Bottler Catawiki (CATA on Whiskybase) Bottling series Catawhisky, total of 6 different bottles, 5 offered here All these bottles were never on sale through regular channels but were gifts for loyal buyers at Catawiki Whisky auctions, hence the term “Catawhisky”. All labels are a wood carving by Hans Dillesse, who is a popular whisky label designer for independent bottlers in The Netherlands. Linkwood Single Malt 2008, 13 yrs old, Size 700 ml + 50 ml Distiller Linkwood Vintage 11.2008 Bottled 01.2022 Stated Age 13 years old Cask Type Hogshead Cask number 306520 Number of bottles 87, this is number Strength 52.1 % Vol. Sniff: Buttermilk, lactic acid, butter. It veers towards Caramac bars. Slightly herbaceous with hints of pine and resin. Sip: The palate brings a bit of vanilla and milky caramel, without going in the direction of buttermilk and lactic acid. Quite hot, with pepper and alcohol bite. Swallow: The finish shows that thick caramel and cream again. This is a tough one. On one hand it does something fairly unique, with a sharp focus on lactic notes that are not all that common. Ledaig Single Malt 2005, 15 yrs old, Size 700 ml + 50 ml Distillery Tobermory Vintage 10.2005 Bottled 01.2021 Stated Age 15 years old Cask Type Refill Hogshead Number of bottles 83 this is number Strength 52.7 % Vol. Ledaig is made as the peaty Tobermory, in the town of the same name on the Isle of Mull. Sniff: Quite a timid smokiness after a few minutes. It starts off quite heavy, but it mellows rather soon. Grassy peat, some coastal salinity but nowhere near Islay levels of coastal scents. A farm note as well, with wool and hay. Sip: The palate is far more woody, with hints of hessian and dry bark. Hay, oak, salinity. A slightly medicinal note as well. Swallow: The long finish goes back to smoke, smoked (but not yet fried) bacon, hay and grassy peat. This is exactly what Ledaig is known for. Big smoky notes, much like Islay whiskies. Because it’s already 15 years old it’s mellowed a little bit, but hasn’t lost too much of its intensity. A decade or so ago Ledaig was quite a clean whisky after being way too funky before. Now it sits somewhere in the middle and that gives it a lovely depth. Thoroughly enjoyable! Secret Islay Distillery 2013 Size 700 ml Distillery Unknown Vintage 10.2013 Bottled 11.2021 Calculated age 08 years old Cask Type Port Hogshead Casknumber 3513 Number of bottles 77 this is number Strength 53.3 % Vol. Label View on Portnahaven Sniff: A big smokiness with a really heavy fortified wine effect behind it. At the time of writing I hadn’t checked the cask type, even though it was on the label. I went with Port, but it wouldn’t be the first sherry cask to have a profile like this either. Jammy and stewed red fruits on top of wet soil. Sip: The palate is quite peppery. Even though it says Islay and it’s more intensely smoky, it’s not unlike Talisker in that regard. Dry, with plum stones and almond flour. Sawdust, soil, and slightly harsh peaty notes. Swallow: The finish stays dry, but adds that jammy sweetness again. It’s not unlike treacle and golden syrup, with red fruits added. It’s a fun whisky, but a tad on the sweet side. The jam notes are really prominent, but the smoke keeps them a little bit in check. It’s a rather typical port cask, but port and smoke tends to work quite well. Glen Moray 2007 Single Malt 14 yrs, Size 700 ml + 50 ml Distillery Glen Moray Vintage 12.2007 Bottled 12.2021 Calculated age 14 years old Cask Type Hogshead Casknumber 6305 Number of bottles 87 this is number Strength 51.7 % Vol. Glen Moray, like I always say in similar reviews, ages rather well, if the cask isn’t too influential. As in, the cask tends to take over since it’s a very gentle spirit. But, when being drawn from a hogshead, like this one, it can be an utterly nice whisky. Sniff: Quite a green whisky for its 14 years old. Also a bit of vanilla and sweet baking spices with apple. Maybe because it’s the first one, it’s a little bit hot on the nose. Sip: Slightly more thin than I expected from the rich and sweet nose. By that I mean the vanilla is toned down and it’s less sweet, and more dry. That gives the spirit a bit more room and also shows a more oak. White pepper, green apples. Swallow: Oak, white pepper, a slight bitter note not unlike gin-tonic and grapefruit. I like that there’s that grapefruit note on the finish, and that after the nose the vanilla is kept in check. Of course, since this isn’t commercially available, I have no idea to value for money, but I really liked the whisky! Glenburgie 2011, Single Malt, Size 700 ml + 50 ml Distillery Glenburgie Vintage 11.2011 Bottled 04.2022 Calculated age 10 years old Cask Type Bourbon Barrel Number of bottles 86 Strength 52.3 % Vol. Nose: Green apple, lilac and butter biscuits. There is also honeydew melon, pear compote and a little sugar cake. Overall slightly sweet, fruity and subtle aromas of dried herbs and grasses. Palate: Continues the impression of the nose. Fruity with apples and mandarins, some plum and mirabelle plum, malt and oat biscuits. Also a little honey. Finish: Short to medium length, now more honey and grain, some pepper and a delicate bitterness.