I acknowledge our service has been a little volatile lately, thanks to the heatwave and a serious laryngitis (ouch). Let’s hope things get back to normal soon.
For now here are two recent multi-vintage releases from Decadent Drinks. Both of them are Whiskyland bottlings. The Glen Moray particularly peaked my interest because it is a mix of three vintages which have featured not too long ago in other forms (always with high scores).
Highland Park 20 yo 2005 + 1997 (55,5%, Decadent Drinks ‘Whiskyland’ 2025, hogsheads, 332 btl.)
Nose: excellent. It’s the classic maritime style, mature and elegant. Hints of hay and charcoal, balanced by dark honey, hints of stewed orchard fruits and a faint waxy / leathery note. Then a farmy layer comes out, increasing over time. Also light pepper, orange peels and mild spice from the sherry.
Mouth: waxy and creamy again, punched up by black pepper and a hint of ginger. Then walnuts and salted liquorice, along with toasty elements and subtle medicinal touches. Heather honey and sweet herbal syrup rounds off the edges. Old leather and some wood polish make clear that there’s significantly older whisky in there.
Finish: quite long and warming, always elegant, with subtle ashy notes, hay, citrus and tobacco.
Yes, pretty excellent! I like this one much more than the last time Decadent Drinks created a mix of two Old Orkney vintages. I also like this much more than the official releases of late but that’s hardly shocking, is it? Available from Decadent Drinks or Royal Mile Whiskies for instance.
Glen Moray 31 yo 1990+1991+1992 (50,5%, Decadent Drinks ‘Whiskyland’ 2025, refill hogsheads, 223 btl.)
Nose: exactly the old-school profile we were expecting. Beeswax and wildflower honey, along with apricot, mango infusion, tangerine skins and dried pineapple slices. Then soft leather, light butter pastry, cotton candy, furniture polish and hints of sweetened Amontillado as they did in the 1970s. Top notch.
Mouth: the polished oak comes slightly more forward, but never overpowers the stewed fruitiness. More citrus candy, yellow plum, dried mango, soft papaya and apricots. Rounder vanilla notes, more waxiness, citrus rind and hints of chamomile (or should we say Manzanilla). Honey and marzipan as well.
Finish: quite long, with mature oaky notes, more yellow fruits and a dollop of honey.
Another winner! I know this is unrelated, yet it reminded me of these lovely undisclosed Speyside whiskies from the 1970s. The cask blending is expertly done, no doubt, and the result is truly beautiful. Available from Decadent Drinks or The Whisky Exchange for instance. Score: 92/100