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18th April 2023 |
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Review of the
Scottish Craftsman's Association 24th
annual whisky event and the whiskies
tasted on the night by guest writer and
Scotch Malt Whisky forum member,
Companion of the Quaich, Murray Cohen.
Murray Cohen, Companion of the Quaich
and scotchmaltwhisky forum member and
guest writer attended this premier
whisky event on April 14th, 2023 in St.
Catharines, Ontario, Canada. This event
is held annually with carefully chosen
single malts.
This year the evening was augmented with
entertainment by the Niagara Police Pipe
Band, Highland dancers and a glorious
roast beef dinner with haggis of course.
There were 80 in attendance.
The stars of the evening of course were
the 5 single malts which were:
- Glenfiddich 23 Year Old Grand
Cru Cuvee Finish
- Ben Nevis 6 Year Old La Maison
du Artist Collective 2014
- Bunnahabhain A.D. Rattray 12
Year Cask Strength
- Highland Park 15 Year Viking
Heart
- Bladnoch Rare Release Talia
You can read Murray’s own taste
notes and reviews of the whiskies below,
the whiskies are available from LCBO stores in Canada and outside Canada
most are available from specialist
online whisky shops such as
The Whisky Exchange,
The Whisky Shop and
Master of Malt
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Glenfiddich 23 Year Old Grand Cru Cuvee Finish Review
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Glenfiddich 23 Year Grand Cru Cuvee
Finish 40% ABV. Aged in American and
European oak casks and French cuvee
casks.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Amber
Nose:
Waxy honey, bananas, caramel corn,
brioche, barley sugar and shredded wheat
cereal sprinkled with raw sugar. Late
mocha foam, new leather and unique sweet
dried fruit infused pepperoni.
Taste:
Medium-bodied, orange zest, sweet and
spicy on the arrival with citrus and
oaky notes on the development. Burnt
toast with almond butter and a
perseverating waxy halo.
Finish:
Lingering, drying, pepper and light
pickling spice with a minty sweet
chorus.
Comment:
A tasty and well-balanced single malt.
It clearly pushes beyond its 40% ABV.
Score
94.5/100
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Ben Nevis 6 Year Old La Maison du Artist Collective Review
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Ben Nevis 6 Year La Maison du Artist
Collective 2014, 57.1% ABV. Refill
sherry butt.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Deep gold.
Nose:
Lint, lemon and lime; salted soft
pretzels, "muddy leather", raw ginger
and saffron, cinnamon, heightened spice
and earthy Swiss chocolate.
Taste:
Full-bodied, nippy, lemon, lime, rice
pudding with a sour accent. A savory
spray of soya sauce with late Lily of
the Valley.
Finish:
Long, lemon zest and a spicy melange
with earthy oak and turmeric.
Comment:
A young sharp whisky to be sure which
opens quite nicely with a modicum of
spring water which lays bare the quality
sherry influence.
Score
88.5/100
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Bunnahabhain A.D. Rattray 12 Year Cask Strength Review
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Bunnahabhain A.D. Rattray 12 Year Cask
Strenth 66.7 ABV. first fill sherry
butt, 555 bottles, N.C.F and N.C.A
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Mahogany.
Nose:
Fire and smoke, Christmas mince pie,
sugary fireplace embers, seaweed
encrusted with smoked paprika, salted
cashews, cinnamon stick in a bowl of
sweet cherries; spiked fruit cake and
late celery heart.
Taste:
Full-bodied, oily, pepper and cinnamon
with burnt brown sugar, berry jam and
BBQ’d brisket of beef.
Finish:
Long, earthy, pepper and chimney smoke
infused with Mediterranean spice.
Comment:
This one gives you literally a bang for
buck in terms of intensity. A few drops
of spring water brings out more of the
fruity and candy notes.
Score
90/100
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Highland Park 15 Year Viking Heart Review
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Highland Park 15 Year Viking Heart 44%
ABV. sherry seasoned European oak casks.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Antique gold.
Nose:
Apricots, nectarines, California sultana
raisins, petrichor, nutty mix, dried
mangoes, oaky tannin and walnut shells.
Late high cocoa content dark chocolate.
Taste:
Full-bodied, coating, salted pistachios,
Fall maple leaves in a pile, white
pepper and sour cherries.
Finish:
Long, ash and earth, drying, fireplace
peat smoke and oak bark.
Comment:
A nifty 15 year old whisky with a bit of
a punch. A touch of spring water works a
charm here.
Score
88/100
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Bladnoch Rare Release Talia Review
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Bladnoch Rare Release Talia 45.5% ABV.
Oloroso and California red wine casks,
N.C.F.
Murray Cohen's Tasting Notes:
Colour:
Amber sunrise.
Nose:
Assorted melons (honeydew, cantaloupe),
unsweetened rhubarb, raspberries,
strawberries and orange treacle followed
by Juicy Fruit gum, assorted jelly beans
and floral notes.
Taste:
Full-bodied, berry compote, coffee
crème, toffee, red licorice, assorted
spice with ginger root and citrus hues.
Finish:
Long, berry throat lozenges, layer upon
layer of dark chocolate, pepper and oak.
Comment:
A rather intense fruity whisky with
thick layers. This 2022 release is
"non-age specified" but contains
whiskies from the very oldest casks in
the Bladnoch archives.
Score
95.5/100
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Where To Buy Whisky Online
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specialist Whisky shops who delivers to
you:
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Whisky Focus
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