Starward 3yo Batch 1

Starward 3yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company 
Single malt - Victoria
Amber red
56% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, red grapes, violets, orange peel, fresh baked bread, sea salt, hints of caramel. With water, orange peel, raisins, hints of ketchup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Red grapes, sea salt, orange peel, lemon thyme, caramel, hints of bananas. With water, fresh baked bread, orange peel, raisins, black tea, oats. 
Finish: Medium. Walnut skins, caramel, orange peel, violets. 

Comments: 

Quite floral, as Starwards are wont to be. Lots of red grit, but also a herbal, savoury note. On the nose this opens up with water to be tomato ketchup - highly unusual, of course. It’s quite cereally as well, once water is added. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Fleurieu 3yo Batch 1

Fleurieu 3yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt 
Single malt - South Australia 
Amber, hints of red
49.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, red grapes, oats, honey, fresh baked bread, orange peel, hints of honeydew melons. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, static, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, raisins, coffee, fresh baked bread, sea salt, orange peel, walnut skins, hints of dried pears. 
Finish: Medium. Dried pears, red grapes, fresh baked bread, oats, caramel. 

Comments: 

There’s a herbal quality to this well sherried whisky, almost cereally. I interpret it as a combination of oats and honeydew melons, but that doesn’t quite fully describe it. Anyhow, it’s rather good, if young and sweet. I don’t believe I’ve ever had a South Australian whisky before. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Belgrove 4yo Batch 1

Belgrove 4yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Tasmania
White wine
49.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, green peas, lemon zest, red currants, honey, allspice, cinder toffee, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Green peas, fresh cut grass, black pepper, oats, agave, lemon zest, hints of toast. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, cinder toffee, fresh cut grass, toast. 

Comments: 

Australian whisky made from malt malted in a tumble dryer. Pretty cool. It’s very vegetal, lots of green things, including peas and agave, but also with a fragrant backbone that hints at sweetness. Lovely rye. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 4.257 (Highland Park 15yo 2005/2020)

SMWS 4.257 (Highland Park 15yo 2005/2020)

2020, SMWS
Single malt - Islands 
Dark amber
56.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, sea salt, dried apricots, raisins, dark chocolate, cream, sandalwood. With water, dried pears, raisins, red grapes, hints of dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, sticky, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Mint, orange peel, dried apricots, raisins, black tea, sea salt, white pepper, rye bread, parchment paper. With water, red grapes, dark chocolate, dried pears, rye bread. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, sea salt, rye bread, parchment paper, sandalwood.

Comments: 

Very spicy, well aged, with some odd papery notes. Normally this tastes like cardboard, and is quite unpleasant, but here it’s fragrant, and slightly estery. Lots of cereal notes also, and plenty of dried fruit from the sherry cask. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1997

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1997

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - Speyside 
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Autumn leaves, lemons, starfruit, leather, mint, vanilla, hints of kiwifruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, airy, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Kiwifruit, lemon zest, vanilla, marshmallows, malted grains, leather, white grapes, hints of aluminium foil. 
Finish: Long. Lemons, marshmallows, white grapes, starfruit, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 89/604/114. This has been an exercise in expectations management. I always have high expectations and excitement about Convalmore, as I do with almost every closed distillery that I try. I often have to remind myself that not all such juice is fantastic, and sometimes distilleries closed for a reason. This one is decent, tart and fragrant fruit fading to a bitter finish. But it was a smidgen of a let down. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Tomatin 18yo 1976/1995

Tomatin 18yo 1976/1995

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - Speyside 

Amber gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, honey, peaches, stewed raspberries, lilies, elderflower, blueberries, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peaches, cranberries, cherries, cream, elderflower, honey, vanilla, stewed raspberries. 
Finish: Long. Cherries, black tea, vanilla, cranberries. 

Comments: 

Cask 27637. A luscious, fruity and floral whisky, tempered slightly by a hint of peat and a fair bit of old bottle effect (especially on the nose). Once on the tongue it’s like eating alcoholic raspberry ice with a side of cherry cough mixture in the finish. It’s lovely. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glentauchers 25yo 1981/2006

Glentauchers 25yo 1981/2006

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pomeloes, winter melon, raisins, toffee, honey, kiwifruit, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, warm, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, winter melon, sandalwood, toffee, raisins, mint, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, mint, raisins, toffee, honey, hints of sandalwood, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Cask 1053. Sherried, and fragrant, with a tinge of old bottle effect, this whisky is sweet and luscious. There’s toffee, honey, orange peel - it’s all very festive and delicious. Much appreciated.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS G10.8 (Strathclyde 36yo 1977/2014)

SMWS G10.8 (Strathclyde 36yo 1977/2014)

2014, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold 
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, hazelnuts, orange peel, desiccated coconut, honey, hints of white pepper. With water, pear drops, orange peel, oats. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Hazelnuts, orange peel, vanilla, raisins, magic marker, white grapes, hints of marmalade. With water, fresh baked bread, cornflakes, orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Orange peel, magic marker, oats, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Aged grain is usually good, and this one is great. There’s less malt in this, of course, but the age makes it cooled and fruity. There’s the grain lightness, which marries well with the cereal notes and the fruit.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Allt-a-Bhainne 14yo 2005/2020

Allt-a-Bhainne 14yo 2005/2020

Infrequent Flyers, Alistair Walker
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
59.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cotton sheets, leather, brass polish, pineapples, vanilla, sandalwood. With water, leather, sour cream, vanilla, hints of pineapples. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Fresh baked bread, brass polish, vanilla, lemon zest, pineapples, white grapes, honey. With water, fresh baked bread, pineapples, cotton sheets, hints of sour cream. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, vanilla, cotton sheets, honey. 

Comments: 

A cereally and fruity whisky, with intense pineapples and cotton sheets (fresh laundry!) notes. Water brings out a little funk, along with a lot of vanilla and leather. It’s quite intense and well constructed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cragganmore 29yo 1979/2003 (2003 Special Releases)

Cragganmore 29yo 1979/2003 (2003 Special Releases)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Sunshine yellow 
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, guava, candle wax, linseed oil, leather, honey, hints of autumn leaves. With water, marshmallows, mangoes, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Leather, guava, orange peel, linseed oil, honey, ginseng, lemon sweets, fresh baked bread. With water, lemon sweets, autumn leaves, leather, mangoes, pineapples. 
Finish: Long. Guava, kiwifruit, leather, orange peel, candle wax. 

Comments: 

Wow! A wonderful whisky, heaped with fruits, and a leather slug of old bottle effect. With water it’s quite sweet, and pillowy soft vanilla marshmallows. Possibly the best Cragganmore I’ve ever had.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Stauning El Clásico

Stauning El Clásico

Official bottling 
Single malt - Midtjylland
Amber red 
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, cream, strawberries, wormwood, honey, vanilla, hints of blackcurrant cordial. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, expands, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White pepper, fresh baked bread, fresh cut grass, oats, vanilla, strawberries, honey. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, oats, white pepper, vanilla, blackcurrant cordial. 

Comments: 

Wine finished, Danish, single rye. It’s fragrant and sweet, with heaps of cereal, a pleasantly bitter edge, and a little smoke on the back of the palate. Very enjoyable, and as far as experimental spirits go, quite successful.

Verdict:

I like this.

Old Pulteney 19yo 1974/1993

Old Pulteney 19yo 1974/1993

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, lemon zest, white grapes, blueberries, strawberry laces, hints of rose. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, airy, slightly tingly. 
Tasting: Sweet salty. Lemon zest, strawberry laces, vanilla, roses, sea salt, sandalwood, hints of grapefruit. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, lemon zest, roses, hints of sea salt. 

Comments: 

Cask 6283. Lovely Old Pulteney, fruity, even slightly salty, with a great coastal character. It comes in waves, then fades to a leathery, floral finish. Rather good.  

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenrothes 21yo 1975/1991

Glenrothes 21yo 1975/1991

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - Speyside 
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peanuts, white grapes, kiwifruit, green tea, cinder toffee, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slightly astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Peanuts, sea salt, white grapes, kiwifruit, pears, hints of cinder toffee, hints of olive oil. 
Finish: Medium. Olive oil, sea salt, leather, cinder toffee, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Cask 6051. There’s some old bottle effect here, if I’m any judge. There’s something leathery and dusty, alongside some sweet notes I’d expect from Glenrothes, like cinder toffee and peanuts. Also some fruit in the background.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glengoyne 10yo 2008/2019

Glengoyne 10yo 2008/2019

Hepburn’s Choice, Langside Distillers 
Single malt - South Highlands
Pale silvery gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, cooked rice, cream, hints of leather, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, cooked rice, sultanas, cream, green apples, hints of rhubarb. 
Finish: Short. Walnut skins, leather, malted grains, green apples. 

Comments: 

Now it’s unusual to have an unsherried Glengoyne, and this one is young to boot. But it’s got a decent level of complexity, with grain and cereally flavours predominating. The finish is leathery, tart and bitter, brief but intense.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tullibardine 27yo 1993/2020

Tullibardine 27yo 1993/2020

Port Cask, WM Cadenheads 
Single malt - Central Highlands 
Rose wine
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry laces, fizzy apple sweets, raisins, candied orange peel, toffee, hints of chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry laces, candied orange peel, raisins, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, cream, hints of hazelnuts. 
Finish: Long. Cinnamon, malted grains, raisins, strawberry laces, hazelnuts.

Comments: 

Lovely and sweet, this, with a beautiful pink colour. Port cask finished whiskies can be hit or miss, but this one is most definitely a hit. Lots of sweet candy, and citrus as well, but the main notes are cinnamon and cream. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Talisker 8yo 2011/2020 (2020 Special Releases)

Talisker 8yo 2011/2020 (2020 Special Releases)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Pale gold
57.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, seaweed, white grapes, malted grains, hints of honey, hints of raisins. With water, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. White grapes, honey, green tea, lemons, seaweed, sea salt, leather, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, leather, hints of seaweed. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, sea salt, orange peel, sultanas, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Quite complex despite the young age. There’s a briny savouriness, which is how you might know it’s Talisker. It’s also reasonably sweet, especially in the finish, and there’s some lemon here as well.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glendullan 25yo 1993/2018

Glendullan 25yo 1993/2018

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside 
Yellow gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, shortbread, raisins, rhubarb, malted grains, vanilla, hints of lemon zest. With water, cotton sheets, lemon zest, honey, hints of green apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, slightly warm. 
Tasting:  Sour. Malted grains, lemon zest, rhubarb, green apples, hints of honey, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, honey, malted grains, green apples, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, vanilla, honey, rhubarb, hints of malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite a tart whisky, this. It’s got a herbal rhubarb-y edge, alongside green apples and citrusy lemon. There’s some slight sweetness reminiscent of honey, but it’s quite gentle. Quite good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapa 22yo 1991/2014

Scapa 22yo 1991/2014

Mackillop’s Choice, Angus Dundee Distillers 
Single malt - Islands 
Bright gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, green peppers, sultanas, honey, white pepper, lemon zest, hints of cotton sheets. With water, marshmallows, lemon zest, vanilla, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, mouth coating, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, pear drops, green peppers, white grapes, oats, sultanas, lemon zest. With water, bitter, walnuts, white grapes, malted grains, hints of honey. 
Finish: Short. Walnuts, pear drops, oats, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 1191. Not too coastal in character, this whisky is rather gentle and fruity. There’s a vegetal hint of green pepper but the majority of the flavour notes are fruity, sweet, and perhaps with a little spice. Quite enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 28yo 1991/2021 Milroy’s & Jazzed Edition

Aberfeldy 28yo 1991/2021 Milroy’s & Jazzed Edition

Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Central Highlands 
Golden
47.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, orange peel, starfruit, candle wax, vanilla, malted grains, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, pear drops, malted grains, vanilla, leather, hints of brass polish. 
Finish: Long. Candle wax, white grapes, pear drops, leather, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 7434. This is quite a gentle and comforting whisky, which wears its age lightly. There is complexity but it’s not very forward, so you do need to work a little bit to discern the flavour notes. They’re mainly fruit and wax, but there’s a delicious leatheriness to it that’s quite alluring. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dalwhinnie 30yo 1989/2020 (2020 Special Release)

Dalwhinnie 30yo 1989/2020 (2020 Special Release)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark gold 
51.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, orange peel, white grapes, leather, brass polish, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, vanilla, nutmeg, lemon zest, leather, honey, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Limes, brass polish, white pepper, walnut skins, honey. 

Comments: 

Starts off malty and fruity, a little citrus too. But that leathery peat starts to come through and lingers through to the finish. It’s also quite spicy, lots of pepper and nutmeg. Highly delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - Select American Oak

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - Select American Oak 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky 
Amber red 

45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, vanilla, brown paper, magic marker, black tea, hints of cooked rice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly tingly, slightly fizzy, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pear drops, brown paper, cornflakes, vanilla, maraschino cherries, hints of cooked rice. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, plums, black tea, maraschino cherries, pear drops, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Quite cereally, this bourbon. But that’s underneath, indeed almost buried under layers of sweet fruit and pear drops. The wood influence is quite strong, as one might expect, but it’s quite delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Tamnavulin 12yo (late 1990s / early 2000s bottling)

Tamnavulin 12yo (late 1990s / early 2000s bottling)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale green gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, lemon zest, malted grains, fresh cut grass, vanilla, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, fresh baked bread, malted grains, vanilla, white grapes, green apples, hints of apple juice. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh cut grass, walnut skins, apple juice, fresh baked bread, hints of caramel. 

Comments: 

This whisky is quite tart, lots of citrus and green apples. There’s also a lingering underlying sweetness, which I interpret as caramel and a little apple. Overall quite tasty, but not all older whisky is better than modern whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Craigellachie 8yo 2008/2016

Craigellachie 8yo 2008/2016

Benchmark, Murray McDavid
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber gold
46% ABV
Bottle 

Nose: Molasses, pineapples, butter, orange peel, tyre rubber, fried eggs, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily, slippery, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fried eggs, tyre rubber, honey, butter, sour cream, pineapples, orange peel, hints of plums. 
Finish: Medium. Pineapples, damson jam, raisins, tyre rubber, hints of molasses. 

Comments: 

Cask 6001855 and Cask 600855. A typical run cask finished whisky in some ways, there’s a strong flavour of molasses and tyre rubber, which is not unpleasant. The Craigellachie pineapple is there underneath, intensifying slightly in the finish to damson jam and raisins. Overall a decent bottle. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Glendronach 23yo 1975/1998

Glendronach 23yo 1975/1998

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, bananas, peaches, fresh baked bread, strawberries, orange peel, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Honey, strawberries, bananas, leather, sea salt, peat, hints of greengages. 
Finish: Long. Toast, leather, peaches, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Cask 1687. This is glorious, salty briny peaty whisky overlaid with typical Glendronach sherried fruit. It’s intense and complex, and remarkably so given it’s only 46%. A higher ABV would have made it very rich indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Henstone 3yo 2018/2021 Batch 2

Henstone 3yo 2018/2021 Batch 2

Official bottling 
Single malt - Shropshire 
Pale straw
43.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon sweets, vanilla, green apples, brass polish, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, warm, slightly tingly.  
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, green apples, stewed rhubarb, brass polish, malted grains, hints of aluminium foil. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, malted grains, green apples, vanilla, stewed rhubarb. 

Comments: 

Very similar to Batch 1. Citrusy, but this time with a hit of metallic tanginess. Quite a bit more malty as well. Overall a decent dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Henstone 3yo 2018/2021 Batch 1

Henstone 3yo 2018/2021 Batch 1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Shropshire 
Straw
43.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, green apples, vanilla, malted grains, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon sweets, vanilla, green apples, lemon zest, cotton sheets, hints of malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, green apples, stewed rhubarb, malted grains.  

Comments: 

I’m tasting a couple of expressions from Henstone distillery in Shropshire, head to head. It’s young, of course, quite vibrant and well defined. Tart whisky, lots of citrus, some green apples, and floral sandalwood on the nose. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Carsebridge 34yo 1982/2017

Carsebridge 34yo 1982/2017

Cask Strength, Signatory
Single grain - Central Highlands 
Amber bronze

48.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut cream, chocolate, cherries, red grapes, orange peel, corn syrup, hints of oats. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thickens, sticky.  
Tasting:  Sweet. Cherries, coconut cream, raisins, chocolate, walnuts, coffee, hints of pear drops. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, cherries, oats, pear drops, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Cask 74689. A very nice aged grain whisky, lots of coconuts and cereal, and intensely sweet. Lots of fruit on the tongue and the finish too, almost Christmassy in its intensity. Very pleasurable to drink. 

Verdict:

I like this.