Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu 15yo Final Vintage

Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu 15yo Final Vintage

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden orange
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, walnuts, sea salt, Demerara sugar, peanuts, salt caramel, hints of caramelised onions. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, airy, slightly volatile.
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Orange peel, salt caramel, walnut skins, Demerara sugar, lemon sweets, malted grains, maraschino cherries. 
Finish: Long. Lemon sweets, salt caramel, orange peel, Demerara sugar, walnut skins. 

Comments: 

Citrusy, sweet and slightly bitter. Utterly delicious, I never thought I would be able to have another Hanyu. Now tasting with the benefit of having drunk some Chichibu, I’m struck by how the latter is the heir to the former.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

North of Scotland 49yo 1962/2021

North of Scotland 49yo 1962/2021

15 Years, The Nectar
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden brown
40.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, malted grains, magic marker, vanilla, wheat beer, brown paper, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Malted grains, vanilla, white grapes, pear drops, wheat beer, sea salt, coconut cream. 
Finish: Medium. Coconut cream, wheat beer, vanilla, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Quite the flavour explosion in the mouth. There’s some barley in this, if I’m any judge, but the grain whisky flavours of wheat, vanilla and coconut are intense and quite forward. Last chance to taste whisky from this long gone distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cardrona Growing Wings 5yo 2016/2021 PX Finish Melody Whisky Bar Exclusive

Cardrona Growing Wings 5yo 2016/2021 PX Finish Melody Whisky Bar Exclusive

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber gold
63.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, hoppy beer, fresh baked bread, wheatgerm, honey, raspberry jam. With water, magic marker, pear drops, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, honey, ink, raspberry jam, raisins, orange peel, wheatgerm, hints of black tea. With water, wet stones, malted grains, magic marker. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, raisins, raspberry jam, Demerara sugar. 

Comments: 

Fortuitous find! It’s fruity, and opens up nicely with water to become minerally and malty. It builds to a very sweet, and intensely sweet finish. A very pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Union 5yo 2017/2023

Union 5yo 2017/2023

Individual Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Rio Grande do Sul
Amber brown
56.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry laces, honey, raisins, gooseberries, vanilla, brown paper. With water, strawberry jam, raisins, cloves, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, cool, tingly.
Tasting:  Sweet. Brown paper, gooseberries, green tea, strawberry laces, peanuts, orange peel, hints of damson jam. With water, blueberry jam, raisins, damson jam, green tea. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, vanilla, orange peel, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Fruity, lots of sweet jammy notes. It’s not peated, so there’s plenty of cask influence here. There’s a nutty undertone that characterises the whisky and was present int the other Union I had too. Very interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Falkirk Inaugural Release

Falkirk Inaugural Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
White wine
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, sour cream, cinder toffee, toast, lemon juice, pencil erasers. With water, honey, lemon juice, yoghurt, pencil lead. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour. Sour cream, lemon juice, toast, honey, white grapes, hints of vanilla. With water, vanilla, lemon juice, yoghurt, icing sugar. 
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, honey, lemon juice, wet stones, hints of vanilla. 

Comments: 

Very tart and lactic, underpinned by lots of slightly smoky notes and some citrus. Quite promising, and the lactic notes should fade in prominence with age. Interesting whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Crabbie’s Chain Pier 3yo 2019/2022 Inaugural Release

Crabbie’s Chain Pier 3yo 2019/2022 Inaugural Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold 
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, wet stones, honey, haw flakes, sandalwood, clay dust, hints of white pepper. With water, peanuts, ink, clay dust. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Haw flakes, honey, sandalwood, hay, strawberry jam, clay dust, chillies, hints of ink. With water, celery, ink, strawberry jam, hints of cucumber. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, haw flakes, malted grains, clay dust, honey. 

Comments: 

Minerally, but also fruity and jammy. There’s a tartness on the tongue that reminds me of hawthorn berry sweets. Water brings out something iron-y, enhancing the minerality.

Verdict:

I like this.

Miltonduff 16yo 2007/2024

Miltonduff 16yo 2007/2024

James Eadie
Single malt - Speyside
Pink
54.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raspberry jam, wheat germ, malted grains, black pepper, honey, cloves, hints of violets. With water, honey, malted grains, hints of violets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, slippery, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Wheatgerm, raspberry jam, cherries, honey, hints of cinnamon. With water, black pepper, malted grains, raspberry jam. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, wheatgerm, malted grains, hoppy beer, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 369584. Sweet and fruity, but laden with plenty of cream and malt. Water brings out a peppery spiciness. I think this is a PX cask, a decent marriage of whisky and wine.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tamnavulin 15yo 2009/2024

Tamnavulin 15yo 2009/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, hints of pink
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, strawberry jam, cream, caramel, malted grains, white chocolate. With water, strawberry jam, orange peel, raisins, ice cream soda. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, creamy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange peel, vanilla, ice cream soda, white chocolate, white pepper, black tea. With water, malted grains, fresh cut grass, ice cream soda. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberry jam, malted grains, white pepper, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, quite luscious, with plenty of sweet vanilla-laden things. Water opens up a grassiness, with plenty of maltiness too. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Belgrove Oat 3yo (Rum and Raisin)

Belgrove Oat 3yo (Rum and Raisin)

Bonded International Series, Killowen bottler
Single grain - Tasmania
Amber brown, hints of green
59.42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, chocolate, raisins, walnut skins, oregano, fresh cut grass, hints of black pepper. With water, diesel exhaust, black pepper, chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peanuts, raisins, walnut skins, thyme, diesel exhaust, autumn leaves, hints of ume. With water, raisins, autumn leaves, thyme, chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, diesel exhaust, raisins, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Green and herbal, but with underlying notes of raisins and chocolate. There also a bitter undertone, that I interpret as diesel exhaust and walnut skins. Perhaps a little too young.

Verdict:

I like this.

Singleton of Glendullan Golden Autumn Orchard

Singleton of Glendullan Golden Autumn Orchard

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Orange
41.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, apple juice, vanilla, honeycomb, cream, hints of ginger beer. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, ginger beer, honeycomb, apple juice, cream, toffee, hints of maple syrup. 
Finish: Short. Honeycomb, malted grains, barley sugar, apple juice, hints of cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Travel exclusive. It’s sweet and gingery, more apple than any other fruit. There’s a slight hint of smoke, and plenty of barley sugar. Straightforward and almost quaffable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Scotia Double Cask Rich and Spicy

Glen Scotia Double Cask Rich and Spicy

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber red 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dates, prunes, jujubes, autumn leaves, leather, strawberry jam, lohan fruit, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, loosens.  
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Lohan fruit, leather, pears, dried mangoes, peat, autumn leaves, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Strawberry jam, jujubes, leather, dates. 

Comments: 

Fruity and savoury, perhaps on the sweet side for a Campbeltown malt. On the tongue it reveals its true colours, peaty and earthy, with heaps of dried mangoes and pears.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Copenhagen Raw Edition No 5

Copenhagen Raw Edition No 5

Official bottling 
Single malt - Hovedstaden
Brown 
59.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, vanilla, oak chips, chocolate, cornflakes, maple syrup, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, chocolate, hay, maple syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Oak chips, vanilla, fresh cut grass, cocoa powder, maple syrup, white pepper, hints of cinnamon. With water, oak chips, coconut cream, cinnamon, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Short. Oak chips, fresh cut grass, cinnamon, cornflakes. 

Comments: 

Very cereally, woody and green, lots of spice on the tongue. It’s raw, alright, I’d guess aged in lightly seasoned wood, if that. Water creates sweeter notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

An Orkney Distillery 8yo 2012/2021

An Orkney Distillery 8yo 2012/2021

Watt Whisky, Campbeltown Whisky Company
Single malt - Islands
Pale gold 
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon sweets, yoghurt, vanilla, cream, cardamom, cinnamon. With water, toast, yoghurt, cardamom, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinder toffee, cardamom, toast. With water, toast, cinnamon, lemon sweets. 
Finish: Short. Cinder toffee, cardamom, lemon juice, toast, autumn leaves. 

Comments: 

Heavy and citrusy, lots of semi toasted notes that waft like a haze of smoke over the whisky. Not a very usual Scapa in my experience, but a very good one.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch

Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch 

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Tennessee
Golden 
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, white grapes, pencil erasers, honey, popcorn, hints of icing sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cherries, cough syrup, white pepper, honey, cloves, hints of icing sugar. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, cloves, cough syrup, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Fruity, almost cough syrup like, with light pepper notes. I didn’t review the sourced spirits from Uncle Nearest, but the first make from their distillery that I’ve tried seems promising.

Verdict:

I like this.

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - Heaven Hill
Amber copper
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rye bread, vanilla, black pepper, silicone rubber, pencil erasers, strawberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, hot, astringent.
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black tea, black pepper, pencil erasers, strawberry jam, honey, damson jam. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, strawberry jam, damson jam, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Bready, slightly sulphurous rye from Heaven Hill, with fruity notes atop the sulphur and pepperiness. I’ve had more complex ryes, but this is easy drinking.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenburgie 22yo 1998/2021

Glenburgie 22yo 1998/2021

Connoisseur’s Choice Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Golden 
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, yoghurt, cream, barley sugar, peppermint, hints of plums. With water, vanilla, cinder toffee, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Yoghurt, lemon zest, cream, barley sugar, peppermint, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of coffee, hints of smoke. With water, coffee, cinder toffee, white grapes, hints of yoghurt. 

Finish: Medium. Cinder toffee, yoghurt, white grapes, lemon zest, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 12601101. Bitter, lactic, smoky dram, with light notes of grapes, peppermint and gooseberries. Not as complex as the older Glenburgies, but still rather good.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenburgie 31yo 1990/2021

Glenburgie 31yo 1990/2021

Connoisseur’s Choice Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried mangoes, black tea, raisins, cream, chocolate, coffee, icing sugar. With water, cream, raisins, blackberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, mouth coating, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, chocolate, coffee, dried mangoes, hazelnuts, icing sugar, malted grains, butterscotch, cinder toffee. With water, cream, raisins, cinder toffee, blackberry jam. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, coffee, chocolate, raisins, cream. 

Comments: 

Cask 12524. Excellent, a fruity slightly bitter dram with plenty of great things like dark chocolate and coffee. It’s sweet and rich, and very satisfying.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glencadam 17yo 2005/2022 Port Pipe

Glencadam 17yo 2005/2022 Port Piper

Official bottling 

Single malt - East Highlands
Dark red 
59% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, raspberry jam, sandalwood, ginger snaps, toast, shortbread. With water, raspberry jam, orange peel, roses, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackcurrant cordial, chocolate, vanilla, cherries, ginger snaps, shortcrust pastry. With water, cherries, orange peel, raspberry jam, shortbread. 
Finish: Short. Shortcrust pastry, toast, chocolate, ginger snaps, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Cask 2788. Posh Ribena! Toasty, fruity and warm, with plenty of ginger biscuits on the nose and on the tongue. Water opens up a floral set of notes, roses predominate. Very nice dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bluegrass Distillers Bourbon Toasted Oak

Bluegrass Distillers Bourbon Toasted Oak

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oats, porridge, vanilla, salt caramel, white pepper, cinnamon. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, salt caramel, toffee, blackcurrant cordial, white pepper, cinnamon, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Short. Cola nuts, vanilla, blackcurrant cordial, cloves. 

Comments: 

Decent bourbon, quite cereally. Plenty of vanilla and Ribena flavours. Overall a promising dram from quite a young distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bluegrass Distillers Straight Rye Whiskey

Bluegrass Distillers Straight Rye Whiskey

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

Nose: Black pepper, rye bread, vanilla, cloves, honey, strawberry jam. With water, rye bread, apricots, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Apricots, strawberry jam, fresh baked bread, magic marker, rye bread, black pepper. With water, apricots, rye bread, magic marker. 
Finish: Long. Apricots, strawberry jam, magic marker, black pepper. 

Comments: 

New micro distillery in Kentucky. The rye is quite good, lots of nice black pepper notes, plus you can really taste the grain. It’s estery and fruity as well.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Whistler - The Good, The Bad, The Smoky

The Whistler - The Good, The Bad, The Smoky

Official bottling 
Single blend - Leinster
Copper gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: White wine, diesel exhaust, white grapes, apricots, peanuts, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour. White wine, lemon juice, vanilla, peat, diesel exhaust, soot, smoke, cream. 
Finish: Short. White wine, wet stones, pencil lead, diesel exhaust. 

Comments: 

Just a little smoky, and it’s not bad at all. Quite layered, lots of distinct tasting notes, mostly white wine and wet stones, it’s very gentle and welcoming as a peated dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Caol Ila 8yo Bourbon Cask

Caol Ila 8yo Bourbon Cask

Collector Series, Caskshare 
Single malt - Islay
Pale silver yellow
60.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, peat, yoghurt, lemon juice, tobacco leaf, soy sauce, hints of sour cream. With water, sea salt, sour cream, peat, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Peat, pears, lemon juice, soy sauce, ginseng, black pepper, hints of smoke, hints of grapefruit. With water, sour cream, lemon juice, peat, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Short. Farmyard, diesel exhaust, black pepper, ginseng, peat. 

Comments: 

Cask CA.16.01. A gentle, not very smoky Caol Ila, with plenty of peat, lactic notes and citrus notes. Not quite as salty as some others I’ve had, but a decent dram nonetheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Agitator Swedish Four Grain Whisky Ex White Port Cask

Agitator Swedish Four Grain Whisky Ex White Port Cask

Collector Series, Caskshare 
Single grain - Västmanland
Amber
58.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, white pepper, rye bread, peppermint malted grains, roast chicken, hints of rosemary. With water, rye bread, petrol exhaust, roast chicken, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Peppermint, rosemary, rye bread, caraway seed, petrol exhaust, white pepper, hints of roast chicken. With water, rye bread, caraway seed, peppermint, hints of chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Farmyard, lemon juice, petrol exhaust, caraway seed. 

Comments: 

Cask 4067. There’s quite a lot of different grains in this whisky, making for a jumble of odd notes that don’t normally go together. But it’s pretty interesting, and I’d like to drink more from this distiller.  

Verdict:

I like this.

Craigellachie 21yo Ex PX Sherry Cask

Craigellachie 21yo Ex PX Sherry Cask

Collector Series, Caskshare
Single malt - Speyside
Amber brown 
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, damson jam, black tea, chocolate, malted grains, candle wax, hints of roast beef. With water, cream, strawberries, magic marker, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Damson jam, strawberries, malted grains, raisins, black pepper, roast beef, coffee. With water, raisins, cream, fresh baked bread, hints of peppermint. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, malted grains, peppermint, candle wax. 

Comments: 

Cask CR.03.01. Very sweet and more-ish, with a meaty savoury sweetness. Heaps of waxiness on the nose and on the finish as well, this ought to be from the cask, but I can’t think of what wood might do this. Interesting and good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Auchroisk 12yo Oloroso Cask

Auchroisk 12yo Oloroso Cask

Collector Series, Caskshare
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber gold 
59% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, cream, vanilla custard, malted grains, orange peel, milk chocolate. With water, white grapes, strawberry jam, malted grains, hints of black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, syrupy, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, orange peel, malted grains, black tea, cream, hints of coffee. With water, white grapes, strawberry jam, black pepper, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Milk chocolate, cream, orange peel, white grapes, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Cask 22074024. Creamy and sweet, and with a notable lactic note (but not sour, like yoghurt). Lots of jammy fruit and pepper. I don’t normally comment on the mouthfeel, but this whisky is notably oily and heavy.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benrinnes 12yo Oloroso Cask

Benrinnes 12yo Oloroso Cask

Collector Series, Caskshare
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
55.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, black tea, brown paper, black pepper, coconut cream, raisins, barley sugar. With water, barley sugar, black tea, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, black pepper, butterscotch, coconut cream, black tea, hints of coffee. With water, black tea, malted grains, coffee, hints of butterscotch. 

Finish: Long. Malted grains, barley sugar, fresh baked bread, butterscotch, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 11875/082. Feinty and spicy, lots of barley sugar and malt. There’s also something oddly like coconut cream, something I associate more with grain whisky. Interesting and unusual.

Verdict:

I like this.

Oban 20yo 1984/2004 (2004 Special Releases)

Oban 20yo 1984/2004 (2004 Special Releases)

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands 
Very pale gold
57.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green tea, grapefruit, lemon juice, yoghurt, sea salt, white grapes, malted grains. With water, green tea, white grapes, malted grains, wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Fresh cut grass, grapefruit, white pepper, green tea, leather, wet stones, pencil lead, hints of yoghurt. With water, wet stones, grapefruit, pencil lead, lemon juice. 
Finish: Short. Sea salt, lemon juice, leather, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Excellent, feinty, lots of minerally goodness, but this time with a lot of citrus and green tea. I love these complex, slightly saline whiskies.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oban 26yo 1996/2022 Prima and Ultima

Oban 26yo 1996/2022 Prima and Última

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Golden brown 
55.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, toffee, autumn leaves, wet stones, grapefruit, sea salt, hints of roast chicken. With water, toffee, grapefruit, candle wax, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, mouth coating, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Grapefruit, bay leaves, autumn leaves, sea salt, camphor, ginseng, lemon juice, hints of raisins, hints of toffee. With water, malted grains, bay leaves, lemon juice, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Bay leaves, lemon juice, sea salt, raisins. 

Comments: 

Layered fruity, feinty, mineral and very, very complex. Stuff makes it into the Prima and Última range for a reason, and this whisky fully deserves its place. Top 1% stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.