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What I'm Tasting...
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These are some of the whiskies I was able to taste during my trip to Scotland last month, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my tasting notes with you! 
Mortlach 70 (46.1% ABV):
Gordon & MacPhail had this cask filled at the Mortlach Distillery in Speyside in 1938, and let it age for 70 years before bottling it. Just 54 full-size bottles of the world's oldest single malt were released, and all have been sold. The nose is as vibrant and fruity as malts decades younger, with hints of orange peel, maraschino cherries, and subtle spices. The taste has notes of marzipan, orange peel, and a great mouthfeel, and the finish literally lasts for minutes. I could still taste it 10 minutes after finishing my glass! 98 points.
Glen Grant 37 Highlander Inn Single Cask (53% ABV): Duncan Elphick and Tatsuya Minagawa of the Highlander Inn in Craigellachie picked this sherry hogshead cask for their bar, and like many older Glen Grants, it's outstanding! The nose is sharp and full of flavor, with hints of cinnamon, brown sugar, apples, and rum. The taste is intense, chewy, and spicy with notes of cinnamon and allspice, along with subtle traces of orange peel, oak, and a hint of figs. The finish is smooth and dry with oaky notes and a slight hint of mint. 95 points.
Caperdonich 39 (42.2% ABV):This Lonach bottling was distilled in 1969, and my tasting took place as word was spreading that the mothballed distillery is being sold to Forsyth's for use as a manufacturing facility, and will not reopen as a distillery. Truly a shame, as the nose on this malt had notes of vanilla and black pepper, along with hints of oak and baked apples (water added a touch of citrus to the nose). The taste is chewy with citrusy tartness -- lemon and lime notes with just a bit of allspice to keep things in balance. The finish is spicy and lingering with hints of lime and oak. 89 points.
Glenury Royal 29 Rare Malts Series (57% ABV): Another long-gone distillery, and this is one of the few expressions still possible to find. It was distilled in 1970 and bottled in 1999, and the nose is dry with notes of wood shavings and a hint of pepper. The taste is pungent and spicy with a blast of chili powder that fades slowly to reveal notes of old leather and almonds. The finish is smooth and lingering with spicy notes and a hint of licorice. 95 points.
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How to get involved | |
You can download WhiskyCast on the website or subscribe at the iTunes Music Store! That's also where you can find the WhiskyCast iPhone app, complete with whisky ratings, the Calendar of Events, and access to every episode of WhiskyCast!
To ask questions, or submit ideas for an upcoming episode, please e-mail us: comments@whiskycast.com.
© Cask Strength Media, 2010
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The inside of a cask at Glenrothes Distillery. Photo by Mark Gillespie.  | Time's Running Out!
The deadline to enter the Visit Scotland sweepstakes is May 31! You could be the lucky winner of a a trip for two to Glasgow's Whisky Week this September! The package includes airfare for two on IcelandAir to Glasgow, along with lodging and tickets to Whisky Live Glasgow!
To enter, just click on the banner and fill out the online entry form. The winner will be announced on the June 6th episode of WhiskyCast. The competition is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, and a complete list of rules and conditions is available at the Visit Scotland web site.
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More Goodies to Give Away to Subscribers!
The next episode will feature an interview with Chef Albert Schmid, author of the new book "The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook." Chef Schmid teaches at Sullivan University's National Center for Hospitality Studies in Louisville, and just also happens to be a regular Whiskycast listener! I'll be giving a copy of his new book to a WhiskyCast newsletter subscriber on May 31, and will give away another copy each month this summer thanks to the University Press of Kentucky.
 Earlier this year, Jamison Moeckel of
Scottsdale, Arizona won a copy of Ian Buxton's "The Enduring History of
Dewar's." Thanks to Ian and the folks at Dewar's, I now have a second copy to give away, and will also select a subscriber at random on May 31 to receive this rare and unique book.
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I'll be talking with distillery managers, veteran distillery workers, and perhaps even some of you who've made the trip to Islay. You'll also hear some of the entertainment from the ceilidhs each night, and get a real sense of what makes Islay unique. 
