Pelter 5yo Batch 3
Official bottling
Single malt - Northern District
Dark gold
53% ABV
Dram
Nose: Gooseberries, lemon zest, malted grains, white pepper, fresh cut grass, white grapes. With water, pears, magic marker, malted grains, hints of fresh baked bread.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Magic marker, gooseberries, malted grains, pears, white grapes, hints of cloves. With water, white pepper, lemon zest, malted grains, magic marker.
Finish: Short. Magic marker, lemon zest, gooseberries, white grapes.
Comments:
Light fruity notes, lots of pears, grapes and a grassy character underneath. This distillery uses a cognac / charentais still, the distillate is predisposed to a light fruity character apparently. This is quite decent.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 28 March 2025
Anohka This Is Not Whisky
Anohka This Is Not Whisky
Official bottling
Single malt - Alberta
Very pale gold
57.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, peat, lemon juice, lime zest, honey, marmalade, hints of diesel exhaust. With water, lime zest, lemon juice, smoke, cucumbers.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Sour salty. Lime zest, marmalade, smoke, peat, grapefruit, photocopy paper, sea salt, smoke, peat. With water, sea salt, lime zest, hints of roast chicken.
Finish: Long. Autumn leaves, peat, smoke, lime zest, grapefruit.
Comments:
Tried this on a whim, very positively surprised. It’s rather like a very youthful Ardnahoe, definitely the same style of whisky. Peaty, smoky and citrusy, grapefruit and limes forever.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Alberta
Very pale gold
57.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, peat, lemon juice, lime zest, honey, marmalade, hints of diesel exhaust. With water, lime zest, lemon juice, smoke, cucumbers.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Sour salty. Lime zest, marmalade, smoke, peat, grapefruit, photocopy paper, sea salt, smoke, peat. With water, sea salt, lime zest, hints of roast chicken.
Finish: Long. Autumn leaves, peat, smoke, lime zest, grapefruit.
Comments:
Tried this on a whim, very positively surprised. It’s rather like a very youthful Ardnahoe, definitely the same style of whisky. Peaty, smoky and citrusy, grapefruit and limes forever.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hardenberg Club Straight Rye Whiskey
Hardenberg Club Straight Rye Whiskey
Official bottling
Single rye - Lower Saxony
Amber
42.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange juice, fresh cut grass, tarragon, black pepper, honey, strawberry jam, hints of black pepper, hints of cucumbers.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Orange juice, honey, black pepper, fresh baked bread, tarragon, cinnamon.
Finish: Medium. Honey, strawberry jam, fresh cut grass, tarragon, hints of cinnamon.
Comments:
Grassy and light, quite unlike other ryes I’ve tried. Lots of orange notes, and plenty of tarragon, an unusual whisky tasting note for me. It fades to a good jammy herbal finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single rye - Lower Saxony
Amber
42.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange juice, fresh cut grass, tarragon, black pepper, honey, strawberry jam, hints of black pepper, hints of cucumbers.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Orange juice, honey, black pepper, fresh baked bread, tarragon, cinnamon.
Finish: Medium. Honey, strawberry jam, fresh cut grass, tarragon, hints of cinnamon.
Comments:
Grassy and light, quite unlike other ryes I’ve tried. Lots of orange notes, and plenty of tarragon, an unusual whisky tasting note for me. It fades to a good jammy herbal finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Scapegrace Timbre Limited Release IV
Scapegrace Timbre Limited Release IV
Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Light amber
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Damson jam, honeycomb, cream, brown paper, plums, haw flakes, hints of redcurrant jelly.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Malted grains, fresh baked bread, white pepper, damson jam, honeycomb, redcurrant jelly, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Short. Damson jam, white pepper, fresh baked bread, haw flakes.
Comments:
Plummy and sweet, lots of damsons and redcurrants. There’s a fair bit of malt here, but it’s quite buried underneath the cask influence. Still, quite enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Light amber
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Damson jam, honeycomb, cream, brown paper, plums, haw flakes, hints of redcurrant jelly.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Malted grains, fresh baked bread, white pepper, damson jam, honeycomb, redcurrant jelly, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Short. Damson jam, white pepper, fresh baked bread, haw flakes.
Comments:
Plummy and sweet, lots of damsons and redcurrants. There’s a fair bit of malt here, but it’s quite buried underneath the cask influence. Still, quite enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this.
London Rye Whisky Chardonnay
London Rye Whisky Chardonnay
Official bottling
Single rye - London
Golden, hints of pink
57.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, lemon zest, strawberry laces, white wine, blackcurrant cordial, white pepper. With water, honey, apricot jam, rye bread.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, hot.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Strawberry laces, soot, cinder toffee, white wine, pencil erasers, honey, rye bread. With water, honey, pencil erasers, apricot jam, white wine, rye bread.
Finish: Short. Apricot jam, strawberry laces, soot, white wine.
Comments:
Cask 57. Sweet and sour, but with an undertone of soot and smoke. There’s some peppery rye notes, but this is unlike most other ryes I’ve had - it’s less sweet, and perhaps spicier.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single rye - London
Golden, hints of pink
57.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, lemon zest, strawberry laces, white wine, blackcurrant cordial, white pepper. With water, honey, apricot jam, rye bread.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, hot.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Strawberry laces, soot, cinder toffee, white wine, pencil erasers, honey, rye bread. With water, honey, pencil erasers, apricot jam, white wine, rye bread.
Finish: Short. Apricot jam, strawberry laces, soot, white wine.
Comments:
Cask 57. Sweet and sour, but with an undertone of soot and smoke. There’s some peppery rye notes, but this is unlike most other ryes I’ve had - it’s less sweet, and perhaps spicier.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 25 March 2025
Tormore 20yo 1996/2016
Tormore 20yo 1996/2016
Single Cask, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
57.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Wet stones, peaches, raisins, fresh baked bread, cream, honey, hints of white pepper. With water, cream, wet stones, peaches, hints of malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, airy, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Fresh baked bread, malted grains, wet stones, honey, cream, peaches, white pepper. With water, peaches, cream, honey, hints of pencil erasers.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, white pepper, wet stones, peaches.
Comments:
Cask 5655. Rich and apricotty, lots of jammy, even peppery notes. There’s some sulphurous, rubbery notes that appear with water. Very complex and tasty.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Single Cask, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
57.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Wet stones, peaches, raisins, fresh baked bread, cream, honey, hints of white pepper. With water, cream, wet stones, peaches, hints of malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, airy, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Fresh baked bread, malted grains, wet stones, honey, cream, peaches, white pepper. With water, peaches, cream, honey, hints of pencil erasers.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, white pepper, wet stones, peaches.
Comments:
Cask 5655. Rich and apricotty, lots of jammy, even peppery notes. There’s some sulphurous, rubbery notes that appear with water. Very complex and tasty.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Powers Gold Label 12yo First Release
Powers Gold Label 12yo First Release
Official bottling
Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, peaches, vanilla ice cream, malted grains, honey, hints of toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peaches, apricot jam, vanilla ice cream, icing sugar, honey, hints of toffee.
Finish: Medium. Apricot jam, peaches, vanilla ice cream, milk powder, hints of icing sugar.
Comments:
Peaches forever and a day, that’s what this tastes like. It’s got apricots as well, and a dusty sweetness that reminds me of icing sugar. Lovely delicious dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, peaches, vanilla ice cream, malted grains, honey, hints of toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Peaches, apricot jam, vanilla ice cream, icing sugar, honey, hints of toffee.
Finish: Medium. Apricot jam, peaches, vanilla ice cream, milk powder, hints of icing sugar.
Comments:
Peaches forever and a day, that’s what this tastes like. It’s got apricots as well, and a dusty sweetness that reminds me of icing sugar. Lovely delicious dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Nc’Nean 4yo 2020/2024
Nc’Nean 4yo 2020/2024
#12, The Heart Cut
Single malt - West Highlands
Orange gold
54% ABV
Bottle
Nose: Raisins, vanilla ice cream, dried raspberries, dried blueberries, malted grains, magic marker, red grapes. With water, magic marker, wet stones, red grapes, hints of gentian.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, expands, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla ice cream, dried blueberries, shortcrust pastry, toffee, honey, hints of wet stones, hints of walnut skins. With water, wet stones, raisins, dried blueberries, hints of gentian.
Finish: Medium. Dried blueberries, raisins, shortcrust pastry, wet stones, hints of walnut skins.
Comments:
Magnificent whisky, lots of body, almost chewy, with plenty of blueberry pie notes. There’s a pleasant bitterness that develops slowly on the finish, almost herbal. Everything I’ve had from this bottler is excellent.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
#12, The Heart Cut
Single malt - West Highlands
Orange gold
54% ABV
Bottle
Nose: Raisins, vanilla ice cream, dried raspberries, dried blueberries, malted grains, magic marker, red grapes. With water, magic marker, wet stones, red grapes, hints of gentian.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, expands, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla ice cream, dried blueberries, shortcrust pastry, toffee, honey, hints of wet stones, hints of walnut skins. With water, wet stones, raisins, dried blueberries, hints of gentian.
Finish: Medium. Dried blueberries, raisins, shortcrust pastry, wet stones, hints of walnut skins.
Comments:
Magnificent whisky, lots of body, almost chewy, with plenty of blueberry pie notes. There’s a pleasant bitterness that develops slowly on the finish, almost herbal. Everything I’ve had from this bottler is excellent.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Fettercairn 29yo 1988/2017
Fettercairn 29yo 1988/2017
75, Maltbarn
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale green gold
48.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Wet stones, gooseberries, lemon zest, yoghurt, ink, iron filings, strawberry laces.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peat, iron filings, gooseberries, wet stones, ink, lemon zest, pears, hints of roast beef.
Finish: Medium. Pears, gooseberries, ink, lemon zest.
Comments:
Fruity, astringent, but retains a bitter, slightly metallic note. There’s a meatiness to this whisky, but it’s delicate and probably present only as a faint note on the back palate.
Verdict:
I like this.
75, Maltbarn
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale green gold
48.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Wet stones, gooseberries, lemon zest, yoghurt, ink, iron filings, strawberry laces.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peat, iron filings, gooseberries, wet stones, ink, lemon zest, pears, hints of roast beef.
Finish: Medium. Pears, gooseberries, ink, lemon zest.
Comments:
Fruity, astringent, but retains a bitter, slightly metallic note. There’s a meatiness to this whisky, but it’s delicate and probably present only as a faint note on the back palate.
Verdict:
I like this.
Fettercairn 34yo 1975/2009
Fettercairn 34yo 1975/2009
Old Train Line, Jack Wieber’s Whisky World
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber bronze
48.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, yoghurt, ink, iron filings, fresh cut grass, dried pears, hints of oak.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sour. Lemon zest, raspberries, dried pears, iron filings, fresh cut grass, sarsaparilla, hints of oak.
Finish: Long. Black pepper, raisins, raspberries, cream, ink, iron filings.
Comments:
Cask 0297. Quite feinty and minerally, almost metallic. There’s also a herbal edge, grassy sarsaparilla, that fades to raspberries and cream on the finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Old Train Line, Jack Wieber’s Whisky World
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber bronze
48.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, yoghurt, ink, iron filings, fresh cut grass, dried pears, hints of oak.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sour. Lemon zest, raspberries, dried pears, iron filings, fresh cut grass, sarsaparilla, hints of oak.
Finish: Long. Black pepper, raisins, raspberries, cream, ink, iron filings.
Comments:
Cask 0297. Quite feinty and minerally, almost metallic. There’s also a herbal edge, grassy sarsaparilla, that fades to raspberries and cream on the finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
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