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.