Bonnington 3yo 2021/2025
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, leather, surgical spirit, green tea, lemon zest, hints of sea salt. With water, leather, lemon zest, green tea, hints of sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Green tea, smoke, peat, sandalwood, soot, surgical spirit, leather, hints of vitamin C tablets. With water, smoke, peat, green tea, hints of vitamin C tablets.
Finish: Smoke. Peat, smoke, sandalwood, green tea, lemon zest.
Comments:
Quite sooty and spirity, but underneath that thick layer of peaty industrial mess, there’s something floral and citrusy. It was a little too spirity for me to really like it, but decent dram nonetheless.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 3 July 2026
St Kilian Judas Priest British Steel
St Kilian Judas Priest British Steel
Official bottling
Single malt - Bavaria
Golden
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Fresh baked bread, magic marker, leather, white pepper, dunnage, hints of farmyard.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange peel, malted grains, surgical spirit, fresh baked bread, elderflower, thyme, dunnage, hints of farmyard.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, surgical spirit, thyme, white pepper, dunnage.
Comments:
Quite floral and sweet but also with a funky, fermented slightly metallic note. It’s also quite estery and spirity. As with other drams from this distillery, there’s the bones of something potentially great there, but for its lack of balance.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Bavaria
Golden
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Fresh baked bread, magic marker, leather, white pepper, dunnage, hints of farmyard.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange peel, malted grains, surgical spirit, fresh baked bread, elderflower, thyme, dunnage, hints of farmyard.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, surgical spirit, thyme, white pepper, dunnage.
Comments:
Quite floral and sweet but also with a funky, fermented slightly metallic note. It’s also quite estery and spirity. As with other drams from this distillery, there’s the bones of something potentially great there, but for its lack of balance.
Verdict:
I like this.
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.
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.
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Kingsbarns Coaltown
Kingsbarns Coaltown
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale straw
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sea salt, peat, soot, limes, lemons, hints of malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter. Peat, soot, limes, honey, lemons, farmyard, pear drops, malted grains, sea salt.
Finish: Medium. Peat, soot, lemons, sandalwood.
Comments:
Quite sooty, but under all that smoke and ash there’s plenty of citrus and something perfumy, maybe sandalwood. Quite fragrant but it’s all buried under that thicken industrial coat.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale straw
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sea salt, peat, soot, limes, lemons, hints of malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter. Peat, soot, limes, honey, lemons, farmyard, pear drops, malted grains, sea salt.
Finish: Medium. Peat, soot, lemons, sandalwood.
Comments:
Quite sooty, but under all that smoke and ash there’s plenty of citrus and something perfumy, maybe sandalwood. Quite fragrant but it’s all buried under that thicken industrial coat.
Verdict:
I like this.
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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
High Coast 9yo 2014/2025
High Coast 9yo 2014/2025
Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Ångermanland
Amber copper
58.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, black pepper, honey, figs, fresh cut grass. With water, honey, leather, hints of figs.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, volatile, hot.
Tasting: Sweet. Black pepper, figs, sandalwood, honey, blackcurrant cordial, hints of caraway seed. With water, honey, leather, figs.
Finish: Long. Black pepper, blackcurrant cordial, milk chocolate, figs.
Comments:
A delicate and floral High Coast, with lots of fig and blackcurrant notes. Good whisky, surprisingly refreshing, and tastes excellent in a highball.
Verdict:
I like this.
Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Ångermanland
Amber copper
58.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, black pepper, honey, figs, fresh cut grass. With water, honey, leather, hints of figs.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, volatile, hot.
Tasting: Sweet. Black pepper, figs, sandalwood, honey, blackcurrant cordial, hints of caraway seed. With water, honey, leather, figs.
Finish: Long. Black pepper, blackcurrant cordial, milk chocolate, figs.
Comments:
A delicate and floral High Coast, with lots of fig and blackcurrant notes. Good whisky, surprisingly refreshing, and tastes excellent in a highball.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 19 June 2026
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.
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.
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
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.
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.
Avon Distilleries 9yo 2016/2025
Avon Distilleries 9yo 2016/2025
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Blend
Amber gold
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Nectarines, honeydew melons, white pepper, cloves, honey, leather, hints of cinnamon. With water, pear drops, surgical spirit, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Nectarines, honeydew melons, honey, leather, pear drops, cloves, farmyard, dunnage. With water, cloves, leather, dunnage.
Finish: Medium. Dunnage, cloves, nectarines, honeydew melons.
Comments:
Blended whisky, apparently, but I suspect it’s teaspooned something. Clynelish? Not waxy enough. Anyway it’s rather fruity with a slightly dirty, farmyardy edge. Water brings out some more of that slightly mouldy funk.
Verdict:
I like this.
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Blend
Amber gold
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Nectarines, honeydew melons, white pepper, cloves, honey, leather, hints of cinnamon. With water, pear drops, surgical spirit, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Nectarines, honeydew melons, honey, leather, pear drops, cloves, farmyard, dunnage. With water, cloves, leather, dunnage.
Finish: Medium. Dunnage, cloves, nectarines, honeydew melons.
Comments:
Blended whisky, apparently, but I suspect it’s teaspooned something. Clynelish? Not waxy enough. Anyway it’s rather fruity with a slightly dirty, farmyardy edge. Water brings out some more of that slightly mouldy funk.
Verdict:
I like this.
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