Bushmills The Original

Bushmills The Original

Official bottling 
Single malt - Ulster
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pencil erasers, honey, orange peel, green tea, cucumbers, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, pencil erasers, fresh baked bread, orange peel, golden syrup, vanilla, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, golden syrup, vanilla, white pepper, hints of cucumbers. 

Comments: 

The new entry level Bushmills (or new-ish? Not sure). It’s decent - some flinty, malty notes in a sea of sweet stuff. Enjoyable and a session dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Convalmore 38yo 1982/2020

Convalmore 38yo 1982/2020

Prívate Collection, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale amber, hints of copper 
54.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, black tea, raisins, camphor, dark chocolate, greengages, orange peel. With water, cream, magic marker, pear drops, greengages. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, camphor, leather, raisins, honey, dark chocolate, orange peel, magic marker. With water, dark chocolate, leather, greengages, honey. 
Finish: Long. Magic marker, dark chocolate, white grapes, greengages. 

Comments: 

Old whisky but not the old bottle effect! Sweet and creamy, but with a slightly bitter undertone of camphor and black tea. A lovely pleasure to drink.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 28yo 1977/2005 (2005 Special Releases)

Convalmore 28yo 1977/2005 (2005 Special Releases)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale amber
57.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, leather, black tea, fresh cut grass, white grapes, black pepper, ginger, hints of vanilla. With water, leather, white grapes, mint. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, jasmine, ginger, camphor, black pepper, raisins, orange peel, hints of white grapes. With water, greengages, white grapes, fresh cut grass, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, black pepper, ginger, white grapes, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Sweet and herbal, very complex and fruity. It opens up a lot with water, but the layers are quite hard to discern dril each other. It takes time to enjoy this whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenury Royal 22yo 1984/2006

Glenury Royal 22yo 1984/2006

Rarest of the Rare, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, roast chicken, barley sugar, fresh baked bread, sea salt, apples, chalk, soy sauce. With water, pears, lemon zest, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh baked bread, chalk, hints of lemon zest. With water, lemon zest, white grapes, pears, hints of lavender. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, white grapes, barley sugar, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 3046. Floral and light, with a little bit of old bottle effect, this Josh is spectacular. Lots of underlying, slightly feinty and sulphurous notes, but these are gentle and complement the floral fruit. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenlochy 31yo 1980/2011

Glenlochy 31yo 1980/2011

Cask Strength Collection, Signatory
Single malt - Western Highlands
Golden
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast pork, white grapes, rhubarb and custard sweets, magic marker, fresh baked bread, nutmeg. With water, peaches, magic marker, pears, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, leather, peaches, nutmeg, cloves, roast pork, chalk, hints of smoke. With water, leather, white grapes, cloves, violets. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, leather, white pepper, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Cask 2825. Extremely complex and layered whisky. There’s plenty of everything for everyone. It’s mostly floral, but not the pungent florality of ginger or turmeric, instead it’s gentle flowers and perhaps some acetone-like notes. Lovely. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenlochy 24yo 1980/2005

Glenlochy 24yo 1980/2005

Rarest of the Rare, Duncan Taylor 
Single malt - Western Highlands
Copper gold 
61.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: White chocolate, white pepper, galangal, leather, roast pork, lemon zest, magic marker, sea salt. With water, magic marker, fresh baked bread, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, nectarines, galangal, white pepper, vanilla, fresh baked bread, magic marker. With water, fresh baked bread, vanilla, nectarines, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, leather, white chocolate, nectarines, hints of roast pork. 

Comments: 

A meaty herbal, sweet and fruity Glenlochy. Very complex, it needs time to open up, nearly 30 minutes, to develop to its full range of flavours. Lots of floral notes as well, plenty of galangal.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dallas Dhu 32yo 1975/2007

Dallas Dhu 32yo 1975/2007

Cask Strength Collection, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
47.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rhubarb and custard sweets, soor ploom sweets, toffee, honey, vanilla, green apples, lime zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Soor ploom sweets, leather, celery salt, toffee, honey, lime zest, lemon curd, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. Peat, leather, lime zest, cinnamon, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Very sweet and tangy whisky, but with a dark smoky edge. The smoke is very faint, and only really appears on the finish. Plenty of bright sweet notes that I did not expect in a whisky that’s been in the bottle a while.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 59.48 (Teaninich 30yo 1983/2013)

SMWS 59.48 (Teaninich 30yo 1983/2013)

2013, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber, hints of gold
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, photocopy paper, pineapples, green tea, sandalwood, hints of pear drops. With water, magic marker, pineapples, photocopy paper. 

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, oily, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Green tea, malted grains, yoghurt, white pepper, sandalwood, peaches, hints of wet stones. With water, smoke, leather, pineapples, green tea. 
Finish: Long. Wet stones, yoghurt, fresh baked bread, peaches, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

Complex and minerally, this whisky still tastes bright and vibrant despite its age. Plenty of tannic, feinty notes dominate some mild fruit and spice. Very good indeed, excellent old highland whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 1975 (bottled 1989)

Teaninich 1975 (bottled 1989)

Connoisseurs Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, leather, sultanas, pineapples, honey, clay dust, peaches, sandalwood, hints of roast beef. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, expands, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, black tea, camphor, Chinese angelica, honey, sultanas, peaches, hints of golden syrup. 
Finish: Long. Camphor, honey, peaches, leather, hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Sweet and meaty, lots of tropical fruit notes, but it’s buried under a lot of old bottle effect. It turns the whisky herbal and savoury. Normally I would really enjoy that effect, but I think in this case, it’s obscured some of the more interesting flavours.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Millburn 18yo 1977/1996

Millburn 18yo 1977/1996

Cooper’s Choice, Vintage Malt Whisky Co
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, cinder toffee, applesauce, papayas, lemon zest, Chinese angelica, hints of candied oranges. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, slippery, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon zest, applesauce, leather, honey, cinder toffee, passionfruit, hints of papayas, hints of charcoal ash. 
Finish: Medium. Charcoal ash, cinder toffee, leather, passionfruit, hints of papayas. 

Comments: 

Well, this Millburn is much less smoke-forward than some others, instead there’s a faint ashy flavour, underneath all that fruit. It’s very gentle and mild.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Millburn 1972 (bottled 1995)

Millburn 1972 (bottled 1995)

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

Nose: Leather, papayas, honey, pineapples, cinder toffee, lemon zest, sea salt, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Leather, tarry rope, smoke, celery salt, toffee, lemon zest, papayas, honey, marmalade, hints of Chinese angelica. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, celery salt, cinder toffee, smoke. 

Comments: 

Smoky, complex and enhanced with heaps of old bottle effect. It’s almost like licking a slab of peat and breathing in smoke. Lots of underlying sweet savoury notes too. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Nantou Omar Orange Brandy Barrel Finished

Nantou Omar Orange Brandy Barrel Finished

Official bottling 
Single malt - Central Taiwan
Pale orange 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, lemon zest, malted grains, hoppy beer, manuka honey, white pepper, hints of peaches. With water, manuka honey, orange peel, lemon zest, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, thickens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, manuka honey, fresh baked bread, ink, magic marker, malted grains, white pepper, hints of peaches. With water, malted grains, ink, fresh baked bread, oatcakes. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, ink, malted grains, white pepper, hints of marmalade. 

Comments: 

My last sample of Omar quirky finishes. This isn’t as orangey as you might think, instead there’s a complex honeyed sweetness, and a slightly chemical estery undertone. Drinkable and pleasant.

Verdict:

I like this.

Eddu Silver

Eddu Silver 

Official bottling 

Single grain - Brittany 
Buttercups 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, vitamin C tablets, lemon sherbet, makrut lime leaf, fresh cut grass, hints of basil. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vitamin C tablets, makrut lime leaf, fresh cut grass, pomeloes, orange juice, brass polish, hints of lemon sherbet. 
Finish: Long. Basil, brass polish, vitamin C tablets, white pepper, hints of pomeloes. 

Comments: 

Quite herbal and citrusy, lots of chalky, slightly feinty notes. It’s like biting into one of those fizzy vitamin C tablets. Nice long herbal finish too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Stork Club Straight Rye Whiskey

Stork Club Straight Rye Whiskey

Official bottling
Single rye - Brandenburg
Bright gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sea salt, leather, camphor, black tea, black pepper, hints of roast pork. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Camphor, black tea, raisins, cough syrup, corn syrup, honey, cloves. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, blackcurrant cordial, cough syrup, black pepper. 

Comments: 

I’ve had the higher ABV version, and it was far better. This one is a little thin, light mouthfeel, less sweet but with the herbal notes intact. In fact it now tastes slightly medicinal, and not like its higher strength brother.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenglassaugh 25yo 1984/2009

Glenglassaugh 25yo 1984/2009

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber orange
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Damson jam, black tea, candied oranges, cocoa nibs, milk chocolate, hay, honey, hints of toffee. With water, milk chocolate, butterscotch, hay, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Damson jam, black tea, raspberry jam, candied oranges, maraschino cherries, pencil erasers, cloves, hints of milk chocolate. With water, black tea, honey, maraschino cherries, butterscotch. 
Finish: Long. Candied oranges, milk chocolate, maraschino cherries, hay, cloves. 

Comments: 

Lovely old classic mid-80s sherried Speyside. Some feinty flinty notes marry well with fruit and jam and chocolate. I enjoyed this, it’s not often anymore I can get hold of these OMC bottles. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cradle Mountain from the Small Concern distillery 24yo 1996/2021

Cradle Mountain from the Small Concern distillery 24yo 1996/2021

Individual Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Tasmania
Dark amber gold
52.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, toffee, aluminium foil, black tea, hints of red grapes. With water, red grapes. With water, red grapes, bananas, cream, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peanut butter, dark chocolate, vanilla cream, milk powder, red grapes, cocoa powder, hints of strawberry jam. With water, dark chocolate, black tea, milk powder, hints of peanut butter. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, toffee, strawberry jam, peanut butter, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Cradle Mountain in a Cabernet Sauvignon cask! It’s got the classic peanut butter notes that I found in other releases from this distillery, but the wine cask finish is perhaps less helpful than it could be. Lots of sweet jammy chocolate notes, that obscure all that lovely peanut butter.

Verdict:

I like this.

Slyrs 3yo Batch 3

Slyrs 3yo Batch 3

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Bavaria
Amber, hints of green 
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, wet stones, sandalwood, pencil led, lemon zest, malted grains, hints of hoppy beer. With water, vanilla custard, lemon sweets, brown paper, pencil lead. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, oily, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, damson jam, vanilla custard, wet stones, candied oranges, sandalwood, pencil lead. With water, lemon zest, lemon sweets, vanilla custard, pencil lead. 
Finish: Long. Vanilla custard, white pepper, lemon zest, candied oranges. 

Comments: 

Gorgeously flinty and mineral, this whisky is complex and sweet. There is plenty of citrus and jam notes, which works well with the thick oily mouthfeel. It all builds to a long sweet, spicy finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Coppersea Rye Cask Sample

Coppersea Rye Cask Sample

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - New York 
Amber red
50.89% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nectarines, red grapes, raisins, mace, nutmeg, black pepper, brown paper, hints of sultanas. With water, magic marker, red grapes, sultanas, cinnamon, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Nectarines, peaches, white grapes, green tea, brown paper, sultanas, sandalwood. With water, peaches, malted grains, sultanas, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Chinese angelica, nutmeg, red grapes, raisins, green tea. 

Comments: 

An interesting rye, sweet, fruity, but not quite spicy. Instead, it’s almost herbal, lots of woody, tannic, grassy notes. Some rye spice makes an appearance with a bit of water. Very tasty indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Albany Rye Cask Sample

Albany Rye Cask Sample

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt 
Single rye - New York 
Amber
56.64% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, yoghurt, cream, milk chocolate, pears, nectarines, hints of cinnamon. With water, milk chocolate, marshmallows, vanilla, nectarines. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, warm, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, cinnamon, strawberry laces, nectarines, pears, milk chocolate, cream, hints of raisins. With water, peaches, marshmallows, raisins, cream. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, pears, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Not the Albany distillery in Australia, but the one in New York. The whisky is creamy and fruity, and very ‘soft’ despite the high ABV. Spicy rye notes only really appear on the finish. Quite lovely. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dufftown 10yo Batch 2

Dufftown 10yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Pale straw
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, tangerines, marshmallows, pear drops, vanilla, lemon curd, hints of mace. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting: Sour. Lemon curd, tangerines, malted grains, pear drops, vanilla, honey, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Mace, cinnamon, pear drops, green apples, tangerines. 

Comments: 

Tart and citrusy, this whisky is a fruity, slightly spicy Speyside specimen! It lacks a little body perhaps, but the flavours are very good. Lots of fragrance, both on the nose and the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Circle Limited Edition Release 2

The Circle Limited Edition Release 2

Compass Box
Blended malt
Copper gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, lemon zest, marshmallows, marmalade, strawberry jam, hints of hoppy beer. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Sandalwood, marmalade, hoppy beer, orange peel, candied ginger, cinnamon, hints of black tea. 
Finish: Long. Marmalade, candied ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, hints of cloves. 

Comments: 

A perfect blend from Compass Box. Citrusy, spicy and a little bit tannic, very complex whisky. Utterly lovely. It’s mostly Glen Elgin, Speyburn and Teaninich, with a smattering of malt from Linkwood, Ardmore and some pre-blended scotch.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cameronbridge 40yo 1982/2022

Cameronbridge 40yo 1982/2022

Whisky Broker
Single grain - Lowlands
Bright gold 
50.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, white pepper, mace, corn syrup, honey, tangerines, hints of toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Vanilla, oatcakes, chocolate, corn syrup, mace, greengages, hints of tangerines, hints of white grapes. 
Finish: Short. Greengages, oatcakes, corn syrup, mace, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Excellent, well aged old grain. Very good and pleasant mouth feel, thick and luscious, with a lot of citrus and oats. It’s almost malty. Very enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Morris Signature Single Malt

Morris Signature Single Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Victoria
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, dark chocolate, angelica root, sea salt, raisins, hints of toffee apples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Dark chocolate, leather, tyre rubber, black pepper, raisins, cloves, hints of toffee apples. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, dark chocolate, tyre rubber, cloves, hints of angelica root. 

Comments: 

Quite a decent malt, lots of sweet herbal notes, with a savoury undertone. On the tongue it’s quite chocolate-forward, with some bitter angelica. Quite impressive for an entry-level malt.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapa 15yo 2005/2020

Scapa 15yo 2005/2020

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Islands
Dark gold
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, sandalwood, honey, leather, sea salt, smoke, hints of white pepper. With water, green apples, smoke, white pepper, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Green apples, leather, peat, sea salt, white pepper, damson jam, hints of smoke. With water, damson jam, green apples, malted grains, leather. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, green apples, honey, damson jam, sea salt. 

Comments: 

A very leathery, tart and more-ish Scapa. Not very saline or island-like, instead it’s soft and fruity and gentle. Some traces of spicy notes on the finish, but all very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Seven Seals The Age of Scorpio

Seven Seals The Age of Scorpio

Official bottling 
Single malt - Nidwalden
Amber
49.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, dried figs, prunes, black tea, clay dust, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, clay dust, liquorice, cloves, raisins, damson jam, fresh baked bread, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Liquorice, cloves, cough syrup, black pepper, black tea, hints of pencil erasers. 

Comments: 

Very good sherried whisky! It’s Swiss, but tastes like Scotch. The wood finish is expertly done, and it’s even got a dusty aged taste, although it can’t be that old. Cleverly constructed whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Benrinnes 10yo 2010/2021

Benrinnes 10yo 2010/2021

Error 502 Bad Gateway, Thompson Bros
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale straw
58.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, sour cream, lemon zest, malted grains, pear drops, hints of balsamic vinegar. With water, sour cream, magic marker, green apples. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Pear drops, green apples, honey, sour cream, lemon zest, vanilla, malted grains, hints of rye bread. With water, rye bread, green apples, sour cream, hints of tyre rubber. 
Finish: Long. Rye bread, lemon zest, malted grains, green apples, hints of tyre rubber. 

Comments: 

Spicy and sour, this is a very good Benrinnes. It’s green apple and pear sour sweets, with a nice spicy hit of rye bread. Excellent, robust and vibrant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Elsburn 3yo Batch 2

Elsburn 3yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt 
Single malt - Bavaria
Orange brown
48.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, cinder toffee, orange peel, molasses, dark chocolate, malted grains, hints of hoppy beer. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, oily, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, cinder toffee, dark chocolate, malted grains, fresh baked bread, coffee, hints of charcoal ash. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, cinder toffee, fresh baked bread, raisins, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

I’ve tended to score German whiskies quite highly, and I was rather impressed by this one. It’s young, no doubt, but it’s got a good malty spine and is toffee-sweet. A little longer in a cask would probably have made it even better.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenfiddich IPA Experiment

Glenfiddich IPA Experiment 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Buttercups
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hoppy beer, lemon zest, kiwifruit, malted grains, sour cream, apple juice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, sour cream, hoppy beer, ginger, cinnamon, apple juice, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, apple juice, honey, ginger, green tea. 

Comments: 

Malty and tart, it’s quite a refreshing whisky. The lowish ABV doesn’t seem to hurt it at all. Lots of fruit and spice too, and very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Keith 27yo 1993/2021

Glen Keith 27yo 1993/2021

Mission Gold Limited Release, Murray McDavid 
Single malt - Speyside 
Bronze gold 
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, honey, gingerbread, golden syrup, sandalwood, walnuts. With water, orange peel, sandalwood, hoppy beer, clay dust. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, honey, golden syrup, salted caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, gingerbread, hints of orange peel. With water, cinnamon, white pepper, gingerbread, hoppy beer, hints of clay dust. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, orange peel, golden syrup, salted caramel, walnuts. 

Comments: 

Cask 82838/39. Very complex and well defined, it’s toffee gingerbread in a glass! It also has some welcome spicy and dusty notes, which always makes a whisky taste old (although it may not be). Tasty indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Finger Lakes Rye Cask Sample

Finger Lakes Rye Cask Sample

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - New York 
Amber
49.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, shortcrust pastry, vanilla, orange peel, honey, hints of toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, static, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Peaches, dried apricots, toffee, orange peel, black pepper, nutmeg, black tea, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, peaches, dried apricots, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

A very good cask sample from this New York distillery, which I’ve never encountered before. It’s very fruity and very spicy, with an intense, highly defined character. Very enjoyable, and I’m certainly on the lookout for more from the distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Peerless Double Oak Single Barrel

Peerless Double Oak Single Barrel

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Dark amber 
55.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, nutmeg, brown paper, cinnamon, applesauce, cloves, hints of raisins. With water, honey, strawberry jam, magic marker, raisins, cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, quince jelly, cinnamon, applesauce, honey, prunes, hints of raisins. With water, magic marker, black tea, honey, cinnamon, prunes. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, black tea, prunes, ginger, hints of quince jelly. 

Comments: 

Very sweet and complex bourbon, plenty of fruity notes, and quite estery ones too. There’s some bitterness on the tongue and the finish, which becomes more apparent once water is added. Very pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oxford Rye Purple Grain Batch 008

Oxford Rye Purple Grain Batch 008

Official bottling 
Single grain - Oxfordshire 
Dark amber red
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tyre rubber, popcorn, yoghurt, hazelnuts, flaked almonds, pineapples, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, magic marker, black pepper, hazelnuts, popcorn, hints of tyre rubber. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Popcorn, fresh baked bread, hazelnuts, lemon zest, hints of pineapples. With water, sea salt, hazelnuts, fresh baked bread, tyre rubber. 
Finish: Long. Tyre rubber, popcorn, grapefruit, pineapples, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Corn whisky made with purple corn! Quite sulphurous, but also nutty and fruity. Plenty of grain as well, which is unusual for grain whisky (perhaps surprisingly). Very interesting dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

New Riff Bourbon 4yo

New Riff Bourbon 4yo

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, toffee, raisins, brown paper, vanilla, golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Brown paper, golden syrup, orange peel, aluminium foil, nutmeg, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, golden syrup, cloves, aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

A very straightforward, well-defined bourbon, lots of sweet flavours, with a fair bit of spice. I liked the ryes from this distillery more, but this bourbon is decent and no slouch.

Verdict:

I like this.

Eddu Brocéliande

Eddu Brocéliande 

Official bottling 
Single grain - Brittany
Orange yellow
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sherbet, sour cream, candied oranges, fresh cut grass, vitamin C tablets, green peppers, hints of aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Greengages, green peppers, nectarines, lemon sherbet, vitamin C tablets, candied oranges, hints of prunes, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Leather, candied oranges, nectarines, prunes, vitamin C tablets. 

Comments: 

Buckwheat whisky. It’s a distinctive grain, and so is the whisky, except that it doesn’t have much of the nutty buckwheat flavour. Instead it’s full of green fruits and fizzy vitamin C tablets, citrusy and bright.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Craigellachie 15yo 2006/2022

Craigellachie 15yo 2006/2022

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside 
Straw
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, honey, dried apricots, hay, quince jelly, cream, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, lemon zest, malted grains, hay, hoppy beer, white pepper, candied ginger, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. Hoppy beer, lemon zest, malted grains, honey, hints of quince jelly. 

Comments: 

Lovely Craigellachie, spicy and sweet and citrusy, but with a well-defined malty spine. It’s well-crafted and well-aged. The flavours do indeed explode in the mouth. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Barton 1792 Small Batch

Barton 1792 Small Batch 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky 
Amber 

46.85% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, caramel, brown paper, coconut cream, sandalwood, brown paper, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Caramel, brown paper, dried figs, vanilla, toffee, blackcurrant cordial, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Caramel, toffee, nutmeg, brown paper, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Coconutty and sweet, lots of fruit, quite a decent bourbon. A little lower strength than I would like, but the fruity brown paper notes are there. Some interesting spicy notes on the finish too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wolfburn Aurora

Wolfburn Aurora

Official bottling 

Single malt - North Highlands 
Pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried apricots, fresh baked bread, green apples, yoghurt, starfruit, hints of cinnamon. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slightly astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Dried apricots, green tea, green apples, chillies, leather, lemon zest, starfruit, honey, peaches. 
Finish: Short. Peaches, dried apricots, leather, lemon zest, honey, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Delicious stuff this, quite tart, almost like an apple sour. A jammy nose gives way to a burst of sour notes on tongue, leading to a short spicy finish. Rather good value.

Verdict:

I like this.

Peerless 3yo Batch 1

Peerless 3yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt 
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber copper
49.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, salt caramel, milk chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla custard, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly oily, thickens, warm. 

Tasting:  Sweet salty. Peanut butter, blackcurrant jam, honey, brown paper, cinnamon, salt caramel. 
Finish: Short. Peanut butter, aluminium foil, honey, hints of salt caramel. 

Comments: 

Nutty and sweet, this Peerless is a little different from the others I’ve had. It’s not so fruity, instead it’s a little bit savoury and very more-ish. Perhaps could be a little older.

Verdict:

I like this.

Coppersea 3yo Batch 1

Coppersea 3yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - New York
Copper
49.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, raspberry jam, black pepper, marmalade, rye bread, dried apricots, aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black pepper, rye bread, peaches, marmalade, nutmeg, black tea, hints of ginseng. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, rye bread, marmalade, nutmeg, peaches. 

Comments: 

Coppersea - a New York distillery I’ve not had the pleasure yet. This was delightful, heaps of peaches, almost peach cobbler, over a strong spicy rye bread spine. Very robust and intense.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Laphroaig 14yo 2004/2019

Laphroaig 14yo 2004/2019

Selection, Adelphi 
Single malt - Islay
Pale orange 
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, cotton sheets, pencil lead, fresh cut grass, heather honey, autumn leaves, coal smoke, hints of coal gas. With water, leather, smoked bacon, heather honey, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Cotton sheets, coal gas, wet stones, pencil lead, heather honey, fresh cut grass, cabbage, hints of red grapes. With water, wet stones, leather, autumn leaves, smoked bacon. 
Finish: Long. Pencil lead, wet stones, leather, coal smoke. 

Comments: 

A feinty, sulphurous Laphroaig, quite bright and intense. A little water opens up some sweet, smoky meatiness.n interesting complex dram, less medicinal peat and more sulphurous peat.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ruadh Maor 8yo 2012/2021

Ruadh Maor 8yo 2012/2021

Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Central Highlands
Yellow gold
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, leather, lemon zest, peat, white chocolate, iodine, hints of limes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, slightly oily, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Lemon zest, limes, white chocolate, white pepper, fresh baked bread, smoke, leather, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Leather, tobacco leaf, smoke, iodine, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Peated Glenturret. It’s really quite peaty, smoky leather notes dominate citrus and sweet white chocolate. There’s a malty spine to this as well. Quite drinkable and enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Gold Spot 9yo

Gold Spot 9yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Amber 

51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, tutti frutti, honey, orange peel, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge, desiccated coconut. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Vanilla, white pepper, orange peel, fresh baked bread, cornflakes, vanilla sponge, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, cornflakes, damson jam, vanilla sponge. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, this is really quite rich and unctuous for an Irish whisky. Plenty of fruit and vanilla entwine a light distillate. Lots of white pepper and cornflakes complete a lovely dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oban 10yo (2022 Special Releases)

Oban 10yo (2022 Special Releases)

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Highlands
Sunshine yellow
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, lemon curd, heather honey, peat, dried figs, hints of milk. With water, toffee, smoke, brass polish, aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, dried figs, tyre rubber, smoke, leather, raisins, milk, cream, hints of nutmeg. With water, dried figs, toffee, aluminium foil. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, black tea, cream, orange peel, dried figs. 

Comments: 

A sweet feinty Oban, lots of fruit and chocolate. There’s really only a whisper of smoke, and it appears with a few drops of water. Lots of lovely creamy notes as well on the tongue. Atypical, but delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ledaig 18yo 2001/2019

Ledaig 18yo 2001/2019

Benchmark - Limited Release, Murray McDavid 
Single malt - Islands
Orange gold
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, yoghurt, milk powder, red grapes, marmalade, hazelnuts, peat, tobacco leaf, hints of smoke. With water, pears, lemon zest, raisins, iodine. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Yoghurt, milk chocolate, hazelnuts, tobacco leaf, smoke, peanut butter, red grapes, iodine, hints of black pepper. With water, smoke, peanut butter, pears, iodine. 
Finish: Long. Peat, smoke, brass polish, iodine. 

Comments: 

Cask 800065. Quite unbalanced, but not bold. Some lactic notes offset by peanut butter and a little fruit. With water the smoke comes forward. Can’t say this was brilliant, had to work hard to get past the slightly chemical notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Invergordon 32yo 1987/2020

Invergordon 32yo 1987/2020

The Whisky Trail, Elixir Distillers
Single grain - North Highlands 
Pale green gold 
52.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, vanilla, sea salt, lemon zest, desiccated coconut, hay, hints of malted grains, hints of leather. With water, magic marker, surgical spirit, hay, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Fresh baked bread, pears, desiccated coconut, oak chips, golden syrup, hay, hints of malted grains, hints of butterscotch. With water, pears, honey, desiccated coconut. 
Finish: Long. Oak chips, golden syrup, fresh baked bread, desiccated coconut. 

Comments: 

Cask 88799. Quite spirity and volatile, lots of slight acetone notes that morph into something else. Water opens it up a bit but accentuates the spiritiness. It’s a mite tired, I would say.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nantou Omar Lychee Liqueur Barrel Finished

Nantou Omar Lychee Liqueur Barrel Finished 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Central Taiwan 
Bright orange gold
56% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, malted grains, leather, raisins, raspberry jam, tobacco leaf, sea salt, hints of roast pork. With water, marmalade, honey, raspberry jam, malted grains, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Raspberry jam, lychees, sea salt, marmalade, green tea, raisins, honey, hints of tobacco leaf. With water, lychees, raspberry jam, marmalade, black tea, pear drops. 
Finish: Short. Marmalade, raspberry jam, lychees, honey, hints of roast pork. 

Comments: 

Cask 21090565, 569, 567. Not as lychee forward as I thought it would be. Instead, there’s a lot of jam and sweet honey, and herbal tobacco. Lychee notes appear almost as an afterthought. Still, quite interesting and eminently drinkable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Smögen 10yo 2012/2022

Smögen 10yo 2012/2022

Nordic Casks #2, Berry Bros & Rudd 
Single malt - Bohuslän
Green gold
59.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Driftwood smoke, peanuts, leather, pine, dried apricots, apple juice, hints of smoked bacon. With water, honey, apple juice, golden syrup, smoked bacon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Pine, leather, driftwood smoke, coffee, smoked bacon, apple juice, lemon zest, walnut skins, hints of dark chocolate. With water, lemon zest, walnut skins, peanuts, apple juice. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, smoked bacon, apricots, driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 34. Herbal and smoky, with a meaty backbone. It’s a bit unbalanced for my liking though, despite the rather interesting fruity notes underlying that smoke. Too much bacon perhaps (probably the first time I’ve ever thought that).

Verdict:

I like this.

Thy 3yo 2019/2022

Thy 3yo 2019/2022

Nordic Casks #2, Berry Bros & Rudd 
Single malt - Nordjylland
Sunshine yellow
57.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lime zest, grapefruit, honey, fresh cut grass, dandelions, brass polish, hints of sourdough bread. With water, brass polish, lime zest, grapefruit, tonka bean. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, warm, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour. Grapefruit, brass polish, sourdough bread,  dandelions, green tea, quinine, toast, hints of tonka bean. With water, grapefruit, tonka bean, toast, hints of quinine. 
Finish: Long. Fresh cut grass, quinine, brass polish, grapefruit. 

Comments: 

Cask 175 and 258 (quarter casks). Unique and delicious, lots of grapefruit and tonka bean notes. Feinty yet fruity, and there’s a decent spine of malt as well. Very nice indeed, and my first dram from this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.