Holladay 6yo 2018/2025 Soft Red Wheat UK Exclusive #1
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Missouri
Amber red
61.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla sponge, coconut cream, raisins, cinnamon, milk chocolate, hints of almonds. With water, vanilla, coconut cream, sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, slippery, hot.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Black tea, vanilla sponge, raisins, milk chocolate, brown paper, cinnamon, hints of almonds. With water, black tea, vanilla, milk chocolate, brown paper.
Finish: Long. Black tea, vanilla sponge, brown paper, raisins, hints of aluminium foil.
Comments:
Lot 18E17 cask 6715. Soft and gentle bourbon, lots of cakey notes - vanilla, chocolate, almonds - and plenty of raisins too. Water brings out a bitterness, mostly tea, but also more chocolate.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 6 May 2026
Tuesday, 5 May 2026
Holladay 7yo 2017/2025 Soft Red Wheat UK Exclusive #2
Holladay 7yo 2017/2025 Soft Red Wheat UK Exclusive #2
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Missouri
Amber red
61.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, peanuts, cough syrup, popcorn, milk chocolate, oak chips, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, peanuts, brown paper, fresh cut grass, milk chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, evaporates, hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Oak chips, cream, cough syrup, popcorn, beetroot, vanilla, blackcurrant cordial. With water, cream, cough syrup, vanilla, milk chocolate.
Finish: Medium. Beetroot, cream, cough syrup, milk chocolate.
Comments:
Lot 17F03 Cask 3503. Very milky, lots of chocolate, blackcurrant and cough syrup notes. There’s a vegetal note of beet root on the finish too. A rather good bourbon, even gentle at this cask strength.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Missouri
Amber red
61.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, peanuts, cough syrup, popcorn, milk chocolate, oak chips, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, peanuts, brown paper, fresh cut grass, milk chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, evaporates, hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Oak chips, cream, cough syrup, popcorn, beetroot, vanilla, blackcurrant cordial. With water, cream, cough syrup, vanilla, milk chocolate.
Finish: Medium. Beetroot, cream, cough syrup, milk chocolate.
Comments:
Lot 17F03 Cask 3503. Very milky, lots of chocolate, blackcurrant and cough syrup notes. There’s a vegetal note of beet root on the finish too. A rather good bourbon, even gentle at this cask strength.
Verdict:
I like this.
North British 43yo 1982/2025
North British 43yo 1982/2025
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark copper
52.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, raisins, golden syrup, nutmeg, vanilla, cream, brown paper, cola nuts. With water, cream, cola nuts, cough syrup.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Raisins, cream, cough mixture, brown paper, cola nuts, milk chocolate, vanilla. With water, vanilla, coconut cream, raisins.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, brown paper, raisins, cream.
Comments:
Cask 25537. Lots of sweet sticky notes, creamy and milky (but not lactic!). Water brings out a note of coconut cream, and accentuates the chocolate. Lovely old grain whisky
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark copper
52.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, raisins, golden syrup, nutmeg, vanilla, cream, brown paper, cola nuts. With water, cream, cola nuts, cough syrup.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Raisins, cream, cough mixture, brown paper, cola nuts, milk chocolate, vanilla. With water, vanilla, coconut cream, raisins.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, brown paper, raisins, cream.
Comments:
Cask 25537. Lots of sweet sticky notes, creamy and milky (but not lactic!). Water brings out a note of coconut cream, and accentuates the chocolate. Lovely old grain whisky
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ruadh Maor 14yo 2011/2026
Ruadh Maor 14yo 2011/2026
Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden yellow
57.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, smoke, peat, orange peel, gooseberries, sandalwood, pine, hints of sawdust. With water, honey, sandalwood, germolene.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, expands.
Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden yellow
57.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, smoke, peat, orange peel, gooseberries, sandalwood, pine, hints of sawdust. With water, honey, sandalwood, germolene.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, expands.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, orange peel, raisins, gooseberries, soot, sandalwood, sawdust, coffee, dark chocolate. With water, raisins, honey, soot, dark chocolate.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, peat, soot, orange peel, hints of pine.
Comments:
Chunky, sweet smoke, lots of herbal and incense notes, but with plenty of dried fruit and fragrant coffee. Water expands the range of flavours, bringing in notes of honey and dark chocolate.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, peat, soot, orange peel, hints of pine.
Comments:
Chunky, sweet smoke, lots of herbal and incense notes, but with plenty of dried fruit and fragrant coffee. Water expands the range of flavours, bringing in notes of honey and dark chocolate.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Monday, 4 May 2026
Don Michael Black Whiskey Corn
Don Michael Black Whiskey Corn
Official bottling
Official bottling
Single grain - Lima
Dark copper
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Farmyard, roast chicken, leather, raisins, damson jam, black pepper, cooked rice, hints of oak chips.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, volatile.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Black pepper, damson jam, raisins, coked rice, oak chips, vanilla, golden syrup, hints of roast chicken.
Finish: Long. Coffee, black pepper, black tea, raisins, golden syrup.
Comments:
Not as sweet as I’d expected, for corn whisky. Lots of estery and spicy notes though, and there’s some meaty, even farminess on the palate. It builds to a long, slightly bitter, fragrant finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Dark copper
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Farmyard, roast chicken, leather, raisins, damson jam, black pepper, cooked rice, hints of oak chips.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, volatile.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Black pepper, damson jam, raisins, coked rice, oak chips, vanilla, golden syrup, hints of roast chicken.
Finish: Long. Coffee, black pepper, black tea, raisins, golden syrup.
Comments:
Not as sweet as I’d expected, for corn whisky. Lots of estery and spicy notes though, and there’s some meaty, even farminess on the palate. It builds to a long, slightly bitter, fragrant finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Don Michael Black Whiskey Rye
Don Michael Black Whiskey Rye
Official bottling
Single rye - Lima
Amber copper
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, rye bread, raisins, parchment paper, peaches, hints of roast chicken.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns syrupy, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Rye bread, raisins, damson jam, oak chips, parchment paper, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Short. Sea salt, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, rye bread, peaches.
Comments:
A very gentle rye, mostly papery and bready. There’s also getntlenjammybflacours with some saltiness. Not much of that heady black pepper note that American eyes have. A decent first Peruvian whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single rye - Lima
Amber copper
45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, rye bread, raisins, parchment paper, peaches, hints of roast chicken.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns syrupy, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Rye bread, raisins, damson jam, oak chips, parchment paper, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, hints of sea salt.
Finish: Short. Sea salt, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, rye bread, peaches.
Comments:
A very gentle rye, mostly papery and bready. There’s also getntlenjammybflacours with some saltiness. Not much of that heady black pepper note that American eyes have. A decent first Peruvian whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Speyburn 15yo 2009
Speyburn 15yo 2009
Highland Laird, Bartels Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
42% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, butter, shortcrust pastry, lemon zest, vanilla, dried pears, hints of white chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, cool.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pencil lead, dried pears, shortcrust pastry, lemon zest, wet stones, pears, hints of nectarines.
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, pencil lead, wet stones, shortcrust pastry, hints of driftwood smoke.
Comments:
Cask 0700077. Very buttery and vanilla laden, with hints of white chocolate, on the nose. On the tongue it chafes, showing some minerality and more pears. Very enjoyable, if slightly thin.
Verdict:
I like this.
Highland Laird, Bartels Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
42% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, butter, shortcrust pastry, lemon zest, vanilla, dried pears, hints of white chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, cool.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Pencil lead, dried pears, shortcrust pastry, lemon zest, wet stones, pears, hints of nectarines.
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, pencil lead, wet stones, shortcrust pastry, hints of driftwood smoke.
Comments:
Cask 0700077. Very buttery and vanilla laden, with hints of white chocolate, on the nose. On the tongue it chafes, showing some minerality and more pears. Very enjoyable, if slightly thin.
Verdict:
I like this.
Linkwood 13yo 2013/2026
Linkwood 13yo 2013/2026
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
53.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Dried apples, pears, shortcrust pastry, dried apricots, icing sugar, foam shrimp, hints of starfruit, hints of cinnamon. With water, lemon zest, shortcrust pastry, sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, mouth coating, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Dried apples, malted grains, lemon zest, dried apricots, shortcrust pastry, icing sugar, hints of cream. With water, vanilla, malted grains, dried apricots.
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, white grapes, dried apricots, dried apples.
Comments:
Cask 300371, 300372. Very fruity whisky, mainly stone fruit, apples and pears. Lots of estery notes. With water it turns buttery and pastry-like. Very good whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
53.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Dried apples, pears, shortcrust pastry, dried apricots, icing sugar, foam shrimp, hints of starfruit, hints of cinnamon. With water, lemon zest, shortcrust pastry, sea salt.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, mouth coating, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Dried apples, malted grains, lemon zest, dried apricots, shortcrust pastry, icing sugar, hints of cream. With water, vanilla, malted grains, dried apricots.
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, white grapes, dried apricots, dried apples.
Comments:
Cask 300371, 300372. Very fruity whisky, mainly stone fruit, apples and pears. Lots of estery notes. With water it turns buttery and pastry-like. Very good whisky indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Saturday, 25 April 2026
Floki Single Malt
Floki Single Malt
Official bottling
Single malt - Capital Region
Pale gold
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Acacia honey, white grapes, yoghurt, cream, lemon zest, foam shrimp, hints of bananas.
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, volatile, loosens.
Tasting: Sour bitter. White grapes, acacia honey, haw flakes, foam shrimp, lychees, pear, grapefruit, hints of white pepper.
Finish: Short. White grapes, honey, haw flakes, lychees, peat.
Comments:
Very fruity and light, with plenty of estery notes, but also an earthy bitter undertone. It’s not necessarily peaty, instead it’s herbal and citrusy bitterness. Definitely more grapefruit than smoke.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Capital Region
Pale gold
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Acacia honey, white grapes, yoghurt, cream, lemon zest, foam shrimp, hints of bananas.
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, volatile, loosens.
Tasting: Sour bitter. White grapes, acacia honey, haw flakes, foam shrimp, lychees, pear, grapefruit, hints of white pepper.
Finish: Short. White grapes, honey, haw flakes, lychees, peat.
Comments:
Very fruity and light, with plenty of estery notes, but also an earthy bitter undertone. It’s not necessarily peaty, instead it’s herbal and citrusy bitterness. Definitely more grapefruit than smoke.
Verdict:
I like this.
Ardara Single Malt 2025 Release
Ardara Single Malt 2025 Release
Official bottling
Single malt - Ulster
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, smoke, raisins, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, farmyard, hints of charcoal ash.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, thickens, cool.
Tasting: Bitter. Peanuts, peat, charcoal ash, vanilla, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, gentian, smoke, hints of tarry rope.
Finish: Long. Vanilla, dark chocolate, raisins, charcoal ash, peat.
Comments:
Peated Irish whisky. This is rather thick and heavy, upending the Irish whisky stereotype. The bitterness is herbal and vegetal, with quite a big lick of sulphur.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Ulster
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, smoke, raisins, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, farmyard, hints of charcoal ash.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, thickens, cool.
Tasting: Bitter. Peanuts, peat, charcoal ash, vanilla, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, gentian, smoke, hints of tarry rope.
Finish: Long. Vanilla, dark chocolate, raisins, charcoal ash, peat.
Comments:
Peated Irish whisky. This is rather thick and heavy, upending the Irish whisky stereotype. The bitterness is herbal and vegetal, with quite a big lick of sulphur.
Verdict:
I like this.
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