Plate Valley 3yo 100% Straight Corn Whiskey

Plate Valley 3yo 100% Straight Corn Whiskey

Official bottling
Single corn - Missouri
White wine 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, bubble gum, strawberry jam, pencil lead, vanilla, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pencil lead, wet stones, white grapes, lemon juice, fresh cut grass, photocopy paper, hints of cornbread. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon juice, pencil lead, fresh cut grass, cornbread, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Flinty yet sweet corn whiskey. It’s surprisingly feinty as well, but it’s definitely corn spirit. Interesting dram, corn spirit has a character all of its own.

Verdict:

I like this.

Convalmore 30yo 1975/2006

Convalmore 30yo 1975/2006

Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, gooseberries, peaches, cream, photocopy paper, papayas, hints of celery salt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, celery salt, papayas, black tea, malted grains, white grapes, peaches, hints of honey. 
Finish: Long. Papayas, peaches, white grapes, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 3758. Again, lots of tropical fruit, but not the little smoky note that the sister cask (previous dram) had. It’s also a little more funky, more papaya than mango. Equally enjoyable as its sibling. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 28yo 1975/2004

Convalmore 28yo 1975/2004

Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Yellow gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, mangoes, vanilla ice cream, leather, white grapes, peaches, molasses, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Mangoes, white grapes, leather, celery salt, malted grains, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Cream, malted grains, leather, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask 3757. Lots of sweet tropical fruit, allied to a little old bottle effect. There’s a tiny hint of smoke on the tongue, and maybe even on the finish. Excellent old Convalmore, although there aren’t many young ones knocking about anymore.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Milk and Honey 3yo 2017 Ex Islay Cask Finish (TWE Exclusive)

Milk and Honey 3yo 2017 Ex Islay Cask Finish (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - Tel Aviv
Bronze
66.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sultanas, lemon juice, malted grains, smoke, cedar, wet stones, leather. With water, sultanas, lemon juice, toffee, hints of new plastic. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, volatile, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Sultanas, mint, sea salt, smoke, peat, cedar, honey, charcoal ash, hints of white pepper. With water, malted grains, condensed milk, smoke. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, smoke, peat, leather, honey. 

Comments: 

Well now, this is ashy and woody, not quite Islay but not quite… well, whatever Milk and Honey is. Lots of spice in the finish too. It’s a bit young, but interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen 4yo 2019/2024 Barantuil Funky Ale Finish

Killowen 4yo 2019/2024 Barantuil Funky Ale Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Ulster
Straw
52.35% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, limes, new plastic, malted grains, oatcakes, hints of ume. With water, new plastic, winter melons, soor ploom sweets.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Soor ploom sweets, ume, oatcakes, peaches, limes, lemon zest, hints of cough syrup. With water, soor ploom sweets, peaches, limes, ume. 
Finish: Medium. Ume, oatcakes, peaches, cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Cask KD211. Deep and sweet flavours, with a bit of funk alongside it. There’s a lot of cereal (largely not malty ones), but it’s a good counterpoint to the fruitiness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenburgie 37yo 1984/2021

Glenburgie 37yo 1984/2021

Private Collection, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raisins, green tea, lemon zest, burnt sugar, malted grains, hints of camphor. With water, raisins, malted grains, camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, mouth coating, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, malted grains, lemon zest, white grapes, burnt sugar, marshmallows, hints of smoke, hints of camphor. With water, malted grains, camphor, burnt sugar. 
Finish: Long. Honey, golden syrup, malted grains, green tea, hints of salt. 

Comments: 

Utterly delicious whisky, hugely floral and fruity, but with a veneer of age - layers of herbal complexity and depth of flavour. One of the best ‘Burgies I’ve ever had.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve 2018

Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve 2018

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber red
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, strawberry jam, honey, cherries, blueberries, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, creamy, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cherries, blueberries, strawberry jam, watermelons, artificial grape flavour, fresh cut grass, hints of cream. 
Finish: Long. Blueberries, medlar jelly, cinnamon, strawberry jam, leather. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, lots of fresh fruit, dried fruit, and even jammy fruit. It ends up being slightly unbalanced, although it’s still rather pleasant. There’s a decent herbal undertone that’s almost floral. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Paul John PX Cask

Paul John PX Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Goa
Amber orange pink 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, black tea, raisins, aluminium foil, wet stones, marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thickens, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, honey, golden syrup, raisins, strawberry laces, burnt sugar, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberry laces, marmalade, burnt sugar, cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Sweet and jammy. The PX cask was an active one, imparting a lot of cooked fruit and toffee notes, but there is still some distillate character there, in the form of a little smoke.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Cheshire First Release

The Cheshire First Release

Official bottling

Single malt - Cheshire 
Bronze gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Salt caramel, white wine, black tea, wet stones, raisins, molasses, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, toffee, salt caramel, white wine, white pepper, milk chocolate, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, toffee, raisins, white wine. 

Comments: 

New English distillery, and it’s not bad! Rather sweet and caramelly, with a good tart note of white wine as well. There’s some deeper flint notes on the nose too, keeps it interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Keith 30yo 1985/2015

Glen Keith 30yo 1985/2015

Jewels of Scotland, Lombard
Single malt - Speyside
Buttercups
41.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, honey, leather, sultanas, camphor, gooseberries, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Wet stones, lemon zest, sultanas, peaches, honey, malted grains, dried apricots, camphor, ginseng. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, wet stones, camphor, dried apricots, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask I2299 - I2302. This is magnificent whisky. Hugely malty and flinty, with layers of dried fruit and herbal bitterness. It tastes rather like an amaro, if the base spirit was barley based. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Springbank 17yo Madeira Cask

Springbank 17yo Madeira Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber gold 
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, vanilla, smoke, raisins, charcoal ash, lanolin, hints of diesel exhaust. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, raisins, black tea, malted grains, diesel exhaust, winter melon, lanolin, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, winter melon, raisins, honey, molasses. 

Comments: 

Long, sweet and complex, loads of layers and animal earthiness. Absolutely delicious, and really an example of what Springbank can be. Love this stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Broken Bones 4yo Batch 2/22

Broken Bones 4yo Batch 2/22

Official bottling
Single malt - Carniola
Pale gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Juniper, fresh cut grass, leather, sandalwood, driftwood smoke, camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Sandalwood, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, lemon thyme, autumn leaves, driftwood smoke, camphor. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, nutmeg, sandalwood, autumn leaves, hints of camphor. 

Comments: 

Very vegetal, lots of juniper notes. Almost like a gin rather than a whisky, if not for that smoke. It’s earthy on the tongue and earthier, and more bitter, on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 2

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Colorado
Amber red
66.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, vanilla, strawberry jam, photocopy paper, rye bread, black pepper, honey. With water, cooked rice, strawberry jam, honey, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, vanilla, blackcurrant cordial, strawberry jam, photocopy paper, black pepper, cough syrup. With water, black tea, cough syrup, blackcurrant cordial. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, cough syrup, blackcurrant cordial, black tea. 

Comments: 

Fruity rye, lots of blackcurrant and cough syrup notes alongside the characteristic black pepper. It softens a lot with water, turning more cereally and sweet.

Verdict:

I like this.

Waterford The Cuvée

Waterford The Cuvée 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mushrooms, cinnamon, salt caramel, tablet, honey, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour. Photocopy paper, tablet, white pepper, sultanas, magic marker, hints of cookie dough. 
Finish: Medium. Cookie dough, vanilla, white pepper, cinnamon, hints of salt caramel. 

Comments: 

It’s got Waterford’s signature note of earthy mushrooms, but here it’s layered with sweet cookie dough, vanilla and some piquant acetone notes. Rather unique, but unbalanced.

Verdict:

I like this.

JJ Corry The Hanson

JJ Corry The Hanson

JJ Corry
Blended malt
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, icing sugar, malt vinegar, lemon juice, yoghurt, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Photocopy paper, icing sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, digestive biscuits, hints of cream. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, digestive biscuits, photocopy paper, hints of magic marker. 

Comments: 

Oddly tart whisky, but with an overlay of icing sugar. It’s quite interesting, the tart notes are in the mid-palate while the sweet notes are further forward on the tongue. Decent blend.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Wyvis 2019/2023 Batch 01/19

Glen Wyvis 2019/2024 Batch 01/19

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

Nose: Yoghurt, limes, lemon zest, white chocolate, sour cream, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Sour cream, yoghurt, honey, brown sugar, limes, hints of meringue. 
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, honey, white chocolate, sour cream. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and tart malt, with gentle lactic notes. It’s also rather sweet for the lactic style of whisky. It all builds to a short but intense finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Deanston Stout Cask Finish

Deanston Stout Cask Finish

Official bottling

Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sultanas, strawberries, marmalade, malted grains, hoppy beer, black tea, cocoa nibs. With water, malted grains, leather, dark chocolate, cashew nuts. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Hoppy beer, black tea, cocoa nibs, black pepper, smoke, popcorn, hints of sea salt. With water, ink, dark chocolate, popcorn, magic marker. 
Finish: Long. Popcorn, smoke, black tea, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Here, characteristically fruity Deanston has been layered with malty, caramelly nutty notes from the stout. It’s a good marriage, lots of interesting dark notes that bring a slight smokiness to the sweet fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lochside 24yo 1981/2005

Lochside 24yo 1981/2005

Jewels of Scotland, Lombard
Single malt - East Highlands
Yellow gold 

50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon juice, brass polish, aluminium foil, gooseberries, hints of nectarines. With water, cream, lemon zest, leather, hints of tablet. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Honey, malted grains, gooseberries, lemon zest, lemon juice, hints of shortbread, hints of nectarines. With water, leather, shortbread, lemon zest, white grapes. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, hoppy beer, lemon zest, honey. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, not very much old bottle effect. With water, it opens up, becoming deliciously creamy without any lactic notes. There’s a good strong note of malt under all of this. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fary Lochan 6yo Batch 2

Fary Lochan 6yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Syddanmark
Pale green gold
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, lemon juice, ink, leather, brown sugar, gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour. White grapes, photocopy paper, oatcakes, aluminium foil, ink, autumn leaves, smoke, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Oatcakes, photocopy paper, lemon juice, ink, leather. 

Comments: 

Feinty and metallic, with earth and smoke. Lots of white grapes and a little citrus, but it’s mainly peaty. It’s quite complex for a 6yo whisky, and quite nice. Enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dailuaine 2012

Dailuaine 2012

Firkin 49, The Firkin Whisky Co
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, white pepper, malted grains, strawberry jam, violets, cherries, starfruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. White pepper, strawberry jam, sourdough bread, cherries, malted grains, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Sourdough bread, ginseng, malted grains, cherries. 

Comments: 

Cask SC13A. Sweet and luscious, but with a big malty spine, just the way I like my whisky. It’s got a bit of a floral note on the nose that reminds me of certain Bowmores, but definitely not as intense.

Verdict:

I like this.

Auchentoshan 10yo 2013/2023

Auchentoshan 10yo 2013/2023

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, starfruit, malted grains, lemon zest, white grapes, gooseberries, white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, mouth coating, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peaches, gooseberries, malted grains, ginseng, white wine, coffee, hints of candle wax. 
Finish: Short. Ginseng, malted grains, candle wax, coffee, peaches. 

Comments: 

Cask DL18160. I find this slightly unusual, it’s sweet, sure, but also fruity and waxy. It’s fragrant as well, displaying a good level of complexity. It’s tastes quite young for its age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Littlemill 8yo (bottled 1980s)

Littlemill 8yo (bottled 1980s)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw

40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, magic marker, pencil lead, autumn leaves, white grapes, jasmine. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sour. Pencil lead, malted grains, white grapes, pear drops, pear juice, cinnamon, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Long. Leather, pencil lead, magic marker, celery salt, pear juice. 

Comments: 

A really bright and vibrant Littlemill, not much old bottle effect. Some feinty, slightly metallic and earthy notes on the tongue, but it’s mainly fruity and floral. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Adnams 9yo

Adnams 9yo

Explorers Series, Whiskyside
Single malt - East Anglia
Amber 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, new plastic, rye bread, nutmeg, white pepper, hints of white wine. With water, sea salt, sourdough bread, cinnamon, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Peaches, black pepper, white grapes, rye bread, new plastic, malted grains, hints of yoghurt. With water, black pepper, sea salt, new plastic, yoghurt, hints of lemon thyme. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, white grapes, white wine, new plastic, lemon thyme. 

Comments: 

Funky and slightly plasticky, but lots of rye and pepper notes. It’s the oldest Adnams I’ve ever had, and it’s a lot more flavourful than the others. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benrinnes 12yo 2011/2023

Benrinnes 12yo 2011/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside
Red purple
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, red grapes, strawberry jam, black pepper, blackberries, rye bread, hints of black tea. With water, black tea, blackberries, red wine, hints of cherries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackberries, malted grains, lemon zest, smoke, rye bread, black tea, hints of red wine. With water, black tea, blackberries, red wine, lemon juice, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Blackberries, strawberry jam, malted grains, rye bread, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 301624. Lots of sweet brambly blackberry notes. Other than that it’s quite bready and sweet, worth more than a hint of smoke. It opens up with water, becoming less sweet, a little more bitter and a little more sour.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glencadam Small Batch PX Reserva

Glencadam Small Batch PX Reserva

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Highlands
Red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge, marmalade, strawberry jam, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black pepper, fresh baked bread, strawberry jam, red wine, marmalade, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, red wine, fresh baked bread, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Sweet, a little jammy with plenty of black pepper. It’s pleasant and straightforward, doesn’t have the layers of complexity or the big malty spine that I like very much. Decent dram though.

Verdict:

I like this.