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. 

Vindöga Blended Nordic Malt

Vindöga Blended Nordic Malt 

Nordic Casks #2, Berry Bros & Rudd 
Blended malt
Dark amber gold
59.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black pepper, red grapes, leather, saffron, cinnamon, smoked bacon, hints of driftwood smoke. With water, raisins, honey, smoked bacon, saffron. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, honey, Chinese angelica, driftwood smoke, cinnamon, smoked bacon, leather, dried apricots. With water, Chinese angelica, saffron, leather, dried apricots, hints of driftwood smoke. 
Finish: Long. Smoked bacon, peat, leather, black pepper. 

Comments: 

A blend of malts from across the Nordic region - Smögen, Fary Lochan, Teerenpeli, Mosgård, Myken, High Coast. It’s balanced - sweet, herbal, meaty and smoky, hitting lots of right spots. Very indeed, and a very decent session dram, despite the strength. I’d say it’s mostly Danish in composition, it’s not as smoky as I’d have expected if it were mostly Swedish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teerenpeli 9yo 2013/2022

Teerenpeli 9yo 2013/2022

Nordic Casks #2, Berry Bros & Rudd 
Single malt - Southern Finland
Chinese tea
59.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Salted caramel, dates, butterscotch, raisins, honey, orange peel, leather, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, butterscotch, salted caramel, milk chocolate, leather, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, slippery, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, damson jam, honey, cough syrup, fresh baked bread, fresh cut grass, nutmeg. With water, black tea, nutmeg, salted caramel, leather, dates. 
Finish: Long. Cough syrup, fresh baked bread, dates, honey, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Cask 13B. Sweet and luscious, with a salty butterscotch note. It’s very jammy, and turns jammier with a little water on the tongue. It turns a little medicinal, like cough syrup, on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Stauning 5yo 2017/2022

Stauning 5yo 2017/2022

Nordic Casks #2, Berry Bros & Rudd 
Single rye - Midtjylland
Amber bronze

58.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, maraschino cherries, caramel, milk chocolate, cinnamon, figs, malt loaf. With water, dates, black tea, malt loaf, caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, volatile, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Maraschino cherries, dates, caramel, black pepper, black tea, cinnamon, rye bread. With water, raisins, dates, black pepper, black tea. 
Finish: Medium. Malt loaf, black tea, milk chocolate, cinnamon, hints of dates. 

Comments: 

Cask 6493. Very sweet and spicy, and big hints of malt loaf. Definitely some barley in this. It’s a sort of whisky I like very much (at least when it’s done right) - big, bold, intense and unbalanced.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Moray 30yo 1991/2022

Glen Moray 30yo 1991/2022

Hidden Spirits Whisky Company
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
50.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, honey, lemon zest, white grapes, cream, nutmeg, mace, hints of orange sherbet. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, turns watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sour. Cream soda, mace, cucumber, peaches, orange sherbet, lemon zest, malted grains, hints of photocopy paper. 
Finish: Medium. Photocopy paper, nutmeg, lemon zest, mace, cucumber, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

A magnificent dram. Lots of lemon zest and cream soda, alongside fruit and an intense, yet gentle hit of mace. It’s absolutely delicious, one of the best drams of 2022.

Verdict:

Magnificent. 

Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Family Reserve

Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Family Reserve 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky 
Amber 

56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, brown paper, milk chocolate, sea salt, vanilla, fresh baked bread, cinnamon, nutmeg. With water, honey, damson jam, nutmeg, vanilla, bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Brown paper, milk chocolate, raisins, nutmeg, vanilla, black tea, brown paper, damson jam. With water, damson jam, black tea, orange peel, nutmeg. 
Finish: Short. Damson jam, raisins, milk chocolate, cinnamon, sea salt. 

Comments: 

Barrel 17802-2. Spicy and salty bourbon, with plenty of fruity top notes. There’s a lot to unpack here, and the cask strength helps the complexity. Water opens it up a little but the chocolate disappears.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey

Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Tennessee 
Copper
45.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, brown paper, quinine, cinnamon, white pepper, mint, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Brown paper, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, orange peel, honey, vanilla, hints of mint. 
Finish: Short. Brown paper, sea salt, white pepper, raisins, hints of damson jam. 

Comments: 

One of the new distilleries in Tennessee. The whiskey is quite decent, sweet and cereally with bitter highlights and a herbal finish. Quite complex for what is a rather sweet and young dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

King’s County 3yo

King’s County 3yo 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - New York
Dark amber red
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raisins, banana cake, brown paper, blackcurrants, hints of Demerara sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, brown paper, orange peel, cloves, nutmeg, blackcurrants, Demerara sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Banana cake, brown paper, toast, raisins. 

Comments: 

Quite an intense and well-flavoured bourbon, with clear hallmarks of the small cask, cask-strength bottlings I’ve had. This is despite the lower ABV. Quite sweet and jammy. I hope the distillery can retain this level of quality.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.