Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve had a bit more time – okay, a lot more time – to acquire and sample scotch. This tasting of five different whiskies – all bottled as part of the Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited range and available in Alberta and B.C. thanks to Rare Drams – happened over two days separated by four months. The first three bottles I picked up in May and I snagged the last two in September. Finally, now that we’re almost in October, I sat down to pull my notes together. Without further delay, let’s get to the whisky!
Ben Nevis 2015
Ben Nevis ~ 47.5% ~ 4 years ~ Sherry Hogshead ~ Highland
Nose: Medicinal, bit of salty campfire embers, subtle leather note, soft sweetness that makes me think of apricots or raisins.
Palate: Oily, wet peat sprinkled with salt and smoke, crisp light/fruity note buried in the background.
Finish: Medicinal and smoky notes linger and fade, peat comes on strong, there’s a nice bit of sweetness to the finish as well.
Overall: Damn. Layers of flavour that keep you going back to explore and discover. I want to curl up with a book in front of a fire and drink this til I fall asleep. It’s quite different than the bottle of Ben Nevis 2015 I bought last year. But different can be good.
Glen Ord 2012
Glen Ord ~ 47.5% ~ 7 years ~ Bourbon Barrel ~ Highland
Nose: Vanilla, green apples, cinnamon.
Palate: It’s very soft and a bit dry, there are tart green apples, and a fresh grassy note with more orchard fruits.
Finish: A bit of heat and spices, the tartness really hangs on, very dry by the end with a sweetness that shows up after everyone’s gone home.
Overall: Has anyone described scotch as “refreshing” before? Because here we are. This is delicious, dangerously so because it’s so easy to drink. I may have to get another….
Special Note: The Glen Ord was bottled and brought in to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Drams for Fams (which sadly had to be postponed due to the pandemic). Despite all that, we’ve been able to still raise a glass (from a distance) and continue our work in support of our local communities/food banks.
Ruadh Maor 2011
Glenturret ~ 47.5% ~ 8 years ~ Hogshead ~ Highland
Nose: Cigar box and smoke, fresh hay, wrapped in fruity sweetness.
Palate: Tobacco and smoke coat your tongue, a bit of the hay, some woody notes with a whisper of salt, the sweetness is there but hanging out in the background.
Finish: Smoke and tobacco linger, the saltiness comes into the foreground, and it leaves this wonderful rich and warm feeling.
Overall: I’m at a loss to sum it all up – it’s just so good. I’m a big fan of the Dalmore Cigar Malt and this one is up there, it could even take its place (bold words, I know). Wow wow wow.
Those first three are mighty impressive and, happily, there’s still whisky left in each of the bottles. How long that lasts is another matter. Turning to the last two of this tasting, we’ll see what sort of delights they have in store.
Glen Elgin 2008
Glen Elgin ~ 47.5% ~ 11 years ~ PX Sherry Hogshead ~ Speyside
Nose: Warm caramel, sweet dark cherries, fruit preserves, soft note of apple and oak.
Palate: Spicy, sherry notes, wonderful notes of dark fruits and a bit oaky in there.
Finish: I get a dry finish as the flavours fade and the sweetness lingers.
Overall: This is an absolutely delicious dram with so many different notes to explore. It has me thinking that I’m going to need to track down another bottle or two…
Caol Ila 2012
Caol Ila ~ 47.5% ~ 7 years ~ Sherry Butt ~ Islay
Nose: Sour, peat, medicinal smoke, subtle sweet notes.
Palate: Oily, medicinal iodine, sweet peat, and campfire.
Finish: A bit salty, some bitter notes (like cloves or ash), and a rubber note later on in the finish.
Overall: Wow, how superb is this whisky? Caol Ila, you never disappoint! The sherry influence makes this a terrific expression that I’m already looking forward to going back to (as it turns out, I poured a dram to help me type up these notes).
And there it is, a scotch tasting over two days separated by four months. Certainly a far cry from the regular way of doing things but, these days, things are anything but regular. On that note, here’s to you, your family, your friends and colleagues, and anyone you hold dear. Slàinte mhath!
Appreciate you taking the time to taste our Rare Drams from Carn Mor Strictly Limited. Like you I think the Glen Elgin is a wee cracker…and the Caol Ila is a rare find. Rare Drams released our own cask of a 4 YO Ben Nevis in 2019 which some believed was amongst the top releases of that year…this second Ben Nevis offers something a bit different and thats what is great about limited small batch releases…new tastes and flavours to discover. So thanks again for your notes and impressions of our drams……my wife often asks “what do you think of this dram ?”…”Its Beautiful…”…she then says..”You always say that “….enjoy….Bob Kyle Rare Drams .
Thanks Bob! Yes, fortunately I found a bottle of the Ben Nevis 2019 and it’s next level. It’s truly a pleasure to explore these whiskies and I always look forward to the latest releases.