Ardmore 21yo 1998/2019

Ardmore 21yo 1998/2019

Cask Collection, AD Rattray
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
51.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Germolene, peat, smoke, toffee, rye bread, butter, marmalade.  
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Marmalade, toffee, butterscotch, vanilla, smoke, honey, leather. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, butterscotch, cinnamon, smoke, peat, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 750802. I’m not too familiar with peated Ardmore, but I enjoyed this dram. The peat is quite gentle of course, lightly layered over some sweet oaky butterscotch, but it’s very pleasant. A very well constructed dram, both sweet and smoky at the same time. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenflagler ‘All Malt’ NAS (bottled 1970s)

Glenflagler ‘All Malt’ NAS (bottled 1970s)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
White wine
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, white tea, croissants, cornflakes, peaches, hints of iron filings. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, malted grains, peppermint, peaches, iron filings, sour cream, leather, hints of walnuts.
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, sour cream, leather, malted grains. 

Comments: 

What a treat - Glenflagler is as unicorn as whiskies come. I’ve only ever found one other. Anyway, this one is surprisingly heavy and silky on the tongue, with gentle fruity flavours. There’s undoubtedly something metallic in it though, and some leathery, peaty stuff. Highly entertaining. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Garnheath 42yo Batch 1

Garnheath 42yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single grain - Lowlands
Copper
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Corn syrup, green tea, apple juice, orange peel, popcorn, marshmallows, vanilla.  
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thickens, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Brown paper, green tea, orange peel, shortcrust pastry, meringue, hints of oats, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Short. Brown paper, shortcrust pastry, popcorn, vanilla, hints of oats. 

Comments: 

I do have a theory that all spirits start to taste the same eventually. Age something long enough in wood, and it tastes wholly of the wood, and wood tastes more like other wood than like spirits. Not this one. It’s unmistakeably grain whisky, aged for a long time, but still bright and flavourful. It’s got a fair bit of wood, but in this case it brings complexity. Very enjoyable. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Laphroaig 30yo 1989/2020 (The Ian Hunter Story Book 2)

Laphroaig 30yo 1989/2020 (The Ian Hunter Story Book 2)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Amber red 
48.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, smoke, olive oil, peat, peanuts, kiwifruit.  
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly astringent, loosens, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, leather, kiwifruit, smoke, peat, ginseng, germolene, hints of tar. 
Finish: Long. Leather, green walnuts, smoke, raisins. 

Comments: 

This is a heavily sherried Laphroaig, and there’s nothing else like it. Long, slow notes of fruit tangle with the usual smoke and leathery peat, with tarry, oily notes getting into the mix as well. Amazing whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Longrow 25yo 1994/2020

Longrow 25yo 1994/2020

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Campbeltown
Dark gold 
52.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Winter melon, peat, menthol, tobacco leaf, iodine, hints of membrillo. With water, sweeter, greengages, candle wax, apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slightly astringent, slightly warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Peat, tobacco leaf, membrillo, sea salt, apples, hints of smoke, hints of green pepper. With water, tobacco leaf, candle wax, apples, membrillo. 
Finish: Long. Winter melon, membrillo, apples, sea salt, hints of green pepper.  

Comments: 

Lovely, lovely Longrow! I’ve had way too much Springbank in comparison to whiskies from other distilleries, but I couldn’t pass this one up. Lots of fruity notes alongside the peat and smoke, with some really interesting winter melon. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Grant 31yo 1984/2016

Glen Grant 31yo 1984/2016

Single Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
46.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla sponge, cinnamon, plums, carrot cake, honey, greengages. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, warm, static. 
Tasting:  Sour. Walnuts, cinnamon, greengages, plums, orange peel, hints of sun dried tomatoes. 
Finish: Medium. Greengages, plums, tobacco leaf, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Very light, Glen Grant is, although if you can get some of the stuff distilled in the 1960s and 1970s, it was peated, and tastes a bit like gunpowder. Yes it was glorious. The newer stuff is rather gentle and subtle, this one is no different. Lots of stone fruit, and spices. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Mortlach 30yo 1989/2019

Mortlach 30yo 1989/2019

Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing 
Single malt - Speyside 
Gold, tinge of red 
52.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemons, roast pork, white grapes, hints of gooseberries. With water, vanilla fudge, orange peel, hints of honey.  
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, oily, creamy.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, white tea, roast pork, menthol, fresh cut grass, gooseberries. With water, menthol, orange peel, dark chocolate, honey.  
Finish: Long. Lemons, menthol, daisies, fresh cut grass, hints of dark chocolate.  

Comments: 

Cask 13722. A meaty, herbal Mortlach, lots of menthol. Turns chocolatey with water, I almost preferred it neat. It was a funny one to go in with a fresh palate on, it was rather overwhelming. Still, a very lovely whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Michter’s US*1 Sour Mash

Michter’s US*1 Sour Mash

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Copper
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut, honey, butter, orange peel, black pepper, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, loosens slightly.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Butter, honey, black tea, cola nut, brown paper, pear drops, hints of bananas.  
Finish: Long. Butter, honey, coconut, pears. 

Comments: 

Very buttery and bitter. More complexity than your usual bourbon, with some alluring pear drop notes. Quite a surprise, I’m interested to see what else comes out of their Shively distillery and, in the future, Fort Nelson.

Verdict:

I like this.

Daftmill Single Cask 2008 (The Whisky Bars of Scotland Exclusive)

Daftmill Single Cask 2008 (The Whisky Bars of Scotland Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, tea tree oil, white grapes, candle wax, cotton sheets, hints of green tea. With water, black tea, peppermint, watermelon, tea tree oil.  
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, turns watery, volatile.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, candle wax, cotton sheets, apricots, tobacco leaf, hints of tea tree oil. With water, apricots, watermelon, candle wax, tea tree oil. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, green tea, tobacco leaf, raisins, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask 068/08. My palate was feeling rather worn and tired by this time, but I managed one more whisky. It was fruity and waxy, but also herbal - lots of tea tree oil (another Daftmill characteristic) and even cotton sheets. Yum yum. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Daftmill Single Cask 2009 (UK Exclusive)

Daftmill Single Cask 2009 (UK Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark amber
61.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, apricots, red grapes, candied oranges, menthol. With water, fresh baked bread, pears, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, volatile, astringent.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, gooseberries, menthol, membrillo, fresh baked bread, candle wax, hints of tobacco leaf. With water, red grapes, apricots, tobacco leaf, hints of pears. . 
Finish: Long. Membrillo, candle wax, red grapes, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Cask 029/09. This is sherried Daftmill, and a scarily high strength. Lots of fruit, especially (and surprisingly) white grapes, but there’s also red grapes from the sherry, and some slightly sulphurous tobacco. Excellent, as usual. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Daftmill Single Cask 2006 (UK Exclusive)

Daftmill Single Cask 2006 (UK Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale gold 
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricots, candied oranges, sea salt, marshmallows, barley sugar, hints of tobacco. With water, fresh cut grass, sage, vanilla, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, loosens, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Gooseberries, strawberries, candied oranges, white grapes, barley sugar, hints of leather. With water, candied oranges, candle wax, white grapes, hints of green tea. 
Finish: Medium. Candied oranges, barley sugar, honey, tobacco leaf, hints of leather.  

Comments: 

Cask 021/06. This Daftmill is sweet, and particularly fruity. Lots of waxiness as well, almost Clynelish-ey. I enjoyed this very much, as I have all the Daftmills I’ve tried. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Daftmill Single Cask 2006 (Luvians Exclusive)

Daftmill Single Cask 2006 (Luvians Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands 
Bright gold 
57.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, baked apples, apricots, marshmallows, hints of yoghurt, hints of white grapes. With water, fresh cut grass, apricots, hints of tea tree oil. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, creamy, loosens slightly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Baked apples, shortcrust pastry, apricots, vanilla, white grapes, hints of cinnamon. With water, sweeter, yoghurt, gooseberries, apricots, hints of tea tree oil. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, apricots, vanilla, yoghurt, hints of strawberries. 

Comments: 

Cask 089/06. Still fruity, less sweet than its siblings. Opens up beautifully with water, with some nice dairy notes that go very well with the creamy mouthfeel. Again, so Daftmill, so herbal. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Daftmill Inaugural Release 2005

Daftmill Inaugural Release 2005

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands

Bright gold
55.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tea tree oil, honey, candied oranges, white grapes, peaches, hints of marshmallows. With water, vanilla, fresh cut grass, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, peaches, vanilla, candle wax, white grapes, green tea, fresh baked bread. With water, green tea, peaches, chalk, hints of white grapes. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, fresh baked bread, qpeaches, white grapes.  

Comments: 

Casks 05/02, 05/03 and 05/07. Well now, this is just perfect. Lots of fruit of course, and that delicious light herbal note that seems to be a characteristic of this distillery. Again a slightly mineral note, especially with water, but it’s very pleasant and not at all jarring. My favourite Daftmill?

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Daftmill Winter Release 2006

Daftmill Winter Release 2006

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chalk, wet stones, tea tree oil, fresh cut grass, honey, apricots, hints of gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loose, cool.  
Tasting:  Bitter. White grapes, apricots, chalk, autumn leaves, barley sugar, hints of candle wax.  
Finish: Medium. Peppermint, apricots, chalk, wet stones, hints of ginseng.  

Comments: 

As fruity as its summer release brother, this whisky is nevertheless quite different. There’s a minerality to this, slightly bitter notes, and it’s more herbal, definitely less sweet. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Daftmill Summer Batch Release 2006

Daftmill Summer Batch Release 2006

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale silvery gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, apricots, white grapes, tobacco leaf, sea salt, tea tree oil. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, slightly tingly. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. White grapes, tea tree oil, gooseberries, apricots, menthol.  
Finish: Medium. Menthol, apricots, candle wax, white grapes, hints of tobacco leaf. 

Comments: 

First ever Daftmill! Been looking to try whisky from this distillery for some time. It’s not disappointing in the least, hugely complex, fruity, tannic and herbal. It’s around 11 or 12 years old, and I still think that one should wait a bit longer than just 3 years for good whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cameronbridge 34yo 1984/2018

Cameronbridge 34yo 1984/2018

Vintage, Signatory
Single grain - Lowlands
Beeswax 
49.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, tobacco leaf, coconut jam, vanilla, orange peel, hints of cream soda. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, hot.  
Tasting:  Sour. Tobacco leaf, hay, coconut cream, cream soda, vanilla, leather, hints of fish sauce. 
Finish: Long. Caramel, hay, orange peel, vanilla, olive oil, cream soda. 

Comments: 

Cask 19307. This is really excellent grain whisky, it’s light but retains a huge amount of complexity. Not a lot of the sweet tutti-frutti vanilla flavour that characterises much grain whisky, instead it’s herbal and grassy, with some leathery tobacco complexity. Shame grain whisky takes so long to age properly. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Waterford Ballykilcavan Edition 1.1

Waterford Ballykilcavan Edition 1.1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Southern Ireland
Green gold 
50% ABV

Bottle 

Nose: Cookie dough, sourdough tobacco leaf, apple juice, starfruit, fresh cut grass.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Sourdough, vanilla, peaches, apple juice, fresh cut grass, malted grains, hints of green tea.
Finish: Short. Starfruit, apple juice, cookie dough, tobacco leaf.  

Comments: 

Terroir? Perhaps it makes a difference. Single farm barley? Again, perhaps. This Waterford was challenging, initially it doesn’t taste very nice at all, but as the air gets to it, it improves a fair bit. Lots of starfruit and gentler notes of stone fruit, but it’s under a heap of malty, bready notes. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenallachie 14yo 2006/2020 (W Club Exclusive)

Glenallachie 14yo 2006/2020 (W Club Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark amber red 
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla ice cream, fresh baked bread, baked apples, hints of dried apricots. With water, magic marker, pears, oranges, dried apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, syrupy, astringent.  
Tasting:  Sweet. Fresh baked bread, dried apricots, raisins, walnuts, black tea, candied oranges, cinnamon. With water, pears, fresh baked bread, cookie dough.  
Finish: Long. Black tea, walnuts, raisins, candied oranges.  

Comments: 

If there’s a standard sherried whisky this is it. It’s lovely for sure, lots of dried fruit notes, even a nice satisfying breadiness. But it’s not particularly emblematic of Glenallachie (I don’t actually know what that is) but tasting this against a sherried Glenrothes, I found the differences to be slight. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Kilchoman 11yo 2007/2019 (TWE Exclusive)

Kilchoman 11yo 2007/2019 (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Pale bronze 
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, dates, honey, smoke, orange peel, hints of tarragon. With water, honey, white grapes, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, astringent.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, tarragon, orange peel, quince jelly, barley sugar, hints of smoke. With water, barley sugar, cookie dough, vanilla, leather. 
Finish: Long. Quince jelly, dates, honey, white grapes, hints of smoke.  

Comments: 

Kilchoman has evolved a fair bit since I tasted its new make a decade ago. But it’s still distinctive, there’s this date honey sweetness, with some typical Islay smoke. It used to be more savoury perhaps, this one isn’t at all. Instead it’s got a herbal fragrance, anise or tarragon, wreathed throughout the nose and on the tongue. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Kura the Whisky Pure Malt

Kura the Whisky Pure Malt

Official bottling
Blended malt
Golden bronze
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peanuts, green walnuts, molasses, hints of palm sugar.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slightly tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Peanuts, cookie dough, vanilla, peat, lemon juice, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Lemon juice, smoke, peat, peanuts, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

The distillery is better known for its awamori, which I gather is a sort of distilled sake. The whisky is definitely interesting, it’s not very sweet, instead it’s quite bitter, and not very balanced. It feels like a bit of an experiment. 

Verdict:

Not bad. 

East London Liquor Co Single Rye 2019 Release

East London Liquor Co Single Rye 2019 Release

Official bottling 
Single rye - London
Amber green 
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, sage, raisins, vanilla, oranges, black pepper, camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loose, warms a little. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black pepper, sage, cinnamon, camphor, peppermint, fresh cut grass, white grapes.
Finish: Short. Black pepper, peppermint, raisins, orange peel, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Brilliant single rye from the East London Liquor Co distillery. I really enjoyed this one, it’s not only as spicy as you’d expect a rye whiskey to be, it’s also got a lot of clear herbal notes that offset the spicy notes very well. Brilliant stuff once again, look forward to future releases. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Breton 15yo Battle of the Glen

Glen Breton 15yo Battle of the Glen

Official bottling 
Single malt - Nova Scotia
Sunshine yellow
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, leather, tobacco leaf, apples, white grapes, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, slightly astringent.  
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Leather, white grapes, pears, cookie dough, vanilla, hints of white chocolate, hints of Parma violets.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, white grapes, cookie dough, white chocolate. 

Comments: 

Conventional whisky, but all the more enjoyable for all that. Lots of vanilla and gentle fruit notes, overlaying a lovely buttery chocolatiness. There are some hints of the floral Parma violets that were so dominant in the previous Glen Breton I had, and they’re quite pleasant in moderation. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Sullivan’s Cove Vodka / New Make Spirit

Sullivan’s Cove Vodka / New Make Spirit 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania 
Colourless 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butterscotch, salt caramel, green walnuts, lemon zest, hints of white vinegar, hints of chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, airy, loose.  
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Salt caramel, green walnuts, yeast, sour cream, chocolate.  
Finish: Short. Sour cream, white vinegar, yeast, chocolate, hints of butterscotch. 

Comments: 

I suppose many distilleries do this - dilute their new make to 40% and call it vodka. This is quite characterful for vodka (although I’d expect nothing less). Lots of green walnuts, and you can see the beginning of the stone fruit notes that are present in the older whiskies. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask 11yo

Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask 11yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania 
Bright gold
44.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tobacco leaf, leather, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of sour cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, turns watery, airy.  
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Gooseberries, white grapes, malted grains, leather, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Menthol, white grapes, coffee, gooseberries, hints of white grapes.  

Comments: 

Double Cask DC0107. This one is a little funky on the nose, with a bit of sour ferment. Again, more green fruits, grapes and leather on the tongue. Very good, although not stellar. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Single Tawny Cask 10yo

Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Single Tawny Cask 10yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania
Bright gold
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, damson jam, petrichor, peaches, white grapes.  
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slightly astringent, syrupy, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Damson jam, white grapes, greengages, chocolate, wet stones.
Finish: Medium. Damson jam, petrichor, white grapes, barbecue, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Barrel TD0324. The port cask finish seems to have imbued this whisky with an earthy character, like earth after rain and chalky wet stones. Again, highly enjoyable and utterly delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Sullivan’s Cove Special Single Cask 11yo

Sullivan’s Cove Special Single Cask 11yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
45.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, greengages, gooseberries, dried apricots, orange peel, candle wax. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, airy. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Orange peel, greengages, dried apricots, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, hints of autumn leaves. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, autumn leaves, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Barrel TD0214. I feel this might be the dram most emblematic of the distillery character. Heaps of stone fruit, apricots and greengages, along with gooseberries that create this impression of an abundant harvest in an orchard. Lovely stuff. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Old and Rare 18yo

Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Old and Rare 18yo 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania
White wine
49.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, toffee, orange peel, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of cucumber.  
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, loosens slightly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apples, toffee, cucumber, brass polish, green tea, fresh baked bread.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, fresh baked bread, cucumber, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Barrel HH0296. This whisky has lots of stone fruit, now gooseberries, alongside apples and plenty of bread on the finish. The underlying cereal notes are very attractive, and to my mind, the key reason why this tastes so good. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Single Bourbon Cask 13yo

Sullivan’s Cove American Oak Single Bourbon Cask 13yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania
Sunshine yellow
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, honey, mint, banana bread, green tea, barley sugar, hints of malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, drying, warm.  
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Green tea, barley sugar, peaches, mint, pineapples.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, hazelnuts, honey, peaches. 

Comments: 

Barrel TD0165. Fruity and light, heaps of stone fruit and tannins. Very luscious on the tongue, plenty of flavour. Very good whisky indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenrothes 10yo 2004/2014

Glenrothes 10yo 2004/2014

Old Malt Cask, Hunter Laing
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark amber gold 
50% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Raisins, damson jam, black tea, vanilla, Demerara sugar, hints of menthol. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, raisins, damson jam, walnuts, candied oranges, salt caramel.

Finish: Long. Menthol, salt caramel, raisins, damson jam, candied oranges. 

Comments: 

Cask #/H1 ref 10764. This is a sample bottle that’s sat on my shelf for a while. It’s quite pungent, mentholated and sweet. Highly enjoyable, and very drinkable. No water needed with this one whatsoever. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Linkwood 12yo Galil Mountain Wine Finish

Linkwood 12yo Galil Mountain Wine Finish

DS Tayman
Single malt - Speyside 
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, fresh baked bread, raisins, starfruit, white grapes, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, airy, loosens.  
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Raisins, white grapes, fresh cut grass, starfruit, sage, green tea, hints of ginseng.
Finish: Medium. Fresh cut grass, sage, honey, green tea. 

Comments: 

Youngish Linkwood, quite herbal and grassy. There’s some sweetness in there, presumably from the wine cask, as well as tropical fruit. It’s a decent dram for the price, but I’m not sure the wine finish adds much. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Braeval 19yo 1998/2018

Braeval 19yo 1998/2018

Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber rose
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, cocoa powder, vanilla sponge, red grapes, hints of cloves, hints of roast pork. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cocoa powder, red grapes, cloves, fresh baked bread, candied oranges.
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, candied oranges, ginseng, raisins, hints of aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

Cask 93961, port cask Braeval. Sweet and meaty, with more than a hint of fruity Christmassy chocolate. Excellent winter dram, almost like mulled wine. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Speyburn 28yo 1989/2018

Speyburn 28yo 1989/2018

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, white grapes, watermelons, sea salt, malted grains.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, slippery.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Watermelons, white grapes, peat, tobacco leaf, apples, lemon zest, hints of allspice. 
Finish: Medium. Allspice, lemon zest, white grapes, leather. 

Comments: 

You don’t see Speyburn very often, much less an old one. This one is excellent stuff, aromatic, quite intense and fruity, with notes of gingery allspice underlying it. I enjoyed this, very rare chance to taste spirit from this distillery. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Macduff 30yo 1990/2020

Macduff 30yo 1990/2020

Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
48.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, menthol, blackcurrant, honeycomb, carrot cake, hints of roast pork. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, mouth coating.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, menthol, carrot cake, honeycomb, raisins, kiwi fruit. 
Finish: Long. Menthol, black tea, raisins, carrot cake. 

Comments: 

Cask DL13918. This is heavily sherried single cask Macduff, reasonably similar to the 30 year old Glen Deveron, but more intense of course. It’s rather like a delicious cough mixture, tingly and mentholated, and it certainly opens up one’s passages. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Craigellachie 31yo

Craigellachie 31yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden beeswax 
52.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, pineapples, apple juice, honey, lemon zest, peaches, hints of wax. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, warm, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brown paper, candle wax, toast, cinnamon, pineapples, peaches, apples.

Finish: Medium. Black tea, toast, pineapples, peaches, apples. 

Comments: 

Thanks Eddie for the taste. This is a newish addition to Craigellachie’s core range, and is what you might call ‘classic’. Heaps of pineapple, smoked, baked, along with plenty of other fruity notes, melded together into a harmonious whole. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Port Ellen 27yo 1983/2010

Port Ellen 27yo 1983/2010

Douglas of Drumlanrig, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Islay
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast beef, cinnamon, baked apples, smoke, leather, peat, hints of fish sauce. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Roast beef, honey, apple juice, leather, white grapes, smoke, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Fish sauce, dates, raisins, apple juice, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask LD 6443. Another chance to taste Port Ellen, can’t be many left. Anyway, it’s a slightly atypical one, the smoke is gentle and fades a little into the background, there are a lot of fruity notes over the underlying savouriness that I like in Port Ellen. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Waterford Single Farm Origin - Bannow Island 1.2

Waterford Single Farm Origin - Bannow Island 1.2

Official bottling 
Single malt - Southern Ireland
Dark gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green tea, cinnamon, cloves, toast, white grapes, prawn cocktail. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, tingly, slightly astringent.  
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cinnamon, white grapes, apple juice, green tea, brown paper.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, cinnamon, green tea, prawn cocktail. 

Comments: 

Another new release, this time from Mark Reynier’s new project in Ireland. Made with barley from Bannow Island farm, it’s spicy and light, very gentle and subtle. Irish whisky style.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nc’Nean Organic Single Malt Batch 1

Nc’Nean Organic Single Malt Batch 1

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Chinese tea
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, barley sugar, lemon peel, rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loosens, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon peel, white grapes, fresh cut grass, brown paper, hints of sage. 
Finish: Short. Barley sugar, lemon peel, green tea, camphor, hints of celery.  

Comments: 

First release from this new distillery in the West Highlands. Very herbal and grassy, lots of white fruit too. Quite an impressive dram, for something that’s under 5 years old.

Verdict:

I like this.

Clynelish 26yo 1993/2020

Clynelish 26yo 1993/2020

Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
52.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wax candles, honey, mangoes, rhubarb and custard sweets, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, astringent, static. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Candle wax, rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes, black tea, vanilla, honey. 
Finish: Long. Honey, lemon zest, rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask 11215. This Clynelish is magnificent, hugely waxy yet redolent of tropical fruit. Lots of mangoes and cinnamon. No water please, this is great as is. Lovely, lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Speyside Blended Malt 22yo 1997/2020

Speyside Blended Malt 22yo 1997/2020

Chorlton Whisky
Teaspooned malt - Speyside
Golden
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Starfruit, marzipan, white grapes, cream, hints of leather. With water, white grapes, green tea, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, leather, white grapes, green tea, sourdough bread, orange peel. With water, sweeter, allspice, orange peel, cinnamon.  
Finish: Long. Orange peel, green tea, allspice, cream. 

Comments: 

This is teaspooned Kininvie - teaspooned with what, I don’t know, probably Balvenie. It’s quite a Balvenie-like whisky as it happens, lots of orange and fruit. But there’s some white grapes, as well as spicy herbal notes. Very nice indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Craigellachie 17yo 1974/1991

Craigellachie 17yo 1974/1991

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, rose apples, honey, pears, malted grains, mint, tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Pineapples, cloves, honey, peaches, pears, brown paper, white pepper.  

Finish: Medium. Black tea, cloves, pears, peaches. 

Comments: 

Thanks Eddie for the taste. This is magnificent stuff, heaps of spice and pineapples, and it wears its age lightly - very little old bottle effect. Very intense, classic Craigellachie. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Corsair Wry Moon

Corsair Wry Moon

Official bottling
Single rye - Tennessee
Colourless
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sour cream, white grapes, orange juice, gooseberries, limes, hints of pomegranates. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, slightly slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, white grapes, limes, pomegranates, yoghurt, orangeade, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, malted grains, limes, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

New make rye spirit from a very good US distillery. It’s surprisingly fruity, with little of the spiciness that characterises rye whisky. Maybe that comes with wood. But it’s very pleasant indeed, and there’s a nice tart note of lime, in common with some of the other Corsairs that I’ve had. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Glengarriff Series Peat Charred Cask Finish

Glengarriff Series Peat Charred Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Southern Ireland
Bright gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, oranges, raisins, tobacco leaf, hints of leather, hints of buttermilk. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, tingly.  
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange juice, tobacco leaf, menthol, fresh baked bread, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Menthol, fresh baked bread, buttermilk, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Irish whisky finished with wood harvested from Glengarriff forest - an interesting idea. This one is cereally, albeit light, with some interesting milky flavours and rather a lot of vanilla. The peat is very gentle, more leathery than anything else. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardbeg Blaaack Limited Edition

Ardbeg Blaaack Limited Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, roast mutton, chocolate, vanilla, peat, hints of rubber.  
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, turns sticky. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Roast mutton, vanilla sponge, chocolate, white grapes, smoke, peat, hints of rubber.  
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, smoke, leather, honey, vanilla.  

Comments: 

A limited edition Ardbeg! Very meaty, sticky, even oily. There’s a lot of sweet in this, but it’s flavour notes masked by the salty spirit. Lots of smoky chocolate as usual. Lovely stuff. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Caol Ila 10yo Galil Mountain Finish

Caol Ila 10yo Galil Mountain Finish

DS Tayman
Single malt - Islay 
Very pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Frying bacon, vanilla ice cream, white grapes, sultanas, smoke, hints of tobacco leaf.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Vanilla ice cream, sea salt, tobacco leaf, sultanas, smoke, leather.  
Finish: Short. Soy sauce, smoke, peat, sea salt, peaches, hints of menthol.  

Comments: 

Interesting whisky from new indie bottler DS Tayman. It’s an atypical Caol Ila, at least in my experience. It’s got lots of sweet notes, including a very unusual one of vanilla ice cream, and the characteristic soy sauce note I find in Caol Ila only makes an appearance in the finish. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Bunnahabhain Moine PX 22yo 1997/2020

Bunnahabhain Moine PX 22yo 1997/2020

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, red wine, frying bacon, roast beef, pears in syrup, leather, hints of peaches.  
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, slightly airy. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. White grapes, red wine, smoke, peaches, roast beef, golden syrup, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, vanilla, leather, smoke, pears in syrup. 

Comments: 

Not as sweet as one would expect. Perhaps it hasn’t spent that long in a PX cask. However there’s plenty of smoke, and very gentle peat. This whisky wears its age lightly. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Blair Athol 25yo 1995/2020

Blair Athol 25yo 1995/2020

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale gold
59.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: lychees, pineapples, white grapes, mangoes, Parma violets. With water, vanilla sponge, rum and raisin ice cream.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, warm, airy.  
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, lychees, white chocolate, fresh baked bread, vanilla, mangoes. With water, vanilla sponge, golden syrup, rum and raisin ice cream.
Finish: Medium. Mangoes, white chocolate, malted grains, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Cask DL13945. Extremely fruity and floral stuff, aided and abetted by the very high strength. Robust and spirit forward, a very gentle cask finish despite the quarter century. Delicious, mellows with quite a few drops of water. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Wolfburn Highland Whisky Festival *Cancelled*

Wolfburn Highland Whisky Festival *Cancelled*

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Pale silver
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, dry smoke, white wine, lemon juice, sea salt.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, slippery.  
Tasting:  Bitter sour. White wine, white grapes, lemon zest, pears, dry smoke, hints of fresh baked bread.
Finish: Short. Leather, pears, lemon juice, white grapes, hints of dry smoke. 

Comments: 

My first Covid dram! Wolfburn bottled this for a whisky festival that subsequently didn’t take place, but they stuck “Cancelled” on it and released it anyway. It’s dry and quite smoky, lots of tart flavours under that. A well constructed and impressive dram. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glengoyne Teapot Dram Batch 7

Glengoyne Teapot Dram Batch 7

Official bottling 
Single malt - South Highlands
Mahogany
59.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, chocolate, grape must, coffee, honey, hints of anise. With water, honey, coffee, walnuts, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, hot, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, coffee, walnuts, grape must, black tea, hints of aluminium foil. With water, bitter, coffee, candied orange, black tea, walnuts. 
Finish: Medium. Walnuts, coffee, anise, aluminium foil.

Comments: 

I’ve been meaning to try a Teapot Dram for the longest tome. Finally managed to get my grubby paws on Batch 7. Highly sherried of course, but not too sweet. Not as raisiny as Glengoyne normally is, more bittersweet dark chocolate and coffee. Young, yet complex. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hillside 25yo 1970/1995 Rare Malts

Hillside 25yo 1970/1995 Rare Malts

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Pinewood
60% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, pine nuts, tobacco leaf, lemon zest, mint, sea salt, kiwi fruit. With water, peat drops, strawberries, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Pine nuts, leather, kiwi fruit, gooseberries, sea salt, toasted sourdough bread, hints of coffee. With water, sweeter, strawberries, honeydew melon, toasted sourdough, hints of pear drops. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, gooseberries, coffee, mint. 

Comments: 

Bottle 2915. Oof - very strong old Glen Esk, but why do these Rare Malts bottlings have a label recommending 2 parts whisky to 1 part water?? This one is delicious neat, lots of fruit married to some savoury leather. Not as much old bottle effect as the sister bottling. Still delicious though, highly enjoyable. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.