In June 2024 The Whisky Change offered a brand new sequence named The Seasons. We tried the Summer season launch and thought it was a fairly spot-on choice with good worth for cash.
Now there’s a brand new installment, The Seasons: Autumn. This time it contains Dailuaine, Ledaig and Caol Ila. Flavours ought to flip to baked apple, pumpkin pie and bonfire smoke… You should purchase a full collector’s set or every whisky individually.
Dailuaine 12 yo 2011 (52,1%, The Whisky Change ‘Seasons – Autumn’ 2023, rejuvenated hogshead #316960)
Nostril: delicate fruity notes (peach and stewed Golden Scrumptious), but in addition fallen leaves and hints of ginger and nutmeg, which instantly make it extra autumnal. Then hints of porridge, with marmalade and acacia honey. A pleasant mixture of sweetness and spice.
Mouth: the identical richness, due to stewed orchard fruits (pears and apples) and a few creamy, buttery vanilla and oak spice. Nutmeg, black pepper and ginger. Then apple pie, toasted almonds and hints of liquorice. Gaining some sharpness in direction of the tip, with orange peels and and drying nuts.
End: medium, with natural honey, earthy spice, apple peelings and extra of this black pepper.
A advantageous younger Dailuaine and transition whisky, constructing a bridge between late summer season fruits and delicate spice. Apparently a bit later than the others, however out there quickly from The Whisky Change.
Ledaig 17 yo 2006 (55,4%, The Whisky Change ‘Seasons – Autumn’ 2023, butt #16)
Nostril: barely farmy peat, with prunes and blackberries, together with treacle and coal smoke. Mild tarry notes. Then again to raisins, natural honey and singed orange peels, together with damp wooden and hints of tobacco leaves. Smoked meat within the background.
Mouth: highly effective and darkish, with a lot of sooty notes, black peppercorns and smoked meat. Hints of caramelized apple and chocolate, in addition to some espresso. A little bit creosote and burnt rubber. Then a charred facet, a pinch of sea salt and baked plum comes out.
End: lengthy, on lacquered barbecue meats, seaweed, plums and colf espresso.
A extremely good Ledaig that jogs my memory of the Whisky Present 2022 bottling. A wealthy combination of coal smoke with thick sweetness and a rugged meatiness. Obtainable from The Whisky Change. Rating: 88/100
Caol Ila 9 yo 2014 (52,1%, The Whisky Change ‘Seasons – Autumn’ 2023, first fill bourbon barrel #808)
Nostril: basic mercurochrome and sea spray with pebblestones on the seaside. Pink apple, chalk, oysters and salted peanuts, in addition to uncooked wool. Alternatively there’s vanilla and almond from the lively bourbon wooden. Cleaner than the color prompt.
Mouth: the candy woody notes and apple juice make it rounder, however there’s no scarcity of brine, lanolin, medicinal smoke and pepper both. Later additionally cinnamon, lemon and loads of ashes. Caol Ila for these with a candy tooth, with out renouncing any distillery character.
End: lengthy, nonetheless juicy sufficient, regardless of the drying edge.
Actually good once more. Caol Ila takes a barely heavier wooden affect effectively. It makes the peat come properly, changing among the minerality with sweetness. Obtainable from The Whisky Change. Rating: 86/100
