High Coast 9yo 2014/2025

High Coast 9yo 2014/2025

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Ångermanland
Amber copper
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, black pepper, honey, figs, fresh cut grass. With water, honey, leather, hints of figs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, volatile, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black pepper, figs, sandalwood, honey, blackcurrant cordial, hints of caraway seed. With water, honey, leather, figs. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, blackcurrant cordial, milk chocolate, figs. 

Comments: 

A delicate and floral High Coast, with lots of fig and blackcurrant notes. Good whisky, surprisingly refreshing, and tastes excellent in a highball.

Verdict:

I like this.

Akkeshi 3yo 2018/2025

Akkeshi 3yo 2018/2025

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Hokkaido
Pale gold
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Driftwood smoke, peat, white grapes, fresh cut grass, leather, charcoal ash, hints of photocopy paper. With water, soot, lemon juice, white grapes, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, slippery, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Charcoal ash, driftwood smoke, peat, ginseng, fresh cut grass, leather, autumn leaves, lemon zest, hints of photocopy paper. With water, driftwood smoke, soot, autumn leaves, fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Short. Chillies, ginseng, charcoal ash, soot, autumn leaves. 

Comments: 

Smoky, salty, lots of grassy earthy notes. Water brings out a bit of throat catching soot, and more earthiness. It’s also quite herbal and citrusy. Rather good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

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.

Spirit of Yorkshire 5yo 2018/2023

Spirit of Yorkshire 5yo 2018/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Yorkshire 
Amber, hints of pink
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raspberry jam, meringues, vanilla, milk chocolate, hints of malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, meringues, vanilla, black tea, coffee, walnut skins, milk chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, gentian, hoppy beer, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Fruity and creamy, lots of slightly eggy notes that turn sweet. There are some bitter elements here, especially on the tongue and more intensely, on the finish. Decent dram, although a little young.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Glover 6yo

The Glover 6yo

Adelphi
Vatted malt
Pale orange
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, white grapes, pomeloes, malted grains, pencil lead, vanilla, lemon zest. With water, pencil lead, peaches, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pomeloes, lemon zest, honey, white grapes, malted grains, vanilla, green tea, hints of pencil lead. With water, vanilla, malted grains, white pepper, honey. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, wet stones, vanilla, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Deliciously tangy and fruity, but with plenty of feinty minerally notes. There’s tannins here too, herbal green tea that takes over after a few seconds. A great meeting of distillates, this blending of Chichibu and Ardnamurchan.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnamurchan 9yo 2014/2023

Ardnamurchan 9yo 2014/2023

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Western Highlands
Amber gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, cloves, barley sugar, lemon zest, brown sugar, hints of strawberry jam. With water, strawberry jam, vanilla, honey, barley sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, warm, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, bubble gum, barley sugar, raisins, hints of tarragon. With water, cinnamon, strawberry jam, raisins, honey. 
Finish: Short. Barley sugar, raisins, cocoa nibs, cloves, hints of tarragon. 

Comments: 

Very jammy and spicy Arnamurchan. It’s the oldest I’ve ever had from this distillery, and it does fulfill its promise. I’d say that the cask influence (sherry) is predominant, but there’s some herbal hints that are from the distillate.

Verdict:

I like this.

Mortlach 36yo 1986/2022

Mortlach 36yo 1986/2022

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, blueberry jam, cough syrup, pear drops, cocoa nibs, cloves. With water, pear drops, winter melons, blueberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Butter, vanilla, cloves, blueberry jam, raisins, pear drops, hints of leather, hints of smoke. With water, cocoa nibs, winter melons, pear drops. 
Finish: Long. Pear drops, blueberry jam, cloves, cinnamon, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 2040. Superb old Mortlach, lots of fruity notes, with the robust meaty notes toned down to unctuous butter. With water the twist of smoke is even more apparent. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Benrinnes 12yo 2011/2023

Benrinnes 12yo 2011/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside
Red purple
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, red grapes, strawberry jam, black pepper, blackberries, rye bread, hints of black tea. With water, black tea, blackberries, red wine, hints of cherries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackberries, malted grains, lemon zest, smoke, rye bread, black tea, hints of red wine. With water, black tea, blackberries, red wine, lemon juice, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Blackberries, strawberry jam, malted grains, rye bread, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 301624. Lots of sweet brambly blackberry notes. Other than that it’s quite bready and sweet, worth more than a hint of smoke. It opens up with water, becoming less sweet, a little more bitter and a little more sour.

Verdict:

I like this.

Akkeshi 3yo 2018/2023

Akkeshi 3yo 2018/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Hokkaido
Amber rose 
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, yoghurt, tyre rubber, germolene, hints of vanilla, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. With water, tyre rubber, charcoal ash, vanilla, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Leather, vanilla, tyre rubber, driftwood smoke, lemon curd, charcoal ash, sour cream, hints of yoghurt. With water, driftwood smoke, strawberries, vanilla, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon curd, driftwood smoke, charcoal ash, leather, peat. 

Comments: 

Cask 1011. Akkeshi is meant to replicate Lagavulin, and I must say they’ve done a very good job. I tasted this alongside a dram of Lagavulin 16yo, and the only thing missing was the seaweed notes, and slight additional tartness. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Smögen 10yo 2013/2023

Smögen 10yo 2013/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Bohuslän

Amber pink 
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pine needles, grapefruit, lemon zest, wet stones, malted grains, leather, smoked bacon, hints of smoke, hints of red grapes. With water, farmyard, fresh cut grass, wet stones, grapefruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Germolene, caraway seed, lemon zest, pine needles, wet stones, hints of smoke. With water, grapefruit, lemon zest, wet stones, pine needles. 
Finish: Medium. Pine needles, caraway seed, lemon zest, red grapes, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets.  

Comments: 

Cask 58. Very nice and complex Smögen, loads of pine and caraway over a good layer of smoke. It’s also the oldest Smögen I’ve ever had. Very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bowmore 26yo 1997/2023

Bowmore 26yo 1997/2023

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Islay
Dark amber
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, roast beef, roast, raisins, matches, coffee, honey, hints of white paper. With water, honey, leather, matches, smoked bacon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, honey, salt caramel, apple sauce, coffee, toast, tarry rope, peat. With water, coffee, raisins, smoke, tarry rope, matches. 
Finish: Medium. Matches, coffee, white pepper, tarry rope. 

Comments: 

Cask 2410. Quite lovely, although rather expensive. Good Bowmore is clearly in demand. It’s got a lovely gentle smoky, meaty blanket of flavour, punctuated by pinpricks of sulphur and phosphorus. There’s an undertone of tar that is also very well integrated. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Sandebud 6yo

The Sandebud 6yo

Adelphi

 Vatted malt - Multi-country

Amber 

58.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, germolene, orange peel, salt caramel, leather, cedar, hints of smoke. With water, orange peel, toast, roast pork, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, peat, orange peel, germolene, nutmeg, sea salt, cinnamon, cedar, smoke. With water, toast, germolene, orange peel, photocopy paper. 
Finish: Long. Germolene, photocopy paper, smoke, leather, peat. 

Comments: 

A blend of Ardnamurchan and High Coast. Meaty, smoky, woody and fruity, it’s a good melding of complex malts with personality. Water brings out some spicy and feinty notes that complement the smokiness. Quite delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardnagherkin 6yo 2015/2022

Ardnagherkin 6yo 2015/2022

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Western Highlands
Light gold, hints of green
59.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, lemon zest, leather, smoke, malted grains, pickle juice, hints of saffron. With water, honey, pickle juice, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Leather, malted grains, pickle juice, smoke, white pepper, hints of new plastic, hints of coriander seed. With water, smoke, green apples, charcoal ash. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, white pepper, lemon zest, smoke, charcoal ash. 

Comments: 

Cask 672. This divided opinion. I come down on the ‘I quite like it’ side. I understand tart salty notes like pickle juice aren’t very usual in whisky, but this appeals to my anarchic ‘anything goes’ tendencies. Not every whisky does, but this one has.

Verdict:

I like this.

Chichibu 7yo 2013/2023

Chichibu 7yo 2013/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - East Honshu
Pale yellow gold
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, mangoes, kiwifruit, lemon zest, green apples, burnt sugar, hints of nutmeg. With water, ice cream soda, green apples, mangoes, mangoes, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Mangoes, malted grains, burnt sugar, green apples, vanilla, ice cream soda, passionfruit. With water, peaches, mangoes, green apples, cinder toffee. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, burnt sugar, apple juice, cinder toffee, hints of charcoal ash. 

Comments: 

Cask 3090. Brilliant stuff, obviously spent some time in a plastic vessel, but for all that it’s still fruity and toffee’s, with a hint of crisp green apple and charcoal ash at the end to keep it interesting. Thank you Hopscotch Whisky Bar for this taste.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Zuidam 19yo 1999/2021

Zuidam 19yo 1999/2021

Selection, Adelphi 
Single malt - North Brabant 
Amber, hints of red 
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, red grapes, cocoa nibs, damson jam, dark chocolate, strawberries. With water, raisins, dark chocolate, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, airy, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, red grapes, cocoa nibs, clay dust, cloves, black pepper, kiwifruit, hints of strawberry jam. With water, cocoa nibs, damson jam, cloves, hints of brown paper. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, dark chocolate, red grapes, kiwifruit. 

Comments: 

Cask 2547. Excellent stuff, this, creamy and fruity, lots of classic sherry notes, but with plenty of spirit background. It has also been given plenty of time to develop. Some of that must have been in a plastic vessel, but it doesn’t seem to have hurt it too much. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Laphroaig 14yo 2004/2019

Laphroaig 14yo 2004/2019

Selection, Adelphi 
Single malt - Islay
Pale orange 
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, cotton sheets, pencil lead, fresh cut grass, heather honey, autumn leaves, coal smoke, hints of coal gas. With water, leather, smoked bacon, heather honey, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Cotton sheets, coal gas, wet stones, pencil lead, heather honey, fresh cut grass, cabbage, hints of red grapes. With water, wet stones, leather, autumn leaves, smoked bacon. 
Finish: Long. Pencil lead, wet stones, leather, coal smoke. 

Comments: 

A feinty, sulphurous Laphroaig, quite bright and intense. A little water opens up some sweet, smoky meatiness.n interesting complex dram, less medicinal peat and more sulphurous peat.

Verdict:

I like this.

Inchgower 13yo 2007/2021

Inchgower 13yo 2007/2021

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber red gold
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chestnuts, raisins, acacia honey, black tea, cloves, nutmeg, gingerbread, rose petals. With water, acacia honey, chestnuts, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, syrupy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, gingerbread, malted grains, acacia honey, rum and raisin, hints of cinnamon. With water, rum and raisin, black tea, acacia honey, hints of rose petals. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, malted grains, rose petals, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Malty and floral, this whisky is replete with satisfying flavours. It boasts a beautiful colour and thick legs, and is really very good. The sweetness is offset by a slightly tannic finish that opens up with a few drops of water.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Mortlach 17yo 2003/2020

Mortlach 17yo 2003/2020

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside 
Bright silver gold
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, pomeloes, peaches, magic marker, malted grains, cornflakes, barley sugar. With water, magic marker, cotton candy, pomeloes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, warm, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cornflakes, peaches, roast chicken, barley sugar, lemon zest, honeycomb, hints of nutmeg. With water, magic marker, lemon zest, pomeloes, orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Peaches, nutmeg, barley sugar, hints of roast chicken. 

Comments: 

Cask 800264. Quite delicate for a Mortlach, some very sweet notes, but light ones. Still, there’s a strong hint of roast chicken, which goes very well with the stone fruit and spice.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Starward 5yo 2011/2021

Starward 5yo 2011/2021

Selection, Adelphi 
Single malt - Victoria
Amber pink
58.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ginger, stale beer, malted grains, dark chocolate, orange peel, nutmeg, black pepper, hints of gas. With water, honey, blackcurrant cordial, strawberries, cinnamon, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, slippery, turns watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, dark chocolate, dried apricots, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, bananas, hints of ginger, hints of cardboard. With water, strawberries, cinnamon, blackcurrant cordial, dried apricots. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, bananas, nutmegs, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

This whisky was rested in an inert vessel for 5 years. Lots of wine and fruit, as befits an Aperol finished whisky. It’s got whiffs that remind me of bourbon, and there are some feinty, slightly cardboardy notes underneath.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Moray 10yo 2009/2020

Glen Moray 10yo 2009/2020

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside 
Gold, hints of pink
59.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marzipan, cola nuts, orange peel, vanilla, honey, fresh baked bread, hints of stale beer. With water, sweeter, candy floss, bubble gum, vanilla, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, loosens slightly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cola nuts, orange peel, honey, fresh baked bread, stale beer, oats, chocolate, hints of new plastic. With water, honey, candy floss, new plastic, hints of bubble gum. 
Finish: Medium. Oats, new plastic, orange peel, marzipan. 

Comments: 

This whisky is quite fragrant and sweet, but upon sitting exposed to air, it takes on a slightly plasticky note, still almost malty. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s certainly less interesting than the initial nose.

Verdict:

I like this.