North British 1996 18 Year Cask #224751 (Berry Bros. & Rudd)

This is a review of an 18-year-old single grain whisky from North British Distillery, a producer whose spirit is largely destined for blends and typically bottled by independent houses. This particular bottling is from Berry Bros. It's presented at cask strength, 57% ABV, is non-chill filtered, and contains no added color. It was distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2015. The appearance is a typical yellow-gold. The nose is dominated by cereal notes. Beyond the initial burn from the high ABV, one might detect hints of vanilla and delicate orchard fruits like pears and apricots, though they require considerable effort to discern. The palate is predictably hot, but adding a little water allows some honey sweetness and red berries to emerge briefly. The harshness of the grain, combined with oak-induced pepperiness, creates a bitter sensation midway through the tasting and leads to a challenging finish. The finish itself is heavy on oak and heat, leaving a persistent bitterness that ultimately detracts from the experience. I shared this sample as part of an effort to review spirits from every active distillery in Scotland. I'm beginning to question the value of including grain distilleries in this goal, as they seem subpar on their own. They necessitate a master blender's skill to achieve their full potential or should be combined with single malts. The bottle cost around $90, and I could have invested that money much more wisely. I do not recommend this, or any single grain bottlings. Stick to single malts or blends, my friends. 2 stars. Cheers.

Stop number 54 on the SDT is North British. This Lowland distillery exclusively produces grain whisky, and most of it is sold in bulk for use in various blends. This is a single grain bottle from independent bottlers Berry's. Distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2015, this 18-year-old is from cask number 224751, 57% ABV, is non-chill filtered, and has a golden straw natural color. The nose starts quite sharp. Lots of honey and vanilla, and strong grains. Dried ginger, oak, and golden raisins. A bit fruity with dried apricots and a subtle blueberry pie impression. Baked bread and light toffee. Not very exciting, so I decided to add some water as the high ABV might be hiding some flavors. Water reveals a rubbery note and some sweetness, but little else. Not looking promising so far. The palate arrives somewhat hot, as expected from the strength. A heavy grain sensation. Oak, quite bitter. Light fruits, raisins, berries, and apricots. Honey and vanilla. Not much else, really. Water softens it, but the bitterness persists. Medium-bodied mouthfeel that is oily and mouthwatering. A medium-long finish that is bitter and oaky. Unfortunately, this is another independent bottling that didn't work out. I suspect poor casks or just overly harsh spirit. 18 years wasn't long enough to tame this beast. Water removes some of the negative elements but doesn't significantly improve its enjoyability. At $90, it's really not worth it. I can see why this is relegated to use as a bulk blending component. Thanks to a friend for the sample; another distillery checked off the tour. 2.25 Cheers

This has been sitting in my collection from the SDT, and the name intrigued me. It must be good, it has 'British' in the name. Somewhat regal. Smells like grain alcohol, ginger root, vanilla, and dried pineapples. I couldn't discern much more as the strong alcohol smell was all I could really detect. Not a good start. I let this sit for a good while, but it didn't help. Ouch! Tastes like paint thinner, grain alcohol, a pinch of vanilla, and butterscotch sweetness. Wasabi spice prickles the tongue. Add some apples and apricots. As it moves to the finish, an old, weathered oakiness appears. (Rewarding) short, dry, and bitter. Adding water probably would have helped, and honestly, not enjoying this much, I was somewhat looking forward to moving on. This is one of the harshest, if not the harshest whiskies I have ever encountered. Like sandpaper and fire with a touch of sweetness. It has a young presence, even though it's marked as an 18 year old. This was a rough one with very little to enjoy. Sorry to a friend, this is one I'm glad I tried and won't do again. [68/100][Tasted: 4/7/18]