Kilchoman Sanaig

Kilchoman Sanaig

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, leather, peanuts, red grapes, honey, fish sauce, hints of dates. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, slightly oily, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peat, driftwood smoke, date honey, peanuts, fish sauce, sea salt, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Long. Peanuts, dates, fish sauce, golden syrup, leather. 

Comments: 

Otherwise known as STR, stands for Shaved, Toasted and Recharred, the cask treatment for aging. It's got some nice date honey notes, and there's some delicious fish sauce alongside. Brilliant Kilchoman, very highly peated.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Tennessee Whiskey 3yo 2016/2019

Tennessee Whiskey 3yo 2016/2019

Maltbarn
Single bourbon - Tennessee
Dark gold 
61.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butterscotch, raisins, honey, caramel, vanilla ice cream, bananas. With water, sweeter, fresh baked bread, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, watery, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Bananas, honey, brown paper, caramel, red grapes, raisins, hints of ink. With water, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, apples. 
Finish: Long. Apple juice, honey, raisins, black tea. 

Comments: 

Maltbarn 123. It's apparently George Dickel, and it's got a nice sweet, toffee apple character. Plenty of vanilla ice cream on the nose too. Brings some classic American desserts to mind.

Verdict:

I like this.

Longmorn 15yo 2003/2019

Longmorn 15yo 2003/2019

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
White wine
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, white grapes, ginger powder, toasted coconut, hints of caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loose, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Barley sugar, orange juice, green apples, white grapes, hints of cherry. 
Finish: Long. Green apples, orange juice, raisins, toasted coconut. 

Comments: 

Cask DL 13067. Tart, gingery, plenty of coconut. It's not very sweet, and uncommonly for Longmorns that I've had, not very sherried. There's plenty of fruity notes, and something wonderfully sharp in the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fettercairn 11yo 2008/2019

Fettercairn 11yo 2008/2019

Old Malt Cask, Hunter Laing
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, barley sugar, lemon sweets, maple syrup, butterscotch. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, oily, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh cut grass, dried thyme, barley sugar, lemon juice, hints of wet stones. 
Finish: Long. Maple syrup, fresh cut grass, sea salt, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Cask HL 16646. This is the first of the new Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask expressions that I've tried. It's sweet and herbal, quite light considering the level of sugar. Something salty in the finish, something dusty too. Nice whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

North British 22yo 1995/2018

North British 22yo 1995/2018

Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark amber
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, cinnamon, nutmeg, red grapes, fresh baked bread, black pepper. With water, fresh baked bread, fried eggs, toast. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, oily, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh baked bread, red grapes, vanilla, custard, chocolate, hints of fried eggs. With water, red grapes, honey, fried eggs. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, fried eggs, custard, red grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask 51762. Decadent, thick, oily, and heavy stuff. It's sweet and unctuous, spicy on the nose, but gentle on the tongue. Water opens it up and brings a pleasant egginess, the sulphur is quite gentle. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Catoctin Creek Roundhouse Rye

Catoctin Creek Roundhouse Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Bronze
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sourdough, white pepper, nutmeg, orange zest, new plastic, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loose, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Orange zest, yeast, raisins, white pepper, nutmeg, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Yeast, sourdough, coffee, hints of cream. 

Comments: 

Very different from its higher strength cousin. Less sweet, sourish, yeasty and bready, with a bitter undertone. About the only similarity is the nutmeg and the hints of cream on the finish. Decent stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Auchroisk 27yo 1990/2018

Auchroisk 27yo 1990/2018

Cask Strength, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
53.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, white chocolate, lemon zest, milk, honey, hints of raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, slightly watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, orange juice, lemon zest, black tea, ginseng, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, black pepper, white chocolate, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Sweet and complex, with citrus and chocolate in abundance. There's tannins and other bitters on the tongue, which then fades ever so slowly on a sweet spicy finish. Signatory is always very decent.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tormore 25yo 1992/2017

Tormore 25yo 1992/2017

Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Varnished oak
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, red grapes, oranges, coffee, black tea, candied almonds, hints of dust. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, oily, sticky. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, dust, vanilla, chocolate, black tea, burnt orange, driftwood smoke, dust. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, red grapes, burnt orange, coffee. 

Comments: 

Cask DL 12025. Sweet and sticky, oily and luscious, immensely sherried, yet complex. There's something burnt here alongside all the fruity sweet notes, coffee, burnt orange peel, and hints of smoke. It's really good sherried and aged whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

1770 Glasgow Single Malt 2019 Release

1770 Glasgow Single Malt 2019 Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sour cream, raisins, ginger beer, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, static, warming. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Ginger beer, sour cream, new plastic, lemon juice, vanilla, hints of caramel. 
Finish: Short. Rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon juice, vanilla, raisins, hints of orange juice. 

Comments: 

A very young malt, with some interesting notes I've rarely encountered, like sour cream and ginger beer. Unfortunately there's also quite a bit of new plastic (the unpleasant kind). I'd wait a few more years before bottling, but hey, everyone has to make a living.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kilkerran Triple Distilled 2006/2 Cask Sample

Kilkerran Triple Distilled 2006/2 Cask Sample

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Pale gold
Around 58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, sea salt, honey, caramel, leather, hints of fish sauce. With water, vanilla sponge, butterscotch, porridge oats. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla sponge, raisins, caramel, sea salt, lemon juice, hints of fish sauce. With water, sweeter, fresh baked bread, butterscotch, porridge oats. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, raisins, ginseng, lemon juice. 

Comments: 

Thanks Eddie for the unofficial cask sample. It's great! Pale gold loveliness, saline and slightly fishy neat, but opens up to great whiffs of cereally spirity oomph with quite a few drops of water. It gets sweeter too, less savoury.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Reservoir Bourbon 2017 Batch 2

Reservoir Bourbon 2017 Batch 2

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Virginia
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Condensed milk, corn syrup, bananas, raisins, vanilla, butterscotch. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, warming, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Condensed milk, bananas, brown paper, cooked rice, sweet corn, butterscotch. 
Finish: Medium. Chillies, sweet corn, fresh baked bread, bananas, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Sweet and milky, this is a very good topping to a wonderful dramming evening. There's plenty of corn and grain on the tongue, and it fades fairly slowly to a fragrant, cereally finish. Nice stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardbeg Twenty Something 22yo 1996/2018

Ardbeg Twenty Something 22yo 1996/2018

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Silver gold
46.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, cooked rice, orange zest, honeydew melons, green tea, hints of thyme. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, slightly oily, loosens. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Peat, leather, smoke, orange zest, cooked rice, vanilla, gooseberries, hints of green tea. 
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, leather, orange zest, camphor, thyme. 

Comments: 

What a saline, cereally, herbal, fragrant Ardbeg! Rather unusually, there's not a lot of chocolate in this, instead there's light fruit, and a tang of cooked rice. It feels like it should be smooth like starch and astringent like green tea, but instead it's got a nice oily mouth feel.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenturret 12yo 2006/2018

Glenturret 12yo 2006/2018

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Central Highlands
Chinese tea
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, raisins, miso, pecans, honey, dried blueberries, hints of treacle. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, airy, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Plums, raisins, fresh baked bread, dried blueberries, treacle, leather, hints of miso. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, plums, fresh baked bread, orange peel, porridge oats. 

Comments: 

Cask DL 12759. This is lovely stuff, dark and rich, plenty of fruit, and an alluring savoury fermented note that I interpret as miso. Lots of cereally notes on the tongue and the finish too. This is better than many whiskies twice as old.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenallachie 25yo

Glenallachie 25yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Barley sugar, carrot cake, vanilla, orange zest, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly oily, slippery, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange zest, carrot cake, raisins, candied winter melon, nutmeg, hints of chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Orange zest, candied winter melon, orange zest, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Oof. Massive hits of barley sugar, carrot cake, spicy deliciousness on the nose. On the tongue, it somehow moderates, turning a little fruity, and a little deeper but less sharp in flavour. Nice whisky, but it doesn't show its age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glendronach Master Vintage 1993 25yo

Glendronach Master Vintage 1993 25yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
48.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Balsamic vinegar, caramelised onions, raisins, sea salt, honey, hints of roast beef, hints of chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, black tea, lemon juice, roast beef, chocolate, balsamic vinegar. 
Finish: Long. Chocolate, lemon juice, cooked rice, caramelised onions, balsamic vinegar. 

Comments: 

Very reminiscent of the Silver Seal bottling I had not too long ago. Sweet and sherried, yes, but with delicious savoury notes, along with that lovely balsamic vinegar flavour wreathed throughout. Nice mouthfeel too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

1792 Bottled In Bond

1792 Bottled In Bond

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, sweet corn, sea salt, vanilla, orange zest, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, slightly oily, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Fresh baked bread, bananas, honey, orange zest, ink, lemon curd. 
Finish: Short. Chillies, fresh baked bread, lemon curd, hints of chocolate. 

Comments: 

This bourbon was surprisingly intense and rich, of a level with the various Pappy releases, and at a fraction of the price. Part of this is due to the higher strength, of course, but it's no less magnificent for that. Amazing stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Red Spot 15yo

Red Spot 15yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Southern Ireland
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, honey, raisins, strawberries, lemon juice, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Sea salt, black tea, raisins, vanilla, lemon juice, hints of ginseng. 
Finish: Short. Ginseng, black tea, sea salt, hints of olive oil. 

Comments: 

Sweet and light, but there's a savoury note, and even some oily bitterness on the finish. This is a much more sophisticated and complex whisky than I would have expected for Midleton. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dumbarton 51yo 1964/2016

Dumbarton 51yo 1964/2016

Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold
45.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, honey, lemon zest, vanilla, dried coconut, black tea, hints of dust. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black tea, sandalwood, vanilla, honey, lemon zest, brown paper, molasses, hints of raisins, hints of dust. 
Finish: Long. Honey, golden syrup, raisins, molasses. 

Comments: 

Wow. There's barley in this, if I'm any judge. The grain is muted by time, hidden under some delicious spice and lemon, with an astringent dusty note. Lovely, lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

King's County Bourbon Barrel Strength (Batch 142)

King's County Bourbon Barrel Strength (Batch 142)

Official bottling
Single bourbon - New York
Amber
61.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Corn syrup, banana cake, vanilla, raisins, red grapes, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Brown paper, black tea, banana cake, vanilla, red grapes, hints of saltpetre. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, vanilla, red grapes, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Wow. This is very young, probably under 3 years, but in the states you can still call it whisky (whatever...). But what it tastes like is really quite delicious. I don't think it needs water at all, it's not too sweet, plenty of tannins, and great heaps of cooked banana. A few more years (quite a few more), and it could become a stunning whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Moray 10yo

Glen Moray 10yo

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, vanilla, apple juice, toast, sea salt, white grapes. With water, honey, white grapes, apples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slightly oily, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Toast, shortcrust pastry, vanilla, apple juice, brass polish. With water, sandalwood, white grapes, honey. 
Finish: Short. Apple juice, toast, vanilla, lemon juice, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Intense, spicy, fruity, Glen Moray. It's especially good for being so strong, there's some salinity in it as well, which makes a big difference. With water, it opens up, becoming more herbal and fragrant, but retaining a lot of sweetness. Very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Benromach Organic 2011 (2011/2018)

Benromach Organic 2011 (2011/2018)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Orange gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, membrillo, candle wax, lemon zest, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, slightly metallic. 
Tasting:  Sour. Membrillo, white grapes, green tea, vanilla, green apples, hints of apricots. 
Finish: Short. Toast, vanilla, green apples, white grapes. 

Comments: 

A good fragrant dram, plenty of tart notes, including an unusual one of quince paste, or Spanish membrillo. Lots of white grapes and green apples too, making this whisky quite fruity. The spirit makes another appearance in the form of toast on the finish. Good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tamdhu Batch Strength (Batch 004)

Tamdhu Batch Strength (Batch 004)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Dusty amber
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, orange peel, marshmallows, raisins, fried eggs, heather honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery, slightly airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, fresh baked bread, vanilla, honey, red grapes, hints of lemon curd. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, raisins, vanilla, lemon curd, hints of shortbread. 

Comments: 

A sweetly sherried dram, lots of nice cereal notes, some interesting citrus notes, and a good buttery finish. However, it's wreathed through with sulphur, which works in some drams, but detracts a bit from this. The sulphury fried egg note is a little jarring.

Verdict:

I like this.

BRBN Family Reserve

BRBN Family Reserve

Official bottling
Single corn - British Columbia
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, polenta, golden syrup, olive oil, camphor, hints of leather, hints of banana. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loose, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Orange juice, white wine vinegar, vanilla, lemon juice, chillies, hints of mint. 
Finish: Medium. Mint, vanilla, white grapes, hints of camphor. 

Comments: 

Bourbon style Canadian corn whiskey. It's not quite bourbon like, being quite tart, and lacking the rich banana notes. But it's pleasant stuff nonetheless, lots of fragrant citrus, herbal notes, and some mint.

Verdict:

I like this.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10yo

Old Rip Van Winkle 10yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber red
53.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, raisins, hazelnuts, strawberries, vanilla sponge, golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Iron filings, raisins, vanilla custard, sea salt, banana cake, fresh baked bread, hints of golden syrup. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, banana cake, vanilla, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

After many, many years, I've managed to get my grubby paws on another Pappy expression. Very reasonably priced. It was as rich and intense as I remembered it, plenty of cooked bananas and alluring cereally notes. Lovely.

Verdict:

I like this.

Old Pulteney 18yo

Old Pulteney 18yo

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, orange peel, sea salt, vanilla sponge, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, slippery, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Sea salt, lemon zest, honeycomb, orange squash, hints of seaweed, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Orange squash, seaweed, honeycomb, raisins. 

Comments: 

Classic, briny Old Pulteney, but sweeter than the usual, with a nice citrusy tang. It's like the old 17yo but amped up. The seaweed and brine is perhaps a touch lighter, and the sweetness from the wood a touch more obvious.

Verdict:

I like this.

Stork Club Straight Rye (Cask Strength)

Stork Club Straight Rye (Cask Strength)

Official bottling
Single rye - Brandenburg
Amber
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, coffee, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, polenta, hints of chillies. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, vanilla, malted grains, cinnamon, polenta, hints of camphor. 
Finish: Short. Chillies, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, honey, hints of nutmeg. 

Comments: 

There's a beauty to this rye whiskey, made in a country that one wouldn't normally associate with the stuff, yet grows some of the best grain around. The mouthfeel is thick and syrupy, and the legs are broad and obvious. There's plenty of spice and flavour in the whiskey, as befits a good rye, and there's a herbal fragrance that reminds me of corn and camphor. Good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Talisker 7yo 2009/2016

Talisker 7yo 2009/2016

Provenance, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islands
Pale silver
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, leather, seaweed, peat, smoke, butter, tablet. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, oily, mouth coating, smooth. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, butter, vanilla, leather, peat, smoke, seaweed. 
Finish: Long. Seaweed, butter, shortcrust pastry, smoke. 

Comments: 

DL Cask 11521. Beneath that classic Talisker shroud of seaweed, peat and smoke, lies a delicious honeyed sweetness, allied with buttery pastry bite. The whisky itself is slightly oily, and has a depth of flavour that belies its 46% strength.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.