The Wensleydale Heifer » The Heifer’s Fine & Rare Whisky Selection

Balvenie 12 yrs old

Nose: A perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a nutty dryness.
Palate: A malt of refinement and remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spicy notes.
Finish: Long, gentle and nutty.

Glen Garioch 15 yrs old

Nose: Incense-like. Perfume. Parma violets. Heather.
Palate: Quite rich. Starts malty, but becomes drier. More spicy. Spanish root. The flavour just keeps on developing.
Finish: More emphatic spiciness and peat.
Comment: Less robust, more rounded. It is one of those choices that depends on the mood.

Caol Ila 15 yrs old

Palate: There's a fruity and appetising nose here, with little or no trace of smoke until the addition of water brings up scents of almond oil and oilskins.
Taste: Starts sweeter than the others, with a pleasant, light-flavoured smokiness leading to a complex balance of primary tastes
Finish: a sweet-smoky, lingering finish

Benrinnes 15 yrs old

Nose: Creamy, nutty, lightly peaty.
Palate: Full-bodied. Decidedly silky-smooth. Spiced cake. Candied lemon peels. Lots of flavour development. Finish: Smoky, rooty, treacly. Impeccable balance between sweetness and dryness.

Ardbeg Uigeadail 54.2% Vol

Nose: Smoky, ice cream, fennel, pine nuts and zesty limes.
Taste: Marrying together it’s traditional deep smokey notes with luscious, sweet, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks.
Finish: Zesty, smoky.
Voted best in the world

Clynelish 15 yrs old

Nose: Fresh, briny, soft sherried character, spicy.
Palate: Clean, robust, enhanced spiciness and a developing dryness.
Finish: Long and dry with a pronounced maritime influence.

Benriach 12 yrs old

Nose: Milky Bar Kid meets the Man Who Likes to Say Yes. White chocolate with a touch of ripe pineapple and sweet peat. Quite lovely and wonderfully intricate as it oxidises.
Body: Early, sharp almost acidic malt (is that the pineapple again?). Then a waxy sheen as the spicy oak and a touch of honey appear.
Palate & Finish: Has thinned out in time-honoured Benriach tradition, but remains clean and gentle.

Strathisla 30 yrs old G&M

Nose: Sherry wood with ripe fruit - apples, pears. Hints of toasted malt with some leather and hessian. A touch of heather honey.
Palate: Smoky with rich sherry elements. Earthy and spicy with moss and other green leaf notes.
Finish: Slightly dry with hints of sherry.

St Magdelane 1975 CC R.M.W. Bottling

Nose: Fresh, grassy, with a perfumed, musty woodiness of age. Lemon barley sugars. Walnut oil and orange liqueur. Kiwis, cucumber and summer pudding.
Palate: Creamy, with nuttiness, white toast and fruit syrup.
Finish: A light chocolate bitterness.
Overall: Another elegant old Lowland.

Glenrothes 1965 G&M

Nose: Evokes grand houses, polished oak & elegant living.
Palate: Slight burnt toast, touch of ginger.
Finish: Bittersweet, hint of the finest black coffee.
Comments: Confident, aristocratic – Norah