Indri Dru Cask Strength

Indri Dru Cask Strength

Official bottling
Single malt - Piccadily
Amber
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: New plastic, rye bread, black pepper, lemon zest, surgical spirit, hints of orange peel. With water, orange peel, honey, hints of surgical spirit. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, volatile, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange peel, white grapes, honey, vanilla, black pepper, malted grains, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, raisins, black pepper, hints of surgical spirit. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, orange peel, raisins, honey. 

Comments: 

Feinty to the point of plasticky, but has some caraway, seedy notes. The strength doesn’t contribute much in my view, just alcohol burn. Water brings out some more spirity notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Einar’s Distillery 5yo

Einar’s Distillery 5yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Nordoyar
Straw 
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, pears, fresh cut grass, eucalyptus, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, mouth coating, slightly oily. 

Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, raisins, pears, caramel, menthol, fresh cut grass, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Honey, pears, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, hints of eucalyptus. 

Comments: 

Grassy and mentholly, with herbal notes. There’s a smidgen of peat in this, but it’s very light, grassy rather than earthy. The natural sweetness of the whisky stands out.

Verdict:

I like this.

Blackwater 5yo 2019/2024 PMD II: Return of the Dragon

Blackwater 5yo 2019/2024 PMD II: Return of the Dragon

Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Golden
59.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Limes, pears, leather, white grapes, honeydew melons, mint. With water, dried pears, dried pineapples, honeydew melons. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Honeydew melons, white grapes, peat, leather, lemon zest, pears, hints of smoke. With water, malted grains, white grapes, pears, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh cut grass, mint, pears, white grapes, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Barrel BBL000052. Really quite fruity and flavourful for a young whisky. Irish whisky usually uses some pot still make to achieve this effect but there’s no hint of that here. Well made and delicious.

Verdict:

I like this.

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. 

Arbikie 10yo The Signature

Arbikie 10yo The Signature

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, mangoes, orange peel, gooseberries, peaches, dunnage, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peaches, orange peel, dunnage, malted grains, cinnamon, gooseberries, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Aluminium foil, peaches, gooseberries, mangoes, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Lots of peach notes, as well as very funky dunnage, although it doesn’t take over the whisky as much as some others. Other fruits are also present, with a sweet barley cereal core.

Verdict:

I like this.

Brenne 10yo Limited Edition (bottled 2017)

Brenne 10yo Limited Edition (bottled 2017)

Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Straw
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, honey, honeydew melons, mint, lemons, hints of bubble gum. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Photocopy paper, spearmint, fresh cut grass, bubblegum, pineapples, mangoes, honey, lemons, hints of green tea. 
Finish: Short. Honey, lemons, fresh cut grass, spearmint. 

Comments: 

Still fruity, but with other flavours, mainly herbal and a little floral. It’s now recognisably whisky, whereas in its early days this distillery made something deeply weird.

Verdict:

I like this.

Maker’s Mark London Edition No 3

Maker’s Mark London Edition No 3

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Chinese tea
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, brown paper, popcorn, magic marker, raisins, honey. With water, raisins, magic marker, blackcurrant cordial, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Blackcurrant cordial, brown paper, popcorn, cloves, sea salt, hints of fried eggs. With water, raisins, blackcurrant cordial, popcorn, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Pears, magic marker, raisins, popcorn. 

Comments: 

Sweet and spicy, lots of estery, blackcurrant notes. A decent buttery bourbon, lots of popcorn notes but also complex. There’s even a hint of fried egg on the tongue, slightly sulphurous.

Verdict:

I like this.

Pokeno Triple Distilled 3rd Edition

Pokeno Triple Distilled 3rd Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Waikato
Golden
49% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, butter, pears, cantaloupe melons, honey, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cooked rice, cream of wheat, malted grains, honey, magic marker, pears, cantaloupe melons. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, pears, malted grains, honey. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity with a creamy base. Plenty of delicate cereal notes underlying that fruit, and it’s still layered and complex enough for those notes to come through. Rather good.

Verdict:

I like this.

Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask

Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Dark gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, magic marker, pears, pineapples, malted grains, hints of cardamom. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, thickens, slightly chalky. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. White pepper, honey, pear drops, caramel, cardamom, malted grains, hints of pears. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, cardboard, honey, caramel, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Fruity with a spiky edge, that’s the pot still. Pineapples and some cardamom make it interesting but it’s let down on the finish with slightly bready cardboard note.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kavalan Lan

Kavalan Lan

Official bottling
Single malt - Yilan
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, black pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, hints of soot. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White pepper, raisins, prunes, vanilla, blueberries, sandalwood, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, dark chocolate, aluminium foil, raisins. 

Comments: 

Fruity, with some spicy notes, but overlaid with a woody, floral scent. The finish is short, intense and bitter. Some metallic notes too. Interesting whisky, certainly a decent entry level bottling.

Verdict:

I like this.

Masthouse Single Estate Vintage 2018

Masthouse Single Estate Vintage 2018

Official bottling
Single pot still - Kent
Golden

45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, lemon zest, honey, white grapes, cinnamon, wet stones, clay dust. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Magic marker, pear drops, green apples, lemon zest, wet stones, clay dust, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, pear drops, lemon zest, hints of wet stones. 

Comments: 

Quite an unusual pot still whisky. That bristliness is still there by its overlaid with tart notes of green apples and lemon zest, and something earthy and flinty - clay dust and wet stones. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn High Rye

Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn High Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cough syrup, corn syrup, cola nuts, brown paper, oak chips, honey, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, honey, corn syrup, cola nuts, leather, cherries, hints of sawdust. 
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, cherries, cough syrup, honey, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet and luscious, as a whisky with a high corn content would be expected to do. Some light spiciness from the rye but it’s not as prominent as one would expect.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hakushu 1991/2005 Suntory Furudaru Shiage

Hakushu 1991/2005 Suntory Furudaru Shiage

Official bottling 

Single malt - Chūbu
Amber red
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black pepper, leather, rancio, camphor, caramel, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black pepper, raisins, honey, cherries, leather, burnt sugar, sandalwood, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, cherries, honey, leather, hints of soot. 

Comments: 

Highly complex and sweet, loads of warming spices and dried fruit. A little thin on the mouthfeel but that just makes it easier to drink. Probably the youngest “old-style” sherried whisky that I’ve had.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Akashi 5yo Bourbon Cask 1356

Akashi 5yo Bourbon Cask 1356

Official bottling
Single malt - Kansai
Amber orange
56% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, lemon zest, malted grains, green tea, gooseberries, hints of white pepper. With water, golden syrup, magic marker, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, white grapes, fresh baked bread, hints of white pepper. With water, malted grains, golden syrup, green tea. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 1356. Rich, slightly tannic and very cereally. Water brings out even more cereal, alongside some floral notes and slightly caramelised sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this.

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.

Whisky Galore Macallan 1989

Whisky Galore Macallan 1989

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black pepper, leather, cream, dark chocolate, hints of oak chips. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dark chocolate, leather, cream, photocopy paper, black pepper, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Cream, prunes, raisins, dark chocolate, hints of photocopy paper. 

Comments: 

Slightly lower strength, but still quite delightful. Again, very classic Macallan, lots of leather and dark chocolate and raisins to make me enjoy whisky from this distillery again.

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. 

London Distillery Co New Forms Ex Bourbon Cask

London Distillery Co New Forms Ex Bourbon Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber 
60.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, clay dust, pears, white pepper, aluminium foil, raspberry jam. With water, cherries, raspberry jam, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White pepper, peppermint, pears, malted grains, sea salt, raspberry jam. With water, peppermint, malted grains, black tea. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, malted grains, peppermint, raspberry jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 11190. Fragrant, quite raisiny with other dried fruit flavours despite the bourbon cask. Water brings out a mintiness, with some tannins and more malty sweetness. Again, a pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

London Distillery Co New Forms Moscatel Sherry Cask

London Distillery Co New Forms Moscatel Sherry Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber brown
61.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, foam shrimp, sandalwood, clay dust, magic marker, raspberry jam, hints of tamarind. With water, strawberries, plums, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Leather, plums, vanilla, honey, malted grains, magic marker, raspberry jam. With water, malted grains, plums, strawberries, honey. 
Finish: Long. Magic marker, plums, sandalwood, black pepper, hints of honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 9008. Very sweet and luscious, the cask influence overwhelmed the distillate. There’s some maltiness perhaps but it’s hard to tell if the whisky tastes of much else. Pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.