Chita Distiller's Reserve

Chita Distiller's Reserve

Official bottling
Single grain - West Honshu
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, cotton sheets, jasmine, white tea, brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, volatile, watery. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. White tea, lemon zest, brass polish, fried eggs, burnt sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Jasmine, brass polish, lemon zest, burnt sugar. 

Comments: 

Well, this is rather odd. It's a grain whisky, but it's tannic, even sulphurous. If it were a malt whisky, I'd say it's one of the strange, intense Speysides that the Scotch Malt Whisky Society serve up every so often, but it's Japanese grain...

Verdict:

Not bad.

Boulder Bourbon

Boulder Bourbon

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Colorado
Amber
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, raisins, camphor, cinnamon, marshmallows, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, volatile, loose. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, raisins, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, dried pears, camphor, hints of raisins. 

Comments: 

A very odd bourbon from Colorado. It's spicy, but lacks much of the fruity estery notes that characterise, say, Kentucky bourbon. Instead, it's cereally, medicinal, perhaps even on the harsh side. An interesting product, takes some getting used to.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenallachie 18yo

Glenallachie 18yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rhubarb and custard sweets, raisins, brass polish, dried apples, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, static, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Dried apples, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, marzipan, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, marzipan, oats, hints of dried apples. 

Comments: 

Very Rosebank-ey on the nose (many whiskies have managed to replicate the characteristics of Rosebank these days), but this transforms into fruit leather and almonds on the tongue. Tasty whisky, but it doesn't show its age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Talisker 8yo 2009/2018

Talisker 8yo 2009/2018

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islands
Pale gold 48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, bacon, peat, driftwood smoke, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, turns watery, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Lemon zest, orange blossom, peat, bacon, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Peat, sea salt, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, hints of driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 12364. A light and unusual Talisker. It's not very marine, but there's plenty of peat, smoke and bacon rind. It's floral, yet meaty, with delicious cereal notes in the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Starward 10th Anniversary Release

Starward 10th Anniversary Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Victoria
Amber red
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, roses, orange peel, honey, strawberries, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slippery, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Roses, strawberries, black tea, dried pears, peaches. 
Finish: Long. Vanilla, raisins, cookie dough, black tea. 

Comments: 

A celebratory release by New World, marking the distillery's 10th anniversary. It's a vatting of 10 casks distilled throughout the last 10 years. There's definitely a red wine finish, and a couple of sherry casks. It's fruity and floral, and perhaps a little too sweet, but it's highly drinkable and very characteristic of the distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Westland Sherry Wood

Westland Sherry Wood

Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, camphor, honey, ginger, hints of brine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, loose, turns slightly watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Ginger, honey, candied orange, sea salt, fresh baked bread, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Long. Candied orange, white pepper, black tea, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

This whisky is very Christmassy, and somehow Caribbean. It reminds me of rum-spiked Jamaican fruit cake, chock full of candied ginger and allspice, fruity and boozy and spicy. Glorious flavours, gentle whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Westland Peated Whiskey

Westland Peated Whiskey

Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Amber green
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, gooseberries, wood smoke, camphor, hints of peat, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, turns watery, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Gooseberries, smoke, honey, peaches, pears, peat. 
Finish: Long. Peat, menthol, camphor, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

This American offering is not particularly peaty, despite it's name. Instead, gentle peat and smoke overlay a core of fruity, tart, spicy whisky. It's particularly good if you're not feeling like an aggressive peathead.

Verdict:

I like this.

Blair Athol 8yo 2008/2017

Blair Athol 8yo 2008/2017

Small Batch, James Eadie
Single malt - Central Highlands
Buttercups
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, peaches, malted grains, meringues, hints of limes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, syrupy, sticky. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, lemons, cotton sheets, meringues, hints of elderflower. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, lemons, elderflower, hints of cotton sheets. 

Comments: 

Wonderfully fresh and floral. There's also an unctuous sticky character to the whisky, somehow like lemon meringue pie, sharp and decadent at the same time. Excellent stuff, I really enjoyed this whisky, from a bottler I've not encountered before.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.