I’ve had a nice day again. The Wild West Whisky Fest is a festival with a perfect mix of old and new bottlings, which makes it suited for whisky fans with different experience levels. Moreover, you didn’t need to wait long nor use your elbows to talk to your favourite bottlers.
Congratulations to the organisers! Now let’s hope the next editions don’t grow over their heads and get too crowded, because the festival is quite perfect as it is.
A few of the highlights for me:
- Port Ellen 26yo 1983 (54,6%, Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare 2010, cask #674) – a good sherried Port Ellen with lots of sweet smoke, some meaty notes, chocolate and a dry finish. Around € 200.
- Dallas Dhu 28yo 1981 (55,8%, Riverstown 2010) – Riverstown is a new label by Robin ‘Blackadder’ Tucek. This Dallas Dhu was quite oily, with a bit of coal smoke and big hints of oranges / Grand Marnier. A bit unusual but very good. Ugly labeling! Around € 160.
- GlenDronach 8yo (45,4%, OB 1972, dumpy green 75cl) – unsherried, very fruity and fresh. Long gone.
- Highland Park 13yo 1996 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC, ref. 5732) – easy, very candied and honeyed, full of wine gums, a rather atypical Highland Park but very enjoyable.
- Laphroaig 13yo 1996 (57,3%, Malts of Scotland ‘Clubs’ 2010, cask #7313) – bottled exclusively for The Bonding Dram. Soft nose on smoked ham, with a relatively explosive palate. Very good. Around € 60.
I’ve specifically avoided other interesting things. The new Arrans were there (14yo and sherry cask for Belgium) and are said to be quite good. We could also taste most of the Feis Ile bottlings and my beloved Longmorn 1972/2010 by The Whisky Agency was present at multiple stands. The new finished GlenDronachs were available, but I’ll taste them in depth shortly. I’ve also filled a few sample bottles with whiskies that I’ll present in the next few weeks. Stay stuned.