|
Caol
Ila
Region: Islay
District: North Shore
Caol Ila (pronounced "cull-eela") was built in 1846
by Hector Henderson and lies peacefully in the Port of Askaig
overlooking the Sound of Islay on the Northeast shore of Islay.
Caol Ila means "Sound of Islay," in Gaelic, which is
the body of water that separates Islay from the Isle of Jura.
The view from the distillery stillhouse oversees the Sound and
carries the eye out to the famous Paps (mountains) of Jura. It
is claimed that this may be the finest view from any distillery
anywhere. The entire distillery, except for the warehouses, was
rebuilt in 1972-74, when its production capacity was increased
from two stills to six. It is an excellent Islay malt coveted
by single malt connoisseurs everywhere. As a single malt, Caol
Ila is very rare. It could be found only in independent bottlings
until as recently as 1988.
15 year old
Proof 86
Color Straw and honey.
Nose Very fragrant with peat and smoke. Pungent.
Body Medium and firm.
Palate Assertive. Full and very round with smoke and a hint of
sweetness. Medicinal.
Finish Very long. Some smoke, spice and peat.
Caperdonich
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Caperdonich was originally built as, and known by, the Glen Grant
Number 2. It was founded in 1898, but was closed in 1902 due to
the liquor industry recession. It remained closed until 1965 when
it was rebuilt and named Caperdonich. It was expanded from two
to four stills in 1967. The purpose of Caperdonich was to supplement
Glen Grant located directly across the narrow Rothes Main Street.
In fact, the distilleries were joined by a pipe for the purpose
of mixing their malts. Their production processes are nearly identical
and they share the same water source, the Caperdonich Well. Some
connoisseurs, who have compared the two single malts, believe
the Caperdonich to be a bit more fruity and smoky than the Glen
Grant. You be your own judge.
Gordon & MacPhail bottling
Proof 80
Color Light gold.
Nose Sweet and fruity with a trace of spice.
Body Medium.
Palate Sweet and spicy.
Finish Brief with a hint of fruit.
Cardhu
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Founded in 1824, Cardhu was built on a site where illicit distilling
had been in progress since about 1813. It is an easy, light whisky
that provides a comfortable introduction to the beginning student
of single malts. The water supply for the distillery is piped
from a site about two miles away, close to the location from where
it gets its peat. The facilities were modernized extensively in
1965. The distillery is located in the town of Knockando, which,
incidentally, has a distillery by the same name. This, along with
other spellings (Cardow and Cardoor), can present a fairly confusing
scenario for the geography/history single malt student. Cardhu's
winsome personality and "good taste", however, will
make things right in short order after the proper introduction.
12 year old
Proof 80
Color Pale, light amber.
Nose Medium-bodied, with a hint of sweetness and peat. Excellent
bouquet - maybe perfumy?
Body Light and smooth.
Palate Smooth, light to medium, mellow flavor. Some sweetness
and peat.
Finish Long, lingering and sweet. Some peat comes through.
Clynelish
Region: Highlands
District: Northern
Founded in 1819, Clynelish Distillery was given the name "Brora"
in 1969. A new distillery was also built across the road by the
same owners in 1967 and was also given the name Clynelish. (It
can, perhaps, get a wee bit confusing at this point for some of
us). It seems, according to most of the literature, that after
the "new Clynelish" was completed in 1968, the "old
Clynelish" was returned to production in 1969, operating
mainly out of the original but rebuilt mash-house. In 1975, the
"old Clynelish" was reopened under the name "Brora"
but was, again, closed in 1983. So, in effect, the Brora one obtains
could be whisky that was produced in the "old Clynelish"
Distillery (here we go again) between 1975 and 1983. However,
the Clynelish that we get could be whisky that was distilled in
the "old Clynelish" Distillery before 1969 or after
1969 in the "new Clynelish." In spite of the historical
confusion, the Clynelish and Brora single malts are well worth
the "intellectual confusion." Depending on which bottling
one samples, the tasting results can be dramatically different.
Some of the independent bottlings by Cadenhead and the Rare Malts
names are a special treat. The following descriptions are from
an independent Rare Malts bottling of a Brora single malt and
also an official Clynelish bottling of a Clynelish single malt.
14 year old, Official Bottling
Proof 86
Color Light gold.
Nose A hint of the sea with some peat.
Body Medium with obvious oiliness.
Palate Cereal notes with spice, fruit and a trace of salt.
Finish Long and lingering with malt and spice. Perhaps a hint
of salt.
22 year old, Brora Single Malt (Rare Malt Bottling)
Proof 117.4
Color Medium Amber.
Nose Full with heavy peat and smoke.
Body Full.
Palate Full with some sweetness. Rich with obvious peat and a
hint of spice.
Finish Very lengthy with spice and a sooty, burned peat character.
Coleburn
Distillery
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Coleburn Distillery was built in 1896 by John Robertson and Son,
Ltd. It is located a few miles South of Elgin in the heart of
Speyside. The distillery successfully experimented with several
liquor industry purifying effluents that were to benefit the entire
industry in later years. The produce of Coleburn was a staple
in the Andrew Usher blends and was a part of the Johnny Walker
blends during its more productive years. It ceased operation in
1985 and is not expected to reopen.
Gordon and MacPhail bottling
Proof 80
Color Rich gold.
Nose Quite sweet with some smoke.
Body Light to medium.
Palate Cereal notes with some sweetness and smoke.
Finish Medium in length. Smooth with some oil and sweetness.
Convalmore
Distillery
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Convalmore Distillery was founded in 1894. Its name, as well
as the water source, comes from the nearby Conval hills located
just north of Dufftown. Much of the distillery was destroyed by
fire in 1909. During reconstruction, a continuous, or patent still,
with the capability of distilling 500 gallons of wash an hour
was installed. This experiment turned out to be just that when
it was discovered that this process, which worked very well with
the grain distilleries, produced malt spirit that failed to mature
properly. The patent stills were replaced with the tried and proven
pot stills in 1915. Production capacity was extended in 1964 with
the installation of two additional stills now giving it a total
of four. Convalmore single malt is available only from independent
bottlers. The distillery was acquired by United Distillers in
1985 and closed. It now serves as a warehouse for Grant's.
Gordon and MacPhai bottling
Proof 80
Color Rich gold
Nose Sweetish with cereal notes.
Body Medium to full.
Palate Full-bodied. Some sweetness with grain and spice.
Finish Medium in length with some peat and spice.
Cragganmore
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
The Cragganmore Distillery was founded in 1869. It is named after
the hill located behind the distillery, Craggan Mor Hill. This
highly regarded distillery was built from the 'greenstone' that
was quarried from this same hill. Its water comes from springs
located in the same area. Cragganmore had a most impressive beginning,
having been built by perhaps the most experienced distiller of
the time. John Smith, founder, had been the manager of Macallan,
Glenlivet and Wishaw distilleries and had been the lessee of Glenfarclas
Distillery as well. Cragganmore was constructed with a private
rail access to the Speyside railway. It was the first distillery
to take advantage of rail support.
12 year old
Proof 80
Color Gold
Nose Very complex. Very aromatic. Medium-dry, with some smoke
and sweetness.
Body Medium and smooth.
Palate Full, round, with floral notes. Some spice and slight smoke.
Finish Long. Clean with some smoke.
Craigellachie
Region: Highlands
District: Speyside
Craigellachie (pronounced "Craig-ella-ke") Distillery
was founded in 1891. It was rebuilt and doubled to four stills
in 1965. It is built on a hill overlooking the merger of the Spey
and Fiddich Rivers. Peter Mackie, founder, was known as being
a very colorful individual with a penchant for expressing his
views quite forcefully on virtually any topic - including those
issues outside the liquor industry. He apparently made some good
"points" since he was later knighted. The Craigellachie
single malt can only be found in independent bottlings. It usually
has an interesting combination of peatiness and fruity sweetness
in the palate.
14 year old
Proof 80
Color Golden
Nose Some peat smoke is evident but quite fragrant and sweet otherwise.
Body Medium
Palate Sweet. Nutty with some maltiness and fruit coming through.
Finish Warm with some smokiness. Medium in length.
|
