The Whisky Show 2022: Elixir/SMoS/Port Askaig/TWE, Part 1

Today, a smorgasbord of delights from both the Elixir/Single Malts of Scotland & Whisky Show stands as well as the Port Askaig/Elements stand. I get chatting with Duncan who recommends I start with this:

Clynelish 11yo Elixir Whisky Show 2022 58.7% WN88

• C: What could possibly go wrong here? Nothing! Easily as good as the consistently excellent official 14yo [WLP86].

Scores 86 points

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Clynelish 1995/2022 26yo Elixir SMoS Sherry Butt #8659 [576 bts] 50.7% WB90.31[38]

• C: A coffee syrup number, sherry shapes this rugged yet rewarding dram displaying variations beyond the more ‘usual’ sherried traits. Is there bourbon cask maturation underlying?

Scores 88 points

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Linkwood 2011/2022 10yo TWE Barrel & Hogshead 52.2%

• C: Such vibrant honey on the palate that even trumps the nose. Clean not clinical, another faultless formidable unfaltering Linkwood.

Scores 88 points

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Linkwood 2008/2022 14yo Elixir SMoS cask #800856 [262 bts] 58.9% WB86.57[10]

• C: Pretty much classic Linkwood again if a touch sourer than the previous 10yo.

Scores 87 points

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Craigellachie 2011/2022 10yo Elixir SMoS cask #900094 [563 bts] 68.9% WB86.67[3]

• C: An abv-brute at face value yet rather sensitive to water.

Scores 86 points

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Strathisla 2007/2022 15yo Ob. Vintage Edition for TWE 1st Fill US cask[s] 62.3% WB86.50[2]

An official bottling for the now Pernod-owned Whisky Exchange, and a vintage too – akin to Signatory Vintage bottling an official Edradour perhaps?

• C: With equally large doses of sweet and sour [much like a lemon], subjectively, I find this hard to love. Objectively – robust, solid, Bruichladdich-esque~distillate forward.

Scores 86 points

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[Tobermory] Ledaig  2006/2022 15yo Elixir Whisky Show 2022 sherry butt #13 54.7% WF[A]87 WN89

• C: Slightly painting by numbers on a subsequent revisit but oily rich at the end, this is excellent high-octane juice even if the price tag [of £200] tells us Ledaig is [now] a fully signed-up member of the premium end/luxury goods arena. Ralfy recently likened the current whisky scene to golf in the 1980s – prohibitive!

Scores 88 points

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It turns out there’s another Ledaig on the stand.

[Tobermory] Ledaig 2006/2022 15yo TWE Hogshead #32 [258 bts] 53.4% WB85[2]

• C: This is very good also if slightly overshadowed by the sherry butt today.

Scores 87 points

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I ask Duncan what the top three Show Bottling sellers have been this weekend. His answer:

Clynelish, Ledaig [£200], and the Imperial – coming up in Part 2

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