Caol Ila 10yo 2010/2021 for the London Whisky Club

Caol Ila 10yo 2010/2021 for the London Whisky Club

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Islay 
Straw
54.2% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Peat, leather, lemon sweets, apples, soy sauce, tar, oakum, wet stones. With water, tar, green apples, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, thickens slightly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Lemon sweets, apples, peat, fresh baked bread, smoke, soy sauce, tar, oakum, brass polish, hints of grapefruit. With water, sweeter, sea salt, coffee, green apples. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, smoke, peat, leather, grapefruit. 

Comments: 

Normally I’m not that bothered about young Caol Ila, it’s not so interesting and can be quite samey. This one however is exceptional - impressive complexity, more tarry than you’d expect given its age, and has an underlying sweet sourness that is delicious. Very pleased with my club bottle.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 21yo 1997/2018 for La Maison du Whisky

Balblair 21yo 1997/2018 for La Maison du Whisky

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Dark gold 
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Kiwifruit, apricots, lemon zest, lime curd, calamansi, green tea. With water, honey, vanilla, lime curd, hints of coffee sheets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Apricots, calamansi, lemon zest, green tea, fresh baked bread, yuzu, nutmeg, hints of white pepper. With water, yuzu, lime curd, lemon zest, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, calamansi, nutmeg, yuzu. 

Comments: 

Cask 1146. This is delightful. Lots of different citrusy flavours I don’t normally find in whisky, like calamansi lime and yuzu. There’s some spiciness that’s very enjoyable too. A cut above its sister cask (see previous tasting note). 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 22yo 1997/2019 Highland Whisky Festival Exclusive

Balblair 22yo 1997/2019 Highland Whisky Festival Exclusive

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Bright gold
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, green tea, lemon zest, lemon curd, cotton sheets, kiwifruit, nectarines, hints of dried apples. With water, watermelons, white grapes, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, airy, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, clotted cream, vanilla, nectarines, key limes, hints of sourdough bread. With water, cotton sheets, lime marmalade, lemon zest, hints of dried apples. 
Finish: Short. Lemon juice, lemon zest, key limes, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 1109. Highly fruity, with a herbal edge. It’s quite an intense spirit, lots of layers, lots of complexity. I really like definition though, and I had to work quite hard on this to discern the individual flavour notes. Very Balblair in that respect. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 18yo

Balblair 18yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Amber 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, malted grains, candied oranges, raisins, apricots, cream, dried apples. 
Mouthfeel: Sweet. Malted grains, honey, cream, vanilla, raisins, orange peel, dried apples, hints of barley sugar.  
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, honey, cream, vanilla, orange peel, dried apples, hints of barley sugar. 
Finish: Long. Lemon juice, malted grains, raisins, dried apples. 

Comments: 

A very decent offering from Balblair. Lots of bright fruity notes, something characteristic of the distillery. It’s malty and slightly funky as well, a style I enjoy. Lastly, it’s at a decent strength too. Strong like from me.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 39.200 (Linkwood 13yo 2007/2020)

SMWS 39.200 (Linkwood 13yo 2007/2020)

2020, SMWS 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber 
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, coffee, chocolate, raisins, walnuts, brown paper, fresh cut grass, hints of malted grains. With water, chocolate, rhubarb and custard sweets, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, black tea, fresh baked bread, vanilla ice cream, dried apples, hints of cream. With water, honey, malted grains, chocolate, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate, raisins. 

Comments: 

Lots of chocolate and dried fruits, although I think this was matured in an ex bourbon barrel. The high ABV is a little off putting, so some water is essential. Quite tasty indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Bowmore 25yo 1994/2019

Bowmore 25yo 1994/2019

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Islay 
Amber, hints of red
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butterscotch, tobacco leaf, leather, pomeloes, peat, raisins, hints of smoke. With water, raisins, butter, caramel, orange juice. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Tobacco leaf, raisins, peanuts, pear drops, butterscotch, leather, peat, hints of smoke. With water, butter, caramel, orange juice, hints of chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Smoke, peat, orange juice, caramel, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Cask 554. An enjoyable old Bowmore, but one with gentle peat (even gentler than regular Bowmore). The fruity notes shine, alongside a hefty helping of butterscotch. It’s quite sweet, and works very well. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnamurchan 5yo 2015/2020 Maclean & Bruce bottling

Ardnamurchan 5yo 2015/2020 Maclean & Bruce bottling

Limited, Adelphi 
Single malt - West Highlands 
Dark amber red
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, orange peel, peat, honey, roast pork, raisins, sea salt, hints of smoke. With water, raisins, orange peel, watermelon rind. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, peat, orange peel, raisins, peanuts, fresh baked bread. With water, peat, brown paper, peanuts, raisins, watermelon rind. 
Finish: Long. Peanuts, peat, tarry rope, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Cask 333 and 332. Not strictly an IB I suppose, but there’s a story behind that. Anyway, the liquid in the bottle is highly enjoyable, lots of leather and peat but also hugely sweet. Somehow the peat is really obvious and forward, compared to the previous Ardnamurchans I’ve had, but it’s delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

KilchArd Blended Malt

KilchArd Blended Malt

Kilchoman / Ardnamurchan 
Vatted malt 
Dark gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, sugared almonds, red grapes, sea salt, oolong tea, honey, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Sugared almonds, smoke, honey, peat, sea salt, dates, fresh baked bread, hints of goji berries. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, dates, orange peel, goji berries. 

Comments: 

A blend of bourbon barrel Kilchoman and PX hoggy Ardnamurchan. It’s slightly off the wall but very good indeed, the smoky saline dried fruit notes of Kilchoman work with the citrus honey of Ardnamurchan. A very highly rated whisky for me.  

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Mortlach 34yo 1986/2020

Mortlach 34yo 1986/2020

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, orange peel, honeycomb, vanilla, watermelon rind, hints of apricots. With water, raisins, mead, hints of oolong tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, orange peel, honeycomb, apricots, vanilla ice cream, fresh cut grass, green tea, bitter lemon. With water, sweeter, oolong tea, raisins, pomegranates. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, malted grains, vanilla, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Cask 2035. This is pretty good, perhaps exceptional. It’s not your average meaty Mortlach, instead it’s delicate and fruity, herbaceous and tannic. Definitely new to me. I particularly enjoyed that long, malty finish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Release 020

Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey Release 020

Official bottling 
Single malt - Washington
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, orange peel, membrillo, desiccated coconut, vanilla, hints of cocoa powder. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Desiccated coconut, vanilla, tutti frutti, honey, bananas, blackcurrants, brown paper, cocoa powder. 
Finish: Short. Brown paper, desiccated coconut, orange peel, bananas, hints of tamarind. 

Comments: 

Young and spirity stuff. I don’t think this is even 3 years old. But there’s some decent complexity there which is promising. I hope they age these a little bit more, those fruity notes are quite enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Elgin 24yo 1995/2020

Glen Elgin 24yo 1995/2020

Cask Collection, AD Rattray
Single malt - Speyside 
White wine
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, pears, white grapes, malted grains, candle wax, brass polish, green walnuts. With water, lemon zest, kombucha, brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour. Pears, white grapes, malted grains, acetone, candle wax, lemon zest, green tea, hints of apricots. With water, kombucha, brass polish, lemon zest, acetone. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, walnut skins, ginseng, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Cask 3206. Quite tart and refreshing, waxy and fruity. It’s reminiscent of Imperial, or perhaps a youngish Clynelish. But there’s a slightly fermented note, especially once water is added, that is characteristic of neither. Quite enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ardnamurchan 2014 6yo Cask Sample (First Fill Bourbon Barrel)

Ardnamurchan 2014 6yo Cask Sample (First Fill Bourbon Barrel)

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Highlands
Yellow gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green tea, lemon zest, lemon sweets, cloudberry jam, kiwifruit, malted grains, hints of jasmine. With water, starfruit, lemon zest, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, white grapes, starfruit, cucumbers, honey, hints of sourdough bread. With water, slightly sweeter, cloudberry jam, lemon sweets, starfruit, hints of farmyard. 
Finish: Medium. Cooked rice, honey, white grapes, starfruit. 

Comments: 

Not bottled yet. This is quite tart, with bitter tannic green tea notes and tropical fruit. Not that much funk, surprisingly. It opens up beautifully with water, becoming a little sweeter, and fruitier. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnamurchan AD/01.21:01

Ardnamurchan AD/01.21:01

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Highlands 
Golden
46.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, lemon sweets, hay, farmyard, sultanas, mangoes, orange peel, hints of candle wax. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, loosens, slightly slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, candle wax, honey, sea salt, white grapes, ginseng, malted grains, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Leather, white grapes, malted grains, lemon sweets, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

This is really decent, waxy and fruity spirit, with more than a hint of farmyard funk. The peatiness is really obvious, compared to the inaugural bottling, and there’s a bitter edge to it. Very enjoyable indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenrothes 26yo 1990/2017

Glenrothes 26yo 1990/2017

Single Malts of Scotland, Elixir Distillers
Single malt - Speyside 
Yellow gold
44.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, lemon zest, hoppy beer, malted grains, honey, hints of photocopy paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, tingly, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, malted grains, barley sweets, sultanas, sourdough bread, hints of kiwifruit. 
Finish: Medium. Sourdough bread, honey, hoppy beer, sultanas. 

Comments: 

Cask 35481. Nice and malty, with a tinge of bitterness. It’s doesn’t taste as old as it’s meant to be, with the flavours still bright and clear. It also lacks a bit of complexity, although that may be because of the low ABV. A pleasant enough dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 54.62 (Aberlour 9yo 2008/2018)

SMWS 54.62 (Aberlour 9yo 2008/2018)

2018, SMWS 
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold, hints of bronze
61.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, acacia honey, white grapes, lemon zest, hints of marzipan. With water, marzipan, malted grains, honey, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon zest, malted grains, acacia honey, honeydew melons, kiwifruit, ginseng, hints of pear drops. With water, kiwifruit, malted grains, coffee, starfruit. 
Finish: Long. Wasabi, marzipan, white grapes, acacia honey, kiwifruit. 

Comments: 

Malty and spicy, this Aberlour was titled ‘Wasabi Marzipan’. I certainly get the marzipan and wasabi, but it’s not the most forward note. I’d say the fruit and honey notes predominate, especially once water is added.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lagavulin 10yo 2007/2018

Lagavulin 10yo 2007/2018

The Exclusive Malts, The Creative Whiskey Co
Single malt - Islay 
Pale gold
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, pears, dried peaches, leather, peat, driftwood smoke. With water, vanilla, seaweed, hints of wet leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Lemon sweets, pears, dates, seaweed, vanilla, peat, driftwood smoke. With water, malted grains, seaweed, pears, leather, hints of wet leaves. 
Finish: Long. Driftwood smoke, peat, seaweed, lemon sweets. 

Comments: 

Cask 200703. This Lagavulin is quite earthy, especially with water. Neat, it’s got a lot of sweet flavours, but it’s more or less overwhelmed by those briny smoky notes. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lagavulin 8yo (2017)

Lagavulin 8yo (2017)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold green
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, smoke, peat, lemon zest, leather, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Golden syrup, peat, driftwood smoke, green apples, cinnamon, vanilla, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, driftwood smoke, cinnamon, leather. 

Comments: 

I tasted the original version, meant to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the distillery, and liked it very much. This version is part of the core range. It’s got the same fruity notes, together with some spices, that is then overlaid by the briny, salty Lagavulin smoke. But it’s a little bit more tart. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Distillery 291 Single Barrel Rye Spirit

Distillery 291 Single Barrel Rye Spirit

Official bottling 
Single rye - Colorado
Dark amber
50.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, lemon zest, bananas, white pepper, sourdough bread, hints of new plastic. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apricots, white pepper, sourdough bread, nutmeg, magic marker, hints of Sichuan peppercorns. 
Finish: Medium. Sichuan peppercorns, white pepper, nutmeg, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Quite a unique rye, dark and spicy, with a lot of citrus fruit. It’s also not really whisky, as per the British definition. I think it’s probably around 2 years old. Good flavour though, and a decent level of sweetness (that would be the 39% of corn in the mash bill). 

Verdict:

I like this.

Bimber Single Cask #144 Recharred Oak Cask

Bimber Single Cask #144 Recharred Oak Cask 

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Amber pink
57.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, honey, raisins, sandalwood, damson jam, cloves, nutmeg, hints of chocolate. With water, overripe plums, cooked rice, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Rolled oats, cooked rice, cocoa powder, overripe plums, raisins, damson jam, honey, nutmeg. With water, rolled oats, cooked rice, chocolate, hints of blackcurrant cordial. 
Finish: Short. Chillies, damson jam, cooked rice, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

High strength Bimber, it’s meant to be a treat, so let’s see. It doesn’t disappoint, quite cereally, and the wood manifests as chocolate, stone fruit and spice. The high strength is just right, I almost didn’t want to add water, and when I did, I didn’t feel that it improved that much.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Jura Distillery Cask 2441 18yo

Jura Distillery Cask 2441 (18yo)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands 
Golden
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sour cream, red grapes, strawberry laces, nectarines, leather, honey, hints of tobacco leaf. With water, sour cream, tyre rubber, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands slightly, syrupy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Peanuts, peat, smoke, honey, sea salt, butterscotch, nectarines, leather. With water, lemon sweets, peanuts, tyre rubber, sea salt. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, nectarines, peat, leather, smoke. 

Comments: 

Drawn from the cask in January 2021. Well, this is Jura on the nose, but on the tongue it resembles something else. High strength Ardmore perhaps. I especially liked the long bitter finish, very tasty indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Jura 8yo 1999/2007 Crinan Classic Boat Festival

Jura 8yo 1999/2007 Crinan Classic Boat Festival

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands 
Golden 
52.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, peat, leather, smoke, lemon sweets, honey, hints of grape jelly. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Peanuts, lemon sweets, chalk, peat, smoke, cranberries, honey, hints of rolled oats, hints of wet stones. 
Finish: Medium. Bitter, chalk, wet stones, lemon sweets. 

Comments: 

Quite an unusual Jura, little of that sour cream funkiness is evident. Instead there is plenty of minerally flavour, chalk, stones, peat, alongside some citrus sweetness. But the overall flavour profile is bitter throughout. Challenging whisky, not easy to drink a lot of. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Cotswolds 2015 Odyssey Barley

Cotswolds 2015 Odyssey Barley 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Warwickshire 
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marmalade, malted grains, cola nuts, vanilla, cloves, hints of camphor, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, marmalade, mangoes, cream, vanilla, sarsaparilla, white grapes, hints of oats. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, oats, sarsaparilla, hints of honey. 

Comments: 

Some good wood was used to mature this whisky! Even at a lower ABV it’s quite intense and complex. Lots of herbs, almost root beer like, but with plenty of cereally bite as well. Highly enjoyable. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Lagavulin 12yo (2017 Special Release)

Lagavulin 12yo (2017 Special Release)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay 
Pale green gold 
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, honey, leather, butter, preserved lemons, peat, hints of vanilla. With water, sage, pine cones, peat, hints of sour cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Preserved lemons, seaweed, green apples, driftwood smoke, leather, hints of magic marker, hints of tamarind. With water, preserved lemons, mushrooms, leather, sage, driftwood smoke. 
Finish: Short. Seaweed, sea salt, leather, peat, driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

More briny, smoky goodness from Lagavulin. This one is sour, lots of savoury notes mixed in too. Reminds me of eating a Moroccan tagine, with heaps of preserved lemons in the stew. My only quibble is that it’s a bit underpowered in terms of flavour, especially given the high ABV. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Lagavulin 11yo Offerman Edition 2019

Lagavulin 11yo Offerman Edition 2019

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay 
Dark green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, chestnuts, green apples, mushrooms, apricots, tobacco leaf, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, turns watery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Pears, peat, apricots, vanilla, seaweed, honey, magic marker, tyre rubber. 
Finish: Medium. Tyre rubber, tobacco leaf, green apples, peat, hints of driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

A rather gentle Lagavulin, less smoky, a little more tart. However the coastal brininess is still much in evidence, and there’s that hint of briny wood smoke in the finish. But it’s not classic, as it were...

Verdict:

I like this.

Lagavulin Double Matured Distiller’s Edition 2018

Lagavulin Double Matured Distiller’s Edition 2018

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Amber pink
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Driftwood smoke, leather, honeycomb, gingerbread, seaweed, lemon sweets, hints of germolene. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, syrupy, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Mint, peat, driftwood smoke, lemon sweets, gingerbread, leather, seaweed, vanilla, terracotta dust. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, peat, honeycomb, seaweed, vanilla, cookie dough. 

Comments: 

Batch LGV 4/507. Despite the sweet sherry influence, this Lagavulin isn’t actually very sweet. It’s in fact tart, almost tangy, with the requisite briny wood smoke. It’s still very coastal, with savoury seaweed wreathed through the honeycomb and gingerbread. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Inverleven 1991(21yo 1991/2012)

Inverleven 1991 (21yo 1991/2012)

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, honey, bananas, starfruit, lemon zest, hints of toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon zest, toffee, butterscotch, honey, bananas, vanilla, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Bananas, orange peel, ginseng, hints of butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Light, delicate, everything you’d expect a lowlands whisky to be - but a little over-oaked, perhaps even tired. It’s not very often that I get to taste Inverleven though, so it was a treat. I did wish that it wasn’t so bourbon-like. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Isle of Jura 1977 (Juar) 34yo 1977/2012

Isle of Jura 1977 (Juar) 34yo 1977/2012

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands 
Golden, hints of bronze
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, malted grains, watermelon rind, greengages, hints of cucumbers. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, slightly tingly, static. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, ginseng, peaches, malted grains, pears, greengages, hints of sour cream. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, greengages, malted grains, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Another old Jura, but this one perhaps not so fine. This one is sweeter, the funk reduced to a little whisper, amid lots of fruit notes. It’s a little washed out, the flavours less well defined, less intense.

Verdict:

I like this.

Isle of Jura 28yo 1992/2020

Isle of Jura 28yo 1992/2020

Lady of the Glen, Hannah Whisky Merchants
Single malt - Islands 
Golden
41.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sour cream, white grapes, magic marker, sweet peas, hints of Brussels sprouts. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Sour cream, magic marker, white grapes, lemon zest, brass polish, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of Brussels sprout. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, lemon zest, nectarines, rhubarb. 

Comments: 

A fine old Jura, lots of vegetal notes, up to and including Brussels sprouts. It’s fairly weird, but also quite enjoyable. The typical funk is there, but it fades quickly to all manner of sweet things. And sprouts.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Strathearn Batch 1

Strathearn Batch 1

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands 
Amber
46.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, raisins, chocolate, damson jam, marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, marmalade, strawberry laces, damson jam, bananas, brown paper, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, bananas, chocolate, hints of mint. 

Comments: 

Not strictly Strathearn’s first release, but instead the first batch since it was purchased by Douglas Laing. It’s quite good, heavily wood influenced, which gives it a lot of flavourful punch for a young whisky. I enjoyed it, perhaps because it’s not been hyped and my expectations weren’t artificially raised.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 6yo 2015/2021

Ben Nevis 6yo 2015/2021

Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single  - West Highlands
Amber, hints of red 
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, cream, lemon sweets, tobacco leaf, smoke, leather, hints of mint, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Smoke, peat, raisins, lemon sweets, orange peel, strawberries, cream, black tea. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, strawberries, orange peel, hints of prunes. 

Comments: 

Quite a rich and sweet Ben Nevis, but with more complex elements of smoke and peat. It’s surprisingly young, and at a relatively low ABV as well. It’s a tad unbalanced, but I love the character. Very nice indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.