Berry Bros Rudd Sherry Cask Matured Blended Malt

Berry Bros Rudd Sherry Cask Matured Blended Malt

Official bottling 

Blended malt

Amber red 
44.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, cloves, camphor, fresh baked bread, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, slippery, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, raisins, camphor, fresh baked bread, black tea, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, raisins, coffee, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Quite a sweet, sherried dram - as it says in the tin. It’s all very normal, well balanced and well constructed. Not a lot more to say to be honest. A perfectly decent dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Tomintoul 13yo 2004/2018 Cask 5

Tomintoul 13yo 2004/2018

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber gold
59.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, chocolate, grape sweets, black tea, blackberries, hints of saffron. With water, damson jam, grape sweets, hints of saffron. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, raisins, fresh baked bread, saffron, orange peel, black tea, lemon zest. With water, more bitter, black tea, toast, orange peel, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, blackberries, orange peel, raisins, black tea. 

Comments: 

Cask 5, as said on the label. It’s quite an oily dram with thick legs, lots of classic sherry cask flavours, but with a bitter, fragrant herbal edge. Needs a fair bit of water to open up and bring in some jammy flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dallas Dhu 20yo 1977/1997

Dallas Dhu 20yo 1977/1997

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle
Single malt - Speyside 
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, white grapes, watermelon rind, tobacco leaf, sultanas, lemon zest, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, cool, slightly chalky. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Sea salt, white grapes, watermelon rind, tobacco leaf, lemon sweets, sultanas, wet stones, hints of grilled meat. 
Finish: Long. Tobacco leaf, sea salt, wet stones, lemon sweets, leather. 

Comments: 

Cask 1118. Lovely old Dallas Dhu, from the Malt Whisky Circle, a bottler that no longer exists. Some of these are stunning, but this Dallas Dhu is not one of them. It’s good though, perhaps a little bit peatier and brinier than the average Dallas Dhu. There’s a whisper of smoke that brings to mind meat on a barbecue at the end. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Millstone 10yo 2004/2014 Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey

Millstone 10yo 2004/2014 Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey

Official bottling 
Single rye - North Brabant
Dark amber red
58.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, white pepper, curry leaf, orange peel, cloves, camphor. With water, autumn leaves, black tea, hints of bonfire embers. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, warm, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Corn syrup, white pepper, orange peel, raisins, camphor, vanilla, hints of chocolate. With water, raisins, oats, corn syrup, cloves, hints of chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, black tea, cloves, raisins, orange peel, hints of chocolate. 

Comments: 

Cask 667. A very spicy rye, lots of nutty undertones best. But it’s fiery, and really clouds your palate at full strength. A bit of water thins it out, but the spiciness fades, leaving some cereally, fruity notes. Rewards introspection.

Verdict:

I like this.

Caperdonich 21yo Peated Small Batch Release

Caperdonich 21yo Peated Small Batch Release

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cucumber, leather, peat, honey, lemon sweets, vanilla, hints of watermelon, hints of caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, hot, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, peat, tobacco leaf, cucumber, watermelon, orange peel, toffee apples, grape sweets, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, peat, leather, lemon sweets, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Batch CP/002. Not that many OBs left of Caperdonich, I’m thinking. But maybe the stocks are plentiful. Anyway, this is quite peaty and fruity, very gentle peat fades quickly to rich fruit. Lots of vegetal undertones too, particularly watermelon rind. Quite enjoyable. Looking forward to the 18yo. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Allt a’Mhullin 15yo 2002/2018

Allt a’Mhullin 15yo 2002/2018

Roslin Distillers
Single malt - West Highlands 
Yellow gold

46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, mangoes, overripe peaches, cream, sour cream, passionfruit, hints of farm. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, slippery, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Papayas, mangoes, passionfruit, black tea, farmyard, lemon sweets, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Medium. Peaches, lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, dried pears. 

Comments: 

A very smooth, well flavoured Ben Nevis. Lots of tropical fruit notes, and a hint of farmyard funk. It’s got a tinge of bitterness in it, but not a lot. The flavours are well defined and quite intense. Not seen this indie bottler before - I think this is their first bottling. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Grant 26yo 1989/2016

Glen Grant 26yo 1989/2016

Mackillop’s Choice, Angus Dundee Distillers
Single malt - Speyside 
Golden
50.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, lemon juice, grapefruit, rhubarb and custard, sandalwood, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon juice, grapefruit, honey, lemons, white pepper, fresh baked bread, hints of lavender. 
Finish: Short. Lavender, lemon juice, cream, fresh baked bread, rhubarb and custard. 

Comments: 

Cask 11086. Quite a tart Glen Grant, not your usual sweet maltiness. The maltiness is still there, but layered over with all sorts of citrus and a touch of honey. Some spiciness as well that teases the tongue. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Bimber Ex Bourbon Casks Batch 2

Bimber Ex Bourbon Casks Batch 2

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Golden
52.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, pineapples, mangoes, papayas, sandalwood, kiwifruit. With water, white pepper, oats, sandalwood, kiwifruit, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, slightly warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Honey, fresh baked bread, papayas, raisins, sandalwood, tobacco leaf, hints of green tea, hints of sage. With water, white pepper, kiwifruit, oats, sandalwood. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, sage, fresh cut grass, tobacco leaf, sandalwood, hints of raisins. 

Comments: 

Fragrant and fresh, lots of tropical fruit, but with a herbal edge. I’d like to taste some older Bimber, and some cheaper Bimber, but the distillery undeniably produces some excellent stuff. Despite its young age this one is bright and well flavoured. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Glenburgie 27yo 1992/2019

Glenburgie 27yo 1992/2019

Single Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside 
Straw
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Candle wax, cep mushrooms, white grapes, lemon zest, gooseberries, hints of apricot jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, mouth coating, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, white grapes, honey, gooseberries, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, yuzu, hints of candle wax. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, white grapes, cep mushrooms, gooseberries. 

Comments: 

Earthy and fruity, this Glenburgie shows its age quite well. Lots of complexity, even some jammy notes alongside the citrus. Pleasantly waxy too. Top stuff, excellent bottling.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cardhu 11yo 2008/2020 (2020 Special Release)

Cardhu 11yo 2008/2020 (2020 Special Release)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold 
56% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, apples, pineapples, malted grains, honeydew melons, wet stones. With water, vanilla, malted grains, white grapes, hints of pineapples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, turns sticky, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, vanilla, apples, fresh baked bread, wet stones, passionfruit, hints of anise, hints of white pepper. With water, slightly sweeter, white grapes, white pepper, honeydew melons. 
Finish: Short. Passionfruit, apples, wet stones, anise, hints of lemon zest. 

Comments: 

A 2020 Special Releases bottling. It never ceases to amaze me that people collect based on the label or the series rather than the whisky inside. This one is alright though - fruity and flinty, with a fair bit of malt. Quite gentle and rich too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arran Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish

Arran Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands 
Golden, hints of copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, raisins, vanilla, honey, hints of black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, honey, raisins, fresh baked bread, black tea, hints of hazelnuts. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, coffee, orange peel, honey. 

Comments: 

This is one of the old Arran cask finishes that have been discontinued. It’s quite lovely, smooth and gentle and flavoursome. Lots of fruit and honey, but that makes it a bit generic.

Verdict:

I like this.

Caol Ila 12yo 2007/2019

Caol Ila 12yo 2007/2019

Single Cask Nation, Jewish Whisky Company 
Single malt - Islay 
Pale gold, hints of green 
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, tobacco leaf, lemon zest, vanilla, raisins, pears, grilled meat. With water, lime juice, peat, tobacco leaf, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Peat, smoke, leather, seaweed, raisins, vanilla, preserved lemons, lemon zest, hints of soy sauce. With water, peat, tobacco leaf, smoke, leather, lime juice, pear drops. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, lime juice, pears, vanilla, smoke, leather. 

Comments: 

Cask 510. I’ve had a fair bit of Caol Ila over the years. It’s a favourite of indie bottlers, and some of them have been very good indeed. This is one of them, not quite tip top, but it’s pretty decent. Not much of the usual Caol Ila soy sauce, instead it’s preserved lemons and salty seaweed, allied to the usual smoke and peat. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Imperial 24yo 1996/2020

Imperial 24yo 1996/2020

Single Cask Nation, Jewish Whisky Company
Single malt - Speyside 
Golden, hints of copper
54.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, gooseberries, candied oranges, strawberry laces, hints of cream, hints of candle wax. With water, raisins, strawberry laces, damson jam, marmalade, candle wax. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, astringent, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Candied oranges, pear drops, wet stones, gooseberries, strawberry laces, cinnamon, raisins, hints of marmalade. With water, sweeter, raisins, strawberry laces, vanilla, cinnamon, marmalade. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, strawberry laces, cream, white grapes, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Cask 3420. It’s been a while since I had an Imperial. This one is pretty good. Highly fruity, and quite waxy, it’s fragrant and full of flavour. The high strength is a real prize, with water it softens to vanilla-laden fruit. I’m going to drink as much as I can.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Elgin 10yo 2010/2020

Glen Elgin 10yo 2010/2020

Single Cask Nation, Jewish Whisky Company
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
61.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, wet stones, white grapes, lemon zest, sea salt, hints of iron filings. With water, malted grains, white grapes, wet stones, lemon juice, dried apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Sea salt, malted grains, sourdough bread, lemon zest, ginseng, hints of green tea. With water, sweet sour, olive oil, ginseng, sourdough bread, dried apples, hints of barley sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, ginseng, sourdough bread, sea salt. 

Comments: 

Cask 801386. This whisky is minerally yet fruity, with a strong bitter taste and finish. The high strength makes it pleasant and flavourful, and it doesn’t take that much water. Enjoy near full strength. 

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 93.121 (Glen Scotia 10yo 2009/2019)

SMWS 93.121 (Glen Scotia 10yo 2009/2019)

2019, SMWS
Single malt - Campbeltown
Dark gold
59.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, leather, tobacco leaf, honey, lemon sweets, overripe pears. With water, lemon sweets, papayas, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Leather, tobacco leaf, lemon sweets, papayas, fresh baked bread, raisins, buttercups, hints of smoke. With water, slightly sweeter, papayas, fresh baked bread, buttercups, hints of germolene. 
Finish: Short. Lemon sweets, papayas, honey, raisins, hints of leather, hints of cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity, this whisky. There’s the typical Campbeltown funk, manifesting here in leathery peat, but the fruit dominates. Lemons and papayas, primarily, but there’s also some raisins and honey. It ends with a bang - short finish, lots of flavour.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kingsbarns Dream to Dram

Kingsbarns Dream to Dram

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw, hints of green
46% ABV
Sampler

Nose: White grapes, wet stones, vanilla, greengages, cream, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, wet stones, toast, coffee, oats, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, lemon zest, fresh baked bread, vanilla, wet stones. 

Comments: 

I’ve never had a Kingsbarns, so I didn’t have many expectations about this whisky. It’s very decent indeed, lots of green fruit notes, almost waxy. There’s also a flinty, liberally edge than tapers to a bitter finish. Quite promising.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 38yo 1966/2004

Balblair 38yo 1966/2004

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Teakwood
44% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, pineapples, apricot jam, manuka honey, raisins, marshmallows, hints of milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Pineapples, lychees, raisins, manuka honey, strawberries, apricot jam, hints of cinnamon, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Long. Jasmine, manuka honey, apricot jam, cloves, hints of lilac. 

Comments: 

What a magnificent old Balblair! Lots of fruit of course, a distillery characteristic, but also a deep, intense, almost cloying honeyed sweetness. Floral notes abound, as well as lots of spices. Quite unrivalled.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 30yo 1978/2008

Balblair 30yo 1978/2008

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Golden 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricot jam, white grapes, greengages, peaches, vanilla, hints of cedar, hints of lilac. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, astringent, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sour. Apricot jam, peaches, toasted coconut, pineapples, cinnamon, tangerines, sultanas, hints of white grapes, hints of lilac. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, cedar, peaches, toasted coconut, white grapes. 

Comments: 

I’ve been after this 30yo bottling for a long time. It met expectations - heavy and floral, fruity, yet tart. There’s a hint of smoke that is subsumed in coconut sweetness. Lots of wood as well. Utterly lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - Cherry Wood Smoked Barley

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - Cherry Wood Smoked Barley

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber, hints of red
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Corn syrup, cornbread, bananas, apple rings, strawberries, toast. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cornbread, honey, maple syrup, strawberries, apple rings, cola bottles, toast. 
Finish: Short. Apple rings, cola bottles, coffee, toast, hints of pear drops. 

Comments: 

My first Woodford Reserve in more than a decade. It’s rather nice, sweet and fruity, with just a whisper of smoke. The cereal is very obvious, but I think they should have smoked the mash a bit more. The fruitiness deserves something to cut it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 24yo 1979/2003 Limited Edition

Balblair 24yo 1979/2003 Limited Edition 

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Dark gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, sour cream, kiwifruit, greengages, toast, watermelon rind, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slippery, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. White grapes, greengages, apricots, toast, lemon zest, ginseng, sultanas, apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Greengages, watermelon rind, ginseng, apricots, toast. 

Comments: 

Austere and delicate, this whisky doesn’t quite have the root of fruit flavours that I’ve come to expect from Balblair. It’s even got bitter herbal notes. Nope, wouldn’t have flagged this one as Balblair if I’d tasted it blind. Nevertheless, very nice, and a good one to have quite deep in a tasting session.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balblair 1985/2015 NATEX Exclusive

Balblair 1985/2015 NATEX Exclusive 

Official bottling

Single malt - North Highlands 
Dark gold, hints of copper
53.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apricots, rhubarb and custard sweets, plums, white grapes, lemon sweets, kiwifruit, coffee. With water, white grapes, peaches, greengages, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Apricots, plums, passionfruit, dark chocolate, lemon sweets, coffee, hints of peaches. With water, slightly bitter, dark chocolate, apricots, greengages. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, fresh baked bread, peaches, apricots. 

Comments: 

Cask 247 - bottled at 30 years old for a defence organisation’s anniversary. It’s got lots of stone fruit and dark chocolate notes, and a pleasingly bitter sweet finish. Very nice, very Balblair.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Mannochmore 11yo 2009/2021

Mannochmore 11yo 2009/2021

Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, honey, lemon sweets, barley sugar, white grapes, hints of pineapple jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Mint, barley sugar, orange peel, malted grains, honey, pomegranates, white grapes, apricots. 
Finish: Long. Cool, mint, barley sugar, orange peel, apricots, raisins. 

Comments: 

Excellent whisky, this - fruity and jammy, but with a cool minty edge that is very refreshing indeed. It’s at a decent strength as well, easy to drink yet flavourful. I enjoyed this very much, it’s lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Invergordon 45yo 1974/2019

Invergordon 45yo 1974/2019

Single Cask Nation, Jewish Whisky Company 
Single grain - North Highlands 
Dark gold, hints of amber
46.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinnamon, canned peaches, sandalwood, nutmeg, vanilla ice cream, hints of raspberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Magic marker, sandalwood, canned peaches, vanilla ice cream, cornbread, lemon curd, cream. 
Finish: Medium. Corn syrup, lemon curd, vanilla ice cream, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Cask 7844000025. Very creamy, with a slight toastiness that reminds me of incense, even burning sandalwood. Also heaps of fruit, and it’s very sweet. Lovely whisky all round, great mouthfeel, taste and nose. Delicious indeed. Aged grains rule. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Knockdhu Cask Sample 8yo 2013/2021

Knockdhu Cask Sample 8yo 2013/2021

Single Cask Nation, Jewish Whisky Company 
Single malt - Speyside 
Pink
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sour cream, strawberries, okra, scotch bonnet peppers, raisins, orange peel. With water, cream, strawberries, vanilla sponge, hints of chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, mouth coating, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Strawberries, orange peel, sour cream, lemon zest, vanilla, sourdough bread, hints of dried apples. With water, more sour, lemon zest, honey, dried apples, vanilla sponge, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Medium. Sourdough bread, dried apples, vanilla, honey. 

Comments: 

Pomerol Red Wine Barrique 50. This hasn’t been bottled yet, it’s just a cask sample and it’s not ready. Having said that it’s reasonably promising. Vegetal notes on the nose give way to fruity sweet notes, especially with a bit of water. There’s a slightly unpleasant new plastic note though. Not a fan of those. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Teaninich 13yo 2005/2019

Teaninich 13yo 2005/2019

Single Cask Nation, Jewish Whisky Company
Single malt - North Highlands
Pale straw
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh cut grass, white grapes, hazelnuts, brass polish. With water, white chocolate, white grapes, starfruit, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, starfruit, nectarines, fresh cut grass, hazelnuts, kiwifruit, hints of dried apricots. With water, sweeter, malted grains, lemon zest, white chocolate, hints of white grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Nectarines, wet stones, white grapes, brass polish. 

Comments: 

Cask 487. This is a style of whisky that I like very much, all stone fruit, tropical fruit, but with a herbal, even minerally edge. It takes water very well, becoming sweeter and slightly fruitier. Mmmm. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Speyside distillery 23yo 1995/2018

Speyside distillery 23yo 1995/2018

Whisky Broker
Single malt - Speyside 
Bronze
60.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, chocolate, strawberries, malted grains, pears, hints of dried apricots. With water, honeydew melons, chocolate, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Coffee, strawberries, malted grains, vanilla, orange peel, hints of pears. With water, vanilla, honeydew melons, winter melons, chocolate, pears, malted grains. 
Finish: Long. Honey, coffee, orange peel, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Very fruity and intense. Definitely drink this at or near cask strength. There’s a bitter, malty note if you drink it neat, which softens into dark chocolate as you add water. A very fun dram to play around with by dribbling different amounts of water into it.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 1990/2019 Mystery Bottle

Balblair 1990/2019 Mystery Bottle

Private bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber orange
I make it around 54% ABV
Dram

Nose: Heather honey, golden syrup, dried pineapples, papaya, orange peel, hints of malted grains. With water, dried pineapples, golden syrup, farmyard, malted grains, hints of wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apricots, dried pineapples, papaya, orange peel, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, farmyard, hints of peaches. With water, cinnamon, orange peel, pear drops, papaya, farmyard, allspice.  
Finish: Long. Malted grains, apricots, papaya, dried cherries, dried pineapples. 

Comments: 

Not much on background detail, but it’s absolutely magnificent whisky. Huge amounts of dried fruits, heaping variety, opens up beautifully with water. Very sweet as well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 1991/2017 bottled for World Duty Free and Glasgow Airport

Balblair 1991/2017 bottled for World Duty Free and Glasgow Airport

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, peaches, apricots, chocolate, blackcurrant cordial, dried cherries, cloves, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, slippery, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, fresh baked bread, apricots, umeshu, peaches, cloves, chocolate, dried pears, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, peaches, coffee, raisins, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 013. This one is finished in sherry rather than fully sherried, and it retains even more of the classic Balblair notes. It’s quite spicy, with some tartness that was drowned out in the previous whisky. Even more enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balblair 1999/2016 TWE Exclusive

Balblair 1999/2016 TWE Exclusive 

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands 
Russet
51.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, honey, blackcurrant cordial, raisins, dark chocolate, nutmeg, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, thickens, turns syrupy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Mint, raisins, golden syrup, blackcurrant cordial, grilled pork, coffee, cloves, hints of apricots.
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, raisins, nutmeg, cloves. 

Comments: 

Cask 1712. Sherried Balblair, not very common. It’s quite fruity even for a sherried whisky, the Balblair characteristics of apricots and stone fruit are still evident. Plenty of spice as well, with a slightly bitter chocolatey finish. Mmmm.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.