Kanosuke 4yo 2018/2022

Kanosuke 4yo 2018/2022

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Kyushu
Dark gold 
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, five spice powder, sultanas, nectarines, pears, leather, hints of roast chicken. With water, nectarines, leather, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, slippery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, sultanas, nectarines, white pepper, hoppy beer, fresh baked bread, hints of pears. With water, honey, sultanas, hoppy beer, nectarines. 
Finish: Medium. Hoppy beer, fresh baked bread, sultanas, pears. 

Comments: 

Semi official release by Phil and Simon Thompson. Well, this is pretty good. For such young distillate, it’s got amazing complexity and a rather unique character. Like peaches steeped in beer. It’s not that widely available in the UK, and costs a pretty penny if you can find it, but it’s worth the price.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dartmoor Oloroso Sherry Cask

Dartmoor Oloroso Sherry Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Devon
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, grapefruit, sultanas, pencil erasers, dark chocolate, orange sherbet. 

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, thickens, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, malted grains, grapefruit, gingerbread, vitamin C tablets, cinnamon, hints of vanilla, hints of dark chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Vitamin C tablets, orange sherbet, malted grains, green tea. 

Comments: 

Tart and citrusy, with a slightly dusty note that reminds me of vitamin C tablets. Eddu whisky also tastes a bit like this. Not too sweet surprisingly, oloroso casks normally impart some grape flavour, but not here.

Verdict:

I like this.

Four Seasons Single Barrel 13yo 2013

Four Seasons Single Barrel 13yo 2013

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber red
63.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, brown paper, strawberry jam, sandalwood, black pepper, hints of orange peel. With water, strawberry jam, roses, cinnamon, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, menthol, brown paper, raisins, black pepper, orange peel, hints of liquorice. With water, black pepper, strawberry jam, menthol, orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Menthol, raisins, black pepper, liquorice. 

Comments: 

These Four Roses limited editions are surprisingly (at least to me) popular. They’re nice, but they’re really more intense and highly flavoured versions of the basic dram. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth paying for, but I prefer whiskies that showcase a different aspect of the distillate. Still, I enjoyed this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberlour A’bunadh Alba Batch 005

Aberlour A’bunadh Alba Batch 005

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
62.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, violets, dandelions, honey, green apples, lemon sweets, hints of sandalwood. With water, lemon sweets, green apples, fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Violets, lemon zest, cream, dandelions, white pepper, green apples, hints of apricots. With water, cream, green apples, white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Apricots, lemon zest, cream, green apples. 

Comments: 

A bourbon matured expression of the very sherried A’bunadh. Very floral, tart and herbal. Slightly challenging to get past the initial violets note, but with water it lightens up into cream and green apples. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathclyde 29yo 1993/2022

Strathclyde 29yo 1993/2022

Thompson Brothers
Single grain - Lowlands
Copper
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, butterscotch, vanilla, photocopy paper, allspice. With water, sea salt, butterscotch, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, butterscotch, allspice, salt caramel, brown paper, cocoa nibs. With water, butterscotch, cocoa nibs, raisins. 
Finish: Long. Salt caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Old grain is one of the best whiskies, and Phil & Simon Thompson have one of the best eyes for casks out there. This is excellent, lots of sweet old notes, like cocoa and allspice, with a lovely texture.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardlair 11yo 2010/2022

Ardlair 11yo 2010/2022

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside 
Straw
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon sweets, cream, vanilla, sea salt, leather, hints of walnuts. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon sweets, sultanas, orange juice, vanilla, leather, hints of smoke, hints of damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Orange juice, lemon sweets, walnuts, leather, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Never had Ardlair (“Ardless”) but I like the look and taste of it. Lots of sweet and sour fruit infused with a rich dark nuttiness. I must hunt out some older expressions, if they’re available.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Wyvis 3yo 2018/2021 Inaugural Release

Glen Wyvis 3yo 2018/2021 Inaugural Release

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Straw, hints of green
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, fresh cut grass, malted grains, lemon zest, cream cheese, apricot jam. With water, apricot jam, fresh cut grass, lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour. Fresh cut grass, lemon juice, peaches, apricot jam, white pepper, cinnamon, sourdough bread. With water, lemon juice, sourdough bread, raisins. 
Finish: Long. Apricot jam, white pepper, chillies, lemon juice. 

Comments: 

Heard a lot of good things about this distillery. The distillate is good, citrusy and light with accents of herbal grassiness. I like the stripped back nature, it’s a way for the distiller to show his skill. Very enjoyable. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Annandale Man O’Words Oloroso Sherry Butt (Cask 813)

Annandale Man O’Words Oloroso Sherry Butt (Cask 813)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber orange 
60.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, cream, oolong tea, pencil erasers, pomeloes, honey, vanilla. With water, orange peel, clay dust, buttermilk. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Orange peel, malted grains, vanilla, raisins, photocopy paper, white pepper, saffron. With water, orange peel, buttermilk, saffron, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, pomeloes, saffron, oolong tea, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Cask 813. Very smooth (not an adjective I like to use, but apt in this case). Lots of fruit and feinty notes, together with herbal saffron. A very faint hint of smoke around the tannins.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bodding Lokn Special Edition Cask 2017

Bodding Lokn Special Edition Cask 2017

Official bottling 
Single malt - Niederösterreich 
Amber pink
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hazelnuts, raisins, red grapes, brown paper, cherries, black pepper, cocoa nibs, hints of pears. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Hazelnuts, mushrooms, brown paper, cherries, malted grains, cream cheese, cocoa nibs, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Long. Mushrooms, cream cheese, orange peel, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Burgundy wine cask. Not necessarily a fan, sometimes it can work though. It’s imparted an earthy mushroomy flavour to what was otherwise quite sweet and fruity. It’s not unpleasant, quite unusual.

Verdict:

I like this.

Waldviertler Single Malt Whisky

Waldviertler Single Malt Whisky

Official bottling 
Single malt - Niederösterreich
Amber gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, fresh cut grass, brown paper, green tea, anise, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, thickens slightly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Fresh cut grass, raisins, toffee, anise, tarragon, brown paper, cream, hints of violets. 
Finish: Medium. Anise, tarragon, raisins, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Austrian whisky again, very floral and herbal. It’s got a lot of slightly soapy violets notes, but it’s quite faint and not unpleasant. It’s rounded out by a finish redolent of anise and tarragon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bodding Lokn Sherry Finished Double Cask 2016

Bodding Lokn Sherry Finished Double Cask 2016

Official bottling 
Single malt - Niederösterreich
Pale amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, tyre rubber, orange peel, malted grains, hints of damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, white pepper, fresh baked bread, malted grains, damson jam, hints of brown paper, hints of cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Short. Honey, raisins, fresh baked bread, hints of tyre rubber. 

Comments: 

My first Austrian whisky! It’s quite herbal, and malty. Some sulphur, but not unpleasant. The sherry casks help, imparting a sweetness and fruitiness. There’s a slight rubberiness on the finish that drives it home - this isn’t scotch.

Verdict:

I like this.

Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Rye

Michter’s Single Barrel Straight Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - Kentucky 

Amber red
42.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, raisins, brown sugar, brown paper, butterscotch, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Brown paper, black pepper, butterscotch, milk chocolate, honey, hints of cream. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, brown paper, black pepper, milk chocolate, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Batch L22C992. Sweet and creamy, lots of classic bourbon and rye notes. Not too spicy, and very approachable. A bit low on the complexity side though.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lakes WhiskyMaker’s Edition Infinity

Lakes WhiskyMaker’s Editions Infinity

Official bottling 
Single malt - Cumbria
Amber red
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, strawberry jam, liquorice, orange peel, molasses, black tea, watermelons. With water, orange peel, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, raisins, strawberry jam, liquorice, malted grains, molasses, cinnamon. With water, malted grains, raisins, strawberry jam, cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, watermelons, molasses, liquorice. 

Comments: 

Sweet and liquoricey, quite a bit of fruit. Well constructed stuff from Lakes, but I think the cask finishes are all playing from the same set of notes, if you get my meaning. Would love to try a 20 year old bourbon aged Lakes whisky, hopefully only another 12 or so years to go!

Verdict:

I like this.

Potter Distilling Company 32yo

Potter Distilling Company 32yo

Individual Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single grain - British Columbia

Amber gold
66.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, vanilla custard, tutti frutti, sultanas, butterscotch, hints of coconut cream. With water, tutti frutti, sultanas, lemon curd, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, oily, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Vanilla custard, lemon zest, sultanas, toffee, butterscotch, maple syrup, chillies. With water, butterscotch, vanilla, sultanas, hints of coconut cream. 
Finish: Long. Vanilla, maple syrup, tutti frutti, chillies, hints of lemon curd. 

Comments: 

Obscure distillery, but high ABV + aged grain = good whisky. Lots of butterscotch and coconut notes, with a healthy dose of citrus. Long lingering finish. Have to drink this at as high a strength as possible.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ledaig 12yo 2008/2020

Ledaig 12yo 2008/2020

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail 
Single malt - Islands
Amber red 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, honey, raspberries, vanilla custard, leather, liquorice, hints of smoked bacon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raspberries, leather, smoke, white chocolate, liquorice, cream, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Finish: Medium. Smoke, leather, liquorice, honey, hints of smoked bacon. 

Comments: 

Young, intense and smoky. Sherry casked, so quite sweet and fruity, but the smoke envelopes everything. Plenty of smoke bacon notes, but only on the end palate and the end nose. You’ll have to work hard to find it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Eddu Version Francaise

Eddu Version Francaise

Official bottling 
Single malt - Brittany
Golden, hints of orange
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, lemon zest, honeycomb, pomeloes, golden syrup, anise, cream, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honeycomb, pomeloes, peaches, anise, white pepper, brown paper, hints of jasmine. 
Finish: Medium. Honeycomb, black tea, golden syrup, peaches, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Well now. That slightly chalky vitamin C tablet note that was present in previous Eddus has mellowed and deepened, losing its chalkiness, and become much more like anise and orange juice. This is sweet and luscious, very enjoyable indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Haran 12yo Port Cask Finish

Haran 12yo Port Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Pais Vasco
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tangerines, makrut lime leaf, sandalwood, leather, violets, fresh cut grass, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, lemongrass, violets, fresh cut grass, lemon verbena, tangerines, pears, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, vanilla, lemon verbena, violets. 

Comments: 

Herbal and tangy, this Basque whisky is unique in my experience. It reminds me of some quirky old Islays, where a huge floral note appears. But it’s tempered by more herbal and grassy flavours, almost like a good tequila. It’s not soapy at all either, so quite pleasant.

Verdict:

I like this.

Shizuoka Pot Still K

Shizuoka Pot Still K

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Honshu
Brass
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lychees, sultanas, brass polish, honey, prunes, gingerbread, hints of leather, hints of bay leaves. With water, bay leaves, honey, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, hot, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lychees, lemon curd, brass polish, honey, marmalade, prunes, hints of white pepper. With water, bay leaves, marmalade, honey, sultanas. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, prunes, white pepper, lemon curd, bay leaves. 

Comments: 

Shizuoka, distilled in the old Karuizawa still. It’s excellent, sweet and fruity, with the richness of Armagnac aged prunes, as well as an unusual herbal leathery flavour reminiscent of fresh bay leaves. Very promising whisky, and although expensive I can see why people pay up for it.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lindores Abbey Single Malt MCDXCIV

Lindores Abbey Single Malt MCDXCIV 

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

Nose: Orange peel, peaches, cream, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, cinnamon, toffee apples, orange peel, aluminium foil, honey, hints of white pepper, hints of cooked rice. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, peaches, toffee apples, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity and a little feinty, a very promising entry level release from Lindores Abbey. Lots of honeyed sweetness and a little cream, especially on the nose. Uncomplicated stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Milroy’s Exclusive Mackmyra Grand Cuvée Champagne Finish

Milroy’s Exclusive Mackmyra Grand Cuvée Champagne Finish

Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Gastrikland
Amber bronze 
44.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, sultanas, peach preserves, musk, pine, lemon zest, hints of hay. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Sultanas, peach preserves, pine, fresh cut grass, marmalade, jasmine, hay. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, fresh cut grass, pine, marmalade, hay. 

Comments: 

Completed the set - have had a dram of the PX, cloudberry wine and now champagne finished Mackmyras from Milroy’s! This one is good, floral and peachy, lots of grassy notes in the background.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cu Bocan Signature

Cu Bocan Signature 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, malted grains, leather, nutmeg, lemon sweets, vanilla, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, airy, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Yoghurt, sea salt, orange peel, raisins, lemon sweets, smoke, vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Lemon sweets, leather, smoke, peat, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Lactones, cereal, smoke and vanilla, that’s the label that should be on this whisky. I’ve not had it, despite meaning to get around to it for several years. It’s a straightforward dram, plenty of interesting notes, and not as sweet as I’d assumed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wireworks Small Batch 03/2022

Wireworks Small Batch 03/2022

Official bottling 
Single malt - Derbyshire
Amber orange 
46.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, marmalade, plums, honey, peaches, lemon sweets, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, oily, slightly fizzy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Orange juice, malted grains, green tea, marmalade, dunnage, white pepper, hints of leather, hints of clay dust. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, orange juice, dunnage, green tea, hints of clay dust. 

Comments: 

Quite a sweet whisky, less lactic than the first release from the distillery. Lots of slightly dusty dunnage and damp, with plenty of citrus. Decent dram!

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn 7yo 2014/2021 Spirited Ángels Rum Cask

Strathearn 7yo 2014/2021 Spirited Ángels Rum Cask

A Seven Cask Series, Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden, hints of pink
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lychees, damson jam, honey, cooked rice, oatmeal, jasmine, hints of soursop. With water, cooked rice, photocopy paper, oatmeal, soursop. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lychees, malted grains, soursop, jasmine, coconut water, red grapes, hints of raisins. With water, malted grains, cooked rice, jasmine, marmalade. 
Finish: Long. Marmalade, lychees, red grapes, soursop, coconut water. 

Comments: 

Highly fruity and estery whisky. It’s old stuff, for a young distillery, and the aging makes it very good indeed. Lots of fruit notes complemented by a strong backbone of cereal. Yummy.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Stauning Bastard

Stauning Bastard

Official bottling 
Single rye - Midtjylland
Amber gold
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, plums, cooked rice, agave, brown paper, raisins, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Plums, agave, honey, brown paper, orange peel, golden syrup, black pepper, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, black pepper, oak chips, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Mezcal cask finished rye. That grassy agave note is very apparent, along side characteristic rye spice and sweetness. Lots of wood on the finish too. Very interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Girvan 31yo 1990/2022

Girvan 31yo 1990/2022

Thompson Brothers
Single grain - Lowlands
Green gold
50.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, roast pork, coconut cream, vanilla, oatcakes, honey, apples. With water, leather, photocopy paper, apples. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thickens, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Oatcakes, vanilla, honey, photocopy paper, apples, black pepper, hints of cinnamon. With water, raisins, photocopy paper, oatcakes, honey. 
Finish: Long. Oatcakes, apples, vanilla, honey, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Heavy syrupy old grain whisky, lots of fruit and spice. The oaty vanilla notes are muted, and it’s a lot more complex than a typical grain. It shows its age, as it well should. Lovely from Phil and Simon Thompson as always.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Milk and Honey Classic

Milk and Honey Classic

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tel Aviv
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, cooked rice, wet stones, brown paper, watermelons, white grapes, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Toffee, pear drops, raisins, white grapes, wet stones, caramel, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Honey, toffee, caramel, raisins, hints of white grapes. 

Comments: 

Entry level expression from Milk and Honey. It’s taken a while to get here, as it always does for new distilleries. Minerally and sweet, lots of fruit and toffee. It’s decent, complex for a NAS malt.

Verdict:

I like this.

Mars Komagatake Yakushima Aging 2021

Mars Komagatake Yakushima Aging 2021

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Pink gold
56% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, burnt sugar, bananas, molasses, orange juice, plums, hints of camphor. With water, orange juice, pear drops, smoke, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, slightly fizzy. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Leather, smoke, camphor, orange juice, vanilla sponge, peat, smoked bacon, hints of raisins. With water, smoked bacon, sea salt, leather, lemon zest, hints of orange juice. 
Finish: Long. Leather, camphor, smoked bacon, raisins, plums. 

Comments: 

Mars distillate, aged in a cave by the sea. Well, it’s picked up some maritime character. It’s meaty and fruity, with a bitter, slightly sulphurous edge. It’s savoury and herbal, with a lovely long smoky finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Port Dundas 18yo 2004/2022

Port Dundas 18yo 2004/2022

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - South Highlands
Straw
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butterscotch, lemon sweets, vanilla, honey, molasses, hints of cinder toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Butterscotch, sea salt, vanilla custard, shortbread, molasses, lemon sweets, cough syrup, hints of toffee apples. 
Finish: Medium. Toffee apples, shortbread, cinder toffee, vanilla, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Cask DL 16483. Like salty Werthers originals, with a hint of lemon sweets. It’s been a while since I had a Port Dundas, it’s a bit obscure and for a long time since the distillery closed, I didn’t encounter any in the wild, as it were. Nevertheless this whisky is a decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.