Emperor’s Way 4yo Batch 1

Emperor’s Way 4yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Bavaria
Bright amber
54.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, leather, sherry, red grapes, peat, farmyard, autumn leaves, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, wet stones, honey, pears, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, smoke, farmyard, pears, red grapes, autumn leaves, petrichor, hints of charcoal ash. With water, peat, smoke, red grapes, wet stones. 
Finish: Long. Petrichor, autumn leaves, smoke, farmyard, honey. 

Comments: 

Peated whisky from Hammerschmiede distillery, which also makes Elsburn. It’s sherried, lots of sweet notes with layers of complexity. It’s also reminiscent of a farm after rain, but not in an unpleasant way. Quite tasty. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Elsburn 7yo Batch 3

Elsburn 7yo Batch 3

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Bavaria 
Amber
48.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sourdough bread, raisins, coffee, leather, pears, caramel, toasted coconut, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Brown paper, coffee, toasted coconut, caramel, pears, nutmeg, dark chocolate, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, golden syrup, vanilla, hints of cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Starts our yeasty and bready, but soon turns sweet and caramelly. There’s something that’s not quite malty in this - brown paper and toasted coconut suggest some corn - but it’s got a good level of sweetness and flavour intensity.

Verdict:

I like this.

Elsburn 3yo Batch 2

Elsburn 3yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt 
Single malt - Bavaria
Orange brown
48.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, cinder toffee, orange peel, molasses, dark chocolate, malted grains, hints of hoppy beer. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, oily, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, cinder toffee, dark chocolate, malted grains, fresh baked bread, coffee, hints of charcoal ash. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, cinder toffee, fresh baked bread, raisins, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

I’ve tended to score German whiskies quite highly, and I was rather impressed by this one. It’s young, no doubt, but it’s got a good malty spine and is toffee-sweet. A little longer in a cask would probably have made it even better.

Verdict:

I like this.