GLENDRONACH ALLARDICE 18 years old 46%

Nose:
Inviting buttery notes complement the expected Oloroso. Malt laced with black pepper fleshes out the nosing experience.




Palate:
Dangerously appetizing with the typical raisins befriended by blueberries, cranberries and even som acidulous rowanberry jelly. Supported by a fabulously enchanting smokiness slowly evolving into an outstanding oak-malt-chocolate fusion.




Finish:
Enlivening spices form a bed of nails, deliciously sprinkled with fruit-flavoured hard candy.

Comment:
Very nice indeed! If they are able to develop this into something other than a limited edition it could, considering its lower price, blossom into a true rival of The Macallan of the same age. Bottled July 09 Lot 2. Bottle number 7320/10 000.

Rating: 9/10

JAMESON GOLD Reserve 40%

Nose:
More bourbon-like than ever with pleasant nutmeg-ish oak shaking hands with the pot-still. A honey-fruit theme grows in stature as the glass becomes warmer.




Palate:
A sort of Yin & Yang experience with two contrasting forces on display. One being a robust alliance of oak and pot-still. The other a fusion of dried fruit, honey and toffee. They proceed to amalgamate in splendid fashion.





Nose:
Figs and stewed apples amidst some nicely balanced wood flavours. A faint echo of pot still at the end.

Comment:
An immaculate balance of flavours with some new oak aging giving it an extra edge. Better than the earlier, slightly spirity bottling. Perhaps not as engrossing as the true pot-stills (Redbreast, Green Spot) but certainly the most enjoyable Jameson that I know of.

Rating: 8,5/10