Sonoma Distilling Company Cherrywood Rye

Sonoma Distilling Company Cherrywood Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - California 
Amber, hints of red 
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, strawberry jam, malted grains, black tea, cloves, honey, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, black pepper, raisins, oatcakes, shortbread, vanilla, cloves. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, black pepper, cloves, oatcakes, honey. 

Comments: 

Californian rye whisky, which is peppery and sweet, lots of jammy notes. But so far so standard, although the oatcake notes are slightly unusual. Pleasant dram, but not a stand out.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn 9yo 2013/2023 ex-Sherry PWWT Private Cask

Strathearn 9yo 2013/2023 ex-Sherry PWWT Private Cask

Thompson Bros
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark amber 
60.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, rum and raisin ice cream, honey, orange peel, camphor, cloves, cream. With water, cream, rum and raisin ice cream, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, turns airy, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, rum and raisin ice cream, honey, dark chocolate, camphor, cocoa nibs, black tea. With water, cream, honey, raisins, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Orange peel, dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, camphor. 

Comments: 

Cask 27A. A private cask for Phil and Simon Thompson, of which a bottle was kindly shared for a Strathearn tasting. It’s glorious - sweet and raisiny, like a fine PX sherry. It’s also heavy, almost chewy on the tongue. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Strathearn 9yo 2013/2023 Spirited Angels Virgin French Oak Cask

Strathearn 9yo 2013/2023 Spirited Angels Virgin French Oak Cask

A Seven Cask Series, Thompson Bros
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber gold
53.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, malted grains, barley sugar, orange peel, white pepper, honey, raisins. With water, cherries, honey, barley sugar, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, airy, loosens, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, honey, raisins, bananas, chocolate, vanilla, white pepper, cinnamon. With water, malted grains, bananas, white pepper, barley sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, vanilla, honey, raisins, cherries. 

Comments: 

Cask 010. Malty and sweet, lots of fruit. I’d expected this to taste like bourbon - which it did, a little - but the banana note in bourbon was less evident, and this was more spicy. Nice stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn 8yo 2014/2023 Spirited Angels Sherry Cask

Strathearn 8yo 2014/2023 Spirited Angels Sherry Cask

A Seven Cask Series, Thompson Bros 
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cooked rice, strawberry jam, cloves, cinnamon, leather, dark chocolate. With water, strawberry jam, vanilla, marshmallows. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cooked rice, dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, raisins, black tea, hints of lychees. With water, strawberry jam, raisins, lychees, marshmallows. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, leather, cocoa nibs, lychees. 

Comments: 

Cask 049. Very impressive sherried dram - chocolatey, bitter and complex. There’s also a very light fruity note that reminds me of lychees. Delicious whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Waldviertler Dark Rye Malt

Waldviertler Dark Rye Malt

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

Nose: Bananas, raisins, cherries, green tea, black pepper, photocopy paper, hints of malted grains, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cherries, photocopy paper, raisins, milk chocolate, green tea, hints of roast pork. 
Finish: Short. Milk chocolate, raisins, black pepper, nutmeg, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Distilled from a mixture of rye and malted barley. Lots of cherry and black pepper flavours - that’s the rye - and some malty raisins - that’s the malt. It’s a little unbalanced, slightly harsh at the edges. Maybe it needs more aging.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn 8yo 2014/2022 Spirited Angels Virgin American Oak

Strathearn 8yo 2014/2022 Spirited Angels Virgin American Oak

A Seven Cask Series, Thompson Bros
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dusty gold
49.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, malted grains, parchment, sea salt, orange peel, hints of smoky bacon. With water, bananas, pear drops, malted grains, hints of smoky bacon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Sea salt, orange peel, barley sugar, malted grains, raisins, hints of pear drops. With water, pear drops, orange peel, malted grains, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, coffee, orange peel, barley sugar. 

Comments: 

Cask 17. Quite a feinty, smoky nose, but it becomes sweet and fruity on the tongue. The oaky sugary notes are a little much for me, but there’s a nice complexity and distinct layering of flavour that is lovely.

Verdict:

I like this.

Seelbach’s Private Reserve Batch 3

Seelbach’s Private Reserve Batch 3

Seelbach’s 

Blended malt
Amber, hints of orange
59% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, vanilla, nutmeg, white pepper, honey, marmalade. With water, fresh baked bread, marmalade, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange peel, green tea, nutmeg, honey, white pepper, rye bread. With water, white pepper, marmalade, green tea, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, white pepper, marmalade, rye bread. 

Comments: 

Triple sec and champagne cask matured blend. Lots of malt and rye, but also a lot of citrus. It’s peppery, all right, but also deliciously sweet sour. A very good session dram, despite the strength.

Verdict:

I like this.

Starward Vitalis

Starward Vitalis

Official bottling 
Single malt - Victoria
Amber brown
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, strawberry jam, malted grains, black pepper, blackcurrants. With water, honey, strawberry jam, marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, black pepper, strawberry jam, cherries, malted grains, hints of raisins. With water, marmalade, raisins, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, cherries, marmalade, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

Sweet, intense and honeyed, lots of cherry notes, almost like cough mixture. It’s a little one note in some ways, but is nevertheless quite good. It was a pleasure to try this.

Verdict:

I like this.

Talisker 11yo (Special Releases 2022)

Talisker 11yo (Special Releases 2022)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Bright gold 
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, leather, peat, photocopy paper, hazelnuts, hints of white chocolate. With water, honey, lemon sweets, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon sweets, peat, germolene, peanuts, cream, photocopy paper, hints of leather. With water, honey, leather, lemon sweets, germolene. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, peat, ginseng, hazelnuts. 

Comments: 

Quite a subtle whisky, lots of feinty, sour notes on the nose. It’s medicinal on the tongue, the peat is quite strong but not overpowering. Lots of bitter, tart notes that increase the complexity. A pleasant and interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn 7yo 2015/2022 Spirited Angels Peated Spirit

Strathearn 7yo 2015/2022 Spirited Angels Peated Spirit

A Seven Cask Series, Thompson Bros
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark gold
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, pears, smoke, leather, tobacco leaf, peat, hints of charcoal ash. With water, magic marker, white grapes, pears, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. White grapes, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, white grapes, peat, smoke. 
Finish: Short. Peat, leather, chillies, charcoal ash, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 50. Ashy but still fruity, with a decent malty spine. It’s still got some harsh edges, but no more than many young peated whiskies. Lots of smoke and spiciness in the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn 7yo 2014/2022 Spirited Angels Port Cask

Strathearn 7yo 2014/2022 Spirited Angels Port Cask

A Seven Cask Series, Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Central Highlands
Chinese tea
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, roses, red grapes, sultanas, strawberry jam, malted grains. With water, apples, orange peel, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Dark chocolate, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, strawberry jam, hints of musk. With water, apples, honey, strawberry jam. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, dark chocolate, apples, honey, hints of nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Cask 107. Lots of sweet and fruity notes, as you’d expect from a port cask. I enjoyed the complexity, the distillate takes active wood well. Relatively well aged, but excellent and promising.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Auchroisk Bourbon Finish Quarter Cask

Auchroisk Bourbon Finish Quarter Cask

Cask Craft, Murray McDavid
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
44.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, yoghurt, fresh cut grass, cinder toffee, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cinder toffee, white pepper, sage, fresh cut grass, hints of smoke. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, cinder toffee, white pepper, sage, fresh cut grass, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Cinder toffee, lemon zest, sage, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Cask BBN-02. Lightly smoky, a lot of toffee and herbal notes. I like stripped back bourbon casks sometimes, but more often than not, they tend to drive home how integral good wood is to good whisky. This one is ok, but could be better. .

Verdict:

I like this.

Allt-a-Bhainne 24yo 1997/2021

Allt-a-Bhainne 24yo 1997/2021

Stiúbhart, Stewart Whisky Company
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
44.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Grapefruit, fresh cut grass, birch bark, lemon juice, green apples, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cream, fresh cut grass, birch bark, green apples, vanilla, hints of peaches. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, lemon juice, peaches, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 300678. Tart and creamy, lots of herbal notes on the nose. There’s quite a lot of peppery prickle, especially on the finish. It’s quite a decent whisky, with some unusual notes, but would have expected a bit more complexity for its age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Longmorn 11yo 2011/2022

Longmorn 11yo 2011/2022

Thompson Bros
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
53.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, apricots, aluminium foil, black pepper, shredded wheat, hints of butterscotch. With water, applesauce, rainier cherries, magic marker, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, apricots, peaches, applesauce, black pepper, shredded wheat, rainier cherries, hints of bananas. With water, malted grains, shredded wheat, apricots. 
Finish: Long. Applesauce, rainier cherries, shredded wheat, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Brilliant young-ish whisky, the cask seems to have been quite active. Lots of fruity, estery notes, with sweet spice that I associate with wheat rather than barley. Highly enjoyable, and surprising.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Albyn 26yo 1975/2002 Rare Malts

Glen Albyn 26yo 1975/2002 Rare Malts

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden yellow
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon sweets, peaches, watermelon rind, orange sherbet, malted grains, leather, hints of candle wax. With water, malted grains, leather, lemon sweets, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Candle wax, celery salt, leather, lemon sweets, orange sherbet, hints of white grapes, hints of white pepper. With water, candle wax, malted grains, white pepper, hints of celery salt. 
Finish: Long. Candle wax, watermelon rind, peaches, leather, hints of bubble gum. 

Comments: 

Rare chance to try a Rare Malt! Lots of waxy fruitiness, with an overlay of savoury old bottle effect. It builds to a lovely long finish with bubble gum flavours at the end. Quite wonderful. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnagherkin 6yo 2015/2022

Ardnagherkin 6yo 2015/2022

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Western Highlands
Light gold, hints of green
59.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, lemon zest, leather, smoke, malted grains, pickle juice, hints of saffron. With water, honey, pickle juice, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Leather, malted grains, pickle juice, smoke, white pepper, hints of new plastic, hints of coriander seed. With water, smoke, green apples, charcoal ash. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, white pepper, lemon zest, smoke, charcoal ash. 

Comments: 

Cask 672. This divided opinion. I come down on the ‘I quite like it’ side. I understand tart salty notes like pickle juice aren’t very usual in whisky, but this appeals to my anarchic ‘anything goes’ tendencies. Not every whisky does, but this one has.

Verdict:

I like this.

Armorik Whisky Breton

Armorik Whisky Breton

Official bottling 
Single malt - Brittany
Lemon yellow
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, leather, lemon zest, malted grains, hay, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, warm, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, lemon zest, white pepper, vanilla, marshmallows, hay, hints of roast pork. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, leather, white pepper, magic marker, pear drops. 

Comments: 

Entry level Armorik. It’s meaty and estery, quite a hefty, oily whisky. It’s a bit like eating a meal, lots of differences between initial sip and end sip. Rewards introspection, something quite unusual for a NAS core range bottling.

Verdict:

I like this.