Glen Ord 11yo

Glen Ord 11yo

Soho Selection, Milroys of Soho
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, apricots, lemon zest, sultanas, hoppy beer, honey, malted grains. With water, malted grains, apricots, peaches, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Wet stones, coffee, lemon zest, sultanas, malted grains, chicory, dark chocolate. With water, peaches, apricots, hints of sultanas. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, chicory, malted grains, lemon zest, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Minerally with heaps of stone fruit. There’s a bitter note here is that I interpret as coffee and chicory, and water brings out even more stone fruit and much more sweetness. Good minerally finish too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Black Fox Single Grain Tritticosecale

Black Fox Single Grain Tritticosecale 

Official bottling
Single grain - Saskatchewan
Amber red 
48.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, red grapes, blackberries, vanilla, desiccated coconut, sandalwood, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brown paper, desiccated coconut, raisins, pear drops, rye bread, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, rye bread, black pepper, raisins. 

Comments: 

High rye flavour. The grain is a rye-wheat hybrid, and brings the usual black pepper notes. There’s also some creamy cereal, with plenty of grain whisky coconut flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glendalough Pot Still Virgin Irish Oak Batch 2

Glendalough Pot Still Virgin Oak Batch 2

Official bottling
Single pot still - Leinster
Dark gold

43% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, yuzu, cream, hints of white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Photocopy paper, malted grains, lemon zest, sea salt, yoghurt, white wine, hints of yuzu. 
Finish: Short. Sea salt, lemon zest, malted grains, white pepper, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Quite tart and lactic, which is to me a characteristic of pot still whisky. Lost of fruity citrus notes along the edges which emphasise the sour flavours. The finish is brief, intense and a little minerally.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Cheshire Single Malt

The Cheshire Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Cheshire
Amber

46% ABV

Dram

Nose: Hoppy beer, malted grains, cream, shredded wheat, white pepper, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Hoppy beer, shredded wheat, raisins, white pepper, orange peel, hints of gentian, hints of nectarines. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, malted grains, orange peel, nectarines. 

Comments: 

Beery and loaded with stone fruit. There’s plenty of malty goodness with a pinch of white pepper. Still rather bitter with mountainous herbs. This might take some water well, although I didn’t try.

Verdict:

I like this.

Akashi 5yo Red Wine Cask

Akashi 5yo Red Wine Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Kansai
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, wet stones, raisins, pears, apples, red grapes, dried blueberries. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, cloves, oak chips, damson jam, camphor, apples, hints of dried blueberries. 
Finish: Medium. Camphor, apples, pears, oak chips, cloves. 

Comments: 

Active cask that masks most of the notes from the distillate. Jammy red fruit flavours, with a bitter herbal note of camphor. Was on the fence as to whether to add water but in the end didn’t.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 20yo 1999 Handfill Cask

Aberfeldy 20yo 1999 Handfill Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark amber red 
60.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, camphor, roast beef, raisins, black tea, damson jam, cloves. With water, roast beef, cloves, molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Coffee, camphor, roast beef, damson jam, clay dust, cloves, red grapes. With water, damson jam, dried apricots, raisins, clay dust, oak chips. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, clay dust, roast beef, red grapes. 

Comments: 

Meaty, winey, lots of jammy notes and warming spices. Water brings out a little dustiness and more dried fruit notes, but also makes the wood more prominent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blair Athol 29yo 1988/2017 175th Anniversary

Blair Athol 29yo 1988/2017 175th Anniversary 

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber, hints of yellow
51.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, raisins, lemon zest, clay dust, popping candy, malted grains, orange peel, hints of cloves. With water, candle wax, orange peel, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, raisins, sandalwood, candle wax, lemon zest, orange peel, cinnamon, popping candy. With water, raisins, malted grains, sandalwood. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, longans, orange peel, candle wax. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, but also with a heavy waxy note that gets more prominent with water. Plenty of little vanilla estery accents to the flavours, and a nice fruity, slightly tannic finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

1792 Full Proof Nickolls and Perks Exclusive

1792 Full Proof Nickolls and Perks Exclusive

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
62.5%% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, toffee, magic marker, pear drops, dark chocolate, apricots. With water, magic marker, malted grains, brown paper, hints of hay. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toffee, cola nuts, magic marker, cream, dark chocolate, vanilla. With water, malted grains, brown paper, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Cream, magic marker, pear drops, toffee, hints of hay. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity and strong. The alcohol masks a lot of flavours, water brings out maltiness, a dusty papery note and dark chocolate. The finish is short, intense and fragrant.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen 3yo Barantuil Pinot Noir Firkin

Killowen 3yo Barantuil Pinot Noir Firkin

Official bottling 
Single pot still - Ulster
Amber gold
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, malted grains, icing sugar, lemon zest, yoghurt, hints of raisins. With water, white pepper, icing sugar, persimmons. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Raisins, damson jam, yoghurt, lemon sherbet, icing sugar, cola nuts. With water, icing sugar, damson jam, persimmons. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, lemon sherbet, damson jam, raisins. 

Comments: 

Fruity, spicy, lots of deeply sweet notes. But there’s also a lactic note that’s quite prominent. Water brings out a powdery sugariness and persimmons. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Bardstown Origin Series Straight Wheated Bourbon 6yo

Bardstown Origin Series Straight Wheated Bourbon 6yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber gold
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, white pepper, vanilla, toffee, cough mixture, blackcurrant cordial. With water, magic marker, cough mixture, cornflakes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Blackcurrant cordial, white pepper, cola nuts, raspberry jam, cornflakes, cream. With water, cream, cough mixture, magic marker. 
Finish: Medium. Toffee, vanilla, cola nuts, blackcurrant cordial. 

Comments: 

Flinty, peppery, with big blackcurrant notes. Tastes a little like cough mixture. There’s plenty of corn in this, if I’m any judge. Water brings out even more blackcurrant.

Verdict:

I like this.