Kyrö Release 8 Rye Whiskey

Kyrö Release 8 Rye Whiskey

Official bottling
Single rye - Southern Finland
Copper
47.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, black tea, vanilla ice cream, cinnamon, raisins, hints of pineapples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Brown paper, vanilla sponge, fresh baked bread, black pepper, cinnamon, raisins, orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, black pepper, vanilla ice cream, raisins, orange peel. 

Comments: 

I’ll be honest, I had fairly low expectations of this one. Continental European whiskies are a little hit and miss, some are the equal of Scotch, some are... well, undrinkable. This one surprised me, although perhaps if you get to Release 8 you’re probably doing something right. It’s very right indeed - sweeter than rye whisky normally is, but packed with the characteristic spicy, peppery flavour notes. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Nc’Nean Ainnir Inaugural Release 2020

Nc’Nean Ainnir Inaugural Release 2020

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Highlands
Dark gold, tinge of pink 
60.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, sage, rhubarb and custard sweets, brass polish, lemon zest. With water, orange peel, apricots, green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, brass polish, barley sugar, fresh cut grass, malted grains, oats, hints of cocoa nibs. With water, bittersweet, walnuts, cocoa nibs, rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Medium. Cocoa nibs, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, green tea. 

Comments: 

I decided to make the Nc’Nean Ainnir my Burns Night dram. In this age of remote whisky drinking, I hadn’t had a tasting lined up, so I drank alone. The whisky seemed to suit, it was highly complex, lots of herbal flavours, at a high strength that rewarded reflection, patience, and a fair bit of water. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnamurchan AD/09.20:01 2020

Ardnamurchan AD/09.20:01 2020

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Silver gold
46.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, cucumber, leather, peat, honeydew melons, hints of mint. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, hot.  
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Leather, peat, mint, cucumber, pineapples, white grapes, sultanas, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Finish: Long. Leather, ginseng, lemons, white grapes, mint.  

Comments: 

This is the Ardnamurchan inaugural bottling. It’s redolent of fruit, leather and peat, but the fruit combination is rather interesting, and uncommon. There’s more tropical fruit than anything else, pineapples and melon predominate, but it’s not sweet. In fact it’s rather bitter, and quite enjoyable. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Macallan Edition 6

Macallan Edition 6

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
48.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, orange peel, salt caramel, dust, chocolate, raisins.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, chocolate, fresh baked bread, black tea, walnuts, hints of coffee, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

This one is fruitier and drier than its next oldest sibling, with lots of tannins and bitterness. Again, the higher ABV does it justice. Lots of dried fruit on the finish. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Macallan Edition 5

Macallan Edition 5

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber gold
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marshmallows, vanilla, sultanas, fresh cut grass, peanuts, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, warm, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, honey, raisins, sultanas, fresh baked bread, fresh cut grass, hints of chocolate.  
Finish: Short. Raisins, fresh baked bread, vanilla, hints of black tea. 

Comments: 

This is more like it! At 48% plus, Macallan is more interesting, this one is warm and inviting, lots of cereally notes and vanilla, quite lush. I enjoyed this. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Macallan Rare Cask 2018 Batch 3

Macallan Rare Cask 2018 Batch 3

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber

43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, chocolate, leather, oranges, vanilla sponge, hazelnuts. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, cool, static. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, raisins, black tea, vanilla, dried apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Oranges, dried apricots, vanilla sponge, honey. 

Comments: 

This is Terry’s chocolate orange whisky. It’s pleasant and straightforward, with the obligatory chocolate and dried fruit, and a decent nose. Again, while it’s well-constructed, it’s not that rare as sherried whiskies go. I liked this, but not at the price. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Macallan Double Cask 15yo

Macallan Double Cask 15yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sea salt, leather, dust, barley sugar, shredded wheat, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, airy, loosens, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Leather, raisins, red grapes, barley sugar, rhubarb and custard sweets, shredded wheat. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, chocolate, honey, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Well now, this is better than the 18yo. An interesting, leathery, dusty nose leads into a cereally, fruity nose. But it’s a short finish, and the low ABV makes it taste rather thin. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Macallan Triple Cask 18yo (2019 release)

Macallan Triple Cask 18yo (2019 release)

Official bottling

Single malt - Speyside 
Sunshine gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, sea salt, malted grains, honey, dried apricots, treacle.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Chocolate, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge, salt caramel. 
Finish: Short. Dried apricots, lemon zest, vanilla sponge, honey. 

Comments: 

18 years is normally the sweet spot for whisky, at least for me, so I was looking forward to tasting this sherry monster. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to expectations. There’s honey and chocolate of course, allied to a malty nose, but it seemed a bit thin. Bottling this at 46% or even north of 50%, may have helped, although I understand the lack of interest in a very woody, high strength whisky. 

Verdict:

Not bad. 

Macallan Whisky Maker’s Edition

Macallan Whisky Maker’s Edition 

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
42.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, dried apricots, burning matches, fresh baked bread, vanilla.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, sticky, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh baked bread, chocolate, hazelnuts, vanilla, orange peel, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, coffee, hazelnuts, dried apricots, hints of wet stones. 

Comments: 

My first official Macallan in a while. I started my whisky journey with Macallan, and at the time, it was clearly good enough to launch me into a hobby that is now well into its second decade. This one gave me hints of that experience, with some nutty chocolate alongside dried fruit. But the low ABV made it a little disappointing. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Cambus 26yo 1993/2019

Cambus 26yo 1993/2019

Single Cask, James Eadie
Single grain - Lowlands
Chinese tea
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, honey, raisins, marzipan, salt caramel, cloves. With water, candied orange peel, desiccated coconut, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, raisins, cloves, candied orange peel, dark chocolate, sea salt. With water, salt caramel, desiccated coconut, raisins, vanilla.  
Finish: Long. Black tea, candied orange peel, dark chocolate, leather, raisins. 

Comments: 

Cask 48094. Old grain whisky, always quietly impressive. At cask strength the grain notes aren’t very noticeable, plenty of chocolate and salt and fruit. With water the cask influence fades a little, and the vanilla and coconut notes from the grain spirit start to appear. This is delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Tullibardine 20yo

Tullibardine 20yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oats, malted grains, barley sugar, honey, orange peel, hints of white grapes.  
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, orange peel, white grapes, barley sugar, oats, hints of chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, dark chocolate, orange peel, honey.  

Comments: 

I think this has been discontinued. It’s well constructed, malty and spirity, honeyed fruit with chocolate. It wears its age lightly, I would have pegged this at nearer 12 years old rather than 20. For all that, I enjoyed it very much. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Kura The Whisky Rum Cask Finish

Kura the Whisky Rum Cask Finish

Kura the Whisky
Blended malt
Pale gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, smoke, peanuts, sour cream, orange peel, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peanuts, orange peel, cherries, vanilla, smoke, peat, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Cherries, orange peel, raisins, walnuts. 

Comments: 

I was under the impression that this whisky (and its sibling which I tasted some months ago) was single malt / single blend by the awamori distillery Helios. However, a little bit more investigation revealed that it’s actually Scotch, perhaps blended with a little Japanese malt, and aged and finished in Japan. It’s quite pleasant - sweet and smoky, with cereal overtones - but I can’t help wondering what an awamori maker could bring to the world of whisky. It should be more interesting than this. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Inchgower 10yo 2009/2020

Inchgower 10yo 2009/2020

The Hidden Spirits Whisky Company
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale straw
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, cola nuts, malted grains, blueberries, cotton sheets, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, syrupy, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, blueberries, sea salt, candied orange peel, preserved lemons, cola nuts. 
Finish: Long. Sea salt, preserved lemons, malted grains, vanilla, hints of candied orange peel.

Comments: 

I like Hidden Spirits, nearly every one of their bottlings that I’ve been lucky enough to try has been excellent. This one is too, lots of malty, spirity notes, with salty citrus and vanilla. Well aged, released at what might be the perfect time. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Port Charlotte 10yo

Port Charlotte 10yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay 
Straw
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, pomegranate molasses, sea salt, orange peel, hints of lemon zest, hints of seaweed. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, astringent, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Lemon zest, salt caramel, smoke, peat, seaweed, walnuts. 
Finish: Short. Pomegranate molasses, lemon zest, salt caramel, walnuts, hints of sour cream. 

Comments: 

The first regular age statement Port Charlotte bottling. I’m a little late to tasting this, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ABV of 50%. It’s very generous and it made the drinking of this whisky very pleasurable. Heaps of savoury smoke over sweet things. Not too much of the kippery note that I sometimes find in Port Charlottes and Octomores. They’ve chosen to make this gentle rather than interesting. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glendullan 10yo 2010/2020

Glendullan 10yo 2010/2020

Whisky Broker
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, malted grains, barley sugar, quinces, fresh cut grass, sage, hints of fennel. With water, honey, lemon sweets, coffee.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, honey, barley sugar, lemon zest, quinces, fresh baked bread, hints of walnuts. With water, coffee, lemon zest, oats, fresh baked bread.
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, fresh baked bread, sage, quinces, walnuts. 

Comments: 

Cask 46. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a Glendullan, and I’ve never had a whisky from this bottler. It’s a good start / restart - the whisky is fresh and bright, with good mouthfeel and lots of fruit and cereal notes. There is also a nice herbal undertone, creating good complexity.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Caledonian 33yo 1982/2016

Caledonian 33yo 1982/2016

Single Cask Series, Master of Malt
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden yellow
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, corn syrup, orange peel, fennel, caramel, hints of aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, fresh baked bread, orange peel, honeycomb, orange juice. 
Finish: Long. Corn syrup, orange peel, rye, vanilla, pear drops, hints of fennel. 

Comments: 

Cask 1254. Old grain whisky, as usual tends to taste fresher and brighter than malt of an equivalent age. This one has a great deal of cereal notes, with sweeter, aromatic fruit and some fennel tops. Lovely. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

New Zealand Double Wood Small Batch 18yo (TWE Exclusive)

New Zealand Double Wood Small Batch 18yo (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Otago
Red, tinge of amber
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Creamed coconut, vanilla, raisins, raspberry jam, pruneaux, grape soda, cinnamon, hints of orange peel. With water, pear drops, damson jam, grapes soda. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent.  
Tasting:  Sweet. Cinnamon, cloves, fresh baked bread, creamed coconut, raisins, dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream, hints of grape soda. With water, raisins, candied orange peel, damson jam. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, raisins, cloves, dark chocolate, grape soda, vanilla ice cream.  

Comments: 

Hugely complex dram, much more brandy like than its older sibling, also from TWE. It was quite aromatic, maybe tasting as if it had a little grain whisky in it (although the label says single malt). Excellent whisky to see the new year in with. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.