Great peat and smoke with a touch of honey. The earth that comes with is just amazing.

    Watered down or not, this is simply amazing. A perfect chord, with perfect balance, unique taste, and an endless finish. Can't be missed.

    Caol Ila 12 Year Old

    Caol Ila 12 Year Old Jan 2nd 2009

    90
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    White port
    Nose
    Penetrating aroma of iodine, hospital, salmon and bacon.
    Body
    Thick, oily.
    Palate
    Salty bacon, medicinal flavors, a hint of flowers and oak. Warm and, in a good way, demanding. Much peat, barbecue and more iodine.
    Finish
    Long finish, passing gently.

    This isn't Dostojewski, and it itsn't Stephen King either. This is everyone's friend, a worthy dram to say the least.

    Glenmorangie 10 Years Old

    Glenmorangie 10 Years Old Jan 2nd 2009

    82
    Reviewer
    Williamson
    Color
    Light, shiny gold
    Nose
    A bit of oak, with a hint of ripe fruit and dry grass, fruity. Not too promising, not too overwhelming either. Water added more oak and some sultana.
    Body
    Not the least bit oily or syrupy.
    Palate
    Citrus fruit, some honey and a bit of oak, fades in subtle sweetness. Less fruity than the aromas suggest.
    Finish
    Sweet fruits, sultana. Warm and short, tingles somewhat pleasantly for half a minute. Detected some dry straw in the second finish, maybe a bit of lemon.

    A good reminder of why we choose to drink single malt.