Cape Wrath Special Blended Whisky

Cape Wrath Special Blended Whisky

Cape Wrath Hotel
Blend
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast beef, raisins, malted grains, black pepper, toffee, Demerara sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Toffee, burnt sugar, bananas, raisins, cinnamon, kiwifruit, parchment. 
Finish: Long. Cinnamon, raisins, bananas, black tea. 

Comments: 

Rich, meaty blend, lots of sweet flavours, and a slightly surprising, bourbony banana note. It’s old, the Cape Wrath Hotel is long gone. A really lovely old blend.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Millburn 17yo 1983/2001

Millburn 17yo 1983/2001

Unchillfiltered, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Pale yellow
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vitamin C tablets, lemon zest, almonds, walnuts, malted grains, gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Candle wax, lemon zest, vitamin C tablets, malted grains, leather, petrichor, hints of peat. 
Finish: Long. Leather, candle wax, lemon zest, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Cask 1538. Waxy and tart, with slightly chalky fizzy flavours. There’s a little earthy zing on the finish, with a gentle wispy peatiness. No water required, just enjoy the long lemony finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Rosebank 22yo 1981/2004 Rare Malts

Rosebank 22yo 1981/2004 Rare Malts

Official bottling

Single malt - Lowlands
Sunshine gold
61.1% ABV

Dram

Nose: Cream, lemon zest, leather, rhubarb and custard sweets, pears, hints of roast chicken. With water, sandalwood, cinnamon, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Mint, malted grains, lemon zest, pears, leather, white grapes, rhubarb and custard sweets. With water, malted grains, pears, white grapes, vanilla, rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, hoppy beer, white grapes, pears. 

Comments: 

Brilliant old Rosebank, especially delicious at cask strength. Lovely classic notes of rhubarb and custard sweets and white grapes. Water brings out more malt and a floral vanilla note.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Straight Rye

Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Straight Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, butter, Demerara sugar, raisins, orange peel, black pepper, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, turns watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Demerara sugar, butter, raisins, brown paper, black pepper, orange peel, hints of cooked rice. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, raisins, black pepper, Demerara sugar, hints of cooked rice.  

Comments: 

Quite sweet and luscious, lots of sugary notes with a big stick of butter. It’s rye, so it’s peppery and spicy too. There’s some odd cereally notes, with rice coming through.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kinglassie 8yo 2017/2025 Double Matured

Kinglassie 8yo 2017/2025

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Driftwood smoke, honey, coffee, white pepper, peat, leather, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, warm, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Driftwood smoke, honey, hay, fresh cut grass, white pepper, peat, autumn leaves, sea salt. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, peat, autumn leaves, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Kinglassie is peated Inchdairnie. This one is sweet and savoury, and quite fragrant. It’s very earthy, almost ahead of its peatiness, and laden with overtones of grass and hay.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dingle Conocht am Fomhair

Dingle Conocht am Fomhair

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Bright gold
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, apricots, pineapples, passionfruit, orange peel, cinnamon. With water, peaches, orange peel, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Passionfruit, peaches, honey, dates, grapefruit, orange peel, cinnamon. With water, orange peel, vanilla, honey, cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Cinnamon, nutmeg, white pepper, peaches. 

Comments: 

Fruity and rich, lots of tropical and stone fruit. Water brings out vanilla, honey and cinnamon. A very drinkable and straightforward whisky, slips down easily and smoothly, almost quaffable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Kyrö 6yo 2018/2024

Kyrö 6yo 2018/2024

Pienso Ruskea Koira, Little Brown Dog Spirits
Single rye - South Ostrobothnia
Amber, hints of red 
53.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, new plastic, rubber bands, rye bread, brown paper, hints of strawberry jam. With water, orange peel, brown paper, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, sea salt, brown paper, rye bread, coffee, rubber bands, salt caramel. With water, salt caramel, coffee, orange peel, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Medium. Salt caramel, rye bread, sea salt, coffee. 

Comments: 

Peppery and spicy, but with an odd hint of new plastic. There’s something a bit sulphurous too. Water brings out salt caramel and coffee, as well as something a little sweeter.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cragganmore 1972

Cragganmore 1972

Original Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside 
Light amber
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, honey, malted grains, vanilla, roast chicken, white pepper, hints of camphor. With water, honey, white grapes, roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, clay dust, white grapes, gooseberries, roast chicken, toffee, sandalwood, camphor. With water, malted grains, grapefruit, honey. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, cinnamon, white grapes, honey. 

Comments: 

Lighter and looser than the Creditable, but instead, sweeter and a meatier texture. There’s also some dustiness and a long honeyed citrusy finish. I love this sort of old bottle effect.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Creditable 25yo 1975/2001

Creditable 25yo 1975/2001

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast chicken, white grapes, malted grains, white wine, fresh cut grass, honey. With water, white grapes, honey, candle wax, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, white grapes, raisins, white wine, candle wax, malted grains, walnut skins. With water, candle wax, white grapes, grapefruit. 
Finish: Long. Candle wax, white grapes, malted grains, walnut skins. 

Comments: 

An old Cragganmore, both in age statement and time in the bottle. It’s very waxy, almost Clynelish-ey, and there’s a slightly bitter, nutty note that covers it all. Water brings out more wax, and a bit more sweetness and bitterness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dalmunach 6yo 2016/2022

Dalmunach 6yo 2016/2022

Na Braithrean, Wee Brother
Single malt - Speyside
Very pale gold
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, lemon zest, malted grains, leather, grapefruit, yuzu, hints of cream. With water, peaches, honey, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Yuzu, honey, malted grains, hoppy beer, lemon zest, marmalade, hints of white pepper. With water, marmalade, honey, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, marmalade, honey, malted grains, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Quite citrusy, but has the young whisky lactic note. Stone fruit notes abound as well, and some jammy marmalade. Water brings out more barley and honeyed sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this.