Roberto Grande

Roberto Grande

Official bottling
Single blend - Carniola
Pale gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh cut grass, pear drops, thyme, vanilla, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Fresh cut grass, aluminium foil, lemon zest, pear drops, thyme, vanilla, hints of germolene. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, aluminium foil, white pepper, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

There’s a fair bit of malt in this blend still, and it’s reminiscent of the single malt - herbal, grassy, something very like gin but with whisky sweetness. I prefer the single malt, but this isn’t half bad.

Verdict:

I like this.

Broken Bones 6yo Batch 2/23

Broken Bones 6yo Batch 2/23

Official bottling
Single malt - Carniola
Golden, hints of bronze
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, smoke, chestnut puree, vanilla, white chocolate, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Leather, charcoal ash, vanilla, sea salt, sandalwood, white grapes, peat, smoke, autumn leaves. 
Finish: Medium. Charcoal ash, smoke, sea salt, autumn leaves, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Peaty but still with that floral plum note that reminds me of slivovitz or plum brandy. There’s a lot of smoke and ash in this one, creates layers of flavour, and those are always good.

Verdict:

I like this.

Broken Bones 4yo Batch 2/22

Broken Bones 4yo Batch 2/22

Official bottling
Single malt - Carniola
Pale gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Juniper, fresh cut grass, leather, sandalwood, driftwood smoke, camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Sandalwood, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, lemon thyme, autumn leaves, driftwood smoke, camphor. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, nutmeg, sandalwood, autumn leaves, hints of camphor. 

Comments: 

Very vegetal, lots of juniper notes. Almost like a gin rather than a whisky, if not for that smoke. It’s earthy on the tongue and earthier, and more bitter, on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Broken Bones 3yo Batch 1/23

Broken Bones 3yo Batch 1/23

Official bottling
Single malt - Carniola
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon thyme, brass polish, juniper, white spirit, white pepper, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Juniper, lemon thyme, brass polish, matches, menthol, green tea, white pepper, caraway seed. 
Finish: Short. Caraway seed, juniper, lemon thyme, malted grains. 

Comments: 

New Slovenian whisky. It’s more like gin than whisky, heavy on the juniper and other herbs, but there’s a whisper of cereal notes that brings it into the whisky world.

Verdict:

I like this.