Lindores Abbey Friar John Cor I

Lindores Abbey Friar John Cor I

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden bronze
49.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, apricots, magic marker, strawberry jam, malted grains, rye bread, hints of soy sauce. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Peaches, apricots, strawberry jam, rye bread, white pepper, aluminium foil. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, rye bread, white pepper, peaches, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, but also savoury and metallic. Lots of jammy notes but it’s all tasting like it’s wrapped in aluminium foil, it’s that feinty. On the nose there’s some soy sauce and rye bread too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Reservoir Hunter & Scott Bourbon 2022 Batch 2

Reservoir Hunter & Scott Bourbon 2022 Batch 2

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Virginia
Chinese tea
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, cookie dough, vanilla, peaches, magic marker, white grapes, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Magic marker, cucumbers, peaches, fresh baked bread, honey, vanilla, white grapes. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, fresh baked bread, vanilla, honey. 

Comments: 

Cereally, lots of vanilla notes. On the tongue there’s a good deal of white grapes and cucumbers. It’s a bit lighter than the average bourbon.

Verdict:

I like this.

New Riff Single Barrel Rye B16-12094

New Riff Single Barrel Rye B16-12094

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber bronze
50.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, toast, fresh baked bread, popcorn, vanilla, nutmeg, sea salt. With water, fresh baked bread, toast, vanilla, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Pear drops, popcorn, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, black pepper, black tea. With water, butter, cinnamon, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, pear drops, blackcurrant cordial, cinnamon, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Buttery and rich, quite a lot of pepper notes. A long fruity finish with lots of spice. A rather good rye, some unusual notes that stand out.

Verdict:

I like this.

Morris Smoked Muscat Limited Edition

Morris Smoked Muscat Limited Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Victoria
Amber, hints of bronze
48.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Charcoal ash, burning leaves, driftwood smoke, tyre rubber, honey, raisins, red grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, cool, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, driftwood smoke, soot, charcoal ash, raisins, cloves, honey, hints of molasses. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, raisins, damson jam, cloves, hints of molasses. 

Comments: 

Very smoky and chemical, lots of intense waves of burning things! Underneath that thick layer of peat and smoke, there’s a sweet raisiny note, with bittersweet notes of molasses. Very unbalanced, but somehow it works.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

East London Liquor Co PX Cask (Melody Whisky Bar Exclusive)

East London Liquor Co PX Cask (Melody Whisky Bar Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber, hints of red
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, malted grains, honey, aluminium foil, magic marker, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, malted grains, honey, strawberry jam, cloves, nutmeg, aluminium foil, black tea, hints of blueberries. 
Finish: Long. Aluminium foil, black tea, blueberries, nutmeg, hints of roast chicken. 

Comments: 

Jammy, slightly meaty, lots of fruit with a metallic edge. Quite an interesting malt, there’s a lot of layers here despite its fairly young age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 21yo

Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 21yo 

Orphan Barrel
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber brown
45.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackberry jam, raisins, honey, vanilla, oak chips, dark chocolate, cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Oak chips, dark chocolate, raisins, blackberry jam, peanuts, honey, sawdust, black pepper, black tea. 
Finish: Short. Peanuts, black pepper, honey, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Lots of deep blackberry notes, but quite woody. It’s not quite chewing on an oak barrel, more like nibbling sawdust, so it’s not unpleasant. Some chocolate and peanuts keep it interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killara 2yo Batch 1

Killara 2yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber gold
49% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, chocolate, peanuts, raisins, sea salt, cream, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, hot, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Shortcrust pastry, chocolate, peanuts, honey, damson jam, raisins, cloves, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, peanuts, chocolate, shortcrust pastry, honey. 

Comments: 

This whisky tastes a bit like plum pudding! Lots of pastry notes, damsons and winter spices abound. It’s a nice thick, heavy mouthfeel too. The only detractor is that the finish is quite short.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Pokeno Winter Malt 02

Pokeno Winter Malt 02

Official bottling
Single malt - Waikato
Pale gold 

48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Walnuts, walnut skins, fresh baked bread, barley sugar, vanilla, honey, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Walnut skins, damson jam, fresh baked bread, vanilla, honey, raisins, barley sugar, hints of toast. 
Finish: Short. Walnuts, damson jam, honey, barley sugar, hints of toast. 

Comments: 

Bitter and nutty, lots of deep cooked stone fruit notes, over a cereally core. Some savouriness appears, espresso on the nose and the finish. Quite an interesting malt, it’s my first from this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Milroys Original Blended Scotch Whisky

Milroys Original Blended Scotch Whisky

Milroys of Soho
Blend
Amber gold
40% ABV

Dram

Nose: Malted grains, orange peel, lime zest, cinnamon, cinder toffee, honey, hints of peat. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Vitamin C tablets, honey, orange peel, lime zest, cooked rice, cinnamon, hints of cinder toffee. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, lime zest, cooked rice, malted grains, cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Sweet, fruity and luscious on the nose, slightly more tart on the tongue. It’s meant to replicate the original Milroy’s blend, but I found it surprising that whisky made in the 1970s and 1980s tastes so fresh.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lochlea 5yo 2019/2025

Lochlea 5yo 2019/2025

#17, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale green gold
54% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, green apples, honey, limes, lemon zest, malted grains, hints of peat. With water, limes, lemon zest, cinder toffee, toast. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, loosens slightly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Limes, green apples, lemon zest, sourdough bread, malted grains, smoke, hints of charcoal ash. With water, sweeter, honey, toast, green apples, cinder toffee. 
Finish: Short. Smoke, charcoal ash, limes, green apples, sourdough bread. 

Comments: 

Quite tart and fruity. It’s an ex Islay cask, so the peat is gentle and light. Lots of bready notes underneath that sour fruit as well. Rather good, as all the Heart Cut bottlings are.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenfiddich 12yo Caoran Reserve

Glenfiddich 12yo Caoran Reserve

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

Nose: Honey, cinder toffee, barley sugar, malted grains, toast, hints of germolene. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, warm, tingly.
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cinder toffee, barley sugar, malted grains, pears, fresh baked bread, hints of white grapes. 
Finish: Long. Soot, smoke, peat, burnt sugar, cinder toffee, pears. 

Comments: 

Peated Glenfiddich, I did not know this existed! The peat is very gentle though, the Glenfiddich pear is evident. It’s only sooty and ashy on the finish, even though the sweet notes still come through.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Busker Single Pot Still

The Busker Single Pot Still

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Amber 
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Farmyard, mushrooms, peaches, winter melons, white grapes, malted grains, cucumbers. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Mushrooms, peaches, autumn leaves, malted grains, farmyard, white grapes, menthol, hints of roast chicken. 
Finish: Medium. Peaches, autumn leaves, farmyard, white grapes, menthol, hints of bananas. 

Comments: 

Quite feinty, with earthy notes of fermentation. Lots of mushrooms and peaches, and there’s a hint of something vegetal and savoury on the edge of the tongue. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Donn Irish Whiskey 7yo 2023 Edition

The Donn Irish Whiskey 7yo 2023 Edition

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co
Single malt - Unknown
Dark brown
46.15% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, orange peel, chocolate, sandalwood, raspberry jam, rye bread, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raspberry jam, chocolate, black pepper, orange peel, vanilla, cream, cola nuts. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, cola nuts, raspberry jam, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and rich, quite unlike a normal Irish whisky. Lots of fruity and chocolatey notes. I have no idea which distillery this is from.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hellyers Road 19yo Voyager

Hellyers Road 19yo Voyager

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, dried strawberries, dried blueberries, lemon zest, cloves, cinnamon, fresh baked bread. With water, malted grains, dried strawberries, orange peel, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Smoke, leather, lemon zest, cloves, honey, fresh baked bread, raisins, hints of dried strawberries. With water, raisins, dried strawberries, honey, rye bread. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, dried strawberries, peaches, lemon zest, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 20F10C04. Very fruity, but water brings out maltiness and honey. There’s some smoke in this, it’s more apparent on the tongue. The finish is long and fruity again, with more smoke.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hellyers Road 18yo 2004/2022 Peated French Exclusive (for LMDW)

Hellyers Road 18yo 2004/2022 Peated French Exclusive (for LMDW)

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
58.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, menthol, black pepper, potting soil, lemon zest, orange peel. With water, smoke, autumn leaves, cookie dough, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, menthol, black pepper, honey, lemon  zest, tobacco leaf, driftwood smoke, hints of autumn leaves. With water, driftwood smoke, tobacco leaf, lemon zest, orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, tobacco leaf, driftwood smoke, autumn leaves, menthol. 

Comments: 

Cask 4022.03. Smoky but still sweet and redolent of overripe fruit. There’s some tobacco here, which is all the more alluring for the saline smoke. Water releases more earthiness and saltiness.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hellyers Road 18yo 2002/2001 Original French Exclusive (for LMDW)

Hellyers Road 18yo 2002/2021 Original French Exclusive (for LMDW)

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber gold
61.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, clay dust, apple juice, orange blossom, orange juice, lemon zest, rye bread. With water, orange juice, dried strawberries, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Sea salt, orange juice, dried strawberries, apricots, clay dust, rye bread, black pepper. With water, rye bread, dried strawberries, apricots, orange juice. 
Finish: Long. Dried strawberries, clay dust, lemon zest, orange juice. 

Comments: 

Cask 2283.03. Quite thick, but the flavours are gentle. Some dusty notes vie with the sweet, slightly overripe fruit. It builds to a long dusty finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hellyers Road 17yo 2004/2021 French Exclusive (for LMDW)

Hellyers Road 17yo 2004/2021 French Exclusive (for LMDW)

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber
59.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, gooseberries, apricots, lemon zest, meringues, hints of white pepper. With water, lemon zest, seaweed, meringues, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, oily, thickens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Gooseberries, smoke, peat, walnut skins, sea salt, seaweed, meringues, lemon zest, autumn leaves. With water, malted grains, cream, meringues, lemon zest, hints of seaweed. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, peat, seaweed, autumn leaves, hints of cookie dough. 

Comments: 

Cask 4082.06. Citrusy, with prominent notes of meringue, but this is quickly overtaken by savory saline notes of seaweed. So seaweed meringues are a thing. The finish is long and smoky, and the seaweed appears again.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hellyers Road 15yo Slightly Peated

Hellyers Road 15yo Slightly Peated

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
46.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toast, smoke, peat, leather, rye bread, black pepper, lemon zest, apricots, sea salt, hints of roast beef. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, chalky, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Peat, leather, soot, tobacco leaf, lemon zest, apricots, peaches, diesel exhaust. 
Finish: Long. Soot, peaches, peat, leather, apricots, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Smoky, citrusy, less fruity than the others perhaps. There’s a lot of soot and bitter ashy flavours here. There’s finish is long and smoky, and finally the stone fruits poke through.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hellyers Road 15yo Original

Hellyers Road 15yo Original

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
46.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, cinnamon, white grapes, gooseberries, nutmeg, apricots, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. White grapes, honeydew melons, peaches, nutmeg, toast, cookie dough, photocopy paper, rye bread. 
Finish: Long. Rye bread, photocopy paper, gooseberries, peaches, honeydew melons. 

Comments: 

The characteristic overripe fruit notes are here, alongside the peppery rye bread, but there’s also feinty notes of green tea and photocopy paper. Some slight smoke is present too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hellyers Road Journeyman (Bourbon and Port Casks)

Hellyers Road Journeyman (Bourbon and Port Casks)

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Golden
46.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cookie dough, fresh cut grass, apricots, white grapes, apples, orange blossom, hints of desiccated coconut, hints of dried strawberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Limes, lemon zest, orange blossom, apricots, cookie dough, rye bread, hints of white pepper, hints of dried strawberries. 
Finish: Medium. Apricots, white pepper, malted grains, limes, orange blossom. 

Comments: 

12 years in bourbon casks and 5 years in port casks, so there’s a component in this that’s a fair age. Tangy and sweet, lots of citrus fruits. Through it all there are big notes of rye bread and apricots. Well integrated, estery notes seem to be the distillery characteristic! Very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hellyers Road 10yo Oloroso de Jerez

Hellyers Road 10yo Oloroso de Jerez

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber
46.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, bamboo shoots, cookie dough, cinnamon, cloves, orange blossom, hints of orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange juice, orange blossom, raspberry jam, cloves, malted grains, cinnamon, vanilla, hints of pear drops. 
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, orange blossom, pear drops, malted grains, hints of apricots. 

Comments: 

Really orangey whisky! Almost orange opal fruits flavour. It’s still spicy and malty, but there’s peel, blossom and juice of orange galore. Lovely dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hellyers Road 7yo Peated

Hellyers Road 7yo Peated

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Pale green
46.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Starfruit, dried strawberries, honeydew melons, orange peel, apricots, malted grains, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Dried strawberries, apricots, starfruit, rye bread, peat, honey, leather, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Smoke, leather, rye bread, orange peel, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Very fruity and spicy, with a light lick of smoke. The peat is more prominent here, with earthy notes well integrated with the fruit. The finish is smoky though, with a nice spiciness. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hellyers Road Peated 16yo 2004/2020

Hellyers Road Peated 16yo 2004/2020

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tasmania
Lime green 
61.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, tyre rubber, lavender, sandalwood, peat, lemon zest, hints of white grapes. With water, lemon zest, smoke, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon zest, lavender, peat, autumn leaves, peat, smoke, white grapes, potting soil, malted grains, starfruit. With water, smoke, apricots, starfruit, chillies, hints of potting soil. 
Finish: Long. Peat, potting soil, starfruit, lavender, hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Cask 4082.01. Very floral, wreathed through heaps of smoke. Earthiness predominates on the tongue, actual earth this time. But there’s plenty of fruit and malt buried underneath.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hellyers Road Dark Harmony IPA Cask

Hellyers Road Dark Harmony IPA Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Dark amber 
53.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, diesel exhaust, tobacco leaf, cloves, dark chocolate, sea salt, hints of toffee. With water, rubber bands, tyre rubber, tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Diesel exhaust, smoke, tobacco leaf, toffee, burnt sugar, lemon zest, tyre rubber, cloves, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, dark chocolate, walnut skins, starfruit, smoke, fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Medium. Cloves, diesel exhaust, smoke, tobacco leaf, tyre rubber. 

Comments: 

Very smoky, sooty and fragrant. Water brings out more sulphurous notes and a little bit of sweetness. Still, the smoke predominates, and the finish is sooty and herbal.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hellyers Road Aurora Australis

Hellyers Road Aurora Australis 

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Yellow, hints of green
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tyre rubber, fresh cut grass, peaches, apricots, white grapes, dried strawberries, peat, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Tyre rubber, orange peel, orange blossom, peaches, white grapes, malted grains, rye bread, hints of mushrooms. 
Finish: Short. Rye bread, tyre rubber, black pepper, orange peel, orange blossom. 

Comments: 

Rubbery, sulphurous, but lots of dried fruit and more than a little smoke. The dried, almost fermented fruit notes are probably a result of the long fermentation times, and they’re really luscious and rich.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hellyers Road Roaring Forties

Hellyers Road Roaring Forties

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Pale gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, dried strawberries, white pepper, fresh baked bread, malted grains, white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Dried strawberries, white wine, malted grains, hoppy beer, white pepper, rye bread, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, vanilla, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Fruity, malty malt, lots of fermented flavours, including a quite unique note of dried strawberries. On the tongue it’s quite bitter, even beery, and there’s a peppery tang of rye bread.

Verdict:

I like this.

Girvan 27yo 1996/2023

Girvan 27yo 1996/2023

Whisky Blues, The Whisky Age
Single grain - Lowlands
Bronze
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Acetone, malted grains, black pepper, rye bread, sea salt, white grapes, hints of peaches. With water, vanilla, pear drops, fresh baked bread, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Pear drops, fresh baked bread, acetone, peaches, vanilla, popcorn. With water, vanilla, peaches, pear drops, popcorn. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, popcorn, vanilla, black pepper, pear drops. 

Comments: 

A rather good aged grain, lots of fruity notes. The vanilla / slightly estery note is turned down, or perhaps matured into something very much like pear drops. Water brings out notes of popcorn and peaches.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength (2025 Edition)

Springbank 12yo Cask Strength (2025 Edition)

Official bottling

Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber, hints of pink
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, honeydew melons, cinder toffee, acetone, nutmeg, hints of tyre rubber. With water, acetone, lemon zest, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Honeydew melons, cinder toffee, acetone, lemon zest, malted grains, kombucha, hints of diesel exhaust. With water, cinder toffee, lemon zest, nutmeg. 
Finish: Medium. Walnut skins, cinder toffee, toast, molasses, diesel exhaust, hints of lychees. 

Comments: 

Having a chance to drink Springbank these days feels like a rare gift. This one is fruity and has that characteristic diesel note. There’s plenty of bitterness, but mostly it’s estery and sour. A very interesting dram. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Benromach 21yo

Benromach 21yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, black pepper, malted grains, barley sugar, toast, hints of smoke, hints of tyre rubber. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, oily, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Walnut skins, black pepper, malted grains, orange peel, barley sugar, hints of smoke, hints of olive brine. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, popcorn, vanilla, black pepper, pear drops. 

Comments: 

Fruity and sweet, but there’s a slightly peaty edge. This is also a little savoury and brings some bitterness. This is a complex dram, with waves of different flavours. Very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Wyvis The Drover

Glen Wyvis The Drover

Official bottling

Single malt - North Highlands
Yellow
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, malted grains, lemon zest, malted grains, mangoes, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, vanilla, peaches, gooseberries, mangoes, white grapes, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, white pepper, malted grains, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Fruity and malty. There’s quite a lot of noticeable change from the early releases from this distillery, it’s improving quite a lot as the distillate gets to a stable footing.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kinglassie Raw 8yo 2017/2025

Kinglassie Raw 8yo 2017/2025

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale yellow
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, kombucha, fresh cut grass, malted grains, cooked rice, lemongrass, hints of pandan. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, leather, kombucha, fresh cut grass, cooked rice, gooseberries, hints of diesel exhaust. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, kombucha, diesel exhaust, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Grassy and herbal, some quite gentle cereal notes too. The peatiness here manifests in some slightly sooty, exhaust fumes notes at the back of the tongue and on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bimber ex Bourbon Batch 4

Bimber ex Bourbon Batch 4

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Golden
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, honey, peaches, malted grains, sandalwood, rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of white pepper. With water, pear drops, malted grains, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting: Sour sweet. Lemon zest, green tea, photocopy paper, rhubarb and custard sweets, honey, malted grains, hints of gooseberries. With water, pear drops, malted grains, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, green tea, sandalwood, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Fruity and rich, but not so sweet. There’s some nice, slightly herbal tannic notes mixed in too. Quite a good Bimber, not as intense as some of their previous releases. I like this stripped back version.

Verdict:

I like this.

Smögen 12yo 2011/2024

Smögen 12yo 2011/2024

Coasts and Shores, Berry Bros & Rudd
Single malt - Bohuslän
Pale gold
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, vitamin C tablets, wet stones, honey, peat, driftwood smoke, hints of kippers. With water, lemon zest, wet stones, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Honey, vitamin C tablets, fish sauce, peat, driftwood smoke, malted grains, hints of kippers. With water, leather, honey, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Wet stones, kippers, vitamin C tablets, driftwood smoke, leather. 

Comments: 

Cask 402011. Quite saline and peaty, with whiffs of kippers and fish sauce. There’s also something tart, maybe even slightly chalky, and overlaid with salty smoke. Water brings out sweeter, more citrusy notes.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Paul John Oloroso Cask

Paul John Oloroso Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Goa
Mahogany
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, tobacco leaf, wet stones, strawberry jam, malted grains, acetone. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Peanut butter, tobacco leaf, raisins, acetone, wet stones, black tea, menthol, honey. 
Finish: Medium. Peanut butter, parchment, raisins, Demerara sugar. 

Comments: 

Sweet and nutty, lots of well defined layers of flavour. The sherry influence creates notes of raisins, acetone, together with a flinty menthol note. Rather good, complex and interesting.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Commemorative Edition for Dr Jim Swan (Cotswolds x Milk & Honey)

Commemorative Edition for Dr Jim Swan (Cotswolds x Milk & Honey)

Cotswolds distillery
Vatted malt
Dark gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk, white grapes, parchment paper, white pepper, malted grains, orange peel, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, thickens slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, orange peel, white grapes, winter melons, honey, white pepper, hints of golden syrup. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, orange peel, white pepper, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

A vatting of Cotswolds and Milk & Honey distillate. Malty, fruity but with a paperiness that’s especially apparent on the nose. The whiskies do complement each other though.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Busker Single Malt

The Busker Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Pale amber 
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, raisins, oak chips, malted grains, chocolate, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, tingly, warm.
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cola nuts, raisins, malted grains, black pepper, orange peel, chocolate, hints of sandalwood.
Finish: Short. Malted grains, black pepper, raisins, walnut skins, hints of chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and intense, lots of nicely layered flavours. Mostly herbal and fruity, but with a nice barley sweetness underlying it. Surprisingly good for such a young malt.

Verdict:

I like this.

Boann PX Cask

Boann PX Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Amber gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, honey, cream, vanilla, burnt sugar, raisins, molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, orange peel, molasses, black tea, cinder toffee, hints of marmalade. 
Finish: Medium. Marmalade, cinder toffee, orange peel, molasses. 

Comments: 

Light and creamy, lots of orange notes, both peel and jam. There’s also something bitter sweet on the tongue, almost toasty. A very pleasant dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dornoch 5yo 2019/2025 (ex-Islay Cask)

Dornoch 5yo 2019/2025 (ex-Islay Cask)

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Buttercups
57.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, cotton sheets, foam shrimp, peaches, cream, hints of toast. With water, peaches, toast, hay, cinder toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Diesel exhaust, cinder toffee, driftwood smoke, peat, cream, foam shrimp, strawberry jam, hay. With water, hay, diesel exhaust, peat, tyre rubber, golden syrup. 
Finish: Long. Hay, diesel exhaust, cream, foam shrimp, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Intense and fruity. The smoke is obvious, but isn’t in your face, and it just covers the sweet, grassy distillate. Water brings out more of the bitter medicinal sulphurous flavours.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Adnams 7yo Distiller’s Choice Special Edition 2014

Adnams 7yo Distiller’s Choice Special Edition 2014

Official bottling
Single malt - East Anglia
Amber
57.15% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh cut grass, white pepper, rye bread, lemon juice, hints of gooseberries. With water, lemon juice, fresh cut grass, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, hot, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour. Mint, anise, fresh cut grass, rye bread, lemon juice, apples, hints of malted grains. With water, anise, rye bread, sourdough bread, hints of toffee. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon juice, anise, sourdough bread, apples. 

Comments: 

Complex and volatile, lots of notes spark to life and fade quickly. What seems to hang around is anise, apples, lemons and some rye bread. Water brings out even more cereal and bread notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Speyburn Bourbon Cask

Speyburn Bourbon Cask

Official bottling

Single malt - Speyside
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, orange peel, golden syrup, lemon curd, burnt sugar, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Toffee, malted grains, lemon curd, orange peel, golden syrup, barley sugar, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, honey, golden syrup, barley sugar. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and with lots of malty goodness. A fine example of a stripped back whisky, with plenty of distillery character and relatively uninfluenced by wood. Quite a delicious dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn Cask 9 (for Whisky.Me.com)

Strathearn Cask 9 (for Whisky.Me.com)

Official bottling

Single malt - Central Highlands

Amber gold

57.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, raisins, malted grains, orange peel, hoppy beer, honey, lilies. With water, sandalwood, hoppy beer, malted grains. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, volatile, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, hoppy beer, honey, orange peel, fresh cut grass, hints of toffee. With water, orange peel, hoppy beer, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, orange peel, walnut skins, hoppy beer. 

Comments: 

Cask 9. Complex and bitter, lots of fragrant herbal notes especially with water. It’s a punchy whisky, plenty of intense flavours that come in waves. Water does gentle it a little bit, and brings out some subtle flavours of hops and grain.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 10yo 2014/2024

Aberfeldy 10yo 2014/2024

Fragrant Drops, Keeble Cask Company
Single malt - Central Highlands
Bright gold
60.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Acetone, toffee, pear drops, cola nuts, malted grains, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, malted grains, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, hoppy beer, acetone, fresh baked bread, honey, burnt sugar, hints of cola nuts. With water, malted grains, honey, hoppy beer. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, pear drops, fresh baked bread, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 252. Very high ABV, so the spirity nature of the whisky stands out initially. It’s volatile and quite sweet. In the tongue some tart notes come to the fore, mainly beery notes. It’s got a very short finish for the ABV.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lochranza Castle (Arran 21yo)

Lochranza Castle (Arran 21yo)

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Golden, hints of pink

 47.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, parchment paper, honey, white pepper, orange juice, chamomile, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Honey, orange juice, chamomile, malted grains, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, malted grains, parchment paper, orange juice. 

Comments: 

Fruity and slightly papery whisky. There are secondary notes of herbal tea, and spice on the tongue. It builds to a great, long, citrusy finish. Excellent dram indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fettercairn 30yo 1988/2019 (bottled for C Dully Selection)

Fettercairn 30yo 1988/2019 (bottled for C Dully Selection)

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden
56.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chicken stock, marrowfat peas, vitamin C tablets, malted grains, honey, white pepper. With water, ink, marrowfat peas, honey, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Salty. Chicken stock, marrowfat peas, malted grains, white pepper, chalk, honey. With water, honey, white grapes, chalk, ink. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, fresh baked bread, honey, hints of fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Cask 2007. Quite a savoury whisky, lots of chicken and sweet peas, with a peppery, chalky undertone, especially on the tongue. Very complex, unusual, and quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fettercairn 24yo 1997/2022

Fettercairn 24yo 1997/2022

Fynest Series, Loch Fyne Whiskies
Single malt - East Highlands
Bright yellow
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fennel, camphor, sandalwood, lemon zest, white pepper, malted grains, hay. With water, sandalwood, malted grains, white pepper, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Lemon zest, fennel, mint, malted grains, camphor, fresh cut grass, white grapes, white pepper. With water, camphor, molasses, toast, honey. 

Finish: Long. Mint, molasses, honey, fresh cut grass, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 1903355. Quite herbal but water brings out some savoury hints of roast chicken. Water also cuts the maltiness on the tongue, leaving a lingering fragrance of sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Yamazakura Peated Blended Whisky

Yamazakura Peated Blended Whisky

Official bottling 
Single blend - Tōhoku
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, peat, leather, molasses, malted grains, toffee, hints of sandalwood, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, molasses, tyre rubber, toffee, peat, leather, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Diesel exhaust, peat, leather, molasses, tyre rubber, hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Malty, with a gentle lick of smoke on the nose. On the tongue it gets a bit more sulphurous, before fading to a short sharp finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bushmills 21yo Rare

Bushmills 21yo Rare

Official bottling
Single malt - Ulster
Amber 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, icing sugar, orange peel, white pepper, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. White pepper, raisins, sultanas, icing sugar, caramel, coffee, strawberry jam, gooseberries. 
Finish: Medium. Grapefruit, coffee, sultanas, gooseberries, parchment paper. 

Comments: 

Jammy and light, with a big glob of coffee on the tongue. On the finish, it’s bitter sweet with citrus notes. Very pleasant indeed, it’s also not overly woody.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Spirit of Yorkshire 5yo 2018/2023

Spirit of Yorkshire 5yo 2018/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Yorkshire 
Amber, hints of pink
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raspberry jam, meringues, vanilla, milk chocolate, hints of malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, meringues, vanilla, black tea, coffee, walnut skins, milk chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, gentian, hoppy beer, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Fruity and creamy, lots of slightly eggy notes that turn sweet. There are some bitter elements here, especially on the tongue and more intensely, on the finish. Decent dram, although a little young.

Verdict:

I like this.

MB Roland 2yo Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 2

MB Roland 2yo Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 2

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky 
Amber, hints of red 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, orange peel, malted grains, sandalwood, cinnamon, hints of brown paper. With water, vitamin C tablets, fresh baked bread, cornflakes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Sea salt, honey, brown paper, orange peel, fresh baked bread, cornflakes, white pepper, hints of sandalwood. With water, brown paper, oak chips, vitamin C tablets. 
Finish: Short. Cream, malted grains, honey, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Peppery and spicy, and quite sweet. It belies its very young age, not many plasticky notes. Water brings out some dustiness and paperiness, even woodiness. The finish is quite good, lovely creamy maltiness.

Verdict:

I like this.