Single Malt Scotch 10-15 - 2013
 


Best Single Malt Scotch, 10-15 Years Old
2013

 

The Fifty Best Single Malt Scotch 10-15 yo Tasting 2013

 

The Tasting:
The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 18 single malt scotch whiskies, aged 10-15 years with 19 pre-qualified judges. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the single malts were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water, neutral unflavored crackers and bar snacks were available to cleanse the palate. The judges tasted through two flights of 7 single malts and one flight of 4.

The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold and Gold medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges. Due to the unusually high and extremely close final scoring by the judges, no silver or bronze medals were awarded in this tasting.

The tasting notes which follow are summaries of the judges’ opinions. Ties are listed alphabetically. The regions of origin are identified for each brand.

 

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH (10-15 y.o.) TASTING RESULTS:

 

Oban 14

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

1. Oban 14 - (Highland)

Nose: Floral, rose, morning dew, faint vanilla, banana, cola notes, mature oak, peat, wood-aged. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, honey, almond extract, orange peel, lemon notes, hints of pear, apple, dried fruit, caramel, honey, creamy, nutty, malt, oak, supple, well crafted, elegant. Finish: Buttery, caramel, layers of citrus, peppery, spice, classic.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



2. Speyburn 10 - (Highland)

Nose: Floral, delicate citrus, fruity, coconut, vanilla, malt, oak, armagnac. Palate: Vanilla, butter, creamy, caramel, honey, nuts, almond, raisins, cinnamon, wheat, toasted bread, myrtle, wood, layers of oak, faint spice, smooth. Finish: Light caramel, toffee, citrus, dried fruits, spicy, smoke refined, nice.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Speyburn 10


Talisker 10



3. Talisker 10 - (Isle of Skye)

Nose: Floral, fruity, citrus, creamy vanilla, slight caramel, cola, root beer, mild oak. Palate: Robust vanilla, sweet honey, butterscotch, caramel, layers of cream, toffee, dried fruit, dark fruit, citrus, pepper, spicy, clove, peat, oak, fantastic. Finish: Smoky, malt, peppery, spicy, dry, even.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



4. Three-Way Tie -
Arran 14 - (Isle of Arran)

Nose: Dates, dried fruits, cherry, pineapple, coconut, vanilla, butter, nutty, faint rose, lightly floral. Palate: Toffee, vanilla, salt caramel, cinnamon, spice, ginger, slight lavender, citrus notes, black pepper, oak, dry, amazing, classic. Finish: Wood, peppery, spicy, briny, salt, cereal, smooth, intoxicating, beautiful, medium-long.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Arran 14


Jura 10



Jura 10 - (Isle of Jura)

Nose: Butter, vanilla, cream, citrus, leather, malt, honeysuckle. Palate: Vanilla, honey, sweet, buttery, raisins, citrus, herbal, grassy, hot pepper, nutmeg, clove, smoky oak, cedar, woody, peat, salty notes, maritime, dry. Finish: Licorice, orange peel, creamy, smoky, peaty, touch of wood, clean, smooth, classic, short.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Tomatin 12 - (Highland)

Nose: Orange, dried fruit, floral, vanilla, caramel, clove, fruity, malty, briny, leather, sweet oak. Palate: Cinnamon, vanilla, slight honey, notes of banana and tropical fruits, candied fruit, lemon citrus, hint of chocolate, licorice, pepper, spice, smoky, oak, cedar, floral, clean, enjoyable. Finish: Light fruit, apricots, hint of floral, citrus notes, creamy, light peat, peppery, spicy, dry, clean, smooth, well-rounded, short.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Tomatin 12


Ardbeg Corryvreckan



5. Three-Way Tie -
Ardbeg Corryvreckan - (Islay)
Aged 10 years

Nose: Floral, citrus, orange, orange peel, dried fruits, currants, vanilla, peaty, woody, maritime, sea spray, salt air. Palate: Dark fruits, dark chocolate, dry, brut, clover, malt, oak, cedar, peat, smoky, maritime, savory. Finish: Spicy, peppery, oak, toffee, almond, butter, briny, smoke, smooth, long.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Ardbeg Uigeadail - (Islay)
Aged 12 years

Nose: Almond, cashew, citrus, bell pepper, peat, cola notes, maritime. Palate: Caramel, toffee, slight molasses, cola notes, spicy, white pepper, clove, ginger, floral, oak, peaty, smoky, briny, iodine, pepper. Finish: Dried fruit, layers of cream, spicy, peppery, dry.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



Ardbeg Uigeadail


Lagavulin 12



Lagavulin 12- (Islay)

Nose: Honey, raisins, dried currants, banana, floral, peat. Palate: Peppery, spicy oak, dark chocolate, vanilla, cream, caramel, sweet cherry, fruit cake, nutty, smoke, peaty, earthy notes, brine, layers of oak, liquid gold, smooth, beautiful, amazing. Finish: Peppery, spicy, salty, caramel, layers of cream, oak, long, nice, smooth, lovely.

Double Gold Medal
Double Gold medal



GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:

Benromach 10- (Speyside)

Nose: Vanilla, cream pie, chocolate, banana, raisins, dark currants, merlot, spicy, nutty, malt, faint oak. Palate: Amaretto, hazelnut, toffee, dried fruits, citrus fruit, melon, cereal, creamy, cinnamon, almond, ginger, pepper, spice, briny, Port wine, well-balanced. Finish: Hint of orange, cream, vanilla, spicy, peppery, cognac, smoke, classic.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Benromach 10


Ballechin #6 Bourbon Cask



Ballechin #6 Bourbon Cask - (Highland)

Nose: Caramel, cream, peat, oak, wood, smoky, briny, maritime. Palate: Vanilla, coffee, maple, peppery, peaty, smoke, cedar, woody, spice, smooth, very nice. Finish: Oaky, wood, creamy, butter, brine, peat, mellow.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Ardbeg Galileo - (Islay)
Aged 12 years

Nose: Malty, subtle notes of vanilla, oaky, woody, peaty, spicy, smoke, salty, sea air. Palate: Vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, floral notes, tobacco, oak, peaty, brine, smoky, nutty, peppery, delicate, well-rounded, well-balanced, beautiful. Finish: Spicy ginger, spicy, creamy, salty, smoke, bright, nice, very smooth, medium.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Ardbeg Galileo


Usquaebach



Usquaebach - (Highland)
Aged 15 years

Nose: Vanilla, honey, butter, Graham cracker, faint coffee, floral, nutty, briny, oily, rum notes. Palate: Treacle, toffee, vanilla, caramel, slight cream, cinnamon, clove, mocha, malt, tobacco, light oak, peat, mild pepper, smooth, well-balanced, very nice. Finish: Peppery, spicy, smooth, even, great.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Edradour 10 - (Highland)

Nose: Citrus, vanilla, toffee, dried fruits, cocoa, praline, almond, hazelnuts, cloves, spice, allspice, malt. Palate: Fruity, floral, citrus, orange peel, raspberry, honey sweetness, caramel, toffee, chocolatey, coffee, biscuit, nutty, earthy, hot pepper, ginger, spice, oak, dry. Finish: Caramel, dark chocolate, Graham cracker, brine, clean, smooth, savory, medium.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Edradour 10


Ardbeg 10



Ardbeg 10- (Islay)

Nose: Peaty, vanilla, caramel, banana, earthy, oak, ash, smoky. Palate: Peaty, oak, creamy, hints of vanilla, pepper, salty, maritime, smoky, peaty, cedar, ash, nice, well-balanced. Finish: Toffee, caramel, wood, spicy, savory, smooth, medium.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Aberfeldy 12 - (Highland)

Nose: Bitter chocolate, banana, orange peel, dried fruit, faint citrus, subtle sherry, almonds, clove, leather, slight brine. Palate: Fruity, raisin, cherries, dark fruit, orange peel, layered spices, cinnamon, sweet malt, creamy, peppery, cedar, oaky, mild. Finish: Peaty, oak, fruit, toffee, creamy, nutty, savory, smooth, delicate, gentle, long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



Aberfeldy 12


Signatory Laphroaig 13 Year Old 1998 - Un-Chillfiltered



Signatory Laphroaig 13 Year Old 1998 -
Un-Chillfiltered
- (Islay)

Nose: Almond, honey, spice, oily peat, brine, maritime, lightly floral. Palate: Raisins, cinnamon, spice, floral, buttery, creamy, citrusy, white pepper, nutty, malt, wood, oak, peat, ash, earthy, light smoke, smooth. Finish: Vanilla, peppery, smooth, creamy, smoky bite, balanced.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



The Dalmore 12 - (Highland)

Nose: Fruity, banana, citrus, floral, accents of molasses, burnt sugar, subtle honey, toffee, butterscotch, caramel, cola, oak, cedar, fragrant. Palate: Sweet molasses, honey, toffee notes, creamy, butter, vanilla, cream soda, dark cherries, dried fruits, figs, nutty, woody, oak, sandalwood, ash, nice, mellow, enjoyable. Finish: Dark chocolate, dark fruit, cocoa, sweet, creamy, cereal, spice, slight wood, clean, smooth, long.

Gold Medal
Gold medal



The Dalmore 12

 

 

 

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