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.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
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.
Teaninich 13yo 2012/2025
Teaninich 13yo 2012/2025
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Dried apricots, pencil lead, wet stones, ice cream soda, dried mangoes, hints of white pepper. With water, magic marker, wet stones, pencil lead, dried mangoes.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Dried mangoes, wet stones, pencil l dead, white pepper, gooseberries, white grapes, hints of nutmeg. With water, cream, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of white pepper.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, nutmeg, gooseberries, dried apricots, wet stones.
Comments:
Fruity and feinty, lots of interesting layered dried fruit, but not very estery. That is, until water is added, and then the pear drops / magic marker notes come out. Very good indeed, even for a Teaninich.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Dried apricots, pencil lead, wet stones, ice cream soda, dried mangoes, hints of white pepper. With water, magic marker, wet stones, pencil lead, dried mangoes.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Dried mangoes, wet stones, pencil l dead, white pepper, gooseberries, white grapes, hints of nutmeg. With water, cream, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of white pepper.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, nutmeg, gooseberries, dried apricots, wet stones.
Comments:
Fruity and feinty, lots of interesting layered dried fruit, but not very estery. That is, until water is added, and then the pear drops / magic marker notes come out. Very good indeed, even for a Teaninich.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Friday, 5 June 2026
Kimchangsoo Gimpo First Edition 2024
Kimchangsoo Gimpo First Edition 2024
Official bottling
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Amber copper
50.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Copper kettles, aluminium foil, black tea, smoke, raisins, sandalwood, ume, hints of prunes.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, ume, prunes, apricots, black tea, roast chicken, sandalwood, aluminium foil, black pepper.
Finish: Long. Copper kettles, black tea, sandalwood, apricots, hints of farmyard.
Comments:
Very flavourful, and quite the sherry bomb. Well blended with plenty of balance, but also with distinct flavours, int is case apricots, ume and copper. Very good whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Amber copper
50.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Copper kettles, aluminium foil, black tea, smoke, raisins, sandalwood, ume, hints of prunes.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Raisins, ume, prunes, apricots, black tea, roast chicken, sandalwood, aluminium foil, black pepper.
Finish: Long. Copper kettles, black tea, sandalwood, apricots, hints of farmyard.
Comments:
Very flavourful, and quite the sherry bomb. Well blended with plenty of balance, but also with distinct flavours, int is case apricots, ume and copper. Very good whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Filiers 10yo Sherry Oak Matured
Filiers 10yo Sherry Oak Matured
Official bottling
Single malt - East Flanders
Copper brown
Official bottling
Single malt - East Flanders
Copper brown
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Black tea, dunnage, black pepper, raisins, oak chips, sandalwood, hints of pear drops.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, mouth coating, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Malted grains, black pepper, rye bread, dunnage, dark chocolate, oak chips.
Finish: Long. Raisins, rye bread, dark chocolate, black pepper, dunnage.
Comments:
Quite sweet, but with a peppery rye note that doesn’t quite work with the rest of the sweet sherry notes. Still, quite an interesting whisky, as Belgium whiskies tend for be.
Verdict:
I like this.
Dram
Nose: Black tea, dunnage, black pepper, raisins, oak chips, sandalwood, hints of pear drops.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, mouth coating, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Malted grains, black pepper, rye bread, dunnage, dark chocolate, oak chips.
Finish: Long. Raisins, rye bread, dark chocolate, black pepper, dunnage.
Comments:
Quite sweet, but with a peppery rye note that doesn’t quite work with the rest of the sweet sherry notes. Still, quite an interesting whisky, as Belgium whiskies tend for be.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 4 June 2026
Kilchoman Maury Cask Matured
Kilchoman Maury Cask Matured
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark amber bronze
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Figs, raisins, brown paper, black tea, dark chocolate, cooked rice, dates, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, mouth coating, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, figs, butterscotch, black teac peat, smoke, dates, hints of dark chocolate, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Long. Autumn leaves, dates, butterscotch, smoke, hints of fish sauce.
Comments:
A rather good Kilchoman, plenty of sweet notes complementing the distillery character of gentle smoke and dates. There’s some earthiness as well, especially on the finish. Excellent dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark amber bronze
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Figs, raisins, brown paper, black tea, dark chocolate, cooked rice, dates, hints of peat.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, mouth coating, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, figs, butterscotch, black teac peat, smoke, dates, hints of dark chocolate, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Long. Autumn leaves, dates, butterscotch, smoke, hints of fish sauce.
Comments:
A rather good Kilchoman, plenty of sweet notes complementing the distillery character of gentle smoke and dates. There’s some earthiness as well, especially on the finish. Excellent dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
John Crabbie Peated Virgin Oak Cask Matured
John Crabbie Peated Virgin Oak Cask Matured
John Crabbie
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sea salt, vanilla, oak chips, peat, smoke, sour cream, hints of farmyard.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla, peat, smoke, raisins, dried apricots, cream, hints of sour cream.
Finish: Long. Oak chips, smoke, soot, peat, sea salt.
Comments:
Quite harshly peated, but underneath there’s a gentle, light, slightly oily distillate with notes of vanilla and apricots. Decent whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
John Crabbie
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sea salt, vanilla, oak chips, peat, smoke, sour cream, hints of farmyard.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla, peat, smoke, raisins, dried apricots, cream, hints of sour cream.
Finish: Long. Oak chips, smoke, soot, peat, sea salt.
Comments:
Quite harshly peated, but underneath there’s a gentle, light, slightly oily distillate with notes of vanilla and apricots. Decent whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Debt Collector Moonshine Cask Aged 2yo
Debt Collector Moonshine Cask Aged 2yo
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Coconut cream, honey, malted grains, vanilla, golden syrup, hints of white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Blackcurrant cordial, malted grains, white pepper, golden syrup, raisins, hints of saffron.
Finish: Medium. Golden syrup, vanilla, coconut cream, white pepper, hints of oak chips.
Comments:
More Ribena-like than its unaged cousin, quite coconutty too. Lots of sweeter flavours from the wood, even though it’s been in the cask a relatively short time. Starting to taste woody.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Coconut cream, honey, malted grains, vanilla, golden syrup, hints of white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Blackcurrant cordial, malted grains, white pepper, golden syrup, raisins, hints of saffron.
Finish: Medium. Golden syrup, vanilla, coconut cream, white pepper, hints of oak chips.
Comments:
More Ribena-like than its unaged cousin, quite coconutty too. Lots of sweeter flavours from the wood, even though it’s been in the cask a relatively short time. Starting to taste woody.
Verdict:
I like this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)