Aberfeldy 18yo 1999 Handfilled Cask #3

Aberfeldy 18yo 1999 Handfilled Cask #3

Official bottling 
Single malt - Central Highlands
Mahogany
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, camphor, roast beef, malted grains, chocolate, white pepper, hints of cream. With water, camphor, honey, orange peel, hints of roast beef. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, white pepper, sandalwood, orange peel, chocolate, honey, hints of cloves. With water, chocolate, white pepper, honey, orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Camphor, white pepper, orange peel, cloves. 

Comments: 

Herbal and rich, but with a creaminess that’s quite lactic. Paired with the other dominant note of chocolate, it’s really quite delicious. Water brings out more chocolate, honey and orange peel. A very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 18yo 1998 Handfill

Aberfeldy 18yo 1998 Handfill

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

Nose: Camphor, white pepper, malted grains, mangoes, orange peel, cream, vanilla. With water, raisins, malted grains, white pepper, hints of camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. White pepper, raisins, orange peel, mangoes, chocolate, cream, hints of coffee. With water, malted grains, raisins, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Long. Camphor, cream, orange peel, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Herbal and spicy, reminds me of nothing so much as an alcoholic Irn-Bru. Water brings it more maltiness and more peppery spice. Long and herbal finish, extremely enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Kidalton 22yo

Kidalton 22yo

Vintage Reserve, Milroys of Soho
Single malt - Islay
Amber gold
53.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, passionfruit, mangoes, malted grains, apple juice. With water, lemon zest, germolene, apple juice, coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, hot, mouth coating.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Mangoes, smoke, peat, apple juice, malted grains, lemon zest. With water, lemon zest, sea salt, smoke, apple juice. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, smoke, coffee, dark chocolate, peat. 

Comments: 

Not your usual Ardbeg, doesn’t have the deep chocolate and coffee notes. Instead it’s quite fruity, with plenty of tropical fruits including mangoes and passionfruit. Water brings out a saltiness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Coperies Single Malt (French Fortified Wine Cask Finish)

Coperies Single Malt (French Fortified Wine Casks Finish)

Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Amber 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Molasses, raisins, raspberry jam, black pepper, coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Molasses, raspberry jam, magic marker, surgical spirit, dark chocolate, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, dark chocolate, orange peel, vanilla, hints of new plastic. 

Comments: 

Very estery with lots of volatile flavours. Notes of antiseptic and surgical spirit predominate, followed by a wave of dark chocolate. It’s got a bitter, fragrant finish, mostly coffee with some estery fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Pe5

Pe5

Elements of Islay, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold 
57.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Creosote, lemon juice, tarry rope, fish sauce, dates, angelica root, smoke, hints of star anise. With water, dates, leather, acacia honey, hints of star anise. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly oily, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Creosote, peat, smoke, soot, dates, sea salt, magic marker, star anise, hints of acacia honey. With water, leather, soot, dates, lemon juice. 
Finish: Medium. Creosote, soot, peat, smoke, lemon juice, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Quite bitter and savoury, with complex layers of flavour. Water brings out some sweetness, alongside a big wave of soot. A rather chemical dram but well aged with huge complexity.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.