Today we explore miniatures I bought a few years ago but never got to, as I forgot about them in one of my whisky sample drawers. The first one is a Highland blended malt by Cobalt Brands, and the other one an undisclosed single malt bottled in 1986 by Eaglesome Ltd: let’s review the Usquaebach 15yo and 1986 Commonwealth Games 13yo.
Usquaebach 15-year-old Twelve Stone Flagons (2010s) Review
Revised:
Ross & Cameron, an Inverness-based merchant established in 1800, first trademarked Usquaebach, a blended Scotch whisky brand, in 1877. The brand changed hands multiple times, notably passing to William Grigor & Sons in 1926 and later to Stanley Stankiwicz in 1973. Stankiwicz, a Pittsburgh entrepreneur determined to acquire the brand, successfully registered it in the US in 1974. After his death in 2001, Whyte & Mackay acquired and temporarily mothballed the brand. In 2005, Cobalt Brands revived Usquaebach and restored its blending contract with Douglas Laing & Co.
Usquaebach 15-year-old is a blended malt made from Highland whiskies aged between 15 and 20 years. Twelve Stone Flagons Ltd. first released it in 2010, and I bought a miniature bottle at auction in 2019, confirming its bottling in the 2010s. This blend has an ABV of 43%, with no details provided about chill filtration or added colouring. Hunter Laing & Co. now produces and bottles it for Cobalt Brands.
Colour:
Russet.
Nose:
Neat: Sherry cask influence is evident, with notes of dried fruits and cinnamon. There’s a hint of glue reminiscent of both Cleopatra and Loctite, transitioning to almonds. Old leather and artificial caramel aromas are present, along with a slightly off note and a metallic undertone, like dissolved copper coins. Honey rounds out the profile.
Palate:
Neat: Pleasantly intense and flavourful, with a nearly syrupy mouthfeel despite the ABV, suggesting it might be unchillfiltered. The initial taste is of artificial caramel and oak spices, with metallic flavours reappearing. Notes of oranges, bitter wood, pencil shavings, and baking spices emerge, occasionally evoking virgin oak. Peaches in syrup and a touch of powdered chili add complexity.
Finish:
Milk chocolate and oak spices linger, with a slightly astringent quality and a medium-long duration.
Comments:
This whisky exceeded my expectations, which were initially low for some reason. Despite detecting some oxidation, likely due to the miniature bottle’s plastic seal around the cap, the Usquaebach 15-year-old, crafted from Highland malts, displays notable character. The glue and artificial caramel notes are unfortunate and detract slightly from the experience, but I suspect it may have been better upon its initial release.
Rating: 6/10
1986 Commonwealth Games 13-year-old Eaglesome Ltd. (1986) Review
J&A Mitchell acquired Eaglesome, originally a deli and store in Campbeltown’s Reform Square, in the 1960s. Under new ownership, Eaglesome shifted its focus to become a whisky specialist and independent bottler, importing coal for the nearby Springbank distillery. Eaglesome bottled various blends and single malts, including Burnside and Campbeltown Commemoration, honouring the region’s closed distilleries. In 1972, J&A Mitchell acquired Wm Cadenhead and rebranded Eaglesome as a Cadenhead outlet. In 1995, they renamed it Springbank Distillers Ltd., making it the global sales and marketing arm of J&A Mitchell’s whiskies.
The Commonwealth Games is a quadrennial international multi-sport event featuring athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations, primarily comprising former British Empire territories. The event began in 1930 as the British Empire Games and has occurred every four years, except for cancellations in 1942 and 1946 due to World War II. The event’s name changed over time: it was the British Empire Games from 1930 to 1950, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1954 to 1966, and the British Commonwealth Games from 1970 to 1974. In 1978, organisers removed the word ‘British’ from the title, and it has been known as the Commonwealth Games ever since, with twelve editions held as of 2024. The next edition will occur from Thursday, July 23, 2026, to Sunday, August 2, 2026, in Birmingham, England.
For the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Eaglesome released two whiskies: a Non-Age-Statement blended whisky bottled at 40% ABV and a 13-year-old single malt at 46% ABV, from an undisclosed distillery. Both were available exclusively in 50 ml miniature bottles, with limited details provided regarding chill filtration or colouring. I acquired one of these miniatures at an auction for €2.50 in 2019, but it has since been tucked away in my sample drawer. Luckily, mine had a better fill level than the ones shown below.
Colour:
Deep gold.
Nose:
Neat: Despite the low level in the miniature, the aroma remains vibrant. Notes of old candied citrus and freshly squeezed orange juice are prominent, accompanied by hints of camphor and old shoe polish. A pleasant chalky minerality is present, followed by fruity notes, sometimes artificial, such as foam bananas and pineapple. Linseed oil and engine oil add depth to the profile.
With Water: The aroma shifts to earthy and musty tones, reminiscent of a dunnage warehouse, with a leafy undertone. It evokes memories of tasting in Springbank‘’’s dunnage warehouses, where ivy climbed the casks.
Palate:
Neat: The initial taste is fruity and mineral, transitioning to an oily and coastal character. Foam bananas and pineapple reappear, along with peaches and apples. Chalk and icing sugar are noticeable, complemented by olive oil and the sensation of beach pebbles with a touch of salt. Spices, including pepper and ginger, emerge with a citrusy tartness. Despite being 46% ABV, adding a few drops of water enhances the experience.
With Water: Water softens the intensity, allowing flavours to unfold more distinctly. Fruits lead, followed by citrusy acidity, minerality, and finally spices, culminating in a tart citrus finish.
Finish:
The finish is a symphony of flavours, with citrus balanced by oak and spices. Chalky minerality contributes to a gentle astringency that dries the gums. Candied fruits and oils linger briefly before fading softly.
Comments:
This 1970s dram is truly excellent. Even at 46% ABV and after nearly 40 years in the bottle, it remains vibrant and intense, requiring a few drops of water to mellow out. Bottled as an undisclosed single malt for the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, it is a standout whisky. I’m eager to find more miniatures to purchase, though it’s a pity it wasn’t also released in a full-size bottle.