Daily Review Archive

06 May 2026

Review calendar

7 Amber Room Reviews

Review 084

Glendronach 1992 2019 26 Years Old 56,5% Cask 221

GlenDronach
90
Client-supplied bottle photo of Glendronach 1992 2019 26 Years Old 56,5% Cask 221

Whisky facts

Region
Highland
Bottling type
Official Bottling
Age
26 years
ABV
56.5%
Vintage
1992
Bottled
2019
Cask number
221

A nice modern interpretation of sweet sherried whisky

Nose

Extremely sweet & sherry, also cherry & a bit orange

Body

Plums, honey, caramel, cinnamon, dates, slightly bitter & spicy towards the end but not overwhelming compared to the sweetness With water the taste remains relatively unchanged as the caramel, dates, sherry notes are still predominant

Finish

Long, slightly dry finish, again the sweetness lingers

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Review 083

Gordon & Macphail Linkwood 1954 1997 40%

Linkwood
90
Illustrative image · Old & Rare illustrative photo: Linkwood 1954/1997, 40%, with box. Age 46 unverified; stock dates may vary.
Illustrative image

Whisky facts

Region
Speyside
Independent Bottler
Gordon & Macphail
ABV
40%
Vintage
1954
Bottled
1997

A 46yo whisky is definitely not something you come across everyday! Definitely a solid whisky but nothing mindblowing, especially for a 46yo from the 1950s

Nose

Surprisingly elegant, fruity, fresh, sweet with a generous amount of old sherry notes

Body

Ripe bananas, slightly bitter but not overwhelmingly so, floral, dark tea, tropical fruits & orchard, bottling this as a higher ABV would probably make it 1-2pts better, honey

Finish

Medium soft & warm fruity finish, hints of tobacco

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Review 082

Duncan Taylor Rare Auld Glen Grant 1972 2007 35 Years Old 53,4% Cask 1643

Glen Grant
90
Smoke on the Water label photo: Glen Grant 1972/2007, 35 years, 53.4%, cask 1643.
Glen Grant cask 1643 is second from left in Smoke on the Water’s original group photo.
Glen Grant cask 1643 is second from left in Smoke on the Water’s original group photo.

Whisky facts

Region
Speyside
Independent Bottler
Duncan Taylor
Age
35 years
ABV
53.4%
Vintage
1972
Bottled
2007
Cask number
1643

Nose

Very pleasant, fruity nose, orchards, oranges, peaches

Body

A very nice balance between sweet fruitiness & slightly bitter old sherry, juicy, peaches, very fresh & tropical, surprisingly fresh for a 197x

Finish

Long, slightly bitter oaky finish

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Review 081

Douglas Laing Old & Rare Glenlivet 1969 2002 33 Years Old 57,4%

Glenlivet
90
Client-supplied bottle photo of Douglas Laing Old & Rare Glenlivet 1969 2002 33 Years Old 57,4%

Whisky facts

Region
Speyside
Independent Bottler
Douglas Laing
Age
33 years
ABV
57.4%
Vintage
1969
Bottled
2002
Bottles in release
199

90, 87-88 before water

Nose

A very pleasant, tropical fruity nose, sweet, as expected from a 33yo from the 1960s

Body

Very sweet but also hot & spicy & intense, would definitely think that this is rather a 15-20yo from the 1990s, runs a bit too hot & spicy, definitely needs water Definitely alot better & balanced with water as the old sherry notes come out, the sweetness & slight bitterness becomes more prominent, burnt sugar, sulphur, gunpower, dried fruits & raisins, the spiciness is much more tame & no longer hot, slightly citrusy

Finish

Medium dry bitter finish

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Review 080

Highland Park 30 bottled 2006 48,1%

Highland Park
92
Illustrative image · Illustrative: Highland Park 30, 48.1%; bottled 2006 not visible. Client photo
Illustrative image

Whisky facts

Region
Highland
Bottling type
Official Bottling
ABV
48.1%

These old Highland Parks are intriguing because the nose would not suggest smokiness in any shape or form, making the taste a complete surprise, in a very good way!

Nose

Sweet tropical fruits, oranges, honey, signs of old sherry

Body

A perfect mix of peat & sherry, sweet & salty coastal smoky, slightly spicy but it complements the smokiness

Finish

The finish is very nice, again a balanced mixture smokiness & sweetness, the fruitiness (& hints of old sherry) lingers, slightly salty & spicy at the end

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Review 079

Springbank Local Barley 13

Springbank
90
Client-supplied bottle photo of Springbank Local Barley 13

Whisky facts

Region
Campbeltown
Bottling type
Official Bottling

Nose

Light tropical fruits, creamy, grassy, very soft & pleasant nose

Body

Intense spices, sweet honey, mustard, then comes the tropical fruits With water the spices become more balanced, the sweetness & mineral notes become more prominent, peppery & citrus

Finish

Mineral oil, waxy finish, slightly hot/peaty & woody

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