Torabhaig Cnoc na Moine Chapter 3

Torabhaig Cnoc na Moine Chapter 3

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

Nose: Smoke, peat, leather, tyre rubber, tarry rope, vanilla, applesauce, apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, peat, smoke, tyre rubber, raisins, vanilla, applesauce. 
Finish: Short. Applesauce, cinnamon, smoke, vanilla. 

Comments: 

My word, this tastes more and more like Islay whisky every time I try it. It’s smoky and peaty, even sulphurous, but all that covers a light distillate that carries notes of apple and vanilla.

Verdict:

I like this.

Casks of Lindores - Sherry Cask

Casks of Lindores - Sherry Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Walnut
49.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Aluminium foil, red grapes, chicken stock, raisins, damson jam, hints of mushrooms. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, cool, astringent. 

Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, sea salt, chicken stock, black pepper, black tea, damson jam, hints of mushrooms.
Finish: Medium. Red grapes, sherry, olive brine, chicken stock. 

Comments: 

Sweet, but also quite savoury. It’s like drinking good chicken jus with a huge glug of sherry and brandy in it. Slightly harsh around the edges, but otherwise rather good.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Spey 10yo 2011/2022

Glen Spey 10yo 2011/2022

James Eadie
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV

Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, gooseberries, white grapes, yoghurt, malted grains, white pepper, hints of sour cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon juice, peaches, cinder toffee, malted grains, vanilla, fresh cut grass, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Cinder toffee, lemon juice, fresh cut grass, gooseberries, hints of sour cream. 

Comments: 

Casks 801625 and 801626. Lactic whisky, lots of fruity notes, but those are under a thick layer of sour cream. It’s grassy and green as well, especially on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Belgrove Oat 3yo (Ex Pinot Noir, ex Tasmanian whisky)

Belgrove Oat 3yo (Ex Pinot Noirc ex Tasmanian whisky)

International Series, Killowen bottler
Single grain - Tasmania
Amber gold 
59.79% ABV

Dram

Nose: Peanut butter, clay dust, white pepper, photocopy paper, sandalwood, birch sap, hints of oak chips. With water, lemon juice, oak chips, hints of tyre rubber. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Salty. Peanut butter, oak chips, sea salt, toast, sandalwood, photocopy paper, lemon juice, hints of driftwood smoke. With water, lemon juice, birch sap, peanut butter. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, peanut butter, butterscotch, toast. 

Comments: 

Salty oat spirit, quite unbalanced. It’s green and sappy, but also laden with peanut butter and some sulphurous notes. Water brings out more sulphur and sappy notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen Rum and Raisin Single Malt (Great Northern)

Killowen Rum and Raisin Single Malt (Great Northern)

Killowen bottler
Single malt - Leinster
Yellow gold
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, yoghurt, sultanas, cocoa nibs, coffee, hints of butterscotch. With water, peanuts, farmyard, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, sultanas, cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, cream, yoghurt, vanilla. With water, damson jam, rum, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Long. Peanuts, white pepper, cream, hints of butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Sweet and nutty, but with a bitter edge. Water brings out some interesting notes, mostly from the cask, but there’s a big whiff of farmyard smells on the nose.

Verdict:

I like this.

Puni 4yo Oloroso Cask Finish

Puni 4yo Oloroso Cask Finish

Darkness, Master of Malt
Single malt - Alto Adige
Dark gold
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, peaches, white pepper, aluminium foil, fresh baked bread, hints of apricot jam. With water, malted grains, red grapes, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peaches, apricot jam, raisins, red grapes, malted grains, chocolate, fresh baked bread, damson jam, hints of coffee. With water, black tea, fresh baked bread, damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, chocolate, fresh baked bread, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 11813/2020. Very jammy and sweet, lots of sherried notes from the cask. Water brings out some malt and some bread, but it’s still very cask forward.

Verdict:

I like this.

Allt a’Mhullin 15yo 2005/2021

Allt a’Mhullin 15yo 2005/2021

Roslin Distillers
Single malt - West Highlands
Light copper 
50.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Shortbread, aluminium foil, white grapes, malted grains, vanilla, butterscotch. With water, sandalwood, vanilla, butterscotch, shortbread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Butterscotch, malted grains, sandalwood, vanilla, shortcrust pastry, white grapes, hints of white pepper. With water, vanilla, butterscotch, chocolate, white grapes. 
Finish: Short. Shortcrust pastry, vanilla, white pepper, butterscotch, shortbread. 

Comments: 

Vanilla, pastry, butter, lots of delicious things that appeal, but it doesn’t have the fruity intensity of the usual Ben Nevises. Water brings some fruit to the fore, but it’s still unusually buttery. Very interesting.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oban 11yo Handfilled Exclusive Batch 5

Oban 11yo Handfilled Exclusive Batch 5

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Dark gold
57.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Photocopy paper, cotton sheets, lemon juice, cinder toffee, sea salt, hints of apricot jam. With water, peaches, pear drops, lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon juice, peaches, cinder toffee, leather, cotton sheets, white grapes. With water, malted grains, white grapes, apricot jam, rye bread. 
Finish: Long. Lemon juice, cinder toffee, white grapes, white pepper, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Feinty, but with that salty marine lemony flavours. Water brings in apricot jam and more cereal, on the tongue, and leads to a nice long slightly smoky finish. Again, great whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oban Distillery Exclusive Batch 3

Oban Distillery Exclusive Batch 3

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Bronze
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, malted grains, white pepper, photocopy paper, sea salt, white grapes, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Leather, malted grains, white pepper, gooseberries, white grapes, cinder toffee, hints of soot. 
Finish: Long. Leather, malted grains, soot, white grapes, cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Light, fresh and saline, perfectly Oban so far, but at the end, at the back of the mouth, there’s a small wash of dirty soot. It’s very interesting, and almost catches in the mouth. Great whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

St George Breaking and Entering Whiskey

St George Breaking and Entering Whiskey

Official bottling
Single blend - California
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, cola nuts, malted grains, black pepper, brown sugar, apples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, brown paper, cinnamon, apples, brown sugar, butterscotch. 
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, malted grains, honey, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Appley and herbal whisky, with plenty of sweet, even butterscotch notes. It’s very drinkable, almost quaffable, and has a nice malty sweet finish. Definitely a session whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dingle Lunasa

Dingle Lunasa 

Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
White wine 
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ink, iron filings, sandalwood, malted grains, white grapes, apricots, peaches, hints of walnut skins. With water, ink, pear drops, lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Apricots, peaches, malted grains, walnut skins, white pepper, ink, hints of vanilla. With water, malted grains, white grapes, ink, lemon juice. 
Finish: Short. Ink, white grapes, malted grains, apricots. 

Comments: 

Plenty of bitter notes, but they’re buried quite deep. The surface notes are lightly fruity, even a little tart. But there’s something metallic and slightly chemical down underneath that.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dingle Samhain

Dingle Samhain 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Golden, tinge of pink
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, raisins, white grapes, sandalwood, oak chips, apricots, hints of persimmons. With water, pear drops, apricots, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, ginseng, vanilla, apricots, white grapes, coffee, autumn leaves, hints of oak chips. With water, ginseng, black pepper, vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, ginseng, autumn leaves, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Fruity and tart, lots of bitter notes are apparent, but not immediately. Needs a little bit of air, then the fruit dissipates somewhat. The finish is unexpectedly bitter and earthy.

Verdict:

I like this.

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 3

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 3

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Colorado
Dark amber red
67.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, desiccated coconut, red grapes, brown paper, honeycomb, orange peel. With water, honeycomb, damson jam, artificial grape flavour, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Damson jam, malted grains, cream, red grapes, artificial grape flavour, honeycomb, hints of oak chips. With water, sea salt, strawberry jam, artificial grape flavour, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Artificial grape flavour, black pepper, honeycomb, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Oof, the cask totally influences this. Honeyed, lots of strawberry and damson jam notes, but also that tang of Fanta grape. Luscious whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Garioch 33yo 1978/2012 for Milroy’s of Soho

Glen Garioch 33yo 1978/2012 for Milroy’s of Soho

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
58.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, white grapes, digestive biscuits, leather, honey, gooseberries, hints of cream. With water, honey, malted grains, coffee, hints of digestive biscuits. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toffee, dark chocolate, white pepper, leather, white grapes, gooseberries, coffee, malted grains. With water, honey, white grapes, malted grains, coffee. 
Finish: Long. Gooseberries, honey, coffee, toffee, hints of mustard. 

Comments: 

Cask 10999. Sweet with big bitter notes that come in waves. Water brings out the malty sweetness, less fruity, but still the bitter fragrant notes that taste like coffee. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Garioch 41yo 1978/2020 Handfilled Cask 11002

Glen Garioch 41yo 1978/2020

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden brown
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, mustard, photocopy paper, orange peel, honey, oolong tea, turmeric. With water, honey, chocolate, damson jam, turmeric. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, toffee, orange peel, honey, turmeric, mustard, tobacco leaf. With water, leather, damson jam, tobacco leaf, white grapes. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, orange peel, mustard, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 11002. Fruity and bitter sweet, lots of layered complex notes, it’s a rich and rounded whisky. There’s that characteristic mustard and pungent turmeric note on the nose. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Belgian Owl 36 months First Fill Bourbon Cask

Belgian Owl 36 months First Fill Bourbon Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Liège
Pale yellow 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, leather, shoe polish, malted grains, white pepper, oak chips, honey, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour. Fried eggs, shoe polish, malted grains, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Oak chips, leather, cream, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Quite gritty and chemical, almost tarry. Smoke is ever present but not too acrid. There’s herbal, sometimes sulphurous notes as well. Odd but interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardnahoe Infinite Loch

Ardnahoe Infinite Loch

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Buttercups
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanut butter, driftwood smoke, peat, tobacco leaf, fresh cut grass, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peanut butter, peat, driftwood smoke, cloves, chocolate, butter, hints of red grapes. 
Finish: Short. Smoke, leather, peat, peanut butter, honey. 

Comments: 

Smoky and herbal, lots of nutty notes in the background. Cloves make an appearance, but it’s not easy to discern under all that smoke. A complex, layered dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Floki 3yo Single Cask Barrel 20

Floki 3yo Single Cask Barrel 20

Official bottling
Single malt - Capital Region
Yellow gold 
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, cream, photocopy paper, parchment, leather, white grapes, malted grains, hints of cinder toffee.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Cinder toffee, smoke, white grapes, yoghurt, parchment, malted grains, diesel exhaust, hints of lemon juice. 
Finish: Long. Soot, yoghurt, cream, diesel exhaust. 

Comments: 

Barrel 20. Quite smoky, lots of bittersweet toffee notes. There’s that parchment and photocopy paper again. Also a lot of hydrocarbon smoke, sweetish on the nose.

Verdict:

I like this.

Floki 3yo Double Wood Reserve 2019

Floki 3yo Double Wood Reserve 2019

Official bottling 
Single malt - Capital Region
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, pencil erasers, white pepper, gooseberries, leather, parchment. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour. Pencil erasers, gooseberries, parchment, photocopy paper, rye bread, malted grains, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Parchment, green tea, leather, pencil erasers. 

Comments: 

Cask Floki SM2 and Cask Birch 2. Very feinty and odd, lots of slightly sulphurous notes and a lot of parchment and penci erasers. Sour and slightly tannic too. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Mhor 10yo 1978/1989

Glen Mhor 10yo 1978/1989

Intertrade
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
65.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, fresh cut grass, pear drops, lemon juice, sandalwood, white grapes, gooseberries. With water, oats, farmyard, sandalwood, pear drops, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Magic marker, pear drops, marmalade, lemon juice, malted grains, farmyard, white pepper, hints of white grapes. With water, magic marker, pear drops, white pepper, lemon juice. 
Finish: Long. Magic marker, pear drops, lemon juice, farmyard. 

Comments: 

Very estery, lots of pear drop and magic marker notes. The acetone soon morphs into gooseberries and sandalwood. Water brings out some cereal and even some farmyard notes.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Matsui Sakura Cask

The Matsui Sakura Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu 
Very pale gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, malted grains, honey, cream, white pepper, orange peel, hints of cherry blossom. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cinder toffee, honey, malted grains, orange peel, cherry blossom, white grapes, hints of peaches. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, honey, white pepper, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Slightly lactic at the beginning on the nose, but it soon changes to cream, honey, white pepper and cherry blossom. Very Japanese, very delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenburgie 36yo 1980/2017

Glenburgie 36yo 1980/2017

Old and Rare Platinum, Hunter Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Yellow gold
47.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, white grapes, gooseberries, dark chocolate, pencil lead, hints of coconut cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, gooseberries, peaches, pencil lead, leather, white pepper, hints of coconut cream. 
Finish: Short. Chocolate, coconut cream, gooseberries, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Feinty and sweet, with tangy side notes of gooseberries and sour peaches. It’s a little flat on the finish, but that’s after a lot of fireworks going on in the mouth. A very, very nice dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenburgie 45yo 1975/2020

Glenburgie 45yo 1975/2020

Dalswinton Series, Claxton’s 
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
44.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut cream, mint, sultanas, lemon zest, sea salt, chalk, peaches, pencil lead. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, celery salt, coconut cream, sea salt, chalk, raisins, white pepper, hints of pencil lead. 
Finish: Medium. Sultanas, white pepper, pencil lead, coconut cream. 

Comments: 

Very, very coconutty, lots of savoury and feinty notes underneath that layer. It’s got some spice and fruity notes, and a little chalk, but the coconut is predominant. Excellent dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Macaloney’s Caledonian Cask 49 Invermaillie Red Wine Barrique

Macaloney’s Caledonian Cask 49 Invermaillie Red Wine Barrique

Official bottling
Single malt - British Columbia
Copper amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, black tea, raisins, damson jam, peanuts, chocolate, aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, thickens, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, raisins, oak chips, coffee, chocolate, black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Oak chips, raisins, black pepper, aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

Quite sharp, I don’t think red wine finishes work well with all whiskies, and I think here it obscures the maltiness of the distillate. Still, there are some interesting metallic and pepper notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Pelter 5yo Batch 2

Pelter 5yo Batch 2

Official bottling
Single malt - Northern District
Dark gold 
51.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, lemon zest, sour cream, watermelon rind, milk powder, hints of butterscotch. With water, cream, cotton candy, vanilla, butterscotch. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Lemon zest, sour cream, honey, cinder toffee, butterscotch, white grapes, hints of tyre rubber. With water, cinder toffee, tyre rubber, cream, hints of white grapes. 
Finish: Long. Cinder toffee, white grapes, watermelon rind, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Estery and fruity at the beginning, but with some time in the glass, it turns a little malty and lactic. Needs a bit more time in the cask. The finish is long, but harsh at first. Reasonable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Chichibu London Edition 2024

Chichibu London Edition 2024

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden bronze
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, cherry blossom, orange peel, lemon zest, vanilla, apricots, pears. With water, chocolate, vanilla, cream, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Vanilla, malted grains, white grapes, lemon zest, cherry blossom, apricots, pears. With water, starfruit, vanilla, malted grains, cherry blossom. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, lemon zest, white grapes, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Sweet, fruity and light, but layered and complex. Lots of different white fruits vie for dominance on the tongue. Water brings out more creaminess and maltiness, especially on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Talisker 44yo Forests of the Deep

Talisker 44yo Forests of the Deep

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Amber
49.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, blue cheese, leather, raisins, damson jam, chocolate, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Raisins, orange peel, malted grains, damson jam, camphor, oolong tea, chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, chocolate, camphor, oolong tea, blue cheese. 

Comments: 

Really sweet and savoury, a throwback to Talisker of the late 2000s. There are some floral, slightly tannic notes that remind me of the best oolong tea. Magnificent dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Talisker 1974 Golden Eagle

Talisker 1974 Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle label, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Islands
Bronze
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ginseng, camphor, white grapes, roast chicken, white pepper, cinder toffee, hints of butterscotch. With water, white grapes, honey, butterscotch. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Toffee, petrol exhaust, smoke, camphor, roast chicken, cinder toffee, butterscotch, Chinese angelica. With water, smoke, camphor, white grapes, honey, butterscotch. 
Finish: Long. Leather, roast chicken, smoke, Chinese angelica. 

Comments: 

A really good dram that I’ve been chasing for some time. It’s meaty and rich, bitter and herbal, with some smoky petrol flavours. I’m really happy I got the chance to taste this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Undisclosed Indiana Rye 4yo 2018/2022

Undisclosed Indiana Rye 4yo 2018/2022

Individual Cask, WM Cadenheads
Single rye - Indiana 
Copper amber 
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marmalade, pear drops, black pepper, lemon zest, oats, orange peel, hints of strawberry jam. With water, marmalade, pear drops, damson jam, hints of magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, mouth coating, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Marmalade, pear drops, blackberries, damson jam, orange peel, black pepper. With water, oats, marmalade, pear drops, magic marker. 
Finish: Medium. Oats, malted grains, black pepper, chillies, marmalade. 

Comments: 

This is, of course, MGP. It’s jammy and orangey, very intense for the age. Plenty of esters on the tongue and the finish too. An excellent dram, very good value for money.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oban 19yo The Manager’s Dram (bottled 1995)

Oban 19yo The Manager’s Dram (bottled 1995)

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Yellow bronze
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, chalk, honey, camphor, gooseberries, malted grains, fresh cut grass. With water, leather, roast chicken, honey, gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Honey, camphor, gooseberries, leather, celery salt, strawberries, hints of yoghurt. With water, leather, honey, chalk, gooseberries. 
Finish: Long. Leather, gooseberries, strawberries, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Bitter and herbal on the nose, and more than a little grassy. Once on the tongue it turns sweeter, with a bit of old bottle effect. Water brings out even more sweetness, and fruity notes too. Very decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oban 8yo 2000/2009 The Manager’s Choice

Oban 8yo 2000/2009 The Manager’s Choice

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Light amber
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, gooseberries, camphor, fresh cut grass, dark chocolate, blueberry jam. With water, dark chocolate, gooseberries, blueberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, volatile, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Roast chicken, camphor, leather, parchment, dark chocolate, blueberry jam. With water, camphor, chocolate, hay, blueberry jam. 
Finish: Long. Parchment, toffee, leather, camphor. 

Comments: 

Cask 1186. Herbal, even a teensy bit smoky, but mostly laden with jam and chocolate. On the tongue it’s quite meaty, and water creates more jam and even floral notes. Very nice whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dingle Single Malt

Dingle Single Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Bright yellow
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Photocopy paper, vitamin C tablets, lemon juice, sandalwood, pears, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Vitamin C tablets, malted grains, pears, fresh baked bread, white pepper, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Oats, fresh baked bread, pears, magic marker, honey. 

Comments: 

Finally, a Dingle core bottling. It’s rather tart, there’s a gritty citric taste that reminds me of Berocca tablets, but there’s also malt and cereals, with an estery edge. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen 3yo 2020/2024 Barantuil Kult Blackberry Rum Finish

Killowen 3yo 2020/2024 Barantuil Kult Blackberry Rum Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Ulster
Very pale yellow
61.12% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackberries, malted grains, cloves, strawberry jam, cola nuts, hints of black pepper. With water, cola nuts, marmalade, white grapes, ume. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cola nuts, blackberries, leather, strawberry jam, sarsaparilla, black pepper, malted grains. With water, ume, blackberries, watermelon rind. 
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, coffee, sarsaparilla, leather. 

Comments: 

Sweet and malty, lots of herbal and jammy notes that pop in the mouth. The high ABV is slightly off-putting, but adding water helps a lot. The ume note appears instantly with a few drops of water.

Verdict:

I like this.

Oxford Heritage Corn Whisky

Oxford Heritage Corn Whisky

Official bottling
Single corn - Oxfordshire
Chinese tea
50.44% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, corn syrup, toffee, butterscotch, strawberries, honey, hints of cloves. With water, sandalwood, brown paper, honey, popcorn. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, airy, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Toffee, butterscotch, popcorn, brown paper, honey, cinnamon. With water, sandalwood, brown paper, photocopy paper. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, toffee, butterscotch, popcorn. 

Comments: 

Sweet and buttery, lots of sugar from the corn. Water opens it up, revealing a spicy freshness that, if this were malt, would be the feinty bits.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dalmunach 7yo Batch 1

Dalmunach 7yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Pale pink
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, lemon zest, cream, malted grains, tyre rubber, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Butterscotch, lemon zest, cream, yoghurt, malted grains, cinder toffee, hints of tyre rubber. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, fresh cut grass, butterscotch, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Lactic and tart, lots of sour notes, then builds to a sulphurous crescendo. The sulphur is shot through with caramelly sweetness on the tongue, tasting very much like burnt toffee.

Verdict:

I like this.

Yuza Spring in Japan

Yuza Spring in Japan

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, cream, malted grains, cherry blossom, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, raspberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, strawberries, cream, raspberries, meringue, hints of cherry blossom. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, cherry blossom, raspberries, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Malty and floral, with a big whiff of cherry blossom. Of course, that what the label says! It’s complex and layered, lots of interesting notes to get to know. A very good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teeling Single Grain

Teeling Single Grain

Official bottling
Single grain - Leinster
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, tutti frutti, orange peel, lemon zest, marmalade, apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, marmalade, brown paper, photocopy paper, oats, apricot jam, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Oats, honey, apricot jam, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Jammy and fragrant, for a no age statement dram (and it’s fairly young, probably under 7 years) it’s quite intense and layered. There’s a thickish layer of oats there too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tomintoul Seiridh

Tomintoul Seiridh

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber red
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, butterscotch, toffee, chocolate, raisins, vanilla, hints of rose. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Fresh baked bread, chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, marmalade, hints of digestive biscuits. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, cocoa powder, marmalade, vanilla, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Sweet and sherried, lots of jammy notes, and chocolate on the finish. A very comforting, standard, unsurprising sherried whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength Rye

Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Maryland
Amber gold 
56.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Hazelnuts, cough syrup, chocolate, black tea, black pepper, marzipan. With water, cherries, strawberry jam, chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Marzipan, hazelnuts, brown paper, cough syrup, cloves, cherries, black pepper. With water, cherries, chocolate, brown paper. 
Finish: Long. Cherries, chocolate, hazelnuts, cloves. 

Comments: 

Wow, this rye tastes like Nutella! It’s very, very spicy, but those chocolate and hazelnut notes hold their own against the black pepper. There’s also a layer of cloves and cherries, which brings to mind Black Forest gateau.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Sagamore Spirit Small Batch

Sagamore Spirit Small Batch

Official bottling
Single rye - Maryland
Amber
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, peaches, strawberry jam, brown paper, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cloves, black pepper, honey, butterscotch, brown paper, peaches. 
Finish: Short. Honey, black pepper, black tea, peaches. 

Comments: 

A very fruity rye, the characteristic black pepper is there, but it’s overtaken by slightly woody peach and strawberry notes. It’s at a good ABV too, high strength ryes tend to be too spicy for my liking.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathmill 12yo 2011/2024

Strathmill 12yo 2011/2024

James Eadie
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
58.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, pear drops, rhubarb and custard sweets, apples, cloves, shortcrust pastry. With water, white pepper, apples, malted grains, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, apricot jam, apples, cloves, cinnamon, brown paper, hints of shortcrust pastry. With water, brown paper, raisins, cocoa nibs, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, cloves, white pepper, apples. 

Comments: 

Cask 367496. A great big intensely appley Strathmill. It’s almost fizzes in the mouth, and ends up almost tasting like apple pie. A very nice dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blair Athol 8yo 2015/2024

Blair Athol 8yo 2015/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber gold
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, vanilla custard, cherries, malted grains, cocoa nibs, hints of marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, cocoa nibs, vanilla custard, malted grains, butterscotch, orange peel, hints of gooseberries. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, raisins, marmalade, vanilla custard. 

Comments: 

Sweet and vanilla laden, lots of chocolate as well. Decent fruity finish too, lots of jammy notes. It’s very drinkable, but is probably at the lower end of the Thompson brothers’ stuff that I’ve tried.

Verdict:

I like this.

Belgrove Rye 3yo (Ex Pinot Noir, ex Tasmanian Malt)

Belgrove Rye 3yo (Ex Pinot Noir, ex Tasmanian Malt)

Killowen International Series, Killowen distillery 
Single rye - Tasmania
Pale gold
60.61% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oats, aluminium foil, strawberry jam, ume, burnt sugar, vanilla, hints of smoke. With water, rubber bands, smoke, strawberry jam, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, airy, loosens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Petrol exhaust, ume, smoke, burnt sugar, wet stones, black pepper, hints of aluminium foil. With water, smoke, black pepper, strawberry jam. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, burnt sugar, smoke, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

Fruity and slight sour, with many feinty notes. Lots of spicy notes from the rye too. It fades rather quickly to a sort, intense finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye

Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Tennessee 
Amber brown 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, black pepper, blackcurrant cordial, cough syrup, brown paper, caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slippery, loosens slightly.
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Magic marker, pencil lead, vanilla, black pepper, fresh baked bread, cough syrup. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, brown paper, black pepper, cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Decent rye, slightly sweet for my taste, but there’s plenty of pepper and cereal in here. It ends quite abruptly though, the finish is quite short.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teeling Single Pot Still

Teeling Single Pot Still

Official bottling
Single pot still - Leinster
Pale orange
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, vitamin C tablets, raisins, white grapes, nutmeg, gingerbread, vanilla. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, thickens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Orange peel, fresh baked bread, white grapes, allspice, green tea, cinnamon, mint, hints of gingerbread. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, white grapes, orange peel, vitamin C tablets, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Quite citrusy, with lots of spice, especially on the back palate. It’s quite complex on the tongue, something I would not have expected for pot still whisky. This is a very good dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Eden Mill Bourbon Cask

Eden Mill Bourbon Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale gold, hints of pink
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, pear drops, honeydew melons, white grapes, lemon zest, leather, kombucha. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Kombucha, leather, pear drops, wet stones, lemon zest, hints of pencil lead. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, white pepper, lemon zest, pencil lead. 

Comments: 

Surprisingly fruity, lots of strawberry jam notes. There’s also a feintiness, with some minerally notes, and a tart layer of what I think of as kombucha. It builds to a truncated, abrupt finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Signal Hill Whisky

Signal Hill Whisky

Official bottling
Single blend - Ontario
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, raisins, pear drops, malted grains, cloves, hints of cough syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Caramel, toffee, brown sugar, raisins, orange peel, cough syrup. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, raisins, toffee, cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Very estery, lots of cherry cough syrup, and pear drops. It’s a very simple whisky, not a huge amount of complexity, but well made and tasty.

Verdict:

I like this.

Craigellachie 11yo

Craigellachie 11yo 

Soho Selection, Milroys of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Amber copper
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, butterscotch, cocoa nibs, cloves, black pepper, raisins, hints of gooseberries. With water, strawberry jam, cocoa nibs, black pepper, yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, airy, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Gooseberries, white grapes, cocoa nibs, lemon zest, milk chocolate, hints of butterscotch. With water, toffee, butterscotch, cocoa nibs, black pepper.
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, lemon zest, milk chocolate, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Very toffee’d whisky, plenty of fruity notes as well water opens it up to more toffee, jammy notes on the nose, and milky butterscotch on the tongue. All throughout there’s plenty of black pepper and chocolate.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hearach First Fill Oloroso Cask Matured Batch 1

Hearach First Fill Oloroso Cask Matured Batch 1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, olive brine, malted grains, leather, brown sugar, hints of farmyard. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Aluminium foil, malted grains, olive brine, honey, raisins, cocoa nibs, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, honey, cocoa nibs, malted grains, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

The sherry cask is evident here, but it’s probably refill. There’s plenty of stripped back raisiny, chocolatey notes, but the characteristic olive brine and slightly metallic feinty notes are front and centre. 

Verdict:

I like this.