Glenallachie 12yo 2008/2021

Glenallachie 12yo 2008/2021

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside 
Walnut
62.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, milk chocolate, vanilla sponge, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, star anise, sea salt, hints of sandalwood. With water, vanilla sponge, strawberry jam, sandalwood, hints of star anise. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, volatile, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Damson jam, raisins, coffee, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, malted grains, star anise, orange peel, hints of dried figs. With water, coffee, orange peel, raisins, dried figs, hints of strawberry jam. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, coffee, cocoa nibs, dried figs, hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Cask 900366. Dark and luscious, this sherry beast is redolent of the best of its kind - coffee, star anise, chocolate etc. The high ABV means a fair few drops of water are required, and they turn the whisky wonderfully jammy.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenfarclas 21yo 95 Proof (TWE Exclusive)

Glenfarclas 21yo 95 Proof (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark bronze
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, red grapes, dark chocolate, brass polish, sandalwood, rum and raisin, honey. With water, honey, dark chocolate, vanilla, carrot cake. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, oily, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, sandalwood, malted grains, dark chocolate, figs, shortcrust pastry, hints of brass polish. With water, dark chocolate, vanilla, shortcrust pastry, coffee. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, red grapes, orange peel, rum and raisin. 

Comments: 

Luscious and fruity, this Glenfarclas is quite emblematic of the distillery. Lots of spicy notes, including rum and raisin ice cream (blast from the past!). With water, it extends and turns bitter. Very nice indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fujikai 10yo

Fujikai 10yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber, hints of copper 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, photocopy paper, honey, green tea, walnut skins, oak chips, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Peat, leather, honey, white grapes, walnut skins, cedar, sea salt, oak chips, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, oak chips, leather, malted grains, hints of photocopy paper. 

Comments: 

A very weird, strange whisky. Lots of woody and feinty flavours, but not a lot of balancing sweet notes. It’s a bit like chewing on a piece of oak wrapped in a strip of leather.

Verdict:

Not bad. 

Dailuaine 14yo 2007/2021

Dailuaine 14yo 2007/2021

Cask Series, North Star Spirits 
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green tea, toast, white grapes, ink, vanilla, malted grains, watermelon rind. With water, malted grains, watermelon rind, toast, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, green tea, vanilla, dark chocolate, lemon zest, ink, hints of white pepper. With water, green tea, leather, watermelon rind, hints of ink. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, lemon zest, green tea, watermelon rind. 

Comments: 

Quite a grassy Dailuaine. I don’t remember it being this light and herbal. Lots of spicy notes, as well as some leather and toast. Surprisingly feinty too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Nc’Nean 3yo Batch 2

Nc’Nean 3yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Western Highlands 
Pale green gold 
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, passionfruit, raisins, damson jam, peaches, honey, hints of yoghurt. With water, honey, malted grains, papayas, hints of lemon curd. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Passionfruit, fresh cut grass, sage, peaches, yoghurt, strawberry jam, hints of cinnamon, hints of damson jam. With water, yoghurt, honey, lemon curd, passionfruit. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, yoghurt, peaches, raisins, hints of passionfruit. 

Comments: 

Tart, yet fruity and grassy. It’s complex whisky for something just 3 years old, and there’s quite a lot of spicy notes already. Must have been an active cask! Rather enjoyable, and very promising.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dornoch 5yo 2017/2022 Cask 10

Dornoch 5yo 2017/2022 Cask 10

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Bright gold
59.06% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, peanut butter, pear drops, vanilla, orange sherbet, malted grains, hints of lemon zest. With water, magic marker, lemon zest, watermelons, peaches, hints of orange sherbet. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Magic marker, watermelons, pear drops, peanut butter, malted grains, walnuts, shortbread, hay, hints of peaches. With water, peaches, watermelons, hay, hints of orange sherbet. 
Finish: Short. Magic marker, pear drops, shortbread, hay, hints of orange sherbet. 

Comments: 

Cask 10. Very nutty, but there’s that magic marker / pear drops note again. It’s also almost savoury, almost like acetone, against the backdrop of grassy watermelon and nutty peanut butter. Very interesting, and very good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dornoch 5yo 2017/2022 Blankenship’s Reserve Cask 3

Dornoch 5yo 2017/2022 Blankenship’s Reserve Cask 3

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber 
60% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried apricots, peaches, mangoes, passionfruit, banana peel, vanilla, honey, hints of tomato purée. With water, peaches, greengages, banana peel, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, dried apricots, photocopy paper, cloves, pear drops, magic marker, malted grains. With water, malted grains, black pepper, oats, banana peel. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, brown paper, photocopy paper, cloves, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 3. Very fruity and floral, over a great strong malty spine. Rather nice neat, but with water it somehow… weakens? Certainly the fruity notes fade, becoming more herbal and malty.

Verdict:

I like this.

Port Charlotte SHC:03 13yo 2006/2020

Port Charlotte SHC:03 13yo 2006/2020

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Chinese tea 
62.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toast, smoke, honey, lemon zest, figs, leather, peat, white grapes, hints of cloves. With water, tarry rope, smoked bacon, white grapes, hints of figs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slightly numbing, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Leather, smoke, peat, orange juice, tarry rope, figs, charcoal ash, hints of smoked bacon. With water, orange juice, smoke, leather, charcoal ash, hints of figs. 
Finish: Long. Orange juice, lemon zest, leather, tarry rope. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet, despite the peating. At least when it’s neat, anyway. Several drops of water open up some more classic Islay flavours - tarry rope, charcoal ash and smoked bacon - but the sweet figgy character remains just underneath.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Kyrö Wood Smoke Rye Whiskey

Kyrö Wood Smoke Rye Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single rye - Southern Finland
Amber bronze 
47.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, honey, damson jam, black tea, peaches, white grapes, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Damson jam, white grapes, leather, toast, sourdough bread, hints of smoke, hints of malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Sourdough bread, toast, malted grains, leather, hints of milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and smoky, with lots of fruit. Quite unusual, in that the rye spice is quite subtle and gentle. So’s the smoke, really, it’s muted and definitely not a top note. Delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Royal Brackla 9yo 2012/2021

Royal Brackla 9yo 2012/2021

Rebels - Guerrilla Casks, Brave New Spirits
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
55.9% ABV
Tiny taste

Nose: Yoghurt, peaches, toast, milk chocolate, greengages, hints of damson jam. With water, yoghurt, peaches, damson jam, lemon zest. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peaches, toast, honey, cloves, greengages, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest. With water, malted grains, damson jam, peaches, hints of honey. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, nutmeg, cinnamon, peaches, hints of black tea. 

Comments: 

Cask 493, Banyuls Barrique. Really surprising stuff, redolent of peaches, toast and honey. It’s sweet and luscious, and the high ABV makes it quite light and volatile too. Huge amounts of spice as well. All in all, quite excellent. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Sagamore Spirit Rye Rum Cask Finish

Sagamore Spirit Rye Rum Cask Finish 

Official bottling 
Single rye - Maryland
Dark amber
49% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tyre rubber, photocopy paper, cinnamon, brown paper, black pepper, corn syrup, vanilla, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, airy, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black pepper, photocopy paper, raisins, artificial grape flavour, corn syrup, honey, ginger, hints of allspice. 
Finish: Long. Artificial grape flavour, ginger, allspice, cinnamon, honey. 

Comments: 

Batch 10. Spicy, sweet jammy rye whisky, not a common set of tasting notes in my experience. The rum finish gives it a bit of ginger and additional sweetness. Quite tasty, well constructed whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Wilderness Trail 6yo 2014

Wilderness Trail 6yo 2014

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

Nose: Honey, blackcurrant cordial, strawberry jam, cinnamon, cloves, honey, oak chips, cough syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black tea, oak chips, strawberry jam, toast, cough syrup, vanilla, sea salt, hints of charcoal ash. 
Finish: Medium. Charcoal ash, black tea, oak chips, sea salt, toast, hints of honey. 

Comments: 

DSP-KY-20005. Quite a smoky and savoury bourbon, but also very sweet. Lots of jammy notes as well as a lot of wood-driven vanillin. Very decent for its age, and bottled at a nice strength too. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Whiskey

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single rye - Manitoba 
Golden yellow

45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, black pepper, cinnamon, honey, sea salt, fresh baked bread. 

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Black pepper, fresh baked bread, raisins, black tea, sandalwood, cinnamon, hints of quinine. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, lemon zest, honey, fresh baked bread, hints of quinine. 

Comments: 

This is really very good rye whiskey! It’s got lots of spice of course, but also bitter citrus and herbal notes. There’s a hint of saltiness as well, that transforms it from sweet spicy to something rather more complex.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cameronbridge 31yo 1989/2021

Cameronbridge 31yo 1989/2021

Warehouse Tasting, WM Cadenhead
Single grain - Lowlands
Bright gold
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cornflakes, sunflower seeds, orange juice, white pepper, vanilla, honey. With water, cornflakes, coconut milk, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, damson jam, honey, white pepper, orange juice, cornflakes, hay, hints of photocopy paper. With water, saltier, sea salt, hay, damson jam, white pepper, cooked rice, photocopy paper.  
Finish: Long. Vanilla, sunflower seeds, white pepper, honey, hints of cooked rice. 

Comments: 

A rather sweet and fruity single grain, but not lighter stone fruit. Instead it’s jammy and raisiny, alongside some very interesting grassy and feinty notes. Heaps of cereal too, a very enticing combination indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran Sherry Cask

Arran Sherry Cask 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Amber gold
55.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cherries, dark chocolate, raisins, strawberries, honey, orange peel, sandalwood, cloves, hints of nutmeg. With water, fresh baked bread, cherries, dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, orange peel, sandalwood, cloves, walnuts, dark chocolate, figs, raisins. With water, black tea, walnuts, cherries, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, figs, raisins, cloves, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Well-sherried indeed, quite a luscious and intense dram. The cask influence is strong, but Arran lends itself quite nicely to sherry anyway. Lots of delicious fig notes that make it fairly unusual. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Knockdhu 8yo 2013/2021

Knockdhu 8yo 2013/2021

Single Cask Series, Great Drams
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
48.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, tyre rubber, honey, raisins, milk chocolate, toast, cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, loosens, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, honey, strawberry jam, bubble gum, raisins, milk chocolate, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Medium. Cloves, bubble gum, strawberry jam, honey. 

Comments: 

Decent for the age. A slightly sulphurous nose gives way to sweet jammy notes on the tongue. The spirit is a bit underproof, I think. Or perhaps I need to rest my palate from too much cask strength whisky...

Verdict:

I like this.

Cardhu 16yo (2022 Special Releases)

Cardhu 16yo (2022 Special Releases)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk, honey, salt caramel, malted grains, pear drops, bubble gum, hints of apple juice. With water, milk, pear drops, toast, bubble gum. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pear drops, milk, lemon zest, cola bottles, bubble gum, apple juice, hints of tamarind. With water, honey, milk, butterscotch, hints of bubble gum. 
Finish: Long. Cola bottles, bubble gum, apple juice, milk, hints of lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, lots of bubble gum esters, but also backed up with some malty complexity. I don’t often get to try whisky from this distillery, but this is a very light and sweet expression.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nikka Rare Old Super

Nikka Rare Old Super 

Nikka
Blended malt
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, vanilla, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, hints of hoppy beer. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Hoppy beer, vanilla, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, honey, barley sugar, hints of pear drops. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, barley sugar, pear drops, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Japanese blend. It’s not rare or old, or even super, but it’s quite decent. Lots of sweet malty notes, and some interesting esters. Decent session dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glann ar Mor Single Malt

Glann ar Mor Single Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Brittany
Pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, passionfruit, leather, grapefruit, malted grains, papayas, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Grapefruit, papayas, lemon zest, malted grains, jasmine, leather, milk chocolate, vanilla sponge. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, leather, milk chocolate, fresh cut grass, hints of passionfruit. 

Comments: 

Quite a lactic dram, but it’s not sickly, like it often is. Instead it’s almost herbal, and the milk undertone somehow morphs into a milk chocolate note that is really rather good. Very pleasant stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenburgie 8yo 2012/2021

Glenburgie 8yo 2012/2021

Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside 
White wine
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, sandalwood, sea salt, butterscotch, vanilla, wet stones, hints of allspice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Caramel, butterscotch, wet stones, black tea, carrot cake, allspice, hints of hay, hints of milk chocolate. 

Finish: Short. Black tea, hay, butterscotch, wet stones, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Herbal, slightly grassy and musty, and rather sweet. This whisky has an undertone of carrot cake and allspice, all in all rather moreish. There’s some minerality on the nose and the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Inchgower 13yo 2007/2021

Inchgower 13yo 2007/2021

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber red gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chestnuts, raisins, acacia honey, black tea, cloves, nutmeg, gingerbread, rose petals. With water, acacia honey, chestnuts, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, syrupy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, gingerbread, malted grains, acacia honey, rum and raisin, hints of cinnamon. With water, rum and raisin, black tea, acacia honey, hints of rose petals. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, malted grains, rose petals, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Malty and floral, this whisky is replete with satisfying flavours. It boasts a beautiful colour and thick legs, and is really very good. The sweetness is offset by a slightly tannic finish that opens up with a few drops of water.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Darkness Benriach 7yo

Darkness Benriach 7yo

Darkness, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside 

Amber
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marshmallows, cola bottles, strawberry jam, vanilla, damsons, hints of brown paper. With water, fresh baked bread, damsons, cola bottles. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Marshmallows, strawberry jam, damsons, brown paper, vanilla, heather honey, hints of black tea. With water, damsons, cola bottles, brown sugar, barley sugar. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, strawberry jam, vanilla, heather honey. 

Comments: 

Moscatel finish. Quite sweet, lots of fragrant estery notes, reminds of mucking around in the Pick-and-Mix. Fruity, with a lush mouthfeel, yet not cloying. Quite enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Talisker Storm

Talisker Storm 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Amber gold
45.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tyre rubber, yoghurt, leather, heather honey, smoke, hints of yoghurt drink. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Tyre rubber, charcoal ash, heather honey, smoke, butterscotch, chocolate, hints of pears. 
Finish: Medium. Heather honey, charcoal ash, pears, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Quite a savoury, sulphurous whisky, with an ashy underlying note. Over that, there’s plenty of sweet stuff but on the finish the smoke dominates. Especially good with oysters.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nantou Omar Plum Liqueur Barrel Finish (Cask Strength)

Nantou Omar Plum Liqueur Barrel Finish (Cask Strength)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Central Taiwan
Orange gold
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, orange peel, umeshu, strawberries, damson jam, cloves, fresh baked bread, hints of sea salt. With water, umeshu, orange peel, cloves, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Damson jam, umeshu, cloves, fresh baked bread, black pepper, sea salt, hints of fish sauce, hints of chocolate. With water, chocolate, cloves, orange peel, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Damson jam, brown paper, black pepper, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Casks 11110162, 11110183, 11110224. Intensely flavoured, probably due to the maturation and finishing in warmer temperatures. It veers towards sickly sweet though, although there are some savoury notes underneath if you try hard. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Oban 12yo (2021 Special Releases)

Oban 12yo (2021 Special Releases)

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Highlands
Bright gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, plums, lemon zest, peaches, rhubarb and custard sweets, marshmallows, vanilla. With water, yoghurt, lemon zest, barley sugar, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, peaches, vanilla, barley sugar, sumac, nutmeg, hints of vitamin C tablets. With water, saltier, sea salt, malted grains, barley sugar, sumac. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, sumac, barley sugar, peaches. 

Comments: 

Quite a tart and salty whisky. Very malty, and quite intense. There’s a lactic note on the nose that detracts a little bit, but the spicy notes on the tongue more than make up for it.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Willett Straight Rye Rare Release 4yo

Willett Straight Rye Rare Release 4yo 

Official bottling 
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber, hints of red
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, marmalade, black pepper, honeycomb, fresh cut grass, orange peel. With water, marmalade, medlar jelly, orange peel, rye bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, marmalade, honeycomb, cinnamon, black pepper, fresh baked bread, molasses, hints of cloves. With water, medlar jelly, orange peel, rye bread, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, cloves, black pepper, marmalade. 

Comments: 

So it turns out there really is a Willett distillery, and they’ve been making rather good stuff. This whisky is definitely from Willett. Lots of fruit, less spice-forward than I would expect from rye. Excellent stuff. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Brechin 28yo 1977/2005

Brechin 28yo 1977/2005

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Highlands
Bright gold
53.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, white peaches, apple juice, leather, white pepper, photocopy paper, hints of vanilla. With water, papayas, honey, white pepper, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, white peaches, lemon zest, photocopy paper, apple juice, sourdough bread, olive oil. With water, malted grains, white pepper, olive oil, leather. 
Finish: Long. Papayas, malted grains, apple juice, white pepper. 

Comments: 

This is the only official bottling of North Port, other than Rare Malts expressions. It’s rather good, quite malty and leathery, with lots of fruit and oily notes. A good example of bottle aging improving the whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arrrrrrrdbeg!

Arrrrrrrdbeg!

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Straw
51.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, lemon zest, milk chocolate, smoke, malted grains, leather, sea salt. With water, sea salt, smoke, lemon zest, roast chicken, oyster shells. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Smoke, rye bread, sourdough bread, black pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, leather, sea salt. With water, lemon zest, oat clusters, black pepper, hints of milk chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, rye bread, black pepper, oat clusters, hints of milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

A fragrant and slightly tart Ardbeg. The smoke has been gentled a little by the spicy rye cask, and there’s plenty of those rye notes mingled with the malt. There’s just a whisper of the Ardbeggy smoky chocolate. Very cool name!

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oxford Artisan Rye Whiskey 3yo 2017/2021 Batch 002

Oxford Artisan Rye Whiskey 3yo 2017/2021 Batch 002

Official bottling 
Single rye - Oxfordshire 
Pale amber 
47.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, honey, golden syrup, brown paper, cinnamon, nutmeg, corn syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. White pepper, black pepper, pumpernickel bread, nutmeg, corn syrup, dulce de leche, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, pumpernickel bread, corn syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Quite a gentle rye, really quite sweet, but with a slightly salty edge. Plenty of cereal notes, including dark bread, but it’s still sweet. Really rather good, very promising from this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.