Kilchoman United Kingdom Small Batch

Kilchoman United Kingdom Small Batch

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
48.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, red grapes, bacon, smoke, orange zest, hints of lemon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, peanuts, leather, fresh cut grass, lemons, dates. 
Finish: Short. Green peppers, fresh cut grass, lemons, hints of fish sauce. 

Comments: 

This no-age-statement Kilchoman is subtle and gentle. There's the usual dates, smoke, peat, and even a little fish sauce, but there's also many herbal notes, including grass, green peppers and lemons. Enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Royal Lochnagar 19yo 2000/2019

Royal Lochnagar 19yo 2000/2019

First Editions, Hunter Laing
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, raisins, peaches, strawberry jam, golden syrup. With water, toast, green apples, raisins, hints of roast pork. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toast, strawberry jam, white grapes, green apples, vanilla, lemon zest. With water, sweeter, raisins, roast pork, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Peaches, raisins, white grapes, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Cask HL16350. This is the first dram that I've tried from this new First Editions range from Hunter Laing. It's a rare Royal Lochnagar indie, and it's wonderful. Loads of jam and ham - stone fruit preserves, roast pork, and even some toast. With water, it opens up beautifully, with that meaty note starting to predominate, with more raisins. Lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Pittyvaich 29yo (2019 Special Release)

Pittyvaich 29yo (2019 Special Release)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, mangoes, white grapes, tobacco leaf, leather, hints of sour cream. With water, lemon zest, sour cream, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, syrupy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Mangoes, white grapes, tobacco leaf, sour cream, malted grains, hints of ginseng, hints of peat. With water, more sour, lemon juice, ginseng, vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. Tobacco leaf, fresh cut grass, ginseng, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

This must be one of the last chances I will have to drink a Pittyvaich. This one has the intense white and tropical fruit notes that I remember, but it's also slightly tart, bitter and herbal. The bitterness is somehow lip smacking, rather than mouth puckering. It opens up a little with water, turning more sour than bitter.

Verdict:

I like this.

Jim Beam Signature Craft (Soft Red Wheat 11yo)

Jim Beam Signature Craft (Soft Red Wheat 11yo)

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber red
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut, vanilla, candle wax, pineapples, butterscotch, caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, fresh baked bread, butterscotch, black tea, oatcake. 
Finish: Medium. Butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, hints of pineapples. 

Comments: 

Part of the Harvest Bourbon Collection, a series of whiskies made with unusual and interesting mashbills. This one is all wheat, red wheat at that. It's not bourbon-y at all, instead it's got plenty of coconut, and pineapples, allied to a tangy saltiness. Enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Peat and Sherry Islay Blended Malt

Peat and Sherry Islay Blended Malt

Blended malt
Amber
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, peat, smoke, cooked rice, hints of green tea. With ater, raisins, red wine, vanilla, cedar wood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Raisins, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, sea salt, driftwood smoke, hints of rubber, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, honey, tarragon, raisins, smoke. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, driftwood smoke, sea salt, vanilla, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Bottled by the Whisky Exchange for the French market. This is an awesome whisky, full of complexity, lots of different layers, and gloriously unbalanced. It's bitter and herbal all throughout, and water opens it up to layers of honeyed sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

George Washington Straight Rye Whiskey

George Washington Straight Rye Whiskey

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Dark amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, molasses, brown paper, cookie dough, vanilla liqueur. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Desiccated coconut, molasses, brown paper, fresh baked bread, vanilla liqueur. 
Finish: Medium. Molasses, desiccated coconut, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, black pepper. 

Comments: 

An odd little rye whiskey, apparently only available at Mount Vernon itself, the family estate of George Washington. It's brightly sweet, with a bitter edge, and the usual rye spiciness is muted, drowned in vanilla. It only appears at the finish, in the guise of black pepper and cinnamon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Elgin 18yo Limited Edition

Glen Elgin 18yo Limited Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, raisins, malted grains, leather, white pepper, hints of lemon zest. With water, honey, butterscotch, lemon curd. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Malted grains, leather, raisins, peanuts, white pepper, walnuts, menthol, hints of peat. With water, honey, malted grains, vanilla, raisins, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, menthol, walnuts, malted grains, raisins. 

Comments: 

This is a whisky-lover's whisky. It's complex, spirit led, spicy and a little sweet. There's a bitter edge to this, turning to walnuts, leather, and menthol cigarettes. It all leads to a herbal, bitter finish, with just a little hint of sweetness underneath it all.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glentauchers 27yo 1991/2018

Glentauchers 27yo 1991/2018

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon and Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, vanilla, black tea, sticky toffee pudding, dark chocolate. With water, bitter orange, vanilla, jasmine, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Bitter orange, black tea, dark chocolate, jasmine, toffee, hints of cucumber. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, bitter orange, toffee, dark chocolate. With water, sweeter, bitter orange marmalade, cucumber, dark chocolate, jasmine, honey.

Comments: 

This is a huge Glentauchers, robust, complex and bold. It's caramelly, sweet and sticky neat, but it opens up marvellously with water, turning into something floral and jammy. It's really delicious, the spirit wears its age very well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu 7yo 2012/2019 (Milroy's of Soho Exclusive)

Chichibu 7yo 2012/2019 (Milroy's of Soho Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Orange gold
60.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, malted grains, stewed apricots, cinnamon, leather, hints of sulphur. With water, honey, white chocolate, apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, volatile, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, stewed apricots, green tea, leather, pecans, hints of sulphur. With water, cinnamon, apricot jam, tobacco leaf. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, white grapes, cinnamon, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 2279, a white Bordeaux wine. The resulting whisky is jammy, chockful of apricots, nuts and leather. There's a little sulphur lurking around the edges. With water, it opens up, turning chocolatey and warm, like a gentle hug. This is magnificent, I'm a little sorry I missed getting a full bottle.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Clynelish 21yo 1997/2018

Clynelish 21yo 1997/2018

Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark gold
54.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Almonds, candle wax, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, slippery, loosens slightly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black tea, peaches, lemon zest, honey, white grapes, hints of lime curd. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, fresh baked bread, vanilla, ginseng. 

Comments: 

A very classic Clynelish, but with some twists. Firstly, there are hints of almond on the nose, alongside all that candle wax. Secondly, alongside the lemon zest on the tongue, there's plenty of black tea without the bitterness, just floral and herbal notes, dancing on the tip. And a rather cereally finish. I liked this, but it doesn't quite hit the heights of some other Clynelishes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenfarclas 24yo (Milroy's of Soho Exclusive)

Glenfarclas 24yo (Milroy's of Soho Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, nutmeg, fresh baked bread, cloves, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, slippery, cool, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, cocoa butter, fresh baked bread, vanilla, hints of nutmeg, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, milk chocolate, cloves, black tea. 

Comments: 

Classic Glenfarclas, plenty of chocolate and spice. This one is a little out of the norm - there's cloves, something buttery, and maybe even some candied ginger. There's a robust little bitter sweet finish, that punches you in the mouth. Excellent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Singleton of Glen Ord 18yo (2019 Special Release)

Singleton of Glen Ord 18yo (2019 Special Release)

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark gold
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Golden syrup, white grapes, peach preserves, lemon zest, hints of candied orange peel. With water, honey, vanilla, golden syrup, lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warming, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Green tea, jasmine, white grapes, peach preserves, honey, dark chocolate. With water, more bittersweet, cocoa nibs, golden syrup, white grapes, dulce de leche. 
Finish: Long. Dark chocolate, green tea, lemon zest, peach preserves. 

Comments: 

Cask strength Glen Ord, very elegant, citrusy and floral. There are jammy notes, which dissolve upon adding water into chocolate and golden syrup. There's also something bitter in this, cocoa, or burnt sugar. The whisky is delicate and surprisingly gentle.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Springbank 10yo Local Barley (2019 Release)

Springbank 10yo Local Barley (2019 Release)

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Dark gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, white grapes, cucumber, petrol exhaust, sandalwood, hints of winter melon. With water, white grapes, leather, lemon zest, hints of milk. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly syrupy, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, cucumber, lemon zest, honeydew melon, Yakult, hints of sandalwood, hints of petrol exhaust. With water, sweeter, lemon zest, tobacco leaf, winter melon, sultanas, hints of milk. 
Finish: Long. Cucumber, white grapes, Yakult, hints of yoghurt. 

Comments: 

A legendary expresssion, cheap at the price, and of course sold out everywhere. No, I didn't get a bottle. But I got to try it anyway. It's not very Springbank, only a hint of that familiar petrol exhaust note, and almost none of that familiar farmyard note. Instead, it's floral, cool and fragrant, plenty of fruit and spice, and something very much like Yakult, that soured milk drink sold in Japan. Very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Dalwhinnie 30yo (2019 Special Release)

Dalwhinnie 30yo (2019 Special Release)

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale amber
54.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, raisins, milk chocolate, cola nuts, butter, marmalade. With water, peanut butter, white grapes, marmalade, hints of jasmine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black tea, milk chocolate, marmalade, peaches, leather, hints of raisins. With water, peaches, white grapes, butter, hints of winter melon. 
Finish: Medium. Marmalade, peaches, butter, hints of peanut butter. 

Comments: 

Another rarely released distillery (even amongst the indies), which reminds me, I have a bottle of Winter's Gold that I need to open. This whisky is really multi-layered, plenty of jammy notes on the top, concealing a core of leather, peanuts and butter. So much fruit, so much leather, a little less floral notes. Intense even with water.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Cardhu 14yo (2019 Special Release)

Cardhu 14yo (2019 Special Release)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Pale copper 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, raisins, vanilla, honey, nutmeg, condensed milk, cream. With water, golden syrup, toffee, vanilla fudge. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns syrupy, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, vanilla, nutmeg, clotted cream, butter, golden syrup, hints of cedar. With water, bitter orange, nutmeg, vanilla fudge. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, bitter orange, vanilla, butter. 

Comments: 

I don't often get to try Cardhu, because not only is the variety of official bottlings quite sparse, there seem to be almost no indies as well. This special release was a welcome addition. It's really very good, chockful of cream and fruit, light sweetness cut through with a bitter orange flavour. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Lemon Buttered Kippers (Bruichladdich 18yo 1997/2015)

Lemon Buttered Kippers (Bruichladdich 18yo 1997/2015)

Single Cask, Wemyss Malts
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, kippers, oakum, melted butter, peat, mint, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Peat, leather, butter, mint, peanuts, sea salt, hints of oakum. 
Finish: Short. Butter, shortcrust pastry, mint, vanilla, hints of lemon juice. 

Comments: 

Fragrant citrus married to something fishy, and heaps of tarry old rope. But it's gentle, the smoke is rather slight for an Islay whisky, and there's refreshing mint and buttery goodness on the tongue and the finish. Gloriously, unapologetic Islay.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Teaninich 17yo (200th Anniversary Release)

Teaninich 17yo (200th Anniversary Release)

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Sunshine gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Winter melon, cucumber, lemon zest, rolled oats, cornflakes, hints of toast, hints of white grapes. With water, cucumber, cantaloupes, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cucumber, lemon zest, cornflakes, toast, leather, lemon curd, hints of marmalade. With water, leather, cornflakes, cantaloupes, red peppercorns, rolled oats. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, rolled oats, lemon zest, winter melon. 

Comments: 

High proof Teaninich of a decent age. Lots of complexity, cucumber and all sorts of melon, with a little teensy hint of smoke on the tongue and the finish. Lots of spice and cereal too, lots going on in here. The finish is a little smoky, and melony. Gorgeous.

Verdict:

I like this.

Eleanor Chapter 9

Eleanor Chapter 9

Eleanor, Crowded Barrel Whiskey Company
Single bourbon - Indiana
Golden
56.85% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanut butter, white chocolate, white pepper, vanilla, coffee, hints of marzipan. With water, yoghurt, peanuts, buttermilk, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peanut butter, white chocolate, nutmeg, vanilla, coffee, butter, hints of sultanas. With water, sweeter, sultanas, lemon curd, peanuts. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, peanut butter, coffee, sultanas, white chocolate. 

Comments: 

A sourced whiskey from the new Crowded Barrel Whiskey Company, which owns a distillery and is a project of some whisky enthusiasts who make Youtube videos from their whisky cave. Sourced from where, you ask? Well, MGP in Indiana of course. Sourced or not, this is pretty good stuff - like white chocolate Reese's Pieces, nutty, sweet and luscious.

Verdict:

I like this.

Caol Ila 9yo 2010/2019

Caol Ila 9yo 2010/2019

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla fudge, peat, leather, lemon curd, condensed milk, toffee, hints of sour cream. With water, honey, toffee, hints of butterscotch. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Vanilla fudge, lemon curd, leather, white grapes, peanuts, hints of toffee. With water, saltier, butterscotch, peanuts, honey. 
Finish: Short. Smoke, peat, lemon curd, peanuts, condensed milk. 

Comments: 

I believe at this point that I've had more Caol Ila than any other whisky. This one has some citrus and dairy under the obligatory smoke and peat, it's quite pleasant and refreshing. I have a soft spot for whiskies that bury delicate flavours under peat parts per million, as it's challenging to discover all their secrets.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lg10

Lg10

Elements of Islay, Specialty Drinks
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
57.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Driftwood smoke, leather, honey, raisins, vanilla, walnuts, peanuts, hints of coffee. With water, vanilla, pears, hints of lime blossom. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Peat, driftwood smoke, pears, chillies, green peppers, coffee, walnuts. With water, coffee, green peppers, lime blossom, pears. 
Finish: Short. Smoke, leather, peanuts, popcorn, chillies, hints of olive oil. 

Comments: 

Quite an unusual Lagavulin. There's the usual dry driftwood smoke, maybe even a touch of olive oil on the tongue. But under that, there's heaps of herbal, fruity, floral goodness, which opens up with a touch of water. The green pepper note is particularly unusual and alluring. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glencadam 15yo 2004/2019

Glencadam 15yo 2004/2019

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

Nose: Butter, toast, white grapes, vanilla, cotton sheets, honeydew melon, hints of gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slippery, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toast, white grapes, honey, honeydew melon, rolled oats, butter. 
Finish: Long. Honeydew melon, butter, rolled oats, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

This whisky is delicate, fruity and cereally. Lots of fragrant esters overlaying some highly flavourful spirit. Mouthfeel wise, it's loose and a bit thin - not the most pleasant. Not an autumn whisky, but a summer one - maybe even to be enjoyed with ice.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lot No 40 Cask Strength 11yo (2018 release)

Lot No 40 Cask Strength 11yo (2018 release)

Official bottling
Single rye - Ontario
Amber
58.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, white pepper, fresh cut grass, raisins, marmalade, sultanas, hints of green tea. With water, sultanas, sea salt, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, slippery, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. White pepper, vanilla, candy floss, fresh cut grass, green tea, candied orange, preserved lemons, hints of magic marker. With water, saltier, fresh cut grass, green tea, salt caramel, raisins. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, cream, condensed milk, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

2nd edition. This is a whopping great big whale of a whisky, spicy, sweet and herbal. With water it metamorphoses, becoming saltier and even more herbal. Hugely complex, a very gentle rye, with subtle savoury notes. Amazing stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Braeval 18yo 2001/2019

Braeval 18yo 2001/2019

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Sunshine gold
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, dried apricots, apple juice, tobacco leaf, honey, candied orange, barley sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, syrupy, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Dried apricots, toast, shortbread, apple juice, tobacco leaf, barley sweets. 
Finish: Long. Barley sweets, toast, tobacco leaf, apple juice, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

Cask DL 13507. My past Braevals have been rather Christmassy whiskies, chockfull of raisins and spice. This one is rather gentler, shorter on the spice and longer on the sweet notes. There's something toasty and shortbready as well, reminds me of one of the first cask strength Rosebanks I ever had. Absolutely delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Machrie Moor Cask Strength

Machrie Moor Cask Strength

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Silver gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoked bacon, tobacco leaf, pineapples, white pepper, honey. With water, mint, sandalwood, honey, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Honey, fresh baked bread, peat, tobacco leaf, pineapples, sea salt, hints of buttermilk. With water, smoked bacon, sandalwood, honey, hints of mint. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, honey, raisins, red grapes, hints of smoked bacon. 

Comments: 

Peated, cask strength Arran - what could go wrong? Well, nothing really did. This is glorious stuff, lots of sweet pineapple, an edge of spice, and heavenly, meaty smoke and peat. It's gentler with water, opens up to minty smoke and woody flavours.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Starward Two-Fold

Starward Two-Fold

Official bottling
Single blend - Victoria
Amber red
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, vanilla, toast, rolled oats, chocolate, raisins, toasted coconut. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, slightly watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Toasted coconut, milk chocolate, vanilla, white grapes, rolled oats. 
Finish: Medium. Rolled oats, vanilla, cream of wheat, fresh baked bread, hints of clotted cream. 

Comments: 

A blend of malt and grain, both distilled at New World, finished in their usual wine casks. It's cereally, laden with vanilla and spice, but with that blanket of wine flavours over it. I particularly like the finish, it's heaped with a sweet, wheaty, chewy bite.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 23yo

Ben Nevis 23yo

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - West Highlands
Dark gold
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, honey, raisins, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of elderflower. With water, honey, elderflower, orange blossom, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, gooseberries, orange juice, orange peel, ginseng, hints of aluminium foil. With water, sweeter, peanuts, elderflower, honey, white grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, ginseng, breadcrumbs, aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

Tastes young, but has complexity. The flavours are bright and floral, in clear layers. There's a nutty, slightly metallic finish, that fades slightly to a bitter, cereally finish. Haven't had a lot of Ben Nevis, those that I remember tend to have been heavily sherried. This one is a lot more floral.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardbeg Supernova 5th Release 2019

Ardbeg Supernova 5th Release 2019

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Golden
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, vanilla ice cream, white chocolate, honey, hints of peach. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Leather, smoke, peat, honey, white chocolate, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Peat, smoke, white pepper, honey, peach. 

Comments: 

An interesting Ardbeg, this isn't as 'classic' as the first release. It's white chocolate instead of dark chocolate, and there's a nice peppery bite on the tongue as well. On the nose, heaps of vanilla ice cream and fruit underneath the smoke and peat. Glorious - I think I like it better than Supernova 2009.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Benriach 18yo Latada

Benriach 18yo Latada

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, bacon, red grapes, honey, black tea, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, warm, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Driftwood smoke, bacon, peat, red grapes, black tea, vanilla, hints of toast. 
Finish: Medium. Peat, black tea, ginseng, raisins. 

Comments: 

One of a trio of peated 18yo Benriachs. Thanks Simo for the dram. It's really nice, smoky, meaty, yet sherried and bittersweet. It's 'simple', in the sense that the layers of flavour are very clear and you don't need to work very hard to taste this. Easy to taste, nose and enjoy when you're talking.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Banff 22yo 1980/2003

Banff 22yo 1980/2003

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bacon, white grapes, honeydew melon, smoke, cucumber, hints of raisins 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, smoke, white grapes, honeydew melon, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, honeydew melon, winter melon, smoke, cloves, raisins. 

Comments: 

Cask 2915. This is a meaty Speyside, with more than a little hint of smoke, and a layer of fermentation on the tongue. Other than that, it's loaded with fruity esters and spice. This older style always brings a smile to my face, there's not a lot of this left, and I've been really lucky to taste this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenlossie 25yo Batch 5

Glenlossie 25yo Batch 5

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
44.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Candle wax, lemon zest, winter melon, cucumber, cedar, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, cool, static. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Black tea, malted grains, toast, cucumber, candle wax, hints of ginseng. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, candle wax, peanuts, lemon zest, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Not your usual Speyside. It's quite robust, waxy, quite vegetal, even woody. There's not a lot of sweet notes here, instead it's largely bitter and surprisingly tart. There's also some dust, and fermentation. Quite special.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Mortlach 17yo 2002/2019

Mortlach 17yo 2002/2019

The Hidden Spirits Whisky Company
Single malt - Speyside
Pale silver
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange zest, lemon zest, white grapes, honey, vanilla, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, cloves, orange juice, malted grains, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, malted grains, cloves, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask ref MR 219. Thanks Andrea for the sample. No water needed, this whisky is just a symphony of fruit, cereal and spice. It's warming and bright, perfect for a cold winter's evening. Also probably perfect for a warm summer's evening, in fact perfect at any time. Andrea thinks Hidden Spirits are the new Samaroli, based on the quality of this cask, I have to agree.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Cotswolds Peated Cask Batch 01/2019

Cotswolds Peated Cask Batch 01/2019

Official bottling
Single malt - Warwickshire
Light gold
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, honeydew melon, cream, peat, pear juice, hints of smoke, hints of white grapes. With water, milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, honeydew melon, white raisins, peat, leather, smoke, black tea, hints of new plastic. With water, leather, peat, white raisins, vanilla, hints of lemon juice. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, milk, lemon juice, leather, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

This whisky is wild, the flavour profile feels jumbled, disordered, with the flavours not distinct and changing. Yet somehow it works well, the fruit fades to peat which fades to bitterness, which fades from the palate. I really do like this.

Verdict:

I like this.

Caol Ila 14yo 2005/2019

Caol Ila 14yo 2005/2019

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon and Macphail
Single malt - Islay
Amber rose
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, red grapes, honey, peat, leather, smoke, blackcurrant, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Red grapes, liquorice, honey, smoke, peat, leather, quince jelly, ginseng. 
Finish: Medium. Ginseng, red grapes, blackcurrant, raisins. 

Comments: 

Batch 19/013. Sherried Caol Ila, bottled at higher than expected strength as part of the Connoisseur's Choice range. I like the newer expressions, they appear to have been selected for complexity and robust flavour. This one has a lot of sherry influence, but this is subservient to the peaty, smokey, savoury Caol Ila. Lots of bitter and liquorice notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

1792 Full Proof

1792 Full Proof

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
62.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, butter, vanilla, brown paper, orange peel, condensed milk, hints of miso. With water, saltier, raisins, honey, vanilla, miso. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Butter, toffee, brown paper, cinnamon, orange peel, black tea. With water, butterscotch, sea salt, miso, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Sea salt, miso, butter, raisins, caramel. 

Comments: 

I like bourbon from 1792 generally. It's reminiscent of Pappy, in terms of its complexity and sweet notes, but it's also got more layers, and for a fraction of the price. The layer below the sweetness in this whisky is saline with more than a hint of umami, it's like a sweet savoury hug.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ledaig 21yo

Ledaig 21yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber red
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, strawberries, peat, oolong tea, lemon zest, smoke, hints of marmalade. With water, preserved lemons, sea salt, peat, hints of raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, cool, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, leather, oolong tea, marmalade, lemon zest, smoked bacon, hints of dried peaches. With water, salty, preserved lemons, raisins, red grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, smoke, marmalade, dried peaches. 

Comments: 

There's a lot in here to unpack. Firstly, there's the obligatory peat and smoke. Underneath that, there's heaps of jammy notes, oolong tea (floral yet tannic), and something meaty which combines oh-so-well with that smoke. Definitely a last one of the night sort of whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Croftengea 12yo 2006/2018

Croftengea 12yo 2006/2018

Cooper's Choice, The Vintage Malt Whisky Company
Single malt - South Highlands
Golden
51% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peat, tobacco leaf, smoke, cream, malted grains, hints of toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, slightly slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Raisins, walnut skins, toffee, honey, preserved lemons, chocolate, smoke, cream, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, toffee, chocolate, smoke, hints of condensed milk. 

Comments: 

Peated Loch Lomond, something quite hard to find nowadays. This one is bitter and uncompromising, with a thick layer of smoke, peat, and walnut skins over chocolate, preserved citrus and dairy. It's intense, not many whiskies can follow this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

St Magdalene 15yo 1980/1995

St Magdalene 15yo 1980/1995

Centenary Reserve, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Lowlands
Pink gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, strawberries, tobacco leaf, fresh cut grass, jasmine tea, hints of peat. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, turns watery, slightly warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Strawberries, fresh cut grass, kiwi fruit, lemon zest, hints of coffee, hints of cucumber. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, lemon zest, Coca Cola, tobacco leaf, chocolate, hints of peat. 

Comments: 

A rare find, this St Magdalene marries subtle tobacco notes with some gentle peat and fruit. It's quite intense for a young whisky, and there's certainly some notes of old bottle effect. I really enjoyed this, St Magdalene is light, gentle, and old - not a common combination.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Japanese Blended Whisky #1 21yo Batch 2

Japanese Blended Whisky #1 21yo Batch 2

Official bottling
Blend
Bronze gold
47.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cedar, cotton sheets, honey, hazelnuts, pears, hints of chillies. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, thickens slightly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cotton sheets, cedar, honey, peanuts, orange peel, pears, hints of chillies. 
Finish: Short. Peanuts, black tea, vanilla, honey, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Quite intensely flavoured for a Japanese whisky, lots of fruit, floral and woody notes. There's also something like freshly laundered sheets - quite comforting, really. It fades to a brief, intense finish, with a hint of bitterness.

Verdict:

I like this.

New Zealand 29yo 1988/2017 (TWE Exclusive)

New Zealand 29yo 1988/2017 (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber
55.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ink, dried pears, milk chocolate, honey, walnuts, red grapes, hints of marmalade. With water, red grapes, raisins, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, walnuts, milk chocolate, condensed milk, honey, hints of red grapes. With water, sweeter, raisins, honey, vanilla, damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, milk chocolate, marmalade, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

There's nothing like old whisky, especially old sherry bombs. This one is chocolatey, full of dried fruit and some metallic iron notes. With water, it turns jammy, tasting of autumnal damsons, and becomes wonderfully sweet.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Chichibu 2011/2018 Cask 3537

Chichibu 2011/2018 Cask 3537

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark copper
59.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, tobacco leaf, raisins, damson jam, bubble gum, orange peel, hints of dried pears. With water, rolled oats, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread, hay. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, rolled oats, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, sea salt, brown butter. With water, bubble gum, orange peel, lemon zest, hints of peaches. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, dark chocolate, brown butter, vanilla liqueur. 

Comments: 

A sister cask to the one I tried at the Whisky Show, this dram is uplifting, complex and slightly saline. Water opens it up magnificently, bringing fruit, some grassy, herbal notes, and even some tutti frutti bubble gum.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Benrinnes 10yo 2009/2019

Benrinnes 10yo 2009/2019

Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rambutans, sticky toffee pudding, candied pineapple, orange peel, hints of condensed milk. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, sticky, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Rambutans, candied pineapple, strawberry jam, vanilla sponge, black tea, hints of butterscotch. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, orange peel, butterscotch, walnuts. 

Comments: 

This Benrinnes is young, but highly complex, and very fruity. I particularly like the sweet tropical fruit, and the quick fade to a nice fruity finish. I've never tried this particular series of expressions, they seem to be pitched a bit lower than Celebration of the Cask.

Verdict:

I like this.

High Coast Berg

High Coast Berg

Official bottling
Single malt - Angermanland
Light amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, honey, fresh baked bread, hibiscus, black tea, hints of malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly oily, mouth coating, smooth. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, honey, black pepper, brown paper, vanilla, hints of pine. 
Finish: Long. Red grapes, orange peel, vanilla, cloves, hints of pine. 

Comments: 

First High Coast whisky, under the new badge (previously Box). It's floral and sweet, plenty of cereal too. Characteristic pine and cloves in the finish, these notes are well hidden by the sherry (?) influence.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hiram Walker Dream Cask (bottled 23 July 2019)

Hiram Walker Dream Cask (bottled 23 July 2019)

Official bottling
Single malt - Ontario
Dark gold
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, marmalade, damson jam, bitter orange, hints of white grapes. With water, marmalade, black tea, bitter orange. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, slightly sticky, thickens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Marmalade, damson jam, lemon juice, white grapes, honey, hints of kiwi fruit, hints of milk. With water, vanilla, damson jam, bitter orange, vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, white grapes, damson jam, vanilla, clotted cream. 

Comments: 

The label says "for testing purposes only". I don't know why it isn't for sale, it's excellent stuff. I only know Hiram Walker through Canadian Club, which, in comparison to this beast, is frankly insipid. There's heaps of fruit in the undiluted spirit, and with water, it opens up to waves of damsons and marmalade. Glorious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Imperial 23yo (for the Whisky Show 2019)

Imperial 23yo (for the Whisky Show 2019)

Show bottling, The Whisky Exchange
Single malt - Speyside
Pale green
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, honey, lime zest, green tea, white grapes, hints of jasmine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, jasmine, lemon zest, nectarines, kiwi fruit, green tea. 
Finish: Long. Jasmine, kiwi fruit, white grapes, honey, green tea. 

Comments: 

An odd tasting Imperial. I can normally find plenty of lemon zest in Imperial, but this one has plenty of floral notes too, and stone fruit in abundance. There's also a tannic fragrance that I interpret as green tea. It's very refreshing whisky, and somehow, a palate cleanser.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ardnamurchan 2015 Cask Sample (Cask 670P)

Ardnamurchan 2015 Cask Sample (Cask 670P)

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Amber
63.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, red grapes, black tea, red wine, prunes, raisins. With water, red grapes, orange peel, leather, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, warm, spicy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, red grapes, prunes, leather, ginseng, coffee. With water, leather, red grapes, raisins, ginseng. 
Finish: Long. Red grapes, black tea, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Well now. This is the sister cask to the previous Ardnamurchan, and this is definitely sherry. It's also peated, and it's intense and sweet, with plenty of tannins. Lemon zest is definitely evident on the nose and the finish - is this a distillery characteristic? It's very pleasant stuff. Again, the distillery product is very promising.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ardnamurchan 2015 Cask Sample (cask 199)

Ardnamurchan 2015 Cask Sample (cask 199)

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Pale green
63.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, green tea, jasmine, lemon zest, honey, hints of lavender. With water, peanuts, lemon zest, lime juice, hints of lavender. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon zest, peanuts, jasmine, orange peel, honey, green tea. With water, green tea, ginseng, lemon zest, honey. 
Finish: Long. Peanuts, ginseng, orange peel, lemon zest, vanilla. 

Comments: 

First dram from Ardnamurchan! It's really very nice indeed, light, floral, fruity, with some light tannins. It's gentle, and somehow fragile, even loose. I can't really discern the cask type, probably bourbon? Very promising stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.