Glenfarclas 40 yo

Glenfarclas 40 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Deep red brown
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, chocolate, brown paper, fresh baked bread, cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily, thickens, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, peanuts, honey, freshly baked bread, cream, vanilla, chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Raspberries, candied oranges, chocolate, raisins. 

Comments: 

Hell of a sherry monster, this, and it's an amazingly old one as well. Classic honey, chocolate and raisins everywhere, but there's also candied oranges, fresh baked bread and vanilla... latte? Very Christmassy, and I wish I had a bottle rather than a mere dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Lg5

Lg5

Elements of Islay, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Green gold
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, pears, white grapes, smoke, bacon, peat. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily, thickens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, smoke, frying bacon, white grapes, pears, honey, hints of oolong tea. 
Finish: Long. Peat, pears, peanuts, hints of honey. 

Comments: 

Whoa! Slammed in the nose by a panful of frying bacon, then again in the mouth. Some fruit starts to peep through that curtain of smoke and peat though, and it's deliciously sweet pears and grapes. Slight astringent finish, maybe some tea notes?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenfiddich Malt Masters Edition Sherry Cask

Glenfiddich Malt Masters Edition Sherry Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Tea
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, red grapes, stewed pears, plums. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, thickens, slightly chewy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Dark chocolate, raisins, prunes, strawberries, red wine, stewed pears. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, red wine, stewed pears, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

My first Glenfiddich in years! It's not often you get special editions either. This one has the classic Glenfiddich pear, and here it is mellowed so much by the sherry influence it reminds me of pears stewed in red wine. Lovely grapey, chocolatey finish as well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Balvenie 14 yo Caribbean Cask

Balvenie 14 yo Caribbean Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, nutmeg, cream, orange peel, raisins, hints of pistachio nuts. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slippery, turns chewy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cola nuts, nutmeg, pistachio nuts, peanuts, dark chocolate, hints of grass. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, peanuts, cream, coffee. 

Comments: 

Rum casked Balvenie! Tastes remarkably like cola upon the tongue, with some chocolatey, nutty notes to follow after. Great finish too, chockfull of raisins and nuts and even coffee.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 100.12 (Strathmill 10 yo 2005/2015)

SMWS 100.12 (Strathmill 10 yo 2005/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Very pale gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, tinned peaches, pineapples, lemon juice, hints of elderflower. With water, cookie dough, cough syrup, cashew nuts. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery, airy.
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Elderflower, vanilla, orange blossom, cherries, hints of lemon juice. With water, saltier, cookie dough, rum and raisin ice cream. 
Finish: Long. Roses, sandalwood, elderflower, orange blossom. 

Comments: 

This whisky is something of a chameleon. Neat, it explodes in fruity and floral fireworks on the tongue, laden with elderflower, orange blossom, and in the finish, sandalwood, just to name a few. With a few drops of water, it turns saltier, but not unpleasantly so, and shows a lot of rum and raisin.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS B3.3 (Rocktown 2 yo 2012/2015)

SMWS B3.3 (Rocktown 2 yo 2012/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single bourbon - Arkansas
Mahogany
54.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oak, cinnamon, vanilla, treacle, bananas, hints of apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, fizzy, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Bananas, apricot jam, brown paper, treacle, cinnamon, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Long. Green apples, cranberries, apricot jam. 

Comments: 

You wait a long time for a single cask bourbon, and suddenly a couple come along like buses. This one is sweet and jammy, but never overpowering. Then the sweetness slips away in the finish, to be replaced by fragrant appley sour notes. Good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Garioch 1999/2013 Sherry Cask

Glen Garioch 1999/2013 Sherry Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark amber
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, red grapes, prunes, blackberry jam, cloves, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, cloves, blueberry jam, brown paper, fresh baked bread, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, black tea, cloves, blueberry jam. 

Comments: 

Definitely a sherry cask this - they've been very generous. It's wonderfully spicy and jammy, chockfull of cloves and blueberries. This is delicious stuff, and I'm so pleased that I'm able to taste it. Wonderful.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 42.16 (Ledaig 9 yo 2005/2015)

SMWS 42.16 (Ledaig 9 yo 2005/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Pale silver
59.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blue cheese, peat, leather, balsamic vinegar, lemons, wet leaves, hints of potato. With water, cream, golden syrup, hints of orange juice. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, turns watery, loose. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Blue cheese, lemons, boiled potatoes, new plastic, hints of smoked haddock. With water, sweeter, cream, peat, hints of oranges. 
Finish: Long. Leather, peat, lemons, cream, hints of golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Wow, this is pretty unique. Blue cheese and leather, leavened with lemons, boiled potato and hints of smoked fish, when neat. With water, it smooths out a little, with the sour notes softening from vinegar to orange juice, and the peat hits. I'm in two minds about this whisky, but it's certainly an experience.

Verdict:

Not bad.

SMWS 82.20 (Glencadam 17 yo 1998/2015)

SMWS 82.20 (Glencadam 17 yo 1998/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Brown, tinge of green
54.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, dried cranberries, raisins, prunes, banana bread, hints of dried apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, loose, slightly fizzy . 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Toast, dried apples, red grapes, malted grains, plums, hints of blueberries. 
Finish: Short. Dried apples, raisins, black tea, banana bread, hints of prunes. 

Comments: 

Bananary, very bananary. Not the full on slightly overripe banana notes in bourbon though, this is toasty, cooked, almost like banana bread. Also plenty of dried fruit and dried apples, dripping with alcoholic sweetness. Some tannins, not overpowering. Good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS B3.2 (Rocktown 3 yo 2012/2015)

SMWS B3.2 (Rocktown 3 yo 2012/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single bourbon - Arkansas
Tea
55.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, red grapes, pomegranate molasses, hints of bananas. With water, black tea, toast more bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, loose, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, pomegranate molasses, vanilla, orange blossom honey, hints of red grapes. With water, lemons, bananas, green tea.
Finish: Short. Red grapes, maple syrup, black tea, bananas. 

Comments: 

I feel that people view bourbon as one-dimensional because it's often bottled at 40%, and diluted to the point of boredom. Not many cask strength ones available. This is a rare opportunity to sample such a one, and it's not disappointing at all. Loads of pomegranate molasses and cinnamon, opening up to tangy lemon and green tea upon adding water. Yummy.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 80.7 (Glen Spey 16 yo 1998/2015)

SMWS 80.7 (Glen Spey 16 yo 1998/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
54.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Walnuts, blueberries, sponge cake, vanilla, toasted coconut, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, blueberries, sponge cake, toast, prunes. 
Finish: Medium. Blueberries, white grapes, sponge cake, bananas. 

Comments: 

A Sauternes cask (second fill I believe). The dessert wine influence is evident, loads of toasty coconut, sweet nutty flavours. Blueberry jam sponge? Very close to that. Lots of white grapes on the tongue and in the finish. Good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Paul John Peated Select Cask

Paul John Peated Select Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Goa
Amber
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, black tea, caramel, prunes, raisins, hints of iodine. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, sticky, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, tobacco leaf, prunes, toast, black tea, hints of butterscotch. 
Finish: Long. Prunes, caramel, black tea, peanuts. 

Comments: 

Very slightly peated, so slight that it doesn't even taste smoky. Instead there's a peaty leathery undertone to what is a very jammy, sweet whisky. Great prune notes morph into tobacco leaf, with plenty of toasty leather as well. Very good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Rocktown Batch 1

Rocktown Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single bourbon - Rocktown
Amber rose
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blood oranges, bananas, toast, ink, straw, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, sticky, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Blood oranges, sandalwood, bananas, toast, strawberries, orange blossom, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Long. Orange blossom, pomeloes, lemon zest, black tea. 

Comments: 

A most unbourbony bourbon. There's plenty of the usual bananas, but it's overlaid by floral delicate notes, like orange blossom and sandalwood. Plenty of black tea too, and in the finish, pomeloes, a wonderful surprise!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 4.211 (Highland Park 24 yo 1991/2015)

SMWS 4.211 (Highland Park 24 yo 1991/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Pale tea
52.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, wood smoke, soy sauce, raisins, bacon, hints of tarry ropes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, loose, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Leather, bacon, smoke, soy sauce, hints of raisins, hints of malted grains. 
Finish: Long. Peat, smoke, tarry ropes, bacon, hints of raisins. 

Comments: 

I would never have guessed that this is Highland Park. It tastes more like Caol Ila (soy sauce note) but much more meaty than a Caol Ila is. There's plenty of bacon and tar in this, reminded me of the old smoking days (pre-family, pre-girlfriend even) sitting in a greasy spoon have a fag while munching on a bacon sarnie.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 5.47 (Auchentoshan 14 yo 2000/2015)

SMWS 5.47 (Auchentoshan 14 yo 2000/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale silver
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, pineapples, green apples, peaches, cooked rice, hints of leather. With water, green tea, more green apples, grass. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour . Lemon juice, pineapples, green tea, toast, hints of cooked rice. With water, slightly sweeter, cooked rice, green apples, more green tea. 
Finish: Medium. Cooked rice, lemon juice, green tea, toast. 

Comments: 

Almost colourless, this whisky. Together with the cooked rice notes, this reminded me of nothing so much as a very good, very flavourful sake. It even has the slightly sour fermented flavour. With water though, the whisky came rushing back - tart, appley, herbal.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 28.26 (Tullibardine 10 yo 2005/2015)

SMWS 28.26 (Tullibardine 10 yo 2005/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale copper
61.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried strawberries, blackberry jam, mint, plums, hints of leather. With water, strawberry jam, pineapples, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, juicy, mouth wetting. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Strawberry jam, gooseberries, blackberries, plums, mint, cucumber, hints of leather. With water, more strawberry jam, prunes, pineapples, hints of hay. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberry jam, cinnamon, blackberries, toast. 

Comments: 

Gloriously jammy, this is chockful of stewed fruit notes. Some slight refreshment in the form of cucumber, but it only gets jammier with water. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 37.70 (Cragganmore 15 yo 2000/2015)

SMWS 37.70 (Cragganmore 15 yo 2000/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Silver gold, tinge of red
56.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cloves, raisins, sandalwood, preserved limes, golden syrup, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Candied oranges, preserved limes, cloves, leather, hay, hints of green apples. 
Finish: Short. Grapefruit, ginseng, green apples, cloves. 

Comments: 

Quite bitter, but not with that mouth-puckering ginseng note (well, at least not until the finish) that a lot of whiskies have. This is more grapefruit and apple peel, with something of that note you get when you chew whole cloves. Fragrant, enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Girvan Patent Still Single Grain Launch Edition

Girvan Patent Still Single Grain Launch Edition

Official bottling
Single grain - Lowlands
Light copper
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butterscotch, mint, black tea, brass polish, vanilla fudge, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, slightly astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apricots, butterscotch, vanilla fudge, whipped cream, hints of peaches, hints of bananas. 
Finish: Medium. Butterscotch, peaches, cream, hints of black tea. 

Comments: 

Fruity and gentle, yet not so sprightly anymore. This is apparently at least 25 years old. I like the slight brassiness on the nose, but this thins away to some peach notes on the tongue. Quite sweet and pleasant. Good grain whisky!

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 48.64 (Balmenach 11 yo 2004/2015)

SMWS 48.64 (Balmenach 11 yo 2004/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Silver
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Limes, green tea, pine, green apples, plums, hints of leather. With water, salted plums, candied ginger, haw flakes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Nori, green tea, salted plums, green apples, pine wood, hints of salt caramel. With water, saltier, sea salt, leather, haw flakes. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, leather, nori, hints of salted plums. 

Comments: 

Very oriental, this whisky. There's astringent green tea neat, and salty umami flavours that bring to mind sushi seaweed and Chinese salted plums. With water, this salty vibe intensifies, together with a slight cooked fruit note that suggests haw flakes (something you probably only know of if you visit China or South East Asia).

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 55.33 (Royal Brackla 17 yo 1997/2015)

SMWS 55.33 (Royal Brackla 17 yo 1997/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden yellow
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, honey, lemon zest, honeycomb biscuits, hints of peaches. With water, carbolic soap, orange juice, hints of mangoes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, turns slightly watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pears, chillies, honeycomb biscuits, mint, hints of golden syrup. With water, cream, peaches, mangoes, hints of papayas. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, pears, peaches, mint. 

Comments: 

Plenty of fruit and honey neat, but once water is added, a faint tang of carbolic soap, allied with a slight creaminess come in. The whisky opens up beautifully, with lots of orange juice and mangoes coming to the fore.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 64.67 (Mannochmore 25 yo 1990/2015)

SMWS 64.67 (Mannochmore 25 yo 1990/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
54.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Candied oranges, lemon zest, pears, apple juice, maraschino cherries, hints of hay. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, turns syrupy, tingly, fizzy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pineapples, mangoes, peaches, apple juice, marmalade, hints of maraschino cherries. 
Finish: Short. Pears, peaches, butterscotch, caramel. 

Comments: 

True tutti-frutti whisky. There's almost nothing else but fruit here (save a little grassiness on the nose), but what a diverse set of fruity notes it is! I particularly like the slightly aniseedy maraschino cherry notes.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Rittenhouse Straight Rye

Rittenhouse Straight Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Heaven Hill
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, nutmeg, bananas, black pepper, hints of chillies. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slightly fizzy, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cream, caramel, black pepper, mace, chillies, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Caramel, black pepper, butterscotch, hints of bananas. 

Comments: 

Wow, this is pure rye spiciness. Spicy, fruity, plenty of mouth-warming pepperiness, laced with oodles of dried fruit. I don't know much about rye, but I do know that I like it and that I want to find out more.

Verdict:

I like this.

Port Askaig 19 yo Cask Strength

Port Askaig 19 yo Cask Strength

Port Askaig, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Pale straw
50.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, smoke, roast pork, mint, hints of soy sauce. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, mouth coating, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon zest, mint, roast pork, smoke, green tea, hints of leather. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, leather, roast pork, lemon zest, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Oooh, mystery malt! Except that most people think it's Caol Ila, so not really a mystery after all. This one is sourish, with beautiful smoky roast pork notes. Not too peaty. There's something which many describe as 'flinty' but I prefer to think of as the bitterness inherent in green tea. This is wonderful stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Evan Williams Extra Aged

Evan Williams Extra Aged

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, pears, yoghurt, cream, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. White pepper, lemon zest, bananas, hay, hints of butterscotch. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, hay, lemon zest, bananas. 

Comments: 

A creamy, spicy bourbon, replete with bananas, lemon zest and a tinge of grassiness on the finish. I really enjoyed this, even though it's rather one-dimensional. Sometimes it's better to do a few things really well rather than many things adequately.

Verdict:

I like this.

Rebel Yell

Rebel Yell

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber orange
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, thyme, grass, photocopy paper, hints of pears. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Thyme, bananas, photocopy paper, black pepper, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Medium. Yoghurt, black pepper, bananas, hints of black tea. 

Comments: 

A grassy, herbal bourbon, with the usual bananas replaced by pears and thyme. While I normally relish surprises and complexity, I'm afraid this combination leaves me slightly cold. It just doesn't go together, and the yoghurty notes didn't help.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Old Granddad, Bottled in Bond

Old Granddad, Bottled in Bond

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Orange
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, cream, blackcurrant cordial, strawberries, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, turns syrupy, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Bananas, blackcurrant cordial, brown paper, prunes, hints of orange peel . 
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, white pepper, prunes, orange peel. 

Comments: 

A slightly unusual bourbon, the strength and the depth of flavour means that the usually omnipresent brown paper notes are relegated to the background. Reminds me of Ribena with vodka... a little bit, anyway. Good spicy finish, when the brown paper comes whooshing back.

Verdict:

I like this.

Caol Ila 14 yo Cask Strength

Caol Ila 14 yo Cask Strength

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Yellow gold
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, lemon zest, chillies, peaches, lillies, hints of fish sauce. With water, cream cheese, yoghurt, hints of thyme. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, airy, loose. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Chillies, lemon zest, lillies, soy sauce, mangoes, hints of white grapes. With water, saltier, cream, yoghurt, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Long. Chillies, white grapes, mangoes, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Unpeated Caol Ila, quite a rare beast. It's floral and fruity neat, quite unlike the distillery's usual output. But add water and it loses its delicate floral notes and becomes something more like the Caol Ila we all know and love - saltier, creamier, with a bit of funky seaside. Good for the novelty value, and a decent whisky in its own right.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Moray 10 yo Chardonnay Cask

Glen Moray 10 yo Chardonnay Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cola nuts, malted grains, white grapes, nutmeg, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cola nuts, grass, white grapes, nutmeg, hints of red pepper, hints of vanilla . 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, grass, nutmeg, hints of sage. 

Comments: 

Herbal and grassy on the tongue, but the wine finish also imparts a great deal of fruit and spice. This apparently spent all its 10 years in the Chardonnay cask. Lots of flavour, light and refreshing. Good whisky, very good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2014

Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2014

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, black tea, leather, smoke, peat, pears, hints of smoked fish. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, watery, loose. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pears, plums, black tea, tobacco leaf, peat, smoke, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Plums, tobacco leaf, orange peel, hints of smoked fish. 

Comments: 

Sherried Kilchoman. Sweet, but with lots of savouriness underpinning it - familiar-ish Kilchoman fishiness, tobacco leaf, and of course the Islay peat and smoke. This is really excellent whisky, perfect marriage of peat and fruit.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve

Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve

Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Dark gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, oak, cream, leather, red grapes, hints of musk. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, spreads out, slightly watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, black tea, butter, raisins, hints of butterscotch. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, black tea, butter, oats. 

Comments: 

A new (at least for me) NAS expression from Yamazaki. Rather fatty and buttery, something I don't often find. Possibly over-sherried as well, with the sweet grapeyness masking a lack of complexity. Lots of raisins, butter, black tea... and not much else. Unfortunately.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Glenlochy 32 yo 1980/2012

Glenlochy 32 yo 1980/2012

Cask Strength, Signatory
Single malt - West Highlands
Weak tea
60.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Salt caramel, leather, mint, brass polish, lemon sweets, raisins, hints of chillies. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, viscous, static. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Mint, lemon sweets, brass polish, leather, grass, raisins, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Smoke, leather, wet stones, black tea. 

Comments: 

One of the last drams of Glenlochy, surely. This one is scarily drinkable at 60.1%. I took the decision not to add water, and to enjoy it fully flavoured at cask strength. Smoky and 'hard', but not harsh. Salt caramel on the nose that melts away to grassy smoky loveliness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 58.16 (Strathisla 9 yo 2006/2015)

SMWS 58.16 (Strathisla 9 yo 2006/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Silver
59.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roses, vanilla, white grapes, soy milk, yoghurt, hints of white chocolate. With water, more white grapes, mint, lemon peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns chewy, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. White grapes, oats, soy milk, yoghurt, hints of roses, hints of green tea. With water, salty, salt caramel, chillies, yoghurt. 
Finish: Long. Yoghurt, white chocolate, oats, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

Slightly odd whisky again. It's floral, yet cereally, with a slightly fermented flavour that I interpret as soy milk and yoghurt. Upon adding water, it opens up, smelling more herbal and fruity, and salty on the tongue. Like I said, odd.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 123.4 (Miyagikyo 17 yo 1996/2014)

SMWS 123.4 (Miyagikyo 17 yo 1996/2014)

2014, SMWS
Single malt - East Honshu
Mahogany
60% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, honey, raisins, dark chocolate, oak, sandalwood, hints of leather. With water, sweeter, more red grapes, cotton candy, more honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, sandalwood, soy sauce, raisins, leather, hints of honey. With water, more bitter, more astringent, black tea, orange peel, more red grapes. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, black tea, tobacco leaf, leather. 

Comments: 

Ooh, first fill sherry cask aged Japanese whisky. This is as delicious as it sounds, and slightly unusual, in that upon adding water, it is sweet on the nose but slightly bitter and mouth-puckering ont the tongue. I really enjoyed this one.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 55.29 (Royal Brackla 14 yo 2000/2015)

SMWS 55.29 (Royal Brackla 14 yo 2000/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
56.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, eucalyptus, fresh cut grass, hints of strawberries. With water, ink, grapefruit, hints of pears. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, chewy, chunky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemons, vanilla, orange peel, fresh cut grass, hints of ginseng, hints of grapefruit. With water, salty, sea salt, grapefruit, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Eucalyptus, grapefruit, ginseng. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity neat, turns all sorts but sweet upon the addition of water. Chameleon whisky. Still, the bitter citrus notes of grapefruit and herby notes of eucalyptus are ever present. Good stuff, this.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 50.63 (Bladnoch 24 yo 1990/2015)

SMWS 50.63 (Bladnoch 24 yo 1990/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Copper
58.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, honey, peaches, mangoes, cinnamon, hints of ginger. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Mangoes, peaches, honey, ginger, watermelon, hints of white grapes. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, peaches, cinnamon, tobacco leaf. 

Comments: 

Incredibly fruity, with spicy warm ginger notes. Lots of complex flavour, which unfortunately collapses once water is added. No water in this. Not that it's hard to drink even at 58.3%, I love the tingly mouth feel.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bushmills Black Bush

Bushmills Black Bush

Official bottling
Single blend - Northern Ireland
Buttercups
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, red grapes, raisins, chocolate, honey, tobacco leaf, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery, disperses. 
Tasting: Sweet salty. Vanilla, red grapes, raisins, chocolate, sea salt, white grapes, green tea. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, chocolate, honey, green tea. 

Comments: 

Light and drinkable, quite a lot of grape and chocolate. Slightly astringent in the finish. There's not a great deal of grain in here I reckon, it's mostly malt. Very fairly priced, with good complexity and great flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

Macallan Gold

Macallan Gold

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, yoghurt, orange peel, raisins, honey, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, astringent, loose. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Freshly baked bread, yoghurt, orange peel, raisins, honey, hint of milk chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, honey, yoghurt, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Another NAS whisky. I can't remember which Macallan expression this one replaced - the 10 year old? The 12 year old? Well, no matter. It's slightly disappointing, it tastes... young. There's a shallowness of flavour, lack of complexity, lack of deep chocolate and fruit notes, instead quite of lot of light yoghurty and bready flavours. OK, no more.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Deanston 12 yo 2002/2014

Deanston 12 yo 2002/2014

Glen Keir Treasures, Whisky Shop
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber, tinge of red
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Butter, raisins, maraschino cherries, black tea, honey, hints of ginger. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Butter, honey, raisins, maraschino cherries, candied ginger, dark chocolate, mint. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, mint, honey, maraschino cherries. 

Comments: 

Matured in oloroso sherry casks. This is a rare beast indeed, independent Deanston. It's cool and sweet, lots of great sherry flavour. Loads of great fatty buttery flavour, coupled with black tea and sweet maraschino cherries. Excellent stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Official bottling
Blend
Dark amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raisins, chocolate, pears, mint, hints of leather, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slightly watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, chocolate, bananas, pears, vanilla, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Honey, mint, pears, apples. 

Comments: 

It's taken me a long time to try this, the jewel in the Johnnie Walker range. I remember gazing at the bottle when I first started drinking whisky (maybe 1 or 2 drams into this series of tasting notes), and wondering when I would finally get around to it. Well, here we are, dram #731 is Johnnie Walker Blue Label. It's sweet, unctuously so, with a kind of Diageo greatest hits. There's Teaninich, Cardhu, Glen Elgin, perhaps some Talisker, if I'm any judge. There's a great huge backbone of pear, which I'd normally identify as Glenfiddich, but of course that's a Wm Grant distillery. I wonder what that is. Still quite good, and it's indeed a jewel of a whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Rosebank 21 yo 1990/2011

Rosebank 21 yo 1990/2011

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale green gold
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, rhubarb and custard sweets, fresh cut grass, toast, hints of sage. With water, more tart, vanilla, lemon zest, hints of roses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour . Lemons, rhubarb and custard sweets, hay, hints of toast, hints of sage. With water, more sour, fresh cut grass, hints of roses, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Lemons, olive oil, hay, hints of toast. 

Comments: 

One of the last drops of Rosebank left, surely (at least within my price range). This one is surprisingly heavy, while retaining that tart rhubarb-and-custard sweet character that I so associate with the distillery. On the tongue it's quite vegetal, and with water, even more so. Underpinning all of this is a slight toastiness. Very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 50.65 (Bladnoch 25 yo 1990/2015)

SMWS 50.65 (Bladnoch 25 yo 1990/2015)

2015, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
Silvery yellow
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, orange juice, strawberries, peaches, vanilla, lemon zest, hints of papayas. With water, sweeter, yoghurt, more vanilla, hints of mint. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, volatile, slightly gritty. 
Tasting:  Sour . Peaches, lemon juice, pineapples, limes, vanilla, hints of mangoes. With water, yoghurt, vanilla, green tea. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, lemon juice, vanilla, limes. 

Comments: 

Tutti frutti whisky, full of esters. It's good stuff, like drinking a cocktail in a dram. Very tart. With water, it loosens up, becomes sweeter and much more gentle. I can never really pin down what Bladnoch tastes like, it's quite a varied whisky. This one is another different experience.

Verdict:

I like this.

New Zealand Doublewood 10 yo

New Zealand Doublewood 10 yo

Official bottling
Single blend - Otago
Dark amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sugar cane, figs, red grapes, condensed milk, vanilla, oak. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, red grapes, condensed milk, prunes, sugar cane, hints of coconut candy. 
Finish: Medium. Condensed milk, prunes, sugar cane, coconut candy, hints of bananas. 

Comments: 

New Zealand is remote enough such that the grain whisky in the blend needs to come from the same distillery! This one has been aged in new American oak casks then a French red wine cask. It may have been overdiluted, as it is pretty watery on the tongue. The depth of flavour is quite reasonably though, and very sweet. Lots of sugar cane and condensed milk, along with the jammy fruit notes one would expect.

Verdict:

I like this.

New Zealand 19 yo 1993/2013

New Zealand 19 yo 1993/2013

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Golden
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, malted grains, cola nuts, plums, blackcurrants, hints of prunes. With water, sweeter, orange peel, prunes, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, tingly, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, blackcurrants, prunes, soy sauce, white grapes, hints of chillies. With water, sweeter, honey, prunes, hints of lavender. 
Finish: Long. Chillies, leather, white grapes, vanilla, hints of ginseng. 

Comments: 

Malt from the now defunct Willowbank distillery in Dunedin, New Zealand. It's fragrant, slightly salty neat, but with water transforms into honeyed, jammy nectar. It's quite a transformation. Very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Kornog 5vet Deiz Ha Bloaz

Kornog 5vet Deiz Ha Bloaz

Official bottling
Single malt - Brittany
Pale green
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, orange peel, lemon zest, strawberries, prunes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, oily, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Prunes, plums, strawberries, marmalade, peat, smoke. 
Finish: Short. Peat, marmalade, plums, hints of soy sauce. 

Comments: 

This distillery shuts next month, August 2015, due to EU denomination of origin laws that will require a change to production methods. What an absolute shame. This whisky was bottled to celebrate the distillery's 5th anniversary, it won't see it's 16th. The whisky is fragrant and fruity, but wreathed in smoke and peat. There's a savoury edge. Pretty good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Edradour 6 yo 2003/2010 Burgundy Cask Matured

Edradour 6 yo 2003/2010 Burgundy Cask Matured

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, black tea, dark chocolate, mint, cherries, hints of strawberries. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, thick, rolls on the tongue. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, dark chocolate, cherry liqueur, mint, vanilla, cookie dough, strawberries. 
Finish: Long. Red grapes, black tea, leather, mint. 

Comments: 

Batch One, apparently. A lot of the Edradour special cask releases have been pilloried for using wood to mask less than good spirit, but I'm pleased to report that this one is alright. Cherry liqueur notes vie with dark chocolate and red grapes in this, a good sherry (er, burgundy) bomb. The minty character of Edradour is not much in evidence though, it's a gentle whisky that gets lost in so much wood flavouring.

Verdict:

I like this.

Pappy Van Winkle 23 yo Family Reserve

Pappy Van Winkle 23 yo Family Reserve

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Mahogany
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, ink, raisins, bananas, peaches, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, oily, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, peaches, cream, red grapes, magic marker, hints of brown paper. 
Finish: Long. Brown paper, photocopy paper, magic marker, red grapes, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Tastes delightfully Southern Gothic. There's the usual bananas, but this is overlaid with peaches and red grapes, even some bitter, chemical notes on the nose. This is NOT your usual bourbon. It's incredibly complex and sweet, and so fruity. Very, very good stuff, there's a reason why it's so hard to get.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Wild Turkey Rye Whiskey

Wild Turkey Rye Whiskey

Official bottling
Single rye - Wild Turkey
Amber, tinge of green
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, new plastic, cardamom, cinnamon, hints of pears, hints of corn syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns hot, tingly, static. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Chillies, magic marker, pears, new plastic, cardamom, hints of ginseng. 
Finish: Long. Chillies, melon, new plastic, hints of roses. 

Comments: 

Oddly plasticky, strange chemical notes mixed in with cardamom and pears. It's a bit sickly sweet as well, especially on the nose. In the mouth, hmm, a bit of a different story. A little bit bitter, still loads of pears and plenty of cardamom, but in the finish the plastic comes rushing back. This is ok, but there are better ryes.

Verdict:

Not bad.