We’re having new releases from Decadent Drinks today. The first is the second bottling in the hipflask series The Teuchter, after the Highland Malt 17 Years.
Then we have three Whiskyland releases from second-tier distilleries, let’s say. Glenturret, Tamnavulin and Pittyvaich aren’t exactly names that trigger my attention right away. All of them are well-aged though, distilled in 1990 or 1991.
A peated Knockdhu 2006 is the surpring encore.
Clynelish 10 yo ‘The Teuchter’ (47%, Decadent Drinks, refill hogshead, 320 btl.)
Nose: crisp green apple, white nectarine and lemon juice, a subtle grassy touch but also a good dose of wax candles and wet gravel. Later also more candied notes (pineapple cubes) and a drop of floral honey. Simply classic.
Mouth: a slightly bigger fruitiness than I expected, but that’s not a bad thing of course. More nectarine, lemon candy and tangerine, as well as a light tropical touch. Then it moves back to minerals and coastal / chalky elements. There’s just a little pepper and grapefruit towards the end.
Finish: medium, slightly more youngish, with malty notes, chalk and melons.
Ten years is all it needed to be a prefect daily dram. It’s pretty much what you expect it to be, with a nice texture, a nice fruitiness and wax. The price / quality ratio is excellent. Available from Decadent Drinks or retailers like Royal Mile Whiskies.
Glenturret 35 yo 1990 (41,5%, Decadent Drams ‘Whiskyland’ 2026, refill hogshead, 231 btl.)
Nose: white fruits like pears, nectarines and whitecurrants. Later pineapple and mango too, getting increasingly tropical. Clear waxy notes too. Then a certain gristy / malty note and maybe a funny whiff of fresh paint? Floral honey and hints of pine resin add freshness.
Mouth: wow, even more tropical now. Mango, gooseberries, hints of passion fruit syrup, banana and mirabelles. A great creamy texture. Light oak spice, along with some vanilla cake and more waxiness. Stunning juiciness, even though it fades rather quickly…
Finish: …which means this is on the short side. Fresh and fruity though, with a layer of malty sweetness underneath.
The nose is gorgeous and the palate is bullseye when you’re looking for tropical fruits, reminding me of these old Caperdonichs. The only possible remark is the modest strength, which is obvious but not a gamechanger for me. Available from Decadent Drinks or Master of Malt among others. Score: 91/100
Pittyvaich 35 yo 1990 (44,3%, Decadent Drams ‘Whiskyland’ 2026, first-fill sherry hogshead, 145 btl.)
Nose: jumping out of the glass. Lovely furniture polish, dried apricots, golden raisins and dried orange peels. It becomes even fruitier after a while, with peaches and a few drops of exotic Gewürtztraminer. Then hints of old Fins Bois, a little fruit tea and a whiff of tobacco.
Mouth: the age is easy to notice now. It’s a silky and slightly thin profile, reminding me of these extremely old Glen Grants from Gordon & Macphail. Nice bergamot oil, waxy notes, apricots and eucalyptus. Then subtle pipe tobacco, fruit tea, sultana sweetness and light baking spice. Some dried wildflowers and resinous hints in the distance.
Finish: medium length. Some dried mint, tobacco and subtle leathery dryness, but also lingering fruity echoes.
Some may argue it is on the verge of becoming fragile, but I don’t mind. The nose is complex and highly attractive and the palate shows great maturity. Available from Decadent Drinks or The Whisky Exchange for instance. Score: 90/100
Tamnavulin 34 yo 1991 (48,7%, Decadent Drams ‘Whiskyland’ 2026, first-fill sherry hogshead, 203 btl.)
Nose: sherry galore. Entirely on cherry and raspberry jam, along with stewed plums and sultanas. Light marzipan. Blood oranges. Then hints of brown sugar, blueberry tartlets. Despite the intensity, very elegant too.
Mouth: a lot of (red) fruits again. Cassis, raspberry, strawberry and tangerines. A nice mix of juiciness and darker rancio elements. Quite sweet, with some toffee and milk chocolate. Polished oak. Then slightly earthier notes of leather and roasted nuts, always with a sugary coating. And just a light winey edge – without this it would have been perfect.
Finish: long, slightly drying with a hint of chestnut, but also dried fruits and brighter citrus to keep the balance.
An impressive cask, this is something special. Tamnavulin, who would have thought? This combination of deep sherry character but also juicy fruits is quite magical. Available from Decadent Drinks or The Whisky Exchange for instance. Score: 92/100
Knockdhu 20 yo 2006 (53,6%, Decadent Drams 2026, refill hogshead, 114 btl.)
Nose: interesting! There’s a nice waxiness but also faded peat and charcoal. Then some wet oak and seaweed, light medicinal touches and subtle fatty notes. Herbal tobacco. It’s a style that you usually get in older whisky. Hints of cider apples underneath.
Mouth: now younger than the nose suggested. There’s a juicy sourness to it, as well as some dark honey, along with tarry smoke, some mulchy hints and resinous / herbal notes. Also coppery notes, eucalyptus and lovely sweetmint with green peppercorns (which add more of a sensation than a flavour, actually).
Finish: fairly long, more minty peat, the light sweetness of chewed liquorice roots and old-style wood smoke.
A bit of an ideosyncratic profile again, including some notes that we don’t see often. This brought back memories of our visit to Knockdhu in 2012 and makes us wonder why this distillery doesn’t seem to earn more fame. Available from Decadent Drinks or The Whisky Exchange among others. Score: 89/100