Aberfeldy 17yo 2005/2022

Aberfeldy 17yo 2005/2022

Rare Find Whisky, Gleann Mor Spirits
Single malt - Central Highlands
Yellow gold
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, white pepper, orange peel, pears, vanilla custard, toast, butter. With water, pears, butter, vanilla custard. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pineapples, pears, toast, nutmeg, milk chocolate, vanilla custard, kiwifruit, butter. With water, vanilla custard, milk chocolate, pears. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, milk chocolate, vanilla custard, nutmeg, pears. 

Comments: 

Cask 213. This Aberfeldy tastes of poached pears, redolent of spices, and perhaps a little white wine. It’s also buttery and a little chocolatey, almost a dessert wine in itself. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Mars Komagatake Shinshu Aging 2021 Edition

Mars Komagatake Shinshu Aging 2021 Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roses, raspberries, vanilla, plums, strawberries, artificial grape flavour, hints of malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Strawberries, artificial grape flavour, raspberries, fresh baked bread, cinnamon, cloves, toast. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, toast, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Very floral, slightly odd whisky. There’s fruit and spice, but it’s also a cheap grape soda drink. There’s a nice oily mouthfeel as well, and it all builds towards a bitter, cereally finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Imperial 27yo 1989/2017

Imperial 27yo 1989/2017

Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside 
Green gold
43.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, white grapes, green apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, kiwifruit, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, static. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Chocolate, kiwifruit, honeydew melons, malted grains, lime juice, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, lime juice, kiwifruit, malted grains, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Cask 2892. Lots of melon notes, and some green apples. Spicy too, with a gentle, slightly bitter chocolatey note on the tongue. Whispers of leather remind me how old this whisky is.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dumbarton 20yo

Dumbarton 20yo

Dram Mor
Single grain - Lowlands
Yellow
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, vanilla ice cream, sourdough bread, golden syrup, malted grains, hints of leather. With water, golden syrup, lemon zest, sourdough bread. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, mouth coating, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Salt caramel, vanilla ice cream, golden syrup, malted grains, dark chocolate, apple juice. With water, salt caramel, malted grains, golden syrup, sourdough bread. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, sourdough bread, golden syrup, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 211894. Quite sweet savoury, with plenty of salt caramel and golden syrup. Big cereal notes on the tongue, which fade to a bitter spicy finish. Decent grain whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Copper Republic Bourbon Cask Finish

Copper Republic Bourbon Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single grain - KwaZulu Natal
Dark gold, hints of orange
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, vanilla, watermelons, brass polish, sea salt, white pepper, hints of lime juice. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, honey, fresh baked bread, lime juice, brass polish, gingerbread, white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, lime juice, white pepper, honey. 

Comments: 

Bright and flavourful grain whisky from South Africa. Some of the layers don’t quite complement each other, but the lime juice and cereal notes are pleasant enough. Interesting stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Mars Komagatake Single Cask 6yo 2015/2021

Mars Komagatake Single Cask 6yo 2015/2021

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Bright gold
63% ABV
Dram

Nose: Jasmine, white grapes, lemon sweets, toast, green apples, apricot jam. With water, malted grains, toast, green apples, apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, oily, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Jasmine, lemon sweets, white pepper, apricot jam, kiwifruit, green apples, malted grains. With water, toast, vanilla, green apples, apricot jam. 
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, white pepper, apricot jam, jasmine, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Cask 3225. Floral and jammy, with complex layers of cereal and toast leading to a long bitter finish. Excellent whisky that does not show its high ABV at all, it’s quite drinkable neat. Amazing dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Gold Cock Peated Malt

Gold Cock Peated Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Zlin
Amber brown
49.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, leather, smoked bacon, peat, fresh baked bread, hoppy beer. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Mint, lemon, anise, leather, peat, fresh baked bread, orange peel, hints of smoked bacon. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, smoked bacon, dark chocolate, peat. 

Comments: 

Nice interesting malt from the Czech Republic. It’s sweet and aniseedy, with notes of leather and smoked bacon. Very interesting and distinctive whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Filey Bay Moscatel Finish Batch #3

Filey Bay Moscatel Finish Batch #3

Official bottling 
Single malt - Yorkshire
Amber, hints of pink
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, marzipan, strawberry jam, cinnamon, cloves, hints of orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, brass polish, orange peel, black tea, dark chocolate, hints of marzipan. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, strawberry jam, dark chocolate, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Quite straightforward sherried whisky. Chocolatey and orangey, with some marzipan. Enjoyable young dram, from a rather promising distillery. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Linkwood 12yo 2010/2022

Linkwood 12yo 2010/2022

Fragrant Drops, Marble Cask Co
Single malt - Speyside
Pink
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raspberries, vanilla, apple juice, strawberries, cinnamon, malted grains. With water, strawberries, apple juice, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Strawberries, malted grains, honey, white pepper, peach preserves, cinnamon, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, cinnamon, apple juice, peach preserves, honey. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, strawberries, peach preserves, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Tokaji cask finish. It’s very sweet and fruity, lots of cinnamon spice. This was very highly rated by others, and I think it’s rather good, if very cask influenced. I’d like to see more from this bottler. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ben Holladay 6yo 2016/2022 Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Ben Holladay 6yo 2016/2022 Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Missouri
Amber copper
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, brown paper, black tea, coffee, allspice, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, cinnamon, cloves, coffee, raisins, allspice, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, orange peel, black tea, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Only ever had one bourbon from Missouri before, and it didn’t stand out. This is slightly different, quite spicy, not too sweet. It’s a higher ABV, so carries a bit more complexity. A decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Pittyvaich 29yo 1993/2022

Pittyvaich 29yo 1993/2022

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
48.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, lemon zest, mint, white grapes, malted grains, allspice. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Toast, cinnamon, chocolate, lemon zest, green apples, honey, kiwifruit, hints of oak chips. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, kiwifruit, toast, cinnamon, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Cask 3273. Lots of tart appley notes, with some woody spice underneath. The wood is only faint though, sometimes just a whisper. There’s a surprisingly intense finish, spicy, tart and chocolatey. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Willett 8yo Single Barrel

Willett 8yo Single Barrel

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber brown 
68.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butterscotch, cream, artichokes, toffee, brown sugar, white pepper, hints of vanilla. With water, hay, fresh cut grass, tarragon, toffee, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, hot, oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Artichokes, brown sugar, fresh cut grass, ginseng, vanilla, fresh baked bread, white pepper. With water, nutmeg, fresh cut grass, brown sugar, tarragon, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, fresh cut grass, white pepper, ginseng. 

Comments: 

Barrel 5279. Quite rare in the UK, this dram is savoury and herbal bourbon, almost like Cynar, the artichoke Amaro. It’s got a sweet base though, and a scarily high ABV. Drink lots of water.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Scapa 19yo 2003/2022

Scapa 19yo 2003/2022

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Dark gold
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, cinnamon, ginger, sour cream, malted grains, hints of salt caramel. With water, honey, sultanas, malted grains, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Malted grains, honey, lemon zest, salt caramel, cinnamon, white grapes, allspice. With water, honey, white grapes, cooked rice, malted grains. 
Finish: Long. Ginger, allspice, cinnamon, malted grains, sour cream. 

Comments: 

Long, intense and honeyed. Lots of sweet cereal and spice notes, it’s quite brilliant whisky. Very enjoyable, rather like eating salted caramel ice cream. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Straight Malt

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Straight Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Kentucky
Copper
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry shortcake, bananas, chalk, iron filings, aluminium foil, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Cooked rice, bananas, strawberry shortcake, honey, brown paper, white pepper, cloves, chalk. 
Finish: Short. Cooked rice, bananas, brown paper, chalk, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, but with a chalky note that reminds me of freshly painted walls. Lots of bananas and cereal too. Interesting and innovative.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Inchfad 17yo Secrets of Bonnie Banks

Inchfad 17yo Secrets of Bonnie Banks

A Cask Noir Production, Brave New Spirits
Single malt - South Highlands
Copper red
48.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, brown paper, leather, cream, aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Strawberries, leather, cinnamon, sandalwood, driftwood smoke, vanilla, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, aluminium foil, white pepper, hints of driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 430, a Pinot Noir cask. Sweet and winey, with feinty notes, some spice and a little smoke. I’ve tended to drink the smoky end of Loch Lomond, it’s interesting to explore other expressions.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dingle Batch 5

Dingle Batch 5

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, brass polish, coffee, lemon sweets, orange peel, vanilla, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brass polish, lemon sweets, pears, sultanas, chocolate, honey, vanilla, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, coffee, vanilla, pears. 

Comments: 

Sweet and complex, with a very clear flavour profile. It tastes older than it is, which bodes well for Dingle. It’s a little like Rosebank, which is high praise.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

A Tennessee Whiskey 18yo (bottled 2021)

A Tennessee Whiskey 18yo (bottled 2021)

Individual Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single bourbon - Tennessee
Amber brown
47.7% ABV

Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, brown paper, vanilla, allspice, cooked rice, hints of orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, cherries, cooked rice, butterscotch, brown paper, croissants, hints of allspice. 
Finish: Long. Croissants, cooked rice, allspice, vanilla, brown paper. 

Comments: 

This is a George Dickel. Lots of cough syrup, or cherry notes (Dr Pepper?) overlay some buttery croissants and cooked rice. It’s really quite good, just another bit of evidence that we should age bourbon / American whisky properly.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Strathisla 14yo (bottled 2020)

Strathisla 14yo (bottled 2020)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, sultanas, sour cream, honey, carrot cake, cinnamon, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, white grapes, honey, sour cream, hints of watermelons. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Honey, lemon zest, sour cream, sultanas, black pepper, ginger, hints of driftwood smoke. With water, honey, lemon zest, sour cream, sultanas, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, honey, toffee, ginger. 

Comments: 

Cask 134. Quite spicy and tart, but the cinnamon and carrot cake notes provide some welcome sweetness. It opens up quite beautifully with water, with lots of lemon and sour cream and honey. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Stauning Smoke

Stauning Smoke

Official bottling 
Single malt - Midtjylland
Golden
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, haw flakes, lemon zest, plums, smoke, leather, hints of soy sauce. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Smoke, green tea, photocopy paper, leather, haw flakes, lemon zest, leather. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, fresh cut grass, photocopy paper, leather, sea salt. 

Comments: 

Why, this is rather good - sweet yet savoury, with quite gentle smoke. Lots of herbal notes in the background, that’s kind of how you know it’s not Scotch, but it’s quite well integrated. Interesting whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Micil Irish Poitin

Micil Irish Poitin

Official bottling 
Single poitin - Connacht
Colourless
44% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, lemon zest, white pepper, tarragon, fresh cut grass, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Tarragon, yoghurt, lemon zest, white pepper, fresh cut grass, ginseng. 
Finish: Medium. Ginseng, lemon zest, honey, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

My first poitin! I made sure it was 100% barley (or grain).  It’s quite sweet, with a herbal, bitter edge. Lots of lemon in the background too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Old Pulteney 23yo 1998/2022

Old Pulteney 23yo 1998/2022

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail 
Single malt - North Highlands
Bright gold
56.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Grapefruit, black pepper, lemon zest, yoghurt, sea salt, honey, fresh cut grass. With water, honey, yoghurt, sea salt, hints of autumn leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Lemon zest, black pepper, grapefruit, matches, fresh cut grass, seaweed. With water, honey, lemon zest, yoghurt, sea salt. 
Finish: Long. Matches, fresh cut grass, seaweed, grapefruit. 

Comments: 

Cask 17603801. Quite saline, as I’ve come to expect from Old Pulteneys, but it’s got a sulphurous tang, like chewing on matchheads. Lots of black pepper and grapefruit complement the fiery salt. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Limeburners 5yo Batch 1

Limeburners 5yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Western Australia
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, apple juice, rhubarb and custard sweets, toffee, pear drops, hints of brown paper. With water, rhubarb and custard sweets, brass polish, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Apple juice, rhubarb and custard sweets, fresh baked bread, honeycomb, brown paper, hints of black pepper. With water, honeycomb, apples, raisins. 
Finish: Short. Apple juice, pear drops, honeycomb, vanilla, hints of brown paper. 

Comments: 

A very sweet, fruity whisky, lots of rhubarb and custard sweets. Reminiscent of Rosebank, but less delicate. There’s a strong, slightly bitter toffee sweetness too. It’s excellent stuff for its age.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Islay 31yo 1989/2021

Islay 31yo 1989/2021

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Islay
Sunshine yellow
51.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, germolene, salt caramel, leather, peat, autumn leaves, hints of smoke. With water, pineapples, honey, magic marker, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pineapples, smoke, peat, autumn leaves, salt caramel, seaweed, magic marker, hints of lemon zest. With water, saltier, smoke, peat, germolene, magic marker.  
Finish: Long. Salt caramel, lemon sweets, peat, honey. 

Comments: 

A Laphroaig, apparently. It’s gentle and fruity, somewhat atypical. The peat is gentle and sweet, rather than herbal. Some leathery medicine, antiseptic notes appear, but these are not well integrated with the peat. Quite enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dartmoor Bourbon Cask

Dartmoor Bourbon Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Devon
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Limes, kiwifruit, lemon zest, greengages, white wine, hints of elderflower, hints of sour cream. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour. Hoppy beer, kiwifruit, greengages, limes, elderflower, sultanas, hints of honey. 
Finish: Long. Hoppy beer, greengages, lemon zest, hints of sour cream. 

Comments: 

A very interesting dram. Firstly, it’s quite tart, lots of stone fruit, but not the sweet kind. Secondly, it’s very malty, beery, in fact, with a robust flavour profile, like a pale ale. It’s uncompromising and flavourful. Needs a bit of mellowing over time, perhaps.

Verdict:

I like this.

Waldviertler Dark Single Malt

Waldviertler Dark Single Malt

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

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, rye bread, sandalwood, black pepper, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slightly fizzy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Damson jam, malted grains, black pepper, honey, medlar jelly, orange peel, brown paper. 
Finish: Short. Brown paper, medlar jelly, dark chocolate, malted grains, rye bread. 

Comments: 

Very malty, almost toasty. The malty spine is complemented by floral and fruity spice, with a lush chocolatey sweetness that I associate with damsons and medlars. Unusual and interesting whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Lochlea Sowing Edition First Crop

Lochlea Sowing Edition First Crop

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale straw
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, cinder toffee, sour cream, lemon sweets, salt caramel, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Cinder toffee, sour cream, salt caramel, vanilla, tarragon, white pepper, hints of lemon juice. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, sour cream, tarragon, lemon juice. 

Comments: 

Lactic, quite tart, but also fruity and herbal. There’s a surprisingly strong cinder toffee note, which in my mind clashes slightly with the lactic sour cream note. But it’s pretty good for such a young whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Paul John Kanya

Paul John Kanya

Official bottling 
Single malt - Goa
Amber copper
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanut butter, honey, vanilla, butterscotch, white pepper, dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peanut butter, plums, cinnamon, butterscotch, white pepper, dark chocolate, oak chips. 
Finish: Medium. Oak chips, chillies, plums, cinnamon, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Nutty and fruity, but also quite woody and spicy. Lots of sweet notes predominate. Showcases the flexibility of Paul John spirit, this reminds me of Australian whisky (especially the nuttiness) but other Paul Johns have reminded me of bourbon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Yoichi Apple Brandy Wood Finish

Yoichi Apple Brandy Wood Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Hokkaido
Bright gold
47% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Soy sauce, leather, apples, lemon zest, sea salt, white pepper, hints of sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apples, malted grains, white pepper, honey, sultanas, black tea, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Soy sauce, leather, cooked rice, sultanas, hints of tomatoes. 

Comments: 

Complex and savoury, this whisky is a text book example on how to finish whisky well. The finish has to match and complement the distillate characteristics. The sweet apple notes offset the savoury, slightly smoky whisky perfectly.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lochlea Fallow Edition

Lochlea Fallow Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, red wine, orange juice, lemon zest, allspice, brown sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cinder toffee, red wine, raisins, lemon zest, brown sugar, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Red wine, lemon zest, orange juice, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Oloroso aged, but still not too sweet. There’s a tart, winey note that distinguishes this whisky from other sherry bombs. Cinder toffee and gentle spiciness complete the picture. Another pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tomintoul 14yo (2008 Edition)

Tomintoul 14yo (2008 Edition)

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

Nose: Cinder toffee, black tea, vanilla, orange peel, white pepper, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, sticky, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, cinder toffee, white grapes, butterscotch, raisins, hints of allspice. 
Finish: Medium. Cinder toffee, black tea, nutmeg, raisins, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Sweet and sticky, but lots of toffee / butterscotch notes, where I’d expected fruit (it’s matured in white port casks, after all). It’s got a bitter, spicy edge too, that lifts it beyond the ordinary. Quite a pleasant dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Wyvis 3yo 2018/2022 Batch 02/18

Glen Wyvis 3yo 2018/2022 Batch 02/18

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Green gold
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, camphor, white grapes, thyme, kiwifruit, hints of lemon zest. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour. Sour cream, fresh cut grass, white grapes, lemon zest, green apples, hints of pear drops. 
Finish: Long. Thyme, lemon zest, green apples, kiwifruit. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, but also shot through with fruit and grassy notes. I do find this whisky promising, it should deepen and become more complex with age, whilst remaining fresh and bright. That’s the hope, anyway.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cragganmore 18yo 1961/1979

Cragganmore 18yo 1961/1979

Dumpy, WM Cadenhead 
Single malt - Speyside 

Golden brown 
45.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, nectarines, gentian, leather, orange peel, fresh baked bread, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Nectarines, leather, gentian, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread, black pepper, raisins, hints of winter melon. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, dark chocolate, honey, peaches, hints of butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Such a treat, many thanks, Fred! Long, smooth and flavoursome, this whisky goes on for hours. I could still taste this whisky the next day. Sweet, chock full of the best old bottle effect, but cut with alpine herbs and gentle fruit. Amazing stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Haran 18yo

Haran 18yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Pais Vasco
Bright gold 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, camphor, raisins, fresh cut grass, roast pork, jasmine, hints of violets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Camphor, fresh cut grass, leather, star anise, cinnamon, raisins, molasses. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, raisins, leather, camphor, cloves. 

Comments: 

Another Spanish whisky. Quite floral, but compared to the younger expression, it’s more rounded and robust. Some herbal notes appear alongside all that flowery spice. Quite different, and I shall continue to explore.

Verdict:

I like this.

Masthouse Single Grain Whisky

Masthouse Single Grain Whisky

Official bottling
Single grain - Kent
White wine
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, cream cheese, bananas, fresh cut grass, pear drops, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, fresh cut grass, vanilla sponge, green apples, pear drops, hints of white wine. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, bananas, green apples, vanilla sponge, sultanas. 

Comments: 

Tart and lactic, not hugely complex. It’s too young to be what I enjoy, I think, and it’s been diluted a little too much. There’s a few promising hints of course, some green apple and vanilla notes might intensify as it gets older.

Verdict:

I like this.

291 Small Batch (Batch 30)

291 Small Batch (Batch 30)

Official bottling 
Single rye - Colorado
Amber red
50.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, black pepper, peaches, orange peel, raisins, rye bread, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, peaches, orange peel, fresh baked bread, brown paper, sandalwood. 
Finish: Long. Orange peel, rye bread, sandalwood, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Aspen stave finished. It’s quite fragrant and woody, lots of peaches and orange peel notes. There’s a pervasive sandalwood note, like you might find in a mizunara influenced whisky. That’s probably the aspen, but other woods can impart it too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Spey 12yo 2009/2022

Glen Spey 12yo 2009/2022

Hidden Spirits Whisky Company
Single malt - Speyside
Straw
53.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk, yoghurt, hibiscus, honey, lemon zest, toffee, hints of bananas. With water, condensed milk, toffee, lemon zest, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour. Yoghurt, cream, butterscotch, nutmeg, hibiscus, ginseng, hints of white pepper. With water, butterscotch, condensed milk, vanilla, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, toffee, nutmeg, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Very lactic, not typical for this distillery. Also paired with some tart notes, although with water, a little bit of sweetness appears. Lots of herbal spice in the background too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky

Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky

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

Nose: Strawberries, cream, malted grains, sandalwood, hints of peaches, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, fresh baked bread, sandalwood, black pepper, hints of peaches, hints of violets. 
Finish: Medium. Sandalwood, pine, cream, black pepper, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Malted rye whisky, not something you see everyday. Anyway, it’s fruity, malty and woody, almost incense-like. Lots of cereal notes too, complex and floral.

Verdict:

I like this.

Inchgower 18yo 1976/1994

Inchgower 18yo 1976/1994

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - Speyside 
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Menthol, green apples, leather, honey, pistachios, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Green apples, honey, dark chocolate, pistachios, vanilla, black tea, allspice. 
Finish: Long. Leather, black tea, green apples, menthol, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Cask 9891. Tastes old and leathery, lots of old bottle effect. Plenty of dark chocolate and green apples still shows through though, it must have been quite bright and intense when younger. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.