Casks of Lindores - Red Wine Barrique

Casks of Lindores - Red Wine Barrique

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber red 
49.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, strawberries, honeycomb, honeysuckle, brown paper, golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Golden syrup, barley sugar, strawberries, honeysuckle, black tea, jasmine, hints of rose water. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, black tea, rose water, honeysuckle. 

Comments: 

Very sweet stuff, with a bit of body. The Lowlands characteristic of light, slightly overdistilled whisky is not present here, and it’s probably long gone anyway. There’s some fragrant and floral notes on the tongue, and very apparent in the finish. Very pleasant whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

North of Scotland 47yo 1972/2020

North of Scotland 47yo 1972/2020

Stillwater Whisky Co
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark brown
41.1% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Toffee, caramel, vanilla, wet stones, cloves, nutmeg, honeydew melons, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns airy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Oats, popcorn, wet stones, black tea, toffee, nutmeg, caramel, oolong tea. 
Finish: Long. Oolong tea, nutmeg, popcorn, caramel, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Long, sweet and flinty. Its well aged and very old of course, but as grains often do, the whisky has developed a huge amount of complexity. Lots of cereal and spice compete with feinty, minerally notes. Lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Deanston 19yo 1994/2014

Deanston 19yo 1994/2014

Small Batch, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Central Highlands
Sunshine gold
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, green apples, candle wax, white grapes, fresh baked bread, jasmine. With water, marshmallows, kiwifruit, candle wax. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Fresh baked bread, candle wax, jasmine, malted grains, vanilla, pear drops, hints of rolled oats. With water, pear drops, green apples, kiwifruit, candle wax. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, candle wax, green apples, hints of malted grains. 

Comments: 

A very nice Deanston, full of appley tartness, and a heap of cereally, waxy notes. There’s also some floral fragrance around the edges, especially on the nose. Well aged and complex.

Verdict:

I like this.

Filey Bay Sherry Cask Reserve #1 3yo 2017/2020

Filey Bay Sherry Cask Reserve #1 3yo 2017/2020

Official bottling 
Single malt - Yorkshire
Amber gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, malted grains, orange peel, cocoa nibs, coffee, raisins, vanilla, honeycomb, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, turns watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, popcorn, rolled oats, coffee, cocoa nibs, fresh baked bread, brown paper, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, coffee, malted grains, honeycomb, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Lots of flavour in this for a 3 yo whisky! Plenty of cereal and cocoa, and hints of orange peel, with significant spice on the finish. Lovely, and surprising.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Talisker 30yo (bottled 2015)

Talisker 30yo (bottled 2015)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islands
Pale amber
45.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast beef, driftwood smoke, leather, peat, sea salt, tobacco leaf, raisins, applesauce. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Driftwood smoke, leather, tobacco leaf, raisins, black pepper, applesauce, dried apricots, hints of roast beef. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, black pepper, peat, tobacco leaf, hints of dried apricots. 

Comments: 

Wonderful, wonderful, lots of smoke, apple and meaty robust roast beef. The age shows on this one, it’s intense and complex, with each note clearly defined. It’s beautifully balanced whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bunnahabhain 30yo (bottled 2020)

Bunnahabhain 30yo (bottled 2020)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Amber
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, orange peel, vanilla, coffee, hazelnuts. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, thickens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Milk chocolate, hazelnuts, black tea, black pepper, raisins, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, vanilla, honey, orange peel, cocoa nibs, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Lovely old Bunnahabhain, complex and bitter, lots of fragrant coffee notes. There’s a lot of peach on the nose as well, and it’s gloriously nutty on the tongue. Brilliant whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardmore 30yo 1987/2018

Ardmore 30yo 1987/2018

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Golden, hints of amber
47.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeycomb, raisins, leather, marmalade, strawberry jam, farmyard, beef broth, hints of tyre rubber. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Marmalade, leather, winter melon, peat, raisins, tobacco leaf, hints of Chinese angelica. 
Finish: Long. Honeycomb, raisins, Chinese angelica, tobacco leaf, hints of beef broth. 

Comments: 

Beautiful bitter sweet old Ardmore. The leathery peat is evident, and there’s a huge amount of old Chinese herbs in the tongue. Surprisingly savoury, both on the nose and on the finish. Such a treat.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenglassaugh 30yo (bottled 2019)

Glenglassaugh 30yo (bottled 2019)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, red wine, damson jam, sandalwood, oak, honeysuckle, honey, bitter orange. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, slippery, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Oak, raisins, honeysuckle, bitter orange, damson jam, black pepper, black tea, red grapes, hints of leather. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, damson jam, black pepper, raisins, hints of dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Quite a classic old sherried dram. Spicy edges of black pepper perk it up a bit, and the jammy chocolatey notes are comforting. A very good nose that’s quite alluring, even if on the tongue it doesn’t quite live up to the promise.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cameronbridge 30yo 1990/2020

Cameronbridge 30yo 1990/2020

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Bright gold
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Almond butter, limes, lemon zest, popcorn, vanilla cream, hints of toffee, hints of orange liqueur. With water, oats, vanilla cream, pencil erasers. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, hot, oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla cream, pencil erasers, almond butter, toffee, lemon zest, hints of orange liqueur. With water, sweeter, vanilla cream, toffee, milk chocolate, pencil erasers. 
Finish: Medium. Oats, orange liqueur, limes, popcorn, hints of pencil erasers. 

Comments: 

A slightly atypical old grain. It’s not very sweet, instead it’s for some sulphury, rubbery notes, citrus, and a heap of nut butter. It opens up with water, turning cereally and chocolatey.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ballantine’s 30yo

Ballantine’s 30yo

Chivas Brothers
Blended malt
Dark gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, orange peel, white grapes, pear drops, ink, coffee, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Coffee, dark chocolate, orange peel, leather, lemon sweets, ink, honey. 
Finish: Long. Barley sugar, dark chocolate, orange peel, leather. 

Comments: 

Lots of bitter sweetness in this blend. It’s very gentle, and perhaps doesn’t taste its age. But there’s a bitter sweet depth to it, lots of leather and dark chocolate. Very nice, I love old blends.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lochlea First Release

Lochlea First Release 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: New plastic, lemon sweets, vanilla, barley sugar, honey, dried pears. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon sweets, marshmallows, lime cordial, barley sugar, dried pears, fresh baked bread, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, lime cordial, vanilla, white pepper. 

Comments: 

A gentle yet complex dram. A very promising first release from Lochlea, heaped with dried pears and lime cordial, and a whisper of a spicy edge in the finish. I liked this, and would drink more from this distillery (not something I always say).

Verdict:

I like this.

Thompson Brothers 5yo Blended Scotch Whisky

Thompson Brothers 5yo Blended Scotch Whisky

Thompson Bros
Blended malt
Dirty amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, red grapes, milk chocolate, black tea, hints of manuka honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, hot, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Milk chocolate, red grapes, raisins, orange peel, vanilla, manuka honey, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Milk chocolate, cinnamon, orange peel, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Rather milky and sweet, a lovely young blend from the Thompsons. Very refreshing and pleasant, although I’m not sure that it was the best final dram of the evening.

Verdict:

I like this.

Drumshanbo 2021 Galanta Release

Drumshanbo 2021 Galanta Release 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Connacht 
Bright gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tinned peaches, dried apricots, starfruit, lemon zest, honey, applesauce, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Tinned peaches, applesauce, malted grains, black tea, white grapes, honey, dried apricots, cherries. 
Finish: Long. Dried apricots, black tea, applesauce, cinnamon, hints of cherries. 

Comments: 

Very fruity and light. Quite Irish in character - well, mouthfeel, at least - but also quite intense. Lots of spice and malt, I’m very interested to try more releases from the Shed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Svach’s Old Well Whisky 2nd Release

Svach’s Old Well Whisky 2nd Release 

Official bottling 
Single malt - South Bohemia
Amber
42.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, raspberries, stale beer, overripe plums, fresh baked bread, hints of strawberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, loosens slightly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peaches, lemon zest, barley sugar, fresh baked bread, overripe plums, cola nuts, kiwifruit, hints of stale beer. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, strawberry jam, kiwifruit, barley sugar, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Czech whisky, what a treat! I regret not trying the Hammerhead releases when I had a chance. Let me remedy it. This release from Svach distillery is fruity and quite intense, lots of jammy notes, rather good. Recommended as a pleasant surprise.

Verdict:

I like this.

Singleton of Dufftown 18yo

Singleton of Dufftown 18yo 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber copper
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, salt caramel, dark chocolate, cloves, tyre rubber, fresh baked bread, hints of muesli. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, slightly astringent, static. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, honey, salt caramel, cola nuts, fresh baked bread, dark chocolate, black tea, muesli. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, orange peel, salt caramel, cola nuts, hints of muesli. 

Comments: 

Lots of typical caramel and toffee notes, this time with an edge of salt and creamy, oaty muesli. I find official Dufftowns quite sweet and toffee-like, even a little over-oaked, but this one has some more complexity underneath that. Nice stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teaninich 12yo 2009/2021

Teaninich 12yo 2009/2021

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - North Highlands 
Straw
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, fresh cut grass, sour cream, vanilla, lemon zest, hints of pineapples. With water, sweeter, toffee, cinnamon, fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cinnamon, lemon zest, oats, barley sugar, fresh cut grass, black tea, hints of sour cream. With water, sweeter, barley sugar, toffee, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Oats, sour cream, cola nuts, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Quite a cereally Teaninich, not much of the usual grass or tropical fruit. There’s some spiciness, and lactic sourness, and something distressingly oaty, almost like dish soap.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balvenie Tun 1858 Batch 5

Balvenie Tun 1858 Batch 5

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, raisins, fresh cut grass, orange peel, vanilla, honey, blackcurrant cordial. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, thickens slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, vanilla, raisins, honey, orange peel, stale beer, candied ginseng, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Candied ginseng, orange peel, black pepper, honey, caramel. 

Comments: 

A Taiwan exclusive. It’s malty and rather heavy, unlike the lighter, floral Balvenies I’ve had in this tasting session. There’s some feinty malty flavours here, and it fades to a long sweet spicy finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 8

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 8

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Pale amber
50.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, sea salt, lemon zest, orange peel, black pepper, candied ginseng, hints of seaweed. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, warm, expands slightly, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Toffee, salt caramel, orange peel, black pepper, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, hints of seaweed. 
Finish: Long. Cinnamon, strawberry jam, cloves, black pepper, toffee. 

Comments: 

Another aspect of Balvenie, this time caramelly and sweet. Lots of spices too, this time heading towards pepper and nutmeg. There’s a savoury edge as well, but the Balvenie orange is present, just presented alongside other flavours.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 1

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 1

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
47.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, leather, lemon zest, orange blossom, honeydew melons, pineapples, sea salt, acacia honey, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, lemon zest, sea salt, bananas, orange blossom, soursop, pineapples, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, orange blossom, acacia honey, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

This is a legendary (at least for me) bottling, one that I’ve been trying to track down for a long time. It’s a little like the 1974 Signatory, less orange and more leather and honeydew. It’s hugely complex, lots of casks went into this, creating hints of spice and lots of other tropical fruit.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie 25yo Rare Marriages

Balvenie 25yo Rare Marriages 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Manuka honey, orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, sandalwood, damson jam, hints of clay dust. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Barley sugar, raisins, damson jam, cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh baked bread, sandalwood, leather, clay dust. 
Finish: Medium. Barley sugar, fresh baked bread, raisins, clay dust, manuka honey. 

Comments: 

Again that lovely spiced honey note, alongside lots of damson jam. There’s a bit more malty cereal in this one though - plenty of bready notes, with sweet barley sugar. Utterly lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie 25yo DoubleWood

Balvenie 25yo DoubleWood

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber, hints of green
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, strawberry jam, orange peel, manuka honey, cloves, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, cool, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Damson jam, strawberry jam, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa powder, manuka honey, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, manuka honey, cocoa powder, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

This whisky showcases another aspect of Balvenie, that of spiced honey. It’s very jammy and sweet, as one might expect of sherry cask stuff, but it’s also chock full of spices, and intensely fragrant honey.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie 21yo Single Barrel

Balvenie 21yo Single Barrel

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Pale green 
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, white grapes, vanilla, soursop, passionfruit, lemon zest, hints of orange blossom. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Sour. Mint, white grapes, pineapples, vanilla custard, soursop, lemon zest, hints of orange blossom. 
Finish: Medium. Soursop, pineapples, lemon zest, vanilla custard. 

Comments: 

Cask 3742. More tropical than the usual Balvenie, lots of passionfruit and even soursop. The main note though is a lovely vanilla custard. It’s fruit salad whisky! And very nice for all that.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie 17yo Islay Cask

Balvenie 17yo Islay Cask 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Golden 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, fresh cut grass, honeydew melons, white grapes, orange peel, liquorice, celery salt, hints of peat. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, honeydew melons, autumn leaves, liquorice, celery salt, chocolate, hints of peat. 
Finish: Short. Leather, peat, orange peel, autumn leaves. 

Comments: 

Having been Islay cask finished rather than aged, this isn’t like Peat Week Balvenie. The peat is just a whisper, instead it’s leathery and earthy, with a lot of celery and liquorice notes. Quite tasty.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balvenie 15yo 1974/1990

Balvenie 15yo 1974/1990

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale green
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeycomb, honeydew melon, greengages, lemon zest, candle wax, verjus, orange blossom. With water, cream, marzipan, honeydew melons, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honeydew melons, white grapes, greengages, lemon zest, barley sugar, candle wax, hints of orange blossom. With water, vanilla, marzipan, orange blossom, candle wax. 
Finish: Medium. Barley sugar, candle wax, honeydew melons, verjus, orange blossom. 

Comments: 

Luscious and lovely, hugely floral, and quite unlike Balvenie as I know it. 1970s distillate is usually a treat, it’s puzzling and interesting. I would have said this whisky was more Clynelish-ey than anything else, although it is much more floral and lacks the intensity of Clynelish. Amazing stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie 12yo Single Barrel First Fill (Cask #12790)

Balvenie 12yo Single Barrel First Fill (Cask #12790)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Green gold
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, white grapes, lemon zest, acacia honey, orange blossom, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, airy, loosens slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Barley sugar, lemon zest, acacia honey, vanilla, malted grains, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, orange blossom, barley sugar, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Cask 12790. Floral and full of honeyed sweetness, I’d have pegged this as the quintessential Balvenie - except that it’s not quite, of course. This was the first dram of a Balvenie verticale, and a single cask to boot. But it was a classy classic.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Keith 23yo 1995/2019

Glen Keith 23yo 1995/2019

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside 
Golden
60.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, lemon zest, ink, white pepper, honey, sea salt, hints of jasmine. With water, honey, sultanas, sea salt, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Peaches, dried apricots, oats, jasmine, lemon zest, iron filings, sea salt, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, ink, peaches, sultanas, iron filings. 
Finish: Medium. Peaches, white grapes, jasmine, vanilla, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Excellent ‘old’ Glen Keith. Lots of dried fruit again, but with a steely, metallic edge. A whisper of pepper and a bit of jasmine. Some oats again, just this side of dish soap, but it’s pretty good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Linkwood 25yo 1993/2019

Linkwood 25yo 1993/2019

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale gold
50.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, white wine, lemon zest, white grapes, cotton candy, hints of toffee apples. With water, pear drops, toffee apples, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour. White wine, oats, lemon zest, peanut brittle, cotton candy, fresh baked bread. With water, oats, vanilla, fresh baked bread. 

Finish: Long. Peanut brittle, oats, toffee apples, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

A great nose, lots of fruit and lemon, and a wonderful toffee apple note. It devolves slightly on the tongue, becomes cereally and oaty, maybe just this side of soapy. One or two points deducted for that :).

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Esk 12yo (bottled 1980s)

Glen Esk 12yo (bottled 1980s)

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, white grapes, orange blossom, vanilla, dried apricots, dried pears, leather, hints of candle wax, hints of dust. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Candle wax, dried pears, dried apricots, orange blossom, lemon drops, vanilla, celery salt, leather, hints of fresh baked breads. 
Finish: Medium. White wine, dried apricots, white grapes, honey, lemon drops, hints of celery salt, hints of dust. 

Comments: 

This was a lucky find. Very good 1970s distillate, already complex and intense, allied to flavour enhancing old bottle effect. Lots of dried fruits, leather and a whisper of celery salt. Awesome.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Batch 1

Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Batch 1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Warwickshire 
Golden, hints of bronze
55.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Limes, apricots, vanilla, white grapes, peanuts, grapefruit, hints of saffron. With water, orange peel, tonka bean, grapefruit. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, sticky, thickens, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Apricots, limes, honey, fresh baked bread, grapefruit, saffron. With water, limes, orange peel, grapefruit, tonka bean, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, apricots, tonka bean, fresh baked bread, hints of limes. 

Comments: 

Sauternes cask finished whisky. It’s fruity, but surprisingly, not too sweet. Lots of apricot and limey citrus, lots of vegetal vanilla that I interpret as tonka bean. There’s a spicy edge to it as well, that’s saffron. Very interesting, and very tasty.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardnamurchan 5yo 2015/2020 AD/CS.335 07:15

Ardnamurchan 5yo 2015/2020 AD/CS.335 07:15

Official bottling 
Single malt - Western Highlands
Copper
58.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, smoked bacon, raisins, five spice powder, damson jam, dried figs, hints of cumin. With water, raisins, damson jam, five spice powder, hints of smoked bacon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Smoke, peat, raisins, mint, dried figs, black tea, sea salt, hints of cumin. With water, raisins, damson jam, five spice powder, smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, mint, raisins, five spice powder. 

Comments: 

A little bit more smoky than other Ardnamurchans, this one also has some sweet jammy notes, coupled with five spice powder, and oddly, cumin. It’s quite savoury as a result, bringing forth notes of smoked bacon and impressions of roast lamb and char siu pork. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.