It has been a few years since I last tried Caol Ila 18 Years . At this age we’re expecting a mellow, rounded version of Caol Ila.

Caol Ila 18 yo (43%, OB +/- 2017)

Nose: rather creamy peat, with almonds, gentle smoke and a buttery touch. Mossy notes underneath, subtle hints of overripe pineapple. Minerals and light mentholated notes. Some vanilla as well. Mouth: more intense and very waxy. Mineral notes, some grapefruit bitterness and lots of brine. Chocolate with salt. Leafy notes, oily peat. Some plain oak as well. Finish: rather long, saline and oaky, with...

Discovery is the new introductory range from Gordon & MacPhail . It is a flavour-led range bottled at 43%, with three sub-types: Sherry , Bourbon and Smoky . It’s less about the details but at least the age is always mentioned, and the whiskies should be consistent.

From the first batch we try one of each style:

• Balblair 12 Years matured in bourbon casks
• Miltonduff 10 Years matured in sherry casks
• Smoky Caol Ila 13 Years (I assume from bourbon casks)

Balblair 12 yo (43%, Gordon & MacPhail ‘Discovery’ 2018)

Nose: high quality spirit with the typical Balblair...

Behold the colour of this Ben Nevis 1999 bottled by Valinch & Mallet , and remember this is a bourbon cask. This could be interesting.

Ben Nevis 19 yo 1999 (51,7%, Valinch & Mallet ‘Hidden Casks’ 2018, bourbon hogshead, 278 btl.)

Nose: lots of woody aromatics, think cinnamon pastry, herbs and mentholated  notes, grated coconut. Piny notes. Whiffs of brass polish. Underneath some sweet candy too: Haribo sweets, oranges, red apples. Some more un-modern notes in the background, like lamp oil, wild flowers and leather. Interesting. Mouth: a powerful yet rounded mix of orange peels and apple skin,...

This is the second bottling from the Netherlands-based bottler Sherwoods (the first was a Craigellachie 2007 ).

Orkney Islands 2007 , that’s probably an undisclosed Highland Park . It seems to exist at full strength(a whopping 63.7% ABV) as well as 46%.

Orkney Islands 11 yo 2007 (63,7%, Sherwoods 2018, bourbon hogshead #0036/2007, 329 btl.)

Nose: hints of porridge with lactic notes up front, but they fade. Then flints and pine needles, wet chalk and minerals. Brighter notes (green apples) in the background, as well as some sweet lemon candy and vanilla custard. Nosing quite well at full...