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.