Bowmore 1992

Bowmore 1992

Caledonian Selection, Liquid Gold
Single malt - Islay
Bright gold
62% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, pineapples, lemon sweets, autumn leaves, burning leaves, hints of charcoal ash. With water, burning leaves, pear drops, pineapples, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, thick, hot. 

Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pineapples, pear drops, lemon sweets, smoke, charcoal ash, peat, tarry rope. With water, peat, charcoal ash, lemon sweets, hints of peanuts. 
Finish: Long. Honey, smoke, pineapples, pears, peat. 

Comments: 

Smoked barbecued fruit, something I always find in 90s and 00s Bowmore. Lots of ashy smoke too, like it’s been left on the barbecue too long. Water brings out more ashiness. A perfect Burns Night dram. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Holyrood 3yo 2021/2025

Holyrood 3yo 2021/2025

Single Cask, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
53.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, malted grains, orange peel, nutmeg, photocopy paper, brown paper, hints of tobacco leaf. With water, orange peel, lemon curd, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Green tea, peaches, photocopy paper, brown paper, sandalwood, nutmeg, fresh baked bread. With water, photocopy paper, peaches, lemon curd, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, nutmeg, sandalwood, cornflakes, hints of nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Cask 12150. Quite citrusy and weighty, lots of layered flavours with a good degree of intensity. Water brings out a dry paperiness and more lemon curd, as well as stone fruit. A good dram, a fine example of young whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Eden Mill 2018 Release

Eden Mill 2018 Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raisins, lohan fruit, sea salt, nutmeg, cloves, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, raisins, chocolate, lohan fruit, raspberry jam, cloves, tobacco leaf. 
Finish: Medium. Lohan fruit, raisins, cloves, chocolate, cream, tobacco leaf. 

Comments: 

Light and refreshing, lots of fruit notes. Typically early release whisky, flavoured with sherry casks for sweetness and maximum appeal. A decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Circumstance 3yo Inaugural Grain Whisky

Circumstance 3yo Inaugural Grain Whisky

Official bottling 
Single grain - Bristol
Pale orange gold
42.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, sandalwood, molasses, cream, vanilla, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, tingly, slightly warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Fresh baked bread, honey, raisins, orange peel, vanilla, brown paper, cinnamon, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, honey, fresh baked bread, raisins. 

Comments: 

1:11:129:37 - not quite sure what these codes mean. Last number is number of months in cask perhaps. It’s cereally and rather sweet, young, fresh and intense. Quite a nice dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Reservoir Wheat 2yo Batch 1

Reservoir Wheat 2yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single grain - Virginia
Amber
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nectarines, strawberries, honey, green tea, photocopy paper, hints of condensed milk. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Green tea, nectarines, honey, lemon zest, white pepper, chamomile, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, chamomile, nectarines, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Fruity, lots of herbal notes, but they’re quite gentle and mostly in the background. No water required, I felt that would kill some of these gentle background notes. A rather short finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Cairn 3yo First Peek

The Cairn 3yo First Peek

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Amber orange
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, orange peel, grapefruit, green tea, honey, hints of cream. With water, cream, vanilla, peaches, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, clay dust, orange peel, grapefruit, honey, lemon zest, green tea, hints of coffee. With water, cream, honey, peaches, green tea. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, white pepper, honey, orange peel, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Really intense flavours, lots of citrus and malty sweetness with a fragrant coffee note lurking in the background. Water brings out more honey, cream and some tannins. A very good inaugural bottling. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Jack Daniels American Single Malt (Oloroso Sherry Cask)

Jack Daniels American Single Malt (Oloroso Sherry Cask)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Tennessee
Amber red
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, brown paper, aluminium foil, molasses, brown sugar, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Aluminium foil, molasses, brown sugar, brown paper, black pepper, coffee. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, black pepper, aluminium foil, brown sugar. 

Comments: 

Sweet, malty, but with much of that brown paper note that characterises American whisky for me. Some metallic notes apparent on the tongue to keep it interesting, and then a short intense finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

End of the World Whisky Blend

End of the World Whisky Blend

Master of Malt
Blend
Amber
44.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, raisins, malted grains, white grapes, honey, prunes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, cooked rice, white grapes, peaches, orange peel, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, raisins, malted grains, orange peel. 

Comments: 

A fruity, fun blend, lots of cereal notes alongside too. It’s a bit one dimensional but that’s what blends are meant to do. Highly enjoyable and a very decent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Timorous Beastie

Timorous Beastie

Douglas Laing
Blend
Golden
46.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, cream, honey, heather, lemon zest, nectarines, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Green apples, cream, lemon zest, honey, molasses, cinder toffee, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Gentian, smoke, cinder toffee, honey. 

Comments: 

Quite a complex blend, with a distinctive smoky appley note. It’s builds to a complex finish that is both smoky and sweet. A very elegant whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenallachie 15yo

Glenallachie 15yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, chocolate, raisins, black pepper, brown butter, molasses, hints of cooked rice. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, honey, chocolate, molasses, black pepper, fresh baked bread, hints of peaches. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, honey, raisins, hints of brown butter. 

Comments: 

Nutty, sweet and cereally, lots of chocolate and molasses. No water required, it’s extremely easy drinking and easy on the nose and tongue. A very approachable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.