Coleburn 41yo 1972/2013
Rare Old, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Blueberries, pineapple sweets, leather, cucumbers, orange peel, shortcrust pastry, honey.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Leather, peat, pineapple sweets, sage, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, hints of shortcrust pastry.
Finish: Long. Leather, peat, blueberries, pineapple sweets, fresh cut grass.
Comments:
Cask RO/13/06. Lovely jammy pineapple notes, together with heaps of leathery peat. Also buttery shortcrust pastry. The peat is gentle, almost kissing the fruit, and there’s some fresh grassiness to perk it all up. There’s no such thing as the perfect dram, but this isn’t too far off.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Friday, 25 February 2022
Glenlivet 28yo 1973/2002
Glenlivet 28yo 1973/2002
Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
55.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Greengages, honey, vanilla, orange peel, oak, caramel, hints of toast. With water, honey, vanilla, leather, hints of blueberries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, expands, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, chocolate, orange peel, oak, butter, hints of popcorn, hints of greengages. With water, popcorn, caramel, leather, hints of blueberries.
Finish: Long. Butter, popcorn, chocolate, blueberries, orange peel.
Comments:
Cask 8847-8850. Rich and fruity, and tasting of great age, this whisky is quite classic on the nose and the tongue. There’s a very woody finish, which somehow tastes of buttered popcorn and chocolate. A splash of water is essential. Strange, but delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
55.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Greengages, honey, vanilla, orange peel, oak, caramel, hints of toast. With water, honey, vanilla, leather, hints of blueberries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, expands, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, chocolate, orange peel, oak, butter, hints of popcorn, hints of greengages. With water, popcorn, caramel, leather, hints of blueberries.
Finish: Long. Butter, popcorn, chocolate, blueberries, orange peel.
Comments:
Cask 8847-8850. Rich and fruity, and tasting of great age, this whisky is quite classic on the nose and the tongue. There’s a very woody finish, which somehow tastes of buttered popcorn and chocolate. A splash of water is essential. Strange, but delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Glen Keith 43yo 1973/2017
Glen Keith 43yo 1973/2017
Single Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
43.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: White pepper, clay dust, roast beef, orange juice, mint, butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, loose, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Clay dust, coffee, wet stones, orange juice, butterscotch, hints of vanilla.
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, lemon zest, butterscotch, vanilla.
Comments:
Something of an enigma, this whisky. It’s old, and tastes old. Dry and dusty, somewhat mouth puckering. But at the same time, it’s rich and sweet, with an alluring bitter edge. Lovely.
Verdict:
I like this.
Single Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
43.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: White pepper, clay dust, roast beef, orange juice, mint, butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, loose, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Clay dust, coffee, wet stones, orange juice, butterscotch, hints of vanilla.
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, lemon zest, butterscotch, vanilla.
Comments:
Something of an enigma, this whisky. It’s old, and tastes old. Dry and dusty, somewhat mouth puckering. But at the same time, it’s rich and sweet, with an alluring bitter edge. Lovely.
Verdict:
I like this.
Dallas Dhu 35yo 1979/2014
Dallas Dhu 35yo 1979/2014
Small Batch, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
53.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cucumbers, roast pork, white pepper, green tea, nectarines. With water, honey, roast pork, soy sauce, cucumbers.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, slightly tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. White pepper, nectarines, honey, roast pork, fresh cut grass, five spice powder. With water, nectarines, dark chocolate, blackcurrants, soy sauce.
Finish: Medium. Soy sauce, five spice powder, honey.
Comments:
Very meaty, sweet and savoury. Very like char siu pork on rice, not many whiskies have this vibe. Lots of unctuous thick sticky things on the tongue as well, with a slight bitter edge. Delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Small Batch, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
53.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cucumbers, roast pork, white pepper, green tea, nectarines. With water, honey, roast pork, soy sauce, cucumbers.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, slightly tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. White pepper, nectarines, honey, roast pork, fresh cut grass, five spice powder. With water, nectarines, dark chocolate, blackcurrants, soy sauce.
Finish: Medium. Soy sauce, five spice powder, honey.
Comments:
Very meaty, sweet and savoury. Very like char siu pork on rice, not many whiskies have this vibe. Lots of unctuous thick sticky things on the tongue as well, with a slight bitter edge. Delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Glenlochy 27yo 1980/2007
Glenlochy 27yo 1980/2007
Closed Distilleries, Part des Anges
Single malt - Western Highlands
Pale green gold
58.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Papayas, starfruit, cucumbers, green tea, jasmine, hints of malted grains. With water, cucumbers, greengages, galangal.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, thickens slightly, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Sea salt, starfruit, kombu, jasmine, turmeric, white pepper, cucumbers. With water, white pepper, lemon zest, jasmine, turmeric.
Finish: Long. Turmeric, galangal, kombu, hints of cucumbers.
Comments:
Very unusual whisky. Lots of fragrant spices, acrid ones like turmeric and galangal. It’s also very floral and light, fragrant and savoury. Quite incredible, never tasted anything like this before.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Closed Distilleries, Part des Anges
Single malt - Western Highlands
Pale green gold
58.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Papayas, starfruit, cucumbers, green tea, jasmine, hints of malted grains. With water, cucumbers, greengages, galangal.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, thickens slightly, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Sea salt, starfruit, kombu, jasmine, turmeric, white pepper, cucumbers. With water, white pepper, lemon zest, jasmine, turmeric.
Finish: Long. Turmeric, galangal, kombu, hints of cucumbers.
Comments:
Very unusual whisky. Lots of fragrant spices, acrid ones like turmeric and galangal. It’s also very floral and light, fragrant and savoury. Quite incredible, never tasted anything like this before.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Glen Garioch 32yo 1988/2021
Glen Garioch 32yo 1988/2021
Old and Rare, Hunter Laing
Single malt - Eastern Highlands
Dark amber
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Roast beef, honey, green tea, fresh cut grass, sea salt, American mustard.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, vanilla, dark chocolate, sage, blueberries, autumn leaves, tarragon, hints of mustard oil.
Finish: Short. Sage, fresh cut grass, honey, tarragon, hints of blackberries.
Comments:
So, apparently very old Glen Garioch has a mustard note. I did not know this, and it’s really obvious for this whisky. It’s several different flavours of mustard as well, ranging from sour, acrid American yellow mustard on the nose, to pungent mustard oil on the tongue to a sweet mostarda on the finish. Very interesting.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Old and Rare, Hunter Laing
Single malt - Eastern Highlands
Dark amber
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Roast beef, honey, green tea, fresh cut grass, sea salt, American mustard.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, vanilla, dark chocolate, sage, blueberries, autumn leaves, tarragon, hints of mustard oil.
Finish: Short. Sage, fresh cut grass, honey, tarragon, hints of blackberries.
Comments:
So, apparently very old Glen Garioch has a mustard note. I did not know this, and it’s really obvious for this whisky. It’s several different flavours of mustard as well, ranging from sour, acrid American yellow mustard on the nose, to pungent mustard oil on the tongue to a sweet mostarda on the finish. Very interesting.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Isle of Jura 30yo 1990/2020
Isle of Jura 30yo 1990/2020
Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Islands
Golden
46.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Hay, coffee, greengages, fresh cut grass, dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter. Coffee, blackcurrant cordial, dark chocolate, mint, hints of sour cream, hints of white peach.
Finish: Long. Dark chocolate, mint, white peaches, greengages, hints of sour cream.
Comments:
An atypical Jura, quite a lot of sweet and darkly bitter notes on the nose, with little of that lactic tang. On the tongue the sweetness disappears, leaving quite a bitter and fragrant collection of notes. The characteristic sour cream note appears only fleetingly on the finish and the tongue.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Islands
Golden
46.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Hay, coffee, greengages, fresh cut grass, dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter. Coffee, blackcurrant cordial, dark chocolate, mint, hints of sour cream, hints of white peach.
Finish: Long. Dark chocolate, mint, white peaches, greengages, hints of sour cream.
Comments:
An atypical Jura, quite a lot of sweet and darkly bitter notes on the nose, with little of that lactic tang. On the tongue the sweetness disappears, leaving quite a bitter and fragrant collection of notes. The characteristic sour cream note appears only fleetingly on the finish and the tongue.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
SMWS 42.56 (Tobermory 26yo 1994/2021)
SMWS 42.56 (Tobermory 26yo 1994/2021)
2021, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Olive oil, linseed oil, cherries, fresh baked bread, malted milk, mint, honey, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, airy, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Blackcurrant cordial, cherries, honey, sea salt, roast pork, olive oil.
Finish: Medium. Mint, malted milk, cherries, hints of olive oil.
Comments:
Slightly atypical Tobermory, lacks a saline edge. Instead there’s a peppery note, like a good olive oil. There’s a good meaty richness, like cough syrup on top of roast pork. Highly enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
2021, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Olive oil, linseed oil, cherries, fresh baked bread, malted milk, mint, honey, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, airy, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Blackcurrant cordial, cherries, honey, sea salt, roast pork, olive oil.
Finish: Medium. Mint, malted milk, cherries, hints of olive oil.
Comments:
Slightly atypical Tobermory, lacks a saline edge. Instead there’s a peppery note, like a good olive oil. There’s a good meaty richness, like cough syrup on top of roast pork. Highly enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Balvenie Week of Peat 17yo
Balvenie Week of Peat 17yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
49.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Bacon, smoke, leather, honey, charcoal ash, orange peel, hints of oolong tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Bacon, leather, smoke, peat, hay, oolong tea, caramel, orange peel.
Finish: Long. Oolong tea, bacon, leather, smoke, peat, autumn leaves.
Comments:
Peated Balvenie is an interesting treat. This one is like eating a bacon sandwich, a delicate one infused with orange peel. Savoury and sweet, with a long earthy, tannic finish.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Dram
Nose: Bacon, smoke, leather, honey, charcoal ash, orange peel, hints of oolong tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Bacon, leather, smoke, peat, hay, oolong tea, caramel, orange peel.
Finish: Long. Oolong tea, bacon, leather, smoke, peat, autumn leaves.
Comments:
Peated Balvenie is an interesting treat. This one is like eating a bacon sandwich, a delicate one infused with orange peel. Savoury and sweet, with a long earthy, tannic finish.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Knappogue Castle 25yo 1996/2021 (The Remarkable Rocket)
Knappogue Castle 25yo 1996/2021 (The Remarkable Rocket)
Ex Libris, La Maison du Whisky
Single malt - Unknown
Pale gold
53.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sea salt, lemon zest, green tea, raspberries, oyster brine, hints of jasmine.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, warm.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raspberries, nectarines, blackcurrant cordial, oyster brine, chalk, lemon zest, hints of jasmine.
Finish: Long. Blackcurrant cordial, nectarines, chalk, sea salt, oyster brine.
Comments:
Cask #5629. Potentially Bushmills, as I understand it, but also maybe not. It’s quite briny and light, some mineral notes offset by floral flavours. The top note is a Ribena-ey cough syrup.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ex Libris, La Maison du Whisky
Single malt - Unknown
Pale gold
53.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sea salt, lemon zest, green tea, raspberries, oyster brine, hints of jasmine.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, warm.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raspberries, nectarines, blackcurrant cordial, oyster brine, chalk, lemon zest, hints of jasmine.
Finish: Long. Blackcurrant cordial, nectarines, chalk, sea salt, oyster brine.
Comments:
Cask #5629. Potentially Bushmills, as I understand it, but also maybe not. It’s quite briny and light, some mineral notes offset by floral flavours. The top note is a Ribena-ey cough syrup.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Ardnamurchan AD/04.21.03
Ardnamurchan AD/04.21.03
Official bottling
Single malt - Western Highlands
Pale pink gold
Official bottling
Single malt - Western Highlands
Pale pink gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange juice, white grapes, vanilla, fresh baked bread, honey, hints of smoke, hints of camphor.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, airy, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Fresh baked bread, sea salt, honey, champagne, dried pears, watermelon, hints of camphor, hints of germolene.
Finish: Short. Champagne, dried pears, honey, hints of leather, hints of smoke.
Comments:
Dram
Nose: Orange juice, white grapes, vanilla, fresh baked bread, honey, hints of smoke, hints of camphor.
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, airy, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Fresh baked bread, sea salt, honey, champagne, dried pears, watermelon, hints of camphor, hints of germolene.
Finish: Short. Champagne, dried pears, honey, hints of leather, hints of smoke.
Comments:
Lovely nose, lots of intense alluring flavours, rather sweeter than I’d expect of Ardnamurchan. On the tongue however, it’s a bit washed out, faint and rather harder to appreciate than the nose. Ardnamurchan is always promising, this one maybe a little less.
Verdict:
I like this.
Verdict:
I like this.
Sunday, 20 February 2022
Helsinki Rye Whiskey
Helsinki Rye Whiskey
Official bottling
Single rye - Southern Finland
Copper
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Black pepper, cinnamon, orange peel, white grapes, camphor, hints of jasmine, hints of coffee.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, black pepper, cinnamon, camphor, orange peel, golden syrup.
Finish: Short. Golden syrup, coffee, fresh baked bread, orange peel, hints of black pepper.
Comments:
I like this higher strength rye, lots of interesting peppery notes. It’s also rich and luscious, quite sweet. E been impressed by what comes out of this distillery, very promising.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single rye - Southern Finland
Copper
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Black pepper, cinnamon, orange peel, white grapes, camphor, hints of jasmine, hints of coffee.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, black pepper, cinnamon, camphor, orange peel, golden syrup.
Finish: Short. Golden syrup, coffee, fresh baked bread, orange peel, hints of black pepper.
Comments:
I like this higher strength rye, lots of interesting peppery notes. It’s also rich and luscious, quite sweet. E been impressed by what comes out of this distillery, very promising.
Verdict:
I like this.
Monday, 14 February 2022
Precinct No 6 Sour Mash
Precinct No 6 Sour Mash
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber pink
47.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cinnamon, sourdough bread, rubber tyres, corn syrup, popcorn, hints of cornflakes.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Bubble gum, cinnamon, blackcurrant cordial, popcorn, sourdough bread, cough sweets
Finish: Short. Cough sweets, blackcurrant cordial, popcorn, hints of rubber tyres.
Comments:
Sweet with some estery notes. Lots of cough syrup, medicinal notes that would be more pleasant with a malt base rather than a grain base. Young, slightly rubbery.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber pink
47.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cinnamon, sourdough bread, rubber tyres, corn syrup, popcorn, hints of cornflakes.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Bubble gum, cinnamon, blackcurrant cordial, popcorn, sourdough bread, cough sweets
Finish: Short. Cough sweets, blackcurrant cordial, popcorn, hints of rubber tyres.
Comments:
Sweet with some estery notes. Lots of cough syrup, medicinal notes that would be more pleasant with a malt base rather than a grain base. Young, slightly rubbery.
Verdict:
I like this.
Saturday, 12 February 2022
Smögen 8yo 2012/2020
Smögen 8yo 2012/2020
Official bottling
Single malt - Bohuslän
Pale copper
59.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, white grapes, smoke, peat, orange peel, toast, hints of cinnamon. With water, fresh baked bread, white pepper, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Salty sour. White grapes, dried apricots, peaches, sea salt, peat, ginseng, white pepper, toast, hints of lemon sweets. With water, lemon sweets, white pepper, sea salt.
Finish: Medium. Oats, vanilla, white grapes, toast.
Comments:
I think this is one of the few occasions where a whisky is perhaps bottled at too high a strength. It’s got promise, rich stone fruit underneath bitter smoke, but it’s rather harsh neat. Water smooths out the rough edges, also bringing a cereally bite to the surface.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Bohuslän
Pale copper
59.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, white grapes, smoke, peat, orange peel, toast, hints of cinnamon. With water, fresh baked bread, white pepper, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Salty sour. White grapes, dried apricots, peaches, sea salt, peat, ginseng, white pepper, toast, hints of lemon sweets. With water, lemon sweets, white pepper, sea salt.
Finish: Medium. Oats, vanilla, white grapes, toast.
Comments:
I think this is one of the few occasions where a whisky is perhaps bottled at too high a strength. It’s got promise, rich stone fruit underneath bitter smoke, but it’s rather harsh neat. Water smooths out the rough edges, also bringing a cereally bite to the surface.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Longmorn 22yo 1997/2020
Longmorn 22yo 1997/2020
Single Malts of Scotland, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
58.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Jasmine tea, honey, fresh baked bread, black tea, strawberry laces, orange peel, hints of sea salt. With water, sweeter, honey, orange peel, hints of strawberries.
Single Malts of Scotland, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
58.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Jasmine tea, honey, fresh baked bread, black tea, strawberry laces, orange peel, hints of sea salt. With water, sweeter, honey, orange peel, hints of strawberries.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, expands.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, fresh baked bread, vanilla, pomeloes, white grapes, black tea, marshmallows. With water, black tea, jasmine tea, strawberry laces.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, white grapes, marshmallows, jasmine tea.
Comments:
Cask 163301. A lovely combination of robust and delicate, lots of citrus and grape notes, together with floral and slightly tannic jasmine. Big intense finish, opens up and lengthens once water is added. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Honey, fresh baked bread, vanilla, pomeloes, white grapes, black tea, marshmallows. With water, black tea, jasmine tea, strawberry laces.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, white grapes, marshmallows, jasmine tea.
Comments:
Cask 163301. A lovely combination of robust and delicate, lots of citrus and grape notes, together with floral and slightly tannic jasmine. Big intense finish, opens up and lengthens once water is added. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Courage and Conviction (Cuvée Cask)
Courage and Conviction (Cuvée Cask)
Official bottling
Single malt - Virginia
Amber
Official bottling
Single malt - Virginia
Amber
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, fresh cut grass, sea salt, geranium soap, lemons, hints of sage.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, thickens slightly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemons, sage, honey, orange peel, hints of geranium soap.
Finish: Medium. Mint, lemons, copper pennies, honey.
Comments:
A rather odd, slightly soapy single malt from a distillery I’ve not had before. It’s got some lovely floral notes but they sort of meld together with the fruit to taste a bit like grandmother’s soap. Good length on the finish, sweet and metallic. I like this, for novelty value if nothing else.
Verdict:
I like this.
Dram
Nose: Honey, fresh cut grass, sea salt, geranium soap, lemons, hints of sage.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, thickens slightly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemons, sage, honey, orange peel, hints of geranium soap.
Finish: Medium. Mint, lemons, copper pennies, honey.
Comments:
A rather odd, slightly soapy single malt from a distillery I’ve not had before. It’s got some lovely floral notes but they sort of meld together with the fruit to taste a bit like grandmother’s soap. Good length on the finish, sweet and metallic. I like this, for novelty value if nothing else.
Verdict:
I like this.
Yoichi Single Malt Non Peated 2021
Yoichi Single Malt Non Peated 2021
Official bottling
Single malt - Hokkaido
Chinese tea
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Green apples, orange juice, white grapes, green tea, fresh baked bread.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange juice, green tea, fresh baked bread, vanilla, white grapes, ginseng, hints of blueberries.
Finish: Medium. Coffee, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread, green apples.
Comments:
Quite a fruity tannic Yoichi, with a number of bitter elements - ginseng, coffee and dark chocolate are prominent. There’s some cereally bite as well, which makes for an interesting dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Hokkaido
Chinese tea
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Green apples, orange juice, white grapes, green tea, fresh baked bread.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange juice, green tea, fresh baked bread, vanilla, white grapes, ginseng, hints of blueberries.
Finish: Medium. Coffee, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread, green apples.
Comments:
Quite a fruity tannic Yoichi, with a number of bitter elements - ginseng, coffee and dark chocolate are prominent. There’s some cereally bite as well, which makes for an interesting dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 3 February 2022
Miyagikyo Single Malt Peated 2021
Miyagikyo Single Malt Peated 2021
Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber gold
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, caramel, milk chocolate, vanilla, leather, orange peel, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, milk chocolate, vanilla, leather, peat, sea salt, honey, raisins.
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, honey, raisins, vanilla, milk chocolate.
Comments:
Smoky and chocolatey, this whisky is so smooth that for a moment one might mistake it for a mild-ish Ardbeg. But no, after that moment, the sweet milky flavours appear, this time with more than a hint of chocolate. With that clearly defined flavours that are a hallmark of Japanese whisky for me. Yum.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber gold
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, caramel, milk chocolate, vanilla, leather, orange peel, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, milk chocolate, vanilla, leather, peat, sea salt, honey, raisins.
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, honey, raisins, vanilla, milk chocolate.
Comments:
Smoky and chocolatey, this whisky is so smooth that for a moment one might mistake it for a mild-ish Ardbeg. But no, after that moment, the sweet milky flavours appear, this time with more than a hint of chocolate. With that clearly defined flavours that are a hallmark of Japanese whisky for me. Yum.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Strathmill 22yo 1990/2013
Strathmill 22yo 1990/2013
Dimensions, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
54.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, green tea, brass polish, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, fresh baked bread, hints of green tea.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, hot, slippery.
Tasting: Salty sour. Fresh baked bread, sea salt, brass polish, green tea, orange peel. With water, honey, fresh baked bread, raisins, green tea, caramel, hints of butterscotch.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, fresh baked bread, sea salt, honey, lemon sweets.
Comments:
Cask 4242. Rather tart and green Speyside whisky. It sweetens up a great deal once a few drops of water are added. A nice salty tannic finish, something quite rare and enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this.
Dimensions, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
54.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, green tea, brass polish, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, fresh baked bread, hints of green tea.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, hot, slippery.
Tasting: Salty sour. Fresh baked bread, sea salt, brass polish, green tea, orange peel. With water, honey, fresh baked bread, raisins, green tea, caramel, hints of butterscotch.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, fresh baked bread, sea salt, honey, lemon sweets.
Comments:
Cask 4242. Rather tart and green Speyside whisky. It sweetens up a great deal once a few drops of water are added. A nice salty tannic finish, something quite rare and enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this.
Glenlochy 1974/1991
Glenlochy 1974/1991
Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Western Highlands
Copper
Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Western Highlands
Copper
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, candle wax, dried apricots, honey, raisins, blueberries, strawberry jam.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, expands, airy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Strawberry jam, dried apricots, mint, leather, candle wax, dark chocolate, raisins, hints of blueberries.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, leather, farmyard, hints of celery.
Comments:
This is a rather famous G&M Glenlochy, it has a vintage but no bottling year. I understand it was bottled in 1991. It’s lovely, lots of dried fruit and a leathery farmyardiness, with plenty of old bottle effect. Utterly delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Dram
Nose: Leather, candle wax, dried apricots, honey, raisins, blueberries, strawberry jam.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, expands, airy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Strawberry jam, dried apricots, mint, leather, candle wax, dark chocolate, raisins, hints of blueberries.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, leather, farmyard, hints of celery.
Comments:
This is a rather famous G&M Glenlochy, it has a vintage but no bottling year. I understand it was bottled in 1991. It’s lovely, lots of dried fruit and a leathery farmyardiness, with plenty of old bottle effect. Utterly delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ben Nevis 25yo 1996/2021
Ben Nevis 25yo 1996/2021
Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Western Highlands
Dark amber
47.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, vanilla, yoghurt, rum and raisin ice cream, dried apricots.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, dried apricots, rose water, vanilla, dark chocolate, hints of coffee, hints of pineapples.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, raisins, vanilla, coffee.
Comments:
Cask ref 20. This whisky was hard to score. On one hand it is complex and has quite an intense flavour profile, plenty of dried fruits and floral fragrance. On the other the flavours aren’t that well defined, and I had to work quite hard to find that Ben Nevis character. In the end I came down on ‘it’s nice’ :).
Verdict:
I like this.
Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Western Highlands
Dark amber
47.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, vanilla, yoghurt, rum and raisin ice cream, dried apricots.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, dried apricots, rose water, vanilla, dark chocolate, hints of coffee, hints of pineapples.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, raisins, vanilla, coffee.
Comments:
Cask ref 20. This whisky was hard to score. On one hand it is complex and has quite an intense flavour profile, plenty of dried fruits and floral fragrance. On the other the flavours aren’t that well defined, and I had to work quite hard to find that Ben Nevis character. In the end I came down on ‘it’s nice’ :).
Verdict:
I like this.
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