Bimber Virgin Cask No 91

Bimber Virgin Cask No 91

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Amber
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, red grapes, camphor, black pepper, apricot jam, cloves, hints of applesauce. With water, malted grains, cola nuts, oatcakes, red grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, expands, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, oatcakes, camphor, wheat beer, apricot jam, cloves, chocolate. With water, apricot jam, malted grains, cola nuts, red grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Wheat beer, cloves, applesauce, molasses. 

Comments: 

Fruity and malty, lots of spicy notes. There’s more than a whiff of Coca Cola. Water expands the range of flavours, strengthening that Coca Cola note. Rather good, but not as good as Bimber can be.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenfarclas 25yo

Glenfarclas 25yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, red grapes, apricot jam, cotton sheets, mangoes, pomegranates, hints of photocopy paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, mouth coating, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Red grapes, cotton sheets, honey, mangoes, pomegranates, milk chocolate, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Red grapes, raisins, honey, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Well integrated whisky, lots of chocolate and raisins, high with a feinty edge. Fruit becomes more prominent on the tongue. I’d have liked more complexity, it’s quite straightforward for a 25yo whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish

Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Sunshine yellow
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, white grapes, sea salt, apple juice, lemon zest, malted grains, hints of cornflakes. With water, magic marker, cornflakes, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Sultanas, gooseberries, apple juice, peach preserves, malted grains, hints of white pepper. With water, peach preserves, magic marker, green tea. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, malted grains, peach preserves, apple juice. 

Comments: 

Fruity, redolent with notes of peach, apple and white pepper. A rather good example of wine cask finishing, but Tokaji is closer to port than it is to wine. I rather enjoyed this dram. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenury Royal 40yo 1973/2014

Glenury Royal 40yo 1973/2014

Jewels of Scotland, Lombard 
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, malted grains, green tea, aluminium foil, leather, peaches, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, hoppy beer, green tea, peaches, honey, vanilla, aluminium foil, white grapes, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Short. Ginseng, green tea, hoppy beer, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 6867. Really lovely old whisky - it’s honeyed and sweet, some feintiness provides some relief from the waves of sweetness. There’s a massive hit of malt in the mid-palate, and surprisingly, it cuts off rather quickly on the finish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 58.53 (Strathisla 14yo 2008/2023)

SMWS 58.53 (Strathisla 14yo 2008/2023)

2023, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dandelions
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, coffee, white pepper, malted grains, dark chocolate, brass polish, aluminium foil. With water, coffee, dark chocolate, aluminium foil, lemon zest, hints of autumn leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brass polish, dark chocolate, coffee, rhubarb and custard sweets, sea salt, lemon zest, apricot jam. With water, hoppy beer, malted grains, lemon zest, coffee, hints of aluminium foil. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, malted grains, dark chocolate, rhubarb and custard sweets. 

Comments: 

Not a distillery I know well, but this whisky is rather good. Lots of fragrant, feinty and slightly savoury notes on the nose, which turns malty, rich and chocolatey on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cragganmore 29yo 1973/2003 (Special Releases 2003)

Cragganmore 29yo 1973/2003 (Special Releases 2003)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, nectarines, pineapples, malted grains, magic marker, pear drops. With water, papayas, leather, celery salt, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, turns airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Hoppy beer, malted grains, leather, celery salt, nectarines, magic marker, ginseng, vanilla. With water, ginseng, hoppy beer, cookie dough, nectarines. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, hoppy beer, ginseng, pineapples. 

Comments: 

Lovely old bottle effect in this dram. It’s fruity, lots of white and tropical fruit, before the powerful malty spine comes through. Throughout there are flecks of celery salt and leather, the classic old bottle effect. Rather delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Akkeshi 3yo 2018/2023

Akkeshi 3yo 2018/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Hokkaido
Amber rose 
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, yoghurt, tyre rubber, germolene, hints of vanilla, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. With water, tyre rubber, charcoal ash, vanilla, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Leather, vanilla, tyre rubber, driftwood smoke, lemon curd, charcoal ash, sour cream, hints of yoghurt. With water, driftwood smoke, strawberries, vanilla, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon curd, driftwood smoke, charcoal ash, leather, peat. 

Comments: 

Cask 1011. Akkeshi is meant to replicate Lagavulin, and I must say they’ve done a very good job. I tasted this alongside a dram of Lagavulin 16yo, and the only thing missing was the seaweed notes, and slight additional tartness. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Nikka The Grain Whisky

Nikka The Grain Whisky

Nikka
Blended malt
Amber red
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, wheat beer, lemon zest, oatcakes, digestive biscuits, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, oatcakes, raisins, wheat beer, apricot jam, golden syrup, hints of sunflower seeds. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, apricot jam, strawberry jam, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

A blend of old distillates from Nishinomiya (closed), Moji (closed), Satsumatsukasa (closed) and Miyagikyo (open). A very interesting whisky, many layers of complexity. It’s largely cereal and fruit, with a rather savoury nose. Very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Yoichi Aromatic Yeast 2022

Yoichi Aromatic Yeast 2022

Official bottling
Single malt - Hokkaido
Pale gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, papayas, cream, white grapes, bubble gum, hints of mint, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, bubble gum, wheat beer, white grapes, gooseberries, lemon curd, toast, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Papayas, honeydew melons, wheat beer, malted grains, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Fruity and slightly lactic on the nose, this dram turns malty on the tongue. Lots of sweet notes abound, with a whisper of smoke in the mouth as well as on the finish. Quite lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022

Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Photocopy paper, brass polish, lemon zest, malted grains, peaches, white grapes, jackfruit. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, white grapes, gooseberries, malted grains, hoppy beer, lemon zest, hints of artificial grape flavour. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, hoppy beer, malted grains, gooseberries, hints of artificial grape flavour. 

Comments: 

This whisky starts out feinty, but quickly progresses to fruity and malty flavours. It’s quite sweet, and has an excellent level of complexity, yet each flavour note is as clear as a bell.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Santa Fe 4yo Batch 2

Santa Fe 4yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - New Mexico
Dark amber red 
59.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Menthol, cloves, raisins, malted grains, cotton sheets, photocopy paper, honey. With water, red grapes, strawberry jam, malted grains, menthol. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, thickens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, raisins, menthol, malted grains, wheat beer, oatcakes, photocopy paper. With water, raisins, strawberry jam, black pepper, malted grains. 
Finish: Long. Cloves, orange peel, menthol, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite intense and sweet, lots of sweet notes mingle with feinty and spicy notes. Huge long finish, which fades to herbal spiciness. Very good indeed, I love that it’s cask strength. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Moray 2008 Warehouse 1 Manzanilla Finish

Glen Moray 2008 Warehouse 1 Manzanilla Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber gold
54.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, white grapes, malted grains, apricot jam, vanilla, hints of camphor. With water, brown paper, malted grains, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Bananas, malted grains, apricot jam, peaches, cinnamon, vanilla, golden syrup. With water, dark chocolate, malted grains, apricot jam, vanilla. 
Finish: Long. Dark chocolate, malted grains, bananas, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Sweet and jammy, and laden with some surprising banana too notes. Water opens it up, revealing more maltiness and dark chocolate. It’s got a nice level of complexity and has taken the sherry well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Caol Ila 7yo 2012/2020

Caol Ila 7yo 2012/2020

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

Nose: Smoke, honey, leather, raisins, strawberry jam, germolene, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Autumn leaves, raisins, germolene, honey, yoghurt, hints of strawberry jam. 
Finish: Medium. Germolene, yoghurt, autumn leaves, honey, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Young Caol Ila, a little lactic and with some sweet sherried notes. The harsher smoke notes have been tamed by the sherry cask, and so it’s more medicinal and antiseptic than usual.

Verdict:

I like this.

St Kilian 5yo Batch 1

St Kilian 5yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Bavaria
Amber pink
53.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, raisins, cocoa nibs, sea salt, hints of garlic. With water, raisins, brown paper, cocoa nibs, hints of garlic. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, airy. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Hoppy beer, black pepper, raisins, malted grains, yoghurt, brown paper, hints of garlic. With water, black pepper, sea salt, oak chips, hints of garlic. 
Finish: Long. Hoppy beer, sea salt, brown paper, raisins, hints of garlic. 

Comments: 

Spicy and malty, but with a slightly strange garlicky edge. It’s pervasive, making the whisky savoury sweet. A very unusual combination of flavours that I’ve never had before. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Destillerie Ralf Hauer 4yo Batch 1

Destillerie Ralf Hauer 4yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Rhineland-Palatinate
Golden, hints of pink
64.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, white spirit, white grapes, sultanas, cream, hints of yoghurt, hints of white chocolate. With water, white pepper, sea salt, yoghurt, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, expands, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White pepper, lemon zest, white grapes, sultanas, coffee, toast, white spirit. With water, malted grains, white spirit, sultanas, hints of yoghurt, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, white chocolate, toast, cream, hints of yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Spicy and intense, with big sweet notes. On the tongue some bitterness appears. Water expands the spicy and feinty notes, bringing out some sourness that cuts through the alcohol.

Verdict:

I like this.

Torabhaig 4yo 2017/2021 Club Reserve Cask RD00183

Torabhaig 4yo 2017/2021 Club Reserve Cask RD00183

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Brass
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, smoked bacon, orange peel, smoke, menthol, brass polish, hints of marmalade. With water, white grapes, smoked bacon, white pepper, photocopy paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Brass polish, orange peel, tarry rope, marmalade, gooseberries, white grapes, germolene, hints of smoked bacon. With water, tarry rope, marmalade, menthol, gooseberries. 
Finish: Medium. Germolene, gooseberries, marmalade, smoke. 

Comments: 

Decent level of complexity, quite smoky and meaty, allied to a marmalade grapey sweetness. It’s quite medicinal once water is added. Quite unbalanced, but deliciously so.

Verdict:

I like this.

Adnams 8yo Batch 2

Adnams 8yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - East Anglia
Bright gold 
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, vanilla, white grapes, brass polish, photocopy paper, rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Vanilla, lemon zest, black pepper, photocopy paper, oak chips, golden syrup, dark chocolate, leather, hints of cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Long. Oak chips, toast, leather, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Tart, brassy and woody. There’s some sweet notes and some dentist notes, but overall it’s less malty than I’d have expected a whisky from a beer brewer to be. Decent dram nonetheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kavalan Select No 2

Kavalan Select No 2

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Taiwan
Sunshine gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, salt caramel, photocopy paper, matches, malted grains, red grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, black tea, red grapes, photocopy paper, brass polish, cocoa nibs, hints of salt caramel. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, brass polish, cocoa nibs, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Sweet and slightly savoury, really good and intense for a relatively entry level dram. Lots of raisins and other typical sherried notes, on top of a good malty spine.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Broken Bones 3yo Batch 1/23

Broken Bones 3yo Batch 1/23

Official bottling
Single malt - Carniola
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon thyme, brass polish, juniper, white spirit, white pepper, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Juniper, lemon thyme, brass polish, matches, menthol, green tea, white pepper, caraway seed. 
Finish: Short. Caraway seed, juniper, lemon thyme, malted grains. 

Comments: 

New Slovenian whisky. It’s more like gin than whisky, heavy on the juniper and other herbs, but there’s a whisper of cereal notes that brings it into the whisky world.

Verdict:

I like this.