Carn Mor Garnheath Tasting Notes

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Garnheath 1974 (41 year old) 50.8%

Bourbon Cask 313235/ Dist: Feb 1992 Btl: May 2015/ Tasted: May 2015

A stunningly deep, soft and lusciously honeyed nose with sweet grain notes and plenty of dried sultana, banana and coconut. Some beautifully sweet spices join with vanilla, coffee and toffee.

The palate opens with the deliciously moist dried fruit and sweet grain followed by hints of grapefruit and busy spices. It becomes crisper on the middle as the sharper grains emerge but the oily dried, rum-lie fruit balances superbly. Stunning spicy finish with hints of vanilla, dark chocolate, tobacco and dark spices. There’s even a slight salinity in the after-taste! I love this!

Douglas Laing Garnheath Tasting Notes

Douglas Laing Xtra Old Particular Garnheath 1974 (42 year old) 48.2%

Refill Bourbon Barrel/ Code: XOP0056/ DL11093

Dist: Feb 1974 Btl: Feb 2016/ Tasted: Apr 2016

A beautiful, almost tropical nose of mature melon, apricot and dried fruit with hints of coconut shavings, smoke, vanilla, milk chocolate and subtle coffee. Absolutely stunning with an amazing freshness which perfectly compliments its maturity. With time it unwinds to show hints of fern, earth and an almost light peat note.

The palate is delicate and elegant with sub-tropical dried fruit mix, coconut and hints of smoky spice. It really fills out beautifully in the mouth with a gorgeously unctuous texture. A crisp thread of grainy spirit runs through but it’s well contained. Seriously nutty on the middle with chocolaty spices and light herbs. Very long with lingering coconut, which chocolate and subtle grainy spices.

Douglas Laing Xtra Old Particular Garnheath 1974 (42 year old) 44.5%

Refill Barrel/ Code: XOP0060/ DL11209

Dist: Feb 1974 Btl: Aug 2016/ Tasted: Sept 2016

Deep, dark and almost malty aromas with treacle and oxidised fruit. Hints of spiced, winey red fruit and mature oak follow along with coconut, ginger, sweet vanilla and gorgeous buttery oak notes. A sliver of citrus adds freshness.

The palate is big and buttery with chunky oak, grainy dried fruit and some subtle oxidised fruit which gives it an almost rum-like character. Hints of coconut and vanilla appear on the middle with hints of slightly bitter spice and smoky incense, which balance the sweetness very well. Beautifully mature with lingering grainy notes and subtle spices. Just when you think it’s all over the buttery, coconutty oak returns. Simply stunning!

 

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Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ Garnheath 1969 (40 year old) 47.9%

Refill Bourbon Hogshead HH5538/ Dist: 1969 Btl: 2009

A lovely mature, resiny, sawdusty nose. The oak is quite nimble and shot through with plenty of mature honey. It puts me in mind of a lighter version of Invergordon. Over time some herbal coffee and oily marzipan aromas come to the fore. The oak itself doesn’t smell as mature as you would expect, one can detect some toasty/ charred notes at work, so I would assume that this has been re-racked at some time in its storage.

The palate opens with the light, resiny oak and marzipan. The grain sits beneath and gives the tongue a light tingling lashing! This is seriously complex, the flavours break like waves upon the tongue – dried spicy fruit, slightly caramelised banana and mature nuts. Finally it moves into Guyanan territory with a tart, tangy, vegetal/ agricole rum note. Stunning length with a touch of dark chocolate on the finish.