Allt-a-Bhainne 17yo 2008/2025
Vintage Sherry Reserve, Milroys of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Amber copper red
62.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, strawberry jam, clay dust, black tea, malted grains, black pepper, orange peel. With water, raisins, cola nuts, black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, warm.
Tasting: Sweet. Strawberry jam, fresh baked bread, shortcrust pastry, black pepper, raisins, orange peel, malted grains. With water, strawberry jam, orange peel, cola nuts.
Finish: Short. Raisins, shortcrust pastry, black pepper, fresh baked bread.
Comments:
Cask 80900249. Sweet and laden with heaps of dried fruit, and a tangy cola taste. It’s also a little dusty, something that is reminiscent of old style sherried whiskies. With water brings out a tinge of black pepper.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 9 July 2026
London Distillery Co New Forms Ex Bourbon Cask
London Distillery Co New Forms Ex Bourbon Cask
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber
60.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, clay dust, pears, white pepper, aluminium foil, raspberry jam. With water, cherries, raspberry jam, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. White pepper, peppermint, pears, malted grains, sea salt, raspberry jam. With water, peppermint, malted grains, black tea.
Finish: Long. Black tea, malted grains, peppermint, raspberry jam.
Comments:
Cask 11190. Fragrant, quite raisiny with other dried fruit flavours despite the bourbon cask. Water brings out a mintiness, with some tannins and more malty sweetness. Again, a pleasant dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber
60.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, clay dust, pears, white pepper, aluminium foil, raspberry jam. With water, cherries, raspberry jam, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. White pepper, peppermint, pears, malted grains, sea salt, raspberry jam. With water, peppermint, malted grains, black tea.
Finish: Long. Black tea, malted grains, peppermint, raspberry jam.
Comments:
Cask 11190. Fragrant, quite raisiny with other dried fruit flavours despite the bourbon cask. Water brings out a mintiness, with some tannins and more malty sweetness. Again, a pleasant dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
London Distillery Co New Forms Moscatel Sherry Cask
London Distillery Co New Forms Moscatel Sherry Cask
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber brown
61.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Plums, foam shrimp, sandalwood, clay dust, magic marker, raspberry jam, hints of tamarind. With water, strawberries, plums, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, slippery.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Leather, plums, vanilla, honey, malted grains, magic marker, raspberry jam. With water, malted grains, plums, strawberries, honey.
Finish: Long. Magic marker, plums, sandalwood, black pepper, hints of honey.
Comments:
Cask 9008. Very sweet and luscious, the cask influence overwhelmed the distillate. There’s some maltiness perhaps but it’s hard to tell if the whisky tastes of much else. Pleasant dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber brown
61.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Plums, foam shrimp, sandalwood, clay dust, magic marker, raspberry jam, hints of tamarind. With water, strawberries, plums, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, slippery.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Leather, plums, vanilla, honey, malted grains, magic marker, raspberry jam. With water, malted grains, plums, strawberries, honey.
Finish: Long. Magic marker, plums, sandalwood, black pepper, hints of honey.
Comments:
Cask 9008. Very sweet and luscious, the cask influence overwhelmed the distillate. There’s some maltiness perhaps but it’s hard to tell if the whisky tastes of much else. Pleasant dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Pitilie 10yo 2015/2025
Pitilie 10yo 2015/2025
Private Cask Collection, Finn Thomson
Single malt - Central Highlands
Yellow gold
55.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, aluminium foil, green apples, honey, lemon zest, hints of yoghurt. With water, magic marker, green apples, fresh baked bread.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Green apples, honey, white grapes, elderflower, vanilla, malted grains, hints of caramel. With water, malted grains, green apples, lemon zest.
Finish: Short. White pepper, white grapes, malted grains, lemon zest.
Comments:
Cask 105. Pitilie is another name for Aberfeldy. Fragrant, floral and tart, with plenty of underlying sweetness. The tartness is melic rather than citrus, with a sprinkling of peppery notes especially on the finish.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Private Cask Collection, Finn Thomson
Single malt - Central Highlands
Yellow gold
55.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, aluminium foil, green apples, honey, lemon zest, hints of yoghurt. With water, magic marker, green apples, fresh baked bread.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Green apples, honey, white grapes, elderflower, vanilla, malted grains, hints of caramel. With water, malted grains, green apples, lemon zest.
Finish: Short. White pepper, white grapes, malted grains, lemon zest.
Comments:
Cask 105. Pitilie is another name for Aberfeldy. Fragrant, floral and tart, with plenty of underlying sweetness. The tartness is melic rather than citrus, with a sprinkling of peppery notes especially on the finish.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Friday, 3 July 2026
Bonnington 3yo 2021/2025
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.
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.
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.
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