Knockdhu 11yo 2012/2023

Knockdhu 11yo 2012/2023

Single Cask, Berry Bros & Rudd
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
58.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, green apples, white grapes, honey, magic marker, rhubarb and custard sweets. With water, green apples, magic marker, wet stones, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Green apples, yoghurt, rhubarb and custard sweets, pear drops, honey, gooseberries, hints of malted grains. With water, wet stones, salt caramel, brown paper, green apples. 
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, malted grains, rhubarb and custard sweets, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask 7127. Very estery, lots of fruity, almost acetone notes. There’s some feinty notes as well, especially with a bit of water. The finish is surprisingly abrupt, cuts off after a wave of rhubarb and custard.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenlossie 10yo 2013/2023

Glenlossie 10yo 2013/2023

Small Batch, Berry Bros & Rudd
Single malt - Speyside 
Orange gold

46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, vanilla, green apples, honeycomb, cinnamon, sandalwood, hints of cedar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Cookie dough, sandalwood, white pepper, honeycomb, malted grains, cedar. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, ginseng, malted grains, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Very drinkable appley ‘Lossie. It’s honeyed as well, with plenty of fragrant woody notes. The finish creates a bit more complexity, but otherwise very straightforward.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benromach 15yo

Benromach 15yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, raisins, black pepper, blackberries, orange peel, sandalwood, hints of smoke. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, white wine, black pepper, blackberries, marmalade, chocolate, coffee, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Blackberries, raisins, white wine, cloves, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Fruity and jammy, lots of chocolate and something bitter - probably coffee. There’s spicy notes too, of the sort I normally associate with rye, so that’s black pepper. It’s excellent whisky, certainly one of the best 15yo whiskies I’ve had in a while.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cotswolds 5yo 2018/2023

Cotswolds 5yo 2018/2023

#06, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Warwickshire 
Amber red 
54.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, caramel, strawberry laces, oatcakes, aluminium foil, pears. With water, strawberry laces, apple juice, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Apple juice, caramel, oatcakes, cola nuts, red grapes, butterscotch, hints of aluminium foil. With water, black pepper, oatcakes, cocoa nibs, apple juice. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, cola nuts, oatcakes, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Intense and fruity, lots of sweet notes but also a tartness that you get from malic acid and red grapes. It’s feinty too, and complex. Water dissolves some of the tart notes and brings out even more fruitiness. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 36yo 1977/2013 (2013 Special Releases)

Convalmore 36yo 1977/2013 (2013 Special Releases)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber 
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, camphor, aluminium foil, mangoes, papayas, hints of passionfruit. With water, raisins, passionfruit, oatcakes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, volatile, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, camphor, papayas, honey, mangoes, peaches, ginseng, hints of black tea. With water, malted grains, peaches, honey, black tea. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, pencil lead, oatcakes, raisins, photocopy paper. 

Comments: 

Lots of tropical fruit, but also a tart floral note that I identify as passionfruit. Again that herbaceous bitter note underneath, but this time the finish is flinty and feinty rather that fruity and fragrant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 32yo 1984/2017 (2017 Special Releases)

Convalmore 32yo 1984/2017 (2017 Special Releases)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
48.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, peaches, malted grains, honey, vanilla ice cream, white pepper, hints of camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla ice cream, mangoes, peaches, camphor, ginseng, malted grains, cream, hints of condensed milk. 
Finish: Long. Honeydew melons, cream, peaches, malted grains, hints of camphor. 

Comments: 

More old Convalmore, lots of tropical fruit and a deep, intense, bitter and herbaceous note. A long fruity finish of melons and peaches, but overlaid on a big malty spine. Very good indeed .

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 35.247 (Glen Moray 11yo 2008/2019)

SMWS 35.247 (Glen Moray 11yo 2008/2019)

2019, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Amber bronze

65% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, almonds, walnut skins, cinnamon, cloves, apple juice, dates, toffee. With water, raisins, white pepper, aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cream, raisins, walnut skins, cedar, toffee, white pepper, dates, cocoa nibs. With water, raisins, cream, brown paper, honey. 
Finish: Long. Cream, cocoa nibs, cloves, raisins, dates. 

Comments: 

Sherried Speyside, very classic, very high in ABV. Lots of bitter notes offset the sweet, and there’s a good sherried nuttiness that pervades the whole dram. Stands out among a crowded pack.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Belgrove Rye 3yo

Belgrove Rye 3yo

Bonded International Series, Killowen bottler 
Single rye - Tasmania
Amber, hints of red
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ume, oatcakes, new plastic, white pepper, cumin, photocopy paper, aluminium foil. With water, sea salt, damson jam, aluminium foil, ume.  
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Aluminium foil, camphor, mace, cumin, photocopy paper, damson jam, ume. With water, leather, aluminium foil, Chinese angelica, sea salt. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, cumin, damson jam, ume, mace. 

Comments: 

Sweet, peppery and feinty. This is the Tasmanian whisky dried with sheep dung. It’s not as farmyardy as the previous Belgrove I had, but it’s quite spicy and savoury. Unusual and highly enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Braeval 9yo Batch 5

Braeval 9yo Batch 5

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, honey, vanilla, molasses, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon. With water, honey, molasses, dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Molasses, dark chocolate, honey, vanilla, roast pork, black pepper, cocoa nibs, black tea, hints of sea salt. With water, raisins, cream, damson jam, molasses, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Mint, black pepper, dark chocolate, sea salt, hints of roast pork. 

Comments: 

Sherried Braeval, lots of spicy sweet notes. Particularly molasses, deep, dark and a little bitter. Water brings in more jammy notes, and a little cream. Enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Daftmill 12yo 2011/2023 Summer Batch Release

Daftmill 12yo 2011/2023 Summer Batch Release

Official bottling

Single malt - Lowlands
Amber pink
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tea tree oil, peaches, pineapples, passionfruit, mangoes, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens slightly, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Green tea, white pepper, peaches, passionfruit, white pepper, cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, peaches, tea tree oil, mangoes. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, slightly grassy Daftmill. The herbal character of earlier releases isn’t there so much anymore, it’s been replaced by gentle, restrained fruit. It’s more stone fruit than tropical fruit now too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Garioch 25yo 1990/2015

Glen Garioch 25yo 1990/2015

25th Anniversary, Usquebaugh Society
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden, hints of copper
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, winter melons, white chocolate, orange juice, honeydew melons, hints of cough syrup. With water, milk chocolate, orange juice, lemon zest, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, winter melons, celery salt, fresh cut grass, raisins, honeydew melons, milk chocolate, hints of cough syrup. With water, leather, orange juice, honeydew melons. 
Finish: Medium. Milk chocolate, cough syrup, leather, raisins, cloves. 

Comments: 

Cask 7937. Milky and chocolatey Glen Garioch, with some old bottle effect and lots of fruit. The peppery distillate seems to have been toned down a bit, but there’s still some funk present.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Mortlach 36yo 1986/2022

Mortlach 36yo 1986/2022

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, blueberry jam, cough syrup, pear drops, cocoa nibs, cloves. With water, pear drops, winter melons, blueberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Butter, vanilla, cloves, blueberry jam, raisins, pear drops, hints of leather, hints of smoke. With water, cocoa nibs, winter melons, pear drops. 
Finish: Long. Pear drops, blueberry jam, cloves, cinnamon, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 2040. Superb old Mortlach, lots of fruity notes, with the robust meaty notes toned down to unctuous butter. With water the twist of smoke is even more apparent. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Plate Valley 3yo 100% Straight Corn Whiskey

Plate Valley 3yo 100% Straight Corn Whiskey

Official bottling
Single corn - Missouri
White wine 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, bubble gum, strawberry jam, pencil lead, vanilla, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pencil lead, wet stones, white grapes, lemon juice, fresh cut grass, photocopy paper, hints of cornbread. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon juice, pencil lead, fresh cut grass, cornbread, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Flinty yet sweet corn whiskey. It’s surprisingly feinty as well, but it’s definitely corn spirit. Interesting dram, corn spirit has a character all of its own.

Verdict:

I like this.

Convalmore 30yo 1975/2006

Convalmore 30yo 1975/2006

Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, gooseberries, peaches, cream, photocopy paper, papayas, hints of celery salt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, celery salt, papayas, black tea, malted grains, white grapes, peaches, hints of honey. 
Finish: Long. Papayas, peaches, white grapes, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 3758. Again, lots of tropical fruit, but not the little smoky note that the sister cask (previous dram) had. It’s also a little more funky, more papaya than mango. Equally enjoyable as its sibling. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Convalmore 28yo 1975/2004

Convalmore 28yo 1975/2004

Dun Bheagan, Ian Macleod Distillers
Single malt - Speyside
Yellow gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, mangoes, vanilla ice cream, leather, white grapes, peaches, molasses, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Mangoes, white grapes, leather, celery salt, malted grains, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Cream, malted grains, leather, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Cask 3757. Lots of sweet tropical fruit, allied to a little old bottle effect. There’s a tiny hint of smoke on the tongue, and maybe even on the finish. Excellent old Convalmore, although there aren’t many young ones knocking about anymore.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Milk and Honey 3yo 2017 Ex Islay Cask Finish (TWE Exclusive)

Milk and Honey 3yo 2017 Ex Islay Cask Finish (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - Tel Aviv
Bronze
66.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sultanas, lemon juice, malted grains, smoke, cedar, wet stones, leather. With water, sultanas, lemon juice, toffee, hints of new plastic. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, volatile, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Sultanas, mint, sea salt, smoke, peat, cedar, honey, charcoal ash, hints of white pepper. With water, malted grains, condensed milk, smoke. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, smoke, peat, leather, honey. 

Comments: 

Well now, this is ashy and woody, not quite Islay but not quite… well, whatever Milk and Honey is. Lots of spice in the finish too. It’s a bit young, but interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen 4yo 2019/2024 Barantuil Funky Ale Finish

Killowen 4yo 2019/2024 Barantuil Funky Ale Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Ulster
Straw
52.35% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, limes, new plastic, malted grains, oatcakes, hints of ume. With water, new plastic, winter melons, soor ploom sweets.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Soor ploom sweets, ume, oatcakes, peaches, limes, lemon zest, hints of cough syrup. With water, soor ploom sweets, peaches, limes, ume. 
Finish: Medium. Ume, oatcakes, peaches, cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Cask KD211. Deep and sweet flavours, with a bit of funk alongside it. There’s a lot of cereal (largely not malty ones), but it’s a good counterpoint to the fruitiness.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenburgie 37yo 1984/2021

Glenburgie 37yo 1984/2021

Private Collection, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raisins, green tea, lemon zest, burnt sugar, malted grains, hints of camphor. With water, raisins, malted grains, camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, mouth coating, turns airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, malted grains, lemon zest, white grapes, burnt sugar, marshmallows, hints of smoke, hints of camphor. With water, malted grains, camphor, burnt sugar. 
Finish: Long. Honey, golden syrup, malted grains, green tea, hints of salt. 

Comments: 

Utterly delicious whisky, hugely floral and fruity, but with a veneer of age - layers of herbal complexity and depth of flavour. One of the best ‘Burgies I’ve ever had.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve 2018

Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve 2018

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Highlands
Amber red
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, strawberry jam, honey, cherries, blueberries, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, creamy, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cherries, blueberries, strawberry jam, watermelons, artificial grape flavour, fresh cut grass, hints of cream. 
Finish: Long. Blueberries, medlar jelly, cinnamon, strawberry jam, leather. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, lots of fresh fruit, dried fruit, and even jammy fruit. It ends up being slightly unbalanced, although it’s still rather pleasant. There’s a decent herbal undertone that’s almost floral. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Paul John PX Cask

Paul John PX Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Goa
Amber orange pink 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, black tea, raisins, aluminium foil, wet stones, marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thickens, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, honey, golden syrup, raisins, strawberry laces, burnt sugar, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberry laces, marmalade, burnt sugar, cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Sweet and jammy. The PX cask was an active one, imparting a lot of cooked fruit and toffee notes, but there is still some distillate character there, in the form of a little smoke.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Cheshire First Release

The Cheshire First Release

Official bottling

Single malt - Cheshire 
Bronze gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Salt caramel, white wine, black tea, wet stones, raisins, molasses, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, toffee, salt caramel, white wine, white pepper, milk chocolate, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, toffee, raisins, white wine. 

Comments: 

New English distillery, and it’s not bad! Rather sweet and caramelly, with a good tart note of white wine as well. There’s some deeper flint notes on the nose too, keeps it interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Keith 30yo 1985/2015

Glen Keith 30yo 1985/2015

Jewels of Scotland, Lombard
Single malt - Speyside
Buttercups
41.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, honey, leather, sultanas, camphor, gooseberries, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Wet stones, lemon zest, sultanas, peaches, honey, malted grains, dried apricots, camphor, ginseng. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, wet stones, camphor, dried apricots, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask I2299 - I2302. This is magnificent whisky. Hugely malty and flinty, with layers of dried fruit and herbal bitterness. It tastes rather like an amaro, if the base spirit was barley based. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Springbank 17yo Madeira Cask

Springbank 17yo Madeira Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber gold 
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, vanilla, smoke, raisins, charcoal ash, lanolin, hints of diesel exhaust. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, raisins, black tea, malted grains, diesel exhaust, winter melon, lanolin, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, winter melon, raisins, honey, molasses. 

Comments: 

Long, sweet and complex, loads of layers and animal earthiness. Absolutely delicious, and really an example of what Springbank can be. Love this stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Broken Bones 4yo Batch 2/22

Broken Bones 4yo Batch 2/22

Official bottling
Single malt - Carniola
Pale gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Juniper, fresh cut grass, leather, sandalwood, driftwood smoke, camphor. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Sandalwood, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, lemon thyme, autumn leaves, driftwood smoke, camphor. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, nutmeg, sandalwood, autumn leaves, hints of camphor. 

Comments: 

Very vegetal, lots of juniper notes. Almost like a gin rather than a whisky, if not for that smoke. It’s earthy on the tongue and earthier, and more bitter, on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 2

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Colorado
Amber red
66.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, vanilla, strawberry jam, photocopy paper, rye bread, black pepper, honey. With water, cooked rice, strawberry jam, honey, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, vanilla, blackcurrant cordial, strawberry jam, photocopy paper, black pepper, cough syrup. With water, black tea, cough syrup, blackcurrant cordial. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, cough syrup, blackcurrant cordial, black tea. 

Comments: 

Fruity rye, lots of blackcurrant and cough syrup notes alongside the characteristic black pepper. It softens a lot with water, turning more cereally and sweet.

Verdict:

I like this.

Waterford The Cuvée

Waterford The Cuvée 

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mushrooms, cinnamon, salt caramel, tablet, honey, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour. Photocopy paper, tablet, white pepper, sultanas, magic marker, hints of cookie dough. 
Finish: Medium. Cookie dough, vanilla, white pepper, cinnamon, hints of salt caramel. 

Comments: 

It’s got Waterford’s signature note of earthy mushrooms, but here it’s layered with sweet cookie dough, vanilla and some piquant acetone notes. Rather unique, but unbalanced.

Verdict:

I like this.

JJ Corry The Hanson

JJ Corry The Hanson

JJ Corry
Blended malt
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, icing sugar, malt vinegar, lemon juice, yoghurt, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Photocopy paper, icing sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, digestive biscuits, hints of cream. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, digestive biscuits, photocopy paper, hints of magic marker. 

Comments: 

Oddly tart whisky, but with an overlay of icing sugar. It’s quite interesting, the tart notes are in the mid-palate while the sweet notes are further forward on the tongue. Decent blend.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Wyvis 2019/2023 Batch 01/19

Glen Wyvis 2019/2024 Batch 01/19

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Dark gold 
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, limes, lemon zest, white chocolate, sour cream, hints of vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Sour cream, yoghurt, honey, brown sugar, limes, hints of meringue. 
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, honey, white chocolate, sour cream. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and tart malt, with gentle lactic notes. It’s also rather sweet for the lactic style of whisky. It all builds to a short but intense finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Deanston Stout Cask Finish

Deanston Stout Cask Finish

Official bottling

Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sultanas, strawberries, marmalade, malted grains, hoppy beer, black tea, cocoa nibs. With water, malted grains, leather, dark chocolate, cashew nuts. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Hoppy beer, black tea, cocoa nibs, black pepper, smoke, popcorn, hints of sea salt. With water, ink, dark chocolate, popcorn, magic marker. 
Finish: Long. Popcorn, smoke, black tea, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Here, characteristically fruity Deanston has been layered with malty, caramelly nutty notes from the stout. It’s a good marriage, lots of interesting dark notes that bring a slight smokiness to the sweet fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lochside 24yo 1981/2005

Lochside 24yo 1981/2005

Jewels of Scotland, Lombard
Single malt - East Highlands
Yellow gold 

50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon juice, brass polish, aluminium foil, gooseberries, hints of nectarines. With water, cream, lemon zest, leather, hints of tablet. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Honey, malted grains, gooseberries, lemon zest, lemon juice, hints of shortbread, hints of nectarines. With water, leather, shortbread, lemon zest, white grapes. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, hoppy beer, lemon zest, honey. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, not very much old bottle effect. With water, it opens up, becoming deliciously creamy without any lactic notes. There’s a good strong note of malt under all of this. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fary Lochan 6yo Batch 2

Fary Lochan 6yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Syddanmark
Pale green gold
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, lemon juice, ink, leather, brown sugar, gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour. White grapes, photocopy paper, oatcakes, aluminium foil, ink, autumn leaves, smoke, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Oatcakes, photocopy paper, lemon juice, ink, leather. 

Comments: 

Feinty and metallic, with earth and smoke. Lots of white grapes and a little citrus, but it’s mainly peaty. It’s quite complex for a 6yo whisky, and quite nice. Enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dailuaine 2012

Dailuaine 2012

Firkin 49, The Firkin Whisky Co
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, white pepper, malted grains, strawberry jam, violets, cherries, starfruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. White pepper, strawberry jam, sourdough bread, cherries, malted grains, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Sourdough bread, ginseng, malted grains, cherries. 

Comments: 

Cask SC13A. Sweet and luscious, but with a big malty spine, just the way I like my whisky. It’s got a bit of a floral note on the nose that reminds me of certain Bowmores, but definitely not as intense.

Verdict:

I like this.

Auchentoshan 10yo 2013/2023

Auchentoshan 10yo 2013/2023

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw
48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, starfruit, malted grains, lemon zest, white grapes, gooseberries, white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, mouth coating, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peaches, gooseberries, malted grains, ginseng, white wine, coffee, hints of candle wax. 
Finish: Short. Ginseng, malted grains, candle wax, coffee, peaches. 

Comments: 

Cask DL18160. I find this slightly unusual, it’s sweet, sure, but also fruity and waxy. It’s fragrant as well, displaying a good level of complexity. It’s tastes quite young for its age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Littlemill 8yo (bottled 1980s)

Littlemill 8yo (bottled 1980s)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Straw

40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, magic marker, pencil lead, autumn leaves, white grapes, jasmine. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sour. Pencil lead, malted grains, white grapes, pear drops, pear juice, cinnamon, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Long. Leather, pencil lead, magic marker, celery salt, pear juice. 

Comments: 

A really bright and vibrant Littlemill, not much old bottle effect. Some feinty, slightly metallic and earthy notes on the tongue, but it’s mainly fruity and floral. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Adnams 9yo

Adnams 9yo

Explorers Series, Whiskyside
Single malt - East Anglia
Amber 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, new plastic, rye bread, nutmeg, white pepper, hints of white wine. With water, sea salt, sourdough bread, cinnamon, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Peaches, black pepper, white grapes, rye bread, new plastic, malted grains, hints of yoghurt. With water, black pepper, sea salt, new plastic, yoghurt, hints of lemon thyme. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, white grapes, white wine, new plastic, lemon thyme. 

Comments: 

Funky and slightly plasticky, but lots of rye and pepper notes. It’s the oldest Adnams I’ve ever had, and it’s a lot more flavourful than the others. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benrinnes 12yo 2011/2023

Benrinnes 12yo 2011/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Speyside
Red purple
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, red grapes, strawberry jam, black pepper, blackberries, rye bread, hints of black tea. With water, black tea, blackberries, red wine, hints of cherries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackberries, malted grains, lemon zest, smoke, rye bread, black tea, hints of red wine. With water, black tea, blackberries, red wine, lemon juice, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Blackberries, strawberry jam, malted grains, rye bread, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 301624. Lots of sweet brambly blackberry notes. Other than that it’s quite bready and sweet, worth more than a hint of smoke. It opens up with water, becoming less sweet, a little more bitter and a little more sour.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glencadam Small Batch PX Reserva

Glencadam Small Batch PX Reserva

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Highlands
Red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge, marmalade, strawberry jam, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black pepper, fresh baked bread, strawberry jam, red wine, marmalade, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, red wine, fresh baked bread, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Sweet, a little jammy with plenty of black pepper. It’s pleasant and straightforward, doesn’t have the layers of complexity or the big malty spine that I like very much. Decent dram though.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bimber Virgin Cask No 91

Bimber Virgin Cask No 91

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Amber
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, red grapes, camphor, black pepper, apricot jam, cloves, hints of applesauce. With water, malted grains, cola nuts, oatcakes, red grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, expands, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, oatcakes, camphor, wheat beer, apricot jam, cloves, chocolate. With water, apricot jam, malted grains, cola nuts, red grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Wheat beer, cloves, applesauce, molasses. 

Comments: 

Fruity and malty, lots of spicy notes. There’s more than a whiff of Coca Cola. Water expands the range of flavours, strengthening that Coca Cola note. Rather good, but not as good as Bimber can be.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenfarclas 25yo

Glenfarclas 25yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Light amber 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, red grapes, apricot jam, cotton sheets, mangoes, pomegranates, hints of photocopy paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, mouth coating, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Red grapes, cotton sheets, honey, mangoes, pomegranates, milk chocolate, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Medium. Red grapes, raisins, honey, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Well integrated whisky, lots of chocolate and raisins, high with a feinty edge. Fruit becomes more prominent on the tongue. I’d have liked more complexity, it’s quite straightforward for a 25yo whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish

Glasgow 1770 Tokaji Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Sunshine yellow
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, white grapes, sea salt, apple juice, lemon zest, malted grains, hints of cornflakes. With water, magic marker, cornflakes, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Sultanas, gooseberries, apple juice, peach preserves, malted grains, hints of white pepper. With water, peach preserves, magic marker, green tea. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, malted grains, peach preserves, apple juice. 

Comments: 

Fruity, redolent with notes of peach, apple and white pepper. A rather good example of wine cask finishing, but Tokaji is closer to port than it is to wine. I rather enjoyed this dram. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenury Royal 40yo 1973/2014

Glenury Royal 40yo 1973/2014

Jewels of Scotland, Lombard 
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, malted grains, green tea, aluminium foil, leather, peaches, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, hoppy beer, green tea, peaches, honey, vanilla, aluminium foil, white grapes, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Short. Ginseng, green tea, hoppy beer, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 6867. Really lovely old whisky - it’s honeyed and sweet, some feintiness provides some relief from the waves of sweetness. There’s a massive hit of malt in the mid-palate, and surprisingly, it cuts off rather quickly on the finish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 58.53 (Strathisla 14yo 2008/2023)

SMWS 58.53 (Strathisla 14yo 2008/2023)

2023, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dandelions
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, coffee, white pepper, malted grains, dark chocolate, brass polish, aluminium foil. With water, coffee, dark chocolate, aluminium foil, lemon zest, hints of autumn leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brass polish, dark chocolate, coffee, rhubarb and custard sweets, sea salt, lemon zest, apricot jam. With water, hoppy beer, malted grains, lemon zest, coffee, hints of aluminium foil. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, malted grains, dark chocolate, rhubarb and custard sweets. 

Comments: 

Not a distillery I know well, but this whisky is rather good. Lots of fragrant, feinty and slightly savoury notes on the nose, which turns malty, rich and chocolatey on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cragganmore 29yo 1973/2003 (Special Releases 2003)

Cragganmore 29yo 1973/2003 (Special Releases 2003)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
52.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, nectarines, pineapples, malted grains, magic marker, pear drops. With water, papayas, leather, celery salt, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, expands, turns airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Hoppy beer, malted grains, leather, celery salt, nectarines, magic marker, ginseng, vanilla. With water, ginseng, hoppy beer, cookie dough, nectarines. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, hoppy beer, ginseng, pineapples. 

Comments: 

Lovely old bottle effect in this dram. It’s fruity, lots of white and tropical fruit, before the powerful malty spine comes through. Throughout there are flecks of celery salt and leather, the classic old bottle effect. Rather delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Akkeshi 3yo 2018/2023

Akkeshi 3yo 2018/2023

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Hokkaido
Amber rose 
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, yoghurt, tyre rubber, germolene, hints of vanilla, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. With water, tyre rubber, charcoal ash, vanilla, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Leather, vanilla, tyre rubber, driftwood smoke, lemon curd, charcoal ash, sour cream, hints of yoghurt. With water, driftwood smoke, strawberries, vanilla, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon curd, driftwood smoke, charcoal ash, leather, peat. 

Comments: 

Cask 1011. Akkeshi is meant to replicate Lagavulin, and I must say they’ve done a very good job. I tasted this alongside a dram of Lagavulin 16yo, and the only thing missing was the seaweed notes, and slight additional tartness. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Nikka The Grain Whisky

Nikka The Grain Whisky

Nikka
Blended malt
Amber red
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, wheat beer, lemon zest, oatcakes, digestive biscuits, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, oatcakes, raisins, wheat beer, apricot jam, golden syrup, hints of sunflower seeds. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, apricot jam, strawberry jam, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

A blend of old distillates from Nishinomiya (closed), Moji (closed), Satsumatsukasa (closed) and Miyagikyo (open). A very interesting whisky, many layers of complexity. It’s largely cereal and fruit, with a rather savoury nose. Very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Yoichi Aromatic Yeast 2022

Yoichi Aromatic Yeast 2022

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

Nose: Honeydew melons, papayas, cream, white grapes, bubble gum, hints of mint, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, bubble gum, wheat beer, white grapes, gooseberries, lemon curd, toast, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Papayas, honeydew melons, wheat beer, malted grains, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Fruity and slightly lactic on the nose, this dram turns malty on the tongue. Lots of sweet notes abound, with a whisper of smoke in the mouth as well as on the finish. Quite lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022

Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Photocopy paper, brass polish, lemon zest, malted grains, peaches, white grapes, jackfruit. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, white grapes, gooseberries, malted grains, hoppy beer, lemon zest, hints of artificial grape flavour. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, hoppy beer, malted grains, gooseberries, hints of artificial grape flavour. 

Comments: 

This whisky starts out feinty, but quickly progresses to fruity and malty flavours. It’s quite sweet, and has an excellent level of complexity, yet each flavour note is as clear as a bell.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Santa Fe 4yo Batch 2

Santa Fe 4yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - New Mexico
Dark amber red 
59.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Menthol, cloves, raisins, malted grains, cotton sheets, photocopy paper, honey. With water, red grapes, strawberry jam, malted grains, menthol. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, thickens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, raisins, menthol, malted grains, wheat beer, oatcakes, photocopy paper. With water, raisins, strawberry jam, black pepper, malted grains. 
Finish: Long. Cloves, orange peel, menthol, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite intense and sweet, lots of sweet notes mingle with feinty and spicy notes. Huge long finish, which fades to herbal spiciness. Very good indeed, I love that it’s cask strength. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Moray 2008 Warehouse 1 Manzanilla Finish

Glen Moray 2008 Warehouse 1 Manzanilla Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber gold
54.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, white grapes, malted grains, apricot jam, vanilla, hints of camphor. With water, brown paper, malted grains, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Bananas, malted grains, apricot jam, peaches, cinnamon, vanilla, golden syrup. With water, dark chocolate, malted grains, apricot jam, vanilla. 
Finish: Long. Dark chocolate, malted grains, bananas, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Sweet and jammy, and laden with some surprising banana too notes. Water opens it up, revealing more maltiness and dark chocolate. It’s got a nice level of complexity and has taken the sherry well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.