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.