Ardbeg 10 Year: A Celebration

 

This brief post isn't really a review. It's just a general celebration of a great bottle of whisky - Ardbeg's vaunted 10 Year expression. 

Glenfarclas 7 Year (SWMS 1.241 "Marvellous Marmalade")

 

There are very few distilleries I respect as much as Grant-family-owned Glenfarclas. I love their 12 year, 17 year, and 21 year expressions so much - very very good memories of draining those bottles. This is my first independent expression of their distillery! From the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"), this 7 year bottling was aged 5 years in bourbon barrels was finished for another additional 2 years in a first-fill PX hogshead. Nicknamed "Marvellous Marmalade."

GlenDronach 10 Year (SWMS 96.32 "Sunshiny Shimmer of Satisfaction")

 

My first independent bottling of GlenDronach, from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS")! I love their official bottlings, at least the earlier non-chill-filtered ones, even though I haven't always been great about reviewing them here. I feel like the GlenDronach story is pretty well known by now, but just in case, here is a link to the whole thing. 

Dalmore 13 Year (SWMS 13.85 "Smiling From Within")

 

The second independent bottling of Dalmore I've had from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS")! The first was a young 7 year bottle that was full of personality and really interesting. I have high hopes for this one, nicknamed "Smiling From Within." The official notes are as follows:

A joyous combination of custard cream biscuits, creamed coconut and honey married with the evocative aromas of a dunnage warehouse nestled among lavender fields. The palate was pure fruity bliss, a social mingle of mango, apricot and peach before plums and blackcurrants invited pineapple and watermelon into polished oak casks and wood char. A fine fragrance returned with water that mixed ladies’ perfume with fresh coconut and elderflower. Apricot jam joined dark chocolate and black forest gateau with earthy notes of pine forests before light cream poured over tinned peaches in syrup and vanilla ice cream arrived with tropical fruit and ginger.