Pappy van Winkle Family Reserve Bourbon 20yo

Pappy van Winkle Family Reserve Bourbon 20yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: White chocolate, walnuts, buttermilk, sea salt, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, thick, creamy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Butterscotch, sea salt, white chocolate, damson jam, sugared almonds, hints of prunes. 
Finish: Long. Honeycomb, prunes, salted butter, white chocolate. 

Comments: 

Extremely buttery and creamy, with more than a hint of sea salt. This is like some magic combination of Armagnac, whisky and buttermilk liqueur (if such a thing exists). It's pretty amazing. Let's say it's the best bourbon I have ever had.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Benrinnes 22yo 1995/2018

Benrinnes 22yo 1995/2018

Celebration of the Cask, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside
Light gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rambutans, red grapes, honeydew melon, watermelon, apple juice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, evaporates quickly, warm, slightly airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Rambutans, mangosteen, apple juice, cinnamon, vanilla, hints of toast. 
Finish: Long. Mangosteen, rambutans, black tea, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask 7808. Sweet and luscious, laden with tropical fruit - but not the usual tropical fruit one finds in whisky. Instead of pineapples and mangoes, there's heaps of mangosteens and rambutans. It's like munching fresh fruit at the roadside, while someone is grilling a slice of cinnamon toast nearby. This is excellent stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Clynelish 21yo 1996/2018

Clynelish 21yo 1996/2018

Unchillfiltered, Signatory
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Candle wax, lemon zest, shortbread, lemon meringue, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Candle wax, lemon zest, cinnamon, toast, lemon meringue, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Candle wax, orange peel, lemon meringue, shortbread. 

Comments: 

Cask 11390. I'm on a roll, this is my second classic Clynelish in as many months. I love this distillery, it makes the sort of whisky I like, complex, yet robust. This specimen has lemon meringue and shortbread, alongside the classic Clynelish waxiness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenlossie 24yo 1992/2017

Glenlossie 24yo 1992/2017

Unchillfiltered, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
56.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melon, honey, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, hints of lavender. With water, lemon thyme, lemons, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honeydew melon, white grapes, peaches, honey, lemon zest, hints of lavender. With water, sweeter, fresh baked bread, honey, lemon thyme. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, gooseberries, lemon zest, hints of lavender. 

Comments: 

Cask 3449. Dramming this whisky is like standing in a Provence meadow munching on fruit and rhubarb crumble. It's subtle and forceful at the same time, with plenty of multi-layered flavours. Glorious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Royal Brackla 16yo

Royal Brackla 16yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, orange peel, honeydew melon, overripe peaches, lemon squash. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, slippery, slightly airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, malted grains, black tea, lemon zest, vanilla sponge, hints of lemon curd. 
Finish: Short. Chocolate, orange peel, overripe peaches, black tea. 

Comments: 

Warm, fresh and fruity, lots and lots of citrus and stone fruit. It's subtle, and you need to work a bit to get to the flavours underneath, but it's all worth it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cradle Mountain from the Small Concern Distillery 23yo 1996/2019

Cradle Mountain from the Small Concern Distillery 23yo 1996/2019

Individual Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber red
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, raisins, raspberries, satsumas, magic marker, pear juice, hints of miso. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slightly watery, evaporated quickly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raspberries, light smoke, old tyres, honey, pear juice, peanut butter. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, old tyres, raisins, red grapes, peanut butter. 

Comments: 

Matured in a Cabernet Sauvignon cask. I've never had this distillery before, but this whisky is very interesting - sulphurous, slightly savoury, but heaped with sweet lovely goodness. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Rampur PX Sherry Cask

Rampur PX Sherry Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Uttar Pradesh
Dark gold, tinge of pink
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, red grapes, dried mangoes, fresh cut grass, raisins, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens slightly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, dried mangoes, cocoa powder, honey, lychees, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, fresh baked bread, raisins, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

A little PX in your single malt goes a long way. Here the tropical fruit notes in the original Rampur Select have been deepened and mellowed into dark chocolate, coffee and red grapes, Absolutely delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Clynelish 21yo 1993/2015

Clynelish 21yo 1993/2015

Rare Select, Montgomerie's
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, candle wax, honey, white grapes, hints of watermelon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, static, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, candied lemons, magic marker, pears, fresh baked bread, hints of peach preserve. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, peach preserve, lemon zest, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 7559. Good old waxy Clynelish. Here though, that wariness is rather prominent on the nose, but somehow changes to magic marker and acetone on the tongue. Rather delicious, but maybe not so classic.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Hazelburn R Marsala HHD 9yo Cask Sample

Hazelburn R Marsala HHD 9yo Cask Sample

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Dark gold
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, honey, sandalwood, raisins, sponge cake, hints of orange zest. With water, sandalwood, orange zest, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slippery, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Sandalwood, honey, red grapes, jackfruit, pears, overripe peaches, hints of leather. With water, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, leather, overripe peaches, fresh baked bread, hints of pears. 

Comments: 

Bottled 2007? At least, that's how I read the label. It's an odd sort of cask sample, no branding, just a white label with plenty of detail (like which barrel it was in which warehouse). Anyhow, it's not your usual Campbeltown, the wine finish has deepened the usual industrial funkiness into sandalwood and tobacco. Heaps of ripe stone fruit too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Blair Athol 21yo 1997/2018

Blair Athol 21yo 1997/2018

Cask Collection, AD Rattray
Single malt - Central Highlands
Rose gold
63% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, roses, honey, vanilla, nectarines, hints of white grapes. With water, yeasty, bread, sponge cake, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh baked bread, honey, roses, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, black tea, vanilla, peaches, gooseberries, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, honey, gooseberries, hints of nectarines. 

Comments: 

At the higher strength, this whisky bursts with fruit and floral notes. Once you add water however, it becomes more bitter, more cereally, and frankly, quite a lot more interesting. I really enjoyed the contrast, and honestly, at 63%, some water is required.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

JJ Corry Irish Blended Whiskey "The Kelly" (for Milroy's and the Vaults Soho)

JJ Corry Irish Blended Whiskey "The Kelly" (for Milroy's and the Vaults Soho)

Blended malt
Golden
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange sherbet, malted grains, vanilla, apple juice, peaches, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery warm, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange sherbet, black tea, vanilla, rose petals, apple cider, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, apple cider, lemon zest, peaches. 

Comments: 

A luscious, heavy, syrupy dram, bursting with plenty of fruit, especially peaches. Apparently 20% of this is 3 year old grain. It definitely needs to be drunk at the bottled strength, and I wish more blends came in at 50%.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Port Charlotte 15yo 2003/2019

Port Charlotte 15yo 20013/2019

Maltbarn
Single malt - Islay
Amber brown
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry bonbons, condensed milk, smoke, leather, sour cream, hints of peat. With water, blackcurrant cordial, cream, hints of black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly astringent, slippery, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, sour cream, watermelons, leather, gentle smoke. With water, sweeter, blackcurrant cordial, red grapes, hints of honey. 
Finish: Long. Strawberry bonbons, watermelons, raisins, hints of orange. 

Comments: 

Maltbarn 119. This whisky is luscious, with gentle smoke but plenty of sweet fruity notes. There's a sour cream note that brings Bruichladdich to mind, of course. It's not unpleasant. Quite a delicious whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenkinchie Distiller's Edition 12yo 2005/2017

Glenkinchie Distiller's Edition 12yo 20015/2017

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Red gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, red grapes, calvados, barley sugar, hints of raisins, hints of lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slightly fizzy, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, apple juice, lemon juice, butter, red grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Apple juice, red grains, calvados, barley sugar, hints of puff pastry. 

Comments: 

Matured in Amontillado casks. Heaps of appley goodness here. There's a spirity note that I can only associate with calvados, alongside lovely fruity notes from other non-apple fruits. Also a very nice set of buttery, pastry notes that remind me of apple pie.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Reservoir Bourbon 2012 Batch 7

Reservoir Bourbon 2012 Batch 7

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Virginia
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, brown paper, cream, dulce de leche, orange zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange zest, dulce de leche, malted grains, brown paper, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, fresh baked bread, orange zest, cream. 

Comments: 

This is different from the other batch I tried. It's sweeter, and maltier (perhaps the mash bill has a bit of barley?), and with a nice tannic note to the finish. I preferred this expression.

Verdict:

I like this.

Starward Nova

Starward Nova

Official bottling
Single malt - Victoria
Pale purple
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, blueberries, chocolate, brown paper, orange zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loose, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Red grapes, blueberries, strawberries, chocolate, nutmeg, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, vanilla, orange zest, hints of strawberries. 

Comments: 

Very young whisky, heavily steeped in red wine wood. It's absorbed all the classic notes, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, but it's also got a bready, cereally character that holds it all together. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Mortlach 25yo

Mortlach 25yo

Distillery Labels, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toast, malted grains, marmalade, vanilla, brown paper, cactus pears, hints of pears. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, butterscotch, liquorice, marmalade, vanilla, hints of cactus pears. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, black tea, honey, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Delicious whisky! Much better than an official Mortlach 20yo I had a sniff of. This one is vegetal and sweet, lots of jammy notes, but wreathed through with something bitter as well. Glorious!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glen Keith 24yo 1993/2018

Glen Keith 24yo 1993/2018

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
49.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Elderflower, pears, apples, strawberries, malted grains, hints of cedar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Golden syrup, thyme, pears, vanilla, lemon zest, hints of apples. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, cedar, gooseberries, white grapes, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Quite floral, sweet, and fruity. There's an alluring woody note on the nose and the finish. In between, there's quite a strong note of thyme sandwiched by fruit on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenburgie 10yo 2008/2019

Glenburgie 10yo 2008/2019

Cask Collection, AD Rattray
Single malt - Speyside
Sunshine
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tinned peaches, lemons, sourdough, green apples, violets, hints of liquorice. With water, yeast, sourdough, hints of pomegranates. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, hot, oily. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemons, mango chutney, green apples, tinned peaches, hints of pomegranate molasses. With water, slightly salty, yeast, sourdough, lemon drizzle cake. 
Finish: Short. Green apples, pomegranate molasses, lemons, hints of sourdough. 

Comments: 

A floral, yeasty Speyside whisky, quite tart with some fruity notes. It takes water very well, opening up to soft sponge cake and pomegranates. Quite delicious - with water.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Grant 23yo 1995/2019

Glen Grant 23yo 1995/2019

Cask Strength, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, winter melon, soy sauce, lemon juice, hints of gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, gooseberries, vanilla, olive oil, hints of lemon juice. 
Finish: Short. Olive oil, peanuts, malted grains, vanilla, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Casks 88187 and 88188 blended. It's sweet on the tongue, with some citrus, but there's a savoury overtone in the background, which then fades to bitter on the finish. It's not tannic though, the best I can describe this as is extra virgin olive oil. Very interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Auchroisk 18yo 2000/2018

Auchroisk 18yo 2000/2018

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, cream, white grapes, barley sugar, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, cream, lemon juice, white grapes, leather, hints of soy milk. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, soy milk, lemon zest, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Cask DL 12803. This Auchroisk is light and fragrant, perfect for a summer's evening. There is some complexity here, mostly in the background, interesting notes of soy and leather.

Verdict:

I like this.