Sometimes the most fun you can have at a casual tasting is just pouring interesting bottles. No need to worry about the quality of the dram or checking off boxes in search of specific flavors, it is all about just picking out distinctive and interesting whisky. These are the drams that might not be good, and might not be something you want to pour on the daily, but which you cannot wait to pour for someone else. These were all enjoyed at the advice of friends who just had to share them— for good or bad.
Lindores Abbey 6 Year (2019), Cask 190385 for the UK
NOTES: Funky and creamy, the aroma kicked off with exotic cherimoya and custardy fruits until wispy smoke and burnt wood blew in. With time floral undercurrents pushed to the front with honey suckle perhaps, and slices of jackfruit. Medium-bodied on the palate, jackfruit struck immediately to give a vegetal and fruity quality to wispy smoke— were we grilled jackfruit? Peppery spice seemed ready with a kiss of salt for seasoning. Charred sugar cane and a touch of melon rind lingered further in, though the whisky could also be rather sour, almost like unripened fruit. The finish was medium-length with mellow fruit and salt.
SCORE: 5 (74)
IMAGE: Racoons in the Antipodes
THOUGHTS: I was told to expect a wild ride— and this was definitely a strange whisky. It reminded me of Fettercairn at times. I asked my friend who poured the bottle whether he found it to be particularly characteristic of the distillery and he said no, not at all. It was my first Lindores however, so I have no idea what to expect from them next— this was definitely a strange one and more interesting than strictly good.
Auchroisk 11 Year (2012), SMWS 95.96 “Brake Dust on the Fuchs”
NOTES: Wispy smoke and crispy fish skin popped from the oily and peppery aroma. Piles of old straw and dusty earth lingered in the background, gradually carrying me from coastal snacks to an art school studio room with pottery clay and fresh cardboard. Medium-bodied on the palate, charred wood arrived first with earth, meat, and sweet candied tomatoes while bacon followed. Time to rest, or a few drops of water, brought out more of the expected fruitiness of the malty with peach and sun tea, lemon slices, and a bit of dusty concrete. The finish was surprisingly long with lightly grilled stone fruits, caramelized sugars, and a bit of herbal tea.
SCORE: 7 (84)
IMAGE: Public Beachside Pizza Oven
THOUGHTS: Well this was unusual and unusually good for a young Auchroisk. I freely admit I came into this whisky with low expectations— I have never really been a fan of Auchroisk, barring a few very old examples, and have never clicked with the young casks that SMWS have bottled. I may change my tune a bit after this whisky as it was characterful and good showing far greater depth and balance than its peers. The cask combination worked wonderfully: an initial seven years in a refill bourbon hogshead, and then final four years in an ex-laphroaig PX cask (SMWS 29.268 “Essence of Gelfing” a delicious whisky in its own right)
Tobermory 27 Year (1995), Limited Whisky Cask 1976
NOTES: Tin cans rusted by the sea, the aroma was maritime and soft with an underlying metallic bite to it. Sea shells and bleached coral sat on a rocky shore while a touch of citrus followed me on my way to dance among the mellatic and mineral top notes. With water came more fresh prawns and a bit of lightly grilled shellfish. Light-bodied on the palate, the flavors remained maritime, metallic, and very mineral with a treasure of sea shells found on sandy beaches. Peppery and austere toward the end, a few drops of water helped elevate latent pineapple and citrus, though it may have left the finish feeling even more austere. Medium to long on the finish, peppery, drying, and a touch woody.
SCORE: 7 (82)
IMAGE: Seashell Collecting in the Morning
THOUGHTS: A lovely whisky— the order in which I typed these reviews does not reflect the order in which I tasted them. I poured this as one of the first whiskies I had in the evening. It was rather austere and a touch delicate, so I am glad I did. I imagine this might disappear if stronger flavors were already lingered on the palate.
The aroma was wonderfully maritime, but the palate and finish revealed an austere quality to the whisky. There was a bit too much pepper and wood at the end, so that the whisky always fell a bit flat after its wonderful aroma and initial hit on the tongue. I wonder if it sat in the cask just a little bit too long.
Whiskery Turnip 
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