Category: 90-94

Reviews with a final score between 90-94. These are my top shelf bottles I drink slowly and savor. A grade.

Review: L’Encantada Domaine Del Cassou 1998 #44 “Hail Yak”

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Armagnac, Brandy, Domaine Del CassouLeave a comment

Paid: $95 for 700ml

Distilled/Owned by: “Domaine Del Cassou” / L’Encantada

Region: Bas Armagnac

49.2% ABV

Aged For: 20 Years. Distilled 1998

Cask Type: French Oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Tawny

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Sweet grapes, cinnamon, clove, maple syrup, flowers, sort of delicate and rich at the same time, an interesting balance

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: Oranges, more clove, maple, tobacco, oak, honey, baked rye, dark berries, dried fruit, and touch of pepper

Finish: Medium warmth with a medium to long finish, oak, baking spice, leather, tobacco, and chocolate with grape and citrus.

Thoughts: Huge props to the aficionados who picked this cask, it’s banging. Fruity, rich, spicy, floral, and sweet it hits everything without being disjointed.

Score: 90 out of 100

Review: Macallan 18 Sherry 1993

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Macallan, Scotch, SpeysideLeave a comment

Paid: N/A – Sample

Distilled/Owned by: Macallan / Edrington Group

Region: Speyside

43% ABV

Aged For: 18 Years, distilled 1993

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Oloroso sherry casks

Chill Filtered: Yes

Color Added: No

Color: Light mahogany

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Sherry, raisins, Christmas cake, dried fruits, orange peel, caramel, ginger, and wood spice

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Rich and fruity, caramel, chocolate sauce, oak, citrus, honey, malt, and fruitcake

Finish: Medium warmth, and lasting. Vanilla, sherry, creamy oak, dried citrus, and light roast coffee with cream

Thoughts: It’s a classic, and I really like it, but as far as bang for your buck, some IB sherry cask Glenrothes, Glen Morays, and even Glenlivets are the way to go.

Score: 90 out of 100

Review: Laphroaig 21 1996 SMWS 29.248 “Creaking ships lost in the fog”

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Islay, Laphroaig, ScotchLeave a comment

Paid: $265 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned By: Laphroaig / SMWS

Region: Islay

49.8% ABV

Aged For: 21 Years, Distilled Nov 1996

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, finished in 2nd Fill Charred Red Wine Barrique

Chill Filtered: No

Artificial Coloring: No

Color: Golden

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Tarry, gentle peat, soggy dock planks, cranberry, orange peel, clove oil, sandalwood, sprigs of mint, salty sea air

Feel: Light to medium body, oily

Taste: Bright orange and citrus, barrel char, zinfandel wine, pepper, cinnamon, gentle peat moss, butterscotch, manages to be a blend of oily, costal, and fruity

Finish: Light to medium warmth and long lasting. Tar, clove, latakia pipe tobacco, sweet peat, butter, citrus, saltwater, and oak.

Thoughts: This takes what Ardbeg tried to do with Grooves and does it much better, while also being a more mellow peated experience. Very pleasurable to sip on a cold evening and loaded with different flavors that change and flow.

Score: 90 out of 100

Chateau de Pomes Peberere 1966 50-Year

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, Armagnac, Brandy, Chateau de Pomes PeberereLeave a comment

Chateau de Pomes Peberere 1966 50-Year

Price: $120 for 700ml

Distilled/Owned by: Chateau de Pomes Peberere

Region: Tenareze Armagnac, France

42% ABV

Grapes: Ugni-Blanc and Colombard

Aged For: 50 Years

Cask Type: French oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Old oak

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Deep fruit, old oak, rancio, prunes, port wine, and dark chocolate, very potent

Mouthfeel: Medium body, supple

Palate/Taste: Heavy oak, bitter chocolate, raisins, blackberry marmalade, leather, and pipe tobacco

Finish: Medium warmth, lasting. Deep grape and blueberry, coffee, and oak tannins

Thoughts: Lovely, very deep and dark.

Score: 90 out of 100

Review: GlenDronach 21-Year 1994 Single Cask #1189 Distillery Exclusive

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Paid: $180 for 700ml via Auction

Distilled/Owned By: Glendronach / Brown-Forman

Region: Highland

54.1% ABV

Aged For: 21 Years, distilled Oct. 14 1994, bottled Oct. 2015

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: PX Sherry Puncheon

Chill Filtered:  No

Artificial Coloring: No

Other Info: Cask #1189, Bottle #84, Distillery Exclusive

Color: Old Oak

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Dry sherry, bitter orange peel, crushed mint, musty oak, black tea, coffee beans, heather, and chocolate chili powder

Feel:  Supple, but drying

Taste: Rich sherry, dried fruits, espresso, vanilla bean paste, black pepper, spicy oak, highland malted barley, cranberry, dark chocolate, and cherry brandy

Finish: Warm and long, with a drying effect. Amaretto, sherry, caramel, sprigs of mint and thistle, citrus, oak, buttery filo pastry, and bitter grape skins.

Thoughts: This tasted more of an oloroso profile than a PX one to me, but none the less is a complex and amazing dram. A good example of the rich powerful malt GlenDronach was producing before their closure in 1996. As you continue to drink it becomes sweeter and more easy going, but snap back to attention and you will be hit by various spectrum’s of the flavor wheel.

Score:  90 out of 100

Glendronach 22 Year 1994 PX Cask UK Exclusive

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

Glendronach 22 Year 1994 PX Cask UK Exclusive

Price: $225 for 700ml

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown Forman

Region: Highland

53.2% ABV

Aged For: 22 years, distilled 1994

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: PX sherry, cask # 1376

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Burnt umber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Malt, walnut, sherry, blueberry, key lime pie, and dark chocolate

Feel: Rich

Taste: Rich sherry, dried fruits, blueberry, cocoa, caramel drizzle, and nuts

Finish: Warm and lasting, slight balsamic notes, prunes, fig, sweet oaky tannins, caramel, and vanilla

Thoughts: I love me some PX single cask Glendronach, it’s a goddamn shame the prices have become so outrageous as of late, I have a feeling Brown-Forman is positioning the brand to take on Macallan.

Score: 90 out of 100

Glendronach 15 Tawny Port Finish

On By MajorHopIn 90-94, GlenDronach, Highland, ScotchLeave a comment

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Paid: $40 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Glendronach / Brown Forman

Region: Highland

46% ABV

Aged For: 15 years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, finished in Tawny Port casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Plums and raisins, rock candy, cognac, rose water, honey

Feel: Syrupy

Taste: Blueberry pancakes, vanilla, almonds, figs, strawberry, maple butter, chocolate

Finish: Medium length and long with a sweet dry warmth of chocolate, oak, berries, port. Plums, raisins, and custard

Thoughts: The nose doesn’t reveal the amazing taste and finish of this dram. Amazing stuff.

Score: 90 out of 100