Speymalt, Glen Scotia & a Strong Highland Park Cask Strength

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Welcome to our first instalment of 2024 and I have got 3 great Drams to get you started!

An independent bottling from Gordon & McPhail, a 14year old Macallan under their Speymalt branding; Glen Scotia Double Cask – a well priced must have on any whisky drinkers shelf and finally another limited release Highland Park Cask strength bottling – this time the 3rd edition in the series.

G&M Speymalt 2005-2019 (Macallan) 43%

These bottlings come out regularly, usually once a year, ranging in distillation year and bottling year. This particular set of casks was laid down in 2005 and bottled in October 2019 at 43%. Straight away on the nose you should get caramelised bananas, sweet and tropical, with a hint or orange peel. On the palate that caramelised banana progresses into a toffee banana, bitter dark chocolate which tails out to a salted caramel and cracked pepper finish. I enjoyed this, it was pleasant, moreish and desserty. 88/100

Glen Scotia Double Cask 46%

In my opinion, this is a must try for any whisky lover, or a great gateway whisky for anyone new to whisky or wanting to try/get into whisky. This covers all bases, it’s a little bit smokey, it has got sweetness from the PX sherry casks and it’s not too overpowering. On the nose you get a hint of stewed fruits (pears and apples), with a hint or sweet molasses. On the palate there is a sweet spiced note, oakiness and stewed figs – also showcases that Campbeltown salinity and smokiness. The finish isn’t very long – sweet sherry comes through and creates a sticky moreish feel in your cheeks. Great all rounder and day to day drinker. 87/100

Highland Park Cask Strength Release no.3 64.1%

To the eager eyes out there you will remember it was only a couple of months ago we had the first release of this, well when I found I could get my hands on a few bottles of this at a good price I had to see if there was any difference. I was fortunate enough to still have a sample left from the 1st release so I could compare these side by side. Initially the only difference is this is about 1% higher on the abv to the first release; colour is the same, and the nose is very similar. The nose for this release is much more vanilla heavy, oakier but less smokier than the first release. The palate of the release 3 is much more intense than the first release, the sweet vanilla continues all the way through, honeyed fruit sweetness compliments that, smokiness start to come through at the end into a stronger smokey finish. It is like they are in reverse, this release is sweeter. It also burns more on the way down. Sitting here with both in my hand I can’t actually pick which I enjoy more and I did enjoy the first release the other month and rated it quite highly. I wish the first release was as sweet as this but I wish this was as smooth has the first release. I have gone off track here and got a 3rd glass and mixed a bit of both together – it doesn’t take harshness of this release out as much as I was hoping. Still a great dram. The release 3 gets an 87/100 compared to the 89/100 of the first release.