Godawan Cherry Cask Edition Series 02

Godawan Cherry Cask Edition Series 02

Official bottling
Single malt - Rajasthan
Golden brown
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk chocolate, raspberry jam, cherry blossom, malted grains, honey, vanilla, cream, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raspberry jam, prunes, milk chocolate, cherry blossom, vanilla, black tea, malted grains, burnt sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Raspberry jam, honey, golden syrup, burnt sugar. 

Comments: 

Sweet and jammy, lots of creamy vanilla as well. There’s some classic sherry tannins too. Overall there’s some notes that indicate a cherry wood cask, but I couldn’t tell unless I was told. An interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 002

Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 002

Douglas Laing

Blend
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, raspberry jam, orange peel, molasses, leather, peat, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raspberry jam, orange peel, molasses, leather, peat, malted grains, rubber bands, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, malted grains, molasses, raspberry jam, hints of petrol exhaust. 

Comments: 

Fruity and sweet, lots of jammy notes. But there’s a little sulphur, maybe something rubbery and some peppery spice. It’s a bit of Campbeltown in the blend, if I’m any judge.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glengoyne White Oak

Glengoyne White Oak

Official bottling
Single malt - South Highlands
Pale gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, milk chocolate, black tea, molasses, malted grains, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, milk chocolate, orange peel, apricot jam, vanilla, fresh baked bread, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, raisins, milk chocolate, fresh baked bread, apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, lots of chocolate covered raisins, like all other Glengoynes. It’s delicate and rather delicious, and very winters.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.  

Glen Scotia 12yo Tawny Port Edition

Glen Scotia 12yo Tawny Port Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raspberries, damson jam, pears, malted grains, orange peel, pecans, honey. With water, honey, pears, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pear drops, malted grains, lohan fruit, orange peel, winter melons, hints of peat. With water, pears, lemon zest, winter melons, hints of pecans. 
Finish: Long. Lohan fruit, winter melons, peat, orange peel, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Sweet and slightly sooty, with a distinct peaty note that is buried under a lot of fruity notes. Water brings out even more fruits and an additional sweet nuttiness that brings to mind pecans.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benriach 17yo 2007/2024

Benriach 17yo 2007/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold 
47.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, vanilla, sourdough bread, yoghurt, lemon zest, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Vanilla, sourdough bread, peaches, malted grains, molasses, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, molasses, Demerara sugar, peaches, hints of sourdough bread. 

Comments: 

Fruity and very bready, lots of slightly tart notes that are also reminiscent of yoghurt. There’s some caramelly, sugary sweetness in the finish but it’s almost the absence of tartness rather than a proper sweet note.

Verdict:

I like this.

Barton 1792 Sazerac Barrel Select for Milroy’s

Barton 1792 Sazerac Barrel Select for Milroy’s 

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber gold
62.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Desiccated coconut, oak chips, vanilla, maple syrup, vanilla, white pepper. With water, white pepper, acetone, oak chips, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Eucalyptus, oak chips, vanilla, desiccated coconut, orange peel, honey, oak chips, white pepper. With water, white pepper, honey, acetone, maple syrup. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, oak chips, cookie dough, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Quite fragrant, lots of nail varnish and pear drops notes. There’s also some coconut, which reminds me of grain rather than bourbon. Water brings out even more acetone.

Verdict:

I like this.

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, black pepper, orange peel, custard, brown paper, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Coffee, black pepper, orange peel, brown paper, fresh baked bread, hints of gentian. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, brown paper, vanilla, hints of gentian. 

Comments: 

Rather bitter for a rye, lots of fragrant notes and some peppery spiciness. It’s also quite bready, which is a little odd, but that pepper note still comes through.

Verdict:

I like this.

Callington Mill Invicta

Callington Mill Invicta

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber, hints of pink
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, strawberry jam, cream, rhubarb and custard sweets, black tea, hints of vanilla sponge. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, vanilla sponge, orange peel, strawberry jam, marmalade, milk chocolate, fresh baked bread, hints of shortcrust pastry. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, fresh baked bread, strawberry jam, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Pure port finish. Jammy, but with hints of orange and marmalade this time, with a bready, pastry note on the tongue and on the finish. Again, much better at the higher ABV.

Verdict:

I like this.

Callington Mill El Sol

Callington Mill El Sol

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raspberry jam, strawberry jam, vanilla sponge, milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, hints of black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh baked bread, red grapes, milk chocolate, strawberry jam, coffee, cocoa nibs, black pepper, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, black pepper, raspberry jam, coffee. 

Comments: 

Aged in a combination of sherry casks, Fino, Amontillado, PX and Oloroso. Chocolatey, lots of bitter cocoa too, but plenty of sweet fruity jam. The extra ABV is helpful, indeed essential.

Verdict:

I like this.

Callington Mill Enigma

Callington Mill Enigma

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber red
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, damson jam, honey, malted grains, fresh baked bread, black tea, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black pepper, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge, damson jam, honey, hints of custard. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, black pepper, orange peel, damson jam, honey. 

Comments: 

Aged in port and sherry casks. Quite sweet as you’d expect, but also endowed with a peppery bitterness. It’s decent but rather low strength, which takes away some of the complexity.

Verdict:

I like this.