Cadenhead's Whisky Shop and Tasting Room

CADENHEADS Tasting Notes
SPEYSIDE
Aberlour - Glenlivet Distillery 1989 21Y/O 57.5%
Nose: Light on the nose, hints of gooseberries and abundance of sour green apples.
Palate: Freshly baked bread and fruity. Green apples still present on the palate.
Finish: Mild and fruity.
Caperdonich Distillery 1996 14Y/O 51.7%
Nose: Crisp and clean vanilla tablet. Buttery and sweet.
Palate: Butter/toffee popcorn. Malty, yet sweet and very buttery.
Finish: A subtle finish with lots of honey present.
Glentauchers - Glenlivet 1998 12Y/O 56.1%
Nose: Big and rich nose of chocolate, coconut and extremely buttery.
Palate: Wholesome heather and clover sweetness still with the chocolate present.
Finish: A long and very sweet finish.
Mortlach Distillery 1994 16Y/O 54.2%
Nose: Raisins, honey and candy peel.
Palate: Fruit and nut, orange peel and dry oak.
Finish: A dry finish that tingles on the tongue.
NORTH HIGHLAND
Dalmore Distillery 1989 21Y/O 51.4%
Nose: Warm, baked pear pudding with chocolate topping and custard. Dark chocolate, almost evident as coco powder.
Palate: Dark chocolate orange with a minty tint.
Finish: a lively finish with hints of eucalyptus.
SOUTH HIGHLAND
Glenturret Distillery 1995 15Y/O 53%
Nose: Truly nutty - full of almonds and walnuts!
Palate: Again, nutty notes evident as peanuts and monkey nuts. Woody flavours with hints of sweet varnish.
Finish: A long savory finish.
ISLAY
Caol Ila Distillery 1991 20Y/O 53.4%
Nose: Smoked mackerel, seaweed, tar, sooty and some sweetness of peanut butter.
Palate: Smoky and sweet, the sooty coal notes are very evident on the palate yet still hints of sweet peanut butter.
Finish: Long, reliable and smoky.
ISLAND
Arran Distillery 1998 12Y/O 57.4%
Nose: Plum chutney with rich, ripe plums mixed with dark toffee.
Palate: A real sweet whisky, rich in ripe red apples and sun drenched raisins.
Finish: Peppery but still a very sweet long finish.
CLOSED DISTILLERIES
LOWLAND
Rosebank Distillery 1990 20Y/O 52.9%
Nose: Full of brown sugar almost evident as raw palm sugar. Honey comb, caramel, milk chocolate covered digestive biscuits.
Palate: Oaty and malty with sweetness of honey
Finish: A round finish with hints of cappuccino through the brown sugar.
WORLD WHISKEYS
Bourbon (Heaven Hill) 14Y/O 59.8%
Nose: Rich treacle and toffee with strong hints of aniseed mixed with eucalyptus.
Palate: Chewy Danish liquorice sweeties and full flavour of blackcurrants.
Finish: Blackcurrant fruity flavours linger on, with hints of liquorice still evident - a very long finish.
Duthies Tasting Notes
HIGHLAND
Aultmore 1997 13y/o 46%vol
Nose: Like a Scottish hillside on a summer day. Very lively notes of dew-soaked grass, heather and just a hint of oak.
Palate: A very flavorsome whisky. Initially peppery with hints of cumin and basil, opens out to release creamy vanilla and a pleasant malty flavour.
Finish: More oak and malt as the spices return to provide a long-lasting finish.
Clynelish 1995 15y/o 46%vol (sherrywood)
Nose: Creamy cappuccino at first, followed by rich, peppery butterscotch.
Palate: Boom! The flavours just explode in the mouth. Ripe fruits; bananas, melons, demerara sugar.
Finish: Gentle smoke rounds the experience off perfectly.
Glen Moray 1998 12y/o 46%vol
Nose: A sweet-tooth lovers heaven and a dentist’s nightmare! Toffee, fudge and just a little citrus and fruit developing.
Palate: Grassy and floral at first, the palate progresses to reveal flavours of pears and peaches.
Finish: Warm orange marmalade. Yum!
Highland Park 1992 18y/o 46%vol
Nose: Lemon and lime soda, blackcurrants and a touch of liquorice.
Palate: A very pleasant woody smokiness gets the taste-buds tingling as red berries, lilac and blood oranges come to the fore.
Finish: Very sweet and honeyed to complete a very complex dram.
Mortlach 1992 18y/o 46%vol (sherrywood)
Nose: Reassuring aromas of home baking - apple pie, rhubarb crumble and baked fruits.
Palate: Very rich and fruity at first, complemented by smooth chocolate and coconut.
Finish: Liquorish and aniseed complete a very full-bodied whisky.
ISLAY
Ardbeg 1994 16y/o 46%vol
Nose: This is unusual! Caramel, maple syrup and toffee before some of the expected smoke kicks in to remind you that you aren’t really enjoying some pancakes in a New York diner.
Palate: Here comes the peat - but not for long. The smoke gives way to more sweetness with treacle toffee, aniseed and liquorice.
Finish: Short and sweet but with just enough smoke hanging around to complete the dram.
Caol Ila 1995 15y/o 46%vol
Nose: Very sweet; gentle brine and sea salt. A touch of fresh tar.
Palate: Very reassuring. Not overpowering but subtle smoke and seaweed flavour balanced by a great oily mouthfeel.
Finish: More of the same “Islay-lite” style for a perfect winter whisky.
CAMPBELTOWN
Longrow 2001 9y/o 46%vol (sherrywood)
Nose: Your favorite desserts all in one - creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding and vanilla custard with a wee bit of creamy smoke.
Palate: Extraordinarily rich and full-bodied. Buttery and sweet with some lovely hints of toasted oak.
Finish: Coal smoke and peaty embers - very much in keeping with Longrow’s unique style.
LOWLAND
Auchentoshan 1999 11Y/O 46%vol
Nose: A fruity flavour burst. Strawberries, raspberries and a very pleasant sweet confectionery aroma.
Palate: A very gentle, sweet and delicate dram. Orange fondant, icing sugar and more strawberries.
Finish: Lingering vanilla and sugary sweetness