Glenfarclas 190th Anniversary

Glenfarclas 190th Anniversary 

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark amber
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, strawberry sweets, black pepper, cloves. With water, dark chocolate, raisins, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, coffee, black pepper, strawberry sweets, nutmeg, raisins, hints of pomeloes. With water, nutmeg, dark chocolate, raisins, honey. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, coffee, black pepper, raisins, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Quintessential Speyside whisky, very representative of Glenfarclas, yet has a distinct strawberry flavour of its own. Well crafted and excellent dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Van Brunt Stillhouse Rye Lot 23

Van Brunt Stillhouse Rye Lot 23

Official bottling
Single rye - New York 
Amber copper
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, nectarines, parchment paper, black pepper, applesauce, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Parchment paper, peaches, applesauce, cinnamon, gooseberries, caramel, hints of green tea. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, caramel, raisins, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Quite tannic and herbal for a rye, and also quite delicate. There’s a slightly dusty, papery quality to it, one that goes well with the fragrant green tea notes. Rather unusual and rather good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Annandale 8yo Defender of the Crown

Annandale 8yo Defender of the Crown

Whiskyheroes, Brave New Spirits
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold 
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, germolene, raisins, sea salt, white grapes, smoke, leather, autumn leaves. With water, leather, raisins, cocoa nibs. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Germolene, raisins, white grapes, honey, soot, smoke, hints of gentian. With water, smoke, germolene, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, white grapes, smoke, germolene. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet and delicate despite the peatiness of the distillate. It’s characteristic of Annandale in my view. Rather well aged, with layered complexity. Very well constructed whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 69.3 (Glen Albyn 16yo 1978/1994)

SMWS 69.3 (Glen Albyn 16yo 1978/1994)

1994, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Straw
64.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, malted grains, fresh cut grass, cream, elderflower, hints of roast chicken. With water, honey, white pepper, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, lemon zest, cream, elderflower, honey, grapefruit, hints of vanilla. With water, elderflower, malted grains, honey, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Elderflower, honey, lemon zest, cream, hints of vanilla. 

Comments: 

Malty and citrusy, with a floral elderflower note (I find this to be quite unusual). There’s a slightly meatiness to it as well, especially prominent given the high strength. Water brings out more of that floral elderflower note.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dallas Dhu 17yo 1970/1987

Dallas Dhu 17yo 1970/1987

Sestante
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
58.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, honey, cinnamon, malted grains, white pepper, hints of green pepper, hints of camphor. With water, honeydew melons, fresh cut grass, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honeydew melons, white pepper, fresh cut grass, honey, lemon zest, hints of camphor. With water, magic marker, camphor, leather, honey, honeydew melons. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, malted grains, honey, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Fruity and complex, lots of melon and honey notes. Water brings out some grassiness and citrus, and eventually some herbal bitterness. This is perfectly layered and constructed, an alluring, mouth watering whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie 29yo 1994+1996

Balvenie “Blended Malt Whisky” 29yo 1994+1996

Decadent Drinks
Teaspooned malt - Speyside 
Amber
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Beeswax, cola nuts, honeycomb, malted grains, honey, foam shrimp, gooseberries. With water, honey, white pepper, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cola nuts, beeswax, honeycomb, gooseberries, nectarines, greengages, lemon zest. With water, nectarines, honey, beeswax. 
Finish: Long. Honey, greengages, sandalwood, nectarines. 

Comments: 

Very waxy, plenty of peach. If you’d asked me to taste blind I’d have said this was Clynelish and not Balvenie. But that’s what it is, and there’s some notes of greengageS that hint a little bit at its origins.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aultmore 15yo 2010/2026

Aultmore 15yo 2010/2026

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, white chocolate, foam shrimp, malted grains, white pepper, vitamin C tablets, fresh cut grass. With water, lemon zest, nectarines, white pepper, fresh cut grass. 

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, nectarines, clementines, malted grains, honey, white pepper, photocopy paper, vitamin C tablets. With water, malted grains, fresh cut grass, foam shrimp, clementines. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, photocopy paper, vitamin C tablets, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Quite citrusy and peppery, with a thick heavy body that sits on the tongue. Water brings out some malty sweetness, some additional grassiness to cut the ought h citrus.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Auchentoshan 20yo

Auchentoshan 20yo

Whisky Craft, Solasta Holdings
Single malt - Lowlands
Yellow gold 
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marmalade, lemon zest, lemon curd, cream, magic marker, green tea, malted grains, hints of brown paper. With water, fresh cut grass, lemon curd, malted grains, ume. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, astringent, slightly chalky. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Green tea, lemon zest, marmalade, dried apricots, fresh cut grass, white pepper, hints of chalk. With water, fresh cut grass, green tea, ume, leather.
Finish: Medium. Lemon curd, marmalade, fresh cut grass, cinnamon, hints of dried apricots. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and bright, lots of grassy notes with pepper. Slightly chalky (both in body and on the tongue). Water burns out more grassy florals, with fermented ume.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnamurchan 6yo 2019/2026

Ardnamurchan 6yo 2019/2026

#24, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Western Highlands
Orange gold
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cedar, olive brine, smoke, peat, germolene, popcorn, honey, hints of dried apricots. With water, honey, dried apricots, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, cool, astringent. 
Tasting: Sour salty. Cedar, popcorn, smoke, peat, germolene, lemon zest, grapefruit, hints of gentian. With water, honey, dried apricots, pears, germolene. 
Finish: Medium. Grapefruit, gentian, popcorn, smoke. 

Comments: 

Quite a smoky whisky as Ardnamurchan goes. Lots of bitter citrus alongside all that smoke and peat. Water opens up a fruitiness that is quite intense, dried apricots are especially prominent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bowmore 22yo 2004/2026 (bottled for Bar Lotus)

Bowmore 22yo 2004/2026 (bottled for Bar Lotus)

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Islay
Golden
51% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, nori, soot, malted grains, golden syrup, sea salt, hints of cough syrup. With water, lemon zest, smoke, malted grains, hints of nori. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, thickens. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Golden syrup, nori, orange peel, lemon zest, smoke, peat, sea salt, hints of cough syrup, hints of toast. With water, smoke, lemon zest, orange peel, golden syrup, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Short. Golden syrup, orange peel, sea salt, smoke, hints of nori. 

Comments: 

A very decent Bowmore, sweet and smoky, with plenty of salinity to balance it. Great pick for this bar, one of the best in London. Plenty of smokiness too, once water is added.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Knockando 32yo 1986/2019 Casks of Distinction

Knockando 32yo 1986/2019 Casks of Distinction

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
47.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, prunes, honey, red grapes, cream, weetabix, malted grains, hints of hibiscus. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thickens, mouth coating.
Tasting:  Sweet. Weetabix, black pepper, prunes, red grapes, raisins, honey, dried apricots, dried blueberries, hints of hibiscus. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, weetabix, cream, prunes, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

Cask 394. A very sophisticated dram, very classic aged whisky. Layered and complex with loads of black pepper and dried fruit. There’s also a very prominent cereal note with a mouth watering mouth feel.  Great whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Piran Strange 28yo Macallan Private Cask Bottling

Piran Strange 28yo Macallan Private Cask Bottling

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cocoa nibs, carrot cake, pomeloes, coffee, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, chalky, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Coffee, raisins, honey, orange peel, vanilla, carrot cake, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, vanilla, carrot cake, dark chocolate, pomeloes. 

Comments: 

Cask 6916. A very good whisky, lots of the sweetness that characterises old Macallan, together with a fudgy, nutmeggy flavour that I identify as carrot cake. Excellent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lagg Kilmory Edition

Lagg Kilmory Edition

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

Nose: Germolene, peat, smoke, mint, pineapples, honey, lemon zest, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Germolene, menthol, pineapples, smoke, peat, sea salt, cedar, lemon zest, hints of peanuts. 
Finish: Medium. Menthol, pineapples, honey, smoke, peanuts. 

Comments: 

Fruity but with plenty of the peaty island medicinal pest character. Clearly quite young, but very promising stuff from Lagg.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Pitilie 10yo 2015/2025

Pitilie 10yo 2015/2025

Private Cask Collection, Finn Thomson
Single malt - Central Highlands
Yellow gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, aluminium foil, green apples, honey, lemon zest, hints of yoghurt. With water, magic marker, green apples, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Green apples, honey, white grapes, elderflower, vanilla, malted grains, hints of caramel. With water, malted grains, green apples, lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, white grapes, malted grains, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Cask 105. Pitilie is another name for Aberfeldy. Fragrant, floral and tart, with plenty of underlying sweetness. The tartness is melic rather than citrus, with a sprinkling of peppery notes especially on the finish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

London Distillery Co 10yo Ten Times Around the Sun Bourbon Cask

London Distillery Co 10yo Ten Times Around the Sun Bourbon Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Dark gold
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, marmalade, dunnage, raspberry jam, leather, malted grains, nectarines. With water, malted grains, gooseberries, marmalade, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White pepper, peaches, nectarines, white grapes, malted grains, gooseberries, marmalade, hints of cucumbers. With water, black tea, peaches, marmalade, nectarines. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, cucumbers, gooseberries, hints of raspberry jam. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, beautiful golden colour, should be stripped back and malty but is surprisingly sweet and complex. Water brings out jammy notes and some tannins. Not your usual bourbon cask!

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenlossie 8yo 2017/2026

Glenlossie 8yo 2017/2026

Octave, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Golden 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, white chocolate, elderflower, malted grains, magic marker, honey, vanilla. With water, cream, magic marker, pears, surgical spirit. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White chocolate, magic marker, pears, elderflower, cream, honey, hints of malted grains. With water, cream, pears, elderflower, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, orange peel, burnt sugar, elderflower. 

Comments: 

Floral and caramelly, and outstanding dram. Lots of spirity, feinty notes appear once water is added. But there’s an intrinsic sweetness and richness to this, quite like white chocolate.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Stauning Curious

Stauning Curious

Official bottling
Single rye - Midtjylland
Colourless

43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, raspberries, black pepper, orange peel, peat, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, soot, smoke, pears, orange peel, raspberries, foam shrimp. 
Finish: Long. Menthol, smoke, soot, raspberries. 

Comments: 

A very smoky, yet fruity rye new make. It doesn’t suffer too much from its low strength, in fact some of the fruity notes are more prominent as a result. The finish is long, minty and sooty.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenfarclas 12yo 100 Proof Reserve (selected for Milroys of Soho)

Glenfarclas 12yo 100 Proof Reserve (selected for Milroys of Soho)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Orange
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cream, cinnamon, dunnage, white pepper, marzipan, orange peel, hints of dark chocolate. With water, black tea, orange peel, dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dark chocolate, brown sugar, clay dust, dunnage, black tea, cloves, hints of orange peel. With water, black tea, orange peel, lemon zest, hints of dark chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, dark chocolate, orange peel, dunnage. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, perfectly Glenfarclas and at cask strength too. Lots of spice and sweet citrus and dried fruit notes. Plenty of dark chocolate too. Excellent 12yo whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Arran 11yo 2013/2026

Arran 11yo 2013/2026

Eldym Bottling Expressions, Lachlan Gillies
Single malt - Islands
Dark amber red
59.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, pears, white grapes, wet stones, orange peel, black pepper, thyme. With water, raisins, mint, wet stones, thyme, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, honey, cream, orange peel, black pepper, pears, black tea, hints of aluminium foil. With water, pears, honey, orange peel, black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Aluminium foil, black pepper, ginseng, black tea, honey. 

Comments: 

Really amazing whisky, especially for its age. Lots and lots of sweet honeyed notes, with a metallic edge especially on the tongue. Water brings out a peppery spiciness, which remains on the finish, which is short, intense and bitter.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Teaninich 13yo 2012/2025

Teaninich 13yo 2012/2025

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried apricots, pencil lead, wet stones, ice cream soda, dried mangoes, hints of white pepper. With water, magic marker, wet stones, pencil lead, dried mangoes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Dried mangoes, wet stones, pencil l dead, white pepper, gooseberries, white grapes, hints of nutmeg. With water, cream, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, nutmeg, gooseberries, dried apricots, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Fruity and feinty, lots of interesting layered dried fruit, but not very estery. That is, until water is added, and then the pear drops / magic marker notes come out. Very good indeed, even for a Teaninich.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.