Amrut Single Cask

Amrut Single Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Bangalore
Amber rose
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, chillies, black tea, red grapes, leather, hints of salt caramel. With water, raspberries, honey, more chillies. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, chewy, chunky, thickens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, toffee, red wine, raspberries, hints of coffee. With water, chocolate, honey, strawberries. 
Finish: Medium. Red wine, raspberries, black tea, hints of chillies. 

Comments: 

PX Cask 2697. Quite sweet, red wine and raspberry notes are very strong, almost overpowering. Opens up a little with water, turns sweeter and chocolatey. Possibly the wrong whisky to have last in a flight of four, but it's really quite exuberant. Good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Mhor 31 yo 1980/2011

Glen Mhor 31 yo 1980/2011

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Sunshine
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, musk, ink, orange peel, honey, hints of grapefruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cream, leather, malted grains, orange peel, green apples, hints of grapefruit. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, grapefruit, green apples, malted grains, hints of sea salt. 

Comments: 

I've had the sister bottling to this - 1980/2007. This one has improved slightly with age, more of the Glen Mhor green apple, with a fair amount of bitter pithy grapefruit. Excellent fruity, slightly bitter whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Craigellachie 17 yo

Craigellachie 17 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Chinese tea
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, yoghurt, egg white, toffee, hints of chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Green tea, toffee, meringues, toast, chocolate, hints of leather. 
Finish: Long. Meringues, chocolate, orange peel, green tea. 

Comments: 

This whisky is eggy and rubbery, with a substantial sulphur note. Chocolatey and slightly tannic too. I haven't tried the official bottlings of Craigellachie until this one, but it's... strange, not to my taste. Eggy whiskies should be sweeter.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Convalmore 40 yo 1975/2015

Convalmore 40 yo 1975/2015

Rare Old, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes, honey, lemon zest, pomegranate molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, tingly, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, whipped cream, white grapes, yoghurt, lemon juice, hints of pomegranate molasses. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, toast, fresh baked bread, yoghurt, honey. 

Comments: 

Lot RO/15/06. What a wonderful find! It's rare that I get to taste a whisky older than I am, and I take the chance every time I can. This is only the second Convalmore I've ever had, and this is reminiscent of a good Rosebank. Lots of fruit, some milk and yoghurt notes, and sweet alluring pomegranate molasses. Excellent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

St George's Distillery Chapter 11

St George's Distillery Chapter 11

Official bottling
Single malt - East Anglia
White wine
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, prunes, lemon zest, walnuts, raisins, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick, viscous. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Peat, smoke, wood ash, white grapes, lemon zest, walnuts. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, wood ash, prunes, hints of pear. 

Comments: 

Heavily peated expression from St George's distillery. This one is full of fatty acids, it's thick and lemony on the tongue, and bitter - not the floral bitterness that I sometimes find, and associate with ginseng, but a mouth puckering tannic bitterness that's a bit rarer. Walnut skins, very thick black tea, that sort of thing. Glorious fruity finish too. Very nice.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dalmore 18 yo

Dalmore 18 yo

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber, tinge of copper
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, toffee, red grapes, leather, cream, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, turns watery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toffee, chocolate, cola nuts, coffee, vanilla custard, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla custard, chocolate, toffee, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Not as rubbery or eggy as some other Dalmores I've had. I tasted this along with the King Alexander III, and the difference was apparent. But then I haven't had a Dalmore for a while. Time to get back on that particular horse. This one is gentle and well sherried, chocolaty, orange peel finish, the egginess translates into some great vanilla custard notes. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Spirit of Hven Urania

Spirit of Hven Urania

Official bottling
Single malt - Scania
Amber, tinge of red
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, cola nuts, peaches, cinnamon, sarsaparilla, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slippery, watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Chocolate, sarsaparilla, roast pork, leather, toffee, hints of brown paper. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, whipped cream, leather, toffee. 

Comments: 

Pot still Swedish whisky from Hven, aged just under 3 years I think. This reminds me of savoury salt caramel laden toffee, with a hefty meaty undertone of roast pork, then fading away to a milky, chocolatey finish. Very good stuff, Hven knows how to make whisky!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Teeling Silver Reserve 21 yo 1991

Teeling Silver Reserve 21 yo 1991

Teeling Reserves, Teeling
Single malt - Unknown
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, toffee, lemon zest, black tea, mint, hints of dark chocolate, hints of plums. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, astringent, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toffee, red grapes, coffee, dark chocolate, leather, hints of mint. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of brass polish. 

Comments: 

Unknown spirit, some people think it's Bushmills. Well, wherever it's from, it's heavily wine finished, like red grapes and plum pudding all mixed together. Very good, not too eggy, light and fragrant. Good Irish whiskey, this was apparently aged in Sauternes casks.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kilkerran Work In Progress 7 - Bourbon Wood Cask Strength

Kilkerran Work In Progress 7 - Bourbon Wood Cask Strength

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Golden
54.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, raisins, cod liver oil, orange peel, egg white. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, tingly, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Smoke, peat, cod liver oil, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, hints of oranges. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, chocolate, egg white, oranges. 

Comments: 

Fishy, eggy, odd whisky. Lots of bitter sweet notes, but the sweet doesn't come out much. Another of Glengyle's works in progress releases, showing how the maturation is going, but we must surely be coming to the end of the series. Must try the sherry wood version next.

Verdict:

I like this.

Starward Malt Whisky

Starward Malt Whisky

Official bottling
Single malt - Victoria
Copper
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, cherries, raisins, chocolate, almonds, hints of cherry brandy. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns watery, loose, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cream, cherry brandy, chocolate, blackcurrants, red grapes, hints of hay. 
Finish: Long. Cherry brandy, blackcurrants, red grapes, marzipan. 

Comments: 

Matured in Apera barrels (what's Apera?). Cherries, cherries, cherries. Fresh, brandied, and even maraschino? Fruity and sweet, creamy too, Plenty of almonds as well. Very good for something I plucked off the shelf thinking it said 'Star Wars Malt Whisky'.

Verdict:

I like this.

Pittyvaich 25 yo 1989/2015

Pittyvaich 25 yo 1989/2015

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden yellow
49.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rhubarb and custard sweets, leather, orange peel, lemon zest, honey, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, chewy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Rhubarb and custard sweets, honey, toast, grapefruit, lemon zest, hints of orange blossom. 
Finish: Long. Toast, white grapes, lemon zest, hints of wood smoke. 

Comments: 

One of Diageo's 2015 special releases. This is such an underrated distillery, as always, shame it's closed. The whisky is a beautiful colour, has incredible legs in the glass, and has a great mouthfeel. On the tongue it's sensuous and sweet sour, Rosebank-like rhubarb and custard vies with citric grapefruit and lemon. Then a slightly smoky, white grape finish (reminds me of Penderyn).

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Official bottling
Blended malt
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cloves, vanilla, soy sauce, black tea, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, soy sauce, caramel, orange juice, roast pork, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Medium. Soy sauce, roast pork, orange juice, black tea. 

Comments: 

Suntory blend, so made up of Yamazaki and Hakushu malts, and Chita grain. Plenty of Yamazaki in this, that sweet-salty, roast pork, soy sauce flavour is unmistakeable. It's raisiny sweet, slightly tannic, wonderfully light. Great sipping whisky, I could drink this all night, with an ice ball.

Verdict:

I like this.

Millstone 100 Rye Whiskey

Millstone 100 Rye Whiskey

Official bottling
Single rye - North Brabant
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, cinnamon, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, pears, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, watery, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Magic marker, wheatgerm, lemon zest, vanilla, grated coconut, cinnamon, hints of toast. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, wheatgerm, lemon zest, pears. 

Comments: 

100 proof, matured for 100 months, 100% rye mashbill, and my first Dutch whisky. Very spicy kick, and some interesting rhubarb and custard flavours. Lots of coconutty toasty, cereally notes on the tongue. Somewhat overpowering, but what would one expect from rye?

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 71.41 (Glenburgie 17 yo 1998/2016)

SMWS 71.41 (Glenburgie 17 yo 1998/2016)

2016, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chestnut puree, figs, toffee, black tea, coffee, hints of chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, coffee, chestnut puree, oak, chocolate, hints of meringue. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, meringue, coffee, hints of vanilla. 

Comments: 

Ex sherry gorda. Chewy and eggy, with loads of meringue on the tongue. It's sweet, but not overpoweringly so. Plenty of tannic notes and something very much like creme de marron. Good stuff, very good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS B4.1 (FEW 3 yo 2012/2016)

SMWS B4.1 (FEW 3 yo 2012/2016)

2016, SMWS
Single bourbon - Illinois
English breakfast tea
62.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried mangoes, red grapes, black peppers, blackcurrants, cola nuts, liquorice. With water, strawberries, bubble gum, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, tingly, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Blackcurrants, dried mangoes, chillies, cola nuts, dandelion and burdock. With water, less spicy, pears, bubble gum, bananas, brown paper. 
Finish: Medium. Dandelion and burdock, dried mango, ginseng, hints of bananas. 

Comments: 

Whew! Cask strength bourbon is really something, and you do need to dilute it a little. But clearly when you make bourbon 40%, it loses something. This little whisky shows why. It's intensely fruity and spicy, and doesn't show any of the usual banana notes until some water goes in.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kavalan Solist Bourbon Cask B091002018A

Kavalan Solist Bourbon Cask B091002018A

Official bottling
Single malt - North Taiwan
Light amber
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roses, strawberries, raspberries, honey, vanilla, hints of apples. With water, oranges, lemons, more honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, thickens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh baked bread, apples, vanilla, blackcurrants, honey, hints of red grapes. With water, vanilla, toast, cookie dough, fresh baked bread, white grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, red grapes, apples, vanilla, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

I may have erred. I bought a bottle of the Solist Sherry Cask recently, but maybe I should have bought a bottle of this instead. It's disarmingly good, with lots of fruit and floral fragrance. With water, it turns sweeter, opening up, and the red grapes turns to white grapes, maybe even a little tannic. Excellent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Invergordon 27 yo 1988/2015

Invergordon 27 yo 1988/2015

Number 48, Maltbarn
Single grain - North Highlands
Brass
51.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, bananas, toast, strawberries, marshmallows, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Toast, strawberries, bananas, black tea, honey, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, fresh cut grass, marshmallows, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Not as sweet as most grains, I think this one has mellowed in the cask. Good grain whisky, and beats any number of single malts for complexity. There's even a alluring toasty note. There's really no substitute for cask aging, and it's a shame that age now equals expensive.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Kininvie 17 yo Batch 1

Kininvie 17 yo Batch 1

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
42.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, orange juice, pears, lemon zest, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, limes, orange juice, green tea, vanilla, sea salt. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, lemon zest, vanilla, sea salt. 

Comments: 

My first Kininvie! I've been waiting for this one for a long time, ever since I first tasted Monkey Shoulder. It doesn't disappoint. Very Balvenie like, but tannic and ever so slightly salty, this whisky is citrusy and fragrant. Delicious stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Bowmore 23 yo 1989 Port Matured

Bowmore 23 yo 1989 Port Matured

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber, tinge of red
50.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, leather, peat, red grapes, mint, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toast, lemons, vanilla, peat, honey, hints of red grapes. 
Finish: Short. Cookie dough, leather, peat, toast. 

Comments: 

This is floral, even delicate, not something you could normally write about an Islay whisky. The port maturing has not added very many winey flavours, instead the whisky is smooth, aromatic and gentle. Scarily drinkable. I could quaff a mug!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.