Berry Brothers North of Scotland Tasting Notes

Berry Brothers Selection North of Scotland 1973 (39 year old) 46%

Bourbon Cask 14570/ Dist: 1973 Btl: 2012/ Tasted: Nov 2012

Pungent, slightly spirity in a rye like fashion joined by some lovely peppery spice and mature oak. The aromas become sweeter with time and hints of coffee, violets, honey and ginger. 

The palate is lighter and feels older. A touch subdued but there are some pleasant spicy moments. The oak sits in the background allowing the slightly rum like dried fruit and nippy grains to show. Lightly sweet with some creamy neutral spirit notes creeping through and a touch of bitterness from the oak on the finish.

Berry Brothers North of Scotland 1973 (38 year old) 46%

Bourbon Cask 14570/ Dist: 1973 Btl: 2012/ Tasted: Mar 2013

A crisp and slightly floral grain nose with quite a considerable amount of oak. Hints of sandalwood and incense waft by along with some juicy peach and nectarine. With time a herbal Guyana-light note of dried fruit emerges. All round quite a subtle nose that takes some time ti get into its stride, but when it does it’s quite inviting. 

The palate opens with some dried tropical fruit, oily banana skin and gentle wood notes. The oak develops and become quite the focal point on the middle and starts bittering rather early on in the proceedings. Slightly smoky and lightly oiled but that bitterness is hammering away at the finish. Personally it feels like the spirit has just spent too long in the cask.

 

Douglas Laing North of Scotland Tasting Notes

Douglas Laing ‘The Clan Denny’ North of Scotland 1973 (38 year old) 52%

Bourbon/ Code: DEN0090/ Dist: Oct 1973 Btl: Nov 2011/ Tasted: Nov 2012

A very gritty, phenolic and almost peated nose. Very pungent with a distinct rye like dénouement along with some coffee’d oak. Now I’m getting some sweet, fat corn notes – this is just so Bourbon-esque! With time some fragrant violet appears but there is so much spice now it’s untrue and those spices have a wonderful, pure coffee bean character, add in some 90% cocoa dark chocolate and its heaven! 

The sharp but gentle grains open the proceedings bringing some gentle spice and plenty of tannins. Seriously intense and grainy on the middle. Again comparisons with a rye whisky are very apt. Very complex with the spirit adding a botanical and citrus note. The alcohol does shorten it a little bit but there is some lovely late vanilla pod sweetness and a light brandy butter note on the finish. Stunning stuff!

Private Cellar North of Scotland Tasting Notes

Speyside Distillery Private Cellar North of Scotland 1970 (34 year old?) 43%

Bourbon/ Dist: 1970 Btl: 2004/ Tasted: Apr 2005

A clean, aged nose, slightly spirity with that grain intensity. The aromas display a great depth and complexity of Seeped dried fruit, marzipan, earth, orange peel, bourbon oak, vanilla and crème caramel. Dry on the palate, medium bodied, with slightly oily dried fruit, wax polish, earthy apricot, vanilla, raisins and sultanas. Very long and very complex. 

Speyside Distillery Private Cellar North of Scotland 1970 (34 year old?) 43%

Bourbon/ Dist: 1970 Btl: 2004/ Tasted:  Sept 2007

Rich, oily and decadent. Oodles of dried fruit – raisins, sultanas and figs. Big and aromatic yet nicely crispy. It has a grainy quality and a Bourbon-esque quality. Superbly mature honey along with coffee and tobacco notes. Simply stunning! The palate is big and mouth filling. Loads and loads of mature Bourbon-esque vanilla fruit and malt. Lovely complexity with lanolin and mint. Again a lovely grainy quality.