Last Tuesday was already the third regional tasting of Noord-Holland. The regional tastings are a fun gathering organized by the members of the Usquebaugh Society for and by each other.

In general, it means that each participant brings one or more bottles of whisky so that everyone can taste from each other’s bottles. This time it was agreed that we would taste blind and only from 2010 bottlings.

Luckily it was at my place this time, because there was plenty of lovely whisky on the table. Ultimately, the glasses are even smaller than at an official tasting — and that’s a good thing. There were about 20 bottles on the table, and we went through them all.

Below are short notes per whisky, with a star rating and nothing more — with so much whisky in a row it’s no longer really possible to take accurate detailed notes!

Tasting Notes

Ultimate – Mystery Speyside 1966-2010 (Glenfarclas), 42.9%
Very fruity on the nose, quite light. The taste is a bit more straightforward. The aroma is the best part of this whisky, but that doesn’t mean the rest is unpleasant.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Berry’s Own Selection – Clynelish 1982-2010, 46%
Fudge, tar, a little vanilla, and on the palate more resin and beeswax. That was a pretty big clue that it was Clynelish. Also a surprising mango note.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amrut Kadhambam, 50%
Apple, wood, pear skin (lightly tart), vanilla. On the palate slightly bitter and a bit spicier. Orchard fruit.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goldlys 1980-2010, Single Bourbon Cask, 55%
It immediately seems bourbon-like, but without the corn influence. Everyone knows that this isn’t a Scottish whisky. Glue, licorice, dry. Grappa and genever are mentioned. Turpentine and anise.
⭐️ ⭐️ (1 star)

Bruichladdich ‘The Italian Job’ 1992-2010, 50.9%
Red fruit and cinnamon on the nose. Extremely dry — it dries all the moisture out of your mouth. Later a bit fruitier. A lot of wood on the palate.
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars)

Lagavulin Distillery Only 2010, 52.5%
Barbecue, pasture, bacon. Very light sherry influence, but definitely noticeable. Big and full beautiful flavour.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Adelphi Bunnahabhain 1998-2010, 11yo, 53.4%
Sherry, European oak (yes, that’s a recognizable flavour). Spicy and a bit more intense than expected. Milk chocolate.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bunnahabhain 8yo, ‘t Woest Genoegen, 54%
Initially similar to the previous, but a bit fresher with more pronounced flavours. A bit more fruit and spice. Toasted bread crust.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Springbank Society 14yo, 1995-2010, Fresh Sherry Pipe, 57.1%
Peach liqueur, not the typical Springbank saltiness. Much more punchy than expected. (No further notes.)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Provenance Highland Park (IWS), 1998-2010, 46%
Banana, bread, vanilla, more banana, even more banana, banana foam candies. Very sweet. Short finish.
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars)

Loch Ewe spirit, 3 months old, 2010-2010
Potato, typical flavour and smell of “old-fashioned” distilled spirit (also found in Abhainn Dearg and Old Potrero).
⭐️⭐️ (2 stars)

Exclusive Malts Tamdhu 1984-2010, 50.1%
Melon, grain, and sweet vanilla. Very nice influence from the bourbon barrel.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Port Charlotte ‘Port Sgioba’, 2001-2010, 66%
A little rubber in the aroma. Oily, barbecue, fruity, and sweet paprika. On the palate more pepper, quite dry. Still tastes rather young. After this one it feels like my tongue has been rubbered.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Berry’s Ledaig, 2005-2010, 61.1%
Tastes very young, straight spirit, a very inactive cask. That potato taste again. Not much of a success. Moerdijk was mentioned.
⭐️ (0 stars)

Daily Dram Ledaig, 2001-2010, 61%
More flavour than the previous — also that potato taste has disappeared. Lots of peat, reminiscent of an overly polite Ardbeg.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Daily Dram Clynelish 1982-2010, 59.8%
Very nice nose — lots of wax, honey. Also some grain and not much fruit. Really good stuff.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Signatory Laphroaig, 1990-2010, 53.1%
Sweeter than expected, the smoke is somewhat restrained. But you get that iodine smell right away. Full flavour with salt and some grain.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Daily Dram Laphroaig, 1999-2010, 59.5%
The sherry influence makes it considerably softer than I expected. Still a very full flavour with classic Laphroaig notes influenced by the sherry cask.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Port Charlotte An Turas Mor, 46%
Shells, sand, seawater. A campfire on the beach. The aroma is fuller than the taste. Could have used a few more percent strength.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Winners of the Evening

For me, the winners of the night were the Daily Drams — especially the Clynelish and the Laphroaig — but the Bunnahabhain from ’t Woest Genoegen also delivered a real standout!