Abomination - Crying of the Puma

Abomination - Crying of the Puma

Official bottling
Single malt - California
Amber red
54% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peat, smoke, cooked rice, hints of sandalwood, hints of raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, tightens, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, cinnamon, cooked rice, peat, smoke, hints of star anise. 
Finish: Long. Peat, smoke, cooked rice, star anise, orange peel. 

Comments: 

This isn't whisky - at least, not yet. It's spirit that's been aged for 18 months in a barrel, then pressure cooked with wood powder to create a semblance of aging. I approached it with an open mind, and it turned out to be decent stuff. Spicy, slightly delicate despite all that peat, and I could really taste the barley.

Verdict:

I like this.a lot.

Linkwood 25yo

Linkwood 25yo

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

Nose: Red wine, yoghurt, orange peel, raisins, cloves, hints of cheddar cheese, hints of chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, watery, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red wine, raisins, cloves, aluminium foil, black tea, cheddar cheese, hints of chillies. 
Finish: Short. Brass polish, aluminium foil, raisins, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Nice bold and robust Speyside, lots of fruit and spice on the nose and tongue. It's paired with a hint of umami, something quite cheesy and slightly savoury. There are odd metallic notes here and there on the tongue and on the finish, which I gather some others describe as 'oily' or 'dusty'.

Verdict:

I like this.

Suntory Toki

Suntory Toki

Blended malt
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, chocolate, raisins, orange peel, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Chocolate, orange peel, vanilla, condensed milk, hints of caramel. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, black tea, raisins, hints of vanilla. 

Comments: 

A very light whisky, more floral than the descriptors I've written down above might lead one to believe. Excellent flavour, and I now understand the power of using Chita as the backbone of a blended whisky. Apparently a combination of Chita, Yamazaki and Hakushu, nothing more.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Braeval 20yo 1997/2018

Braeval 20yo 1997/2018

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, peaches, golden syrup, honey, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Biter sweet. Black tea, golden syrup, molasses, leather, hints of caramel. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, leather, molasses, raisins, hints of salt caramel. 

Comments: 

Cask DL12399. Good fruity notes on the nose, but this then decays to sweeter, tannic notes on the tongue. There's not a lot of variation in the finish, although the peat makes a reappearance. A more robust Braeval than I've had before.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cotswolds Founders Choice Single Malt

Cotswolds Founders Choice Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Warwickshire
Dark copper
60.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, honeycomb, leather, raisins, hints of yoghurt. With water, strawberries, milk, milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  BItter sweet. Raisins, orange peel, honey, yoghurt, hints of milk chocolate. With water, strawberries, milk chocolate, honeycomb. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, milk chocolate, orange peel, vanilla, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Batch 02/2018. Sweet and unctuous whisky very strong. Slightly lactic and funky, with hits of yoghurt, maybe even sour cream. Opens up well with water, turns fragrant and even sweeter.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tomatin 16yo 2001/2018

Tomatin 16yo 2001/2018

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, bananas, pears, white chocolate, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pears, white grapes, dried mangoes, white chocolate, honey, hints of jasmine tea. 
Finish: Medium. Dried mangoes, lemon zest, honey, hints of pears. 

Comments: 

Delicious cask strength whisky, loaded with fruit, chocolate and floral notes. I love this sort of whisky. Unfortunately, this specimen does not take water well, and turns a little flat when it opens up.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Dubliner Irish Whiskey

The Dubliner Irish Whiskey

Blended malt
Straw
40% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Lemon zest, brass polish, rhubarb and cuastard sweets, pear drops, jasmine, hints of ginseng. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, turns sticky, balls up. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pear drops, apples, brass polish, lemon zest, hints of pears. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, jasmine, rhubarb and custard sweets, pears. 

Comments: 

A light and floral blend, gentle and sweet. Quite refreshing. Decent dram to start an evening's dramming with.

Verdict:

I like this.