Ardnamurchan 9yo 2014/2023

Ardnamurchan 9yo 2014/2023

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Western Highlands
Amber gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, cloves, barley sugar, lemon zest, brown sugar, hints of strawberry jam. With water, strawberry jam, vanilla, honey, barley sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, warm, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, bubble gum, barley sugar, raisins, hints of tarragon. With water, cinnamon, strawberry jam, raisins, honey. 
Finish: Short. Barley sugar, raisins, cocoa nibs, cloves, hints of tarragon. 

Comments: 

Very jammy and spicy Arnamurchan. It’s the oldest I’ve ever had from this distillery, and it does fulfill its promise. I’d say that the cask influence (sherry) is predominant, but there’s some herbal hints that are from the distillate.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wireworks Full Port

Wireworks Full Port

Official bottling 
Single malt - Derbyshire
Amber orange 
52.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, leather, black pepper, orange peel, vitamin C tablets, peat, hints of cinnamon. With water, orange juice, oatcakes, black pepper, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Vitamin C tablets, orange juice, driftwood smoke, black pepper, peat, cinnamon, hints of honey. With water, honey, orange juice, leather, vitamin C tablets. 
Finish: Short. Orange juice, black pepper, driftwood smoke, peat, leather. 

Comments: 

Batch 05_210660_29. Spicy and tart, with a big whack of salty smoke, especially with a little water to open it up. Port and peat don’t often go together so well. Very pleasant dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Deanston Virgin Oak Cask Strength 2023 Edition Batch 3

Deanston Virgin Oak Cask Strength 2023 Edition Batch 3

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
58.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, malted grains, sandalwood, white pepper, magic marker, pear drops. With water, pear drops, lemon sweets, white pepper, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour. Malted grains, pear drops, magic marker, pears, peaches, orange juice, white pepper, nutmeg. With water, malted grains, pear drops, lemon zest, gooseberries, hints of orange juice. 
Finish: Short. Orange juice, lemon zest, malted grains, sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Fruity, fragrant and woody. There’s lots of esters here - pear drops and peaches mainly - but this covers a big malty spine. It fades to a short, citrusy finish. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Tomintoul Small Batch Tawny Port Cask Finish

Tomintoul Small Batch Tawny Port Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Red
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, red wine, red grapes, raisins, lemon sweets, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Raisins, malted grains, red grapes, honey, cough syrup, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, raisins, malted grains, cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Rather sour for a port cask finish. The red wine and red grape notes are predominant, but the cereal is there and there’s also a bit of peppery spiciness. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nc’Nean Single Malt Batch 3

Nc’Nean Single Malt Batch 3

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Yellow gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinnamon, orange juice, lemon sweets, malted grains, nutmeg, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, orange juice, malted grains, vanilla, lemon zest, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, cinnamon, rhubarb and custard sweets, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Fruity, quite tart, but has a hint of salt in all the sourness. The cereal appears largely on the finish, but is a good counterpoint. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nc’Nean Huntress Orchard Cobbler

Nc’Nean Huntress Orchard Cobbler

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Yellow
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, nectarines, orange juice, cinnamon, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon sweets, hints of butterscotch. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, apples, nectarines, malted grains, cookie dough, vanilla, green tea. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, green tea, cookie dough, apples. 

Comments: 

Lots of apples and stone fruit, together with sweet vanilla and tannic green tea. Definitely an orchard vibe here, makes for tasty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nc’Nean Quiet Rebels - Gordon

Nc’Nean Quiet Rebels - Gordon

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Highlands
Yellow gold
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, raisins, butterscotch, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, warm, tingly.
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Butterscotch, cinnamon, raisins, cocoa nibs, lemon sweets, vanilla, hints of green tea. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, lemon sweets, vanilla, cinnamon, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

Gentle, subtle whisky, with some creaminess and butterscotch. There’s a bit of spice, but it’s mostly fruit flavoured sweets. Enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Helsinki 6yo Batch 3

Helsinki 6yo Batch 3

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Southern Finland
Amber gold
51.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, black pepper, strawberry jam, brown paper, leather, tobacco leaf, hints of sour cream. With water, magic marker, roast chicken, damson jam, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Brown paper, camphor, sandalwood, black pepper, tobacco leaf, damson jam, cherries, hints of smoke. With water, brown paper, cherries, sandalwood, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, brown paper, damson jam, cherries. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, I think this has a big proportion of barley in it. It’s rye whisky though, lots of spicy sweet notes. I think it’s well-aged, particularly like the jammy cherry notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Coleburn 19yo 1981/2001

Coleburn 19yo 1981/2001

Unchillfiltered, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside

Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, milk chocolate, orange peel, wet stones, cream, butterscotch, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, thickens, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Pineapples, papayas, cream, white pepper, sandalwood, malted grains, butterscotch, milk chocolate, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, wet stones, raisins, butterscotch, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

More chocolatey and milky than its sister bottle, the tropical fruit notes are less in evidence here. But that fragrant wood is here too, this time chocolate and butterscotch covered. Very nice whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Coleburn 1981/2008

Coleburn 1981/2008

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, honey, pineapples, camphor, sandalwood, clay dust, wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens, slightly syrupy.
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cookie dough, leather, clay dust, wet stones, pineapples, white pepper, honey, gooseberries.
Finish: Medium. Wet stones, malted grains, leather, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Tastes old, lots of old bottle effect alongside the fruity Coleburn notes. There’s a woody undertone too that’s really appealing. Lovely old whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Copperworks Special Release Single Cask 356 (TWE Exclusive)

Copperworks Special Release Single Cask 356 (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Amber
59.55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, oatcakes, raisins, orange peel, cloves, sandalwood, hints of pencil lead. With water, brown sugar, raisins, orange peel, cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange peel, oatcakes, raisins, vanilla, cream, white grapes, sandalwood, hints of orange blossom. With water, brown sugar, raisins, cream, caramel. 
Finish: Medium. Gooseberries, cream, orange peel, orange blossom. 

Comments: 

Cask 356. Flinty but caramelly and sweet. Lots of orange in this, so much that it’s a bit like Glenfiddich. That’s where it loses points a little bit for me.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen 3yo Barantuil Quarter Bourbon Cask and Tawny Port Finish

Killowen 3yo Barantuil Quarter Bourbon Cask and Tawny Port Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Ulster
Rose
56% ABV
Dram

Nose: Damson jam, ume, sourdough bread, black pepper, oatcakes, raisins, persimmons. With water, strawberry jam, ume, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, sticky, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, ume, barley sugar, sourdough bread, black pepper, dark chocolate, rye bread. With water, black tea, yoghurt, black pepper, strawberry jam. 
Finish: Medium. Rye bread, black pepper, dark chocolate, red wine. 

Comments: 

Cask KD202. The sweet sour, ume flavour that seems characteristic of Killowen goes really well with a port cask finish. Lots of sweet and jammy notes, with a good strong cereal spine.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 18yo 1990/2008

Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 18yo 1990/2008

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, tobacco leaf, peaches, charcoal ash, dark chocolate, leather, cedar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Smoke, peat, germolene, charcoal ash, white grapes, peaches, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Germolene, white grapes, white pepper, cedar. 

Comments: 

Chocolate, fragrant woody spice, charcoal and smoke - it must be Ardbeg. It’s a classic one too, always wanted to try this. And it didn’t disappoint. It’s delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Laphroaig 16yo 1996/2012

Laphroaig 16yo 1996/2012

Malts of Scotland
Single malt - Islay
Amber gold
56.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, roast beef, seaweed, pear, charcoal ash, raisins, gooseberries, lemon zest. With water, damson jam, gooseberries, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Damson jam, gooseberries, smoke, raisins, shortcrust pastry, charcoal ash, leather, peat. With water, damson jam, smoke, seaweed. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, gooseberries, charcoal ash, seaweed. 

Comments: 

Ashy and saline, but that’s under near a blanket of sherry finish. Lots of pastry and jam notes on top, and you might miss the seaweed if you’re not looking, it’s so well integrated.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Scapegrace Ephemeral Cask RP9

Scapegrace Ephemeral Cask RP9

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber brown
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, brass polish, lemon zest, oatcakes, cooked rice, brown paper, raisins. With water, cooked rice, lemon zest, raisins, brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, tingly, mouth coating.
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, damson jam, malted grains, oatcakes, dark chocolate, brown paper, black pepper, rye bread. With water, cooked rice, black pepper, raisins, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, honey, damson jam, black pepper, oatcakes. 

Comments: 

Quite feinty, despite the wine cask finish. Lots of peppery notes, which offset the sweet notes quite well. Water brings in some cereal. There’s a little bit of non-malt in this, if I’m any judge.

Verdict:

I like this.

Westport 18yo 2004/2022

Westport 18yo 2004/2022

Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection, Rossi & Rossi
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber red
57.4% ABV

Dram

Nose: Leather, orange juice, orange peel, malted grains, raisins, cocoa nibs, strawberry jam. With water, orange juice, damson jam, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, cocoa nibs, oatcakes, oak chips, wet stones, orange peel, raisins. With water, pencil lead, malted grains, raisins, wet stones. 
Finish: Long. Wet stones, oatcakes, cocoa nibs, pencil lead. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and jammy, lots of feinty notes with turn to peppery spice after a little water is added. Lots of flinty, minerally stuff on the finish too. Rather good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oxford Rye Heritage Grains 2018 Harvest

Oxford Rye Heritage Grains 2018 Harvest

Official bottling
Single rye - Oxfordshire 
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, oak chips, cedar, black pepper, rye bread, parchment, clay dust. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Rye bread, parchment, strawberry jam, black pepper, damson jam, cedar, vanilla, hints of cookie dough. 
Finish: Medium. Cookie dough, rye bread, damson jam, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Peppery, papery rye whisky, lots of sweet jammy and vanilla notes. Rather woody on the nose too. Unusual stuff, which is rather usual for this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balmenach 14yo 2009/2023

Balmenach 14yo 2009/2023

Connoisseur’s Choice Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
61.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cloves, sugar cane, maraschino cherries, dark chocolate, hints of black pepper. With water, damson jam, black pepper, maraschino cherries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, hot, astringent.
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, raisins, maraschino cherries, black pepper, blackberry jam, hints of vanilla. With water, cream, malted grains, dark chocolate, raisins. 
Finish: Short. Dark chocolate, black tea, damson jam, blackberry jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 1863404. Very sweet, very sherried. I can’t help thinking the cask has overrun the delicate distillate. Still, it’s rather tasty, although I’m perhaps drinking it at the wrong time of the year. It’s a Christmassy dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

FEW Spirits 6yo 2016/2023

FEW Spirits 6yo 2016/2023

#5, The Heart Cut
Single rye - Illinois
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, golden syrup, honey, vanilla, dried raspberries, hints of milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, loosens slightly, tingly.
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Peaches, brown butter, vanilla, brown paper, cloves, milk chocolate, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Cream, golden syrup, milk chocolate, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Rather sweet and milky, lots of buttery chocolate notes. Very lactic especially on the finish, but it’s not sour, rather creamy instead. Enjoyable distillate, a good couple of layers of flavour.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wireworks Down’ards

Wireworks Down’ards

Official bottling
Single malt - Derbyshire
Amber 
52.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, cream, raisins, malted grains, parchment, white pepper, cinnamon, cedar. With water, parchment, white grapes, raisins, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, mouth coating, thickens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, cream, white grapes, honey, raisins, green tea, cedar. With water, malted grains, parchment, white grapes, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Parchment, green tea, raisins, malted grains. 

Comments: 

This differs from its sister bottle by simply being in a different part of the warehouse. It’s a little more fragrant, slightly more spicy, and a little less woody. Otherwise, it’s very similar.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wireworks Up’ards

Wireworks Up’ards

Official bottling
Single malt - Derbyshire
Amber
52.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, oak chips, white pepper, cedar, malted grains, maple syrup, hints of cinnamon. With water, raisins, honey, white pepper, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, tingly.
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, green tea, brown paper, oak chips, raisins, cinnamon. With water, malted grains, honey, white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Oak chips, raisins, brown sugar, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Sweet and spicy, but has a woody undertone. The distillate takes water well, turning spicier and sweeter. The woody note remains though. Decent dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Convalmore 30yo 1977/2007

Convalmore 30yo 1977/2007

Closed Distilleries, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Chinese tea
61.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nectarines, green papayas, fresh cut grass, white pepper, green tea, gooseberries, hints of peaches. With water, gooseberries, honey, vanilla, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, nectarines, green tea, gooseberries, green papayas, lemon zest, damson jam, white pepper, hints of pear drops. With water, damson jam, nectarines, lemon zest, pear drops. 
Finish: Short. Gooseberries, lemon zest, nectarines, pear drops, hints of damson jam. 

Comments: 

Amazing, dry, yet fruity old Convalmore. It’s honeyed, but there’s a mouth puckeriness to it that reminds me of green papayas. With water it opens up, yielding this delicious jammy note. Magnificent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1998

Convalmore 16yo 1981/1998

Cooper’s Choice, Vintage Malt Whisky Co
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, mangoes, wet stones, peaches, white pepper, hints of camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, syrupy, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Mangoes, peaches, camphor, sandalwood, cedar, green tea, ginseng, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Mangoes, peaches, wet stones, ginseng, hints of pencil lead. 

Comments: 

Oily, heavy woody Convalmore, different from the usual ones I’ve had. It’s still fruity though, and there’s that herbaceous edge. It’s different, but still very good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Kyrö 4yo Batch 2

Kyrö 4yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Southern Finland
Pale amber gold
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, sandalwood, vanilla ice cream, photocopy paper, parchment, hints of smoke, hints of violets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Farmyard, raisins, smoke, rye bread, black pepper, parchment, Chinese angelica, sandalwood, hints of vanilla ice cream. 
Finish: Short. Farmyard, raisins, black pepper, rye bread. 

Comments: 

Very feinty and herbaceous, but lots of that pungent farmyard note. It’s also a little sweet, and perhaps slightly floral on the nose. Decent dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.