[September, 2021] Out of curiosity I do a sampling of all new Diageo "Flora & Fauna" series releases. The first ten drams (Auchroisk, Teaninich, Mannochmore, Glen Spey, Inchgower, Glenlossie, Linkwood, Strathmill, Blair Athol, Benrinnes) were all sub-standard and not worth the money (according to my taste buds only) so this is the last chance to find a Flora & Fauna edition of acceptable quality...

...and this chance is gone down the drain, like all other drams. It truly seems as if Diageo uses the Flora & Fauna editions to dispose its sub-standard casks which were exhausted already at filling time and hence did not support the maturation of the spirit. As a result all these drams own very weak (some non-existent) noses and rather immature flavour profiles with little impressions of interest. To be honest, I did not like any of these drams and I did not finish any of the samples. Shame on you, Diageo!

A great and (I guess) wedded malt that is fun and on top of that has a fair price tag. On the one hand it looks rather dignified, but it has heavy and spicy notes due to the somewhat older age and the (probable) sherry influence. Like the Benrinnes 15, it requires a little time and patience, but then opens up to a great range of flavors. Top!

Sherry and oak on the nose, oranges and dark chocolate in the mouth

As with the other Flora & Fauna range from Diageo, these are good bottles to have to establish a foundational for distillery character. Great place(s) to begin a journey.

Overall a pleasant sherry malt.
In the nose I find the alcohol quite present for only 43%.
In terms of aroma profile, there is a beautiful interplay between nose and palate.

Beautiful, well aged whisky from refill sherry casks. Gentlemen whisky, quite light in nature. Medium complexity. Expect rum soaked pralines, milk chocolate, apricots, no bitternes, no sulphur, no sharpness. Just pure inoffensive joy. Really well made. For me, clearly the best from the entire Flora & Fauna series that is currently available.

After a long time, I will now evaluate one of my bar cabinet standards in more detail.
This is now the second bottle of this malt that I have killed. Luckily I still have 2 left...
At that time (2018) the first bottle was still significantly more expensive and much rarer to obtain.
Diageo has brought out the whole "flora&fauna" series again.
There are now three bottlings in this series that I find most interesting:
Dailuaine 16, Benrinnes 15 and Blair Athol 12
That's right: the sherry machines.
Compared to the earlier ones, I find the 2021 a little rounder but also a little more coherent.

Here you get what you want from a 16-years-old Speyside whisky, maybe even a bit more. This malt develops as it travels from your nose, through the tongue and into your throat. It is well matured, the fruit and spices are beautifully composed and round. Nothing sticks out, nothing bothers. Simply very nice.

Nice thing, fun. The taste should have been matured in sherry and refill sherry casks. Not just a simple finish. That is reflected. The dram is beautifully round, complex but not overly demanding. For the price at 16 years old, a pleasant exception in times like these. Great PLV.

Review not complete -

Adding a few drops of water summer flowers and newly mown grass

Overall, a very successful representative of the Flora & Fauna series, round and pleasing without being spectacular. Very suitable as a daily dram.

Nice sherry malt, which is still quite changeable and sweet on the nose, then remains tart, spicy to bitter in the mouth and finish.

Still cautious on the nose, it opens up in taste. The intense flavor is a bit hot at first. The finish shows the strengths of the malt. At the bottom, I like the aroma best.

An interesting drop, which is probably aimed at the advanced beginner. All in all, he is a little too weak on the chest for me with his 43%. But you can't deny that he has something extraordinary about him. It is the play of aromas of old and fresh flavors.
The smell is pleasant, but also somewhat arbitrary and reserved.
In terms of taste, it initially delivers a slightly peppery tingle (white pepper) on the tongue along with flavors of light fruits and berries. I find grapefruit, blood orange and star fruit. This start brings with it an exciting freshness.
In addition, light notes of heavier, older flavors are added. So you have ripe red apples and peaches, younger plums and a good heather honey. He manages the leap to a light leatheriness. I don't find tobacco and wood notes. There is hardly any exit.
With perhaps 46%, he could score better as he is now, but the beautiful, settled aromas are unfortunately only present in the appeal, as they are not sufficiently pushed to the fore.
It has only just been opened and an exciting development is foreseeable, as it has already indicated after a long time in the glass.

Repeat tastings of the bottle that had been open for weeks or months showed the following:
He seems increasingly settled and older. He actually gets better with time! Now he gets a strong 87 points from me.

The bottom line is that at 16 years old and under €60 on offer it's a good whisky for what's on offer.