Tullamore DEW 18yo

Tullamore DEW 18yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Amber
41.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, strawberry laces, honey, candied oranges, aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Aluminium foil, orange peel, strawberry laces, vanilla, honey, hints of cinder toffee. 

Finish: Short. Cinder toffee, vanilla, honey, green tea. 

Comments: 

Lots of sweet notes, but it’s rather bitter and feinty on the tongue. It’s not very complex, quite one note. Passable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Waterford Lakefield 1.1

Waterford Lakefield 1.1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Light gold 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, cinder toffee, nori, mushrooms, lemon zest, fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Cinder toffee, cream, lemon zest, nori, malted grains, petrichor. 
Finish: Short. Mushrooms, petrichor, cinder toffee, hints of butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Eartthy and mushroomy, some cinder toffee notes. Quite similar to other Waterfords. I’m less convinced terroir matters in whisky, it’s really about distillate and wood management.

Verdict:

I like this.

High Coast Timmer Peat Smoke

High Coast Timmer Peat Smoke

Official bottling 
Single malt - Ångermanland
Pale green gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, green tea, leather, orange peel, sultanas, peat, hints of smoky bacon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Green tea, sultanas, bitter gourd, leather, orange peel, peat, hints of smoky bacon. 
Finish: Long. Bitter gourd, orange peel, green tea, peat, sultanas. 

Comments: 

Fruity yet bitter, lots of complexity alongside some gentle smoke and peat. I like this, it’s unusual and definitely not scotch. Nice long finish as well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Nantou 5yo Batch 2

Nantou 5yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Central Taiwan
Golden 
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, photocopy paper, peat, smoke, lemon zest, pears, hints of smoky bacon. With water, smoky bacon, pears, peanuts, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, expands, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Charcoal ash, peat, honey, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, smoke, hints of brass polish. With water, charcoal ash, smoky bacon, pears, peat. 
Finish: Medium. Charcoal ash, smoke, lemon zest, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Peated Nantou, unusual and a treat. It’s ashy and meaty, some feinty and herbal notes are evident under that smoky cloak. It all fades to an ashy, intensely bitter finish. Intriguing.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Puni 4yo Batch 2

Puni 4yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Alto Adige
Bronze gold
46.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nori, lemon zest, orange peel, wet stones, aluminium foil, white grapes, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, static, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Lemon zest, fresh baked bread, nori, hay, honey, wet stones, hints of aluminium foil. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, white grapes, aluminium foil, wet stones, honey. 

Comments: 

Flinty and sweet, lots of other feinty notes. Some meatiness, especially on the nose. Quite complex, citrusy, and a little bit herbal. Delightful. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Rampur Asava

Rampur Asava 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Uttar Pradesh
Copper gold 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, white grapes, blackcurrant jam, hibiscus, honey, hints of milk chocolate, hints of lychees. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, blackcurrant jam, hibiscus, oatcakes, lychees, black pepper, milk chocolate, hints of hay. 
Finish: Long. Hay, oatcakes, black pepper, hibiscus, honey. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, exactly what’s expected from Rampur. But it’s not as intense as the earlier expressions I’ve tried. Good entry level dram though, lots of nice maltiness attached to the fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Finglassie 6yo 2017/2023

Finglassie 6yo 2017/2023

James Eadie
Single malt - Lowlands
Silvery gold
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yeast, yoghurt, peat, honey, lemon zest, green apples, hints of smoked bacon. With water, chillies, green apples, honey, peat, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Yoghurt, green apples, petrichor, tarry rope, honey, white grapes, smoke. With water, tarry rope, peat, honey, white grapes. 
Finish: Short. Tarry rope, green apples, peat, petrichor, hints of smoked bacon. 

Comments: 

Cask 156. This is peated Inchdairnie. I’ve never had the unpeated version. This one is yeasty and lactic, with a strong note of green apples, alongside other white fruit. Promising.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Hearach Single Malt

The Hearach Single Malt

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

Nose: Olive oil, desiccated coconut, toast, nutmeg, vanilla, gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Lemon zest, gooseberries, vanilla, green tea, apricots, olive oil, hints of toast, hints of capers. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, olive oil, gooseberries, apricots, hints of nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Savoury and fragrant, lots of interesting notes. There's fruit, brine, herbs and spice in this. Very interesting, and unusual. There was a lot of fanfare with this whisky, and it’s not necessarily unjustified.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lagavulin 12yo 2023 Special Release

Lagavulin 12yo 2023 Special Release

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, driftwood smoke, oolong tea, honey, cinnamon, leather, peat. With water, oolong tea, peaches, white grapes, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Apple juice, white grapes, oolong tea, cinnamon, petrichor, leather, tarry rope, driftwood smoke. With water, white grapes, peaches, driftwood smoke, petrichor. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, apple juice, white grapes, driftwood smoke, petrichor. 

Comments: 

Tequila cask finish, surprisingly sweet and fruity. There’s some tannins that have maybe appeared because the peat is less aggressive than I’d expect in a Laga. Lovely whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Driftless Glen Straight Rye

Driftless Glen Straight Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - Wisconsin
Amber copper
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, damson jam, oatcakes, black tea, orange peel, brown paper, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Marshmallows, blueberry jam, tutti frutti, strawberry laces, orange peel, honey, cinnamon, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, strawberry laces, damson jam, black pepper, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Fruity, straightforward rye whiskey, with some intense complexity in parts. Lots of sweet notes, with a little spice - not as much as I expected. Still good though.

Verdict:

I like this.

Daftmill 15yo Fife Strength 2007/2023

Daftmill 15yo Fife Strength 2007/2023

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Bright yellow
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricots, lemon zest, olive oil, vanilla, salt caramel, shortbread, fresh baked bread, hints of roast pork, hints of tea tree oil. With water, marmalade, apricots, salt caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Shortbread, apricots, vanilla custard, menthol, sultanas, oatcakes, fresh baked bread, hints of olive oil. With water, apricots, lemon zest, olive oil, oatcakes. 
Finish: Medium. Menthol, olive oil, apricots, lemon zest, hints of sultanas. 

Comments: 

The oldest Daftmill so far. Fruity and sweet, less floral than previous expressions. Perhaps the tea tree oil has morphed into olive oil. It’s got a slight savoury edge, and is quite tart. Delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Starward 2017 Unexpeated

Starward 2017 Unexpeated 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Victoria

Amber, hints of red 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peat, raisins, strawberry jam, marshmallows, orange juice, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, tingly mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Raisins, strawberry jam, driftwood smoke, charcoal ash, cedar, white pepper, damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Orange juice, white pepper, charcoal ash, peat, hints of damson jam. 

Comments: 

A good melding of sherry and peat. Lots of white pepper and jam offset some ashy, salty, smoky peat. It’s complex and flavourful, and well-balanced. Great whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Amaethon Single Malt

Amaethon Single Malt

Spiritique
Single malt - Champagne-Ardenne
Pale gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: White wine, sumac, lemon zest, cream, yoghurt, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery around the edges, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Sultanas, green tea, lemon zest, cream, sourdough bread, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Sourdough bread, white grapes, green tea, hints of yoghurt. 

Comments: 

I think this may be Rozeliures whisky, but I’m not sure. So it goes down as ‘unknown’. It’s a little thin and simple, even with the higher ABV. There’s some fruit on the tongue but it’s not well developed.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Kavalan Distillery Select No 1

Kavalan Distillery Select No 1

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Taiwan
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, butterscotch, desiccated coconut, cloves, cream, hints of marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, syrupy, thickens slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Butterscotch, raisins, oatcakes, honey, cloves, fresh baked bread, cream. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, black tea, oatcakes, fresh baked bread, hints of liquorice. 

Comments: 

A lighter, maltier Kavalan. There’s some of that characteristic cloves and liquorice, but the dominant notes are oatcakes, cream and bread. Decent stuff, as Kavalan often is.

Verdict:

I like this.

Holyrood Arrival

Holyrood Arrival

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
46.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, apple juice, raspberries, honey, bananas, malted grains, hints of sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pear drops, apple juice, sultanas, nutmeg, malted grains, black pepper, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, cloves, apple juice, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Appley and luscious, lots of spicy notes. Cloves predominate but there’s also cinnamon and black pepper. All fused to a good malty spine. Very nice stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Eden Mill 2022 Release Art of St Andrews

Eden Mill 2022 Release Art of St Andrews

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden 

46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, milk chocolate, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, honey, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Milk chocolate, salt caramel, hay, honey, vanilla, rhubarb and custard sweets, cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Hay, malted grains, white pepper, honey, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

I think I prefer the sweeter, lighter, slightly fruity Eden Mills. Maybe it’s the slight cognitive dissonance drinking a peated Lowland whisky. But this somehow tastes more appropriate.

Verdict:

I like this.

Eden Mill 2023 Release

Eden Mill 2023 Release

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale yellow
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, apple juice, orange peel, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon sweets, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Lemon sweets, smoke, germolene, apple juice, burnt sugar, sourdough bread, hints of salt caramel. 
Finish: Medium. Smoke, peat, germolene, lemon sweets, hints of apple juice. 

Comments: 

Peated Eden Mill. It’s heavier and oilier than I remember, or perhaps they’ve found their preferred style compared to 2019. Decent dram, but there’s an undertone of burnt sugar that detracts a little bit.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Guardbridge Blended Malt

The Guardbridge Blended Malt

Eden Mill distillery
Blended malt
Silvery gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, orange juice, gooseberries, toffee, yoghurt, sumac. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Gooseberries, lemon zest, orange juice, green tea, nutmeg, hints of tyre rubber. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, orange juice, sumac, toffee, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Sour, slightly lactic, and a little sulphurous. I’m not a great fan of this style, but it’s okay - drinkable with a little bit of complexity. Maybe as the whisky ages, we’ll get more layers.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Grant 31yo 1984/2016

Glen Grant 31yo 1984/2016

Single Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Chinese tea
46.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cloves, malted grains, sandalwood, black pepper, marshmallows, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Apple juice, malted grains, marshmallows, vanilla, raisins, black tea, condensed milk, butterscotch. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, black pepper, raisins, cream, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Quite milky and sweet, lots of butterscotch and vanilla notes. Complex and luscious, and you can taste the age, despite the slightly lower ABV. A wonderful example of Glen Grant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blended Malt 12yo 2009/2021

Blended Malt 12yo 2009/2021

Thompson Brothers
Blended malt
Amber red
55.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, germolene, peat, tarry rope, strawberry jam, roast pork, driftwood smoke. With water, sandalwood, germolene, leather, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, peanuts, strawberry jam, cloves, driftwood smoke, tarry rope, leather, germolene. With water, orange peel, raisins, black tea, liquorice, driftwood smoke. 
Finish: Long. Peanuts, peat, leather, germolene, orange peel. 

Comments: 

A blend with a lot of Lagavulin and a lot of Caol Ila, aged in a sherry cask. It’s sweet, quite medicinal, with classic salty smoke (classic for Laga, at least). It’s not as severe as I thought it would be, it’s even a little nutty and sweet.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Kanosuke Single Malt

Kanosuke Single Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Kyushu
Bright gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples,honey, burnt sugar, cinnamon, photocopy paper, golden syrup, white spirit. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Apples, cinnamon, honey, orange peel, heather, vanilla ice cream, hints of photocopy paper. 
Finish: Long. Apples, golden syrup, heather, honey, white spirit. 

Comments: 

Lovely lovely whisky. Kanosuke is a revelation, one of the best of the crop of new distilleries (probably ranks alongside Dornoch). This one is appley and feinty, lots of complexity and balance despite its young age.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lowlands Distillery (Dalrymple) 10yo 2013/2023

Lowlands Distillery (Dalrymple) 10yo 2013/2023

Release 03, Tri Carragh
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold 
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, yoghurt, toffee, green tea, nutmeg, white pepper, golden syrup. With water, lemon juice, green tea, honey, cinder toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Apple juice, yoghurt, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, golden syrup, malted grains. With water, yoghurt, green tea, lemon juice, golden syrup. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, lemon juice, golden syrup, apple juice. 

Comments: 

This is Ailsa Bay. It’s lactic, slightly yeasty, and sweet. I much preferred the OBs. This one is a little light and spirity, and despite the high ABV, isn’t very complex. Water brings out additional sweetness and some floral / herbal notes, but the yoghurt doesn’t help.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lakes WhiskyMaker’s Reserve No 6

Lakes WhiskyMaker’s Reserve No 6

Official bottling 
Single malt - Cumbria
Dark amber 
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, dates, raisins, cinder toffee, strawberry jam, cloves, orange juice. With water, orange peel, dates, golden syrup, fried eggs. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, orange juice, black tea, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla sponge, vanilla custard, hints of fried eggs. With water, orange peel, raisins, golden syrup, fried eggs. 
Finish: Long. Vanilla custard, black tea, orange peel, cloves, dates. 

Comments: 

Sweetly sherried stuff, a bit more fried egg character, a bit more vanilla, than previous releases. But it’s quite straightforward, you always know what you get with these Lakes WhiskyMaker’s releases.

Verdict:

I like this.

Leiper’s Fork Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond

Leiper’s Fork Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond

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

Nose: Brown paper, strawberry jam, cloves, lemon zest, vanilla, honey, white chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, brown paper, white chocolate, orange peel, cloves, honey, hints of brown paper. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, orange peel, black tea, honey, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Quite bourbony this one, lots of brown paper notes with classic orange peel. It’s quite light and airy, wish it had a bit more body to it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Leiper’s Fork Tennessee Whiskey Bottled in Bond 4yo

Leiper’s Fork Tennessee Whiskey Bottled in Bond 4yo

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Tennessee 
Copper red 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Prunes, strawberry jam, green tea, pineapples, honey, hints of nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Strawberry jam, strawberry laces, honey, sarsaparilla, prunes, raisins, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Sarsaparilla, strawberry jam, vanilla, raisins, prunes. 

Comments: 

Sweet and light, more complex than other Tennessee whiskies I could name. It’s a different character to sherried whisky, but has many of the same dried fruit and prune notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Macduff 13yo 2009/2023

Macduff 13yo 2009/2023

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

Nose: Aluminium foil, orange peel, dried pears, pomeloes, green tea, dried apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, orange peel, dried pears, green tea, clay dust, lemon zest, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, dried apricots, lemon zest, hints of cloves. 

Comments: 

Slightly metallic and dusty, but laden with heaps of dried fruit and peel. It’s only got a couple of layers of flavour, but they’re really very good layers indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

TB/BSW Aged Over 6yo

TB/BSW Aged Over 6yo

Thompson Brothers

Blended malt

Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Menthol, damson jam, applesauce, liquorice, cinnamon, raisins, gingerbread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, menthol, raisins, vanilla, honey, cough mixture, gingerbread. 
Finish: Long. Honey, raisins, black tea, liquorice, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Great blend - lots of mentholated raisins and liquorice tea! Well balanced and complex, and available at a good strength too. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Frey Ranch Bourbon

Frey Ranch Bourbon

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Nevada
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, damson jam, apricot jam, raisins, liquorice, milk chocolate, black tea, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Liquorice, damson jam, milk chocolate, black tea, black pepper, butterscotch, raisins. 
Finish: Long. Cough mixture, damson jam, apricot jam, milk chocolate, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Quite a sweet, almost quaffable bourbon. Lots of jammy notes, and a cough mixture feel. Hits the spot, whisky doesn’t have to be complicated, just needs to convey the right taste and smell impressions well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Millburn 27yo 1976/2003

Millburn 27yo 1976/2003

Reserve, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Pink gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, pineapples, honey, lychees, kiwifruit, leather, autumn leaves, hints of petrichor. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Papayas, pineapples, orange peel, leather, musk, petrichor, malted grains, photocopy paper, clay dust. 
Finish: Medium. Ginseng, petrichor, leather, apricots. 

Comments: 

Cask 1598. Lots of classic Millburn notes, from tropical fruit to clay dust. There’s an interesting musky note as well, don’t remember that from Millburns sampled long ago.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Moray 15yo 2007/2023

Glen Moray 15yo 2007/2023

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Copper gold
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, white grapes, honey, clay dust, sandalwood, kiwifruit. With water, honey, toast, green tea, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, pear drops, apple juice, honey, cinnamon, sandalwood, toast, hints of malted grains. With water, toast, green tea, kiwifruit, hints of autumn leaves. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, malted grains, apple juice, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Excellent pear drop notes, very estery whisky. Lots of fruit and some earthiness underpinning it all. Opens up beautifully with water, revealing a smoky, toasty note. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hobart Whisky Pedro Ximenez Solera

Hobart Whisky Pedro Ximenez Solera

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania
Mahogany
46.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, sandalwood, salt caramel, coffee, vanilla, raisins, hints of toast, hints of roast pork. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, dark chocolate, cloves, wheat beer, black pepper, salt caramel, hints of toast. 
Finish: Long. Damson jam, raisins, black pepper, wheat beer. 

Comments: 

Very sweet, with meaty undertones. Peppery as well, with lots of cereal notes, which seems to be a characteristic of the distillate. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hobart Whisky Signature

Hobart Whisky Signature

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber
47.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, raisins, vanilla, damson jam, sandalwood, wheat beer. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, turns airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Wheat beer, malted grains, raisins, cinnamon, rye bread, black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, malted grains, wheat beer, rye bread, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet, and despite being a single malt, has some peppery rye notes. Unusual, and flavourful, it’s a good example of Tasmanian whisky, despite its young age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Goalong 5yo Bourbon Cask

Goalong 5yo Bourbon Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Hunan
Pale gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, lemon zest, pine needles, fresh cut grass, cream, hints of barley sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. White grapes, honey, barley sugar, lemon zest, kiwifruit, yoghurt, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, cola nuts, barley sugar, kiwifruit. 

Comments: 

First Chinese single malt whisky for me! It’s from 高郎distillery, but appears to have been branded ‘Goalong’ for English speakers. Quite lactic, with a grassy, herbal edge. Some fruit appears, and sweet barley sugar notes. It’s decent, shows promise, and has clearly been aged in a warmer climate than Scotland.

Verdict:

I like this.