Reservoir Bourbon 2022 Batch 2
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Virginia
Amber
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Bananas, brown paper, popcorn, brown sugar, sawdust, vanilla, hints of white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, tingly, cool.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Brown paper, popcorn, sawdust, fresh baked bread, caramel, vanilla, white pepper.
Finish: Medium. Toffee, caramel, brown paper, cinnamon, white pepper.
Comments:
A papery, dry bourbon, with plenty of woody notes as well. There’s plenty of caramel and bananas, but that’s as far as it goes. A session dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 25 April 2025
Frysk Hinder 5yo 2019/2024
Frysk Hinder 5yo 2019/2024
Official bottling
Single malt - Friesland
Amber bronze
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, fresh baked bread, ginger, raisins, white pepper, yoghurt, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, static, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sour. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, yoghurt, cinder toffee, hints of ginger.
Finish: Short. Cinder toffee, malted grains, lemon zest, white pepper.
Comments:
Cask 282. Red wine cask, but the wood is reasonably well integrated with the spirit. Burnt sugar and bready notes predominate, but there’s also some raisins and a warming ginger note. A pleasant dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Friesland
Amber bronze
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, fresh baked bread, ginger, raisins, white pepper, yoghurt, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, static, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sour. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, yoghurt, cinder toffee, hints of ginger.
Finish: Short. Cinder toffee, malted grains, lemon zest, white pepper.
Comments:
Cask 282. Red wine cask, but the wood is reasonably well integrated with the spirit. Burnt sugar and bready notes predominate, but there’s also some raisins and a warming ginger note. A pleasant dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Kingsbarns Distillery Reserve 2024
Kingsbarns Distillery Reserve 2024
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
58.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Yoghurt, lemons, fresh cut grass, cinder toffee, malted grains, hints of vanilla. With water, cinder toffee, hay, rubber bands.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Yoghurt, cinder toffee, malted grains, vanilla, lemon zest, white pepper. With water, malted grains, hay, rubber bands.
Finish: Long. Cinder toffee, malted grains, lemon zest, white pepper.
Comments:
Funky and light, lots of citrus coupled with a burnt sugar, dark caramel note. Water brings out a sulphurous side, with notes of rubber band and musty hay. A reasonable dram given its young age.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
58.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Yoghurt, lemons, fresh cut grass, cinder toffee, malted grains, hints of vanilla. With water, cinder toffee, hay, rubber bands.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Yoghurt, cinder toffee, malted grains, vanilla, lemon zest, white pepper. With water, malted grains, hay, rubber bands.
Finish: Long. Cinder toffee, malted grains, lemon zest, white pepper.
Comments:
Funky and light, lots of citrus coupled with a burnt sugar, dark caramel note. Water brings out a sulphurous side, with notes of rubber band and musty hay. A reasonable dram given its young age.
Verdict:
I like this.
Ardnahoe Bholsa
Ardnahoe Bholsa
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Orange gold
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, orange juice, peaches, watermelons, peat, smoke, peanuts, autumn leaves, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange juice, watermelons, coffee, peaches, peat, smoke, germolene, pear drops, autumn leaves.
Finish: Medium. Coffee, orange juice, pears, peat, germolene.
Comments:
Citrusy and sweet, the peat is gentle with this one, although still there. It’s a delicious dram. I really enjoy Ardnahoe, it’s a great distillery and is a magical addition to an island that already makes great whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Orange gold
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, orange juice, peaches, watermelons, peat, smoke, peanuts, autumn leaves, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange juice, watermelons, coffee, peaches, peat, smoke, germolene, pear drops, autumn leaves.
Finish: Medium. Coffee, orange juice, pears, peat, germolene.
Comments:
Citrusy and sweet, the peat is gentle with this one, although still there. It’s a delicious dram. I really enjoy Ardnahoe, it’s a great distillery and is a magical addition to an island that already makes great whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber brown
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, raisins, corn syrup, popcorn, brown paper, cola bottles, black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Brown paper, walnuts, cola bottles, honey, cinnamon, corn syrup, hints of strawberry jam.
Finish: Medium. Popcorn, brown paper, parchment paper, cinnamon, popcorn.
Comments:
A rather good bourbon, sweet of course, but with complex notes of cola bottle sweets and a little darkness of walnuts. The top note is lightly sweet and reminds me of buttered popcorn.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber brown
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, raisins, corn syrup, popcorn, brown paper, cola bottles, black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Brown paper, walnuts, cola bottles, honey, cinnamon, corn syrup, hints of strawberry jam.
Finish: Medium. Popcorn, brown paper, parchment paper, cinnamon, popcorn.
Comments:
A rather good bourbon, sweet of course, but with complex notes of cola bottle sweets and a little darkness of walnuts. The top note is lightly sweet and reminds me of buttered popcorn.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Saturday, 19 April 2025
Fettercairn 22yo 1998/2020
Fettercairn 22yo 1998/2020
Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
56.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Gooseberries, lemon zest, magic marker, malted grains, white pepper, hints of camphor, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, gooseberries, cream, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, camphor, grapefruit, white pepper, hints of gentian. With water, vanilla, cream, malted grains, honey.
Finish: Short. White pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, fresh cut grass.
Comments:
Cask 3222. Fruity but with a bitter edge, lots of citrus and camphor. The finish doesn’t match the rest of the dram, a little short, although it’s peppery and citrusy.
Verdict:
I like this.
Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale gold
56.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Gooseberries, lemon zest, magic marker, malted grains, white pepper, hints of camphor, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, gooseberries, cream, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, camphor, grapefruit, white pepper, hints of gentian. With water, vanilla, cream, malted grains, honey.
Finish: Short. White pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, fresh cut grass.
Comments:
Cask 3222. Fruity but with a bitter edge, lots of citrus and camphor. The finish doesn’t match the rest of the dram, a little short, although it’s peppery and citrusy.
Verdict:
I like this.
Fettercairn 22yo
Fettercairn 22yo
Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Bananas, honey, malted grains, vanilla, caramel, rubber bands, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Pencil lead, white pepper, honey, rubber bands, leather, pears, gooseberries.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, pears, pencil lead, gooseberries, honey.
Comments:
Feinty and fragrant, lots of leather and rubber bands notes, but it’s well integrated with the fruity notes in the background. It all makes for a very complex, layered dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Bananas, honey, malted grains, vanilla, caramel, rubber bands, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Pencil lead, white pepper, honey, rubber bands, leather, pears, gooseberries.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, pears, pencil lead, gooseberries, honey.
Comments:
Feinty and fragrant, lots of leather and rubber bands notes, but it’s well integrated with the fruity notes in the background. It all makes for a very complex, layered dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Thursday, 17 April 2025
Starward 5yo 2019/2024
Starward 5yo 2019/2024
#14, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Victoria
Red
55% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, raisins, strawberry jam, magic marker, fresh baked bread, vanilla, white pepper. With water, strawberry jam, raisins, chocolate, hints of golden syrup.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, loosens, hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Strawberry jam, blackcurrant cordial, white pepper, fresh baked bread, raisins, apricot jam, hints of marzipan, hints of brown butter. With water, raisins, marzipan, golden syrup, hints of brown butter.
Finish: Long. Strawberry jam, magic marker, marzipan, white pepper, blackcurrant cordial.
Comments:
Another red wine cask with high ABV, lots of fruit notes, but here it’s deeper, with flavours of butter and nuts. It takes water well, the buttery notes become more forward and intense. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
#14, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Victoria
Red
55% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, raisins, strawberry jam, magic marker, fresh baked bread, vanilla, white pepper. With water, strawberry jam, raisins, chocolate, hints of golden syrup.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, loosens, hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Strawberry jam, blackcurrant cordial, white pepper, fresh baked bread, raisins, apricot jam, hints of marzipan, hints of brown butter. With water, raisins, marzipan, golden syrup, hints of brown butter.
Finish: Long. Strawberry jam, magic marker, marzipan, white pepper, blackcurrant cordial.
Comments:
Another red wine cask with high ABV, lots of fruit notes, but here it’s deeper, with flavours of butter and nuts. It takes water well, the buttery notes become more forward and intense. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Starward 6yo 2018/2024
Starward 6yo 2018/2024
#15, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Victoria
Red
54% ABV
Dram
Nose: Strawberry laces, cherry blossom, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, black pepper, hints of raspberry jam. With water, malted grains, black pepper, cherry blossom.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemon zest, blackcurrant cordial, cherry blossom, vanilla, cola nuts, fresh baked bread, mint, hints of raspberry jam. With water, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, hints of coffee.
Finish: Medium. Blackcurrant cordial, raspberry jam, strawberry laces, cherry blossom, mint.
Comments:
High ABV red wine cask, usually a recipe for disaster but in this case, it makes a very floral sweet whisky. Lots of interaction between the wood and the spirit, creating fruity and vanilla notes. Complex and layered.
Verdict:
I like this.
#15, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Victoria
Red
54% ABV
Dram
Nose: Strawberry laces, cherry blossom, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, black pepper, hints of raspberry jam. With water, malted grains, black pepper, cherry blossom.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemon zest, blackcurrant cordial, cherry blossom, vanilla, cola nuts, fresh baked bread, mint, hints of raspberry jam. With water, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, hints of coffee.
Finish: Medium. Blackcurrant cordial, raspberry jam, strawberry laces, cherry blossom, mint.
Comments:
High ABV red wine cask, usually a recipe for disaster but in this case, it makes a very floral sweet whisky. Lots of interaction between the wood and the spirit, creating fruity and vanilla notes. Complex and layered.
Verdict:
I like this.
Filey Bay Orange Wine Barrique
Filey Bay Orange Wine Barrique
Official bottling
Single malt - Yorkshire
Official bottling
Single malt - Yorkshire
Orange amber
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, pencil erasers, pencil lead, raspberry jam, malted grains, vanilla, burnt sugar, coffee.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, tingly.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Orange peel, malted grains, grapefruit, pencil lead, orange blossom, burnt sugar, raisins, hints of apricot jam.
Finish: Medium. Apricot jam, orange peel, orange blossom, grapefruit, hints of pencil lead.
Comments:
Rather orangey, despite the fact that orange wine refers to the colour, not the fruit. Perhaps the cask was seasoned, like Amrut Naarangi. Anyway, the flavours are well integrated and tend towards the gentle floral variety. Very pleasant indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
46.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, pencil erasers, pencil lead, raspberry jam, malted grains, vanilla, burnt sugar, coffee.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, tingly.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Orange peel, malted grains, grapefruit, pencil lead, orange blossom, burnt sugar, raisins, hints of apricot jam.
Finish: Medium. Apricot jam, orange peel, orange blossom, grapefruit, hints of pencil lead.
Comments:
Rather orangey, despite the fact that orange wine refers to the colour, not the fruit. Perhaps the cask was seasoned, like Amrut Naarangi. Anyway, the flavours are well integrated and tend towards the gentle floral variety. Very pleasant indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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