Fahrenheit 173 - Aged Spirits

Teerenpeli 2003, 8 y.o. (Finland):
Fragrant, quite oaky nose (fresh oak, I believe) with white pepper, malt, citrus, honey and vanilla. Youngish but quite nice. Smooth, fresh and fairly sweet palate with a note of citrus. De­velops mint. The minty note carries over into the finish and is joined by vanilla and a flowery note. Above all, however, the finish is quite oaky and spicy. Dis­ap­point­ing. All in all it's a little unbal­anced and has too much oak which makes it a bit vulgar. (I think this whisky needs more time, but in less active casks.) (81 p)

Säntis Malt (Switzerland):
The nose is fruity (citrus fla­voured candy, orange peel) and oaky with notes of aged rum, allspice and gunpowder. A little quiet yet complex and nice. Nice, fruity palate with notes of vanilla, caramelized sugar, black tea and white pepper. At first mild and sweet then drying and grows more intense. The finish is fruity and peppery (but in a nice bal­ance) with a note of rum. All in all unusual, quite rum-like, nice but a bit too mild. (Thanks to Bruno for the sample!) (82 p)

Armorik (France):
Fragrant, youthful yet rather nice nose - malty and oaky with vanilla and custard. Also slightly floral with a note of peat. Light, smooth, fresh palate with malt, citrus and pepper­mint. The finish is oaky and a little peppery, also fruity (apricot). All in all youthful, colourful, rowdy even, yet charming, en­ter­tain­ing and quite drinkable. (85 p)

Spirit of Hven "Urania" 2008, 3 y.o. (Sweden):
Interesting, herbal nose with oak, vanilla and orange peel. Also hints of dried fruits and gin­ger­bread. Nice and promising. The palate is rich, oaky and power­ful. Herbal and aromatic with a note of orange. Oaky, spicy finish with citrus and peppermint, also a little bitter and a bit too oaky. All in all it's amazingly mature for its age but on the other hand quite oaky and a little lacking in bal­ance. (85 p)

Slyrs 2006, 3 y.o. (Germany):
Fragrant, bourbon-like nose with vanilla, oak, apricot, peach and almonds. Nice! Sweet but slightly bitter palate with oak and vanilla. Oak, white pepper and marzipan on the finish. Fairly dry from the oak yet rather nice. All in all oak and vanilla dominates, like in a bourbon (but like a rather good bourbon). Unusual but very nice! (Thanks to Magnus for lending me his bottle!) (86 p)

Four single malts from "Aberdeen Distillers" (i.e. Blackadder)
A review of Braeval 1998, Clynelish 1995, Linkwood 1993 and Tobermory 1995

Six Vatted Blended Malts
A review of six blended malts: Compass Box Oak Cross, Famous Grouse 12, Johnnie Walker Green Label, Macdonald's Glencoe, Mackinlay's Rare Old Highland Malt and The Six Isles

Penderyn - Welsh Gold
A review of three expressions of Penderyn Welsh Single Malt: Madeira Finish, Sherrywood and Peated.

Four Cognacs for Christmas
A review of Bache Gabrielsen Christmas XO, Braastad My Selection, Martell VSOP and Renault Carte Noire.