Rocktown Four Grain Sour Mash

Rocktown Four Grain Sour Mash

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Arkansas
Amber brown
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, acetone, malted grains, ink, lemon zest, black pepper, hints of cotton sheets. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, expands, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Black pepper, cornflakes, malted grains, acetone, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, hints of cotton sheets.
Finish: Short. Acetone, black pepper, pear drops, fresh cut grass, hints of cotton sheets. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity and plenty of the black pepper note that is characteristic of the. Plenty of grassy and herbal notes too, especially on the tongue. The finish is quite short, but with the same estery notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dry Fly Cask Strength Straight Wheat

Dry Fly Cask Strength Straight Wheat

Official bottling
Single grain - Washington

Orange gold
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, nail varnish, hoppy beer, shredded wheat, white pepper, honey. With water, white pepper, honey, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Shredded wheat, white pepper, honey, nail varnish, hints of cornflakes. With water, nail varnish, white pepper, lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Shredded wheat, ink, white pepper, nutmeg, apricots. 

Comments: 

Estery, volatile and fruity. Not very balanced for sure, but there is an interesting cereally note with plenty of peppery spice, especially once water is added. It ends in a short fruity finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hudson Four Grain Bourbon

Hudson Four Grain Bourbon

Official bottling
Single bourbon - New York
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, foam shrimp, pear drops, mangoes, apple juice, cloves, hints of pineapples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Strawberry jam, pear drops, surgical spirit, malted grains, cloves, hints of pineapples. 
Finish: Short. Ink, surgical spirit, pineapples, cloves. 

Comments: 

I think this sample was spoilt. A lovely fruity nose promised a lot, but on the tongue it was insipid and even bland. It’s such a pity, if it had matched the nose it would have been glorious.

Verdict:

Not bad

Yellowstone Hand Selected 2024 Release (Cognac and Brandy Cask Finish)

Yellowstone Hand Selected 2024 Release (Cognac and Brandy Cask Finish)

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky 
Amber
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, popcorn, corn syrup, prunes, pears, white pepper, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Popcorn, cooked rice, corn syrup, vanilla, brown paper, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Prunes, popcorn, vanilla, corn syrup. 

Comments: 

Quite cereally, lots of sweet dried fruit notes and a fair bit of spices. No water, it’s quite drinkable and doesn’t even seem to have much of an alcohol burn.

Verdict:

I like this.

Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish

Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Dark gold

50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Prunes, pear drops, ink, cooked rice, vanilla, cola nuts. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 

Tasting:  Salty sweet. Cooked rice, ink, popcorn, vanilla, tarragon, prunes, pear drops, star anise, hints of molasses. 
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, cooked rice, tarragon, star anise. 

Comments: 

A rather odd rum cask, lots of herbal notes but without much of that deep caramelly flavour. It’s instead popcorn y, with star anise and tarragon.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Heart Cut Barley

Heart Cut Barley

The Heart Cut
Blended malt
Amber, hints of red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinnamon, new plastic, strawberry jam, cream, vanilla, raspberries, hints of nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Strawberry jam, raspberries, cinnamon, orange peel, orange blossom, vanilla, black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, orange blossom, raspberries, honey, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

An English blend, and like anything from the Heart Cut, very flavour forward and intense. Lots of jammy notes, but also floral orange blossom and black pepper. Quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Pulteney 11yo

Pulteney 11yo

Cask and Crust, Cask Trade
Single malt - North Highlands
Pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, sour cream, lemon zest, yoghurt, white pepper, ginseng. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, oily, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Wet stones, petrichor, lemon zest, white pepper, gentian, coffee, hints of sour cream. 
Finish: Medium. Gentian, coffee, petrichor, vanilla, hints of wet stones. 

Comments: 

Cask 504182. Lots of coastal minerally notes, with an earthy after-the-rain top note. It’s rather light and airy with a lactic tang at the end. Quite bitter.

Verdict:

I like this.

Blair Athol 25yo 1975/2000

Blair Athol 25yo 1975/2000

Old Malt Cask, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale orange gold
49.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, wet stones, ink, molasses, lemon zest, orange peel, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Molasses, wet stones, orange peel, lemon zest, cream, iron filings, hints of mangoes. 
Finish: Long. Molasses, cream, gentian, wet stones, hints of iron filings. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, with minerally notes all throughout. But there’s also oranges and lemjns and hints of tropical fruit. The finish is surprisingly bitter and minerally, with a burnt sugar sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blair Athol 29yo 1989/2019

Blair Athol 29yo 1989/2019

Cask Strength Collection, Signatory Vintage
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale gold, hints of pink
50.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, mangoes, white pepper, wet stones, creamy lemon zest, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, wet stones, lemon zesty ginseng, cream, white pepper, coffee. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, cream, gentian, white pepper, mangoes. 

Comments: 

Cask 3427. A beautiful fruity and minerally nose, but on the tongue, it’s surprisingly bitter and peppery. Lots of herbal bitterness that lingers onto the finish, alongside gentle peppery spice.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cooley 17yo Batch 1

Cooley 17yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Leinster
Straw
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, white wine, sour cream, white grapes, ink, nail varnish, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, cool, oily. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Yoghurt, sour cream, white grapes, raisins, mangoes, nail varnish, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, coffee, molasses, nail varnish, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, with tropical fruit and plenty of maltiness. Even on the tongue the lactic note persists. The finish is quite short but intense, with a bitter, watery edge.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kentucky 6yo Brandy Finish

Kentucky 6yo Brandy Finish

Fragrant Drops, Keeble Cask Company
Single bourbon - Kentucky 
Amber gold
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Aluminium foil, corn syrup, vanilla, sea salt, popcorn, ink, hints of white pepper. With water, popcorn, ink, corn syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackcurrant cordial, vanilla, white grapes, white pepper, prunes, popcorn. With water, blackcurrant cordial, ink, aluminium foil. 
Finish: Medium. Blackcurrant cordial, raisins, white pepper, aluminium foil, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Quite metallic and sweet. Some of this is the corn in the mash bill of course. On the tongue, it’s quite jammy and fruity, with a hint of white pepper. Water brings out that slightly metallic character again. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Four Gate Whiskey 7yo Ruby Port-Rum Casks

Four Gate Whiskey 7yo Ruby Port-Rum Casks

Four Gate Whiskey Company
Single rye - Indiana
Amber red 
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Desiccated coconut, honey, burnt sugar, black pepper, nail varnish, vanilla, lemon zest. With water, vanilla, black pepper, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, nail varnish, butter, burnt sugar, brown paper, lemon zest, strawberry jam. With water, butter, black pepper, honey. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, lemon zest, nail varnish, brown paper, vanilla. 

Comments: 

MGP rye, and for a contract distiller they’re occasionally rather good. This one is quite decent, lots of the usual rye spiciness, but also a sweet, fruity butteriness, as well as strawberry jam.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dingle Grianstad an Tsamraidh

Dingle Grianstad am Tsamraidh

Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Dark gold
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, white grapes, vanilla, strawberry jam, cloves, cinnamon, prunes. With water, damson jam, cloves, white grapes, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black tea, black pepper, prunes, strawberry jam, cloves. With water, gooseberries, strawberry jam, cloves, black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, plums, strawberry jam, black pepper, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity, lots of estery notes, but the whisky isn’t as funky as a pot still. Lots of winey notes too, and water brings out some of the cloves and pepper even more. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teeling 15yo Single Grain Sauvignon Blanc Cask

Teeling 15yo Single Grain Sauvignon Blanc Cask

Teeling bottler
Single malt
Pale copper
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: White wine, vanilla, popcorn, golden syrup, photocopy paper, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pear drops, vanilla, popcorn, nutmeg, white grapes, white wine, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Pear drops, vanilla, popcorn, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Sweet sour, lots of estery notes, with fruit and grain. Quite well spiced, cinnamon and nutmeg abound. The white wine cask is quite prominent. I don’t think this is from Teeling distillery itself, it’s just a little too old.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kanosuke 4yo 2018/2022 Open Day 2022

Kanosuke 4yo 2018/2022 Open Day 2022

Official bottling
Single malt - Kyushu
Dark amber red
54% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, figs, sandalwood, malted grains, cherries, black tea, golden syrup, damson jam. With water, golden syrup, raisins, cherries. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, cola nuts, sandalwood, fresh baked bread, golden syrup, damson jam. With water, black tea, golden syrup, cherries, hints of marzipan. 
Finish: Long. Sandalwood, lohan fruit, black tea, raisins, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Cask 19462. Sweet and luscious, as is nearly every Kanosuke I’ve ever tried. But this one also has golden syrup and bread notes, probably from the bourbon cask. Very rich and intense.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bowmore 7yo

Bowmore 7yo

Living Souls
Single malt - Islay
Golden
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, lemon zest, lemon juice, meringues, tobacco leaf, peat, soot, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, smoke, lemon sweets, peat, tobacco leaf, vanilla, shortcrust pastry. 
Finish: Medium. Tobacco leaf, peat, smoke, soot, shortcrust pastry, lemon sweets. 

Comments: 

A light, quite refreshing Bowmore, with restrained fruit and a lot of smoke. There are adore lemon sweets than pineapples, and a little pastry especially on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this.

Leiper’s Fork 5yo Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond Batch 2

Leiper’s Fork 5yo Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond Batch 2

Official bottling
Single rye - Tennessee
Dark brown
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, raisins, black tea, brown paper, black pepper, leather, cardamom. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, brown paper, raisins, oak chips, brown paper, cinnamon, hints of cardamom. 
Finish: Medium. Milk chocolate, leather, brown paper, cardamom, oak chips. 

Comments: 

A very fruity rye, with plenty of herbal spicy notes too. Not only the usual black pepper, but also cardamom and cinnamon. It only turns oaky at the end.

Verdict:

I like this.

Auchroisk 13yo 2009/2022

Auchroisk 13yo 2009/2022

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, red grapes, Demerara sugar, yoghurt, black pepper, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Molasses, burnt sugar, Demerara sugar, yoghurt, honey, black pepper, red grapes, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Red grapes, orange peel, burnt sugar, yoghurt, hints of black pepper. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, with burnt sugar notes that carry a hint of bitterness. Still plenty of sweet fruit notes though. It builds to a short but intense, spicy finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Invergordon 30yo 1990/2020

Invergordon 30yo 1990/2020

#179, Maltbarn
Single grain - North Highlands
Dark gold
53.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, popcorn, pear drops, vanilla, peaches, apricots, white grapes. With water, popcorn, vanilla, corn syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peaches, pear drops, vanilla, apricots, corn syrup, rhubarb and custard sweets, white pepper. With water, popcorn, apricots, vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, pear drops, vanilla, apricots. 

Comments: 

Very fruity and bright, it wears its age lightly. Plenty of apricots and peaches, even pear drops. Water brings out the grain - popcorn and vanilla abound.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Jephta Creed Bloody Butcher Corn Straight Bourbon

Jephta Creed Bloody Butcher Corn Straight Bourbon

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber gold
49% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ink, pear drops, honey, vanilla, toast, magic marker, popcorn. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Popcorn, fresh baked bread, honey, vanilla, caramel, toast, hints of iron filings. 
Finish: Short. Caramel, toast, iron filings, vanilla, corn syrup. 

Comments: 

Caramelly and sweet, lots of popcorn and toast. There’s a lot of corn in this indeed, as it says on the bottle. There’s also something slightly metallic on the tongue and the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Inchmurrin 11yo 2014/2025

Inchmurrin 11yo 2014/2025

Cask Masters, Brave New Spirits
Single malt - South Highlands
Golden orange
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, peaches, roses, honey, mangoes, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thick, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange peel, honey, black tea, malted grains, lemon zest, mangoes, passionfruit, golden syrup. 
Finish: Medium. Golden syrup, black tea, molasses, peaches. 

Comments: 

Fruity, floral, lots of malty notes. Quite intense, and surprisingly heavy bodied despite the lower ABV. Rather sweet, and gets sweeter on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.