Virtual tasting: A.D. Rattray with Inverurie Whisky Shop

Due to the Corona virus a lot of companies have moved their tastings online - using Zoom or similar video conferencing systems. This has actually opened their market as they can attract customers from all over the world.

One such company is the Inverurie Whisky Shop, a small shop in the town of Inverurie - great if you live near Aberdeen, but not too much use to those of us living in England or elsewhere.

Mike @whiskyrover asked a few mates if they'd like to take part in a tasting and I was lucky enough to get involved. Mike asked the shop to supply 5 A.D. Rattray drams for our tasting.

The #RatFans each paid £30 for 5 x 25ml samples delivered and on the night a Zoom session was organised.

Mike Stuart from the shop led us through a great tasting, sharing insights into A.D. Rattray, the distilleries we were sampling and a little about his shop.

My thoughts on the drams:

Cask Orkney 18yo 46% Ex-bourbon (likely Highland Park)

Nose: Sweet citrus, vanilla, creamy butter, biscuit notes - no peat
Palate: Sweet buttery arrival, citrus spice, orchard fruit - not like any HP I've had before - nice!
Finish: Medium length - gentle spice, more of the buttery biscuit notes.  

Knockdu 2009 10yo 52.7% Ex-bourbon (345 bottles)

Nose: Floral, malt, cereal, barley and a hint of lemon.
Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, sweet honey, toffee, orchard fruit and a little nut. Citrus fizz is left on the tongue and a hint of peat smoke.
Finish: Medium length, oak spice, orchard fruit and the citrus.
With water: a little more peat on the nose and some milk chocolate notes on the palate.

Auchroisk 2008 11yo 57.4% Ex-bourbon (305 bottles)

Nose: Spicy citrus led higher ABV, barley and cereal notes.
Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, sweet honey, a little tropical fruit, icing sugar and a peppery spice.
Finish: Medium length spicy citrus, drying, tropical fruit notes.

Glenallachie 2012 7yo 65.9% Sherry Butt (641 bottles)

Nose: Lots of ABV on the nose (obviously) honey, orchard fruit, a little toffee apple and milk chocolate. A little time in the glass also offers some orange notes.
Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, huge warming effect, ginger spice, lemon bonbons, a little grass.
Finish: Long woody finish, a little spice, brown sugar and pineapple. Very drying. 

Ledaig 2001 18yo 57.1% Ex-bourbon (262 bottles)

Nose: Huge peat smoke, pine needles, maritime notes - salt and fish - yummy!
Palate: Sweet arrival, gentle citrus, a little honey then the smoky bacon crisps arrive - gentle - not as strong as the nose suggested. A little salt and a citrus fizz on the tongue. YUMMY!
Finish: Long lingering peat smoke and a sweet cirtus - very drying.

A nice set of drams, really liked the Ledaig. 25ml was probably a bit small as a sample size, 30 or even 50 would have been better, but then the cost would have increased. As usual these tatsings are a great way to get a feel for a dram before deciding to buy a full bottle.

Many thanks to Mike at @InverurieWhisky for supplying and running the tasting and my fellow #RatFans for a great evening! @whiskyrover , @ReviewsWhisky, @stewedwhisky, @ScotchB78, Tim and Ashley.

Inverurie Whisky Shop organise their own tastings or you can ask, like we did, for a private one - more details here!