Overall rating
88.45/100
votes
259
Whiskybase ID
WB140505
Category
Blended Malt
Bottler
North Star Spirits (NSS)
Bottling serie
Cask Series 009
Vintage
1988
Bottled
2019
Stated Age
31 years old
Casktype
First Fill Bourbon Barrels
Number of bottles
3582
Strength
43.1 % Vol.
Size
700 ml
Added on
11 oct 2019 10:48 am by TSoM
UncoloredNon-chillfilteredCask Strength

Average value

€ 199.90

72 × in wishlist

259 × member ratings

460 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Sirius 1988 NSS

72 users have left 76 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 88.45 points.

  1. LDB scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    Very unique! Anyone who can cope with the pronounced orange aromas including peel and the slight tannin bitterness has an extremely delicious blended malt in front of you, which only really unfolds in the glass after a while.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Resin-like older wood, orange curd, the drawer of a pre-war secretary, linseed oil varnish, Christmas tea with natural spices such as orange peel, cloves and cinnamon. Everything looks pretty strong!
    • Taste
      90 90
      Oily, smooth and yet lively with Ahoibrause orange, behind it elderflower syrup, a tart liquorice stick, slightly scraped-out vanilla pod mixed with ripe pomelos and grapefruit. Delicious.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Becomes slightly bitter, but nicely balanced with sweet and sour, until it runs out of air after a while.

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  3. jkswift scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  4. ThePanda scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  5. Stouby scored this whisky 91 points Expert Junior

    Copper, golden. Nose: Fruit, dish, vanilla. Taste: Sweetness, light smoke, barrel, vanilla, honey, fruit, sherry. Fat body, plump.

  6. Wtrstrnghlt scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  7. Jpspecial scored this whisky 87 points Member Senior

    Dark gold. Meduim thick legs.
    Nice aromas to start off with. Heaps of oak. Quite funky. Jamaica rum. Some old fence posts. Heaps of wood varnish. Some signature candle wax in there. Taste semi full. Still has a waxy oily feel. Some nice bitterness. Some antiseptic. Quite dry and tannic. Some bitterness. medium long lasting. not bad!!!

  8. hlz30 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Isn't it good, waxes and wood?
    • Nose
      88 88
      Typically bourbon wood driven, well-matured fruity-woody whisky. Vanilla, orange peel with wax on, soft spices (cardamon, cinnamon). Tangy citrus, ripen delicious apple and a hint of minerals. Canned peach, ripen apricot. With decanting there came the lemon essence.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Medium body but chewing led to a reinforcement. Sweet-spicy arrival, with ripen peach, apricot, sweet mandarain and coconut chips topped on vanilla cake. Oak spices, orange zest. The palate was definitely waxy...no surprise if it came from the secret sutherland distillery.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Warm, light gingers, vanilla and wood spices. I found it less impressive.

  9. stalker1971 scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  10. amstelsat scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

  11. Sjaak92 scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    What a fantastic whisky and especially for retail BFYB. Absolute flavorbomb, delicate butterscotch never would have believed the actual abv and flavour it delivers feels more like 50-53%. Stunner.

  12. kanpai79 scored this whisky 87 points Specialist

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      87 87

  13. WhiskyCasual scored this whisky 89 points Photo Moderator

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      88 88

  14. Cask1988 did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    Rumors are out this is a teaspooned Clynelish. Well I instantly believe that while sniffing a glass.
    • Nose
      Waxy! You won’t get them more waxy then this one I guess. First there’s candle wax, later it reminds me of the shell from those little babybell snack cheese. Aside from the wax there’s more in the nose, obviously. Musty furniture and incredibly ripe bourbon flavors. Corn, coconut, overripe mango zesty pear, vanilla butter, lemon grass, chewing gum and a pleasant dusty edge.
    • Taste
      Waxy, smooth, fatty. More spices on the first palate. Clove, freshly grated nutmegs and vanilla powder. A while later more marzipan comes through responsible for a little ‘artificial’ sweetness. After that I get dried orange peel.
    • Finish
      Long and with clearly lots of oak influences. Right after swallowing this starts waxy again. After that wood polish, coconut, orange peel and zesty mango. Almost like fresh mango juice.

      From start to finish this is quite a stunner! Sure, since ‘blended malt’ is the official category but I am convinced this ‘teaspoon’ didn’t affect the end result at all. The wood influence is playing a big part here. This really shouldn’t have aged any longer. At the and of the song this is a pure and very pleasant 31yo Clynelish for an exceptional good price. Without a doubt this gets my buy recommendation!

  15. Killswitch scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  16. Calmar scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    It seems that there are enough shades and halftones, but the palette is very narrow, the aroma is the most interesting and full, the taste / finish is noticeably inferior to it, however, in the same style, there is not enough depth and complexity, but on the whole it is a well-made whiskey, smooth, solid, very drinkable.
    • Nose
      Open, dry, spicy woody notes, old solid wood furniture, polish, dry herbs, coated tablets, cedar planks, lemon peel, a little bit sharp mineral tones, a little sweet creamy caramel shades, just a little pine needles and salty grape leaves.
    • Taste
      Calm, oily, juicy oak notes, a little creamy sweetness, leather goods, oily tones, orange peel, dry herbs, a little cardboard.
    • Finish
      Light, warming, continuation of the taste, less oak, more herbs, leather goods.

  17. InbhirNis scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    This is unusual and lots of fun. Performs like a 31yo on the nose, but less so on the palate. For the price I paid (under £80, on offer) I'm more than happy.
    • Nose
      89 89
      Blonde tobacco and spiced oranges, especially their juice - really distinctive, but perhaps lacking a little force. Whiffs of petrol and sawn pine wood, cheap-but-good-crisps (chipsticks!), pencil lead and some mixed olive oil/balsamic. Enough waxiness to make the rumours of Clynelish seem plausible. Continues the lovely, complex development by adding coal ash, very dark chocolate and salted caramel. A smidge more power and it would've been 90 points.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Sweet and spicy, orange liqueurs and honeycomb. Pronounced wood tannins and slight bitterness, like walnut shell. Lacks the range of the nose, but certainly very pleasant. The mouthfeel is silky, though perhaps a little thin. Rosewater.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Quite long, seamless transitions, little bursts of smoky orange, drying at the death.

  18. Jimbeau scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  19. Killswitch scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      89 89

  20. Abadon05 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    A lot of cinnamon and spice, but surprisingly alcoholic for its age. Not bad, but not great either.

  21. Cubey666 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
      lovely bouquet of topical fruits, with pears and apples to boot
    • Taste
      88 88
      lovely creamy, milk chocolate, bit nutty, slightly wood dryness
    • Finish
      87 87
      milk chocolate, red fruits, creamy yogurt.

  22. Gaija scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Very nice composition, balance is flawless at the cost of a relative lack of surprise element. It should be noted that I tasted it without knowing its abv and blind I would have said an optimal proof of around 48% so really it does not taste at all like something *diluted* to 43% would taste. The citrusy finish is especially uplifting.
    • Nose
      88 88
      Classic, expected yet pleasant : a sweet mix between buttered pastries (madeleines), soft fruits like cooked apricots and a touch of raspberry, and precise oak spices to top it off. Curcuma and even a transient touch of anise are cristal clear. With time, it develops more noble notes of infusion like rosehip and verbena.
    • Taste
      87 87
      Nice arrival, pretty frank and no-bullshit, no surprise again but everything is in its right place. Cooked yellow fruits and pastries take center stage at first, then the second part is dominated by oak spices, but always kept in check, never too loud. I would say they are an asset, as they bring something dynamic and even fresh in this mid palate.
    • Finish
      89 89
      This last impression actually pursues even louder here, with a very pleasant "leafy" freshness and juicy notes of citrus, actually clearly tangerine, which I am a sucker for. Excellent.

  23. whiskyinstitut scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    Very noble, very pleasing, very tasty!
    • Nose
      91 91
      Beeswax, popcorn, tree sap, vanilla, dried orange peel, furniture polish, blood orange
    • Taste
      88 88
      Mild and aromatic onset, then light sizzling, woody sweet, very spicy and mouth-filling, light dryness and creaminess
    • Finish
      90 90
      Noble finish with lots of wood and sweetness with vanilla and roasted aromas as well as strong oak spice, the sweetness of cane sugar remains

  24. mema82 scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  25. KDD scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  26. Marcel74 scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    31 years old.. and that for 160,-. This is a blend presumably a clynelish and glenrothes, but that is not certain… for this money you will not buy a single malt of this age.. the casks are extremely suitable.. there is no excessive cask influence and the whiskey is beautifully balanced
    • Nose
      This is 1 large fruit basket, scents of melon, peach, apricot, mint, fresh orange juice, strawberry peach with a little barrel influences such as vanilla, and light herbal ... tea
    • Taste
      Wonderfully soft.. all the fruit juices of the nose can be tasted and a little sweet ... it feels like liquid powdered sugar ...
    • Finish
      Amazingly long and develops from sweet to spicy to sweet… very inviting

  27. Dramming Dutchman scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    A very nice dram I got from a friend. Lovely nose and finish, the taste for me stayed behind little bit. Woult I buy this bottle myself, yes I would.
    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      90 90

  28. boozegeeksouth scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      90 90

  29. Captain Teague scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    Great Start - what a lovely colour...

    N: hooo a mix of tropical fruits: Mango, sweet pineapple, Ripe Orange ( I like the Fanta reference here)..Honey (Blütenhonig imo)...great... fresh polished old wood.. lineoil..candle waxes...flowers... camphor..some distant...woodsmoke..w water maracuja more fresh / fantastic ..after reading I can agree with coconut milk ( definitely no fresh cut coconut/ flesh)..

    M: Fresh my first thought :)) / feels initialy more than 43% on the tongue... sparkling :) it's oak not alcohol though...

    After the coconutmilk association it feels milky :)) (fat ,oily) ,Lots of oak... polish...the fruits are more in the back and more bitter...bitterorange Fanta than. It's still sparkling :)..apricotjam... Blütenhonig...beeswax.. but still there...chilli .. with cookies and fresh vanilla, lemon melisse, camphor..eucalyptus

    F: stays with some camphor, liquorice... orangecest .. slightly salty
    Bitterness stays quite a while.. Sweet bfruits pop in from time to time (orange...mango)...camphor also coming back..nice and lingering...

    An astonishing Nose... A propper mouth and finish lots of bitter tones I like them - the empty glass leaves very ashy notes...its definitely different we'll see how the bottle develops/ opens up. I give it a 90 .....btw tried against and later vatted with some 10 YO Clynelish (WB179004) it matches perfectly / lifted it up instantly...Fanta extrem :). Just saying.

    Bottle 60% emptied. It's just soo enjoyable the nose developed in the open Bootle. I lift it up 1 point over the magic mark. 90-91

  30. Totoro scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Supposedly a share with WID 172709

  31. whiskytornado scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  32. Dionysus scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  33. valasios scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      88 88

  34. JBKwb scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  35. Issie did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Caramel, vanilla, sweet pastries, vanilla crescents, coconut macaroons, roasted almonds, nuts, chocolate bars with nuts, honey, in the background there are also a few light / yellow fruits, but they are so subtle that they are completely overlaid by the sweets
    • Taste
      Coconut macaroons, roasted almonds, caramel, dried apricots, honey, nuts, a little grapefruit, with a lot of wood on the back

  36. thijs100 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Nose and palate are pretty far apart and each deliver a completely different experience.
    • Nose
      Notes of orange marmalade and soft oak tannins go hand-in-hand with vanilla yoghurt, coconut milk, crème brûlée and meringue. Quite juicy and sweet. Some stewed apples, honey and cinnamon-sprinkled apple compote too, but also some overripe bananas.
    • Taste
      So, pretty juicy and fruity with plenty of sweeter notes on the arrival. Sprinkles of coconut shavings with plenty of pomelo and bitter pink grapefruit, as well as lemon pith and varnish. Also a minty/cough-syrupy note usually only found in Irish single pot still whiskey.
    • Finish
      Somewhat spicy, tannic and drying. Hints of tobacco and white pepper. Finally some citrus fruits.

  37. Schafranek scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      91 91
    • Finish
      93 93

  38. P.A.O.K.you_are scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  39. tribe scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
      Church mint but also some varnish. Tropical fruits come through, interesting. Malt and a little bit of herbs
    • Taste
      83 83
      The taste is interesting but not exactly mine. There is also pineapple and again mint and green tea inside, but a note is not really my thing. The wood comes through but has something about bourbon barrels that bothers me ... ahj that's kind of a plastic taste. But complex. ... addendum after a while it tastes strongly of perfume and coconut ... really strange ... interesting but somehow also urghh ... detergent?!? sorry point deduction
    • Finish
      83 83
      Relatively short but pleasant. Spices and fruits remain

  40. Malzbrenner scored this whisky 89 points Photo Moderator

    Today the Sirius from North Star Spirits from 1988 is up for tasting. The whiskey was bottled at 43.1% vol. When it was 31 years old. The whiskey in the glass shows itself in dark copper and with medium viscosity.
    A whiskey that I will definitely remember. This is a drop that you can enjoy for a long time without getting boring. Incredibly multifaceted.
    • Nose
      87 87
      When I first sniff gherkins, gherkins immediately come to mind. Yes, the impression remains with the second nose too. I now have this subtle sweetness with the light herbal notes in my head. The longer I smell into it, the clearer the tension between sweetness, spice and light acidity becomes. Flat parsley, old teak, blood plums, mango, slightly charred wood, elderberry, honeydew melon, ... the aromas seem to never end and I just have to try them.
    • Taste
      91 91
      On the palate, the Sirius is very soft and noble. Coconut, milk chocolate, soft fruits: mango, raspberries, plums, cherries. Honey tobacco, vanilla and sandalwood can be found. The herbs are very soft and elegant and have a gently invigorating effect.
    • Finish
      89 89
      The Sirius is more of a medium length in the finish. But it is infinitely soft and silky and pampered until the end with great fruit aromas, wrapped in soft chocolate and vanilla tones.

  41. craide scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Great blend that has a lot to offer. I like it very much. We don't overload and yet all the aromas are clearly there.
    Works perfectly for me as a blend.
    • Nose
      90 90
      Great, versatile nose, you notice that right from the start. Very sweet, very fruity, oranges, plums, raisins, somewhat exotic fruits like mango. But the sweet one is more interesting for me, Christmas cookies with vanilla, cinnamon, marzipan, a slight nougat twist, some cloves, there is always a slightly waxy wood aroma, in the background something old, earthy, which smells like antique furniture. The whole thing with a great chocolate base tone.
      Everything works very well together.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Oily, creamy start. Already rather strongly spicy with a bit peppery-spicy parts. Not quite as sweet as on the nose. Mostly malty, grain, some muesli with honey. Vanilla and fruits come out a little later. Plums, oranges and limes form a pleasant counterpart to the slightly bitter chocolate-coffee note. In the background there are tobacco notes and yet clearly noticeable tannins.
    • Finish
      89 89
      Medium-long finish, slight bitterness of coffee with fruity-sweet tea. It ends with chocolate and a little liquorice, pleasant finish!

  42. Arquebus scored this whisky 92 points Expert Senior

    Two bottles bought @ £116.50ea from Master of Malt in June. One opened as soon as it arrived. It's now December and I'm half way down. The taste and first smell was mind-blowing I recall, but never judge on first opening.
    Just noticed I've not reviewed - so I poured a measure. quick sniff from the bottle - beautiful oak spices! just Wiped a drip from the bottle - smell on my finger lingers, reach for a lid to pop over (a copper coloured Arran 14 lid!) . Set up computer and start typing. 5 mins open: closed quite tight, some sweet perfumey notes.
    Firstly everyone I've shared this with very impressed, and always rated the best whisky of the evening.
    Second smell - beautiful delicate oak spice, sweet icing sugar, mirabelle plums, some fresh toasty oak notes - coconut, fresh fruits - Taste - nose carries through. expressive arrival and development. finish is a mile long. This is a great whisky mid-day - it's worth having a dram out of 'normal context' - perhaps in the open air when ones nose and palette are more tuned.
    15mins - some damp wood (that'll be the older oak casks kicking in?) starts to dominate. Some playful complexity emerging - uber sweet fruits - esters - wood bitters, ubiquitous oak spices - polishes, cough tinctures, precious woods and wood resins - second sip - massive - 43% - is plenty - it feels more. I've resisted water so far - perhaps a couple of drops....
    25mins after the two drops of water - nose is crowded and closed again - damp woods and polishes - now coconut, fruits, white wine, some linseed and putty, takes some time to regain its composure after the water. At 35 mins still playful, still some hidden surprises - I'm using the lid to 'trap' vapours and aromatics - bubble gum? a slight breadiness (stale shortbread?). At 50 mins - suddenly on nosing - a wallop of almond; clear as day! The taste is fresh, sweet then bitter and drying as it should be, light on the palette - and finishing long on oak spice and malt.
    Previous tastings have been more expressive - May be my palette today, but could be the whisky is settling after 6m . Like all older whiskies (I assume) this one has a 'glass-life' and starts to wind down after 30-40 mins - and also a 'bottle life' so probably time to pop a nitrogen blanket on the bottle!
    92 points well earned - especially at the price.

  43. GIORGOS scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  44. Igitor scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      89 89

  45. Northern&Isles scored this whisky 99 points Expert Senior

    Quite fantastic.
    Lead malt is supposed to be Clynelish.
    Great value for money for a 31 year old blended malt with Bourbon barrel maturation.
    Very tasty and recommendable.

  46. praisethepasta scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    a beautifully balanced and rich whisky experience, just a feast of flavours harmoniously put together by people who know what they're doing.
    • Nose
      90 90
      round, soft and sweet, with old wood, vanilla, sweet raspberry, juicy ripe and sweet orange and citrus notes and honey with a creamy note to it. Rich, but at the same time a bit delicate with something reminding me of cognac. I would be a happy puppy to just nose this all evening long.
    • Taste
      88 88
      malty and woody, soft toffee and caramel, cherries, walnut, cream and vanilla, soft and rich oranges again: delish!
    • Finish
      89 89
      long, woody, some dark demarara sugars going into a syrupy echo with hints of nuts

  47. Tangtang_WhiskyYoda scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    a very extraordinary blend. The nose takes some getting used to, but the taste and finish are convincing.
    • Nose
      86 86
      Old wooden furniture, lots of delicate oak aromas, citrus-fruity, mainly orange, a brief touch of furniture polish or wood glue, in short, vanilla. The oak becomes a bit sour, bitter and penetrating.
    • Taste
      87 87
      very citrus-fruity, sweet orange dominates, then comes the oak again, dark chocolate, becoming sour, yet a tasty combination
    • Finish
      87 87
      Oak and sweetness, chocolatey and slightly nutty, fruits easily come through. Here, too, the balance between sweet and sour.

  48. The_Independent scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    http://www.whiskyfun.com/archivejanuary20-2-Caol-Ila-Springbank.html#270120

    A large small batch here, I’m really glad they manage to fork out this many bottles. Great work, no doubt, what’s more, the price is very fair.

    Colour: deep gold.

    Nose: fun stuff, full of fresh paint, bitter almonds, putty and Jamaican-rum-like esters. Then black olives, linoleum, and whiffs of rotting bananas. Funky rum-like indeed, looks like quite some bacterial fermentation has taken place here, somewhere, sometime… Having said that, the background remains classically malty and honeyed.

    Mouth: vive la difference! Indeed, this is totally unlike any other blend that I could try – while it’s not untrue that I’ve tried a few of them (don't let it go to your head, S.). Resins, varnishes, embrocations, coconut balls, barbecued marshmallows, Jäger, nori, Japanese caramel sauce for ramen… well, stuff like that. It is extremely unusual indeed, but that’s not this baby’s main asset. What’s sure is that the blender is a freethinker, and that he won’t ever work for Johnnie Walker.

    Finish: long, still a little varnishy, almondy, with a saltier aftertaste. Comments: you cannot not wonder if one of the casks wasn’t ‘something else’, perhaps something shipped by those fine distillers up there on Sirius. Seriously, this is not a blend for The House of Lords, but I doubt that was the goal in the first place. You have to be a little loco to be a fan – well, I’m very loco then.

    SGP:562 - 89 points.

  49. Palindrome scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Disappointing, watery, indistinct notes, kind of a pleasant wash. It's very good but not a "thinkers" dram. The Toshan Man (who now goes by Jedi) is absolutely spot-on correct: the finish is this whisky's strength by far. And for once, my score is lower than his.

    Overall, I would call it sort of a feelgood caramel "milkshake" dram for folks with things on their minds other than whisky, and isn't that most of us these days? Goodness knows, the world has been turned upside down on purpose by the global syndicate of destruction.

  50. Totoro scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    An idiosyncratic one for sure. Too extreme for me, but at this age and with the intensity of the aromas, you certainly get some bang for your buck.
    As for Clynelish as a lead malt... I would never have been able to pick up on that because this is so heavily cask-driven.

    [postscript: is this bottling identical with WID 172709 ???]
    • Nose
      88 88
      Is this still a malt? Noses more like a hybrid between a bourbon and an old grain, with these rather massive and insurmountable top notes of glue, solvent, varnish, and polish, followed by strong impressions of marzipan and coconut. Those are by far the dominant aromas, and at least in my tasting excursions, they never really subsided enough to make room for other aromas to gain an equal footing. I guess that's what you get from 31 years in first-fill ex-bourbon wood...
      Behind this, you can sense some old oak - with an accompanying association of wax, mint and/or menthol - and quite a few bitters like hops, dark chocolate and (partly rotten) orange rind. There's even a savory and leathery note in here that I would more commonly associate with sherried bottlings. It's all very intense, to be sure, but also somewhat over the top, bordering on the incoherent. Still, a lesser score would not do justice to the complexity and originality that's on display here.
    • Taste
      86 86
      The bitters have their say: I'm reminded of strongly hopped beer, sichuan pepper, and tonic water. Cointreau, herbal liquors, wood sap, resin: it's all pretty dark and oaky. I'm missing any real fruits here, plus the mouthfeel is a bit thin at 43%. The age is certainly palpable, though.
    • Finish
      86 86
      India Pale Ale, Italian bitters, menthol, unsweetened cranberry.

  51. TsiAI scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Room temperature when drinking: 26℃

    Viewing Eyes: golden smell Nose: autumn wheat field, light cooking smoke. Puff pastry, coconut milk, red bean cake, almond tofu, caramel bud, condensed purple sweet potato puree. A little yeast dough and souffle. Occasional fresh basil, citrus peel and a touch of fruit acid. There is some dry sand in the back section.
    Although the dimension is limited to sweets (butter, egg milk, red bean filling), the fragrance is harmonious and thick, and the sweetness is extremely high.
    Taste Palate: red bean cake, dried sweet potato, cream, butter shortbread, coconut toast, coconut flakes (apply for the dish).
    Finish: Medium, flour, ripe wheat ears, corn branding, white sugar wine Body: medium-heavy, rich, fleshy wine, no tannins, smoother, bitter bottom

    Nose: 87/100
    Palate: 86/100
    Finish: 87/100
    Body: 88/100
    Overall: 87/100

    Overall: There are three points. One is that the bitterness is over. Of course, it can still be accepted when the sweetness is so high. The second is that there are a few dimensions. The high sweetness gives people the illusion of a dessert feast. The flavor elements themselves are not too many and confusing. The third is that there are some stale elements, such as expired preserved fruit, although it flashes, but I can't accept it, because it is like the stuff I often smell in sherry buckets.
    Before I opened wb, I guessed that the score must be higher than I gave. It is estimated to be 89/90, as expected. I'm quite understandable. After all, people who love lightning puffs don't give low marks. Of course, this wine is really delicious, and a cup of food can be eaten later.

  52. OlivierSegers scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  53. OlivierSegers scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  54. Dris scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  55. Jstar scored this whisky 92 points Member Junior

    Opened the bottle and gave it a good sniff. This is the real deal. First scoop was a bit up tight but no suprise as I was a bit enthusiastic and didn't give it enough time in the glass. Second go I was more patient and it paid off. All the tasting notes from others are right. Citrus and bitter are full on.

  56. Hvdree scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  57. ctu scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

  58. EJS scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

  59. etwa77 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
      incredibly strong and well defined sweet, honey and heather note..
      despite the low abv, the aromas have consistency and character..
      mint..!
    • Taste
      88 88
      delicate, sweet, very shyly perfumed.. virginal.. japanese.. it's difficult to say where nose ends and taste begins..
    • Finish
      87 87
      a bitter, oily ending of lavender and oak.. age has its merits.. and its drawbacks!

  60. Fat Bastard! scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  61. Mannix65 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  62. LukasJakubDrabek did not rate this whisky Shoplink Moderator

    Ralfy review 827: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96AhhV41Y_0 (90/100).

  63. grinface scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Hello! That's something different. I had a few concerns about the barrels and the first impression after pouring was critical. But after that it's more than fine. Actually it is very tasty! Full review (in german): https://keinehalbendrinks.de/2020/04/23/blends-div/

  64. lviz scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    1st fill bourbon barrels for 31 years? OMG!
    Ad you get what you expected. Full of nose, silky plate with a lot of caramel, coconut, pollens..
    High class vatted malt.

  65. Rien scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  66. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2020/04/21/single-malt-sherry-off/

    N: A nice nose to finish. With a rootsy fungal depth, it’s refreshingly different after the younger stronger guns. In short, a moreish fruity fungal nose that’s spent 31 years gradually morphing towards a dryish meaty fruity rancio tincture.

    T: A fruity meaty/rancio-deep chalky depth, though that depth is more of a fall/drop than a layered formation.

    F: That’s a relieving descent mind. Sit back and let the years soak through you, like some kind of whisky yoga though a touch of contemporary vanilla at the death slightly disturbs the illusion.

    C: Very enjoyable ‘pipe n slippers’ dram, skilfully put together with no obvious issues at all. Because of this, it pips the 33yo [WLP87] to the post by a point.

  67. stefsel111 scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      89 89

  68. The_Independent scored this whisky 90 points Expert Senior

    A nicely matured, old bottling. Not overlaid and with a wonderful aroma - I like the nose best. They say it could be a Clynelish - I immediately believe that. I am happy to have secured a large bottle
    • Nose
      91 91
      Immediately appears full and powerful in the glass, but takes time to release the numerous different smell notes. Then beautiful aromas of sweet, ripe, yellow fruits develop - melon, peach, apricot. Freshly sawn green wood, a little fresh mint, grass, honey, wax and some vanilla. Everything is accompanied by spicy notes.
    • Taste
      90 90
      Oily with a strong start. Slightly peppery and initially less sweet than expected. Quite spicy. Honey, then strong vanilla and becoming sweeter. A little bitter cocoa to finish.
    • Finish
      89 89
      Medium length. A creamy mouthfeel remains. Cocoa, sweet yellow fruit, again the green sawn wood, a little nut, clear bitter notes appropriate to the age.

  69. lincolnimp scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    No notes tasted at a show but this is really nice and mellow with good balance.
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  70. erwinnlim scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    A good value dram considering you get a 31 year old.It definitely has that aged character to it but I find the oak influence dominates a little too much. I personally would have preferred if less active casks were used for this one. Value (£100) : 8/10
    • Nose
      Upfront a kick of mature, mellow bourbon influence. Caramel sweetness and loads of vanilla in the background and an unmistakable whiff of dusty old furniture, oak shavings and beeswax. Green bananas, melons and pineapple come through. A tang of orange peel. This smells of well aged cognac. A touch of desiccated coconut and a light cooling menthol. Then loads of of oak spice with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and slight ginger heat. You can really tell it's been in the barrel for a long time.
    • Taste
      Decent waxy mouthfeel. Initially citrus fruits, bittersweet oranges and pomelo. Stone fruits and more melons. Very honey led with sweet vanilla custard as well. Again the flavour profile shares some characteristics with aged cognac. That develops into more baking spices (especially cinnamon) and a touch of white pepper. Some old tobacco leaves. A note of overbrewed black tea and some bitter, mouthwatering appear.
    • Finish
      More honeyed citrus and wood spices linger. Bittersweet and drying. Like chewing on tea or tobacco leaves and a minty touch with more of that mouthcoating waxiness carrying the finish.

  71. Jackson05 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    In store sample blind.

    Big bold overripe fruity notes of peach, orange zest, plum, dried apricot and mango. A vanilla ice cream thickness, old vanilla, milk chocolate. I wouldn’t call it waxy per se, but a heft to it. A little metal polish and old heavy wood. Perhaps a herb or two. I thought actually it could be refill sherry because of its richness, it certainly didn’t feel over the hill or too bourbony. Certainly for the price it’s worth a punt. And no, I wasn’t close on my guess.

  72. Kalleholzbein scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  73. asmazda scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Really good value and overall a rich enjoyable experience. If you come to terms with the bitterness, it really fires on all other cylinders!
    • Nose
      92 92
      Very citrusy and waxy. Orange, grapefruit, and peels. Old furniture, furniture polish, and various waxes. All sorts of spring flowers, golden honey, hard candies. Great nose!
    • Taste
      88 88
      Sweet, citrusy, and floral... almost like candy. Less complex than the nose and there is some bitterness. But the bitterness is not so bad as it balances out the sweetness.
    • Finish
      87 87
      Long, tropical fruits, more bitterness. Had the bitterness not increased on the finish it would have been killer!

  74. markjedi1 scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    Mango, Melon & Mint

    Next to the popular Vega, a blended malt of which 6 editions have been released so far; and Spica, a blend of which two expressions have hit the market; North Star Spirits now surprises us with the brand new Sirius. To make a grand entrance, Iain launched this series with a 31 Year Old blended malt, of which all components were distilled in 1988, the year in which yours truly got his driving license. Just trying to make it clear that this is old stuff. The difference with Vega, you ask? I presume the region where the malts came from. Ask me again after I have tried it.
    Ooh, want a grand nose indeed! Old furniture, coconut milk, varnish, cloves and cinnamon, but mostly orange citrus fruit. I mean pomelo, blood oranges, mandarin, but also pink grapefruit, peel included! This is upholstered with a floral note (magnolia?) and vanilla. Candy-like, but very good. Give it some time in the glass and it will improve. Bittersweet and delicious.
    On the palate, it is almost syrupy and deliciously sweet, while the citrus fruit stays in the lead. A lot more shines through: vanilla, elderberries, grain cookies and dried fruit, honey melon, citric acid candy and Fanta Orange on steroids. But it is dangerously quaffable.

    The finish is fantastic and after an initial light bitterness, it suddenly turns a bit tropical. Mango, melon and mint at the death.

    Impressive. And if I had to guess, I’d say the Vega was all about Speyside, while this Sirius is Highland. Prove me wrong.

  75. DerDennis! scored this whisky 89 points Specialist

    • Nose
      90 90
      Great nose. Sweet, spicy, fermented fruit, mushy fall fruit, plums, cereals, honey, old kitchen cupboard, light touch of sulfur, malt, vanilla, furniture polish, grated lemon peel. Great interplay between sweet and sour, both hard on the border to putrid or bitter. Very interesting.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Immediately sweet and slightly spicy on the tongue, becoming creamy, distinct tannins, spicy, strong dark chocolate. A light tingle on the palate and pleasantly bitter. Nutty, bitter almonds, light fruitiness, sweetened plums, eucalyptus
    • Finish
      88 88
      Long finish, coffee beans, licorice, slight bitterness, very pleasant

  76. theograph scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    31y in ffB? Pretty intense aroma and taste of glue and wood. Some red sweet notes as well. Not bad but it's not the big stunner you would probably expect.

  77. detachedblue scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    The finish is a killer, very good indeed.
    • Nose
      90 90
      Very syrupy, coconut oil, vanilla seed, pure and oily, concentrated, Magnolia flowers, hard candy.
    • Taste
      87 87
      very mellow and sweet, cookies, bread, all the malty notes, cereals. Then more floral and fruity, vanilla ice cream, melons, delicate, very easy drinking.
    • Finish
      91 91
      Super long, mints and herbs, melons, mango, tropical.

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