Lark Single Cask (#115)

Lark Single Cask (#115)

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Gold, tinge of pink
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon, pear drops, raisins, iron filings, dried apricots, hints of marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Caramel, pear drops, dried apples, chocolate, raisins, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, dried apricots, chocolate, hints of malted grains. 

Comments: 

Heavy, jammy and metallic on the nose, but not unpleasant. On the tongue it devolves into something a little more mundane - chocolatey, packed with dried fruit, maybe a bitter tang of coffee. And so it stays. An interesting whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lagavulin 8 yo 200th Anniversary Release

Lagavulin 8 yo 200th Anniversary Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Very pale green
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, malted grains, lemon zest, golden syrup, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loose, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Smoke, pea, wood ash, cinnamon, apples. 
Finish: Short. Apples, cinnamon, wood ash, smoke. 

Comments: 

Big and bold, plenty of heft. It's young whisky, it's not very complex, and by God it smacks you in the mouth when you drink it. Not too oily like other Lagavulins, instead it's a big heaping pile of wood ash, wreathed with apples and cinnamon.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Bulleit Rye Whiskey

Bulleit Rye Whiskey

Bulleit
Single rye - Indiana
Dark gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, bananas, rubber bands, black tea, cardamom. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns watery, slippery, loose. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Orange juice, cardamom, lemon zest, vanilla, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Short. Chillies, cardamom, orange juice, black tea. 

Comments: 

Very spicy rye - up to 95%, very spicy, not too sweet. I like this, there's a lot more to rye whiskey than cardamom and banana, and this one showcases that. Great bitter, tannic notes, cut through with chilli heat and floral notes in the after taste.

Verdict:

I like this.

Paul John Single Cask P1-163

Paul John Single Cask P1-163

Official bottling
Single malt - Goa
Amber
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, chillies, chocolate, honey, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, thickens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, cherries, chocolate, orange peel, red grapes, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Long. Chocolate, honey, orange peel, hints of cherries. 

Comments: 

No water. Yes, no water at 57%. This is very good whisky, and, while it stings and burns a little, it's also chockfull of sweet honey and cherries and chocolatey goodness. Very nice indeed, don't dilute it and lose the great flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cragganmore 13 yo 1999/2013

Cragganmore 13 yo 1999/2013

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
54.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, raisins, lemon zest, chocolate, white grapes, hints of brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens slightly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon zest, malted grains, walnuts, green tea, white grapes, hints of cardamom. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, brass polish, lemon zest, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

Sweet, but with a robust bitter edge - walnuts, green tea, cardamom, maybe even some ginseng. Lots of tart notes to this, with maybe just a hint of sourness. Warming and delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Smögen 4 yo 2011/2015 (Cask 7/2011)

Smögen 4 yo 2011/2015 (Cask 7/2011)

Official bottling
Single malt - Bohuslan
Amber
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, leather, peat, vanilla, hints of marzipan. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, astringent, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Red grapes, peat, leather, tamarind, lemon zest, hints of marzipan. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, lemon zest, leather, tamarind. 

Comments: 

I always feel maturing peated whisky in wine casks is hit and miss. There's experiments that go well, and experiments that don't, and this one is one that doesn't. A longer maturation, and perhaps the harsher edges of the peat and leather would have been ameliorated by the sweetness. But it's still a bit young for that. Oddly, water doesn't help.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Guillon Banyuls Cask Finish

Guillon Banyuls Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Champagne-Ardenne
Rose
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, red grapes, mint, honey, orange blossom, hints of sour plums. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, slippery, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black tea, brown paper, raisins, red grapes, mint, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Chocolate, black tea, leather, sour plums. 

Comments: 

Very nice whisky! Bright and sweet, slight saltiness, reminds me very much of Chinese preserved sour plums. Hugely floral on the nose, this concentrates into something very tannic on the tongue. Banyuls and whisky - who knew they would be so good together?

Verdict:

I like this.