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.