Hammerhead 1989 (20 year old) 40.7%
Dist: 1989 Btl: 2009/ Tasted: May 2011
100% Czech barley and Oak
A light, fragrant, Speyside-esque nose with some ghard vanillins, toffee and brittle honey. There is a sort of turpentine whiff to the aromas and with time it becomes quite perfumed. Definitely interesting with a huge amount of herbal honey. It actually seems a lot younger than 20 years, maybe Czech oak has a tighter grain?
The palate is light and honeyed with some herbal wood notes amongst the vanilla and toffee. Some rose petal notes and brittle honey appear but the alcohol (although not particularly high) kicks in and that’s the fun over with. Not much in the way of length and tannins bitter out the finish. Now it seems to be showing its age, and for me just lacks body.
Hammerhead 1989 (25 year old) 40.7%
Tasted: Feb 2016
Nose: High toned barley with hints of estery fruit – apricot and banana. Quite herbal with a touch of vanilla oak and a fainty worty/ cereal note. Quite pleasant.
Palate: Relatively straightforward with apricot, apple, honey and barley. Good depth and intensity with a subtle maltiness coming through on the middle.
Finish: Lingering malt and a little crisp barley.
Conclusion: Its feels quite young, but well integrated. [Now knowing what it is I wonder how long this could age for!]
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 