Garrison Brothers 2015

Garrison Brothers 2015

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Texas
Amber, hints of red
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, sea salt, cookie dough, honey, milk chocolate, hints of molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Milk chocolate, sea salt, vanilla, toffee, Demerara sugar, black tea, tablet. 
Finish: Long. Tablet, vanilla, sea salt, toffee, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Chocolatey and sweet, lots of vanilla notes. But there’s something slightly savoury underneath that goes very well with all that sweetness. Luscious whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Debt Collector Whisky 100 Proof

Debt Collector Whisky 100 Proof

Official bottling
Single blend - London
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, vanilla, black pepper, honey, fresh baked bread, bananas, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, black pepper, fresh baked bread, brown paper, red grapes, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, brown paper, fresh baked bread, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

English whisky made in a bourbon style. Rather sweet and raisiny, and there’s a lot of bread and cereal notes. Still, it has the bourbon sweetness and light banana flavour.

Verdict:

I like this.

MB Roland Straight Corn Whiskey

MB Roland Straight Corn Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Bright gold
53.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, soor ploom sweets, damson jam, pear drops, raisins, red grapes, honey. With water, peanuts, raisins, hints of molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, expands, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Magic marker, pear drops, peanuts, damson jam, honey, hints of oats. With water, oats, pear drops, honey, peanuts, hints of Demerara sugar. 
Finish: Long. Corn syrup, honey, damson jam, pear drops. 

Comments: 

Estery, lots of dried plum notes. Also very sweet, such that it reminds me of soor ploom sweets. It builds to a long finish, but that’s really quite sweet with not much k the way of other flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Batch 10

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Batch 10

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Nevada
Amber
61.14% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, cucumbers, vanilla, white grapes, pear drops, raisins, hints of strawberry jam. With water, cucumbers, fresh cut grass, ink. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, expands, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cucumbers, mangoes, raisins, black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, cookie dough, vanilla, hints of ginger. With water, fresh cut grass, strawberry jam, black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Cookie dough, vanilla, black pepper, raisins. 

Comments: 

Fruity and creamy, with an estery overtone. The high strength makes this rather intense. Water brings out some more jammy notes and grassiness. Takes water well, be generous.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Roughstock Spring Wheat

Roughstock Spring Wheat

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Montana
Green gold 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, white wine, malted grains, ink, pear drops, hints of lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour. Pear drops, fresh cut grass, malted grains, ink, lemon zest, vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Pear drops, lemon zest, vanilla, fresh baked bread, hints of new plastic. 

Comments: 

Light, lemony, with delicate flavours. But they aren’t very well defined, they almost seem to merge into one another. There’s also a slight hint of plastic on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Charbay Hops Whisky Release R5

Charbay Hops Whisky Release R5

Official bottling
Single malt - California
Amber gold
49.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, elderflower, raisins, edelweiss, malted grains, magic marker, nutmeg, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Elderflower, vanilla, malted grains, magic marker, pear drops, gooseberries, white grapes. 
Finish: Short. Elderflower, vanilla, edelweiss, pear drops, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Floral, delicate and fruity, with very marked alpine flowers notes. It’s subtle whisky, rewards introspection. The nose is lovely and the taste is fleeting. Superbly well constructed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

High Coast Quercus IV

High Coast Quercus IV

Official bottling 
Single malt - Ångermanland 
Orange gold
50.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, magic marker, gooseberries, apple juice, sandalwood, honey, hints of malted grains. With water, honey, sandalwood, vanilla, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Magic marker, gooseberries, sandalwood, apple juice, cardamom, black pepper, honey, hints of sandalwood. With water, honey, sandalwood. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, sandalwood, black pepper, cardamom. 

Comments: 

Swedish whisky aged in Mizunara oak, but grown in Mongolia, not Japan. Fruity and sweet, more of that cardamom note, but there’s a herbal, incense note that pervades the whisky. Rather fascinating.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

High Coast Hav

High Coast Hav

Official bottling 
Single malt - Ångermanland
Golden
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, honey, sea salt, malted grains, smoke, cloves, cardamom. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Malted grains, peat, raisins, leather, vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, honey. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, vanilla, leather, peat, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Honeyed, but with a savoury herbal edge. It’s mostly cardamom that is the spice note, which I think is fairly unusual. It builds to a short intense finish that’s malty and slightly smoky. 

Verdict:

I like this.

High Coast Älv

High Coast Älv

Official bottling

Single malt - Ångermanland
Pale silver
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Limes, malted grains, white grapes, lemon zest, walnuts, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sour. Malted grains, limes, lemon zest, sea salt, vanilla, lavender, honey, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Short. Limes, lavender, honey, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Swedish whisky made in the style of Japanese whisky. Very well defined flavours - limes, white grapes and malt - and very gentle and fruity. Rather good, although personally I think Japanese whisky is more robust.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Togouchi Sake Cask Finish

Togouchi Sake Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single blend - Chūgoku
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, orange peel, white grapes, mint, malted grains, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cooked rice, magic marker, mint, malted grains, vanilla, pears, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Cooked rice, orange peel, molasses, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Well, sake casks do impart some rice notes. Also there’s vanilla and fruit, and some estery notes that remind me f magic marker. The malt still shines through.

Verdict:

I like this.

Togouchi Premium

Togouchi Premium

Official bottling
Single blend - Chūgoku
Bronze gold 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, peaches, mushrooms, autumn leaves, molasses, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. New plastic, bananas, mushrooms, autumn leaves, orange peel, molasses, hints of gooseberries. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, orange peel, bananas, molasses. 

Comments: 

Fruity, very gentle, and slightly plasticky. This is from Sakurao distillery and is fully Japanese. It’s aged in the famous railway tunnel (Togouchi labelled whiskies are).

Verdict:

I like this.

Piccadily 6yo 2019/2025

Piccadily 6yo 2019/2025

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Haryana
Amber 
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, cornstarch, liquorice, cough syrup, black pepper, rye bread, hints of blackcurrant cordial. With water, liquorice, yoghurt, blackcurrant cordial, cooked rice. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, black pepper, rye bread, cough syrup, liquorice, cooked rice, blackcurrant cordial. With water, black pepper, rye bread, liquorice, hints of blackcurrant cordial. 
Finish: Short. Blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, malted grains, liquorice. 

Comments: 

White grain-whisky like, it’s mainly the peppery rice notes. But there’s also plenty of Ribena and liquorice, which brings to mind a sherry cask. Water brings out even more pepper and liquorice.

Verdict:

I like this.

Talisker 11yo 1988/1999

Talisker 11yo 1988/1999

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing

Single malt - Islands
Pale gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, peat, burning leaves, yoghurt, smoke, honey, fresh baked bread. With water, magic marker, fresh cut grass, acetone. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Malted grains, yoghurt, magic marker, burning leaves, honey, smoke, fresh baked bread. With water, acetone, peat, magic marker, burning leaves. 
Finish: Medium. Burning leaves, peat, smoke, honey, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Quite malty but laden with autumn flavours, burning leaves, smoke, and peat. Bitter and complex. A little more fruit would be good, I’m probably less of a nail varnish fan than most. Still, a rather good dram. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oban 13yo Manager’s Dram Sherry Cask

Oban 13yo Manager’s Dram Sherry Cask

Official bottling

Single malt - West Highlands
Bright gold
62% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, white pepper, lohan fruit, pears, gooseberries, blackcurrant cordial, toast, autumn leaves, hints of chicken stock. With water, autumn leaves, honey, gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Ginseng, walnut skins, lohan fruit, autumn leaves, gooseberries, fresh cut grass, sandalwood, hints of smoke. With water, sea salt, chicken stock, leather, gooseberries. 
Finish: Long. Pears, gooseberries, white grapes, autumn leaves, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Oof.  Meaty, fruity, grassy, herbal with layers and layers of smokiness. Ware brings out more frightening on the nose but a savoury sweetness on the tongue. Rightly considered one of the best whiskies.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Peat Smoked Sea Salt 11yo 2014/2025

Peat Smoked Sea Salt 11yo 2014/2025

Elevenses Whisky, Keeble Cask Company
Single malt - Ardmore
Pale orange
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peanuts, petrol exhaust, smoke, soot, yoghurt, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Lemon zest, yoghurt, malted grains, petrol exhaust, burning leaves, soot, hints of sour cream. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, yoghurt, lemon juice, burning leaves. 

Comments: 

I’m fairly sure this is an Ardmore. It’s got some interesting burning leaves notes, with lots of citrusy lemon. It’s also slightly lactic, maybe a little too lactic for me.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dalrymple 13yo 2011/2024

Dalrymple 13yo 2011/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark amber
55.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, malted grains, strawberry jam, white pepper, hay, raisins. With water, honey, raisins, strawberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, volatile, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Vanilla, malted grains, honey, hay, white pepper, strawberry jam, pandan, papayas. With water, honey, raisins, strawberry jam. 
Finish: Short. Honey, malted grains, pandan, hay. 

Comments: 

Herbal and sweet, lots of honey and grassy notes. Water brings out more sweet notes including an intensely jammy note. This is teaspooned Ailsa Bay.

Verdict:

I like this.

Holyrood Pitch

Holyrood Pitch

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
49.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Molasses, peaches, apricots, honey, applesauce, cloves, cinnamon, shortcrust pastry. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Menthol, apricots, peaches, honey, malted grains, applesauce, toast, white pepper, cloves. 
Finish: Long. Menthol, applesauce, sandalwood, toast, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Appley, with a spicy and slightly bittersweet edge. On the tongue there’s a herbal menthol note, goes quite well with the slight toasty smokiness. Like a slightly burnt apple pie.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

London Distillery Company Renascence

London Distillery Company Renascence

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Pale amber gold
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, sandalwood, peaches, malted grains, coffee, honey, hints of autumn leaves. With water, pear drops, orange juice, peaches, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apricots, peaches, malted grains, coffee, honey, sandalwood, nutmeg, hints of black pepper. With water, honey, malted grains, peaches, hints of apricots. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, coffee, honey, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Interesting whisky from a distillery that died and came back to life. Lots of spice, fruit and a little bit of earthiness. Water opens up the distillate, bringing in oranges, peaches and honey.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Sagamore Spirit Distiller’s Select Tequila Finish

Sagamore Spirit Distiller’s Select Tequila Finish

Official bottling

Single bourbon - Maryland
Amber
49% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oak chips, black pepper, malted grains, vanilla, cinnamon, honey, hints of maple syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, oak chips, maple syrup, malted grains, honey, Demerara sugar, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Honey, vanilla, malted grains, cinnamon, oak chips, hints of Demerara sugar. 

Comments: 

Spicy, but woody - that seems to be a distillery characteristic. Still plenty of sweet notes, maple syrup, Demerara sugar, but the woody note persists to the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Rampur Barrel Blush

Rampur Barrel Blush

Official bottling
Single malt - Uttar Pradesh
Golden
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, malted grains, damson jam, orange peel, apricots, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Damson jam, cucumbers, mint, red grapes, apricots, nutmeg, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, peanuts, apricots, malted grains, hints of cucumbers. 

Comments: 

Fruity, but surprisingly vegetal. Lots of stone fruit, mint and cucumbers. Quite a short finish, but surprisingly intense.

Verdict:

I like this.

North of Scotland 46yo Batch 1

North of Scotland 46yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, oak chips, croissants, sawdust, ink, vanilla, pear drops, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, mouth coating, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, sawdust, ink, pear drops, lemon zest, croissants, hints of magic marker. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, magic marker, sandalwood, lemon zest, oak chips. 

Comments: 

A very old grain, probably over oaked. It’s definitely quite woody, but there’s also a layer of buttery vanilla. Also some paper ones to go along with the oak.

Verdict:

I like this.

Eddu 14yo Batch 1

Eddu 14yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Brittany 
Bright gold
47.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, orange peel, vitamin C tablets, lemon zest, malted grains, pear drops, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, vitamin C tablets, lemon zest, orange peel, lemon juice, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, malted grains, fresh baked bread, white pepper, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Citrusy, light mouth feel at first then sits heavier on the tongue. Quite malty with plenty of fruit. A nice finish that turns bitter and fragrant. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardbeg 15yo 2008/2024

Ardbeg 15yo 2008/2024

Single Cask, Royal Mile Whiskies
Single malt - Islay
Pale amber
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, ice cream soda, lemon zest, leather, germolene, white chocolate. With water, germolene, lemon zest, cocoa nibs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, loosens, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. White chocolate, smoke, peat, lemon zest, diesel exhaust, white grapes, honey. With water, lemon zest, white chocolate, smoke, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Short. Diesel exhaust, smoke, lemon zest, germolene, ice cream soda. 

Comments: 

Chocolatey and smoky, a rather classic combination of flavours for Ardbeg. But the chocolate is white and the smoke is car exhaust, specifically diesel. Interesting and intense.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Compass Box Peat Monster

Compass Box Peat Monster

Compass Box
Blend
Silvery gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peat, orange peel, pear drops, peanuts, germolene, autumn leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, honey, leather, peat, germolene, smoke, autumn leaves, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, autumn leaves, moss, germolene, sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Smoky and intense, lots of earthy, incense notes. There’s some fruity citrus notes on the top palate. A robust, muscular blend.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Whistler Imperial Stout Finish Batch 003

The Whistler Imperial Stout Finish Batch 003

Official bottling 
Single malt - Leinster
Dark gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, raisins, molasses, golden syrup, coffee, hints of Demerara sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Molasses, dark chocolate, nutmeg, coffee, cloves, menthol, hoppy beer, soot, diesel exhaust. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, diesel exhaust, molasses, raisins. 

Comments: 

Beery and malty, with a smoky edge that’s almost catches in your throat. Well layered and nicely flavoured, plenty of chocolatey stout.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie Week of Peat 14yo

Balvenie Week of Peat 14yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden bronze
48.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, oranges, malted grains, fresh cut grass, rhubarb and custard sweets, cooked rice, hints of acetone. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, smoke, oranges, fresh cut grass, marmalade, figs, soot, honey, hints of black pepper.
Finish: Medium. Diesel exhaust, soot, honey, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Nice and peaty, but it’s a gentle peat that isn’t quite in your face. It’s also layered well with the fruit (figs, oranges and oddly, rhubarb and custard). There’s some diesel on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Loch Lomond “Croftengea” 17yo 2007/2024

Loch Lomond “Croftengea” 17yo 2007/2024

Whisky Jury
Single malt - South Highlands
Golden
59.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Winter melons, lemon zest, peat, oranges, smoke, gooseberries, hints of cinnamon. With water, oranges, tyre rubber, charcoal ash, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Lemon zest, malted grains, leather, soot, charcoal ash, winter melons. With water, malted grains, leather, smoke, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, winter melons, malted grains, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Smoky, yet fruity, some ashy cinnamon especially on the nose. Water brings out some more citrus, with smoke too. It builds to a nice malty finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Allt-a-Bhainne 27yo 1995/2023

Allt-a-Bhainne 27yo 1995/2023

Vintage Speyside Reserve, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Golden brown
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Aluminium foil, shortcrust pastry, cinnamon, apples, magic marker, parchment paper, acetone. With water, ginger, acetone, shortcrust pastry. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, shortcrust pastry, aluminium foil, black tea, apples, magic marker, honey, white pepper. With water, ginger, apples, toast. 
Finish: Short. Aluminium foil, magic marker, malted grains, white pepper, apples. 

Comments: 

Papery and buttery, with notes of acetone (very estery). There’s plenty of apples too. Water brings out notes of ginger and more pastry. A complex and layered dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.