Dramfool sherried duo (Cola Ali Too & Glenmarvellous)

Dramfool Cola Ali Too (Caol Ila) - 17th release

Region: Islay

ABV: 57.5%

Price: £80

Bruce has bottled some cracking Islay whiskies, and we have high hopes this one will deliver as well. After 8 years in a bourbon hogshead, this was transferred to a fresh Oloroso Sherry Hogshead to mature for a further 2 years.

Nose

On the noses there’s some light peat notes, rich fruit cake, toasted hazelnuts, sesame seeds, malt, red berry, thyme, earth, toffee, and Chinese five spices.

Palate

There’s some rich chocolate cake with lots of sugar, dark roasted coffee beans, raisins, viscous sherry, and caramel incased in milk chocolate. This one has pleasant peppery finish.

Nose (with water)

With water there’s some light tropical fruits - pineapple, and banana. This is followed by more BBQ smoke and roasted woody herbs.

Palate (with water)

Initially this to us is a savoury pastry with a chicken filling. With a little time we’re getting bacon, tar, and sweet creme anglaise on the palate.

Conclusion

Whatever your opinion is on finishing a whisky its hard to deny that this is a very tasty dram. The finish here is slightly short, but this is made good by the bold, balanced palate. Another hit for Dramfool.

Score: 8/10

Dramfool Glenmarvellous (Glenfarclas) - 41st release

Region: Speyside

ABV: 58.3%

Price: £120

Next up we move over to Speyside to try a 9 year old cask from Glenfarclas. This particular bottling has spent its whole life in a sherry barrel. Distilled in November 2011 this was bottled in March 2021. Outturn was 227 bottles.

Nose

We’re initially treated to marzipan, golden syrup, teriyaki beef, with sesame oil in the background. This is very jammy, lots of red fruits, san pelligrino blood orange, rich umami notes. There's also some cola cubes and plums.

Palate

Oh, its spicy, really hot on the palate, balsamic vinegar, orange pulp/juice, ginger, cinnamon, and a slight saltiness on the finish.

Nose (with water)

Ok, now we’re getting Haribo, salty cherries, kirsch cherry liquor, some more zesty orange, maple leaves, sandstone, caramelised and charred pineapple.

Palate (with water)

This is now a lot less hot with Special K breakfast cereal, dried cranberries, white pepper spice, and sticky toffee pudding on the palate.

Conclusion

A fair bit spicier than we expected initially, especially after the nose showing so much deep, rich, dried fruit flavours. However, water really helps mellow this out into a pleasant dram. Some people will love this as it, but for us a few more years to mellow the spice would have been appreciated. If it was £40 cheaper it’s be a point higher, but at this prices it’s a 7/10.

Score: 7/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

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