A twofer! Royal Lochnagar 12 and a rum cask finish!
Variation! I'm interested to see what different cask finishes offer in a whisky, by which I mean that the whisky has been put into something other than a sherry or bourbon cask for part of its years spent maturing. I think the only valid way to do this is to taste the distillery's standard bottling and the "finished" variant side by side and see what gets thrown our way!
I've started with Royal Lochagar's 12 year old (http://www.discovering-distilleries.com/royallochnagar/malts.php) at 40% and a 17 year old rum cask finish from independent bottlers, Cadenhead (http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/royal-lochnagar/royal-lochnagar-17-year-old-1996-rum-cask-mw-cadenhead-whisky/?srh=1) at 57.4%.
Anyone of a scientific bent will immediately be howling that there's too many variables - the age and the bottling choice will all have a bearing on the flavour, never mind the cask finish. I agree, they will, but it's still valid to compare the basic characteristic of the mainstream expression with the rum finish, since it's the same producer of spirit that birthed each bottle.
Since it's a side-by-side, I'll try to be as clear as I can which bottle I'm referring to!
12YO - Crunchy Nut cereal is the first hit, all honey and malt, before creamy vanilla and lemon make this a weird breakfast. Freshly cut grass comes through and there's a hint of those foam banana sweets you get in penny mixes, but not in an unpleasant way! When I came back to it after the rum one, I got some cheesy notes, like parmesan. Sort of off putting intially.
Rum Cask - Much smoother on the nose with a buttery toffee sweetness and lots of that lemon freshness. Unfortunately, that was it on the nose. Very one dimensional.
12YO - A chewy texture with toffee coating my palate before a bit of lemon makes itself known. After that initial sweet hit, which was a bit much for me, there's a cut-grass taste with some vanilla (that fades). The finish is sweet with that grassy freshness lingering.
Rum cask - The high abv on this numbs my palate a bit before I get molasses sweetness with a buttery texture and some vanilla. The booze kills the finish.
12YO - A crate of grapefruit arrives to dominate this one. The cheesey note is gone, to my relief. There's vanilla in the background along with coffee to give depth and bitterness. After a few minutes in the glass orange peel comes out, as does a bit of pear.
Rum Cask - This comes alive with water (although I confess I added too little the first time). It's lemon-fresh with vanilla and butter. Toffee sweetness develops alongside that grass note found in the standard bottle.
12YO - Light and fresh, as promised by the nose, with a gingery bite. A coffee bitterness is present in the finish that carries the ginger with some orange peel.
Rum Cask - On my first visit, this was a let down. Then I added a drop more water and realised I'd forgotten it was cask strength. Eejit. Once I got the water right I got good dark chocolate with a buttery texture and some lemon notes as well to keep it lively in my mouth. However, that was it. The finish was non-existent. It just disappeared over my gullet, leaving no trace behind. The age on this seems to make it smoother overall than the 12 but the finish is a disaster.
Clearly I can take no rules or lessons from this tasting as the variables were far too great but I was not impressed by the rum finish. Royal Lochnagar have a cracking whisky in their 12 year old that I would recommend to anyone looking for a light, fresh addition to their collection. I can't say the same for the indie's rum finish.
