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Adelphi
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Adelphi, Breath of Islay 1992 (cask no. 5346) (Scotland) 
The third ‘Breath of Islay’ release, this 13-year-old expression from an American Oak hogshead has a dry nose, with smoke, peat and almonds. Water releases sweeter, fresh fruit notes. Big and textured on the palate, with peat smoke which becomes progressively sweeter in the mouth. The finish is long, nutty and smoky, with perhaps a suggestion of camomile. A very sound southern Islay malt for the peat heads amongst you.
298 bottles.
57.6% ABV, 70cl, £53.95, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Adelphi, Breath of Speyside 1991 (cask no. 5642) (Scotland)
A fifteen-year-old whisky which contrasts strongly with the Bourbon cask-matured Highland malt in this series. The nose is big, rich and confident, with marmalade and Sherry notes predominating. Water releases more fruity aromas and a little smoke. Massive sweet Sherry presence on the palate – Christmas cake, leather, saddle soap and raisins. The finish is extremely long and warming, with sweet Sherry and fudge notes lingering to the very end, and the very end takes some reaching! Something of a Sherry monster, yet still refined and well rounded. Surely from a first fill ex-Sherry cask. If I had to guess at its origins, I’d opt for The Macallan or Aberlour. Very like Aberlour a’bunadh.
615 bottles.
60.3% ABV, 70cl, £55.00, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants.  |  |
Adelphi, Breath of the Highlands 1985 (cask no. 1065) (Scotland)
This 20-year-old Highland single malt presents a floral, fresh fruit (lemon?) and malt nose, with a suggestion of beeswax and some attractive oak notes. Gentle in the mouth, even at cask strength, sweet and fruity, with peaches, drying as it develops on the palate. The finish is long and well-mannered. A sophisticated dram, matured in a good cask, as you would expect from an older Adelphi bottling.
176 bottles.
55.1% ABV, 70cl, £61.00, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
Adelphi, Breath of The Isles 1992 (cask no. 3201) (Scotland)
This is the second release of a ‘Breath of the Isles,’ and was matured in an American Oak hogshead. Initially, the nose offers acetone notes, pear drops and caramel, but with developing smoke and peatiness. Big bodied, with peat, pepper and wood smoke on the palate, but all balanced by an attractive fruitiness. Pepper and ginger linger long in the finish, though fruit pastilles have the final say. There are not many peaty, assertive non-Islay ‘island’ malts to choose from! Surely this is Talisker? If so, it’s an extremely fine example of the Isle of Skye classic.
299 bottles.
52.6% ABV, 70cl, £54.75, distillery website, specialist whisky merchants. |  |
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