Peerless Rye Whiskey Absinthe Barrel Finish

Peerless Rye Whiskey Absinthe Barrel Finish

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber gold
55.85% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, white chocolate, burnt sugar, wormwood, vanilla, white pepper. With water, anise, lemon juice, white pepper, grapefruit. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Fennel, wormwood, white chocolate, anise, white pepper, hints of mint. With water, mint, anise, lemon juice, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, wormwood, fennel, anise, malted grains. 

Comments: 

A very unusual finish, but the wood has overtaken the whisky. It tastes of mint and white chocolate, with a huge layer of anise. Interesting and different.

Verdict:

Not bad. 

Longrow 100 Proof

Longrow 100 Proof

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Bright gold
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, white grapes, yoghurt, orange peel, honey, smoke, white pepper, hints of cloves. With water, white pepper, orange peel, peat, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White grapes, white pepper, peat, smoke, autumn leaves, grapefruit, malted grains, hints of petrol exhaust. With water, white pepper, petrol exhaust, white grapes, peat. 
Finish: Long. Petrol exhaust, autumn leaves, white pepper, soot. 

Comments: 

Slightly lactic, but it’s got the characteristic motor exhaust note, and plenty of peat and soot. Water brings out more fruity and a peppery spiciness. I don’t always get to try a new whisky from Springbank distillery, quite pleased with this.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aultmore 15yo 2009/2024

Aultmore 15yo 2009/2024

Hogshead Imports
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry laces, cream, cherry blossom, parchment, salt caramel, hints of toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, volatile. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Salt caramel, toffee, dates, raisins, parchment, black tea, hints of cherry blossom. 
Finish: Medium. Salt caramel, raisins, malted grains, dates. 

Comments: 

Sherried and sweet, with a nice floral, slightly papery top note. It’s sticky toffee pudding on the tongue, together with more of that floral sweetness. A very nice dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bernheim Original 7yo Small Batch

Bernheim Original 7yo Small Batch

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber brown 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, brown paper, caramel, chocolate, golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, expands, loosens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Brown paper, caramel, desiccated coconut, walnut skins, cola nuts, milk. 
Finish: Medium. Milk, golden syrup, walnut skins, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Easy drinking, session bourbon, with some interesting lactic notes. It’s creamy and rich, pleasant to drink and at a reasonable strength too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapa 28yo 1993/2022 Distillery Exclusive

Scapa 28yo 1993/2022 Distillery Exclusive

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Sunshine yellow
57.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, peaches, winter melons, lemon zest, icing sugar, cinnamon. With water, raisins, honey, mangoes, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Mangoes, peaches, lemon zest, peat, sea salt, cinnamon, white pepper, hints of malted grains. With water, lemon zest, icing sugar, sandalwood, hints of peat. 
Finish: Long. Lemon juice, icing sugar, cinnamon, sea salt. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and fruity, and with a dusty sweet note that reminds me of icing sugar. Water brings out spicy herbal fragrances, almost perfumed, but also peat. An excellent dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Hearach Batch 1.8

The Hearach Batch 1.8

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Golden bronze
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, sultanas, smoke, tyre rubber, olive brine, lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Soot, smoke, white grapes, sultanas, pencil erasers, olive brine, walnut skins, hints of diesel exhaust. 
Finish: Long. Soot, diesel exhaust, peat, smoke, sultanas. 

Comments: 

Sooty and smoky, yet fruity with savoury notes. It’s well integrated and delicately layered, excellent for its young age, and one of the first releases from this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran 21st Anniversary Limited Edition

Arran 21st Anniversary Limited Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Amber bronze
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, pears, eucalyptus, menthol, raisins, malted grains, sea salt, hints of soot. With water, fresh baked bread, menthol, camphor, hints of pencil lead. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, mouth coating, astringent. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Pears, eucalyptus, camphor, menthol, raisins, dried apricots, black tea, sea salt. With water, fresh baked bread, dried apricots, menthol. 
Finish: Medium. Walnut skins, camphor, black tea, eucalyptus. 

Comments: 

Quite herbal, with refreshing notes of menthol and eucalyptus, like liniment. But it’s also sweet and savoury, and water brings out dried fruit and cereally notes. Complex, layered, delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Mortlach 30yo for the Puritan Yacht

Mortlach 30yo for the Puritan Yacht

Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, gooseberries, malted grains, aluminium foil, raisins, toast, hints of roast beef. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Butter, raisins, malted grains, aluminium foil, honey, toast, chocolate, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Aluminium foil, raisins, pears, toast, honey. 

Comments: 

A rich, mouth coating, textured dram, lots of typical fruit notes with a touch of the meatiness that characterises this distillery. There’s also some feinty aluminium foil, but that complements the sweetness rather than distracting from it.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Reservoir Bourbon 2022 Batch 2

Reservoir Bourbon 2022 Batch 2

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Virginia
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, brown paper, popcorn, brown sugar, sawdust, vanilla, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Brown paper, popcorn, sawdust, fresh baked bread, caramel, vanilla, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Toffee, caramel, brown paper, cinnamon, white pepper. 

Comments: 

A papery, dry bourbon, with plenty of woody notes as well. There’s plenty of caramel and bananas, but that’s as far as it goes. A session dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Frysk Hinder 5yo 2019/2024

Frysk Hinder 5yo 2019/2024

Official bottling
Single malt - Friesland
Amber bronze
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh baked bread, ginger, raisins, white pepper, yoghurt, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, static, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, yoghurt, cinder toffee, hints of ginger. 
Finish: Short. Cinder toffee, malted grains, lemon zest, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 282. Red wine cask, but the wood is reasonably well integrated with the spirit. Burnt sugar and bready notes predominate, but there’s also some raisins and a warming ginger note. A pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kingsbarns Distillery Reserve 2024

Kingsbarns Distillery Reserve 2024

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
58.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, lemons, fresh cut grass, cinder toffee, malted grains, hints of vanilla. With water, cinder toffee, hay, rubber bands. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Yoghurt, cinder toffee, malted grains, vanilla, lemon zest, white pepper. With water, malted grains, hay, rubber bands. 
Finish: Long. Cinder toffee, malted grains, lemon zest, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Funky and light, lots of citrus coupled with a burnt sugar, dark caramel note. Water brings out a sulphurous side, with notes of rubber band and musty hay. A reasonable dram given its young age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardnahoe Bholsa

Ardnahoe Bholsa

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Orange gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, orange juice, peaches, watermelons, peat, smoke, peanuts, autumn leaves, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange juice, watermelons, coffee, peaches, peat, smoke, germolene, pear drops, autumn leaves. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, orange juice, pears, peat, germolene. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and sweet, the peat is gentle with this one, although still there. It’s a delicious dram. I really enjoy Ardnahoe, it’s a great distillery and is a magical addition to an island that already makes great whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber brown
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raisins, corn syrup, popcorn, brown paper, cola bottles, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Brown paper, walnuts, cola bottles, honey, cinnamon, corn syrup, hints of strawberry jam. 
Finish: Medium. Popcorn, brown paper, parchment paper, cinnamon, popcorn. 

Comments: 

A rather good bourbon, sweet of course, but with complex notes of cola bottle sweets and a little darkness of walnuts. The top note is lightly sweet and reminds me of buttered popcorn.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fettercairn 22yo 1998/2020

Fettercairn 22yo 1998/2020

Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
56.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Gooseberries, lemon zest, magic marker, malted grains, white pepper, hints of camphor, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, gooseberries, cream, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, camphor, grapefruit, white pepper, hints of gentian. With water, vanilla, cream, malted grains, honey. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Cask 3222. Fruity but with a bitter edge, lots of citrus and camphor. The finish doesn’t match the rest of the dram, a little short, although it’s peppery and citrusy.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fettercairn 22yo

Fettercairn 22yo

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, honey, malted grains, vanilla, caramel, rubber bands, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pencil lead, white pepper, honey, rubber bands, leather, pears, gooseberries. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, pears, pencil lead, gooseberries, honey. 

Comments: 

Feinty and fragrant, lots of leather and rubber bands notes, but it’s well integrated with the fruity notes in the background. It all makes for a very complex, layered dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Starward 5yo 2019/2024

Starward 5yo 2019/2024

#14, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Victoria
Red
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, strawberry jam, magic marker, fresh baked bread, vanilla, white pepper. With water, strawberry jam, raisins, chocolate, hints of golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, loosens, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Strawberry jam, blackcurrant cordial, white pepper, fresh baked bread, raisins, apricot jam, hints of marzipan, hints of brown butter. With water, raisins, marzipan, golden syrup, hints of brown butter. 
Finish: Long. Strawberry jam, magic marker, marzipan, white pepper, blackcurrant cordial. 

Comments: 

Another red wine cask with high ABV, lots of fruit notes, but here it’s deeper, with flavours of butter and nuts. It takes water well, the buttery notes become more forward and intense. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Starward 6yo 2018/2024

Starward 6yo 2018/2024

#15, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Victoria
Red
54% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry laces, cherry blossom, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, black pepper, hints of raspberry jam. With water, malted grains, black pepper, cherry blossom. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, blackcurrant cordial, cherry blossom, vanilla, cola nuts, fresh baked bread, mint, hints of raspberry jam. With water, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Blackcurrant cordial, raspberry jam, strawberry laces, cherry blossom, mint. 

Comments: 

High ABV red wine cask, usually a recipe for disaster but in this case, it makes a very floral sweet whisky. Lots of interaction between the wood and the spirit, creating fruity and vanilla notes. Complex and layered.

Verdict:

I like this.

Filey Bay Orange Wine Barrique

Filey Bay Orange Wine Barrique

Official bottling
Single malt - Yorkshire

Orange amber
46.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, pencil erasers, pencil lead, raspberry jam, malted grains, vanilla, burnt sugar, coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Orange peel, malted grains, grapefruit, pencil lead, orange blossom, burnt sugar, raisins, hints of apricot jam. 
Finish: Medium. Apricot jam, orange peel, orange blossom, grapefruit, hints of pencil lead. 

Comments: 

Rather orangey, despite the fact that orange wine refers to the colour, not the fruit. Perhaps the cask was seasoned, like Amrut Naarangi. Anyway, the flavours are well integrated and tend towards the gentle floral variety. Very pleasant indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Smögen 10yo 2014/2024

Smögen 10yo 2014/2024

Decadent Drams, Decadent Drinks
Single malt - Bohuslän
Amber
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, pears, raisins, cloves, fresh cut grass, smoke, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, peat, smoke, pears. 

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, loosens, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, smoke, tarry rope, raisins, cloves, pears, malted grains, hints of vanilla, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, peat, smoke, lemon zest, fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Medium. Peat, smoke, malted grains, pears, hints of tarry rope. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity, but of course it’s laden with huge layers of pear and smoke. But the fruit still comes through alongside some cereal. Water brings out more citrus and grassiness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnamurchan Sherry Cask 2024

Ardnamurchan Sherry Cask 2024

Official bottling
Single malt - Western Highlands
Amber brown
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coffee, raisins, dark chocolate, orange peel, malted grains, hints of roast beef, hints of driftwood smoke. With water, driftwood smoke, roast beef, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, dark chocolate, orange peel, black pepper, fresh baked bread, hints of driftwood smoke. With water, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of roast beef. 
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, coffee, black pepper, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Deep spicy notes with a lick of salty smoke that intensifies when water is added. On the tongue, water brings out even more bitterness, and the fragrance of coffee and chocolate.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

DYC 15yo

DYC 15yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Castile and León
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, tyre rubber, malted grains, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, malted grains, white pepper, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, apple juice, pencil erasers, malted grains, honey, white pepper, nutmeg, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Honey, raisins, apple juice, lemon zest, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Rather sulphurous and feinty, but there’s plenty of spicy notes underneath. It builds to a long, malty finish. It’s an interesting whisky, and different (not necessarily worse) to Scotch.

Verdict:

I like this.

Brenne 10yo

Brenne 10yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Golden
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, lemon zest, grapefruit, pomeloes, cinnamon, pencil erasers, hints of pencil lead. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. White grapes, sultanas, honey, fresh cut grass, cinnamon, pomeloes. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, lemon zest, grapefruit, sultanas, hints of damson jam. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and feinty, also some esters. Good jammy notes on the finish as well, although there’s a hint of bitterness that reminds me of grapefruit. This is not the same as the early Brennes I tried. It’s much better.

Verdict:

I like this.

EM&C Classic 4yo 2017/2021

EM&C Classic 4yo 2017/2021

Official bottling
Single malt - Buenos Aires

Very pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, damson jam, magic marker, cream, malted grains, photocopy paper, hints of rye bread. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Damson jam, apricots, magic marker, pears, photocopy paper, brown paper, ink, hints of malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, malted grains, photocopy paper, lemon zest, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Estery and cereally, rather light. It’s not very sweet, surprisingly, and has some harsh edges. Still, for a 4 year old it’s quite complex, and interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

La Alazana Single Malt

La Alazana Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Chubut
White wine
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, malted grains, lemon zest, vanilla, white pepper, grapefruit, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Green apples, malted grains, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, fresh cut grass, grapefruit, hints of wheat beer. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, wheat beer, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Been chasing this whisky for years. It’s rather nice, lots of green apples, and a bitter citrusy bite. It’s also got some nice cereally notes, altogether impressive for something made in a non-traditional whisky country.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Keith 30yo 1991/2020

Glen Keith 30yo 1991/2020

Cask Strength Collection, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Golden brown
50.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Camphor, honey, oak, raisins, white pepper, sandalwood, white grapes, hints of hay. With water, apricot jam, gooseberries, hints of tyre rubber. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, expands, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, raisins, cough syrup, brown butter, white grapes, sandalwood, fresh cut grass, white pepper. With water, camphor, sandalwood, gooseberries, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, white grapes, white pepper, brown butter, hints of apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 73658. Herbal, grassy and honeyed. Water brings out fruity, jammy notes. It’s still grassy on the tongue as well as the nose. Beautiful long finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Keith 27yo 1992/2020

Glen Keith 27yo 1992/2020

Spirits Shop Selection, Sansibar
Single malt - Speyside
Buttercups
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, clay dust, white pepper, apricot jam, white grapes, honey, hints of sarsaparilla, hints of lilies. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Clay dust, vanilla, honey, apricot jam, fresh baked bread, lilies, sarsaparilla, gooseberries, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Hay, clay dust, white pepper, lilies, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Fruity, slightly dusty, with herbal, jammy notes. It’s very floral, especially on the tongue. Many layered and complex, a great whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glendalough 7yo Mizunara Cask

Glendalough 7yo Mizunara Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Orange gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, papayas, tyre rubber, pencil erasers, magic marker, pear drops, hints of soot. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Black pepper, fresh baked bread, pencil erasers, mangoes, papayas, white grapes, walnut skins. 
Finish: Medium. Papayas, lemon zest, mangoes, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Fruity, but rather sulphurous. There’s a bitter, sooty edge that is apparent on the finish and towards the back of the palate. It builds to a nice cereally finish.

Verdict:

I like this.